K-Food diplomacy: strengthening South Korea-Middle East ties

The Middle East, historically a hub of the ancient Silk Road, is now witnessing a surge in K-food popularity, broadening cooperation between South Korea and the region. As of October, K-food exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose 23.2% from the previous year, reaching $275 million. The South Korean government views the Middle East as a strategic market for diversifying K-food exports. Efforts include easing halal certification burdens, supporting local store entries,

November 26, 2025

OPINION: Azerbaijan's Path to Peace and Progress

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Although geographically distant, Korea and Azerbaijan have come closer thanks to a series of meaningful events. One such moment unfolded when the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Seoul hosted a special ceremony on Nov. 6 to commemorate Victory Day, observed annually on Nov. 8. The event brought together dignitaries, forei

November 25, 2025

OPINION: Nvidia, Bitcoin and emergence of new economic order

Global markets are increasingly dancing to the movements of Nvidia and Bitcoin. A surge in Nvidia’s share price now lifts trading floors from New York to Tokyo, Seoul, London and Frankfurt. When the chipmaker disappoints, the backlash ricochets across continents. Bitcoin produces similar tremors, swinging sharply on news of regulatory shifts or ETF flows. The pattern points to a deeper shift in modern capitalism: economic gravity is clustering around a small

November 25, 2025

OPINION: Rising drunk-driving incidents spark calls for tougher laws in South Korea

SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - Recent incidents involving drunk driving in South Korea have drawn international attention, particularly after a Japanese tourist died in a crash. This tragedy, along with a similar incident involving a Canadian a week earlier, has highlighted the country's lenient penalties for drunk driving. Despite the 2018 law allowing life sentences for fatal drunk driving cases, actual sentences range from two to eight years, much lower than Japan's 20-year sentences.

November 24, 2025

South Korea's Strategic Edge in AI Amid Potential Bubble

Nvidia announced record earnings on Nov. 19, with third-quarter revenue reaching $57 billion, a 62% increase from the previous year. Despite a net profit margin of 53% and net income of $31.9 billion, its stock fell 6.8% the next day. Wall Street attributes this to extended collection periods for big tech companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, indicating uncertain returns on AI investments. OpenAI faces more severe challenges. Microsoft, its parent company, has inves

November 24, 2025

The ancient Korean ideal that could heal a polarized world

The world today is being torn apart by widening polarization. Few places illustrate this more vividly than the United States. President Donald Trump’s “MAGA (Make America Great Again)” agenda—centered on reviving American manufacturing, cutting taxes, and tightening border controls—did produce short-term economic gains and job growth. Yet it also deepened the divides between the wealthy and the working poor, between regions, and across racial and cu

November 22, 2025

OPINION: South Korea's youth losing faith in job market

South Korea is wrestling with a quiet crisis: the steady erosion of job prospects for its young people. The National Data Office’s latest employment report, released on Nov. 12, paints a stark picture. The employment rate for people ages 15 to 29 has been negative for a year and a half. The number of unemployed 30-somethings has climbed to 310,000 — a 22-year high — while roughly 400,000 people in their 20s are also out of work. In total, more than 700,000

November 21, 2025

Putin's obsession with empire must end

History occasionally presents moments when the world can see, with exceptional clarity, who is pushing it toward chaos and who is pulling it back from the brink. Today, that contrast is unmistakable. Donald Trump—despite the controversies surrounding him, despite the anger his tariff wars still provoke—has stunned the world by helping open a path toward a calmer Middle East. His aggressive pressure on Iran’s proxies and his unflinching stance against Hamas ha

November 20, 2025

OPINION: How Korea's medical obsession is undermining its AI aspirations

As the era of artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, one reality has become impossible to ignore: South Korea is falling behind in the race for talent. While other nations aggressively cultivate scientists, engineers and researchers, South Korea continues to funnel many of its brightest students into medical schools — an imbalance that risks undermining the country’s long-term competitiveness. The contrast was laid bare in a KBS documentary that aired

November 20, 2025

Indonesia's High-Speed Rail: A Debt Trap?

The murder of a South Korean student in Cambodia has sparked concerns over online scams. Chinese crime syndicates lured South Koreans with promises of high salaries, only to detain and force them into scams such as romance fraud and phishing. While these activities occurred in Phnom Penh, the main hub was Sihanoukville, influenced by China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The city, home to Cambodia's largest port, saw a surge in Chinese investment, transforming it in

November 17, 2025