Energy-poor, tech-rich Korea must link renewables with storage: IRENA chief SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - South Korea, an energy-poor but high-tech powerhouse, must pair renewables and hydrogen with storage technology to power its advanced manufacturing economy, a senior international energy expert said. “Korea has strong technological and industrial capabilities to advance its energy transition,” Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said in an email interview with AJP. “The priority is to mobil October 2, 2026

Korea's inflation eases below 3%, price pressures persist Updated with additional information, market response, and comments from a ministry briefing. SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) — South Korea's annual consumer inflation eased below 3 percent in September despite elevated petroleum prices and the Chuseok holiday, reflecting depressed domestic demand amid strong economic growth. The consumer price index rose 2.9 percent from a year earlier, slowing from 3.1 percent in August, while adding 0.2 percent from the previous month, the Min October 2, 2026

Won slips out of comfort zone as Korea moves on U.S. investment deal SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - Just when the won appeared to be stabilizing around 1,350 against the U.S. dollar, its year-end outlook has grown less certain as South Korea prepares to pay up to $10 billion toward U.S. nuclear reactor projects before December ends. The dollar-won exchange rate rose to 1,362.6 on Thursday as Seoul and Washington unveiled energy projects under their strategic investment framework. The commitments fall under Korea’s $200 billion investment pledge o October 1, 2026

Economist Ha Joon-kyung named policy chief in Lee's staff reshuffle SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung appointed economist Ha Joon-kyung as his new policy chief on Thursday, filling a key presidential post that had been vacant for a month. Ha, who had served as senior presidential secretary for economic growth, succeeds Kim Yong-bum, whose resignation was accepted by Lee on Sept. 1. The policy chief is one of the president’s most senior aides, coordinating major economic and social policy. Cheong Wa Dae said Ha has combined October 1, 2026

Korea's Aug FX deposits hit record $140.6 bln on stronger won SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) — South Korea's resident foreign-currency deposits surged to a record $140.62 billion in August as corporate inflows and a stronger won encouraged advance purchases of dollars, central bank data showed Thursday. The Bank of Korea (BOK) said the deposits rose $12.28 billion from $128.34 billion at the end of July, marking a fifth consecutive monthly increase. An AJP analysis of the BOK's monthly series showed the August gain was the third large October 1, 2026

Seoul loses appeal vs Elliott over Samsung merger SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - An international arbitration tribunal has reaffirmed South Korea's liability to U.S. investment firm Elliott Investment Management over government intervention in the controversial 2015 merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries. The remand tribunal ruled on Wednesday that the government's intervention in the merger vote was causally linked to losses suffered by Elliott, then a minority shareholder in Samsung C&T. South Korea was ordere October 1, 2026

Korea's Sept exports hit fresh monthly high, annual top $800B SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) — South Korea's September exports surged 83.5 percent to a fresh monthly record $120.9 billion as semiconductor shipments more than tripled, customs data showed Thursday. Imports increased 26.0 percent from a year earlier to $71.1 billion, leaving a record trade surplus of $49.9 billion, according to the Korea Customs Service. The record came despite fewer working days, with September having 21.5 working days compared with 24.0 a year earlier. October 1, 2026

Korea, US agree on $142B energy plans, Alaska under review SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) -South Korea is taking the first step in fulfilling its $200 billion strategic investment pledge to the United States with a $22.3 billion Texas power project, alongside a $120 billion nuclear cooperation framework and a conditional review of Alaska LNG to help bolster U.S. energy supplies for its AI data center buildout. The two governments announced the three initiatives Thursday in Seoul and Wednesday in Washington under the investment agreement accompanyi October 1, 2026

Trump confirms Korea-backed U.S. projects including Alaska LNG SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) -U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday a sweeping package of South Korean-backed energy investments spanning a gas-fired power plant in Texas, eight large-scale nuclear reactors and the Alaska liquefied natural gas project. Trump made the announcement at the White House alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Alaska officials, presenting the projects as the first major rollout of South Korea's investment pledge to the United States. & October 1, 2026

Korea signals fiscal backstop as bond yields squeeze borrowers SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) — Seoul authorities armed with greater fiscal firepower from a chip-driven tax windfall signaled plans to buy back government bonds or curb new issuance to tame rising yields, potentially giving the central bank more room to sustain its fight against inflation. Fiscal, financial and monetary chiefs agreed Wednesday to prepare contingency measures as Korean bond yields tracked a surge in U.S. Treasury yields. The government said it could conduct eme September 30, 2026