• Korea's M2 growth slows for first time this year in July SEOUL, Sept. 15 (AJP) — South Korea's annual M2 growth slowed for the first time this year in July as readily accessible savings deposits fell while term deposits and money trusts increased as interest rates went higher.
• South Korea's August terms of trade strongest ever SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korea's purchasing power from trade rose to its strongest level ever in August as soaring semiconductor prices more than offset renewed pressure from higher global oil prices.
• South Korea 3rd largest presence at Asian Games after Japan, China SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) -South Korea will field the third-largest athlete contingent at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, behind host Japan and China, according to official Games Hub data.
• Fried-chicken chain bhc opens first store in Viet Nam SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korean fried-chicken chain bhc Chicken has opened its first store in Viet Nam, marking its entry into the Southeast Asian market and expanding its overseas presence to 10 countries.
• One in nine Koreans in 50s never married SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - More than one in 10 people in South Korea in their 50s have never married, with the number more than tripling over the past decade as marriage becomes increasingly less universal among middle-aged adults.
• North Korean leader reaffirms support for Russia's war in Ukraine SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to strengthen ties with Russia, reaffirming his support for President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's war in Ukraine, state media reported on Tuesday.

Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026>

• Aju, Kazinform in media deal amid Korea-Central Asia Summit SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - A South Korean media company and Kazakhstan's state news agency agreed on Tuesday to share and jointly produce news content, opening a direct channel between the two countries' newsrooms hours before their leaders were to meet in Seoul. The memorandum of understanding was signed at Aju News Corporation's headquarters in central Seoul by Chairman Kwak Young-kil and Raushan Kazhibayeva, who directs the Republican State Enterprise "TV &
• Korea, Turkmenistan broaden economic partnership at summit SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow agreed Tuesday to expand cooperation in investment, infrastructure, shipbuilding and public security as the two countries signed 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding. Lee met Berdimuhamedow, who is on a state visit to South Korea, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul ahead of the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit. The agreements cover investment protection, chemical and

AJP ScaleUP

• Taeseok Optical seeks KOSDAQ listing SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korean eyewear and fashion company Taeseok Optical has applied for preliminary approval to list on the KOSDAQ, starting the review process for a potential market debut, the company said Tuesday. The company said it submitted the preliminary listing application to the Korea Exchange (KRX), a required step before proceeding with an initial public offering (IPO). Founded in 2015, Taeseok Optical has built its business around eyewear manufacturing, sourcing and di
• DTS begins KOSDAQ IPO process SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korean thermal solutions company DTS has begun the initial public offering (IPO) process for a KOSDAQ listing after filing a securities registration statement with the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the company said Monday. DTS plans to offer 2,228,917 initial shares at a proposed price range of 17,000 won to 18,500 won each. The deal is expected to raise between 37.9 billion won ($28.2 million) and 41.2 billion won ($30.6 million). Institutional bookbu

ASIA Insight

• Korean Gen Z takes to streets to protest U.S. call for Hormuz support SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - On most Saturdays, Gwanghwamun Square belongs to tourists, families, street performers and the assortment of political groups that regularly claim a patch of downtown Seoul for their causes. This Saturday brought another one: opposition to President Donald Trump’s repeated demands that South Korea help secure the Strait of Hormuz as the United States confronts Iran. Many in the crowd were not the veteran anti-American or progressive activists familiar from dem by Lee Jung-woo
• In Korea's delivery republic, gratitude comes without the tip SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Any homebody knows the small thrill — the doorbell, footsteps outside and finally the arrival of dinner, groceries or the sneakers you have been waiting weeks for. In South Korea's delivery republic, that moment is woven deeply into everyday life. Increasingly, some customers are finding small ways to acknowledge the people who make it possible, whether through an iced drink, a snack, an extra meal or simply a note saying thank you and ride safely. The ges by Ryu Yuna

AJP Watch

• AI music can make the charts. Can it win fans? SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - Pitchfork, one of America's best-known music publications, does not hand out zeroes often. But in August, American rapper Tyga's "$TARFACE" got one. The album had already drawn attention after Tyga acknowledged using artificial intelligence as a production tool, including for 1980s-style synthesizers and guitar solos, while saying the lyrics and vocals remained his own. Pitchfork did not reject the album simply because AI was involved. Its critici
• Korean shamanism finds new life in pop culture SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Drums pound, bells shake and chants rise as a mudang, or Korean shaman, appears to slip between worlds, communicating with spirits through an electrifying ritual of music, dance and trance. For millions of moviegoers, the spectacle became familiar through a famous gut scene in director Jang Jae-hyun's 2024 occult blockbuster "Exhuma." Gut, an ancient Korean shamanic ritual performed to communicate with spirits, comfort the dead, seek blessings or ward

AJP Focus

• Korea bond curve flattens as front-end yields hit multi-year highs SEOUL, Sept. 14 (AJP) — South Korea's government bond curve flattened further Monday as front-end yields climbed to multi-year highs while longer maturities retreated, sharpening expectations for a higher-for-longer tightening path ahead of this week's Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan meetings. The two-year Korean government bond yield ended at 3.932 percent and the three-year at 4.025 percent, their highest levels since Nov. 1, 2023. Longer maturities pulled back from Friday
• AI comes at a price: $3,000 for a phone SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Apple is ready for a strong comeback after losing loyal Korean consumers to Samsung's foldables, with the iPhone's first foldable form rolling out across Korea on Oct. 23. The appeal to lure back long-term iPhone users is apparent, if form had been the sole put-off. The sole damper is the starting price tag of 3.29 million won for the entry-level 256-gigabyte model and 5.09 million won for the top-end 2-terabyte iPhone Duo. Apple has again set the bar by pus