SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - South Korea's rice production fell 0.9 percent to 3.51 million tons this year, marking a fifth consecutive annual decline and the lowest level since 2020, according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Friday. Output dropped 31,000 tons from 3.54 million tons a year earlier, as the rice-planted area shrank 1.1 percent to 670,470 hectares amid government efforts to curb overproduction and encourage farmers to switch to alternative crops. The

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) -Big Tech gains lifted the value of South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) U.S. stock holdings by 2.4 percent to $158.74 billion in the third quarter, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Thursday. The so-called Magnificent Seven added $5.5 billion in value, more than the portfolio’s overall $3.66 billion increase, as losses in other semiconductor holdings offset some of the gains. A stronger won neverthele

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung's job approval rating fell 2 percentage points to 39 percent, while disapproval remained unchanged at 50 percent, a Gallup Korea poll showed on Friday. Real estate policy was the most frequently cited reason for disapproval, accounting for 17 percent, followed by the economy and livelihoods at 15 percent and ethical issues and his avoidance of his own trial at 12 percent. Among supporters, the economy and livelihoods were the leading reas

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Musinsa has partnered with Thailand's Central Group to make inroads into the country, expanding its Southeast Asian presence to five markets, the unisex fashion platform said on Friday. The move follows an exclusive distribution agreement signed last week with Central Marketing Group, an affiliate of the Thai retail giant, to open stores in major Thai shopping districts and develop products and marketing tailored to local consumers. Musinsa plans to leverage its

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s Prime Minister’s Office said Thursday it will respond with zero tolerance to cheating in the national college entrance exam on November 19, after this year’s top scorer in the state tax accountant exam missed just one of 160 questions, fueling suspicions that smart glasses were used. The office said it will quickly draw up government-wide measures to root out cheating using smart devices in state-run exams.

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) -The New York Times has identified seven potential successors to Jensen Huang at Nvidia, highlighting the challenge of replacing a founder whose technical expertise and industry relationships helped shape the AI boom. Internal possibilities include Colette Kress, Nvidia’s chief financial officer and interim CEO, and Ian Buck, a vice president credited with developing the CUDA software foundation behind its AI computing business. Kress brings operational knowledg

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Genesis BBQ has opened its first store in South Africa, marking its entry into the African market through a local franchise partner, the chicken franchise giant said on Friday. The outlet, located at Cresta Crossing Mall in Johannesburg's Randburg area, offers fried chicken alongside Korean dishes such as tteokbokki, bulgogi and bibimbap, as well as chicken burgers, pasta and salads. The opening, which follows an agreement signed with local Korean food distribut

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) -U.S. President Donald Trump urged Jensen Huang to fight to keep his job in a phone call Tuesday, two days before the Nvidia chief resigned amid an unfolding espionage scandal, The New York Times reported, citing two people briefed on the conversation. The call underscored Trump’s continued support for Huang, who had become a prominent ally and influential adviser on artificial intelligence. According to the newspaper, Trump maintained that backing even after U.S.

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) -North Korea is unlikely to send another large contingent of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine this winter, a former senior Ukrainian official said, despite President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent warnings of a planned deployment, according to U.S.-based outlet NK News. Andrii Kovalenko, former head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, wrote on social media this week that the thre

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) -Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have been asked to testify before the Senate Banking Committee next month as lawmakers investigate national security concerns surrounding Huang’s reported relationship with a suspected Chinese spy and exports of advanced AI chips to China. Committee Chairman Tim Scott requested separate appearances by Huang on Dec. 3 and Lutnick on Dec. 10. Huang resigned Thursday, ending his leadership o