49+ min ago (544+ words) Business Seoul shares snap 2-day drop on hopes for rate cut, eased AI fear; won rebounds Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 16:15:11 South Korean stocks rose slightly Tuesday to end a two-session losing streak as revived hopes for a US rate cut and eased fears over artificial intelligence uncertainties boosted appetite for risky assets. The local currency gained sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 11.72 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 3,857.78. It marked the first daily gain since Friday, when it tumbled 3.79 percent. Trade volume was light at 275.5 million shares worth 13.1 trillion won ($8.9 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 553 to 325. Foreign investors led the rebound, purchasing a net 116 billion won worth of stocks, while institutions and individuals dumped a net 79.3 billion won and 27.5 billion won, respectively. Overnight on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.44 percent and the…...

59+ min ago (339+ words) National Bad air day in Seoul Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 16:05:15 Most parts of South Korea experienced high levels of fine and ultrafine airborne dust, as northwesterly winds carried yellow dust from China. As of Tuesday morning, ultrafine dust levels in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province reached "very bad" levels " above 76 micrograms per cubic meter " with Seoul recording 92 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Most other parts of South Korea reported "bad" levels of fine and ultrafine dust, while only North and South Gyeongsang provinces saw "moderate" levels. Air quality rapidly worsened from Sunday as yellow dust from the Gobi Desert in China was carried in by northwesterly winds. A wildfire burning in northeastern China has further deteriorated air conditions as of Tuesday afternoon, the National Institute of Environmental Research said. The KMA forecast that poor air quality would…...

1+ hour, 8+ min ago (670+ words) Business Seoul's FX defense faces rising US pressure Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:56:36 As the National Pension Service moves to help stabilize the weakening won, a new challenge looms: mounting pressure from Washington for greater transparency in Korea's foreign exchange practices. On Monday, South Korean foreign exchange authorities and the NPS held the first meeting of a new consultative body aimed at addressing the won's slide against the dollar. Although officials did not disclose specific measures, several options are under consideration, and each carries political and regulatory implications. One tool available to the NPS is adjusting its foreign exchange hedging strategy. If the pension fund deploys a more active hedge, it could free up as much as 10 percent of its dollar-denominated foreign assets, worth $376.71 billion as of the end of May. This would effectively inject roughly $38 billion into the market and ease downward…...

1+ hour, 14+ min ago (1104+ words) National Game of numbers in Korean politics: fight over vote rules Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:50:10 Updated : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:50:42 Parties' in-fighting grows amid plans to change candidate selection rules South Korea's two major political parties are moving to rewrite their primary rules ahead of next June's local elections, setting off contentious internal battles over who should hold greater sway in shaping their candidate slates. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party are both seeking to give greater influence to dues-paying members in their internal primaries, though they are pursuing sharply different paths to get there. Across the aisle, critics warn that increasing the weight of members' votes risks amplifying the voices of party loyalists in both camps, widening their distance from the broader electorate, including moderate voters. The People Power Party is moving to raise the weight of…...

1+ hour, 17+ min ago (660+ words) Business Samsung taps new AI talent in biggest reshuffle in years Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:47:18 Tech giant elevates rising leaders in AI, robotics, advanced chips as part of accelerated generational shift Samsung Electronics on Tuesday carried out its largest executive promotion round in recent years, elevating a wave of rising leaders in AI, robotics and advanced chips as the tech giant accelerates a generational shift for the AI era. In its annual reshuffle, Samsung promoted 161 employees to executive positions " a sharp increase from 143 in 2023 and 137 in 2024 " signaling a pivot toward younger, next-generation leadership capable of steering the tech giant through intensifying global competition. "This year's promotions reflect our commitment to stay ahead of rapid industrial changes and secure leadership in AI, robotics and semiconductors," the company said. "The executives promoted have delivered measurable results across core businesses." The new lineup includes 51 vice…...

1+ hour, 25+ min ago (890+ words) National Lee's Middle East, Africa trip underscores regional ties Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:39:35 As President Lee Jae Myung ended his 10-day, four-nation trip to the Middle East and Africa, South Korea sought to underscore regional ties, especially in the fields of defense and nuclear energy. On the final leg of the trip in Turkey, which ended late Tuesday, Lee and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to deepen the two countries' strategic partnership and bolster ties in multiple fields, including defense, nuclear power, biotechnology and renewable energy. Addressing the media after the summit, the leaders shared that a joint statement has been adopted on the strategic partnership between the two nations. "I firmly believe that the joint statement will serve as a good guideline for carrying out the matters discussed in today's summit meeting," Lee said. The two sides also agreed to…...

1+ hour, 45+ min ago (665+ words) National Ex-PM to deliver closing arguments ahead of first ruling in martial law saga Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:18:55 Covering issues on Seoul, social security, climate The first major ruling in the December 2024 martial law scandal is nearing conclusion, with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo set to deliver closing arguments Wednesday in a case widely viewed as a litmus test for related trials, including that of the ousted president. The Seoul Central District Court is expected to issue its verdict in mid- to late January. Han is the earliest among more than 20 defendants linked to the failed martial law plan to reach the final hearing stage, meaning his case will be the first judicial reading of whether the events of Dec. 3, 2024, legally constitute an "insurrection." Courts and legal analysts said the ruling could influence how judges assess other defendants" roles, especially former president Yoon…...

1+ hour, 46+ min ago (199+ words) Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:17:53 Martial law probe engulfs 49 state agencies, putting civil service on edge The Lee Jae Myung administration's task force investigating potential misconduct tied to the Dec. 3 martial-law declaration began its work in earnest on Monday. SK eyes record W120tr exports on chip boom Got a complaint? Here's how you can file petitions in Korea Space rocket Nuri's transport to launchpad proceeds ahead of 4th launch Shaw Prize winner Baumeister on breakthroughs that changed cell imaging 'My last chance': Eric Lu on overcoming pressure to win Chopin Competition on second try decade later [Graphic News] Indian-origin figures rise in US Has Korea's Nvidia fever gone too far for the won? Samsung revives two-CEO structure to steer chips, consumer tech Asia's richest tycoon Ambani to visit Korea for talks with Samsung chief The world is eating more Korean kimchi, but Korea is importing…...

1+ hour, 59+ min ago (430+ words) National Korea opens Jakarta education center to expand Korean-language programs Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 15:05:37 South Korea's Education Ministry announced Tuesday that it has opened a Korean education center in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of broader efforts to support overseas Koreans and attract international students. Korean Education Centers provide lifelong learning programs for Korean nationals overseas, while serving as key hubs for promoting Korean-language education and supporting study-abroad pathways to Korea, the ministry explained. The Jakarta center becomes the 47th such institution worldwide, following earlier openings in 22 countries since the first center was launched in Japan in the 1960s. It is the fifth center in Southeast Asia, after those in Thailand and Vietnam, among others. Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous nation with 270 million people, is home to approximately 27,300 ethnic Koreans. Interest in Korea has surged in recent years due to the global popularity of Korean…...

2+ hour, 9+ min ago (574+ words) Life&Culture K-variety maestro Nah Yung-suk takes Netflix leap with 'Three Idiots in Kenya' Published : Nov. 25, 2025 - 14:55:36 Entertainment powerhouse producer Nah Yung-suk is making his Netflix debut with "Three Idiots in Kenya," reuniting beloved stars from his past hits like "2 Days & 1 Night." With the new series, Nah says he's intentionally tapping into a gap in Netflix's Korean unscripted lineup -- namely, the lack of easygoing, light-touch variety shows. "Three Idiots in Kenya" pairs veteran variety show fixtures, including comedian Lee Soo-geun, rapper-TV personality Eun Ji-won and Super Junior's Kyuhyun -- on a trek across Africa. Helmed by Nah, the series marks not only Nah's first-ever Netflix variety show but also a reunion of his long-running ensemble: Lee and Eun from "2 Days & 1 Night" and Kyuhyun from "Sinseoyugi." Joined by co-producer Kim Ye-sul, the trio sets out across Kenya in search of the country's famed…...