AJU PRESS - ASIA NEWS HUB

AI dominates day one as annual World News Media Congress opens in Marseille SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - The annual gathering of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) opened at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, southern France, with artificial intelligence (AI) shaping every major session on the first day of the three-day event. About 1,000 publishers, editors and chief executives from more than 60 countries packed the venue.
Early voting for local elections hits record high, but final turnout remains to be seen SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - Early voting for South Korea's June 3 local elections wrapped up with a record-high turnout, fueling speculation that final turnout could surpass a previous record of 60.2 percent seen in the 2018 local elections, the highest level in nearly three decades. The National Election Commission (NEC) on Sunday said 10.49 million of the country's 44.64 million eligible voters cast ballots.
KOSPI breaks 8,700 on Samsung-led rally as Nikkei also hits high SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI surged 3.7 percent to close at a record 8,788.38, breaking above the 8,700 level for the first time in its history in a session driven by two simultaneous re-ratings at the heart of the artificial intelligence (AI) trade. Samsung Electronics said it has begun shipping samples of its next-generation HBM4E memory.

Update: Six killed in South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace factory explosion SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - An explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in South Korea killed at least six people and injured one on Monday morning, according to police and rescuers. The blast prompted an emergency response as rescue workers continue to search for three unaccounted individuals. The incident occurred at 10:59 a.m. (0159 GMT) at the company's plant in Oesam.
South Korean bond yields surge on hawkish BOK remarks amid lingering Middle East conflict SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - South Korean government bond yields surged following a double blow of U.S. President Donald Trump's rejection of a draft peace memorandum of understanding with Iran and hawkish remarks from the Bank of Korea (BOK) governor. The local currency, in contrast, erased early losses to close slightly higher as a clearer path toward interest rate hikes cushioned the market.
Kakao union sets June 10 partial strike as labor standoff sharpens SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - Kakao's union announced it would stage a four-hour partial strike on June 10, escalating a deepening standoff with management over job security and the company's executive pay structure.
Record visitor arrivals drive biggest-ever April spending in Seoul SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - Foreign visitors flocked to Seoul in record numbers in April and spent more than ever before, signaling that the city's tourism recovery is evolving into a broader consumer spending boom. The number of overseas visitors to the capital reached 1.56 million in April, up 18.8 percent from a year earlier and the highest figure ever recorded for the month.

ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: US Defense Chief speech in Singapore brings tough choices for Seoul The world is changing fast, and the recent defense meeting in Singapore proved it. United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, and his words carry a heavy message. For South Korea, sitting right between major global powers, his speech is a loud wake up call. The days of relying on a system where America promises to protect everyone without asking for much in return are officially over. Washington wants friends to pay more and do much more on their own. This new by Park Sae-jin

Expanded World Cup brings new chances for Asia as South Korea looks beyond 11th straight berth SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - This year's World Cup, now just over a week away, will be remembered as special for several reasons. It will be the first hosted by three countries in the quadrennial football extravaganza's history, spread across vast distances in North America and, most notably, the first to expand from 32 to 48 teams. For Asia, the number itself matters almost as much as the tournament. What once felt like a narrow gate to the sport's grandest stage has widened significantly

Visuals>

AJP Focus>

How shaved ice tells different stories across East Asia SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - Shaved ice is a summer staple across Asia, but the same dessert has taken sharply different paths in South Korea, Japan and China. In South Korea, bingsu has become a luxury item, a social media prop and a marker of changing consumer habits. This summer, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is selling its Jeju apple mango bingsu for 149,000 won, the highest price among major Seoul hotels. The Shilla Seoul charges 130,000 won for its signature apple mango bingsu at its lounge bar The L

South Korea's reckoning with the AI century There is a phrase South Koreans invoke with quiet pride: bbaly bbaly — "quickly, quickly." It describes a national temperament forged in crisis, the same urgency that rebuilt a war-ravaged nation into an industrial titan within a single generation. But urgency alone, as Kwon Seok-jun, a semiconductor scholar at Sungkyunkwan University, recently warned, will not be enough for what comes next. The artificial intelligence age demands not just speed, but vision. South Korea stand

AJP Vids

Technology>

KAIST unveils mid-to-long-term strategy for artificial intelligence talent

National>

Update: Five killed in South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace factory explosion

Lifestyle>

How shaved ice tells different stories across East Asia

World>

Uzbekistan formalizes Termez Dialogue to anchor South Asian trade integration

Entertainment Food retailers launch BTS-themed products SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - South Korean food companies Paldo and hy have launched 28 products under ARIH, a food and beverage brand themed with K-pop group BTS, the companies said Monday. Paldo is a South Korean instant noodle maker, while hy is a food and beverage company known for its probiotic products. The companies said BTS took part in the brand from the planning stage. ARIH is built around the concept of balance and health in everyday life. The brand name comes from a Korean wo

AJP Briefing>

AJP Watch>

ASIA Insight>

Visuals>

AJP Focus>

Industry>

Market>

North Korea>

Opinion>

AJP Vids

Technology>

National>

Lifestyle>

World>