Türkiye's iconic military band performs at Seoul's War Memorial

SEOUL, October 08 (AJP) - The Ottoman Mehter Band, the world’s oldest military marching band, performed at Korea’s National War Memorial in central Seoul on Tuesday. Diplomats, military attachés from various embassies, and a large audience attended the event. Türkiye’s Mehter Band, which dates back to the 13th century, is celebrated as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, reflecting the unity of its people. The band is known for boosting soldiers' morale

October 8, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul event marks Veterans Week

SEOUL, October 08 (AJP) - The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs kicked off a two-day event Tuesday to commemorate Veterans Week, which takes place in the second week of October. First observed in 2012, Veterans Week aims to enhance veterans' pride and raise public awareness of their contributions. The event at COEX in Seoul features various programs, including a changing of the guard ceremony with 16 models in military uniforms, presentations on veteran support policies, opport

October 8, 2024

LG Electronics estimates 20% decline in operating profit

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) – LG Electronics estimated on Tuesday that its third-quarter operating profit dropped 20.9 percent year-on-year to 751.1 billion won ($556 million), largely due to soaring shipping costs and increased marketing expenses. In its preliminary financial results for the third quarter of 2024, LG reported that sales are expected to reach a record high of 22.18 trillion won, a 10.7 percent increase from the previous year, according to a regulatory filing. Th

October 8, 2024

Ambassador lodges complaint as China lays claim to authentic South Korean dishes

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - The government has expressed concerns to China over its attempts to list traditional South Korean dishes as part of its own intangible cultural heritage. South Korean Ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho said he lodged an official complaint on Monday, as such attempts have sparked controversy here. "We are closely monitoring the matter to address any historical distortions preemptively and take appropriate actions," Chung said. He added the embassy is

October 8, 2024

Financial watchdog probes 'overheated' battle for control of Korea Zinc

SEOUL, October 08 (AJP) – Korea's financial watchdog launched an investigation on Tuesday into possible unfair trading practices related to the ongoing battle for control of Korea Zinc. Lee Bok-hyun, chief of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), ordered a probe into the "overheated" tender offers for the world's largest zinc smelter. "If any unfair trading, such as rumor-spreading, aimed at disrupting the tender offers is discovered, strict measur

October 8, 2024

Samsung Electronics estimates lower-than-expected Q3 earnings

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that its third-quarter operating profit likely surged 274.5 percent year-on-year to 9.1 trillion won (US$6.7 billion), which fell short of market expectations and prompted the head of its chip business to issue a rare apology for the poor performance. In a regulatory filing, the tech giant estimated its July-September revenue reached a record high of 79 trillion won, up 17.21 percent from a year earlier, surpassing the pr

October 8, 2024

Festival offers Vietnamese culinary delights

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - A food festival promoting Viet Nam's famous noodle soup Phở was held in Seoul over the weekend. Hosted by Viet Nam's daily newspaper Tuổi Trẻ and travel agency Saigontourist Group, the two-day event delighted many visitors with the culinary offerings of the Southeast Asian country. "The festival is a way of experiencing various aspects of Vietnamese culture through food," said Vietnamese Ambassador to Seoul Vu Ho during the opening ceremony

October 8, 2024

INTERVIEW: Now is prime time to promote Hangeul amid K-pop's global popularity, scholar says

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Koreans are celebrating Hangeul Day on Wednesday, marking the 578th anniversary of the proclamation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Invented by King Sejong the Great in 1443 and propagated three years later, Hangeul is a highly logical and scientific writing system, making it easy to learn and contributing to Korea's status as one of the world's most literate countries. "Now is the best time to promote Hangeul, which is gaining traction worldw

October 8, 2024

Lawmakers call for probe into 4 trillion-won cryptocurrency fraud

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Democratic Party lawmakers Yang Moon-suk and Min Hyung-bae called for a thorough investigation into a cryptocurrency fraud that has caused an estimated four trillion won ($29.7 billion) in damages, during a National Assembly audit in Seoul on Monday. The so-called "KOK" token, promoted through a multi-level marketing scheme, attracted 1.86 million domestic and international investors. Promises of monthly interest rates between 4 percent and 20 perc

October 8, 2024