Opinion: Starmer's victory - A political revival shadowed by daunting challenges

Karachi, July 09 (AJU PRESS) - In a defining shift for British politics, the center-left Labour Party has clinched a resounding victory, marking its dramatic comeback after a devastating defeat just five years ago. Keir Starmer, the Labour leader and former human rights lawyer, is now the Prime Minister with a staggering majority of around 170 seats, echoing the historic win of Tony Blair in 1997. This remarkable comeback reflects Labour’s appeal with a moderate, centrist platf

July 9, 2024

Russian envoy stresses importance of understanding Russo-Korea history to shape better future

SEOUL, July 08 (AJU PRESS) - Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Georgy Zinoviev, highlighted the significance of understanding the history of Russo-Korean relations and how it influences the future during an event on Monday. Ambassador Zinoviev addressed the past, present, and future of the relationship between Russia and Korea during the opening ceremony of an exhibition designed to commemorate the bilateral Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed between Russia and Jo

July 8, 2024

VISUALS: From Vermeer to Van Gogh: Dutch masterpieces illuminated through light, sound and digital innovation

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - "From Vermeer to Van Gogh: Dutch Masters" is underway at Theatre des Lumieres in Seoul's Walkerhill Hotel & Resort from May 24 to Nov. 24 This immersive exhibition reinterprets the works of Dutch artists Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Vincent van Gogh through light, music and digital technology. The show is divided into 12 segments and lasts 35 minutes. Each segment is paired with lively music, creating a deeply immersive experience fo

July 8, 2024

Yoon heads to Washington for NATO summit

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - President Yoon Suk Yeol left for the U.S. on Monday to attend a NATO summit in Washington. He was invited to the summit for the third consecutive year as Korea was included as one of four Indo Pacific partners, dubbed IP4, along with Australia, Japan and News Zealand. Yoon's itinerary begins with a stopover in Hawaii, where he is scheduled to visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and the United States Indo-Pacific Command. Upon arriva

July 8, 2024

N. Korea marks 30th anniversary of regime founder's death amid tensions with S. Korea

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea appears to be in a festive mood on Monday, marking the 30th anniversary of regime founder Kim Il-sung's death. The North's state-run Rodong Sinmun Sunday fervently praised his achievements, calling him "a devoted leader" who ruled the renegade country for nearly half a century. All eyes are now on whether the current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit his grandfather's mausoleum. Since he came into power in 201

July 8, 2024

Hyosung Heavy Industries wins transformer order from Norway's Statnett

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Hyosung Heavy Industries secured a 330 billion won ($238.5 million) order to supply transformers to Statnett, a state-run company managing transmission systems in Norway, the Korean power equipment manufacturer said Monday. Hyosung will supply 420 kilovolt transformers to Statnett, marking the largest project the company has undertaken since venturing into the Norwegian market in 2020. The contract is aimed at expanding Norway's renewable energy po

July 8, 2024

Korea to replace ambassador to China

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Korea will replace its ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. The ministry said that Chung will be stepping down from his post in China and he is expected to return to Korea next month. A seasoned diplomat well-versed in Chinese affairs is being mentioned as his successor, as an apparent move to mend ties with Beijing, as Jung has often made some hawkish comments toward Beijing. The announcement coincides w

July 8, 2024

Mixed expectations as Q2 corporate earnings season kicks off

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Korea's second-quarter earnings report season is kicking off with a mixed outlook across sectors. The semiconductor industry shows signs of recovery amid the artificial intelligence boom, while battery makers appear to still be saddled with the lackluster electric vehicle market. Samsung Electronics issued its preliminary earnings guidance on Friday, significantly surpassing expectations. The tech giant estimated a remarkable 1,452.24 percent year-ove

July 8, 2024

Passenger numbers for Korean airlines jump 29% to record high in first half

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Korean airlines carried a record 47.56 million passengers in the first half of 2024, marking a 29.1 percent growth year-on-year, driven by low-cost carriers (LCCs), government data showed Monday. The passenger number surpassed the previous record of 47.04 million set in the first half of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Domestic flights saw 18.15 million passenge

July 8, 2024

Cuba's K-pop fan community leader visits Korea amid renewed bilateral relations

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Cultural exchanges between Korea and Cuba are showing signs of growth following the recent normalization of relations between the two countries. Last week, a dinner hosted by the Korean-Cuban Friendship Association brought together Han Byung-kil, head of the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean (KCLAC) with several Cuban officials and others. Among the guests was Marta Maria Cabrera, president of ArtCor, a Cuban-based K-pop fanbase with about

July 8, 2024