Samsung SDI reports 72% profit drop in Q3

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Samsung SDI Co., one of South Korea's major electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers, revealed on Wednesday a 72.1 percent drop in third-quarter operating profit to 129.9 billion won (US$93.8 million). Revenue fell by 29.8 percent to 3.94 trillion won in the July-September quarter. Although battery supply to its North American partner facilities increased, its flagship battery division saw operating profit plunge 85 percent from a year earlier to

October 30, 2024

Shinsegae to split into two separate groups; heiress named department store chair

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (AJP) — South Korea's Shinsegae Group announced Wednesday it will split into two separate groups, each centered on Shinsegae Department Store and the E-mart discount store. The retail conglomerate promoted Chung Yoo-kyung, president of the department store, to chairwoman to head the new Shinsegae-led group. Her brother Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, will oversee operations centered on E-mart, the group said. The split completes a succes

October 30, 2024

Chinese astronauts embark on journey for historic space mission

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Wednesday, sending three astronauts, including the country's first female space engineer, to its space station for a six-month mission. Launched atop a Long March-2F rocket, the spaceship lifted off at 4:27 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). About 10 minutes into the flight, the Shenzhou-19 separated from the rocket and reached its orbit.

October 30, 2024

Chinese scientists extract world's longest ice core outside polar regions

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Chinese scientists said Tuesday they successfully extracted a 324-meter ice core from the thickest glacier on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, marking it as the longest ice core ever drilled on the plateau and the longest globally outside the polar regions. Enduring harsh wind and snow, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) worked over a month on Purog Kangri Glacier, which lies in Tsonyi County, the highest-altitude county in China, averaging o

October 30, 2024

OPINION: Amid the West's wavering aid to Ukraine, North Korea backs Russia in mutually beneficial move

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently accused North Korea of plans to send 10,000 soldiers to fight for Russia in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence later gave credence to Zelensky's assertion, as the country's legislators noted that North Korea has already dispatched 3,000 soldiers to Russia. North Korea lending a helping hand to Russia is nothing new. The country has already provided Russia with significant munitions to supplement its de

October 30, 2024

PHOTOS: Red Cross holds charity bazaar in Seoul

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - The Korean Red Cross held its 41st annual Red Cross Bazaar at COEX in Seoul on Tuesday. The bazaar offered a variety of items including food, clothing, accessories, household goods, and donated items for sale. All proceeds from the bazaar, which has been held annually since 1984, will be used to support families in crisis and vulnerable populations.

October 29, 2024

South Korean man held in China on alleged espionage charges

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - A South Korean man has been detained in China since late last year on alleged espionage charges, China's foreign ministry revealed on Tuesday. The man in his 50s, whose name has not been disclosed, was arrested at his home on suspicions of violating Beijing's anti-espionage law, which was amended to broaden the scope of espionage activities and took effect in July this year. China has detected an "illegal activity in accordance with the law,

October 29, 2024

VISUALS: Korea marks 2nd anniversary of Halloween crowd crush

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Mourners gathered on Tuesday in a narrow alleyway in Seoul's Itaewon district to mark the second anniversary of South Korea's deadliest crowd disaster, which claimed 159 lives during Halloween celebrations. Visitors laid flowers and left handwritten messages along the sloped alley in the popular nightlife district, where the tragedy occurred on Oct. 29, 2022. The disaster unfolded when thousands of young revelers, many in Halloween costumes, became trapped

October 29, 2024

Rosé of BLACKPINK makes top 10 entry on Billboard singles chart

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Rosé, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, made her entry into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her latest single "APT.," Billboard said via social media platform X on Tuesday. Released last week, the collaborative song with American pop star Bruno Mars landed at No. 8 on the chart for the week ending this week, making it the highest-ranking song by a K-pop female artist. The previous record was held by the quartet'

October 29, 2024

Israel's allies call on Israel to rethink proposed ban on UNRWA's vital aid

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Foreign ministers from seven of Israel's allies — Germany, France, Britain, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea — have issued a statement opposing Israel's proposed legislation to ban UNRWA, the UN agency aiding Palestinian refugees. They warned that if UNRWA is prohibited from operating in the West Bank and Gaza, the humanitarian situation could worsen drastically, particularly in northern Gaza, where UNRWA provides critical servi

October 29, 2024