Global chipmakers race to secure HBM talent amid AI boom

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - SK hynix and Micron Technology are ramping up efforts to enhance their high-bandwidth memory (HBM) capabilities through internal restructuring and aggressive external recruitment, as demand for AI-driven HBM chips continues to rise. SK hynix has introduced an internal Career Growth Program focused on HBM design, advanced packaging development, AI infrastructure, and customer quality management. The company is also transferring DRAM process engineers to i

February 17, 2025

Korean business delegation heads to Washington amid trade tensions

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - A high-profile delegation of South Korean business leaders, led by Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), is set to visit Washington this week, marking the first major private-sector mission since President Donald Trump began his second term. The visit comes as the Trump administration signals plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on nations with value added tax (VAT) systems, a move that could affect South Korea’s

February 17, 2025

Kim Jong-un visits mausoleum on father's birth anniversary

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a mausoleum to pay tribute to his late father on the anniversary of his birth, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday. His sister Yo-jong and other high-ranking officials accompanied him on his visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang where his father and grandfather's embalmed bodies lie in state. According to KCNA, Kim "expressed his solemn commitment to dedicating himself to

February 17, 2025

Actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron, known for her role in the South Korean action-thriller film "The Man from Nowhere," was found dead at her residence in Seoul. The police received a report at 4:54 p.m. on Sunday that the 24-year-old had been found unresponsive in her home in Seongsu, eastern Seoul. According to a police official, a friend who had planned to meet her made the discovery and alerted authorities. Kim gained prominence as a child actress in 2

February 16, 2025

Hanwha Robotics installs cooking robots at highway rest stop

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Hanwha Robotics announced Sunday that it has installed five cooking robots at a highway rest stop in the southeastern city of Daegu. The robots, called "HCR-5A," are now operating at the Nongong Rest Area and can prepare more than five types of dishes, including pork cutlets, udon, and instant noodles, known as ramyeon. “With this deployment, customers at Nongong Rest Area will now have access to food court services 24 hours a day,&rdq

February 16, 2025

Stray Kids' Felix misses fan meeting after car accident injury

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Felix, a member of K-pop boy group Stray Kids, missed a fan meeting scheduled for Sunday after sustaining a fracture in a minor car accident the previous day. The group's agency, JYP Entertainment, said the incident took place shortly after a fan meeting ended, when Felix's vehicle was slowly moving through a parking lot at the Inspire Arena in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. It collided with a shuttle bus that had been traveling at a low speed, strikin

February 16, 2025

SK chief meets Viet Nam's communist party chief to discuss energy cooperation

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has met with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, to discuss strengthening cooperation in the energy sector and fostering bilateral ties. Chey, who also serves as the chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met with Lam in Hanoi on Friday, according to a report by Viet Nam’s state-run news agency VNA. “SK Group possesses world-class capabilities in the energy sector, and

February 16, 2025

South Korea, US reaffirm goal of North Korea denuclearization

SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States on Saturday reaffirmed their shared goal of complete denuclearization of North Korea during their first foreign ministers' talks since Donald Trump's return to the presidency. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Munich, Germany, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. During their 40-minute meeting, they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening

February 15, 2025

China expresses concern over attempted break-in by costumed pro-Yoon protester

SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) -- The Chinese Embassy in South Korea expressed "concern and regret" on Saturday over an attempted break-in by a supporter of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was dressed as the Marvel character "Captain America." The incident occurred on Friday evening when a man in his 40s, identified only by his surname Ahn, tried to enter the embassy in Seoul's Myeongdong district as its doors were briefly opened. He was immediately arrest

February 15, 2025

Trump to unveil automobile tariffs on April 2

SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he plans to unveil tariffs on imported automobiles on April 2, a move that could directly affect South Korea’s car exports to the U.S. Responding to a reporter’s question about the timeline for the auto tariffs, Trump asked his aide, "We're going to do it on April 2, I think. Is that right?" The official confirmed, "That's right." He made the remarks during a White Hous

February 15, 2025