US - Oct 06, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
The governments of South Korea and the United States have reportedly reached a "rough" security agreement ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, signaling a strengthened defense partnership. Still, pivotal terms of South Korea's massive, multi-billion-dollar investment pledge, especially the push for a ceiling on U.S. tariffs, have yet to be finalized. The overall economic alignment between the two nations is deeply shadowed by this drawn-out uncertainty.
World - Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
Korea's benchmark KOSPI has climbed to fresh records this year, with gains approaching the high-40 percent range from January. The rally has been led by semiconductors and large-cap exporters that benefit from the AI hardware cycle and a still-supportive external backdrop. Turnover has widened beyond a handful of names, and the run has revived a long-running question in Seoul's markets: is the "Korea discount" finally fading
World - Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
President Lee Jae-myung has instructed police and relevant ministries to take vigorous action against anti-Chinese and broader anti-foreigner rallies that cross legal lines, arguing that the scenes circulating online are beginning to harm Korea's international reputation. The order asks agencies to coordinate faster on-site responses where intimidation, harassment or incitement are alleged, and to publish clearer guidance so that both organizers and officers understand the thresholds that will trigger intervention. Tourism and culture authorities have been told
World - Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
South Korea has blown past its landmark goal of hosting 300,000 international students, reaching 305,329 as of August 2025-two years earlier than planned, according to fresh counts from the Korea Immigration Service summarized by multiple industry monitors. Roughly 225,769 are enrolled in degree programs on D-2 visas, while about 79,500 are studying Korean on D-4-1 visas, with a small cohort on other training visas. The milestone effectively hits the Education Ministry's "Study Korea 300K" blueprint-220,000 degree students plus 80,000 in non-degree
US - Oct 02, 2025 AM EDT - Jason
South Korea's foreign minister said Seoul and Washington have reached a "rough agreement" on security alignment as the two allies push to finalize a broader economic package that could temper U.S. tariffs on Korean goods. But officials on both sides signaled that key financial pieces remain unsettled, including Seoul's request for a bilateral currency swap line, and that implementing texts for tariff relief are not yet in place. The latest
US - Oct 01, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
The first day of the federal funding lapse closed with clearer operational impacts across immigration and public services, even as Congress remained stuck. The Senate failed to advance competing stopgap measures, leaving no immediate path to reopen the government. Hiring & immigration: The E-Verify website now carries a shutdown banner stating that, "due to the lapse in federal funding," the system is unavailable and employers
US - Oct 01, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
After a summer of sweeping U.S. tariff actions, Seoul and Washington say they have a framework to cap most duties on Korean goods at 15%-but the fine print and timing are still in flux. The White House used both IEEPA reciprocal tariffs and Section 232 measures this year, while signaling partner-specific relief. A Congressional Research Service brief confirms that Washington lowered Korea's IEEPA "country rate" to 15% (effective Aug. 7)
US - Oct 01, 2025 AM EDT - Jason
The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a funding bill before the deadline. Essential services continue without pay, but many civilian operations are paused until a new appropriation or stopgap bill is signed. Early agency notices and live coverage confirm closure plans are now in effect. Under federal "lapse in appropriations" rules, agencies
Korea - Sep 30, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
South Korea has raised its national cyber threat level to "Caution" after a fire at the government's National Information Resources Service (NIRS) data center in Daejeon crippled hundreds of e-government systems and exposed single-point-of-failure risks in the country's digital backbone. Authorities say recovery will take weeks, and some systems may require full rebuilds, as agencies move
US - Sep 30, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
Federal funding expires at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and agencies are preparing to execute legally required "lapse in appropriations" plans unless Congress passes a stopgap bill in time. Those plans furlough many non-excepted employees while keeping life-and-property functions running. The Office of Personnel Management has circulated special instructions for an orderly
US - Sep 29, 2025 AM EDT - Jason
SEOUL/NEW YORK - South Korea will move to around-the-clock trading in the won and build an offshore settlement channel, a reform package President Lee Jae-myung unveiled to global investors in New York as the currency hovered in the 1,40x per-dollar range. The aim: fix long-criticized access frictions and strengthen Korea's bid for MSCI Developed Markets
US - Sep 29, 2025 AM EDT - Jason
With federal funding set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. ET on Oct. 1, Congress is racing to pass a short-term measure but has not yet reached agreement. If no deal materializes, agencies will begin executing "lapse in appropriations" plans-furloughing non-excepted staff while keeping life-and-property functions running. Social Security payments and mail delivery continue, but many administrative services
US - Sep 26, 2025 AM EDT - Jason
The United States has formally reduced tariffs on automobiles and auto parts imported from the European Union to 15%, a move retroactive to August 1 that locks in terms of the July U.S.-EU trade framework. The change, published in the Federal Register and implemented by the Commerce Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, gives immediate cost relief to European brands and clarifies rules
US - Sep 26, 2025 AM EDT - Jason
South Korea will move to around-the-clock trading in the won and build an offshore settlement channel, a reform President Lee Jae-myung unveiled to global investors in New York as the currency hovered above ₩1,410 per U.S. dollar. The package is designed to fix long-criticized access frictions and bolster Korea's bid to graduate into MSCI's Developed Markets basket. Reuters first reported the plan,
US - Sep 25, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
The Korean won slipped back above 1,400 per U.S. dollar on Thursday as investors weighed stalled Korea-U.S. tariff talks, a firm greenback, and persistent caution around global rates. Local press reported a 1,400.6 close in Seoul-its first finish above the line in roughly two months-after intraday trading repeatedly tested the threshold this week. The move follows several days of headlines tying FX nerves to the slow grind of trade negotiations with Washington.
Oct 07, 2025 AM EDT - Hannah
Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Hannah
Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Hannah
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K-PEOPLE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
US - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Jason
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
