By Nurgali Arystanov Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea In 2024, Kazakhstan and South Korea strengthened their strategic partnership, achieving new milestones through key diplomatic events. These developments not only reflect the growing ties between the two countries but also highlight the potential for deeper cooperation across various sectors. Strong political dialogue Political dialogue between Kazakhstan and Korea has been strengthened thanks to the close enga

Korean Air is set to finalize its long-awaited 1.8 trillion won ($1.4 billion) merger with Asiana Airlines Thursday, marking a significant step toward positioning the airline among the world’s top 10 carriers and solidifying its status as the largest in Northeast Asia. On Wednesday, Korean Air completed payments for Asiana shares to secure a 63.9 percent stake in the smaller rival, putting an end to the four-year-long journey. The merger marks the end of an era in which the nation’s

The government said Wednesday it will work to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic aviation industry while minimizing potential monopolistic harm from the soon pending merger between Korean Air Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. The transport ministry announced an aviation industry support plan during a meeting of industries-focused ministries held at Hanwha Ocean Co.'s research and development campus in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. To manage monopoly concerns arising from the merger, the m

Seoul shares opened slightly higher Wednesday as a widespread investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration by various law enforcement agencies gained traction. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 6.44 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,424.28 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The president faces a criminal investigation in connection with insurrection and other charges related to his short-lived martial law order last week. Earlier in the day, he

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America's "ironclad" deterrence commitment to South Korea and Japan on Tuesday, stressing that Washington remains "clear-eyed" about security challenges from North Korea, China and Russia. During his talks with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo, Austin also underscored the United States' commitment to advancing what he called "historic" trilateral cooperation with South Korea in the face of shared

South Korean aircraft maker Korea Aerospace Industries said Tuesday that it has extended its contract with Boeing to produce empennage parts for the US aerospace giant’s 737 Max model. The extension will add 1.12 trillion won ($789 million) in sales to the existing contract. The Boeing 737 Max – the manufacturer's newest narrow-body model for short and medium-haul passenger flights – carries up to 230 passengers. KAI has provided vertical and horizontal stabilizers for the

South Korea’s tourism and retail sectors face repercussions from the escalating political turmoil, with major economies issuing heightened alerts for travelers following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration last week. Starting Wednesday, several countries, including the US, the UK, Japan and Australia, have announced travel alerts, advising their citizens to avoid crowded areas and remain vigilant while staying in Korea. The seemingly heightened concerns cont

South Korean home appliances giant LG Electronics is aiming to cement its presence in India, going for an initial public offering in the country, where the firm is a leader in the premium TV and air conditioner market. On Friday, the company’s Indian arm filed for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, a draft red herring prospectus from the company showed. LG Electronics, the parent company that fully owns the Indian entity, will sell 101.8 million shares, accounting for

Seoul shares closed down for a third straight session Friday as investors await the result of an impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday over his botched martial law attempt. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 13.69 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 2,428.16. This week, the index lost 1.1 percent. Trade volume was moderate at 620.82 million shares worth 10.48 trillion won ($7.4 billion), with losers outpacing wi

Korean Air announced on Friday that it has earned the prestigious Best Airline Onboard Service title at the Global Traveler 2024 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards. The airline's Skypass loyalty program also received recognition, winning the Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption category. Additionally, Korean Air ranked highly in several other categories, including second place for Best First-Class Seat Design and third place for Best Airline Cuisine, Best Business-Class Seat Design, Best Flight

A North Korean defector who escaped the communist state with eight other members of his family last year has died, a fellow defector said through his YouTube channel Thursday. Kim Yi-hyeok, who made headlines in May 2023 with the dramatic escape, died in a sea diving accident on Wednesday, another defector, Lee Cheol-eun, said on an online community. "The tragic news of Kim Yi-hyeok, who left repressive North Korea and only had happy days to live in democratic South Korea, breaks my heart

Seoul shares closed lower for a second straight session on Wednesday as President Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment vote this weekend following his botched declaration of martial law. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 22.15 points, or 0.90 percent, to close at 2,441.85. Trade volume was moderate at 502.49 million shares worth 9.29 trillion won ($6.56 billion), with losers far outpacing winners 724 to 175. Foreigners sold a net 319.19

K-pop icon G-Dragon's latest song, "Home Sweet Home," has been ruled unsuitable for broadcast by the state-run Korean Broadcasting System. The song violated Article 46 of the broadcasting review regulations, which prohibits content with advertising effects, including lyrics that reference specific product brands, KBS said Wednesday. While KBS did not detail the exact lyrics, the song’s mention of "Airbnb," a global online marketplace for homestays and experiences,

South Korea was thrust into a dramatic political crisis Tuesday night amid President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected declaration of martial law. The rapidly unfolding situation, which developed over approximately six hours, exposed shortcomings in media coverage as major broadcasters struggled to respond in real time. While Yonhap News TV and Seoul Broadcasting System were among the few outlets to provide immediate live coverage of the martial law declaration, others lagged behind. The state-run

Multinational companies doing business in Korea were thrown into confusion overnight as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, a drastic decision that was rescinded just six hours later. Most firms swiftly responded by issuing emergency notices, instructing employees to work remotely, while their headquarters closely monitored the situation by directing their Korean teams to report on the potential ramifications. "We stayed up all night monitoring fluctuating exchanges rates," s