Seoul shares dip over 3% amid escalating AI woes

South Korean stocks plunged more than 3 percent Tuesday, driven by heavy tech sell-offs amid escalating woes about massive artificial intelligence (AI) spending. The Korean won was trading higher against the US dollar. After opening 2.46 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index extended losses to close at 5,648.79, down 210.29 points, or 3.59 percent. Trade volume was light at 192.4 million shares worth 14.1 trillion won ($10.5 billion), with decliners beating gainers 656 t

2026-11-03 17:37:16:00

Wave of cyber breaches exposes growing risks to S. Korea's digital economy

A relentless wave of cyberattacks on South Korean banks, telecom operators, businesses and government agencies has exposed growing risks to the country's digital economy, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity. The scale and frequency of the breaches have raised concerns that cyber threats could extend beyond personal data theft to disrupt financial services, business operations and industrial supply chains. The latest series of security breaches has brought those concerns to the highe

2026-11-03 11:54:03:00

N. Korean leader's sister blasts FBI's crypto theft probe as 'political provocation'

North Korea on Tuesday flatly dismissed the outcome of a US investigation that blamed Pyongyang for a massive cryptocurrency theft from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, calling it a "grave political provocation" against the North. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made the remarks, referring to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's announcement Saturday that the regime is responsible for the theft of more than $6 billion in cryptocurrenc

2026-11-03 11:48:57:00

N. Korea slams Japan's missile reinforcement, joint drills with US

North Korea on Tuesday criticized Japan's push to acquire "preemptive attack" capabilities and last month's regular military drills between Washington and Tokyo, warning that such moves would invite a "vicious cycle" of escalating regional tensions. In an article carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, a military commentator took issue with Tokyo's deployment of a Type 25 longer-range anti-ship missile launcher during the bilateral Keen Sword exercise that took place across Japan fro

2026-11-03 10:47:42:00

Police launch investigation into leak of presidential plane passenger information

Police said Tuesday they have launched a preliminary investigation into the online leak of personal information belonging to 168 individuals, including President Lee Jae Myung, his wife and Cabinet ministers. Earlier in June, a file titled "Passenger list (South Korea-Belgium)" was posted on a paid, security-related website, according to the Korean National Police Agency. The file reportedly contained the personal information of 168 individuals, including Lee and his wife, key government officia

2026-11-03 10:27:37:00

Sales of Galaxy Z Fold 8 increase following launch of Apple's 1st foldable smartphone

Domestic sales of Samsung Electronics Co.'s latest Galaxy Z foldable smartphone have increased following the launch of Apple Inc.'s first foldable iPhone, industry sources said Tuesday. Sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in South Korea rose about 20 percent in the week after the iPhone Duo's launch from the previous week, according to telecommunications industry sources. The increase is believed to reflect consumer recognition of Samsung's hinge technology and product durability, as well as the user e

2026-11-03 10:24:56:00

Presidential office holds emergency meeting over leak of personal data of president, trip entourage

The presidential office held an emergency meeting Tuesday to address the leak of personal information of President Lee Jae Myung and members of an entourage that accompanied him on his overseas trip in June. The meeting, presided over by presidential chief of staff Lim Kwang-hyun, followed news reports that a computer file containing personal data of Lee's entourage for his June overseas trip had been uploaded to a publicly accessible website that same month. Those affected also included the fir

2026-11-03 10:23:12:00

BOK sees consumer inflation remaining near 3% in Nov.

Consumer prices are expected to rise into the high 2 percent range in November due to an upward trend in core inflation, the central bank said Tuesday. "Consumer prices rose at a slower pace in October as shipments of agricultural products improved, but prices of private services and durable goods remained elevated," Deputy Gov. Lee Ji-ho said during a meeting to review inflation trends. "In November, inflation is expected to remain in the high 2 percent range, affected by global oil prices and

2026-11-03 10:21:04:00

Launch ceremony set for latest indigenously-built attack submarine

The Navy was set to hold a launching ceremony Tuesday for its latest indigenously-built attack submarine, a key asset in boosting its undersea deterrence against maritime threats around the Korean Peninsula, the armed force said. The 3,600-ton Seo Hui attack submarine was to be moved into the water for the first time during the ceremony at Hanwha Ocean Co.'s shipyard in Geoje, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the Navy said in a statement jointly released by the Defense Acquisition Program

2026-11-03 10:17:21:00

Police release identity of suspect in Seoul building arson

Police on Tuesday released the identity and mug shots of a suspect accused of setting fires at two patent firms in southern Seoul last month and leaving 26 people injured. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency posted the photos of Lee Myung-soo, 77, on its website following a decision by a review committee. Lee is suspected of committing arson in two buildings in Seoul's southern ward of Gangnam on Oct. 20, He was taken into custody shortly after the fires and was referred to the prosecution last

2026-11-03 09:54:18:00