(2nd LD) Seoul stocks set fresh record high on tech gains, U.S. ceasefire extension
(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom)
· Oh Seok-min
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Honda to stop selling autos in South Korea at end of this year
Honda Motor, facing heavy losses following changes to its EV strategy, says it will stop selling automobiles in South Korea. (Photo by Azusa Kawakami)
· Staff Writer
PPS supports resource recycling in hopes to stabilize raw material supply
South Korea's Public Procurement Service said Thursday it visited local waste recycling company City Oil Field to explore ways to expand public procurement channels and strengthen domestic raw material supply chains.
· Lee Kwon-hyung, Lee Han-gyoul
Honda to end auto sales in Korea
Honda Korea said Thursday it will exit the automobile sales business in Korea by the end of 2026, following a strategic review of its operations.
· Jeon Ji-woo
(LEAD) Ex-MLB player Choi Ji-man signs with S. Korean minor league club
(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 4-5)By Yoo Jee-ho
· Yoo Jee-ho
[Lee Byung-jong] Israel’s friends and foes
Israel has never been a contentious issue in South Korea — until President Lee Jae Myung posted a short message on X earlier this month. Sharing a video that appeared to show Israeli soldiers dropping the body of a deceased Palestinian boy from a rooftop, Lee questioned whether the footage was real.
· Korea Herald
Vice minister calls for steel industry's cooperation for supply chain stabilization amid Mideast crisis
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Vice Industry Minister Moon Shin-hak on Thursday called on the steel industry to join the country's efforts to stabilize supply chains of key industrial materials amid the Middle East crisis, Moon's office said.
· Kim Na-young
USFK eyes making S. Korea into 'regional sustainment hub' to expedite MRO of assets
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) aims to position South Korea as a "regional sustainment hub" by leveraging the country's outstanding military production capabilities to expedite the repair and maintenance of U.S. military assets, the USFK commander said.
· Kim Hyun-soo
Mother sentenced to life for brutal abuse, murder of 4-month-old son
SUNCHEON, South Korea, April 23 (Yonhap) -- A woman who brutally beat her four-month-old son and left him to die in a bathtub was sentenced Thursday to life imprisonment in a child abuse case that stunned the nation.
· Chae Yun-hwan
Kospi extends record rally on strong earnings
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi hit another record high on Thursday, marking a third consecutive session of fresh highs, buoyed by strong earnings.
· Im Eun-byel
(LEAD) Honda to exit S. Korean car market after 23 yrs
(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 6-8)
· Chang Dong-woo
Ex-husband of Samsung's Lee Boo-jin serving prison term in deception case
YEONCHEON, South Korea, April 23 (Yonhap) -- The ex-husband of Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, has belatedly been revealed to be serving a one-year prison sentence for deceiving authorities in a bizarre case involving his shaman girlfriend, legal sources said Thursday.
· Lee Haye-ah
(LEAD) Seoul stocks set fresh record high on tech gains, U.S. ceasefire extension
(ATTN: ADDS more details from 3rd para, additional photo)
· Oh Seok-min
Honda to exit S. Korean car market after 23 yrs
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Honda Korea, the South Korean sales unit of Japan's Honda Motor Co., said Thursday it will withdraw from the country's automobile market, ending its 23-year operation in the country.
· Chang Dong-woo
Seoul stocks set fresh record high on tech gains, US ceasefire extension
South Korean stocks closed at a fresh record high Thursday, approaching the 6,500-point level, as investors focused on corporate earnings following the United States' indefinite extension of its ceasefire in the conflict with Iran. The local currency fell against the US dollar.
· Yonhap
Samsung workers protest for higher pay, threaten to strike
Visitors watch a Samsung Electronics’ Micro RGB TV at its booth during the World IT Show in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
· Kim Tong Hyung
Court backs sports ministry on disciplinary action for football chief
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- A court ruled Thursday that the sports ministry's call for heavy disciplinary action against the country's top football official in 2024 was justified.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
Seoul stocks set fresh record high on tech gains, U.S. ceasefire extension
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed at a fresh record high Thursday, approaching the 6,500-point level, as investors focused on corporate earnings following the United States' indefinite extension of its ceasefire in the conflict with Iran. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.
· Oh Seok-min
USFK chief lays out OPCON timeline, recasts US role around capabilities
I’m a staff reporter for The Korea Herald, covering national security and foreign policy across the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly. Before entering journalism, I served as an Air Force lieutenant, working as an interpreter and junior planner at the ROK–US Combined Force…
· Hwang Joo-young
(URGENT) Seoul shares again hit fresh high of 6,475.81 on tech gains, U.S. ceasefire extension
(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. aim to meet OPCON transfer conditions no later than Q1 of 2029: USFK commander
· Oh Seok-min
(LEAD) Prosecution raided over ex-prosecutor general's alleged role in martial law bid
(ATTN: ADDS background on Yoon's detention from 5th para)
· Chae Yun-hwan
Vietnam taps South Korea for renewed nuclear power plan
Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, right, welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as the Southeast Asian country's first state guest since adding the post of president to his existing role as Communist Party chief, on April 22 in Hanoi.
· Staff Writer
S. Korea, Canada sign coproduction treaty for audiovisual content
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Canada signed an audiovisual coproduction treaty that will qualify joint audiovisual projects as national content, in a move aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in the TV, film and animation sectors, the media watchdog here said Thursday.
· Kim Boram
Beyond espresso: Nespresso eyes wider coffee styles in Korea
Nespresso Korea is charting new territory in 2026, moving "from espresso to exploration" with more diverse, customizable coffee styles and a new machine built for Korean life.
· No Kyung-min
Oscar-winning director Maggie Kang signs with Korean entertainment agency
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Oscar-winning director Maggie Kang has signed with The Present Company, a Korean entertainment agency, to launch her activities in Korea, the agency said Thursday.
· Woo Jae-yeon
(LEAD) S. Korean special envoy meets Iran's FM, requests cooperation for safe Hormuz transit of ships
(ATTN: ADDS details from S. Korean foreign ministry's press release; RESTRUCTURES) By Kim Seung-yeon
· Kim Seung-yeon
Korean Air may finally let flight attendants wear sneakers
For 57 years, Korean Air has required its flight attendants to wear heeled shoes, but this rule could soon change.
· Song Seung-hyun
Lee seeks bigger Korea role in Vietnam's growth drive
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum
Eximbank Korea seals nuclear financing pact with Vietnam
Export-Import Bank of Korea has signed a four-way agreement in Vietnam to deepen financing cooperation for nuclear projects, while supporting Seoul's push to expand exports of Korean nuclear technology.
· Choi Ji-won
Unification minister rejects criticism of N.K.-related intel leak as 'political trick'
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Thursday rejected allegations that his reference to North Korea's Kusong as one of its uranium enrichment sites constituted a leak of classified information, dismissing the criticism as a "political trick" hampering the national interest.
· Park Boram
Prosecution raided over ex-prosecutor general's alleged role in martial law bid
GWACHEON, South Korea, April 23 (Yonhap) -- A special counsel team raided the top prosecutors office Thursday over former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung's alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid in 2024.
· Chae Yun-hwan
S. Korean envoy urges Iran cooperation on Hormuz transit amid tensions
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Chip boom lifts Korea to fastest growth in 5 years
Q1 growth hits 1.7% on chips, but Middle East risks loom
· Im Eun-byel
Ex-MLB player Choi Ji-man signs with S. Korean minor league club
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Former major league first baseman Choi Ji-man has signed with a minor league club in South Korea.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Vietnamese envoy sees SMEs as engine of next stage in Korea ties
Cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises is key to deepening future ties and mutual growth between South Korea and Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Thai Binh, deputy chief of mission at the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul, said Wednesday.
· Lee Seung-ku
Samsung Electronics, POSTECH's joint research on 2D-3D switchable display published in Nature
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday that its joint research with Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) on a 2D-3D switchable display has been published in the prestigious journal Nature.
· Kim Boram
Classical Bridge Festival returns to Seoul, linking generations, geographies through music
Sixth edition to feature 21 artists across seven performances, marking Korea-France ties
· Park Ga-young
Now, stand two lines on escalators
Korea ramps up campaign to encourage two-line standing from 'stand right, walk left' practice
· Choi Jeong-yoon
Matchmaking firm Duo leak exposed your weight, assets, religion and more
South Korea’s privacy watchdog has fined matchmaking company Duo after hackers stole detailed personal profiles of more than 427,000 paid members, in a breach that exposed information ranging from resident registration numbers to marital history, religion and education records.
· Park Han-na
Seoul National University to launch foreign-only undergraduate program in fall 2027
Seoul National University will set up a new undergraduate division for international students, with enrollment set to begin as early as next fall.
· Korea Herald
Most foreigners excluded from Korea’s oil-price relief payouts
Migrant groups say the policy undermines a more inclusive society
· Lee Seung-ku
Giants' Lee Jung-hoo picks up hit, Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong silenced in Korean duel
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants picked up a hit for the second straight game while his fellow South Korean for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kim Hye-seong, was kept in check in the battle of the National League West rivals.
· Yoo Jee-ho
S. Korea needs more diplomatic endeavors for deeper ties with Egypt: former ambassador
Former South Korean ambassador to Egypt Kim Yong-hyon called Thursday for Korea to bolster ties with Egypt, calling the country crucial amid uncertainties in the Middle East.
· Son Ji-hyoung
Today in Korean history
1915 -- A group of South Korean journalists form an association of newspapers.
· Kang Jae-eun
Korean man arrested for trying to hang 'Dokdo is our land' banner at Yasukuni Shrine
A South Korean man was arrested on Wednesday for attempting to hang a banner asserting the claim that the Dokdo islets are Korean territory at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, according to Japanese media.
· Park Jun-hee
Appeals by both sides set stage for Johnny Somali retrial
Victim’s representative says case should deter foreign streamers from similar antics in S. Korea
· Choi Jae-hee
Pilot’s selfie led to mid-air collision in F-15K fighter jet, says South Korea’s air force
One pilot ordered to repay some of the $600,000 of damage caused by collision in 2021
· Reuters
Yonhap News Summary
The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.-----------------■ (2nd LD) S. Korea logs fastest GDP growth in 5 1/2 yrs on strong semiconductor exports
· Kang Jae-eun
Seoul denies discriminatory treatment of US firms after Republican letter on Coupang
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Vietnam approves imports of Samgyetang, other Korean foods
South Korea has won approval to export heat treated poultry products to Vietnam under a new bilateral agreement, the government said Thursday.
· Yoon Min-sik