Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Comedian Park So Young Announces Pregnancy on YouTube Comedian Park So Young has announced she is pregnant. On Thursday, Park posted a video to her YouTube channel, 'Jubu Dwaet So Young,' titled, "Everyone, I’m finally pregnant. A vlog revealing So Young’s pregnancy signs after a natural pregnancy, including a photo of the gestational sac." In the video, Park said, "As much as we prepared, a precious baby came to us," adding, "I’ll watch over our baby and do my best as the baby grows." Park previously shared her in vitro fertilization process on her channel, drawing congratulatory messages from subscribers. Comments included, "Congratulations," and "The results of all your hard work have finally arrived." Park married Moon Kyung Chan, a former baseball player who is five years younger, in 2024. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 15:36:00 -
Chip-led export price gains more than offset Korea's import inflation in Jan SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - South Korea's export prices picked up far faster than import prices in January on the back of strong semiconductor demand, more than offsetting import inflation caused by a weak currency, data showed Friday. According to the Bank of Korea, January export prices climbed 4.0 percent from December and 7.8 percent from a year earlier, accelerated from a 0.6 percent monthly gain and a 0.1 percent annual decline in December. Strong demand for chips and IT products more than offset the slight softening of the dollar. The won averaged 1,456.51 per dollar in January, compared with 1,467.4 in December. The export volume index jumped 28.3 percent from a year earlier, while the export value index surged 37.3 percent, more than tripling December’s growth pace and overwhelming gains in imports. Import volume and value indices increased 14.5 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. The electronics segment, including semiconductors, bolstered export prices, rising 12.4 percent from December and 34.2 percent from a year earlier. DRAM prices surged 31.6 percent from the previous month, while flash memory rose 9.9 percent. Compared with a year earlier, prices for both items more than doubled — up 102.7 percent for DRAM and 115.1 percent for NAND. Primary metal products, including copper, also supported the upward trend, rising 7.1 percent from December and 22.0 percent from a year earlier. Strong copper demand from semiconductor and power-grid sectors, combined with rallies in precious metals such as gold and silver, lifted prices. Silver ingots jumped 42.1 percent from December, while refined copper products rose 10.4 percent. Gold prices surged more than 80 percent between December and January to reach $5,000 per troy ounce, while silver climbed to a record above $120. Copper also gained about 5 percent to around $8,800 per ton. Import Prices Rise Moderately Import price gains remained relatively mild despite prolonged weakness in the won, reflecting softer international fuel prices and subdued domestic demand. Import prices edged up 0.4 percent from December and fell 1.2 percent from a year earlier. Copper ore recorded the sharpest increase, jumping 10.1 percent from the previous month, as demand expanded across AI-related industries, from semiconductors to power grids. Primary metal products led import price increases, posting a 6.3 percent monthly gain and an 18.5 percent annual rise. Refined precious metals rose 24.6 percent from December and surged 129.5 percent from a year earlier, driven by price spikes in non-ferrous metals used in semiconductors, including platinum and palladium. Trade Conditions Improve The net terms-of-trade index rose 8.9 percent from a year earlier, up from around 5 percent in December, and climbed 4.4 percent from the previous month. The income terms-of-trade index jumped 39.7 percent from a year earlier, reflecting sharply improved export earnings. Fuel Prices Decline, With Exceptions Export prices for coal and petroleum products fell 0.4 percent from December and dropped 13.1 percent from a year earlier, reflecting lower crude oil prices. Dubai crude fell to around $61 per barrel in December, and those cheaper imports were processed and exported in January. Gasoline export prices declined 3.7 percent from December. Retail gasoline prices in Seoul fell from 1,802 won per liter in December to 1,763 won in January. Diesel prices dropped 13.1 percent from a year earlier amid slowing demand for diesel vehicles and rising inventories. Bunker C oil prices slid 25.1 percent as global cargo volumes softened. Jet fuel prices rose 0.4 percent from December, supported by strong year-end travel demand and increased air cargo linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. On the import side, crude oil and bunker fuel prices fell 22.9 percent and 20.5 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. By contrast, liquefied petroleum gas prices rose 5.3 percent from December, as winter heating demand remained strong and Saudi Aramco raised its January contract prices by more than 6 percent per ton. 2026-02-13 14:53:08 -
FM meets USFK commander at Camp Humphreys SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Hyun visited Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on Friday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cho met with Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) earlier in the day. The visit was arranged after Brunson invited Cho during a luncheon last month that also included Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Defense Department's undersecretary of defense for policy, who was visiting South Korea at the time. Pundits speculate the two sides likely discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, covering various pending issues including possible changes in the role of USFK for the modernization of the bilateral alliance. 2026-02-13 14:46:03 -
CJ Olive Young unveils wellness pop-up at Seongsu flagship store SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - CJ Olive Young has launched a pop-up store dedicated to its new wellness curation platform at its flagship location in Seongsu-dong, a district that has cemented its status as Seoul’s primary retail testbed. The country’s top beauty and health retailer announced on Friday that it opened the "New Wellness Lounge" on the first floor of "Olive Young N Seongsu." The pop-up, which runs until March 9, is designed to introduce the lifestyle concepts proposed by its newly launched content platform, "Olive Better." The launch comes as Seongsu-dong continues to serve as a barometer for consumer trends in South Korea, with major retailers increasingly utilizing the district to pilot new branding strategies and engage with trend-conscious demographics. The "New Wellness Lounge" focuses on three core themes: "Eat Well," "Fit Well," and "Relax Well." Visitors can experience a curated wellness routine that includes healthy snacks, stretching guides, and aromatherapy zones. The space also features interactive elements such as a "check-in" event linked to social media, offering visitors a hands-on experience of the company's wellness proposition. "The lounge is meaningful as a space created together by Olive Young N Seongsu, a trend hub, and Olive Better, a wellness curation platform," an Olive Young official said. "We will continue to plan various contents to help customers discover their own wellness routines." In parallel with the Seongsu pop-up, CJ Olive Young is operating an "Olive Better Lucky Board" event near Hongik University Station in western Seoul until Feb. 18, offering gift cards and promotional products to engage a wider audience. 2026-02-13 14:43:39 -
Hyundai Motor Group pushes to bring AI, robotics and battery tech in-house Hyundai Motor Group are stepping up efforts to bring key future-mobility technologies — including artificial intelligence, robotics and batteries — in-house as competition intensifies and cross-industry partnerships accelerate. In a New Year’s message released Jan. 5, Chairman Euisun Chung said rapid shifts toward software-defined vehicles, AI and future mobility are creating major growth opportunities, but warned that companies that fail to internalize AI capabilities will struggle to survive. “The only way for Hyundai Motor Group to firmly establish itself as a global top-tier company in the future is to accept and absorb AI not as technology borrowed from outside, but as the lifeblood of the organization,” Chung said, underscoring the importance of building AI expertise internally. His remarks reflect the view that securing in-house AI capabilities is essential to deliver proprietary products and services that use AI. The mobility market has recently seen growing focus on robotics, including humanoid robots, and autonomous driving aimed at offering more convenient and flexible mobility experiences. As leading companies compete, talks on collaboration within and across industries have also become more active to create synergies. Against that backdrop, Hyundai Motor Group said it aims to expand value by strengthening internal capabilities rather than relying on outside technology. The company points to electric-vehicle battery technology as a leading example of successful internalization. Hyundai have continued to strengthen cooperation with global battery makers while building vehicle-centered battery expertise, rolling out EVs such as the Ioniq series. The group are also pushing to deepen battery R&D. In November, it held a topping-out ceremony for the “Future Mobility Battery Anseong Campus,” and is pursuing what it described as the group’s first large-scale battery-focused R&D hub, targeting completion by the end of this year. It said it is building a close cooperation framework between automakers and the battery industry in line with government electrification policies. Hyundai Motor Group said its electrification strategy depends on in-house capabilities to define performance and safety standards from a vehicle perspective and to integrate, develop and validate batteries based on real-world driving conditions. 2026-02-13 14:42:00 -
TrendForce: Nvidia to expand HBM4 supply chain to Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron by Q2 SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Nvidia Corp. is expected to diversify its High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) supply chain to include all three major memory chipmakers, as validation for the fourth-generation HBM4 chips enters the final stages ahead of the mass production of its next-generation "Rubin" GPU platform. According to a report by market researcher TrendForce on Friday, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron Technology are all projected to complete HBM4 certification within the second quarter of this year. This milestone is likely to reshape Nvidia’s supply structure into a three-company ecosystem. TrendForce assessed that Samsung Electronics is likely to be the first to secure certification, citing the company's product stability. The firm expects Samsung to begin phased mass production following the Q2 certification. SK hynix is projected to follow, maintaining its competitive edge in overall bit supply volume based on its established partnership with Nvidia. Micron is also forecast to complete verification within the quarter, albeit at a slightly slower pace than its competitors. "Demand for GPUs continues to rise as AI infrastructure expands, and HBM4 adoption is likely to accelerate once Rubin enters full-scale mass production," the report noted. The report highlighted that investment has accelerated since late 2025, led by North American cloud service providers (CSPs) competing for leadership in the AI agent market. This has driven a surge in demand for inference-focused AI, supporting a positive outlook for the commercial adoption of the Rubin platform. However, supply-side dynamics are shifting. TrendForce noted that commodity DRAM prices have jumped since the fourth quarter of 2025, narrowing the profitability gap between HBM and standard memory. Consequently, memory manufacturers are recalibrating their capacity allocation to balance revenue with customer requirements. The research firm warned that relying on a single supplier could constrain the initial production ramp-up of the Rubin platform. Given the complexity of HBM4 design and sustained growth in GPU demand, TrendForce concluded that Nvidia will likely require all three chipmakers to ensure supply stability. 2026-02-13 14:41:12 -
Chef Lim Seong-geun Says He Is Preparing to Open a Restaurant After DUI Controversy Chef Lim Seong-geun, who has faced controversy after details of multiple drunk-driving offenses became public, shared an update on his life. Lim wrote on social media on Thursday, "I’ve been wondering how you’ve been," adding, "I’m currently spending my time preparing to open a restaurant, which is my main line of work." He said that once preparations are finished, he will be ready to welcome visitors "without 부담" and serve "a warm meal" and food he has made with care. He ended the post by wishing people a happy Lunar New Year holiday and good health. Lim has halted all broadcast activities after reports revealed four drunk-driving incidents, as well as convictions for driving without a license and assault causing injury. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 14:36:00 -
Seollal in motion: More opt to travel, but tradition lives on SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - On a quiet winter morning, the scent of beef broth fills Korean homes. A carefully arranged table is set before elders. Children bow deeply, offering New Year’s greetings — “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo,” or “May you receive many blessings in the new year.” With a bowl of tteokguk, rice cake soup, another year of life officially begins. That is Seollal, Korea’s Lunar New Year. Observed on the first day of the lunar calendar, Seollal is one of the country’s most important traditional holidays. The official break typically runs for at least three days, during which families reunite to mark the beginning of the year. While often compared to Thanksgiving in the United States or Lunar New Year celebrations in China, Seollal is distinctive in its emphasis on ancestral rites performed within the home. On the morning of Seollal, many families hold charye, a memorial ritual honoring ancestors. Younger family members perform sebae, a formal bow to elders, who in return offer words of blessing and small cash gifts known as sebaetdon. These customs reinforce intergenerational respect and a sense of family continuity. At the center of the holiday meal is tteokguk. The white rice cake soup symbolizes renewal and purity, while its long, thin slices are traditionally associated with longevity. A common saying holds that one must eat tteokguk to “become a year older.” Although the clear-broth version is the most widely known, regional variations abound — from the oval-shaped rice cakes of Gaeseong-style soup to oyster-based versions in southeastern regions and dumpling-filled broths in Gangwon Province. After the rituals and meals, families often turn to traditional games. The most familiar is yutnori, a board game played by tossing four wooden sticks and moving tokens based on the result. Its simple rules allow children and grandparents alike to join in. In the past, Seollal also featured outdoor folk games such as jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking), kite flying, spinning tops, tuho (throwing arrows into a container), and neolttwigi (a seesaw-like jumping game). In today’s urban neighborhoods, many of these activities are more commonly seen at cultural festivals or school programs. A Nation on the Move Seollal is also marked by one of the largest annual movements of people in South Korea. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, about 27.8 million trips are projected during the 2026 holiday period. While this is lower than the 32.07 million recorded in 2025, the decline largely reflects a shorter break — four days this year compared with six last year. On a daily basis, travel intensity is expected to rise, averaging 8.34 million people per day, up from 7.63 million the previous year. Highway traffic is forecast to peak at 6.15 million vehicles on Seollal itself, as travel compresses into a narrower time window. The concentration highlights how the structure of the holiday calendar shapes nationwide mobility patterns. At the same time, the meaning of Seollal has evolved. A recent survey found that 31.4 percent of respondents plan to travel during the holiday, with most choosing domestic destinations. While visiting one’s hometown was once the central obligation of the season, leisure travel is increasingly becoming part of the celebration. Smaller family sizes, changing work patterns and shifting social expectations have also altered how households observe the holiday. Some families shorten visits, rotate gatherings, or replace formal rituals with simpler meals. Yet even as formats change, certain symbols endure. The deep bow. The shared meal. The steaming bowl of tteokguk on a winter morning. These remain constant. 2026-02-13 14:34:19 -
'A Man Living With the King' Tops Box Office Ahead of Holiday; 'Humint' No. 2 "A Man Living With the King," which drew 1 million moviegoers in its first five days, has climbed to No. 1 at the box office. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, the film drew 83,919 viewers on Wednesday, bringing its cumulative total to 1,365,906 and putting it atop the overall box office. It also led all films in advance ticket sales and is holding a 97% score on CGV’s Golden Egg Index. Set in 1457 in Cheongnyeongpo, the film follows a village chief who volunteers to live in exile to revive his community and a young deposed king sent into exile after being driven from the throne. The movie is drawing attention as the first South Korean film to bring a little-known story about King Danjong to the screen. Ryu Seung-wan’s "Humint" ranked No. 2 over the same period, with 81,189 admissions and a cumulative total of 212,817. The title refers to intelligence work using human networks — in other words, informants. Set in Vladivostok, where secrets and truths alike are buried in an icy sea, the film centers on people with different aims who collide. It stars Jo In Sung, Park Jeong Min, Shin Se Kyung and Park Hae Joon.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 14:24:00 -
South Korean lawmaker to host forum on adding handball to Sports Toto betting program Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Cho Kye Won, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, will host a forum on adding handball to Sports Toto and pursuing sport-specific reforms at 10 a.m. on the 24th at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, Room 1. The forum is intended to explore government-level institutional support to help handball — once a standout at the Olympics and other international competitions — and other less-popular sports regain competitiveness and build a self-sustaining ecosystem. Organizers plan to focus on adding handball as a new event to Sports Toto (the sports promotion lottery), aiming to boost public interest and diversify funding that has largely depended on government budgets and corporate sponsorships. The discussion will also examine ways to develop the sport into an industry, similar to baseball and soccer. The event is co-hosted by Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Chairman Kim Kyo Heung, committee secretary Lim Oh Kyung, and lawmakers Min Hyung Bae, Park Soo Hyun and Yang Moon Seok, along with Education Committee lawmaker Kim Moon Soo. Cho is scheduled to deliver congratulatory remarks on securing the survival and public role of less-popular sports. Lim will lead discussions on policy and institutional reforms centered on the realities of the sports field. Presentations will cover “Korean handball’s past and present” and “self-help efforts in the handball community, including the H League.” Professor Kim Dae Hee of Pukyong National University is set to propose a development model for less-popular sports that combines corporate investment with government policy support, under the theme “A Korean-style sustainable sports model and the government’s role.” “Even though handball has produced the best results among Olympic ball sports, it has long faced the limits of being a less-popular sport, so it needs to be included in Sports Toto to secure stable funding and broaden its base,” Cho said. “We must build a structure that allows handball to move beyond simply maintaining the status quo and to become industrially self-reliant and grow sustainably.” Lim said handball “has history and commercial appeal, is a major Olympic sport, and as a team sport best fits the fair and transparent operation of the sports promotion lottery,” adding that its inclusion in Sports Toto should be actively reviewed. The forum is expected to draw Democratic Party lawmakers on the committee, officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, as well as representatives from the Korea Handball Association and the Korea Handball Federation, coaches and athletes. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 14:21:00