Journalist
Lee Hugh
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South Korea’s Jung Dae Yoon finishes 19th, eliminated in men’s moguls final at Milan-Cortina Olympics Jung Dae Yoon of the Seoul Ski Association was eliminated in the first round of the men’s moguls final in freestyle skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Competing at the Aerials and Moguls Park in Livigno, Italy, Jung scored 34.28 points in the first final round on Wednesday (Korea time). He placed 19th out of 20 and did not advance to the second final, which is limited to the top eight. Moguls are judged on turns, aerial maneuvers on the jumps and time on a course lined with bumps. Jung had to fight through qualifying to reach the final. He scored 65.51 points in the first qualifier, placing 27th out of 29 and missing automatic qualification. In the second qualifier, he posted 77.36 points to finish fourth and claim an additional spot in the final. In the final, he lost significant points after losing balance on the run, including a slip in the middle of the course that drew deductions. He later attempted a four-rotation aerial move, but it was not enough to move up the standings. Jung will return to competition in the men’s dual moguls on Feb. 15.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 22:03:38 -
Finland Sends Ski Jumping Head Coach Home Over Drinking at Milan-Cortina Olympics Finland’s head coach for ski jumping has been sent home from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics over an alcohol-related incident. The Finnish Olympic Committee said it had ordered Igor Medved, the national team’s ski jumping head coach, to return to Finland. According to Finnish outlet Helsinki Times, Medved violated team rules on drinking during the Games, and the Finnish Ski Association and the Finnish Olympic Committee decided to remove him under internal regulations. Medved, who is from Slovenia, told local media he had been invited to a celebration for Slovenia’s mixed team ski jumping gold medal but said alcohol "ruined things." He apologized to athletes, coaches and fans. The Finnish Ski Association said it will review the matter after the Olympics and take appropriate follow-up steps.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 22:03:00 -
South Korea’s Jeong Seung-gi Advances in Olympic Men’s Skeleton Qualifying, Tied for Eighth Jeong Seung-gi of South Korea advanced through qualifying for the men’s skeleton at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, sitting tied for eighth after the first two runs. Jeong, who competes for Gangwon Provincial Government, posted a combined time of 1 minute, 53.22 seconds on Thursday (Korea time) at the Cortina Sliding Center in Cortina, Italy. He was tied for eighth among 24 athletes. In Run 1, Jeong had a 4.64-second start and finished in 56.57. He opened Run 2 with a 4.61 start, but his run time slipped to 56.65, leaving him level with China’s Yin Zheng and Lin Qinwei. Britain’s Matt Weston led at 1:52.09. Germany’s Axel Jungk was second in 1:52.39, followed by Christopher Grotheer in 1:52.55. South Korea’s Kim Ji Su was 15th at 1:54.15, after clocking 57.15 in Run 1 and improving to 57.00 in Run 2. Final standings will be decided by the combined results through Runs 3 and 4 on Feb. 14. Only the top 20 after Run 3 will advance to the fourth and final run.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 20:54:00 -
South Korea women’s curling team falls to U.S. in Olympic round-robin opener South Korea’s women’s curling team, Gyeonggi Province, ranked No. 3 in the world, opened the 2026 Milan·Cortina Winter Olympics round-robin with a loss. Skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and fifth Seol Ye-ji fell 8-4 to the United States on Feb. 12 (Korean time) at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. In women’s curling, 10 teams play nine round-robin games, with the top four advancing to the semifinals. South Korea started well, scoring one point in each of the second and third ends to lead 2-0. The U.S. tied it in the fourth end with two points. Trailing 3-2, South Korea had the hammer in the seventh but gave up two when Kim Eun-ji’s final stone did not settle in the button, stretching the deficit to 5-2. South Korea answered with two in the eighth to close within 5-4, then limited the damage to one in the ninth. Down 6-4 in the 10th, it tried to rally, but Kim’s final double-takeout attempt missed, and South Korea surrendered two more to finish 8-4. South Korea plays host Italy in its second round-robin game on the morning of Feb. 13. 2026-02-12 20:15:00 -
South Korea’s Jung Dae Yoon Advances to Olympic Moguls Final After Second Qualifier South Korean freestyle skier Jung Dae Yoon of the Seoul Ski Association rebounded from a poor first run to advance to the Olympic men’s moguls final. Jung scored 77.36 points to place fourth in the second qualifying round on Wednesday (Korea time) at the Aerial Mogul Park in Livigno, Italy, at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. He secured one of the 10 final berths awarded to the top 10 finishers among 20 skiers in the second qualifier. In the first qualifying round, Jung scored 65.51 points and finished 27th out of 29, missing an automatic spot in the final. He improved on his second chance with a steadier run and cleaner aerials. Skiing seventh, Jung earned 17.68 points for time, 16.88 for air and 42.8 for turns. After his score was confirmed, he clenched his fist in celebration. It marked his first Olympic appearance and his first trip to an Olympic final. Moguls is contested on a course of closely spaced snow bumps about 1 meter high, with athletes performing aerial tricks at designated jumps. Results are based on a combined evaluation of turning, speed and aerial execution. The top 10 from the first qualifier advance directly, with additional finalists determined in the second qualifier. Lee Yoon Seung of Kyung Hee University, who fell in the first qualifier and did not record a score, withdrew and did not compete in the second qualifier. The men’s moguls final is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Wednesday (Korea time). 2026-02-12 19:57:00 -
Hanwha Ocean to Pay 400% Bonus to Both Contractors and Subcontractors Hanwha Ocean will pay a 400% performance bonus to both its direct employees and subcontracted workers, a rare move among major shipbuilders to apply the same high rate across prime and subcontract workforces. The decision is drawing attention as a potential step toward “equal pay for equal work” on the shop floor. According to Ajunews reporting on Wednesday, Hanwha Ocean decided to pay last year’s performance bonus at 400% of monthly base pay, its highest level since the company’s launch. The bonuses are scheduled to be paid in full on Thursday. The move is seen as reflecting improved results during the shipbuilding upcycle and a push to more directly reward contributions at production sites. The shipbuilding industry has long faced criticism that subcontracted workers handle about 60% of production processes but receive significantly lower welfare benefits and bonuses than direct employees. Hanwha Ocean said late last year it would pay the same performance bonus to both groups as part of labor-management cooperation. In 2024, Hanwha Ocean employees received bonuses equal to 150% of base pay, while workers at partner firms received 75%. Under the new plan, both direct and subcontracted workers will receive the same bonus rate. Industry observers said the decision could help ease the sector’s dual labor structure. With a shortage of skilled workers persisting during the boom, broader profit-sharing could help curb worker outflows and encourage new hiring. Samsung Heavy Industries has previously paid the same bonus rate to prime and subcontract workers, but the amounts were relatively limited, making Hanwha Ocean’s decision stand out, analysts said. The move also complicates calculations across the industry, as it could fuel demands for larger bonuses at shipbuilders already in conflict this year with subcontractor unions over bonus negotiations. Another pressure point is the planned March implementation of the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. The bill calls for prime contractors to negotiate directly with subcontractor unions when the prime contractor exercises substantial control over subcontract workers’ conditions. Against that backdrop, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries postponed performance bonuses for subcontracted workers that had been slated for payment in December to February. By contrast, it plans to pay its direct employees performance bonuses of about 800% this month. Analysts also said Samsung Heavy Industries faces growing pressure over bonus levels. While it pays the same bonus rate to prime and subcontract workers, it differentiates payments by years of service, and its overall bonus level is known to be the lowest among the three major shipbuilders. “Combined with labor issues such as the Yellow Envelope Act, Hanwha Ocean’s move has become even more symbolic,” a shipbuilding industry official said. “In reality, compensation levels inevitably vary depending on each company’s performance and financial conditions, but one company’s decision can be treated as an industrywide benchmark, creating a significant burden.” 2026-02-12 19:36:00 -
Doosan Chairman Park Jeongwon says AI boom boosts energy, semiconductor push Doosan Group is stepping up its push into artificial intelligence, betting that expanding global AI infrastructure will lift demand for its semiconductor and energy businesses. The company says it aims to strengthen its business structure and develop new growth engines. Doosan said Park has recently visited Doosan Enerbility and Doosan’s Electronics BG sites as part of on-site management. “With the AI transformation, a major window of opportunity has opened in the energy business,” Park said. “Based on the capabilities we have built up, we must further strengthen global competitiveness and make the most of the expanded opportunities.” Park visited Doosan Enerbility’s site in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, a day earlier to review the energy business. Doosan said surging AI-related power demand is benefiting the energy-infrastructure company. Park toured a power-generation gas turbine plant and the main equipment manufacturing line for small modular reactors, or SMRs, as the company works to fulfill a growing order book. Doosan Enerbility said it succeeded in localizing large power-generation gas turbines in 2019 and has won orders for a total of 16 turbines at home and abroad. It also said it signed a contract last year to supply five 380-megawatt large gas turbines to a U.S. big tech company. The company has set a mid- to long-term roadmap targeting cumulative orders of 45 turbines by 2030 and 105 by 2038. Park also visited Doosan’s Electronics BG site in Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong Province, to check the manufacturing process for copper-clad laminate, or CCL, used in AI accelerators. Doosan said order backlogs are rising as global big tech companies intensify competition to develop their own AI accelerators. High-performance CCL is required to minimize signal loss and withstand high-temperature operating conditions, it said. Doosan said a stock purchase agreement to acquire SK Siltron is likely to be finalized next month. It said the wafer maker’s growth prospects are being viewed favorably amid a semiconductor supercycle tied to the AI boom. Doosan Group said its 2025 revenue rose 9.1% from a year earlier to 19.7784 trillion won, and operating profit increased 5.9% to 1.0627 trillion won. Among AI-related affiliates, Doosan Enerbility said consolidated revenue rose 5.1%, while Doosan’s Electronics BG posted record revenue of 1.8756 trillion won. Park last month visited CES 2026 in Las Vegas to review AI and other technology trends and seek new business opportunities. Doosan showcased energy solutions such as gas turbines and SMRs, as well as physical AI technologies in construction equipment and robotics, the company said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 18:57:00 -
IOC Bans Ukrainian Skeleton Racer From Milan Olympics Over Memorial Helmet The International Olympic Committee has stripped Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych of eligibility for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics after he insisted on wearing a “memorial helmet” honoring fellow athletes killed in the war with Russia. The IOC said Thursday (Korea time) that Heraskevych was barred from the Games for failing to comply with its athlete freedom-of-expression guidelines. During training runs for the event, Heraskevych wore a custom helmet bearing images of 24 Ukrainian athletes who died during the war, the IOC said. The IOC ruled that the helmet violated Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which says “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.” As an alternative, the IOC proposed that he wear a memorial armband. The IOC said IOC President Kirsty Coventry met with Heraskevych earlier Thursday for talks. Heraskevych refused. “Because of the sacrifice of the athletes who died, we were able to compete here as one team,” he said. “I cannot betray them,” he added, reiterating he would keep wearing the helmet. The IOC said it “regrettably” withdrew his eligibility after he made clear he would not consider any compromise. The Associated Press reported that Heraskevych said he would challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Heraskevych also drew attention at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when he held a sign after his race reading “No war in Ukraine.” The IOC at the time said it did not violate the charter because it was simply a call for peace.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 18:39:00 -
Jordan Stolz Wins Olympic Gold in Men’s 1,000 Meters With Record Time American Jordan Stolz won gold in the men’s 1,000 meters in speedskating, setting a new Olympic record and putting himself in position to contend for more medals in Milan. Stolz clocked 1 minute, 6.28 seconds on Wednesday (Korea time) at the Milan speedskating stadium in Italy, breaking the previous Olympic mark. “An Olympic gold medal is a chance that comes only once every four years,” Stolz said after the race. “I felt a lot of pressure, but I raced the way I prepared.” Stolz has already established himself internationally as a multi-event threat. In December, he swept the 500, 1,000, 1,500 and mass start at an International Skating Union World Cup, and he has continued that form by winning three events at the world championships this season. He is known for both sprint speed and strong race management at middle distances. He also set a World Cup mark as the first male skater to win five titles at a single meet. At the Beijing Olympics four years ago, Stolz finished without a medal. Then a teenager, he has since improved his conditioning and race strategy to become one of the world’s top skaters. In U.S. speedskating, he has been mentioned as a potential successor to Eric Heiden in the multi-gold tradition. At these Games, Stolz is also entered in the 500, 1,500 and mass start. His main rivals include Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands in the 500 and Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands, a two-time Olympic champion, in the 1,500. “After winning my first gold, I feel like I’ve gotten a sense for the arena atmosphere and the ice,” Stolz said. “I’m expecting good results in the remaining races.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 18:24:00 -
South Korean Defense Firms Build EU Production Bases to Meet SAFE Local-Content Rules South Korean defense companies are accelerating efforts to build production systems in Europe as the region tightens procurement rules. To meet local-content requirements under the European Union’s SAFE defense loan program, companies are setting up factories and building supply chains with European parts makers. According to the defense industry on Wednesday, the European Commission recently approved eight countries — Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus — as eligible for SAFE, which offers low-interest loans to member states for joint weapons purchases. SAFE aims to invest 800 billion euros (about 1,370 trillion won) in defense through 2030 to strengthen European security, focusing on procurement of advanced equipment such as ammunition, missiles, artillery, drones and artificial intelligence. To use the fund, however, at least 65% of weapons production and parts sourcing must be European. Moves by South Korean defense firms to establish local bases are becoming more visible. Hanwha Aerospace said it broke ground Tuesday on a plant in Romania to produce K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition resupply armored vehicles. The site, called H-ACE Europe, will include advanced assembly lines, performance and verification test facilities, and a 1,751-meter driving test track. Hanwha Aerospace said the Romania facility will provide full life-cycle support, including assembly, integration, testing and maintenance, repair and overhaul. The company aims to raise localization to 80% by building partnerships with about 30 local parts suppliers. A company official said Hanwha plans to strengthen the cooperation network and develop the site into a European hub that could expand to production and support for advanced ground systems such as infantry fighting vehicles, long-range precision strike systems and unmanned ground vehicles. Hyundai Rotem is also strengthening cooperation with Polish defense company Bumar after signing a second implementation contract last year with Poland’s Armament Agency for K2 tanks. About 250 K2 tanks to be delivered to Poland will be produced at Bumar’s plant, and Hyundai Rotem said it plans to expand capacity depending on future orders. The company is also moving to secure overseas bases, including establishing an about 8,500-square-meter rail-vehicle electrical components plant in California called Hyundai Rotem Smart Electric America, or HRSEA. A defense industry official said building defense plants in Europe is highly challenging because it requires weighing many factors, including contract size, understanding of the local market, language, labor skills and the parts ecosystem. Still, the official said, companies are continuing to review potential sites as trade bloc trends are expected to persist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 18:09:00