Journalist
Lee Hugh
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GC Pharma, Dongkook, Kwangdong and ABL Bio report R&D, anti-counterfeit and sales updates GC Pharma shares lysosomal storage disease drug development updates at WORLD Symposium 2026 GC Pharma said Tuesday it presented updates on its lysosomal storage disease (LSD) drug programs at WORLD Symposium 2026, held Feb. 2-6 in San Diego. WORLD Symposium is an international forum where LSD specialists share the latest research and discuss improved treatments. GC Pharma presented a poster on preclinical results for GC1130A, a candidate treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPSIIIA). The company is developing the drug for direct delivery into the brain’s ventricles (ICV) to improve efficacy. In preclinical animal studies, heparan sulfate levels in the brains of disease-model animals given GC1130A fell significantly, and researchers observed reduced brain inflammation and improved cognitive ability. GC1130A is in Phase 1 trials in the United States and South Korea and has received fast-track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company plans to complete Phase 1 this year and aims to commercialize the drug before 2030. GC Pharma also joined a global investigator meeting for HM15421/GC1134A, a Fabry disease treatment candidate, sharing safety indicators and preliminary pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data from cohort 1 and discussing clinical strategy. With enrollment for cohort 1 complete, the company plans to begin registering cohort 2 participants in the second quarter. Dongkook Pharmaceutical asks Korean IP office for continued cooperation in anti-counterfeit efforts Dongkook Pharmaceutical said Tuesday it held a meeting Feb. 9 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office at its headquarters in Seoul to discuss preventing counterfeit distribution and protecting consumers for its dermacosmetics brand Centellian24. The two sides shared information on the spread of counterfeit goods, particularly through domestic online channels and overseas distribution, and discussed cooperation to crack down on counterfeits and block distribution. They agreed the issue has significant implications for consumer safety and brand trust and said continued cooperation is needed. Dongkook Pharmaceutical said counterfeit versions of key Centellian24 products, including Madeca Cream and Melacapture Ampoule, are being sold in packaging similar to genuine items. The company said counterfeit products can be difficult to verify for ingredients and may pose a high risk of serious side effects if applied to the skin. Kwangdong Pharmaceutical says Cheonghyeonghwan tops 160 billion won in cumulative sales Kwangdong Pharmaceutical said Tuesday that cumulative sales of Kwangdong Cheonghyeonghwan surpassed 160 billion won from its 2019 launch through 2025. The pill-form product uses agarwood and deer antler velvet as main ingredients. The company said cumulative sales volume reached about 27 million pills, based on 30 pills per box, and the repurchase rate was 99.8%. Kwangdong Pharmaceutical said it runs a quality-control system covering the full process from ingredient selection to manufacturing. It said it tests for about 540 types of harmful substances, including pesticide residues, and produces the product through a 45-step process at facilities certified under the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points standard, from raw-material intake to finished-product inspection. The company said it has introduced automation in the filling and packaging stage. ABL Bio publishes review paper on 4-1BB antibodies in international journal ABL Bio said Tuesday it published a review paper in the international journal mAbs on 4-1BB, a target drawing attention for next-generation cancer immunotherapy. The paper, titled “Expanding the horizon of cancer therapy with next-generation 4-1BB antibodies: a review of molecular and clinical strategies to maximize efficacy and ensure safety,” was released online Feb. 6. According to the paper, 4-1BB bispecific antibodies showed improved anticancer efficacy and a favorable safety profile compared with conventional monoclonal antibodies. It described an approach that limits T-cell activation through 4-1BB signaling to the tumor microenvironment where cancer cells are present, as a way to address limitations seen with earlier 4-1BB monoclonal antibodies urelumab and utomilumab. The paper said 4-1BB may also support longer-lasting anticancer effects and could play an important role in future combination therapies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 17:42:00 -
Job data hints AI stealing entry-level high-skill jobs in Korea SEOUL, Feb. 11 (AJP) – South Korea’s youth employment remains in the doldrums for a second straight year, and fresh losses in science, technology, law and accounting services suggest the country’s rapid embrace of artificial intelligence is steadily worsening job prospects for college graduates. January job data indicate that hiring is slowing just as companies accelerate automation, raising concerns that AI is quietly narrowing access to stable, long-term employment for young workers. According to January job data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, net payroll growth slowed to 108,000 jobs, the smallest increase in 13 months. The youth employment rate for those aged 15 to 29 fell 1.2 percentage points to 43.6 percent, marking its 21st consecutive month of decline. Weak job creation is hardly new. What stands out is where new losses stemmed from. Employment in professional, scientific and technical services fell by 98,000 in January, a 6.6 percent year-on-year plunge – the steepest decline since the category was created in 2013. The sector includes legal affairs, accounting, consulting, marketing, research and development, and quality control, fields that typically require undergraduate or higher degrees and regarded as resilient to economic downturns and technological disruption. Even in April 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out more than 470,000 jobs nationwide, employment in this category rose by 19,000. That buffer is shaken. After rebounding in 2022, growth in the professional sector slowed sharply in 2023 and weakened further in 2024 and 2025. Over the same period, youth employment fell by more than 210,000, reversing the brief post-pandemic recovery. AI hits juniors first Economists increasingly point to AI as the main driver behind the shift. A report by the Bank of Korea released last October found that 208,000 of the 211,000 youth jobs lost over the past three years were in occupations with high exposure to automation. Younger workers are heavily concentrated in routine-intensive tasks such as document review, data processing, basic research, internal reporting and customer support – areas where AI systems are rapidly replacing human labor. “These are precisely the functions companies are automating first,” said a Seoul-based labor economist. “It is the junior layer of professional work that is being hollowed out.” A study by the Thomson Reuters Institute shows that many practitioners in law and accounting expect AI to reduce long-term staffing needs. A November survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that 14 percent of small and medium-sized firms in seven countries, including Korea, now handle marketing, research and public relations internally using AI tools. Global shift reaches Korea Major global firms have already begun adjusting their workforces. International law firm Baker McKenzie has restructured about 10 percent of its back-office staff in parts of Europe, while U.S. software company Salesforce laid off roughly 4,000 customer-support workers last year. In South Korea, strict labor protections have limited large-scale layoffs. Instead, companies are responding by freezing recruitment and trimming entry-level hiring. “We have not hired anyone since early last year,” said an executive at a Seoul-based IT services startup, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Basic work is now handled by AI systems. There is simply less need for junior staff.” Industry insiders say this quiet pullback in hiring is having a bigger long-term impact than visible job cuts, especially for new graduates trying to enter competitive fields. ‘AI-washing’ or structural change? Some analysts caution that AI is sometimes used as a convenient justification for cost-cutting. “Some executives cite AI as a rationale for downsizing that is actually driven by overhiring or margin pressure,” said Fabian Stephany, a researcher affiliated with the Oxford Internet Institute. In such cases, “AI” becomes a branding tool for traditional restructuring, rather than the real cause of job losses. Others argue that a deeper transformation is under way. “This is not simply about fewer jobs,” said Yoon Seok-bin, a professor at Sogang University’s Graduate School of AI and Software. “It is about different jobs. Demand is shifting toward people who can define problems, structure arguments and create value, rather than those who only process information,” he said. 2026-02-11 17:29:48 -
Surge in Chinese travelers to South Korea boosts bilateral ties, Beijing's state daily says SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - A surge in travel between South Korea and China is laying the groundwork for stronger bilateral ties, Beijing's state-run newspaper Global Times reported on Wednesday. Quoting South Korean Ambassador to China Roh Jae-heon, the English-language sister newspaper of the People's Daily said, "The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea is expected to exceed 6 million in 2026." The surge is "not merely a recovery in tourism statistics; it serves as a concrete indicator of the deepening economic and people-to-people ties between China and South Korea," it added. Earlier this week, Noh said the South Korean Embassy in China issued about 126,904 visas last month, up 64 percent from a year earlier. The development comes after Beijing began offering visa-free entry for South Koreans in November 2024, and Seoul followed suit with a similar program in September last year. "This trend is underpinned by natural advantages such as geographical proximity, as well as the extensive business exchanges fostered by deeply integrated industrial and supply chains. Furthermore, it reflects the continuous policy efforts of both sides to facilitate bilateral exchanges," the Global Times said. "Tourism is not merely an economic activity but also a process of cultural exchange and communication. Chinese tourists can gain a deeper understanding of South Korea through firsthand experience, while South Korean society enhances its understanding of China by hosting Chinese visitors," it wrote. Pointing to how economic growth has transformed consumers' spending habits in China, it added, "Overseas travel has become a regular lifestyle choice for many Chinese families." 2026-02-11 17:09:24 -
Hugel posts record 201.6 billion won operating profit on strong global sales Hugel said Tuesday that its consolidated operating profit for last year rose 21.3% from a year earlier to 201.6 billion won. Revenue increased 14% to 425.1 billion won, and net profit edged up 0.6% to 144.0 billion won, based on preliminary results. The company said it was the best performance in its history. Hugel said results were driven by strong global sales of its botulinum toxin product Botulax and its hyaluronic acid fillers The Chaeum and Byryzn, along with rapid growth in its cosmetics brands Wellage and Byryzn BR. By product, toxin revenue rose 15% to 233.8 billion won, while filler sales increased 1.7% to 129.7 billion won. Cosmetics and other products climbed 45.9% to 61.6 billion won. Combined annual sales of toxin and fillers rose 10% to 363.5 billion won, including overseas sales up 22% to 268.5 billion won. The export share for the two products expanded to 74% in 2025 from 66% in 2024. Growth was strongest in North and South America, including the United States and Brazil. Combined toxin and filler sales in the region jumped 105% to 67.9 billion won, and fourth-quarter revenue surged 310% from a year earlier to 29.2 billion won. Carrie Strom, Hugel’s global CEO, said the company posted sales in the 400 billion won range for the first time, citing “solid global competitiveness.” She said Hugel plans this year to strengthen its mid- to long-term growth base in key markets including the United States, China, Europe and Brazil.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 17:00:00 -
Korean Sport and Olympic Committee Sends Youth Ski, Snowboard Team to Milan-Cortina Games The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee said Tuesday it has sent a youth athletes delegation to the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics to give promising ski and snowboard athletes a chance to experience the Games firsthand. The delegation will be in Milan, Livigno and other locations from Tuesday through Feb. 17 for a weeklong schedule of on-site activities. Plans include watching competitions in skiing and snowboarding and visiting the Olympic Village, a meal-support center and Korea House, allowing the athletes to see the operating environment and how South Korea’s team is supported. The group includes six top athletes selected by the Korea Ski and Snowboard Association and the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation. All are skiing and snowboarding prospects taking part in a program to develop future national team members. KSOC President Yoo Seung-min said he hopes the visit will be “an important opportunity” for the athletes to build goals and a sense of responsibility by experiencing the Olympics in person.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 16:54:28 -
NPS' big bet on US tech stocks pay off, with '25 gains near $30 bn SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) booked nearly $29.4 billion in valuation gains from its U.S. stock portfolio last year from its aggressive bet on Big Tech and artificial intelligence-driven growth despite rising concerns over market froth. The fund - one of the largest institutional players in the world - in its latest 13F filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reported that it held stakes in 561 U.S.-listed companies as of Dec. 31, 2025. The market value of its U.S. equity holdings stood at $135.07 billion, up 27.8 percent from a year earlier and marking an increase of $6.29 billion in valuation terms. The number of stocks in the portfolio rose from 552 to 561 over the quarter, while total shares climbed 3.36 percent to 888.4 million. The rally was led by technology heavyweights, particularly those linked to AI infrastructure and platforms. The largest quarterly increase came from Alphabet, the parent of Google. The valuation of the pension fund’s combined Class A and C shares surged from $5.39 billion in September to $7.16 billion at year-end, despite only a modest increase in share count. Holdings in Apple rose 8.45 percent in value to $8.21 billion, while pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly posted a sharp 42.9 percent jump. Semiconductor maker Micron Technology also stood out, with its valuation nearly doubling to $870 million on strong memory chip demand linked to AI servers. As of end-2025, the largest single holding in the NPS U.S. portfolio was NVIDIA, accounting for 6.9 percent of total assets, or $9.34 billion, followed by Apple (6.1 percent), Microsoft (5.2 percent), and Amazon (3.4 percent). The combined exposure highlights the fund’s continued concentration in U.S. technology and platform leaders that dominate the global AI ecosystem. While maintaining an aggressive stance on Big Tech, the NPS continued selective portfolio adjustments in the fourth quarter. Holdings in Intel fell 2.3 percent, while stakes in Roblox, Nike, and Applied Materials were also reduced. Its holding in Estée Lauder jumped from fewer than 5,000 shares to more than 400,000, while stakes in Reddit, Dollar Tree, and Ulta Beauty increased multiple times. The NPS also initiated new positions in Spotify and space company Rocket lab. 2026-02-11 16:49:42 -
South Korea to Reopen Search for Korea Creative Content Agency Chief After All 5 Candidates Rejected South Korea’s process to select a new head of the Korea Creative Content Agency will restart from the beginning. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that all five candidates who reached the interview stage were rejected. The ministry plans to launch a new recruitment process soon. The ministry and the agency began accepting applications on Jan. 13 and later interviewed five finalists, but all were deemed unqualified, according to officials. Those interviewed reportedly included actor Lee Won Jong, who has publicly supported President Lee Jae Myung. A ministry official said it is too early to say when the new recruitment will begin, noting that an executive recommendation committee must be newly formed each time the process opens. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 16:49:09 -
South Korea's HMM posts sharp earnings drop on falling freight rates SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - HMM, South Korea’s largest shipping firm, reported a sharp decline in operating profit for 2025, falling nearly 60 percent from a year earlier as weaker freight rates and excess vessel supply weighed on its earnings. In a regulatory filing Wednesday, the company reported consolidated operating profit of 1.46 trillion won ($1.1 billion), down 58.4 percent from the previous year. Revenue declined 6.9 percent to 10.89 trillion won, while net profit reached 1.88 trillion won. The operating margin stood at 13.4 percent. While many global carriers slipped into losses in the fourth quarter amid seasonal slowdowns and weak freight conditions, HMM said its operating profit rose 6.9 percent from the previous quarter. Freight rates fell across major routes last year as container shipping capacity expanded while global trade softened, partly reflecting U.S. protectionist tariff policies, the company said. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index averaged 1,581 points in 2025, down 37 percent from the previous year’s average of 2,506. Rates on HMM’s key routes recorded steep declines, including drops of 49 percent on services to the U.S. West Coast and Europe, and 42 percent on U.S. East Coast routes. The company also cited rising trade tensions and uncertainty over environmental regulations as factors likely to prompt route adjustments and fleet redeployments across the industry this year. "To navigate market volatility, we plan to expand its service network and strengthen eco-friendly shipping operations," a company official said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 16:39:50 -
Shin Yu Bin and Lim Jong Hoon rise to No. 1 in ITTF mixed doubles rankings South Korean table tennis player Shin Yu Bin and partner Lim Jong Hoon have moved to No. 1 in the world in mixed doubles. The International Table Tennis Federation posted updated world rankings on its website on Tuesday, listing the Lim-Shin pair at No. 1 in mixed doubles. They rose one spot from the Week 7 rankings released on Feb. 9, marking the first time the duo have topped the mixed doubles standings. The pair were eliminated in the round of 16 at last month’s WTT Star Contender Doha. In the latest calculation, however, points from last year’s WTT Singapore event expired, benefiting Lim and Shin. Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, the previous No. 1 pair, fell two places to No. 3. Lin and Kuai had won Singapore Smash, but their number of ranking events dropped to five as they have played fewer international tournaments recently. WTT rankings can include up to eight tournaments, but points drop off after one year. Lim and Shin earned 1,500 points by winning last year’s Hong Kong Finals and have consistently competed, filling the maximum eight events used for ranking. Lim and Shin are scheduled to compete at WTT Singapore Smash, running from Feb. 19 to March 1. Lin and Kuai, along with the world No. 2 pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, will not participate. Under a rule allowing only one pair per country, the world No. 9 duo of Hwang Yu Jung and Chen Yi will enter instead. 2026-02-11 16:36:41 -
E-Mart posts sharp profit rebound in 2025 on cost cuts, pricing power SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest retailer E-Mart reported a sharp improvement in profitability last year despite inflationary pressures and sluggish consumer spending. In a regulatory filing Wednesday, the company said consolidated revenue for 2025 slipped 0.2 percent from a year earlier to 28.97 trillion won ($21.7 billion), while operating profit surged 584.8 percent to 322.5 billion won. E-Mart attributed the turnaround largely to cost savings achieved through integrated purchasing, which strengthened price competitiveness and helped draw more shoppers. The company said price-focused promotions that consumers could directly feel helped increase store traffic and sales. For instance, its flagship discount event, “Whale Eat Festa,” attracted 23 million participants last year, with sales during the campaign rising 28.1 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. The company said three Starfield Market stores reopened after renovations last year, recording stronger traffic and sales. Visitor numbers at the Ilsan branch rose 61.3 percent after reopening, while sales climbed 74 percent. Customer traffic increased 7.3 percent at Dongtan and 32.4 percent at Gyeongsan, with sales rising 16.5 percent and 19.3 percent, respectively. Warehouse club chain Traders also posted growth, with annual gross sales rising 8.5 percent to 3.85 trillion won and operating profit climbing 39.9 percent to 129.3 billion won. Other offline affiliates also delivered solid results. Shinsegae Property reported revenue rising 27.2 percent to 470.8 billion won on stronger Starfield mall operations and development projects, while operating profit increased by 96.7 billion won to 174 billion won. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 16:12:28