Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Autonomous A2Z Releases Free Brand Typeface ‘A2Z Font’
    Autonomous A2Z Releases Free Brand Typeface ‘A2Z Font’ Autonomous A2Z said Tuesday it has developed a proprietary typeface, “A2Z Font,” reflecting its brand philosophy and will distribute it for free. The company said it created the font as part of a project under its slogan, “From start to finish, writing every moment,” aimed at extending its brand experience beyond technology into everyday life. Autonomous A2Z said it views the typeface not as a simple design element but as a “visual language spoken by the brand,” and refined it for natural use across different content environments. A2Z Font is a gothic-style typeface marked by an asymmetrical balance created by curves and diagonals. The soft curves are meant to convey the flexibility of an autonomous driving experience moving smoothly through city streets, while the restrained diagonals are intended to express the company’s pride in steadily advancing, precise technology and a clear direction toward the future. The company said it also treated letter spacing and margins as part of the design to improve readability. By avoiding excessive density and leaving space, it said, the structure reflects values of possibility that can accommodate change and expansion, while conveying visual stability and trust and a brand stance of technology blending naturally into daily life. A2Z Font was produced in nine weights for use in both headlines and body text: seven for body copy and two for titles. It supports 2,780 basic Korean characters and 94 English letters and numerals. The font is released under the Open Font License, allowing both individuals and companies to use it commercially. Autonomous A2Z said the approach aligns with its view that autonomous driving technology should be easy for more people to experience in everyday life. The font is available for download on the company’s website and the font platform Noonnu, and the company said it plans to expand distribution channels. CEO Han Ji Hyeong said, “A2Z Font refines into a visual language Autonomous A2Z’s thinking and attitude of seeking balance between people and the environment, rather than putting technology at the center.” He added, “We will continue to expand the brand experience in various ways.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:21:00
  • South Korea Denied Advance After Crash in Olympic Mixed Relay; ISU Protest Fee Draws Criticism
    South Korea Denied Advance After Crash in Olympic Mixed Relay; ISU Protest Fee Draws Criticism South Korea’s bid for a medal in the short track mixed 5,000-meter relay ended in disappointment, and online criticism has focused on the International Skating Union’s protest rules.  South Korea finished third in its semifinal on Monday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, sending the team to the B final and a sixth-place overall finish.  The team said it was undone by bad luck. Midrace, American Corinne Stoddard, who was leading, slipped, and Kim Gil Ri, who was chasing, collided with her and fell. In some cases, skaters can be advanced when they are unable to compete normally due to unavoidable contact.  But South Korea did not receive an advance because it was running third at the moment of the collision. A team official said ISU rules require a team to be in first or second place at the time of the incident to qualify for an advance. “We were third at the time, so the rule was clear, and we had no choice but to accept the ISU decision,” the official said.  Coach Kim Min Jung drew attention by running to officials with $100 to lodge a protest. Under ISU rules, a written protest generally must be submitted with 100 Swiss francs or an equivalent amount in foreign currency to deter frivolous complaints. The fee is returned if the protest is upheld; if not, the ISU keeps it. In this case, South Korea did not even get to submit the $100 because officials did not accept the advance request.  Kim said she believed Kim Gil Ri was “level with” the second-place team when she fell and appealed because she thought there were grounds for an advance. “The officials judged we were in third, and if we protested further we could have been disciplined, so we had to accept it,” she added.  Some online commenters also questioned South Korea’s late-surging race strategy, saying it can leave teams without recourse when incidents occur before they move into the top two. Others criticized the pay-to-protest system, posting reactions such as, “Isn’t the ISU openly taking money?” and “Do you have to pay even when it feels unfair?”  2026-02-11 09:15:00
  • Asiana Airlines to Boost China Flights 20% as Travel Demand Rises
    Asiana Airlines to Boost China Flights 20% as Travel Demand Rises Asiana Airlines will expand service on its China routes by 20% to match rising travel between South Korea and China. The carrier said Tuesday it will add 28 weekly flights from March 29 compared with the winter schedule, operating a total of 18 routes with 161 flights a week. Asiana will resume daily service on the Incheon-Chengdu and Incheon-Chongqing routes, which were suspended during the winter period, starting March 29. Chengdu and Chongqing are popular with South Korean travelers, including visits to a panda base and the birthplace of mala cuisine. The Incheon-Chengdu flight will depart Incheon International Airport at 8:00 p.m. and arrive at Chengdu Tianfu Airport at 11:00 p.m. local time. The return flight will leave Chengdu at 12:10 a.m. local time and arrive at Incheon at 5:10 a.m. The Incheon-Chongqing flight will depart Incheon at 9:55 p.m. and arrive in Chongqing at 1:00 a.m. local time the next day; the return will depart Chongqing at 2:00 a.m. local time and arrive at Incheon at 6:25 a.m. Both routes will use 188-seat A321neo aircraft. Asiana will also increase frequencies on major China routes: Incheon-Beijing will rise to 20 flights a week from 17. Incheon-Dalian will operate 10 flights a week by running the morning flight daily and adding three afternoon flights. Incheon-Tianjin will increase to seven flights a week from three, and Incheon-Nanjing will increase to seven from six. Further increases are planned in May: Incheon-Changchun will rise to nine flights a week from seven starting May 6, and Incheon-Yanji will increase to eight from seven starting May 8. Asiana said it decided on the expansion to respond to market changes, citing the extension of China’s visa-free policy for South Koreans through the end of this year and continued growth in South Korean demand to visit China. The airline said it has also expanded sales and marketing in China as demand has risen for trips to South Korea for K-culture experiences and shopping after South Korea introduced visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists. Asiana said it launched an official, dedicated direct-sales channel on Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, on Feb. 2. It also said that in November it ran a live-commerce event for Singles’ Day with Fliggy, Alibaba Group’s online travel platform, drawing 500,000 visitors that day. After the two governments introduced visa-free policies, 3.16 million South Korean travelers visited China in 2025, up about 37% from a year earlier, the airline said. The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea rose 18.5% to 5.79 million. An Asiana official said the airline expects broader demand, including for expanded economic and cultural cooperation, following the visa-free policies. The official said Asiana will continue increasing capacity to help strengthen ties between the two countries. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:09:00
  • Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot aids U.K. nuclear decommissioning
    Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot aids U.K. nuclear decommissioning Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Boston Dynamics’ four-legged robot Spot is being used in the U.K. as a helper for nuclear facility decommissioning work. Industry officials said Sellafield, a state-owned company under the U.K. nuclear decommissioning authority, recently disclosed that it is using Spot at nuclear cleanup sites. Sellafield is responsible for decommissioning nuclear facilities in the U.K. and managing radioactive waste. Many of its worksites are high-risk areas where access is limited because of radiation and complex internal structures. Precise inspections require accurate data collection, but keeping workers safe has remained a challenge. Sellafield said it introduced a robot-based inspection system and is using Spot to collect data and conduct remote checks in areas that are difficult for people to enter. “Spot deployed on site is equipped with various sensing sensors and functions tailored to the nuclear facility environment, and its mobility allows it to move reliably even within complex structures, including rough terrain and stairs,” Sellafield said. It added that Spot captures 360-degree video and performs 3D LiDAR scanning to map site structures, while managers can monitor conditions remotely through real-time video streaming. Sellafield said Spot is carrying out “radiation characterization” by measuring gamma and alpha radiation to confirm the presence of radioactive material. It also recently completed a trial of sample collection, or swabbing, to check for radiation contamination inside facilities. Sellafield said these tasks previously required workers to enter the area, and using Spot has significantly reduced exposure to risk. The company said Spot can remain on site longer than people and that overall decommissioning work has accelerated since the robot was introduced. Sellafield also said reduced use of personal protective equipment has lowered waste, and that access to high-quality real-time data has improved decision-making speed. It added that consistent, repeatable inspections have boosted operational efficiency. Sellafield said the project was carried out through close cooperation among Boston Dynamics, companies developing site-specific robot solutions, systems integration specialists and the U.K. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration, known as RAICo. It said the partnership enabled stable operations from trials through phased expansion. Sellafield said it began trial operations with Spot in 2021 and verified its use in complex environments in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, it used Spot for inspections in high-risk radiation zones, collecting high-quality images and radiation data. In 2025, it said it successfully conducted a remote demonstration of Spot outside a power plant licensed area for the first time in the U.K. nuclear sector, confirming the potential for fully remote work that separates workers from the site. Sellafield said it plans to work with partners to add new sensor packs to Spot and deploy it for broader tasks, including radiation mapping and environmental characterization.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:03:00
  • Kwon Sang Woo and Moon Chae Won comedy Heartman launches on IPTV and VOD
    Kwon Sang Woo and Moon Chae Won comedy 'Heartman' launches on IPTV and VOD The film "Heartman" begins IPTV and VOD service on Tuesday, bringing the comedy to home viewers. Starting Tuesday, "Heartman" is available on IPTV platforms including Home Choice and Skylife, as well as streaming and mobile services such as Wavve, Google, Apple TV and Watcha. A discount-coupon event for VOD purchasers is also being offered. Director Choi Won Seop and actor Kwon Sang Woo, who previously teamed up on the "Hitman" series, reunite for "Heartman." The film mixes comedy with fast-paced banter among its characters and a focus on family ties. Moon Chae Won, Park Ji Hwan, Pyo Ji Hoon and Kim Seo Heon also star. "Heartman" follows Seungmin (Kwon), a man who returns and struggles to keep from losing his first love again, only to find himself caught up in a secret he cannot tell her.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 08:42:00
  • Chinese steel prices hit 8-week low, weighing on South Korean mills
    Chinese steel prices hit 8-week low, weighing on South Korean mills SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - China’s steel prices have fallen to an eight-week low, heightening concerns that South Korea’s steel industry could face mounting pressure amid new European carbon rules and rising domestic electricity costs. Rebar futures slipped below 3,060 yuan ($425) per ton on Monday, their lowest level in two months, according to Trading Economics. The decline comes as Chinese steelmakers scale back production ahead of the extended holiday shutdown, while blast furnace and electric-arc furnace operators conduct scheduled maintenance. Parts of Hebei province may also impose temporary output curbs due to air pollution alerts. Weaker domestic demand and falling futures prices typically lead Chinese producers to lower export offers, weighing on prices across Asian markets, including South Korea. Domestic steel prices in South Korea often adjust more slowly, leaving producers squeezed between stable production costs and delayed price declines. Meanwhile, iron ore inventories at major Chinese ports climbed to about 162 million tons last week, the highest level since 2022, suggesting stockpiles remain elevated even after mills completed pre-holiday restocking. Analysts warn surplus material could be cleared through exports into regional markets, potentially rerouted via Southeast Asia and ultimately adding pressure to South Korea’s steel distribution sector. South Korean producers are simultaneously preparing for the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which requires exporters to report embedded carbon emissions and, from 2026, purchase certificates covering those emissions. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates the scheme could cost South Korea’s steel sector more than 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) over the next decade. Domestic cost pressures are also rising. The government plans to lower industrial electricity rates during daytime hours while raising nighttime tariffs and introducing regional rate differences. Such changes are expected to particularly affect electric-arc furnace operators, for whom electricity represents a major share of production costs. Although industrial power consumption has fallen to a five-year low, Korea Electric Power Corp. has posted record revenue, prompting industry complaints about elevated power costs. “Despite rising concerns over industrial electricity rates, companies are continuing efforts to strengthen technological competitiveness in preparation for the EU’s CBAM,” a steel industry official said. “We also need to closely monitor how China’s price decline could affect the domestic market over the medium to long term.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 08:32:15
  • Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan sidelined for weeks with calf injury
    Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan sidelined for weeks with calf injury Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan is out again with a calf injury. On the club website, Wolves manager Rob Edwards said at a news conference ahead of the team’s English Premier League road match against Nottingham Forest that Hwang will miss the game and is expected to be sidelined for weeks. “He will be out,” Edwards said. “It will take a few weeks (to return) because of a calf injury.” He added that Hwang will be re-evaluated in about two weeks, but “it will probably take a few weeks.” Hwang started the EPL’s Round 25 home match against Chelsea on Feb. 8 at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, but went down with calf pain and was substituted in the 43rd minute of the first half with Wolves trailing 3-0. The setback is also expected to affect South Korea’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Hwang injured his calf during national team duty in October and was sidelined for a period. With the injury recurring in an area prone to flare-ups, it adds to the concerns for South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo. 2026-02-11 08:24:00
  • Two South Korean cross-country skiers disqualified from Olympic sprint qualifying over banned fluorinated wax
    Two South Korean cross-country skiers disqualified from Olympic sprint qualifying over banned fluorinated wax Two South Korean athletes who competed in qualifying for the women’s sprint classic in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics were disqualified after being found to have used a banned substance. Reuters reported on Tuesday (Korea time) that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, known as FIS, disqualified two South Korean women’s cross-country skiers after they tested positive for a prohibited substance in Olympic women’s sprint classic qualifying. The athletes were Han Da-som of Gyeonggi Provincial Government and Lee Ui-jin of the Busan Metropolitan City Sports Council. They finished 70th and 74th, respectively, in qualifying held Monday at the Tesero cross-country stadium in Italy and did not advance. After the race, however, a fluorine-wax test found a banned component, leading to disqualification regardless of their results. Fluorinated wax has been used on ski bases to reduce friction with snow, but concerns have grown about its main ingredient, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are considered harmful to the environment and human health. PFAS break down poorly in nature and can contaminate soil and groundwater, and studies have linked buildup in the body to higher health risks. FIS has banned fluorinated wax in all sanctioned competitions since the 2023-24 season. With portable infrared spectroscopy devices now in use, on-site detection is possible. This is the first Olympics held since the rule took full effect. Earlier, Japanese veteran snowboarder Shima Masaki was also disqualified after fluorinated wax was detected on his snowboard base following the first run of men’s parallel giant slalom qualifying.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 07:48:00
  • South Korea’s Cha Jun-hwan sits sixth in Olympic short program, eyes historic medal
    South Korea’s Cha Jun-hwan sits sixth in Olympic short program, eyes historic medal South Korea’s Cha Jun-hwan delivered a clean short program at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, boosting his medal hopes heading into the free skate. Cha scored 92.72 points on Tuesday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, with 50.08 in technical elements and 42.64 in program components. The total was below his personal best of 101.33, but it topped his previous season best of 91.60 from the NHK Trophy in November. Cha ranked sixth among 29 skaters and advanced to the free skate, which will be held Feb. 14 and will determine the medals. Only the top 24 from the short program qualify for the free skate. Cha is competing in his third straight Olympics, after Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. He is the second South Korean figure skater to make three consecutive Olympic appearances, following men’s singles skater Jeong Seong-il, who competed in 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer and 1998 Calgary. Cha finished 15th at the Pyeongchang Games as a high school student, improving on Jeong’s previous best Olympic result for South Korean men (17th at Lillehammer). He then placed fifth in Beijing, setting a new national best again. Cha, the gold medalist at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games in February, is trying to win South Korea’s first Olympic medal in men’s figure skating. Across men and women, it would be the country’s first Olympic figure skating medal in 12 years, since Kim Yuna at the 2014 Sochi Games. Skating 15th in the short program, Cha opened to “Rain in Your Black Eyes” and landed a quad Salchow. He followed with a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and earned Level 4 on his flying camel spin. In the second half, when jumps receive a 10% bonus, he landed a triple Axel, then finished with a change-foot sit spin (Level 4), step sequence (Level 3) and change-foot combination spin (Level 4). Afterward, Cha told a broadcaster, “I’m happy I was able to do as well as I prepared for in the short program.” He added, “I’ll do my best until the end in the free skating. I don’t think whether I make mistakes is important. I want to do my best and show the story I’ve built up.” Kim Hyeon-gyeom of Korea University, also representing South Korea, scored 69.30 points in his Olympic debut and failed to qualify for the free skate, finishing 26th. He received 37.92 in technical elements and 32.39 in program components, with a 1-point deduction. Kim was unsteady on the landing of his opening quad toe loop, then fell on his second jump while attempting a triple Axel, drawing a major deduction. He earned Level 4 on his flying camel spin and later landed a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination. He finished with a step sequence (Level 3), change-foot combination spin and change-foot sit spin (Level 4).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 07:42:00
  • OPINION: Stock market is roaring, and now for the economy
    OPINION: Stock market is roaring, and now for the economy South Korea’s stock market is roaring ahead. After the Kospi’s long rally, the Kosdaq has regained momentum, settling above 1,000 for the first time in 25 years. Once dismissed as a speculative sideshow, the junior market is now part of what investors are calling a new era of “Kospi 5,000, Kosdaq 1,000.” Yet the real economy is moving in the opposite direction. Production has weakened, investment has fallen and domestic demand remains sluggish. Last year’s gross domestic product barely grew 1%, even after the government distributed 13 trillion won in consumption coupons. The unrounded figure — 0.97% — was effectively zero. In the fourth quarter, just as semiconductor shares powered the Kospi higher, the economy posted a startling 0.3% contraction. It was one of the weakest performances in South Korea’s modern history. Only a handful of years have recorded worse results: the 1998 foreign exchange crisis (-4.9%), the oil-shock recession of 1980 (-1.5%), and the pandemic slump of 2020 (-0.7%). Growth in the 0% range had occurred only twice before — in 1956 after the Korean War and in 2009 during the global financial crisis — until last year joined the list. The contrast could hardly be sharper. Exports surpassed $700 billion, making South Korea only the sixth country in the world to do so. Stock prices are setting records. Investor sentiment is exuberant. Yet for households and small businesses, the economic mood remains wintry. The gap is largely explained by semiconductors. Information technology manufacturing alone contributed 0.6 percentage points to growth last year. Without the chip boom, growth would have been closer to 0.4%. Few advanced economies display such extreme heat and cold at the same time. The comparison with the United States is equally sobering. The U.S. economy grew 2.9% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2024 and remained near 2% last year. With the United Nations projecting global growth of 2.7% this year and U.S. growth of 2.0%, the reversal in fortunes that began in 2023 may extend into a fourth year. That an economy 16 times larger than South Korea’s is growing faster raises uncomfortable questions about Korea’s dynamism and long-term vitality. America’s resilience, despite weak hiring and slowing consumption, rests on massive corporate investment in advanced industries — artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics — led by companies such as Nvidia, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon, and reinforced by deregulation and tax incentives. South Korea cannot rely on tariffs to lure investment. Its only durable option is to make its business environment more attractive than that of its competitors — not only to attract foreign firms, but to keep domestic champions from drifting abroad. Balanced growth matters, but companies that drive production and investment remain the engine of any economy. Looking ahead, the Bank of Korea and major research institutes forecast growth of about 1.8% this year. The government, calling 2026 “the first year of a great leap forward,” has set a higher target of 2.0%. It plans to deploy a 727.9 trillion won budget and 634 trillion won in policy financing, betting that stronger domestic demand and exports can revive momentum. With this year marking the effective start of the Lee Jae Myung government, hopes for a rebound are understandable. But history shows that growth driven mainly by money has limits. Artificial spurts often breed bubbles — and bubbles, inevitably, burst. The deeper problem lies elsewhere: potential growth. In an open, trade-dependent economy, record exports should translate into broader expansion. When they do not, it signals a decline in the economy’s underlying capacity to grow. South Korea’s potential growth was near 5% in the early 2000s. Aging, weak corporate investment and slowing productivity were left largely unaddressed. As a result, potential growth slipped to around 3% in the 2010s, to the mid-2% range in 2016–2020, and is now estimated in the high-1% range. An economy with 1% potential growth is like a teenager whose growth plates are closing. Expecting rapid expansion under those conditions is like hoping to raise exam scores through shortcuts instead of study. It is no surprise that South Korea has not exceeded 3% growth since 2021. Successive administrations bear responsibility. Each focused on near-term indicators while postponing structural reform. “Potential growth fell by about one percentage point with each change of government,” the author notes — a belated and regrettable realization. The Korea Development Institute warns that without reform, potential growth could approach zero in the 2040s. A stagnant economy would mean shrinking tax revenues, heavier welfare burdens and mounting fiscal stress, ultimately leaving households more vulnerable. Even if money floods into stocks and exports remain in the “$700 billion club,” this structural constraint does not disappear. Recognizing it is the first step toward rebuilding a viable growth path. If growth reaches 1.8% this year, it would already be near potential — a respectable outcome under current conditions. Pushing harder through excessive stimulus risks inflation, fiscal strain and rising debt, while creating an illusion of strength. Paradoxically, today’s buoyant markets make this the best moment to pursue reform. The Lee government’s “3-3-5 vision” — becoming a top-three AI power, restoring potential growth to 3%, and entering the G5 — correctly places potential growth at the center of policy. Unlike quarterly GDP figures, it offers little immediate political reward. Its benefits emerge slowly. But without it, escaping the low-growth trap is impossible. Execution will determine success. Regulations that block experimentation must be dismantled. Advanced industries and innovative firms must be nurtured. Labor-market dualism must be reformed to lift productivity. Policy and legislative mismatches must be reduced to create a predictable environment. Even debates over the “Yellow Envelope Act,” set to take effect in March, should be judged by one standard: whether they raise potential growth. In the mid-to-late 1980s, South Korea often grew by more than 10%, generating jobs and near-full employment. That era will not return. But restoring “normal” growth would ease chronic problems — job shortages, declining job quality and weak consumption. Three percent is the dividing line between stagnation and renewal. Lee has likened achieving a Kospi 5,000 to revitalizing neglected valleys during his time as a provincial governor, arguing that “normalizing real estate is easier and more important,” and that reforms succeed when leaders accept criticism without calculating votes. If policy is guided by necessity rather than political advantage, restoring potential growth to 3% is difficult — but achievable. A government that reaches Kospi 5,000 and a government that lifts potential growth to 3% may both claim success. But in durability and impact on livelihoods, the latter would be the far greater achievement. *The author is an editorial adviser to the Aju Business Daily. About the author ▷MBA, Aalto University, Finland ▷Tokyo correspondent, editorial writer and business editor, The Dong-A Ilbo ▷CEO, Donga.com ▷President, Korea Online Newspaper Association ▷Professor, Kyungsung University (current) * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 07:10:34