Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Military helicopter crashes in Gapyeong, killing two crew members SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - A military helicopter crashed in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province on Monday, killing two crew members, according to military authorities. The South Korean Army said the AH-1S Cobra went down at about 11:04 a.m. during training, which involved practicing emergency landings in conditions similar to an abnormal situation without shutting down the engine. The exact reasons for the crash were not immediately known. Two officers on board were rushed to a hospital immediately after the crash but were pronounced dead. The Army said it has grounded all AH-1S Cobras and is conducting an investigation to determine the cause. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu Baek, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, instructed the Army to ensure "swift and thorough recovery and follow-up measures," the ministry said. 2026-02-09 13:49:41 -
KAIST Professor receives AIBN Medal for translational research SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - Lee Sang-yeop, a distinguished professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and vice president of research at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology was awarded the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Translational Research Award in Brisbane, Australia, on February 3, the South Korean institute said in a statement on Monday. The Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) Medal is a prestigious global recognition reserved for scientists who bridge the gap between academic discovery and industrial application. Unlike traditional academic honors that prioritize citation volume, this award evaluates a researcher’s impact on technology dissemination, international cooperation, and social value. Sue Harrison, the University of Queensland’s deputy vice-chancellor of research, personally delivered the medal to Professor Lee. Professor Lee has spent more than three decades at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) leading the development of systems metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. His career includes the publication of 798 academic papers and the filing of 868 patents. Beyond his individual research, AIBN credited Professor Lee with playing a foundational role in shaping the institute’s research strategy during its formative years between 2006 and 2007. The collaboration between Professor Lee and Australian researchers began with sugar-based bio-manufacturing and evolved into high-impact projects involving sustainable aviation fuel and waste gas fermentation. This partnership eventually expanded into a global network including the University of California, Berkeley, and industry leaders such as Amyris, LanzaTech, and SkyNRG. These efforts helped establish the University of Queensland as a premier research hub for bio-manufacturing in Australia. Professor Lee currently holds international memberships in the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society in the United Kingdom, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He also previously served as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biotechnology. "This AIBN Medal is more than a personal achievement; it is the culmination of long-standing cooperation between KAIST, the University of Queensland, and researchers across South Korea and Australia," Professor Lee said. "It proves that systems metabolic engineering and synthetic biology can provide tangible solutions for sustainable industry and global social issues." KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung noted that the award reflects the university’s commitment to research that moves beyond the laboratory. He stated that the institution will continue to prioritize global partnerships that translate biotechnological breakthroughs into real-world value. Although Professor Lee was named the inaugural recipient of the AIBN Medal in 2016, the formal ceremony was delayed by nearly a decade due to scheduling conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026-02-09 13:46:30 -
OPINION: Takaichi's sweeping win in a high-ground gamble - and democracy's test Politics has always been war by other means. Weapons have been replaced by language, battlefields by parliaments and social media. But the logic of victory has changed far less than we like to believe. In this sense, the most enduring manual for understanding modern politics remains The Art of War. Sun Tzu located victory not in manpower or tactics, but in shi—the configuration of power, momentum, and terrain. The decisive battle, he argued, is often won before it is fought. The landslide victory of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the 2026 general election offers a textbook example of this ancient insight in the age of algorithms. This was not an election about weighing competing policy platforms. It was framed as a single, binary question: Takaichi, or not Takaichi. Voters were not choosing a government. They were choosing a figure. It was a high-ground strategy—rare in postwar Japanese politics. Rather than expanding cautiously toward the center, Takaichi simplified the battlefield, accepted polarization, and forced a decision. In Sun Tzu’s terms, she did not refine her tactics. She changed the terrain. Once the high ground is seized, every subsequent battle is fought on its terms. Opposition parties offered rational arguments and moderate appeals. They were safe. They were also irrelevant. Politics that avoids being disliked preserves stability, but it rarely generates momentum. Politics that risks unpopularity is dangerous—but it can dominate the field. This election did not judge moral virtue. It tested which strategies survive in today’s information environment. “Sanakatsu”: Fandom Politics in the Algorithm Age The key to understanding this election lies in a single word: sanakatsu. Derived from oshikatsu—the culture of idol fandom—it describes the fervent, organized following around Takaichi. Campaign rallies became concerts. Badges and posters became merchandise. Online communities outperformed traditional party machinery. Politicians became brands. Voters became fans. This was no accident. Sun Tzu’s shi—momentum—now appears as “high-energy support” in digital form. Platforms do not reward moderation. They do not amplify compromise. They favor clarity, emotion, and repetition. Average messages do not spread. Strong ones do. Takaichi’s slogan, “A Strong and Prosperous Japanese Archipelago,” fit the logic perfectly. It was simple, repeatable, emotionally resonant. It belongs to the same lineage as Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again”: language that needs no explanation and leaves little room for ambiguity. Personal narrative reinforced the message. In a political culture dominated by dynasties, Takaichi’s story—daughter of a factory worker and a police officer who rose through effort—created identification, especially among younger voters. Their support was less about policy preference than identity choice. In military terms, she offered not wages, but meaning. An army that fights for meaning does not disperse easily. “Strong Japan” and the Power of National Narrative In war, legitimacy matters more than numbers. Soldiers who do not understand why they fight will not fight long. Takaichi presented Japan with a powerful national story: Strong Japan. Between Xi Jinping’s China and Trump’s America, she argued, Japan should no longer be a cautious manager of decline. It should be an autonomous actor—choosing, deciding, and bearing responsibility. The message struck a nerve. Decades of stagnation, demographic decline, and geopolitical uncertainty had left Japan suspended between past greatness and present anxiety. Takaichi did not offer comfort. She offered dignity. In strategic terms, this is the most effective form of mobilization. Politics that explains failure attracts few followers. Politics that declares possibility attracts many. But legitimacy is always double-edged. “Strong Japan” leads naturally to constitutional revision, military expansion, and renewed debates over historical memory. For South Korea and China, it raises concerns. Within Japan, weakened institutional restraints could accelerate ideological hardening. Her shift toward a more assertive governing coalition has only intensified these anxieties. High ground creates vision. It also creates exposure. Sun Tzu warned that holding high ground is harder than capturing it. Support built on clarity and emotion must eventually be justified by results. Otherwise, it evaporates. “Strong Japan” works as a slogan. As policy, it faces the hard fronts of fiscal limits, demographic decline, and diplomatic constraints. In East Asian terms, Takaichi’s victory may reshape regional dynamics—from Korea-Japan relations to trilateral coordination with the United States, to ties with China. A clear Japan may be abrasive, but it is predictable. Diplomacy is management, not sentiment. Sometimes a firm counterpart is easier to deal with than an ambiguous one. The real question is whether clarity becomes managed competition—or unmanaged confrontation. At this point, the lens naturally turns to South Korea. Fandom politics, weakened opposition, generational polarization, and emotion-driven voting are not uniquely Japanese phenomena. Algorithm-amplified outrage, loyalty over verification, and “vote first, think later” behavior erode democratic capital at speed. Japan’s present may well resemble Korea’s future. Sun Tzu’s final warning is worth recalling: generals intoxicated by momentum prepare their own defeat. When political victory is not followed by responsibility, high ground becomes a trap. Takaichi’s landslide reflects an acute reading of her era. Whether it represents a victory for democracy remains undecided. Politics, unlike war, does not end with triumph. It must lead to governance. It must prove itself in outcomes. History is now asking a single question: After capturing the high ground, how will it be defended? That question confronts not only Japan, but South Korea and East Asia as a whole. *The author is a columnist for AJP. 2026-02-09 13:44:18 -
BTS Comeback D-40: Seoul readies an army to protect ARMY on concert day SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) -South Korea’s elite counterterrorism units are preparing for a mission unlike any other this spring: protecting not a summit, not a visiting head of state, but the global fan base of BTS. On March 21, Gwanghwamun Square — framed by royal palaces and glass towers — will host the group’s first full-member comeback concert in nearly four years. Police expect up to 260,000 people to converge on the historic plaza for what is already being billed online as “a royal return” and “the concert of the century", live-streamed worldwide through Netflix. Separate from the worldwide tour, ticketing for the first-ever comeback show has been split to accommodate both the general public and dedicated fans, with free general-admission seats available on a first-come, first-served basis via Nol Ticket at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23. Official fan club members can enter a global raffle through Weverse tied to purchases of the group’s fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.” Detailed booking instructions will be released on Feb. 20, with raffle guidelines due on Feb. 10. Expecting an exceptional turnout for the unprecedented event, Seoul’s police force is mobilizing at near-national-event level, with bomb squads, special forces, cybercrime units and crowd-control commanders deployed across downtown. It is deploying security infrastructure usually reserved for major diplomatic summits for K-pop. With attendance projections rivaling major political rallies, police have divided the area into four layers: core, hot, warm and cold zones, further subdivided into 15 sections. Each zone will be overseen by a senior commander. Special assault teams will be stationed nearby. Explosive-detection units will sweep the venue. Thirteen rapid-response crime squads from nine precincts will be on standby. The free outdoor show, titled “THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” is being designed as more than a performance. It is emerging as a hybrid of concert, civic ceremony and global media event — staged at Gwanghwamun Square, with Gyeongbokgung Palace as its backdrop. Rather than returning through a stadium tour, BTS has chosen the symbolic heart of Seoul — where royal processions once passed, presidents give speeches, and protesters gather. According to officials and industry sources, organizers are considering a ceremonial entrance that traces the palace’s historic axis — beginning inside the royal compound and moving outward into public space — effectively transforming centuries-old protocol into modern stagecraft. Event organizer and BTS agency HYBE has pledged to deploy more than 3,500 private security staff, but authorities have warned that more may be required under Korea’s “beneficiary pays” safety principle. Large-scale gatherings in Korea have become politically and socially sensitive since the 2022 Itaewon tragedy. Crowd management is now treated as a matter of institutional credibility. For BTS’s return, there will be no margin for error, said Park Jeong-bo, Seoul Metropolitan Police agency chief during a briefing Monday. The police vowed to watch over online threats and ticketing fraud in real time. 2026-02-09 13:27:01 -
Boston Dynamics Releases New Video of Atlas Doing Cartwheel and Back Tumbles Hyundai Motor Group robotics unit Boston Dynamics said Monday that it posted a new video to its YouTube channel on Feb. 7 (local time) showing its humanoid robot Atlas performing a cartwheel followed by back tumbles. In the video, Atlas links the two moves smoothly, like a gymnast, and lands the final flip without wobbling. Boston Dynamics said the footage shows Atlas has reached a more stable stage of continuous full-body control, covering takeoff, midair posture control, impact absorption on landing and recovery. The company has also drawn attention for video of Atlas walking on icy ground without falling. YouTube users reacted with comments such as, “It’s the most humanlike walking motion I’ve seen,” and, “It’s really cool that they also show the failures.” A comment calling the video “amazingly impressive” received more than 2,000 likes. Boston Dynamics said the video includes parts of its research process, including failed tumbling attempts. It said Atlas is building full-body mobility through repeated learning that allows continuous performance and repeated verification, and that it plans to systematically train Atlas in Hyundai Motor Group manufacturing environments. A Boston Dynamics official said, “Now that Atlas’ enterprise platform is up and running, performance testing of the research version is coming to an end,” adding, “With help from the RAI (Robotics and AI) Institute, our researchers conducted final tests to push the limits of full-body control and mobility.” Hyundai Motor Group previously said at CES that it plans to deploy a next-generation electric Atlas development model at production sites including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and to expand adoption step by step after process-level verification. Starting in 2028, the group plans to introduce Atlas at HMGMA first in processes with clearly verified safety and quality benefits, such as sequencing work for parts classification. From 2030, it plans to expand the scope to parts assembly. Atlas won CNET’s Best of CES 2026 award for best robot at CES 2026.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 13:24:40 -
iM Financial Chairman Hwang Byung-woo Holds Town Hall With Employees iM Financial Group said Monday it held a town hall meeting at iM Bank’s second headquarters to strengthen communication with holding company employees. The event, titled “iM PRO Donation Challenge with the CEO,” combined an open discussion with a participatory giving program run by the iM Social Contribution Foundation. Chairman Hwang Byung-woo has promoted employee communication as an ongoing part of corporate culture since taking office. The group held town halls last year on themes including “COFFEE with CEO,” which featured a barista experience, and “Talk & ART.” This year’s session paired donations for vulnerable groups with a candid Q&A between Hwang and employees. The meeting focused on the group’s new way of working, “iM P.R.O (W.O.W ver.2).” “iM P.R.O,” proposed by Hwang, is built around five core keywords: creativity, performance, responsibility, cooperation and autonomy, and is intended to guide professional work practices. Hwang and employees exchanged unfiltered questions and answers on topics including his reflections after ending his concurrent role as bank president, the link between individual achievement and company growth, and insights from attending CES 2026. The group also recognized “iM PRO outstanding employees” selected through a pre-event survey, underscoring a performance- and behavior-focused culture. “Communication between the CEO and employees, without being bound by formality, is the foundation of an organization’s competitiveness,” Hwang said. “We will build a corporate culture where enjoyable communication like today leads to enjoyable work and an enjoyable workplace.” 2026-02-09 13:21:18 -
Seahawks beat Patriots 29-13 to win Super Bowl 60, first title since 2014 The Seattle Seahawks won the second Super Bowl title in franchise history, their first since 2014. Seattle beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The win came 11 years after Seattle lost to New England in the 2015 Super Bowl. Seattle’s defense set the tone, repeatedly stopping New England and helping the Seahawks build a 12-0 lead through three quarters. The game’s first touchdown did not come until early in the fourth quarter. Once the scoring opened up, both teams scored two touchdowns in the final period. Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III was voted Super Bowl MVP. He carried 27 times for 135 yards, the most rushing yards by either team. A running back has not won Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos in 1998, a span of 28 years. 2026-02-09 13:18:00 -
South Korea, U.S. air forces hold first Buddy Squadron exercise of the year SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - The South Korean Air Force and the U.S. Air Force on Monday began their first Buddy Squadron exercise of the year, which runs through Friday, at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province. The Buddy Squadron exercise is a squadron-level combined air drill in which South Korean and U.S. fighter units take turns training together at air bases across the country. The exercise began in 1991 under the name “Friendship Training” to enhance combined operational capabilities by allowing pilots from both countries to train jointly and familiarize themselves with the latest tactics, techniques and procedures. It was renamed the Buddy Squadron exercise in 1997. Under a revised training framework this year, the two air forces plan to more than double the number of participating aircraft and significantly increase the number of training sorties per exercise, while reducing the annual number of iterations from eight to four. The current 26-1 iteration involves KF-16 fighters from the South Korean Air Force and F-16s from the U.S. Air Force. South Korea’s F-35A stealth fighters and FA-50 light attack aircraft will also participate to support integrated operations between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. After completing their deployment to Osan on Monday, South Korean pilots will undergo local base procedures as well as safety and security briefings. They will then conduct joint training with U.S. pilots, including air-to-air tactical exchanges and integrated fourth- and fifth-generation fighter operations. The exercise incorporates realistic scenarios that reflect lessons learned from modern warfare. During the drills, South Korean and U.S. forces will alternate between friendly and opposing roles and form mixed formations through a variety of tactical training methods. Capt. Lee Seung-hyun, a KF-16 pilot participating in the exercise, said the training would “serve as an opportunity for South Korean and U.S. pilots to share the latest tactics, fly together and strengthen interoperability.” 2026-02-09 12:33:06 -
Lee praises late bloomer's surprise silver-medal finish at Winter Olympics in Italy SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday congratulated snowboarder Kim Sang-kyum after the athlete secured South Korea's first medal at this year's Winter Olympics, which kicked off in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan last Friday. Lee praised Kim's silver-medal finish in the men's parallel giant slalom, saying the athlete spent "years of training for races decided by fractions of a second, perfecting his technique and equipment on harsh snow," and finally made the Olympic podium on his fourth attempt since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Lee said the medal was meaningful as South Korea's 400th Olympic medal and the second silver in snow events, demonstrating the country's strength beyond ice sports. He added Kim's medal will boost the South Korean team's confidence, adding that he will cheer for athletes through the final day of the Olympics which will run until Feb. 22 and feature around 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries competing for 116 medals across 16 disciplines. The previous day, the 37-year-old won silver, narrowly losing the final to Austria's Benjamin Karl by just 0.19 seconds after surprisingly advancing to the knockout round by upsetting world No. 1 and favorite Roland Fischnaller of Italy in the quarterfinals. It was the country's first Olympic medal in a snow event in eight years and only its second ever, after Lee Sang-ho's silver-medal finish at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. The medal was especially precious as it was the late bloomer's first in roughly 12 years, since he first competed as part of South Korea's first Olympic snowboarding team at Sochi. Sunday's medal was a milestone for South Korea, as it was the country's 80th Winter Olympic medal and 400th Olympic medal overall including 320 from the Summer Games. 2026-02-09 11:32:45 -
BTS Comeback D-40: Free tickets for Gwanghwamun Square show SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - BTS will open free ticket reservations for their upcoming outdoor comeback stage at Gwanghwamun Square starting February 23. According to an announcement posted to the fan platform Weverse on Monday, the group has finalized the entry process for "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG," a massive event marking their return as a full seven-member unit. The ticketing is split into two categories to accommodate both the general public and dedicated fans. General admission tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through the online platform Nol Ticket at 8:00 p.m. on February 23. These seats are free and open to anyone without prerequisite conditions. Specific booking instructions are scheduled to be released at noon on February 20 via Weverse and Nol Ticket. Official fans, known as ARMY, can also participate in a global raffle through Weverse. This draw is open to Weverse membership holders who purchase the group's fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," during the designated application period. Further details regarding the raffle entries will be published on February 10. The performance, set for 8:00 p.m. on March 21 in the heart of Seoul, represents a major milestone as the group's first full-scale appearance following a long hiatus. Netflix will collaborate on the event to provide a exclusive live stream to over 190 countries and regions, marking the first time the streaming giant has broadcast a live performance for a solo musical act. In tandem with the concert, the group will launch "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL," a city-wide festival running from March 20 to April 12. The project will transform various locations across South Korea's capital with interactive media content and large-scale art installations that blend the group's music with the urban environment. 2026-02-09 11:29:07