Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Jeju Air Adds Ninth Boeing 737-8 as It Pushes Fleet Modernization Jeju Air said Thursday it has added its ninth Boeing 737-8, a next-generation aircraft, through a purchase. With the latest delivery, next-generation aircraft now account for 21% of its passenger fleet, and owned aircraft make up 35%, the airline said. Jeju Air began purchasing 737-8s in 2023 and brought in a total of eight next-generation aircraft through last year. It plans to add seven more purchased 737-8s this year, including the ninth aircraft, focusing on fleet modernization, operational improvements and flight stability. The airline is also replacing older aircraft. After returning one aging aircraft when its lease expired in November, it plans to return another this month, it said. Jeju Air said it is strengthening maintenance capabilities and pilot training to support safe operations. It has also signed a business agreement with Boeing on competency-based training and assessment, or CBTA, to improve emergency response capabilities. "Introducing next-generation aircraft and increasing the share of owned planes is a mid- to long-term strategy to boost both operational stability and cost competitiveness," a Jeju Air official said. "Through fleet modernization, we will further solidify the foundation for sustainable growth." 2026-02-06 09:48:00 -
KOSPI takes 4% hit for third session in a row, second sidecar activated in a week SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) – The downward spiral continued on the Seoul bourse Friday, with the main and secondary indices sliding more than 4 percent in early trading, triggering a sell-side sidecar for the second time this week. The Korea Exchange said a sell-side sidecar was activated on the main KOSPI board at 9:06 a.m. local time. The measure temporarily suspends program selling for five minutes to help contain excessive price swings. A sell-side sidecar is triggered when KOSPI 200 futures fall more than 5 percent from the previous session and remain at that level for at least one minute. The time-off was also triggered on Monday due to the KOSPI's fall of more than 5 percent. The week snapped an extraordinary rally for the Korean market this year in a roller-coaster ride toward new heights. The KOSPI had gained 25 percent so far this year as of its fresh peak on Tuesday at 5,371.1. It lost around 12 percent over the following three sessions. The deep correction was triggered by a panicky selloff in software and technology stocks on Wall Street. As of 9:40 a.m., the KOSPI was 3.62 percent lower at 4,976.64 and the KOSDAQ down 3.3 percent at 1,071.67. The heavy foreign-led equity selling spree uplifted the U.S. dollar by 3.90 won to 1,472.90. 2026-02-06 09:43:59 -
Hanwha Aerospace, KAI sign MOU to cooperate on defense and space aviation R&D Hanwha Aerospace has joined hands with Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, to cooperate on future core projects in defense and the space and aviation sectors. Building on aviation technology developed over the past 40 years, the companies plan to pursue development of homegrown engines and unmanned aircraft. Hanwha Aerospace and KAI said Thursday they signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 5 at Hanwha Building in central Seoul to strengthen the global competitiveness of South Korea’s defense industry. Attendees included Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae Il and KAI CEO Cha Jae Byung, along with other officials from both companies. Under the agreement, the companies said they will cooperate on joint development and export efforts for unmanned aircraft; development and joint marketing of aircraft equipped with domestically produced engines; and collaboration aimed at entering the global commercial space market. Hanwha Aerospace and KAI said they each have more than 40 years of experience in aircraft airframe development and production. They also cited prior work with the Agency for Defense Development on state-led programs, including development of unmanned aircraft airframes and onboard engines, and said they expect synergies from the partnership. The companies said they will run joint research and development and technical support programs. They said they expect to pursue joint development of an advanced aircraft engine to be installed on a follow-on model to the domestically developed KF-21 fighter. They also plan to regularly operate a “Future Aerospace Strategy Committee” involving top executives to build a mid- to long-term cooperation framework. Cha said, “Through this strategic cooperation, we will support the government’s balanced regional development policy and further expand the export footprint of K-defense.” Son said the MOU is intended to “present a new model for exports and shared growth based on ecosystem innovation across the defense and space aviation sectors,” adding that the company will “step by step expand a win-win growth and cooperation model” with KAI. 2026-02-06 09:33:00 -
Coupang to face another questioning amid US House's probe into 'unfair' practices SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - Harold Rogers, e-commerce giant Coupang's interim chief in South Korea, is set to appear for another round of questioning in Seoul on Friday over allegations related to a massive data breach detected late last year. Rogers is accused of obstructing official duties by allegedly destroying evidence during an internal investigation into a data leak that affected more than 3,000 users and exposed their sensitive personal information last November. He is also facing allegations of perjury during a hearing at the National Assembly in December, as well as accusations of covering up industrial accidents involving the deaths of former employees. Friday's questioning comes about a week after the previous one and just a day after the company admitted discovering an additional data leak affecting more than 165,000 customers. During his previous questioning on Jan. 30, Rogers reportedly testified that the company's internal probe into a former employee suspected of involvement in the breach was conducted at the request of the National Intelligence Service, but the spy agency denied the claim. Meanwhile, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee ordered Rogers to testify about whether South Korea is "targeting" the Seattle-based company with discriminatory actions, as part of its broader investigation into alleged unfair treatment of American businesses here. In a letter sent to him the previous day, the committee's chairman Jim Jordan requested he appear at the committee's hearing scheduled for Feb. 23, saying that the committee is "conducting oversight of how and to what extent foreign laws, regulations, and judicial orders are being used to discriminate against innovative American companies and infringe on the rights of U.S. citizens." Arguing South Korea has "a long history of using antitrust laws and digital regulations to target American-owned businesses," Jordan said the committee "has previously expressed concerns about the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) and its efforts to target innovative American companies and subject them to punitive obligations, excessive fines, and discriminatory enforcement practices in order to protect their Korean rivals from competition." He also claimed, "The Korean government has continued to engage in targeted attacks on American-owned businesses. Korean regulators and enforcement agencies, including the KFTC, have repeatedly subjected an innovative American e-commerce company, Coupang..... to discriminatory treatment, unfair enforcement practices, and even the threat of criminal penalties." Coupang immediately responded to the letter. In a press release, the company said, "Coupang will fully cooperate with the U.S. House Judiciary Committee investigation, including the production of documents and witness testimony as required by the subpoena." 2026-02-06 09:21:18 -
Hyundai Motor Group Wins Back-to-Back Honors From Top U.S. Auto Outlets Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it has posted a string of wins in major U.S. auto awards, highlighting its competitiveness in the market. The group said Car and Driver named 17 of its models as best in their segments in the magazine’s 2026 Editors’ Choice Awards: eight Hyundai vehicles, five Kia vehicles and four Genesis vehicles. Car and Driver selects its Editors’ Choice winners each year after its editors test-drive vehicles sold in the U.S. market and rate them across categories and segments. The outlet cited Hyundai Motor Group’s design, value and driving performance as key strengths, the company said. Hyundai’s Palisade was named best in its class for a seventh straight year, recognized for its exterior styling, upscale interior and broad list of standard convenience features. The Ioniq 5 was cited for fast charging and nimble, stable driving. The Elantra N was praised for handling, and the Santa Cruz for its upscale cabin and ride comfort. Kia’s EV6 was recognized for rapid charging and stable driving performance. The Carnival was cited for its styling and responsive driving, while the K5 was praised for its bold design and class-leading standard features, the group said. Genesis’ GV70 was recognized for its interior and exterior design and convenience features. The GV80 and G80 were cited for elegant interiors and strong value for their classes. The G90 was praised for a quiet, composed ride, a premium cabin and a wide range of convenience features, the company said. Hyundai Motor Group also reported wins from other major U.S. auto outlets. In MotorWeek’s 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards, the Palisade was named best large utility, and the Kia K4 won best family car. The group said MotorWeek praised the Palisade for a next-generation hybrid system that improves both performance and fuel economy, along with a range of advanced convenience features. The K4 was recognized for its roomy, comfortable interior and smooth driving performance. The company said the Palisade, which it described as a North American Car of the Year winner, also took top honors from both Car and Driver and MotorWeek. In Cars.com’s 2026 Best of Awards, Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid were named best family car, and the Kia EV9 was selected as best electric vehicle, the group said. “Earning strong results in consecutive evaluations by leading U.S. automotive media outlets reflects recognition of our continued efforts to strengthen product competitiveness from the customer’s perspective,” a Hyundai Motor Group official said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 09:12:00 -
Yunchan Lim’s Carnegie Hall Live ‘Goldberg Variations’ Album Goes Gold on Release Pianist Yunchan Lim’s new album, “Bach: Goldberg Variations,” a live recording from his April performance last year at Carnegie Hall in New York, was released on the 6th. The release immediately earned “gold” status, signaling a strong start. Lim said he feels the “Goldberg Variations” is “a life journey written in music,” calling it both “deeply human” and full of play and humor, while also drawing out emotions “from deep within.” He added, “Releasing the ‘Goldberg Variations’ as an album — and as a live Carnegie Hall recording — may be the greatest honor for me as a pianist.” Major international outlets have also praised the album. The Times said Lim’s “young and confident” approach delivers Bach in a different way and “further expands the sense of wonder” a great “Goldberg” performance should convey. Lim has sold out major venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, placing him at the center of the global classical music scene. “Simply searching for music every day is the truest thing,” he said, adding that it is important to trust and follow what is in his heart.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 09:06:00 -
Naver posts double-digit revenue, profit growth, boosted by AI-driven advertising SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s Naver Corp. reported double-digit growth in revenue and operating profit last year, supported by gains in advertising, e-commerce and fintech businesses, the company said in a regulatory filing on Friday. Consolidated revenue for 2025 rose 12.1 percent from a year earlier to 12 trillion won, while operating profit increased 11.6 percent to 2.21 trillion won. Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 10.7 percent on year to 3.2 trillion won, driven by expansion in platform advertising, commerce and fintech. Operating profit rose 12.7 percent to 610.6 billion won, resulting in an operating margin of 19.1 percent. By segment, fourth-quarter revenue totaled 1.06 trillion won for the search platform, 1.05 trillion won for commerce, 453.1 billion won for fintech, 456.7 billion won for content, and 171.8 billion won for enterprise, which includes cloud services. Platform advertising revenue increased 6.7 percent from a year earlier, helped by personalized services such as feeds and short-form clips. Commerce revenue jumped 36 percent to 1.05 trillion won, supported by continued growth of Naver’s Smart Store merchants and expansion of its global consumer-to-consumer marketplace. Fintech revenue rose 13 percent to 453.1 billion won, aided by stronger Smart Store transactions and broader adoption across external platforms. Total payment volume increased 19 percent in the quarter to 23 trillion won. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-06 08:47:17 -
K-Culture Boom Fuels Korean-Language Learning, With BTS Return Adding Momentum The global spread of K-culture is translating into rising interest in learning Korean, industry officials said. With the Netflix animated series “K-Pop Demon Hunters” drawing attention to the language and BTS’ return in March also anticipated, demand for Korean study is expected to grow further. Officials said the expanding reach of Korean content worldwide is naturally leading more people to seek out Korean-language learning. This year is a milestone for Hangul, marking the 580th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hangul Day and the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunmaengjeongeum, the Korean Braille system. The government is pursuing projects to revisit Hangul’s history and value. With BTS’ comeback gaining momentum, expectations are rising that Korean-language study could increase sharply among K-pop fans. Interest has also climbed in the United States, boosted by the popularity of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” last year. The New York Times reported that on the language-learning app Duolingo, the number of U.S. learners studying Korean rose 22% from a year earlier. Foreign media attributed the increase in part to the show’s original soundtrack, “Golden,” which includes Korean lyrics that drew fans’ attention to the language. BTS are also cited as a leading example of the Korean-learning boom. In a 2022 blog post, Duolingo said Korean learners had been steadily increasing, reporting that from June 2021 to June 2022, the number of users learning Korean in English rose 29%. It said popular culture — especially BTS — was a major motivation for studying Korean. In 2021, BTS spoke as representatives of future generations at a special event of the U.N. General Assembly, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The seven members took turns delivering their message in Korean. Leader RM also addressed the changed status of K-pop and the Korean language in a speech at the “2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit” held in Gyeongju last year. “When BTS first went overseas 10 years ago, we never imagined that songs in Korean would work on the global stage,” he said. “But our fandom, ARMY, stayed with us beyond language, and thanks to that, we can stand here today.” Some Hangul-related groups have also cautiously voiced hopes that a BTS performance at Gwanghwamun could help highlight the value of Hangul. With debate continuing over adding another Hangul signboard at Gwanghwamun, they said showcasing Hangul’s beauty through a media facade could help broaden public support for the idea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 08:46:57 -
Actress Jung Si A Says She Has Lived With Father-in-Law Baek Yoon Sik for 17 Years Actress Jung Si A said she is living in the same home as her father-in-law, actor Baek Yoon Sik. Jung appeared on singer K.Will’s YouTube channel on Feb. 4 and shared an update on her life. She said that when she married actor Baek Do Bin in 2009, she moved into her in-laws’ home. “I was young then, and I didn’t have friends who were married or anyone to advise me. I just naturally moved in after getting married — it wasn’t a decision I made after thinking it through a lot,” she said. Jung said she has never lived alone with her husband, so she did not feel it was a major inconvenience. But she added that when she meets other parents these days, “there’s no one living like I do,” and that looking back, she realizes it can be more uncomfortable than for others. “Other people change clothes when they go out. I change clothes when I leave my room,” she said. “I’ve never lain down on the living room sofa to watch TV. I think my father-in-law is the same. It’s consideration within the family, so I don’t think it’s a bad thing.” She also said her father died less than a month after she gave birth to her first child, Jun Woo. “My dad gave me unconditional love, and he passed away right when I was starting to understand what parents go through,” she said. “I promised myself I would do for my father-in-law what I couldn’t do for my dad. With that in mind, I try to take better care of him and prepare things for him, but honestly it isn’t easy.” Jung said she would oppose her daughter living with her in-laws. “Living with parents isn’t easy. Beyond being parent and child, adult to adult, the direction of life you pursue is different,” she said. “I hope my daughter doesn’t have to live that way.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 08:45:00 -
South Korea posts record $123 billion current account surplus in 2025 SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s current account surplus reached a record high last year, supported by robust semiconductor exports and rising dividend income from overseas investments, according to central bank data released on Friday. Preliminary balance-of-payments figures from the Bank of Korea showed the country recorded a $18.7 billion current account surplus in December, the largest monthly surplus on record. The surplus marked the 32nd consecutive month in positive territory and was sharply higher than November’s $12.9 billion and the $12.74 billion recorded in December a year earlier. For the full year, the current account surplus totaled $123 billion, exceeding the previous record of $105.1 billion set in 2015 and surpassing the bank’s November forecast of $115 billion. The goods account surplus widened to a record $18.85 billion in December from $14.7 billion in November. Exports rose 13.1 percent year-on-year to $71.65 billion, driven by strong shipments of semiconductors and communications devices. Non-IT items such as machinery, precision instruments and pharmaceuticals also posted gains for a second consecutive month. By destination, exports increased to Southeast Asia by 27.9 percent, to China by 10.1 percent and to the United States by 3.7 percent, while shipments to Japan dropped 7 percent. Imports rose 1.7 percent from a year earlier to $52.8 billion. Raw material imports continued to fall, down 1 percent, reflecting lower energy prices, while consumer goods imports jumped 17.9 percent, led by passenger cars and gold, marking a second straight monthly increase. The services account recorded a $3.69 billion deficit in December, widening from November’s $2.85 billion deficit and from $2.38 billion a year earlier. The travel account deficit expanded to $1.4 billion. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-06 08:18:47