Journalist
Lee Hugh
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South Korea Mixed Doubles Curling Team Falls to Italy, Drops to 0-2 in Round Robin South Korea’s mixed doubles curling pair of Kim Seon-young (Gangneung City Hall) and Jeong Yeong-seok (Gangwon Provincial Office) lost their second straight round-robin game at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Kim and Jeong fell 8-4 to Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner on Feb. 5 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in their second round-robin match. Earlier that day, South Korea were routed 10-3 by Sweden’s Isabella and Rasmus Bran, leaving the Koreans 0-2 in the round robin. Ten teams are competing in mixed doubles, with each nation playing a round-robin schedule. The top four advance to the semifinals and final to determine the medals. South Korea are set to play Switzerland, Britain, the Czech Republic, the United States, Estonia, Canada and Norway next. Kim and Jeong earned the last of the 10 Olympic berths through the Olympic Qualification Event (OQE). It is the second time South Korean curling have competed in Olympic mixed doubles, and the first since Pyeongchang 2018, when Jang Hye-ji and Lee Gi-jeong represented the country. South Korea have opened against top opponents. The Bran siblings won the 2024 world championship, and Constantini and Mosaner are the 2022 Beijing Olympic gold medalists and last year’s world champions. In South Korea’s first game, play was interrupted when a sudden power outage darkened the arena and shut off the scoreboard. The match stopped for about 10 minutes before resuming after power was restored. With South Korea trailing 10-3 through six ends of an eight-end match, an official recommended ending the game, and Kim and Jeong offered handshakes that ended play. A comeback was still mathematically possible because a team can score up to six points in one end. Some have suggested the official may have mistakenly believed only one end remained. Under the rules, an early finish is finalized not by an official’s declaration but when a player offers a handshake to concede. Even with the recommendation, the outcome could have differed if Kim and Jeong had protested on the spot, but the match ended after the handshakes. Kim and Jeong are scheduled to play Switzerland at 3:05 a.m. on Feb. 6 in their third round-robin game. 2026-02-05 23:45:00 -
PHOTOS: Little Europe in northeastern Seoul, Nowon Train Village SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - “Wow, the train is moving!” Children visiting the exhibition during winter break gasp as they watch a miniature train pass through an exotic landscape. Visitors of all ages, from families to adult attendees, pause in front of the meticulously crafted cityscape and lifelike moving models, momentarily immersed in a pocket-sized version of Europe. Opened in 2022, the Nowon Train Village is a railway-themed exhibition space that recreates European natural scenery and urban landscapes through detailed dioramas. The venue consists of two sections — the Switzerland Hall and the Italy Hall — offering visitors a chance to experience railway culture alongside the history and character of European cities through miniature train operations. The Switzerland Hall presents alpine landscapes and railway villages scaled down to 1/87 of their actual size. Trains run through settings inspired by Zurich and Jungfrau, Bern and the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Geneva. Cars, bicycles and pedestrians move throughout the diorama, while lighting changes every 10 minutes to alternate between daytime and nighttime scenes, giving visitors different impressions of the same landscape. The Italy Hall, which opened on Feb. 1 as a follow-up to the Switzerland Hall, occupies more than twice the exhibition space. It showcases Italy’s historical heritage and urban scenery, featuring landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome, cruise ships along the coast of Naples, Florence Cathedral and gondolas in Venice, all recreated at a 1/87 scale. Miniature trains run continuously through the exhibition. Dynamic elements add movement to the displays, including an erupting Mount Vesuvius, moving cruise ships and chariot races. Playful scenes, such as Superman straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa, add imaginative touches that draw visitors’ attention. More than 10 trains operate simultaneously across 10 rail lines inside the Italy Hall. Centered on trains as a shared theme, the Nowon Train Village allows visitors to compare landscapes and cultures across different European countries, attracting a steady flow of family visitors during the winter vacation season. 2026-02-05 22:26:36 -
South Korea’s Kang Hoon-sik to Meet Canada Defense Procurement Minister on Submarine Bid Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president, will meet on Thursday with Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s minister of state for defense procurement, who is visiting South Korea. The presidential office disclosed the schedule on Wednesday and urged caution in reporting on Canada’s submarine procurement, saying the project is the subject of competition among countries. It asked media to refrain from speculation or inaccurate reports until the government or companies issue official statements, warning such coverage could complicate defense exports. Fuhr oversees Canada’s defense procurement policy and is leading the patrol submarine acquisition program. The contract is valued at up to 60 trillion won and is described as the largest single project in South Korea’s defense export history. South Korean firms Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are competing in the final round against a German company. Canada plans to accept final bid proposals in March and aims to select a preferred bidder as early as the first half of the year. Kang visited Canada last month as President Lee Jae Myung’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, providing support for South Korean companies seeking the contract.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 19:54:00 -
More breach revelation, regulation, rivals exacerbate Coupang woes SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) -South Korea’s leading e-commerce platform Coupang said Thursday that the personal data of an additional 165,000 users had been leaked, deepening fallout from a massive breach disclosed last November and intensifying regulatory and political scrutiny. The company said the newly identified cases were part of the original breach, which exposed the personal information of more than 33 million users, and did not involve payment details, login credentials, emails or order histories. The leaked data included names, phone numbers and addresses. Coupang said it had notified affected users in line with government guidance and found no signs of secondary damage so far. The disclosure comes as a government-led probe drags on, with authorities maintaining pressure on the company despite complaints from the United States that Seoul’s response has been “excessive” toward a U.S.-based, publicly traded technology firm. Coupang’s founder has continued to resist calls for an expanded independent investigation, further complicating relations with regulators. The prolonged probe and lingering uncertainty are taking a visible toll on the company’s business. According to market tracker Wiseapp.Retail, Coupang’s monthly active users fell to 33 million in January, down about one million, or 3.2 percent, from December — a decline nearly ten times larger than the previous month’s drop. Industry analysts say the figures reflect eroding consumer confidence following the breach. Signs of strain are also emerging across Coupang’s logistics network. Industry sources said more than 5,000 workers at Coupang Fulfillment Services applied for voluntary time off between early December and mid-January as delivery volumes weakened. Small and mid-sized merchants dependent on the platform are feeling mounting pressure. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises said it has begun collecting damage claims from sellers, with many reporting average sales declines of 30 percent to 40 percent since the breach. As users drift away, rival platforms are gaining ground. Data from IGAWorks’ Mobile Index showed that new installations of Naver’s shopping app surged to 935,507 in January, up more than 147,000 from December — the highest level since last June. By contrast, Coupang’s app installs fell to 467,641, down nearly 60,000 from the previous month. Industry watchers say the shift reflects growing competition as domestic platforms ramp up discounts, faster delivery and partnership benefits to lure disaffected customers. Meanwhile, political and regulatory pressure on Coupang is widening beyond the data breach. The government and ruling Democratic Party are considering easing restrictions on large retailers’ overnight operations, allowing them to process online orders and offer early-morning delivery. The move, expected to be finalized at a high-level party-government meeting on Feb. 8, would effectively allow major chains such as E-Mart and Lotte Mart to compete more directly with e-commerce platforms. Currently, large stores are barred from operating between midnight and 10 a.m., preventing them from running late-night fulfillment operations. Under the proposed amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act, online sales would be exempt from the restriction. Lawmakers say the change is part of broader efforts to support small businesses and correct what they describe as an “uneven playing field” favoring online-only operators. Critics, however, argue the measure amounts to indirect pressure on Coupang at a time when it is already struggling to stabilize its user base. Retail executives view the shift as a potential turning point. By turning hundreds of physical stores into 24-hour logistics hubs, traditional retailers could mount a serious challenge to platforms that have invested heavily in centralized fulfillment centers. The policy debate is unfolding against the backdrop of rapid structural change in the sector. Government data show that online sales accounted for 59 percent of Korea’s retail market last year, up from 24.2 percent in 2016, while the share of large discount stores fell below 10 percent for the first time. For Coupang, the convergence of regulatory pressure, falling user engagement, merchant discontent and rising competition marks its most serious test in years. 2026-02-05 19:26:06 -
Jeonbuk Bank CEO Says It Will Monitor Big Banks’ Expansion Into Jeonbuk Park Chun-won, CEO of Jeonbuk Bank, said the lender will pursue “mutual-growth” management and strengthen its role as a regional bank alongside the local community. He said the bank will decide how to respond to moves by major financial groups such as KB Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group into Jeonbuk after monitoring how their plans develop. Park said at a news briefing on Wednesday that “as a bank founded on a regional base, Jeonbuk Bank clearly recognizes its responsibility to the local community.” He added that without “a stable profit structure as a company,” the bank’s contributions to the region “cannot be sustained.” Jeonbuk Bank also plans to step up institutional business by operating dedicated branches for local government treasury accounts. Park said he does not expect recent entries by nationwide banks into Jeonbuk Innovation City to shrink Jeonbuk Bank’s business. “In some cases, it appears tied to the management of specific funds such as the National Pension Service,” he said, adding that he does not believe those banks are likely to move and run their core operations in Jeonju. “We need to watch a bit longer to see whether it leads to locally focused financial activity,” he said. Park also addressed criticism that Jeonbuk Bank relies on high-interest lending. He said interest rates on general loans handled within Jeonbuk Province are not significantly different from those of nationwide banks or other regional banks. He said the bank has a relatively higher share of areas where major banks are less active, including mid-rate loans for mid- and low-credit borrowers and financial services for foreigners, which he said has helped cement an outward image of high-interest business. “Jeonbuk Bank has grown with roots in the region, and we will focus on sustainable management,” Park said. “I believe making the company stronger is ultimately the biggest contribution to the local community, and we will continue responsible management to build a Jeonbuk Bank that grows with the region.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 18:15:22 -
HL Mando Posts Record Sales on Robotics Demand, Nears 10 Trillion Won Revenue Mark HL Mando said it set a record for annual sales, helped by growing interest in humanoid robots, despite headwinds including the impact of U.S. tariffs and a global slowdown in electric vehicle sales. The company expects demand to surge this year for actuators, a key humanoid-robot component, lifting expectations for improved results. On Feb. 5, HL Mando disclosed preliminary consolidated results of 9.4548 trillion won ($9,454.8 billion) in revenue and 357.1 billion won ($357.1 billion) in operating profit for last year. Revenue rose 6.9% from a year earlier, while operating profit fell 0.5%. Fourth-quarter revenue increased 1.6% to 2.4616 trillion won ($2,461.6 billion), and operating profit dropped 28.2% to 79.7 billion won ($79.7 billion). Operating profit slipped from a year earlier after one-time costs, but revenue hit an all-time high. HL Mando cited expanding sales in emerging markets by major customers including Hyundai Motor Group and stronger sales of higher-margin models such as hybrids. As demand for HEV and EV parts increased, its operating margin improved to the 4% range last year from the 3% range in 2023. The company said momentum could continue this year on expectations for a larger North American robotaxi market, growth in emerging markets such as India, and rising actuator demand. HL Mando supplies actuators for quadruped robots to multiple global robotics companies. It also supplies parts including steering systems (R-EPS), integrated drive modules (IDM) and suspension components to the top three robotaxi companies in the United States and the No. 1 robotaxi company in China. Actuators are expected to be a key growth driver. They control robot movement and account for about 50% to 70% of total cost, the company said. Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus targets commercialization in 2027, and Hyundai Motor’s Atlas targets 2028. HL Mando plans to begin mass production of actuators in 2028-2029. A securities industry official said HL Mando aims to raise actuator revenue to 26% of total sales, or 2.3 trillion won ($2,300 billion), around 2035. The official said expanding global robotics customers, along with robotaxi operators’ plans to broaden service cities and increase fleet sizes this year, should support continued earnings growth. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 18:15:00 -
Hyundai to Add 10 More Dealerships in Brazil This Year to Boost Sales Hyundai Motor is accelerating an expansion of its sales network in Brazil, aiming to shore up results as its market position has weakened. Industry officials said Hyundai Motor Brazil (HMB) recently opened a new dealership in Campo Mourao, Parana state. The site covers 1,500 square meters, including a 250-square-meter showroom. Hyundai currently operates about 240 official dealerships across five regions in Brazil. It plans to expand to at least 250 by the end of the year, increasing customer touchpoints as it seeks a rebound in the market. Brazil is Hyundai Motor Group’s only production base in Central and South America and is home to Hyundai’s Brazil unit and its regional headquarters. Brazil’s passenger-car sales have risen each year since 2021, when 1,557,957 vehicles were sold, and totaled nearly 2 million last year. Hyundai’s influence, however, has been fading. Hyundai’s annual sales in Brazil have held around 200,000 vehicles, but its market share has declined each year since peaking at 11.87% in 2022. Last year, sales fell from a year earlier and its share slipped to 10.05%. The gap with rivals remains narrow. Hyundai has ranked fourth in Brazil’s passenger-car market for eight straight years, while the top three — Volkswagen (18.32%), Fiat (15.22%) and General Motors (11.18%) — are also competing in a tight race with shares in the teens. Chung Euisun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, met in 2024 with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and said the group wanted to “grow together with Brazil, not simply sell cars,” announcing plans to invest a total of US$1.1 billion (about 1.46 trillion won) through 2032. Hyundai is developing a dedicated powertrain for hybrid flex-fuel vehicles and plans to introduce electric models such as the Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric in Brazil. The country is pursuing the Green Mobility Innovation (MOVER) program, which offers tax benefits to automakers investing in decarbonization, a move expected to favor Hyundai’s electrification push. Hyundai Motor Group also plans to pursue new business opportunities by extending its global hydrogen network into Central and South America, with Brazil as a hub. It set up a dedicated hydrogen business team for the region in Brazil in late 2023 and is working to develop the market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 18:03:00 -
Hana Bank Wins Partial Ruling in Lime Case; Lime, Shinhan Investment to Pay 36.4 Billion Won Hana Bank won a partial victory in a lawsuit tied to the Lime Asset Management fund redemption freeze and will receive damages. The Seoul Southern District Court on Wednesday ruled partly for Hana Bank in its damages suit against Lime Asset Management, Shinhan Investment Corp. and others. The court found Hana Bank held about 38.9 billion won in bankruptcy claims and ordered the defendants to pay 36.4 billion won. Hana Bank filed the suit in January 2022, saying it suffered losses from the sale of Lime funds. It sought about 36.4 billion won in damages. The Lime scandal erupted in 2019 after allegations that Lime Asset Management improperly managed returns through irregular trading of convertible bonds and other assets tied to KOSDAQ-listed companies. As prices of stocks held by Lime funds plunged, redemptions worth 1.6 trillion won were suspended.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 17:57:00 -
Defense officials from Seoul and Beijing meet for first working-level talks in four years SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - Defense officials from South Korea and China held working-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, their first such meeting in about four years. According to the Ministry of Defense, the South Korean delegation led by Lee Gwang-seok, in charge of the ministry's international policy met with his Chinese counterpart Guo Hongtao. First launched in 1995, the meeting was held for the first time since the last one, which was via Zoom in June 2022. The two sides agreed to hold close consultations to revive strategic dialogue channels and expand bilateral cooperation. They also discussed ways to resume joint search-and-rescue drills in the West Sea. The ministry said it expects the meeting to "lay the groundwork for building trust" between the two countries. 2026-02-05 17:55:41 -
Dongkook Drug Marks 87 Million Madeca Cream Sales; Hanmi Wins FDA Breakthrough Tag; Yuyu Invests in U.K. Pet Food Firm Dongkook Drug to hold customer sale after Madeca Cream tops 87 million in cumulative sales Dongkook Drug said Wednesday it will run a “Madeca Cream Customer Appreciation Sale” through Feb. 28 to mark cumulative sales of 87 million units of its Centellian24 derma-cosmetic flagship product, Madeca Cream. The promotion will be offered on the company’s official online store, DK SHOP, under two themes: a Lunar New Year gift event and a “Find the right Madeca Cream for my skin” campaign. Through Feb. 18, the Lunar New Year gift event will offer discounts of up to 87% on best-selling products including Madeca Cream Tight Lifting, Expert Madeca Mela Capture Ampoule Max and Madeca Cream, and provide a 100,000-won coupon pack. DK SHOP will also give gifts based on purchase totals of 30,000 won, 50,000 won and 70,000 won or more, and run events including a first-purchase welcome deal and a lucky-bag New Year’s cash drawing. Through Feb. 28, the “Find the right Madeca Cream for my skin” promotion will sell a 9,900-won kit that lets customers try multiple versions at once, including Madeca Cream Time Reverse Zero, Madeca Cream Power Boosting Formula, Madeca Cream Hydra Calming and Madeca Cream Tight Lifting. New members will receive coupons worth up to 30,000 won, and DK SHOP will also hold a review event for the “NEW Aging Focus Cream.” Hanmi Pharmaceutical says FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation for congenital hyperinsulinism drug Hanmi Pharmaceutical said Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted breakthrough therapy designation to efpeglucagon, its treatment candidate for congenital hyperinsulinism. The designation is intended to speed development and review for drugs targeting serious or life-threatening conditions when early clinical evidence suggests a meaningful improvement over existing therapies. Breakthrough therapy drugs receive intensive guidance and support, and may qualify for rolling review, allowing portions of an application to be submitted and reviewed as they are completed. Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rare disease in which excessive insulin secretion causes hypoglycemia. Hanmi said no FDA-approved treatment has been approved specifically for the condition. Hanmi is developing efpeglucagon as a once-weekly formulation. The company said an interim analysis from a global Phase 2 trial last year showed favorable safety and tolerability and a marked reduction in both hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia. The global Phase 2 trial is ongoing, with results expected in the second half of this year. Yuyu Pharma makes strategic investment in U.K. freeze-dried pet food company James & Ella Yuyu Pharma said Wednesday it has made a strategic investment in James & Ella, a U.K. premium freeze-dried pet food company. The company described James & Ella as a leading player in the U.K. freeze-dried pet food category. It sells through major retail channels including Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon, and also operates a direct-to-consumer subscription channel. Yuyu said demand for freeze-dried nutrition products is rising in the pet market, driven by interest in premium ingredients suitable for human consumption, high digestibility and veterinary-based products. The investment is part of Yuyu’s global expansion strategy in the pet wellness market. Yuyu said it plans to build an animal-industry portfolio spanning veterinary biologics, sustainable food-system technologies, and pet nutrition and community models.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 17:45:00