Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • FTISLAND’s Choi Min Hwan Says He Is Recovering After Fainting on Stage
    FTISLAND’s Choi Min Hwan Says He Is Recovering After Fainting on Stage FTISLAND drummer Choi Min Hwan has updated fans on his health after collapsing on stage. On Monday, Choi wrote on a fan community platform that he had never fainted since his debut and said he was surprised by what happened. “You must have been really shocked. I was, too,” he said. He said he had not been feeling well but did not realize it was that serious. “I’m recovering well now, eating well and resting, so I don’t think you need to worry too much,” he added. Choi said he would return to his usual self soon and show fans him playing drums again. He apologized to fans and audience members who were startled and thanked festival staff for their concern. Choi previously collapsed after losing consciousness during the “2026 First Music Station” performance on Jan. 31 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang, south of Seoul. His agency, FNC Entertainment, said on a fan platform that he showed signs of temporary exhaustion during the show and was checked by medical staff. The company said no major health issues were found and that he is resting while his recovery is monitored. It apologized for causing concern and said it would more closely monitor the artist’s condition going forward.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 16:24:22
  • South Korea’s Rising Winter Sports Stars to Watch at the Milan-Cortina Olympics
    South Korea’s Rising Winter Sports Stars to Watch at the Milan-Cortina Olympics The 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics are expected to be a key test of South Korea’s next generation in winter sports. The Games will show whether South Korea can broaden its medal hopes beyond ice events to snow sports, while a younger core takes on leading roles. ◆Short track: Lim Jong-eon, Kim Gil-li in focus Short track remains South Korea’s strongest Olympic sport, and Lim Jong-eon, 19, has emerged as a headline prospect. The International Olympic Committee said on its website on Feb. 2 (local time) that Lim was one of its “10 rising athletes who will shine at the 2026 Winter Olympics,” the only South Korean on the list. The IOC called him “the next ace of the South Korean team,” noting he won the national trials by beating 2022 Beijing Olympic gold medalist Hwang Dae-heon. Lim earned the national team spot last April with 102 points, finishing ahead of Hwang and Park Ji-won. In his World Cup debut season on the International Skating Union circuit in 2025-26, he won gold in the 1,500 meters and silver in the 1,000 in October in Montreal. He added a 1,000 win in November in Dordrecht, Netherlands, and finished fourth overall in the 1,000 standings in his first senior season. On the women’s side, Kim Gil-li, 22, is set for her first Olympics and will skate five events: the mixed 2,000-meter relay, women’s 3,000 relay, and the 500, 1,000 and 1,500. Her main event is the 1,500. On Feb. 4, Canadian sports analytics firm Shoreview Sports Analytics projected that “Kim Gil-li will win” the 1,500. Kim moved into the senior ranks in the 2022-23 season and quickly rose. In 2023-24, her second senior season, she won the overall ISU World Cup title to become world No. 1, the first South Korean women’s short-track skater to claim the Crystal Globe. At the Harbin Asian Winter Games last February, she won the women’s 1,500 and the mixed relay for two gold medals. She took silver in the 1,000 and 500 behind South Korea’s top skater, Choi Min-jeong, 28. ◆A new wave after Lee Sang-hwa and Kim Yu-na In women’s speed skating, Lee Na-hyeon, 21, is aiming to fill the sprint void left after Lee Sang-hwa’s retirement. In the 2023-24 season, Lee Na-hyeon set a junior world record of 37.34 seconds in the women’s 500 at the fifth ISU World Cup stop. In the 2025-26 World Cup season, she ranked fourth in the women’s 500 across stops 1-4. She also raised her profile at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, winning the women’s 100 by beating South Korea’s sprint star Kim Min-seon, 27. Lee Na-hyeon added gold in the team sprint and silver in the women’s 500. Figure skater Shin Ji-a, 18, will also make her Olympic debut. South Korea has not produced an Olympic figure-skating medalist since Kim Yu-na won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver at the 2014 Sochi Games. Shin dominated as a junior, winning silver at the junior world championships four straight years from 2022 through 2025. She also took silver at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics. After becoming age-eligible for seniors, she won both the first and second national team trials to secure an Olympic berth. ◆Choi Ga-on, Lee Chae-woon aim at first snow gold Snow events have long been a weak spot for South Korea at the Winter Olympics. The country’s only medal in a snow sport is Lee Sang-ho’s silver in snowboard parallel giant slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. This time, South Korea’s snowboard halfpipe team has drawn talk of possible medals for both men and women. Choi Ga-on, 18, is viewed as a top gold contender in the women’s halfpipe. Forbes reported on Feb. 3 that Choi could be “the strongest challenger” to Chloe Kim, who is seeking a third straight Olympic title. Forbes added that if Choi wins gold, she would also break the record for the youngest Olympic snowboard gold medalist. Choi won the pipe event at the X Games in January 2023 at age 14 years, 3 months, setting a record as the youngest champion. In the 2025-26 season, she won three times on the International Ski and Snowboard Federation World Cup circuit and is ranked No. 1 in women’s halfpipe. On the men’s side, Lee Chae-woon, 20, is the leading halfpipe hope. He broke through in 2019 by winning big air at the World Rookie Tour at age 13, then became the inaugural champion of the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe Asian Cup in 2020. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he competed as the youngest athlete on South Korea’s team and finished 14th. His rise continued in 2023 at the Bakuriani world championships, where he won gold at age 16 years, 10 months, becoming the youngest champion and South Korea’s first snowboard world champion. He later won two gold medals at the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics in halfpipe and slopestyle, and took gold in slopestyle at the Harbin Asian Winter Games. Lee’s momentum was interrupted by a torn knee meniscus in August 2024, followed by knee surgery last March. He struggled in World Cup events this season, but showed signs of a rebound on Jan. 18 at the Laax World Cup in Switzerland, finishing eighth for his best result of the season. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 16:15:00
  • Seoul, Washington likely to set 2028 target for wartime command handover
    Seoul, Washington likely to set 2028 target for wartime command handover SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. are expected to set 2028 as the target year for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) at their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington this October, reflecting growing confidence in Seoul’s ability to lead combined defense operations. According to government sources on Wednesday, the allies are considering 2028 as the most realistic timeline, aiming to complete the handover during the respective terms of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. Ahead of the SCM, the two sides plan to complete verification of Full Operational Capability (FOC), the second stage in the three-step OPCON transition process, and seek formal approval from their defense chiefs. The transition consists of three phases: Initial Operational Capability (IOC), Full Operational Capability (FOC) and Full Mission Capability (FMC). Having completed the FOC evaluation, the allies are now in the final verification stage, with only confirmation of the future Combined Forces Command reportedly remaining. Once the FOC results are approved, the defense ministers are expected to announce a target year for the transfer. With Trump’s current term ending in January 2029, 2028 is viewed as the most viable option. Following the announcement, the allies will move to the final FMC phase, during which the precise timing of the handover will be determined. While FOC involves extensive quantitative assessments, FMC relies more on qualitative judgments, making political leadership a decisive factor. Lee has repeatedly expressed his determination to complete the OPCON transfer during his term. Trump, who has consistently urged allies to shoulder greater security responsibilities, is also regarded as supportive of the transition. Under the 2026 National Defense Strategy released last month, Washington emphasized that South Korea should, as much as possible, take primary responsibility for countering North Korea’s conventional threats. The document describes South Korea as a country with high defense spending, a strong defense industry and a conscription-based military, capable of defending itself with “critical but more limited” U.S. support. If FMC verification begins in 2027 as expected, the long-delayed OPCON transfer—often described as a two-decade-old task for the alliance—could be realized in 2028. Operational control refers to the authority to command designated forces to carry out specific missions within a defined time and space. Currently, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman exercises peacetime control, while wartime control rests with the commander of the Combined Forces Command, a U.S. four-star general. After the transfer, a South Korean four-star general will assume wartime command. The process gained momentum in 2005, when the Roh Moo-hyun administration formally proposed the transfer. In 2014, under the Park Geun-hye administration, Seoul and Washington agreed to pursue a conditions-based transition without a fixed timetable. Under that agreement, the transfer depends on three conditions: South Korea’s ability to lead combined operations, the alliance’s capacity to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, and a security environment conducive to a stable transition. To support verification this year, the allies plan to proceed with the Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled for March 9–19, with a crisis management drill from March 3–6. Freedom Shield is a command post exercise designed to rehearse combined operational plans through simulations of a full-scale conflict on the Korean Peninsula. It covers scenarios ranging from defensive and counteroffensive operations to securing weapons of mass destruction. Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned the drills as “war rehearsals,” and retaliatory provocations, including missile launches, cannot be ruled out during the exercise period. Against this backdrop, observers say Seoul is likely to adopt a low-key approach, as it did during last year’s Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, by issuing conciliatory messages in advance. At last year’s opening ceremony, Lee stressed the importance of inter-Korean relations, and the joint statement notably avoided references to “North Korea,” “threat” and “provocation.” 2026-02-04 16:13:04
  • Singer Kim Ho Joong Loses Lawsuit Against 180 Alleged Anti-Fans
    Singer Kim Ho Joong Loses Lawsuit Against 180 Alleged Anti-Fans Singer Kim Ho Joong, who is serving a prison sentence over a drunk-driving hit-and-run case, has lost a damages lawsuit he filed against 180 alleged anti-fans seeking about 700 million won. The Seoul Central District Court ruled at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the case Kim brought against Kang, identified only by the surname, and 179 others. Kim filed the lawsuit in June 2021, seeking 764 million won in damages from the 180 people over negative posts about him online. They were reported to have raised issues related to his military service. Kim was indicted after prosecutors said he crashed into a taxi while driving after drinking in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam District, in May 2024, then fled and had his manager make a false confession. The court sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in prison after finding him guilty of charges including dangerous driving causing injury and fleeing after causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. He is serving his sentence at Somang Prison in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, and is scheduled to be released in November.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 16:03:00
  • Heritage agency unions file complaint against former chief over Kim Keon Hee allegations
    Heritage agency unions file complaint against former chief over Kim Keon Hee allegations The controversy over allegations that Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, improperly used national heritage sites has escalated into an internal clash at the Korea Heritage Service. The agency’s internal audit led to heavy discipline for working-level officials who followed instructions, while excluding Choi Eung-chon, who led the agency at the time — a result unions described as scapegoating. Some in the civil service say the fallout will be hard to resolve unless administrative structures that leave officials vulnerable to improper demands from those in power are changed. The Korea Heritage Service branch of the Government Employees’ Union and the broader union held a news conference Feb. 4 outside Jongno Police Station in Seoul and filed a complaint with investigators against Choi. They accused him of abuse of authority, dereliction of duty and obstruction of business. They said investigating Choi, the top decision-maker at the time of the alleged incidents, should come first. Hwang Jin-gyu, head of the agency’s union, criticized the lack of action against Choi, saying it has long been common for political appointees to avoid responsibility after a change in administration or retirement while shifting blame to lower-level staff. He added that, based on Choi’s position and past actions, it is “common sense” to conclude Choi had a close relationship with Kim, and said it was “contradictory” that only working-level officials would be punished. Last month, the Korea Heritage Service filed a complaint with Jongno Police Station against Kim on suspicion of obstructing official duties and violating the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. The agency’s internal probe found Kim held a private tea gathering at Mangmyoru Pavilion at Jongmyo Shrine. It also said she inspected a storage facility at the National Palace Museum of Korea and sat on the royal throne at Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, interfering with the agency’s management activities. The unions objected that the audit did not hold Choi accountable, while the agency removed Lee Jae-pil, former head of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Headquarters, from his post and asked the Ministry of Personnel Management to impose heavy discipline. Hwang said the unions “cannot accept” the audit results and urged police to thoroughly investigate Choi as the top official responsible at the time so that “legal justice” can be realized. Kim Ik-hwan, a lawyer at Law Firm Suseong representing the complaint, said it alleges four offenses: abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, aiding obstruction of official duties and violations of the anti-graft law. He said additional complaints could follow. Some civil servants warn similar incidents could recur unless conditions change that make it difficult for junior officials to refuse orders from superiors. In November, South Korea revised Article 57 of the State Public Officials Act to remove a “duty of obedience” provision, allowing officials not to follow illegal orders. But critics say the change has limited effect because it includes no penalty provisions for those who issue such orders. 2026-02-04 15:57:00
  • South Koreas KakaoBank posts record profit in 2025, eyes overseas expansion
    South Korea's KakaoBank posts record profit in 2025, eyes overseas expansion SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korean internet-only lender KakaoBank reported record annual earnings on Wednesday with pledges to pursue overseas expansion and mergers and acquisitions to secure future growth. In a regulatory filing, KakaoBank said net profit last year rose 9.1 percent to a record 480.3 billion won ($360 million), compared with 440.1 billion won a year earlier. The bank said declining market interest rates weighed on interest income, but noninterest income posted strong growth. Operating revenue reached 3.08 trillion won. Interest income fell 2.9 percent to 2 trillion won from 2.06 trillion won the previous year, while noninterest income jumped 22.4 percent to 1.1 trillion won, surpassing 1 trillion won for the first time and accounting for more than 35 percent of total operating revenue. Annual fee and platform revenue rose to 310.5 billion won, supported by growth in lending and investment platform services as well as advertising operations, the bank said. To diversify revenue sources, KakaoBank plans to introduce new services this year, including foreign-currency accounts in the second quarter and financial services for foreign customers in the fourth quarter to strengthen its deposit base. The bank is also expanding overseas operations. Superbank in Indonesia, in which KakaoBank holds a stake, completed an initial public offering, prompting a change in accounting treatment and generating a first-quarter valuation gain of 99.3 billion won, the bank said. KakaoBank is also moving ahead with plans to establish a virtual bank in Thailand in partnership with Thai financial holding company SCBX. To reinforce existing businesses and expand into new areas, KakaoBank said it is reviewing acquisition opportunities focused on nonbank financial sectors, including payments and capital companies. Chief Financial Officer Kwon Tae-hun said acquiring a capital firm could help the bank enter market segments not easily accessible to internet-only lenders. While profitability has softened following the recent interest rate cycle, such a deal could deliver strong returns during future rate upturns, he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 15:55:30
  • KakaoBank Posts Record 480.3 Billion Won Net Profit, Eyes Payments and Capital M&A
    KakaoBank Posts Record 480.3 Billion Won Net Profit, Eyes Payments and Capital M&A Internet-only lender KakaoBank said it posted another record year on the back of rising noninterest income such as fees, even as interest income fell. The company said it will focus this year on overseas business and mergers and acquisitions to secure longer-term growth drivers. KakaoBank said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that its net profit for last year totaled 480.3 billion won, up 9.1% from 440.1 billion won a year earlier, marking its highest annual result. Interest income declined amid factors including falling market rates, but gains in noninterest income kept overall growth intact. Of last year’s operating revenue of 3.0836 trillion won, interest income was 1.9977 trillion won, down 2.9% from 2.0565 trillion won the previous year. Noninterest income rose 22.4% to 1.0886 trillion won, topping 1 trillion won for the first time and accounting for more than 35% of operating revenue. Annual fee and platform revenue came to 310.5 billion won, helped by growth in its loan and investment platform and advertising business. KakaoBank said it plans to roll out new services this year to diversify revenue. It said it will launch a foreign-currency account in the second quarter and services for foreign customers in the fourth quarter to strengthen its deposit business with new customer segments. The bank also said it will expand overseas operations. It said Indonesia’s Superbank, in which KakaoBank has invested, went public, prompting a change in accounting treatment for its stake and resulting in a first-quarter valuation gain of 99.3 billion won. KakaoBank also said it is speeding up the establishment of a Thailand “virtual bank” in cooperation with Thai financial holding company SCBX. To bolster existing businesses and enter new ones, KakaoBank said it is reviewing acquisitions focused on nonbank financial areas such as payments and capital companies. Kwon Tae Hoon, KakaoBank’s chief financial officer, said a capital company is a positive M&A target because it would allow entry into new markets that internet banks have not been able to reach. He said profitability has weakened after a period of rising rates, but the financial contribution could be significant when considering return on equity levels during boom periods. 2026-02-04 15:42:00
  • Lee honors war veterans, others with Lunar New Year gifts
    Lee honors war veterans, others with Lunar New Year gifts SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung has extended Lunar New Year greetings through gifts to war veterans, the underprivileged, and other vulnerable groups, with the country's biggest holiday just around the corner, Cheong Wa Dae said on Wednesday. The gift package contains a bowl-and-spoon set and ingredients for hearty meals consisting of grains, vegetables, and other local staples selected from across the country, as part of efforts to promote regional development and national unity. More specifically, it features rice from Daegu; other grains from Buan, North Jeolla Province, Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, and Jeju Island; soy sauce from Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province; and mushrooms from Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province. Recipients include prominent figures who have contributed to the country's development, war heroes and their families who sacrificed their lives for the country, and victims who fought for democracy. The gifts reflect Lee's hope that warm, home-cooked meals will bring calm and consolation to recipients' daily lives. In a message, Lee said, "I hope the whole family can sit together around a warm table," adding, "I will work even harder so that tomorrow will be better than today and help you feel real change in your lives." 2026-02-04 15:34:31
  • Price war at home as K-beauty expands overseas
    Price war at home as K-beauty expands overseas SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - The quality of K-beauty is no longer in question. With low entry barriers and easy access to standardized ingredients and manufacturing, producing cosmetics has become relatively simple. What now separates winners from losers is speed, packaging, branding and, increasingly, price. As Korean beauty brands continue to expand their global footprint — especially in the United States — competition at home is intensifying around affordability. While K-beauty has evolved from a viral trend into a major export industry, its fiercest battle is unfolding on domestic shelves. That rivalry is sharpening with the latest move by Musinsa, which said it will open the first standalone offline store for its private-label brand Musinsa Standard Beauty on Feb. 12 at Hyundai Department Store’s Mokdong branch in Seoul. The opening marks its formal entry into South Korea’s fast-growing ultra-low-priced cosmetics segment. The move places Musinsa in direct competition with Daiso, which has built a mass-market following around cosmetics priced mostly between 1,000 won and 5,000 won ($0.75 to $3.75). Daiso’s budget beauty line has become a magnet not only for local shoppers but also for foreign tourists seeking affordable K-beauty souvenirs. “Whenever I visit Korea, I clear out the Daiso cosmetics aisles with my credit card,” said Ashley Lee, a Korean American living in the United States. “My colleagues back home always ask me to bring back specific products.” According to Daiso, overseas card transactions across its stores jumped about 60 percent in 2025 from a year earlier. At its Myeongdong Station branch — one of the most popular locations for tourists — foreign card sales rose roughly 40 percent year-on-year from January to November. “The Myeongdong store is among our busiest for foreign visitors, and beauty products are our top-selling category there,” a company official said. Sales data underline how rapidly budget beauty has grown. At Asung Daiso, cosmetics sales surged 85 percent in 2023, 144 percent in 2024 and 70 percent in 2025, making the segment one of the fastest-expanding corners of Korea’s retail market. Larger players, including Olive Young and major hypermarkets, have since moved in, intensifying competition for value-conscious consumers. Musinsa is positioning itself squarely in that battleground. Its Musinsa Standard Beauty products are mostly priced between 3,900 won and 5,900 won ($2.90 to $4.40) — slightly above Daiso’s entry-level range but well below typical mid-priced offerings at health-and-beauty chains. The pricing reflects an effort to carve out a “value-for-money” niche rather than compete directly in premium branding. Its first beauty-only store will span about 30 square meters and showcase around 20 core products, suggesting a pilot format designed to test demand. “The Mokdong store features a dedicated space solely for our beauty line,” a Musinsa official said. “After launching ultra-low-priced products last September, transaction volumes grew rapidly, giving us confidence in this segment.” “In cosmetics retail, online and offline channels have to work together,” said Kim Ju Duk, a professor of the beauty industry department at Sungshin Women’s University. “When consumers can test products in person, it has a direct impact on purchase decisions, and that experience often leads to repeat purchases online later.” He added that Musinsa’s move could meaningfully lift sales. “Olive Young’s growth accelerated after it started running online and offline channels in parallel around 2017 and 2018. If Musinsa follows a similar path, this offline push could turn out to be a very effective strategy.” The company is treating the store as a testbed, citing Mokdong’s dense student population and surrounding academies as key factors. If successful, similar beauty-focused outlets could follow. The push comes as foreign demand increasingly shapes the K-beauty market. Retailers in districts such as Myeongdong and Seongsu report rising purchases by overseas visitors, many of whom favor lower-priced skincare and cosmetics for everyday use or gifts. Against that backdrop, analysts see Musinsa’s move as a bet that price competitiveness — not just trend-driven marketing — will define the industry’s next phase. “Foreign customers already account for about 25 percent of transactions for Musinsa Standard Beauty,” a company official said. “As our offline presence expands, exposure to overseas visitors will grow naturally.” The brand’s flagship stores, including its Myeongdong outlet, already draw roughly half of their customers from abroad, according to the company. With competitive pricing and manufacturing partnerships with firms such as Cosmax, Musinsa expects foreign demand to continue rising. Musinsa entered the private-label beauty business in 2021 with affordable functional products, but sharpened its strategy after forming a partnership with Cosmax in September last year. Since then, it has expanded its low-cost lineup and plans further collaborations, including with Dashu and LG Household & Health Care. Under its current roadmap, Musinsa aims to position Musinsa Standard Beauty as a sub-10,000-won value brand, while differentiating its other private labels — Oddtype and Whizzy — in color cosmetics. The company plans to focus on online channels at home and offline expansion overseas for those brands. While sales data from the Mokdong store are yet to emerge, broader market figures point to rising stakes. With Daiso posting triple-digit growth in some years and foreign demand adding momentum, the fight for Korea’s budget beauty consumers is no longer a sideshow. It is becoming one of the industry’s main fronts. 2026-02-04 15:24:12
  • Hanwha Oceans 2025 profit nearly quadruples on LNG carrier, naval ship demand
    Hanwha Ocean's 2025 profit nearly quadruples on LNG carrier, naval ship demand SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean's operating profit nearly quadrupled in 2025 from a year earlier, driven by strong sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and special-purpose vessels. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the South Korean shipbuilder reported revenue of 12.69 trillion won ($9.5 billion) for 2025, up 18 percent from the previous year, while operating profit surged 366 percent to 1.11 trillion won. The company attributed the earnings improvement to increased deliveries of high-margin LNG carriers and growth in its defense-related ship business. Stabilized production boosted the contribution of LNG carriers within its commercial ship segment, while revenue from special-purpose vessels edged higher as construction progressed smoothly on the first three Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarines. Operating profit also benefited from a product mix shift toward higher-value vessels, improved productivity following production stabilization and continued cost-reduction efforts. Hanwha Ocean said that it has secured orders worth $10.05 billion so far this year, including contracts for 13 LNG carriers, 20 very large crude carriers and 17 container ships. Order intake increased from $8.98 billion a year earlier despite global orders for its core ship types falling to below 70 percent in vessel numbers, the company said. The shipbuilder also gave a positive outlook for the year ahead. A company official said revenue growth is expected to continue as vessel prices, particularly for LNG carriers, remain elevated, while profitability should stay solid as revenue increasingly comes from higher-return projects. Profitability is also expected to improve further as full-scale production begins on additional naval programs, including the second Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine and the fifth and sixth Ulsan-class Batch-III frigates, alongside efforts to secure large overseas contracts, the official said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 14:55:01