Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Korean Golf Club Signs Amazingcrea as LIV Golf 2026 Apparel Partner Korean Golf Club (GC), a team on LIV Golf, said Monday it has signed a new partnership with Amazingcrea, a premium South Korean golfwear brand that designs performance apparel based on real golfers’ movement. Under the deal, Korean GC players will wear Amazingcrea apparel throughout LIV Golf’s 2026 season, which includes 14 tournaments in 10 countries across five continents. Amazingcrea said it will supply apparel built on its design philosophy, “Alexis_9,” which applies human-movement engineering. The company said it analyzes a golfer’s body using nine axes of rotation and a nine-section body map to reduce resistance during the swing and increase freedom of rotation. “Korean GC was created to represent South Korea’s competitiveness on the global stage, and Amazingcrea shares the same philosophy of delivering precision through design,” said Martin Kim, the team’s representative. “Their apparel starts with how the body moves, and that approach aligns with how our players prepare, compete and perform.” Amazingcrea highlighted its Coffin Ventilation technology, which uses a seamless mesh panel on the back — where body heat builds most during a swing — to create a feel closer to airflow passing through the garment. The company also cited its Accordio Band, designed to expand naturally with the swing to maximize range of motion and reduce resistance. “Amazingcrea was created to deliver perfect performance through outstanding, innovative design,” CEO In Gi Wan said. He said seeing players representing South Korea on the global stage wearing apparel built on the brand’s human-movement engineering “most clearly shows the essence of the brand: clothing that moves with the golfer.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 15:06:00 -
Vietnam to accept Korean language test for university admissions SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Vietnam will begin accepting scores from the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) for university admissions starting this year, becoming the latest nation to formally recognize the language amid surging worldwide interest driven by employment opportunities and cultural exports. The Southeast Asian nation becomes the second country to adopt TOPIK results for higher education enrollment after Hong Kong in 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Education said Tuesday. Students who score at least Level 3 on TOPIK will be exempted from the foreign language section of Vietnam's national high school graduation examination, with their converted scores applied directly to university applications. Vietnam has progressively integrated Korean into its formal education system, designating it as a second foreign language in 2020 before elevating it to a first foreign language and graduation exam subject in 2021. The country ranked as the largest source of overseas TOPIK applicants last year, with 85,896 Vietnamese candidates accounting for 15.2 percent of the 566,665 total registrants worldwide. Vietnam also sent the second-highest number of international students to South Korea in 2025 at about 75,144, trailing only China by some 1,000 students. The surge in Korean language study is closely tied to employment prospects. South Korean corporate investment — firms including Hyundai Motor Company and POSCO — in Vietnam has created sustained demand for Korean-speaking workers in interpretation, sales, quality control, procurement and labor management roles. The broader appeal of Korean content has propelled the language to the world's sixth most-studied, behind English, Spanish, French, Japanese and German, according to language learning platform Duolingo. Korean is now taught in formal primary and secondary school curricula across 47 countries, with 24 nations designating it as a second foreign language and 11 incorporating it into university entrance requirements. "The adoption of TOPIK for university admissions abroad signifies the elevated status of the Korean language and the growing credibility of the test," Education Minister Choi Gyo-jin said. 2026-02-03 14:58:47 -
Air Premia pilots move closer to strike, file mediation request in Seoul Air Premia pilots have begun steps that could lead to a strike. According to the aviation industry on Monday, the Air Premia pilots union filed a mediation request with the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission. The move followed a strike-authorization vote held Jan. 29, which passed with 83.8% support (62 votes), and came after final talks with management broke down Monday morning. The union has sought better pay, saying wages have been frozen for years. The union was initially reported to have demanded an 8.3% increase in total wages. It later revised its proposal, seeking raises only for first officers at pay grade step 4 or below and retroactive application of increases since October 2024, but management rejected it. The union will make a final decision on whether to strike after a 14-day mediation process. Shin Dong Hun, head of the Air Premia pilots union, said consumer prices rose 24% over the past five years, cutting real wages. “The 8.3% we proposed is about one-third of the inflation rate,” he said, adding that management is focused on cutting costs despite what he described as significant union concessions. The risk of strikes has been rising across the airline industry this year. Earlier, the Air Busan pilots union sought mediation with the Busan Regional Labor Relations Commission after wage talks for 2025 broke down. The union demanded a 13% increase, citing pay levels at Jin Air, which is set to be merged, while management offered 3.7%, leaving the sides far apart. Pay gaps between airlines have emerged as a key issue in mediation requests. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, Air Busan employees’ average pay through June last year was 36 million won, or 81.8% of Jin Air’s 44 million won. Airlines’ reluctance to raise wages comes amid a weak business environment, with a strong exchange rate, fuel-cost burdens and intensifying competition weighing on profitability. The industry believes most carriers, except full-service carrier Korean Air, posted operating losses last year. An Air Premia official disputed the union’s claim of a wage freeze, saying annual pay has risen steadily since 2023 as pay steps were adjusted. The official also said pilots’ pay increases have outpaced those of other employees even as the union prepares for a strike. 2026-02-03 14:42:21 -
Veteran Actor Park Geun Hyung Reflects on Colleagues’ Deaths in KBS Interview Veteran actor Park Geun Hyung spoke about fellow actors who have recently died. On Tuesday’s KBS 1TV talk show “Morning Yard,” Park appeared as a guest. Park said it was his first time on the program in 10 years. He recalled previously greeting viewers on the show while appearing in the play “Father” with the late Yoon So Jung. After Park added that he had also appeared on the show when Lee Geum Hee and Lee Sang Byeok were hosts, presenter Um Ji In said, “This winter, we said goodbye to many teachers we loved. That’s why your presence feels so significant.” Park replied, “Now that they’ve all gone, it feels like my turn may be coming,” adding that the empty seats left behind make it seem as though he has stepped into their place. “I should work even harder for those who have passed,” he said. Meanwhile, “The Dresser,” starring Park and Oh Man Seok, is set in a provincial town in Britain during World War II and follows a theater troupe preparing a production of Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” The play runs through March 1 at the National Theater of Korea’s Daloreum Theater.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 14:42:00 -
Satellite images suggest North Korean troops rehearse military parade SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - Hundreds of North Korean soldiers were seen "practicing marching formations" in Pyongyang, in what appeared to be preparations for a military parade, according to 38 North, a website formerly run by Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Based on an analysis of Planet Labs' commercial satellite images showing "formations of the hammer, sickle, and brush symbol" of the isolated country's Workers' Party, the website said on Tuesday that the activity at a training field near Mirim Airport, east of Pyongyang, appeared to be "preparatory drills" for the parade ahead of a key party congress expected to be held this month. North Korean troops have conducted drills at the site when preparing military parades for major events, including the party gathering, which is held roughly once every five years to outline the country's five-year plan for domestic and foreign policies. The North has not disclosed the exact date of the congress, but government authorities here predict that it is expected to convene within the coming weeks. With its leader Kim Jong-un making frequent appearances at a series of events celebrating the completion of various projects as well as conducting on-site inspections to highlight his achievements since late last year, the congress appears imminent. But 38 North said the scheduled gathering could be delayed "if there are more economic projects to showcase or weapons to test." 2026-02-03 14:36:07 -
Koo Jun-yup Wore Coat Gifted by Late Wife Barbie Hsu 27 Years Ago, Singer Says Koo Jun-yup, a member of the group Clon, attended the first anniversary of the death of actor Barbie Hsu (Seo Hee-won), and the coat he wore drew attention. On Sunday, Taiwanese singer Tao Ching-ying wrote on social media, “Early in the morning, we left Taipei for Jinshan,” adding that wind and rain battered the route and the sea was rough. She said it was hard to imagine “how Hsu’s husband, Koo Jun-yup, traveled this lonely and difficult road every day.” She said family and friends gathered to see a statue, describing it as “a pure young girl” looking toward Taipei. Tao also said the coat Koo wore for Hsu’s first anniversary was one Hsu gave him 27 years ago, and that Hsu’s mother showed off shoes her daughter had given her. Koo previously mentioned the coat on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block” in 2022, saying it was hanging at home and that Hsu had given it to him for an awards ceremony. “I couldn’t throw away anything she gave me,” he said. Koo and Hsu dated in the late 1990s, broke up, then reunited more than 20 years later and married in 2022.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 14:36:00 -
Korean millionaire exodus doubles on mounting tax burden SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -South Korea saw the number of millionaires leaving the country double to 2,400 in 2025 from a year earlier, making it the world’s fourth-largest source of wealthy outflows, claimed a business lobby group to reiterate call for an overhaul of the notoriously-high inheritance tax payment system. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) released a study Tuesday projecting that inheritance tax revenue would surge from 9.6 trillion won ($6.63 billion) in 2024 to 35.8 trillion won by 2072 if the current tax regime remains unchanged. The sharp rise is attributed to an aging population, the KCCI projected, with the number of deaths among those aged 70 and above expected to increase by 2.6 times from 264,000 in 2025 to 687,000 in 2072. Following the growth in elderly numbers, those subject to inheritance tax in Korea jumped roughly 13-fold to 21,193 in 2024 from 1,661 in 2002, while the tax share of total government revenue rose to 2.14 percent from 0.29 percent during the same period. The KCCI said this trend is transforming inheritance tax from a levy on the ultra-wealthy into one increasingly felt by middle-class households. The chamber cited data from British immigration consultancy Henley & Partners showing Korea's net outflow of wealthy individuals trailing only the United Kingdom, China and India. The United States and Canada are the most favored destinations among Korean millionaires seeking to relocate, according to the consultancy. "Inheritance tax rates reaching 50 to 60 percent could be a primary factor accelerating capital flight overseas," the KCCI said in its report. While ranking as the top 13th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, South Korea's top rate of 50 percent is the second-highest after Japan's 55 percent, and can reach 60 percent when a surcharge on controlling stakes is applied. The chamber's analysis of domestic economic data from 1970 to 2024 found a negative correlation between the ratio of inheritance tax revenue to gross domestic product and economic growth rates. Under the current system, heirs of small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in family business succession can pay inheritance tax over a maximum of 20 years or defer payment for 10 years before beginning a 10-year installment plan. Individual taxpayers and large corporations, however, are limited to 10-year installments with no grace period. The KCCI characterized this disparity as creating unreasonable discrimination against ordinary citizens and most businesses, calling for diversified payment methods as a realistic alternative to minimize revenue losses while facilitating smoother business succession. To ease the burden on taxpayers without significantly reducing government revenue, the KCCI proposed extending the installment payment period for general inherited assets from the current 10 years to 20 years, or introducing a minimum five-year grace period. It also called for allowing in-kind tax payments using listed shares and extending the stock valuation period from two months to two or three years around the inheritance date. "Mounting inheritance tax obligations are dampening corporate investment, creating upward pressure on stock prices during succession and forcing some business owners to sell their management stakes," said Kang Seok-gu, head of the KCCI's research division "Flexible payment options for inheritance tax could boost business investment and revitalize the economy," Kang added. 2026-02-03 14:18:04 -
Upbit operator probed over unlisted share trading practices SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Dunamu, operator of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, is under investigation by the country’s antitrust regulator over suspected unfair practices in the unlisted-share trading market. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Tuesday it recently conducted an on-site inspection at Dunamu’s headquarters in Seoul to examine allegations that the company restricted trading of its own shares to a single platform while denying similar access to a rival operator, potentially limiting competition. Regulators are reviewing whether Dunamu unfairly refused cooperation requested by a competing platform, for trading support involving Dunamu shares. Dunamu operates an unlisted-share platform, where its own shares are actively traded. Dunamu is regarded as one of the most valuable companies in South Korea’s over-the-counter (OTC) market, with a valuation estimated in the trillions of won. Industry sources said the rival trading platform sought cooperation and information sharing to enable trading of Dunamu shares but filed a complaint with the FTC after its request was rejected. Market observers say Dunamu’s own shares are among the most sought-after assets in Korea’s OTC market. The FTC plans to review internal documents and transaction data secured during the inspection to determine whether Dunamu’s refusal materially harmed market competition. If regulators conclude the refusal constituted an unfair trade practice, Dunamu could face corrective orders or financial penalties. The company has not provided detailed public comment but said it would cooperate with the investigation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-03 13:56:27 -
The birth of humanoid robots (3): the calculus of steel and flesh Editor's Note: This is the third installment in AJP's series on humanoid robotics, examining the anatomy, technologies and economic logic behind one of the most hyped industries of the decade. SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Humanoid robots are designed for work that is tedious, costly or dangerous for humans. To meet that purpose, their architecture does not merely imitate the human body — it often stretches beyond it, with joints capable of rotating 360 degrees to exceed natural human limits. Boston Dynamics captured the innovative mind from South Korea's DRC-HUBO robot — first showcased at the DARPA Robotics Challenge — into its Atlas humanoid. The machine features mechanical joints with 56 degrees of freedom, allowing a full range of motion that far surpasses human flexibility. As if to underscore its machine origins, Atlas's ocular head glows with light. The supply chain gap Beneath the gleaming promise of Korea's humanoid push, however, lies a structural vulnerability. A Jan. 26 report by the Korea International Trade Association estimates South Korea's localization rate for robot components at around 40 percent, underscoring the industry's heavy reliance on foreign parts. Nearly 88.8 percent of permanent magnets used in Korean robot motors are sourced from China, while precision reducers and servo motors are supplied largely by Japanese manufacturers. Japan, by contrast, has internalized rare-earth processing and core component production, exporting more than 70 percent of its robot output. Korea — despite leading the world in robot density at 1,012 units per 10,000 workers — exports just 28.8 percent. As Hyundai Motor Group moves to deploy Atlas, many of the actuators and sensors powering the machines may still bear Japanese and Chinese stamps. Building robots, it turns out, is not the same as building an industry. The price of progress Analysts say Atlas will not come cheap. Boston Dynamics has said pricing will be based on "investment recovery within two years," effectively placing the robot below roughly 200 million won ($130,000) — nearly equivalent to the labor cost of two U.S. auto workers earning $80,000 annually over that period. The figure is steep compared with rivals. Tesla has promised its Optimus humanoid for $20,000 to $30,000, while China's Unitree offers its H2 model starting at $29,900. Hyundai is betting that Atlas's superior specifications justify the premium: 56 degrees of freedom, a lifting capacity of 90 kilograms, and the ability to swap its own batteries — capabilities cheaper competitors have yet to match. The speed question Price alone, however, does not determine whether robots can replace workers. Speed and precision matter just as much. For now, humanoid deployments remain concentrated in logistics, simple handling and repetitive tasks — not high-precision assembly or work requiring human-level dexterity. Fine-motor control and tactile sensitivity remain in early stages, with significant gaps still evident, according to Bain & Company. So why pursue humanoids when industrial robots already dominate factory floors? "These bipedal robots can replace humans directly," said Kim Dong-wan, a project director at the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology. "Most mobile robots rely on wheels, which are poorly suited to uneven terrain such as steel plants. Humanoids can walk over obstacles, press buttons — essentially performing the same tasks as human workers." Echoes of the Luddites The announcement of Atlas roaming factory grounds sent Hyundai's stock to an all-time high of 590,000 won on Jan. 22 — but also triggered resistance from an unexpected quarter: its own workers. That same day, Hyundai Motor's labor union declared that "not a single robot" would enter workplaces without labor-management agreement, warning of potential "employment shocks." "The introduction of AI robots aimed at cutting labor costs is becoming visible," the union said. "If you want to destroy labor-management relations, we will show you how it ends." The tidal wave approaches President Lee Jae Myung weighed in on Jan. 29, invoking the industrial upheavals of two centuries ago. "You cannot dodge an oncoming cart," Lee told senior aides. "If this world is coming anyway, we must prepare and brace for it." Lee compared the union's stance to the Luddite movement of early 19th-century Britain, when workers destroyed machines they feared would render them obsolete. "It's probably not serious — more a negotiating tactic," he said. "But ultimately, we need to adapt quickly." Both major umbrella unions told AJP that Hyundai's labor group may have gone too far in declaring opposition to "a single robot." "Robot integration into workplaces is nearly irreversible," said a spokesperson for the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. "Government, companies and labor all need to discuss how to coexist." The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions echoed that view but stressed concerns over unequal distribution of the benefits of humanoid technology. "This is a transitional moment," it said. "Shorter working hours and improved welfare are possible. But humanoids must benefit society broadly — not simply enrich executives while workers are laid off." The human factor Hyundai has sought to reassure employees, saying robots will focus on repetitive and dangerous tasks. Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon said at CES 2026 that human workers will remain essential for maintaining and training robots. Yet the union's statement reflects a deeper anxiety: the surge in Hyundai's stock — fueled by investor expectations of reduced labor costs, though now slightly dampened — highlights precisely the threat workers perceive. "We estimate it will take many years before humanoids meet the standards required for high-precision tasks," Kim said. "Korea is pushing hard for that transition, but we cannot promise when bipedal robots will perform truly difficult work." The question is no longer whether humanoids will work alongside humans, but how soon — and on whose terms. The robots that stumbled at the DARPA challenge a decade ago are now walking factory floors. The workers who once cheered their failures now face them across the assembly line. 2026-02-03 13:01:06 -
KCC’s Heo Ung Hits 14 3-Pointers in One Game, Surpassing Stephen Curry’s Mark This series takes a closer look at players and the issues around them, using interviews, records and career context. <Editor’s note> Busan KCC guard Heo Ung topped a single-game 3-point record associated with Stephen Curry, the NBA’s best-known long-range shooter. Heo made 14 3-pointers on Monday against Seoul SK at Jamsil Students Gymnasium, leading KCC to a 120-77 road win in the fifth round of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Pro Basketball season. He finished 16 of 26 from the field and 5 of 6 at the free-throw line. A 50-point game in the KBL had not been recorded in 22 years. In the 2003-2004 season finale, Woo Ji Won and Moon Kyung Eun — now the head coach of Suwon KT — scored 70 and 66, respectively. Those performances were later criticized as the product of a “record-pushing” game with standings already decided, which has drawn more attention to Heo’s outburst. Heo’s 14 made 3s also stood out in comparison with NBA marks. According to the NBA statistics site Basketball-Reference, Curry’s single-game high is 13, set against the New Orleans Pelicans in November 2016. Heo’s total matched the 14 made by Klay Thompson — part of Golden State’s “Splash Brothers” duo with Curry — against the Chicago Bulls in 2018. The article noted that direct comparisons are difficult because the NBA and KBL differ in court specifications and overall level of play. Heo is the eldest son of Heo Jae, often called the “president of Korean basketball.” He and his younger brother, Heo Hoon, are central figures for KCC. This season, KCC are fifth at 19-18 (0.514), and the team have won two straight. The article said KCC are viewed as capable of making a title run if they secure a spot in the six-team playoff tournament. The performance also recalled Heo Jae’s 62-point game against Egypt at the 1990 FIBA World Championship, the article said. This season, Heo Ung is averaging 16.4 points in 31 games — second among domestic players — and 2.7 made 3-pointers per game, the best mark among all players. The article asked whether the two brothers can deliver KCC a championship for the first time in three seasons, with Heo Hoon setting up plays and Heo Ung finishing with jumpers. 2026-02-03 11:24:00