Journalist
Lee Hugh
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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 -
South Korea to Hold Sixth Korean Sign Language Day Ceremony The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will hold a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the Modu Art Theater to mark Korean Sign Language Day and promote the value and importance of Korean Sign Language. The sixth annual event will be held under the theme, “Today Connected by Language, Tomorrow Continued Through Culture!” The ministry said it was planned to highlight Korean Sign Language not only as the first language of Deaf people but also as a valuable linguistic and cultural asset for South Korean society as a whole. During the ceremony, the ministry will present the culture minister’s commendations to people and groups recognized for expanding and developing Korean Sign Language. Honorees include Pyo Min Ae, head of the Dangjin branch of the Chungnam Association of the Deaf, cited for work including early-childhood sign language education and efforts to strengthen Deaf people’s right to know and language rights for Deaf people without formal schooling. The ministry will also honor “Sueo Mindulle,” described as the country’s only organization specializing in sign language literature. An awards ceremony will also be held for the Korean Sign Language Day sign language design contest, launched for the first time to mark the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Korean Sign Language Act. Organizers reviewed 65 teams and selected 11 winners: one grand prize, two top excellence awards, three excellence awards and five encouragement awards. Winners will receive the Korea Association of the Deaf president’s award and prize money. The grand prize design will be used for event souvenirs. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 11:12:27 -
Hyundai Mobis Targets 2029 Mass Production of Holographic Windshield Display With European Partners Hyundai Mobis said Tuesday it is teaming up with global industry leaders to pursue mass production of a holographic windshield display by 2029. The South Korean auto parts maker said it has launched a “Quad Alliance” with three European specialists: German optics company Zeiss, German adhesive tape maker Tesa and French automotive glass company Saint-Gobain Sekurit. The holographic windshield display, or HWD, uses a vehicle’s front windshield as a large display without a separate physical screen, allowing drivers to check driving information while keeping their eyes forward. Hyundai Mobis began developing the HWD through an exclusive collaboration with Zeiss in 2024. It said it will expand that partnership ecosystem starting this year, aiming to commercialize the technology by 2029. Hyundai Mobis will oversee the overall system, including designing and producing the projector that casts images. Zeiss will design the hologram-based optical element film to improve clarity and visibility. Tesa will handle mass replication of the high-function film, and Sekurit will manage the precision process of bonding the film to windshield glass. Hyundai Mobis said the partnership creates a one-stop supply chain spanning technology design, parts production and assembly. The companies are targeting light transmittance of at least 92% — comparable to clear glass — and brightness of more than 10,000 nits, about twice that of outdoor LED billboards, to keep images clear even in bright daytime conditions. Hyundai Mobis said it plans to use the optical characteristics of the film so the driver cannot see the front passenger’s HWD screen. That would allow passengers to watch video, play games and use other infotainment features while driving. Jung Soo Kyung, head of Hyundai Mobis’ Electronics Business Unit, said the company will provide customers with differentiated value through “a core technology that opens the future of in-vehicle displays.” She said Hyundai Mobis will work closely with global partners through mass production to strengthen competitiveness and reinforce its image as a leader in innovative technology in the global market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 11:12:00 -
Hyundai Mobis forms four-way alliance with European firms for holographic windshield display SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Hyundai Mobis said Tuesday it has forged a "Quad Alliance" with three European technology leaders to commercialize holographic windshield displays by 2029, marking a significant push into next-generation automotive display technology. The South Korean auto parts maker has joined forces with German optics giant Zeiss, German adhesive specialist Tesa, and France's Saint-Gobain Sekurit, Europe's largest automotive glass manufacturer, to bring the technology to mass production. The holographic windshield display transforms the entire front windshield into a large-format screen, projecting driving information directly into the driver's line of sight without requiring a separate physical display. The system uses a special holographic optical element film to deliver navigation data and infotainment images precisely to the eyes of both drivers and passengers. The technology has light transmittance exceeding 92 percent and brightness surpassing 10,000 nits, about twice that of outdoor LED screens, enabling clear visibility even under direct sunlight. The optical design also prevents drivers from viewing passenger-side content, allowing front-seat occupants to safely enjoy entertainment during travel. Under the alliance, Hyundai Mobis will oversee the overall system architecture and projector production, while Zeiss handles film design for optimal clarity. Tesa will mass-replicate the high-performance film, and Saint-Gobain Sekurit will manage the precision bonding process between film and glass. "We will deliver differentiated value to our customers through this technology that opens the future of automotive displays," said Jung Soo-kyung, head of Hyundai Mobis' automative electronics business unit. 2026-02-03 11:02:41 -
Asian markets recover as Warsh shock fades, KOSPI surges above 5,100 SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -Asian markets recovered Tuesday, led by the Korean market erasing much of the previous session’s steep losses after a brief bout of panic triggered by the nomination of hawkish monetary policy advocate Kevin Warsh as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair. The benchmark KOSPI surged 4.16 percent to move back above the 5,100 level, after briefly dipping below the 5,000 mark on Monday's slide of 5.26 percent . As of 10 a.m., the index was up 206.07 points at 5,156.74, prompting the activation of a buy-side sidecar. Gains were broad-based across sectors. Securities firms led the rally, jumping more than 9 percent, while electronics and electrical stocks climbed around 5 percent. Construction and financial shares rose over 4 percent, and distribution, machinery and equipment, telecommunications, and medical and precision instrument stocks advanced by roughly 3 percent. Heavyweights also traded firmly higher. SK Square gained 5.84 percent to 535,000 won, while Samsung Electronics and SK hynix each rose over 6 percent to 160,700 won, 898,000 won respectively. Samsung C&T climbed about 4.98 percent to 305,000 won, with Hanwha Aerospace and Doosan Enerbility up more than 4 percent to 1,285,000 won and 89,400 won each. Hanwha Ocean, KB Financial Group and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries posted gains of around 3 percent, trading at 139,500 won, 137,400 won and 574,000 won respectively. The rally extended to the auto sector, Hyundai Motor rose 1.67 percent to 486,000 won, Kia up 0.73 percent to 151,200 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also advanced, rising 2.68 percent, or 29.45 points, to 1,127.81. Among large-cap stocks, Wonik IPS surged more than 12 percent to 114,500 won, while Rainbow Robotics jumped over 9.27 percent to 778,000 won. Samchundang Pharm rose around 13 percent to 527,000 won, Caregen gained 9.13 percent to 116,000 won and Medy-Tox affiliate Mezzion gained about 7.35 percent to percent 169.800 won. In the currency market, the won strengthened as the U.S. dollar slipped 6.1 won to 1,447.40 won. Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares were trading higher, with the Nikkei 225 Index gaining 2.96 percent to 54,212.79. The China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.59 percent to 4,039.34. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was trading up 0.69 percent to 26,959,76. 2026-02-03 10:51:30 -
North Korean leader highlights 'rural revolution' during on-site inspection SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the modernization of rural areas, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim visited a dairy farm in North Pyongan Province for its grand opening the previous day and emphasized his development drive for the "rural revolution." He was quoted as saying that the country's rural areas are "undergoing changes one after another to present a new scenery of civilization all year round." "The eye-opening transformation in the Samgwang area, clearly showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside, is the proud fruition of the noble devotion of ," KCNA said, hailing it as a "model of socialist rural construction and development of livestock farming in the new era." "It is very great for the unknown farm to mass-produce 10-odd kinds of milk products such as butter, cheese, milk powder and yoghurt," Kim said, adding that he "feels great pride to think that such good milk products would be supplied to the children and people." Kim's frequent on-site inspections since late last year seem intended to highlight his achievements ahead of the country's key party congress expected later this month. 2026-02-03 10:40:45 -
BTS Comeback D-46: Gwanghwamun comeback show to be livestreamed on Netflix SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - BTS' long-awaited full-member comeback stage at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 will be livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, the platform's first live event broadcast globally from South Korea. Netflix and HYBE announced that “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” will be streamed exclusively on Netflix at 8 p.m. on March 21. The concert will take place at Gwanghwamun Square, one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks, in conjunction with the release of BTS’s new album “ARIRANG.” “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” is a special event, celebrating the return of all seven members — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — on same stage for the first time in nearly four years after their rotational military conscription, unveiling live performances of new songs from the album to audiences in more than 190 countries. “ARIRANG,” BTS’s fifth full-length studio album to be released at 1 p.m. KST on March 20 featuring 14 tracks, reflects on the group’s origins and evolving identity. Following the album’s release, BTS plans to embark on a massive global tour titled “BTS World Tour ‘ARIRANG’ (2026–2027),” spanning 82 concerts across 34 regions in Asia, North America, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. BigHit Music said the album “ARIRANG” reflects BTS’ starting point and identity, as well as what they want to convey now. “Given the symbolic meaning of the word ‘Arirang,’ we wanted to prepare the first stage in a place that represents Korea,” the agency said, explaining the choice of Gwanghwamun Square as the venue for the group's return. BTS previously staged performances at Geunjeongjeon Hall (The Throne Hall) and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (Royal Banquet Hall) of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 2020, as part of “BTS Week,” a special programming event on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". Netflix will also release a feature-length documentary, “BTS: The Return,” on March 27. Directed by Bao Nguyen — known for “The Stringer” and “The Greatest Night in Pop” — the film follows the group’s journey back to collective creation after a three-year-and-nine-month hiatus. Shot largely in Los Angeles, the documentary offers an intimate look at the members reuniting in the studio, confronting questions of how to move forward together while honoring their past without being constrained by it. The film traces the emotional and creative process behind BTS’s comeback, capturing moments of reflection, uncertainty and renewed purpose. 2026-02-03 10:27:55 -
KT advances quantum internet push with enhanced encryption system SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - South Korean telecom operator KT said Tuesday it has developed a quantum key distribution (QKD) device capable of generating 300,000 encryption keys per second, or 300 kilobits per second (kbps). The system is designed to prevent eavesdropping on physical communication lines by using quantum-mechanical properties that make encryption keys impossible to copy with current technology, the company said. KT previously developed a 150 kbps system in 2024 and has more than doubled the key-generation speed in about 18 months. "The new device represents the fastest QKD system built using domestic technology and delivers performance comparable to leading global manufacturers," the company said in a press release. "If deployed on commercial networks, the system could supply quantum keys to more than 70,000 encryption devices within a minute." Quantum key distribution systems operate using single photons, the smallest units of light energy. Because quantum states are highly sensitive and can collapse when light is dispersed or scattered, transmission errors can increase sharply. KT said it developed a proprietary filtering and system technology that reduces errors while boosting key-generation speed. The company said technical verification was completed late last year in collaboration with South Korean organizations involved in quantum cryptography development and certification, including the Telecommunications Technology Association, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, and the National Information Society Agency. KT also conducted joint verification with a research team led by Professor Heo Jun at Korea University’s Communications and Information Systems Laboratory. KT said it plans to further enhance system reliability by improving its ability to generate and detect quantum states at precise timing intervals, enabling more stable performance. The technology is expected to play a key role in the development of the future quantum internet, a next-generation communications network. “KT will help expand South Korea’s quantum industry ecosystem through continued development and technology transfer of our quantum communications technologies,” said Lee Jong-sik, head of KT’s Network Research Institute. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-03 10:24:12 -
Hyundai Steel produces lower-carbon steel sheet for Hyundai Motor, Kia SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Hyundai Steel said Monday it has begun mass production of lower-carbon steel sheet that reduces carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared with conventional blast-furnace products, marking a key step in the company’s transition toward greener steelmaking. The company said it conducted extensive pre-verification work to stabilize operations and secure product quality ahead of launching its electric arc furnace–blast furnace hybrid production process. Since April 2023, Hyundai Steel has tested productivity for the lower-carbon steel sheet using an existing electric arc furnace at its Dangjin steelworks. Hyundai Steel has secured certification for 25 steel grades, including two grades of lower-carbon steel sheet now entering mass production. It plans to certify an additional 28 grades within the year, expanding the lineup to 53 grades. The rollout aligns with carbon-reduction roadmaps pursued by automakers within Hyundai Motor Group, the company said. Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to begin applying lower-carbon steel materials to selected models produced in South Korea and Europe starting this year. Hyundai Steel said it will supply key automotive steel sheet to those plants as lower-carbon products and gradually expand both product grades and supply volumes. The company is broadening the application of lower-carbon products beyond the auto sector. In automotive materials, Hyundai Steel is working with global carmakers and parts suppliers, while in energy steel it has completed fabrication and testing of lower-carbon heavy plate for offshore wind substructures, confirming material suitability with customers. A Hyundai Steel official said the company is leading the supply of lower-carbon products through its hybrid process combining electric arc furnace operations with blast-furnace technology. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-03 09:47:46 -
South Korea, Poland agree to bolster security-related cooperation SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - South Korea and Poland have agreed to deepen security-related cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said on Tuesday. The inaugural dialogue between the two countries was held in Warsaw on Monday, as senior foreign ministry official Jeong Yeon-doo met with Robert Kupiecki, undersecretary of state at the Polish foreign ministry. According to the ministry, the two exchanged views on both bilateral matters and global security issues, while agreeing to share strategies and policies to expand their areas of cooperation. Jeong explained to Kupiecki South Korea's efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea. Kupiecki responded that he would support South Korea's pursuit of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula through a Polish mission in Pyongyang. They also agreed to hold follow-up talks in Seoul. 2026-02-03 09:42:46