Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • PHOTOS: Seouls DDP prepares for high-octane New Year countdown with media art
    PHOTOS: Seoul's DDP prepares for high-octane New Year countdown with media art SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul’s landmark cultural hub, is currently serving as a massive digital canvas for the “Seoul Light: Winter” media art festival. The event, which illuminates the iconic silver curves of the Zaha Hadid-designed structure, is part of the city’s broader “Seoul Winter Festa” celebrations. Running for 14 days from Dec. 18 through Dec. 31, the exhibition uses the building’s 222-meter-long outer facade to project high-tech visuals, transforming the architectural landmark into a vibrant "Christmas Town." The festivities will culminate on New Year’s Eve, with a grand countdown event scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. on Dec. 31. The celebration is set to feature a synchronized media art show, live performances, and a DJ set, alongside a rooftop fireworks display to welcome the start of 2026. 2025-12-31 16:41:47
  • South Korean crypto exchange Korbit fined over anti-money laundering breaches
    South Korean crypto exchange Korbit fined over anti-money laundering breaches SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has fined cryptocurrency exchange Korbit 2.73 billion won ($2 million) for violations of anti-money laundering (AML) obligations, issuing an institutional warning against the company. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said on Wednesday a comprehensive FIU inspection found Korbit had breached legal requirements, including prohibitions on transactions with unreported virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and obligations related to customer due diligence and transaction restrictions. The FIU held a sanctions review committee meeting on Tuesday and finalized follow-up measures after considering past sanction precedents, Korbit’s voluntary corrective actions and relevant legal standards, the commission said. The FIU conducted an on-site inspection of Korbit from Oct. 16 to 29, uncovering around 22,000 violations related to customer due diligence and transaction-restriction requirements. Korbit was also found to have supported 19 virtual asset transfer transactions involving three overseas VASPs that had not met reporting requirements under South Korean law, violating the ban on dealing with unreported providers. In addition, inspectors identified 655 cases in which Korbit failed to conduct required money-laundering risk assessments when supporting new transactions, including those involving non-fungible tokens. 2025-12-31 16:28:44
  • Minor earthquake detected in Goheung
    Minor earthquake detected in Goheung SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - A 2.0-maginitue earthquake struck Goheung in southwestern South Korea on Wednesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the quake occurred at around 3:30 p.m., about 14 kilometers northeast of Goheung, South Jeolla Province. The epicenter was located at 34.70 degrees north latitude and 127.37 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 14 kilometers. The KMA stated that some residents in the affected area felt weak tremors, but there have been no reports of damage or injuries. 2025-12-31 16:23:27
  • Look to license plates for clues to Pyongyangs shifting pecking order
    Look to license plates for clues to Pyongyang's shifting pecking order SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - That North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un favors symbolism is hardly surprising. But his latest gesture suggests a particular flair for political semiotics. Kim has reportedly replaced the license plate on his state limousine — a Russian-made Aurus Senat gifted by President Vladimir Putin — with one bearing the number “7·27 0001.” The first three digits mark July 27, 1953, the date of the Korean War armistice. The remaining four leave little room for interpretation: No. 1. In Pyongyang, nothing is accidental. Recent footage aired by state broadcaster Korean Central Television (KCTV) suggests that license plates themselves have become a visible code for hierarchy inside the regime. The numbers “0002” and “0003” are now assigned to Premier Pak Thae-song, head of the Cabinet, and Choe Ryong-hae, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), respectively. The sequencing — placing the premier ahead of the nominal head of state — has fueled speculation among analysts that the administrative arm of the government is gaining renewed prominence under Kim’s rule. At major public events, including the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in Pyongyang last October, Pak was seated immediately after Kim’s main guest, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and ahead of Choe. In official party roll calls as well, Pak has been introduced before the SPA chief, reinforcing perceptions that he has emerged as the regime’s de facto second-in-command. “Formally, the president of the SPA Presidium functions as North Korea’s head of state, signing credentials and representing the country diplomatically,” Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, told AJP. “In practice, however, real authority often rests with the premier, who oversees economic management and state administration. It is similar to South Korea, where the National Assembly speaker ranks second in protocol but does not necessarily wield comparable political power.” Another Dongguk University scholar, Hwang Jin-tae, offered a complementary reading of the symbolism. “People are paying attention to the fact that the No. 2 plate was assigned to the premier,” he said in a separate interview with AJP. “Traditionally, the party was considered the ‘head’ and the Cabinet the ‘hands.’ But with the growing emphasis on regional development initiatives such as the ‘20×10 Regional Development Policy,’ which directly affects people’s livelihoods, the premier’s role appears to be gaining weight.” Hwang noted that similar interpretations surfaced during the tenure of former Premier Kim Tok-hun. “Even then, coverage highlighted the Cabinet’s responsibility for economic management,” he said. “Assigning numbers 2 and 3 to the heads of the executive and legislative branches may be symbolically fitting for a regime eager to project a more ‘normalized’ state structure.” Still, he cautioned, ultimate authority remains firmly within the Workers’ Party, particularly among senior figures such as Jo Yong-won, director of the Organization and Guidance Department, and Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. While internal symbolism may be shifting, observers in Seoul say Pyongyang’s external posture remains hard-edged. Kim Gunn, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, said North Korea may soon enter another phase of provocation aimed at strengthening its bargaining position with Washington. Kim, who previously served as South Korea’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and as chief nuclear negotiator, is now secretary of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. “The direction of North Korea’s policy this year will depend on decisions taken at the Ninth Party Congress,” he told AJP. “But the recent display of what appears to be a nuclear-powered submarine under construction suggests Pyongyang is preparing to raise tensions as a negotiating tactic.” “The key for Seoul and Washington,” he added, “will be close coordination and efforts to encourage constructive engagement by surrounding powers.” 2025-12-31 16:23:15
  • IU donates 200 million won to charities
    IU donates 200 million won to charities SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Singer and actress IU has donated 200 million won (about US$ $139,000) to charities, sharing holiday joy with the underprivileged. According to her management agency EDAM Entertainment, IU made the donation to several charities, which will be distributed to support single mothers facing economic hardship and social prejudice, children and youth in poverty, individuals with hearing disabilities, and the elderly at risk of going hungry during the cold winter. IU has donated on numerous occasions including her birthday and other anniversaries. 2025-12-31 15:50:19
  • Lee to lead large entourage for his trip to China
    Lee to lead large entourage for his trip to China SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will be accompanied by a group of financial leaders on his trip to China next week for a summit with President Xi Jinping. Among his entourage is Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong, who will join Lee during his state visit to China from Jan. 4 to 7, according to industry sources on Tuesday. With the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) organizing the entourage, Jin, who chairs the business lobby's financial committee, would be the sole top financial executive. Several heads of major banks including KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-ju, Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-sung, Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan and NH Nonghyup Bank CEO Kang Tae-young will also be part of the delegation, along with business tycoons and leaders. While their detailed itinerary has not been finalized, a large number of the delegation are expected to help strengthen cooperation between Seoul and Beijing. Lee is expected to lead an entourage of about 200 businesspeople including the heads of the country's four largest conglomerates such as Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, who also leads the KCCI, Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Eui-sun and LG Group chairman Koo Kwang-mo. 2025-12-31 15:36:39
  • K-haircare push expands in US as LG H&Hs Dr. Groot draws crowds in New York
    K-haircare push expands in US as LG H&H's Dr. Groot draws crowds in New York SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s K-beauty influence is extending into the hair-care sector as LG Household & Health Care’s derma scalp-care brand Dr. Groot drew nearly 1,700 visitors during a pop-up event in New York earlier this month, reflecting growing overseas interest in Korean premium hair-care products. Dr. Groot operated a two-day “pop-up truck” in Manhattan on Dec. 11–12, offering scalp-analysis services and product trials that the brand said were designed to introduce its treatment-focused hair-care concept to US consumers. The event attracted long queues despite sub-zero temperatures, according to the company on Wednesday. The activation comes amid rapid sales momentum in North America, where Dr. Groot posted year-on-year growth of about 800 percent in the first half of 2025. LG H&H has been expanding its presence in the region as global demand rises for scalp-care products marketed under the “K-haircare” banner. The pop-up also drew attention from major social-media influencers, including Bretman Rock, who visited on both days and generated online content that helped push total impressions related to the event to around 30 million as of Dec. 30, LG H&H said. Other beauty creators, such as Matt Loves Hair and Via Lia, also shared content from the site. “We will continue expanding overseas activations to strengthen global awareness of our hair-care brands,” an LG H&H official said. “Competition in the US is growing, and building consumer familiarity remains a priority.” 2025-12-31 15:30:31
  • To shorten working hours, Korea wants employers to pay strictly by hours 
    To shorten working hours, Korea wants employers to pay strictly by hours  SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea is known for long working hours. The five-day workweek is only a generation old, and the 52-hour cap has been in place for less than eight years. Average working hours remain above the OECD average, and the government now wants to address this by overhauling the way wages are calculated. It plans to tackle the loosely defined "comprehensive wage" system, under which various allowances and overtime pay are bundled into an annual or monthly salary. The government aims to require employers to track actual working hours and compensate overtime strictly based on recorded time. The move marks the first attempt to bring under statutory control a wage practice that has long been tolerated through court rulings rather than explicitly defined in labor law. The comprehensive wage system largely exists for employer convenience, allowing a preset amount of overtime, night work and holiday pay to be included in monthly salaries when tracking actual hours is deemed difficult. The practice is not stipulated in the Labor Standards Act but has been permitted in limited cases through Supreme Court rulings dating back to the 1970s. The term itself became widely used in the 1990s and gradually spread as a common pay arrangement. The system has been especially prevalent in sectors such as information technology (IT) and gaming, where long working hours are common. In practice, however, many companies have failed to pay additional compensation even when employees worked beyond the hours implicitly covered by their salaries, drawing criticism that the system has enabled unpaid overtime and wage violations. Labor experts say the controversy stems from a gap between the law's wording and how it has been enforced. The Labor Standards Act requires employment contracts to clearly specify both wages and agreed working hours, defined as the hours set within statutory limits by agreement between employers and workers. "If the law is interpreted literally, comprehensive wage arrangements are fundamentally inconsistent with this framework," said Jung Bong-soo, a labor attorney at KangNam Labor Law Firm. He added that in reality, many white-collar workers have a fixed number of overtime hours — such as 20 or 24 hours per month — vaguely included in their salaries, with no additional pay even when they work longer. "Strictly speaking, most of these practices amount to violations of the law," he said. To address the issue, the government plans to require employers to guarantee full pay even when workers perform fewer hours than agreed, while mandating additional compensation for any work exceeding the agreed hours. As a core measure, all companies would be required to record actual working hours for overtime, night and holiday work. Wage ledgers would have to include detailed information on working days and overtime hours, institutionalizing transparent tracking and management of working time. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it intends to make clock-out records mandatory for overtime work across all businesses, with detailed requirements to be laid out in forthcoming legislation. The legal package is also expected to include a provision prohibiting after-work text orders. Korea currently has no explicit rules governing after-hours contact, with disputes handled indirectly under workplace harassment or overtime regulations. Some labor scholars caution that stronger enforcement will be crucial if the reforms are to have any real impact. "Supervision of working hours has been weak due to limited administrative capacity," said Kim Sung-hee, a professor at Korea University's Graduate School of Labor Studies. "Without clear, binding rules on how and when the measures apply, recommendations alone will not bring about change." Labor attorney Jung also noted that South Korea already has a legally defined "discretionary work system" for jobs where working time is genuinely difficult to measure. Expanding its application in line with industry characteristics and job roles could help reduce confusion surrounding comprehensive wage practices. The debate comes amid persistent concerns over South Korea's long working hours compared with other advanced economies. South Korea continues to rank among the countries with the longest working hours in the developed world. According to OECD data cited by the government, annual working hours stood at 1,859 last year, compared with an OECD average of 1,708. Although the figure has declined from 2,071 hours in 2015, South Korea still ranks near the top among member countries. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and France report fewer than 1,500 working hours per year, while the United States — the next highest among major economies — stands at around 1,810 hours. The government says its latest measures are aimed at narrowing that gap by making long hours more visible — and more costly — for employers. 2025-12-31 15:10:19
  • Asian Culture Calendar
    Asian Culture Calendar SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea Dec. 31 – Jan. 1 Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival Dec. 31 – Jan. 1 Homigot Sunrise Festival Dec. 31 – Jan. 1 Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival Jan. 10 – Feb. 1 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Jan. 31 – Feb. 8 Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival Japan Dec. 31 – Jan. 1 NO LIMIT! COUNTDOWN 2026 Jan. 14 Shittenoji Doya Doya Festival Jan. 20 – Feb.8 Kobe Luminarie Thailand Jan. 10 – 11 Khon Kaen International Marathon 2026 Jan. 15 – 18 Thailand International Boat Show 2026 Jan. 16 – 18 EDC Thailand 2026 Jan. 24 – 25 Bangkok Music City 2026 Singapore Jan. 8 – 11 Singapore Motorshow 2026 Jan. 22 – 31 Singapore Art Week 2026 2025-12-31 15:05:01
  • Korean Economy/Business Calendar
    Korean Economy/Business Calendar SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Jan 8 (Thu) 3rd–4th Quarter 2025 Flow of Funds (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea Jan 2nd week (estimate) Q4 Results (Preliminary) - Samsung Electronics Q4 Results (Preliminary) - LG Electronics Q4 Results (Preliminary) - LG Energy Solution Jan 14 (Wed) Dec. 2025 Export and Import Price Index & Terms of Trade Index (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea Dec. 2025 Annual Employment Trends - Ministry of Data and Statistics Nov. 2025 Household Income and Expenditure Trends - Bank of Korea Jan 20 (Tue) Dec. 2025 Producer Price Index (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea Jan 22 (Thu) 4Q & 2025 GDP (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea Jan 23 (Fri) Jan. 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index - Bank of Korea Jan 4th Week (estimate) Q4 Results - SK hynix Q4 Results - Hyundai Motor & Kia Jan 27 (Tue) Jan. 2026 BSI & ESI - Bank of Korea Dec. 2025 Weighted Average Rate - Bank of Korea Jan 28 (Wed) Nov. 2025 Population Trends - Ministry of Data and Statistics Jan 30 (Fri) Dec. & 2025 Industrial Activity Trends - Ministry of Data and Statistics 2025-12-31 15:04:30