Journalist
Lee Hugh
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LG Energy Solution ends $6.5 bn deal with Ford amid EV slowdown SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) -South Korea's LG Energy Solution said Wednesday it has terminated an electric vehicle battery supply contract with Ford Motor worth an estimated 9.6 trillion won ($6.5 billion), after the U.S. automaker decided to halt production of some EV models amid shifting policy conditions and a softer demand outlook. In a regulatory filing after the stock market closure, the South Korean battery maker said the termination followed formal notice from Ford, which recently reassessed its EV production plans in response to changes in the policy environment and cooling expectations for electric vehicle demand. The contract, originally disclosed on Oct. 15, 2024, was signed on Oct. 14 and covered battery supplies for multiple Ford EV models. LG Energy Solution said the disclosed termination amount was calculated by applying battery prices at the time of contract signing to the originally agreed supply volume, making the figure an estimate rather than a realized loss. The company added that the reference to recent sales in the filing was based on its consolidated financial statements as of the end of 2023, while the termination date reflects the day it received the cancellation notice from Ford. Ford has been scaling back its EV ambitions as costs rise and demand growth proves slower than initially expected. The automaker recently canceled or delayed several EV models, signaling a more cautious rollout strategy amid weaker consumer uptake, margin pressure and lingering infrastructure constraints. Shares of LG Energy Solution closed Wednesday, mildly down 0.6 percent at 415,500 won after a 6-percent slide on the previous day. LG Energy Solution, one of the world’s largest EV battery suppliers with clients spanning North America, Europe and Asia, has recently emphasized efforts to protect its intellectual property and diversify its customer base as competition intensifies and growth expectations moderate. 2025-12-17 18:20:05 -
Asian stocks edge higher ahead of BOJ rate decision SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Asian equities closed modestly higher on Wednesday, with South Korean stocks rebounding as heavyweight chipmakers led gains, while investors across the region remained cautious ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting later this week. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 1.4 percent to 4,056.41, recovering above the 4,000 mark after two consecutive sessions of losses. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.6 percent to 911.07. Samsung Electronics jumped 5 percent to 107,900 won ($72.9), while SK hynix gained 4 percent to 551,000 won, lifting the broader market. The rally in memory chip stocks came as investors positioned for Micron Technology’s quarterly earnings due Thursday, widely viewed as a bellwether for the global memory cycle. By contrast, Samsung Biologics fell 2.2 percent to 1.75 million won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries slid 1 percent to 519,000 won. Stock-specific moves were also driven by President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks during a series of televised government briefings. During a health ministry briefing on Tuesday, Lee said hair-loss treatment — long categorized as cosmetic — was increasingly viewed as a medical necessity, adding that the government could consider caps on reimbursements or overall spending if fiscal burdens grew. The comments triggered a sharp rally in related stocks. Metalabs surged 29.7 percent to 2,205 won, TS Trillion jumped 29.8 percent to 340 won, and Innosin climbed 29.9 percent to 2,255 won, all hitting their daily upper limits. Metalabs and Innosin operate in hair-loss treatment, while TS Trillion sells anti-hair-loss shampoo. Casino stocks, meanwhile, came under pressure after Lee said during a culture ministry briefing that “foreigners-only casinos are, after all, gambling houses.” Paradise fell 7 percent to 16,260 won, and Lotte Tour Development slid 6.8 percent to 21,800 won. Entertainment stocks posted broad gains. SM Entertainment rose 5.8 percent to 118,200 won, JYP Entertainment climbed 4.1 percent to 70,800 won, Hybe advanced 2.7 percent to 304,000 won, and YG Entertainment added 1.7 percent to 64,700 won. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 edged up 0.3 percent to 49,512.28 as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the Bank of Japan’s interest-rate decision expected on Friday. Toyota Motor rose 0.6 percent to 3,349 yen ($21.5), SoftBank Group gained 1.3 percent to 16,755 yen, and Hitachi advanced 2.1 percent to 4,959 yen. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 1 percent to 2,453 yen, while Sony slipped 0.8 percent to 4,039 yen. China’s Shanghai Composite Index outperformed the region, climbing 1.2 percent to 3,870.28. 2025-12-17 17:54:46 -
Much ado about nothing: Korea's "Hwandan Gogi" controversy winds down SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Claims that Korean ancestry dates back to the Stone Age and that an ancient polity called Hwan-guk once spanned territories stretching from western Europe to China resurfaced briefly in South Korea’s political spotlight this month — before being swiftly dismissed by historians. The claims originate from Hwandan Gogi, a book published in 1979 by Yi Yu-rip, founder of the religious group Taebaekgyo. The text asserts that Hwan-guk had a population of 180 million around 1600 B.C., exceeding the populations of present-day Bangladesh or Russia. Long regarded by scholars as pseudohistory, the obscure book drew renewed attention after President Lee Jae Myung raised the issue during a televised government briefing last Friday. During a round of briefings with state-run agencies, Lee asked Park Ji-hyang, chair of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, whether the government-funded think tank had examined the validity of Hwandan Gogi. The president’s public reference to what mainstream historians consider a forgery triggered immediate backlash from the academic community. On Friday, 48 academic associations in history and archaeology, including the Korean Ancient History Society, issued a joint statement rejecting the premise outright. “There is no academic debate between historians and pseudo-historians,” the statement said. “What exists are only one-sided defamation and absurd claims from pseudo-history directed at academia.” The scholars noted that no verified 1911 edition of the text — as claimed by its proponents — has ever been found, and that the book contains numerous modern terms that could not have existed in pre-modern Korea. Many of those terms were coined in Japan during the late 19th century following the Meiji Restoration, when Japanese intellectuals created new Sino-Japanese vocabulary to translate Western political and philosophical concepts such as “civilization” and “enlightenment.” Their presence in Hwandan Gogi is widely cited as evidence of modern fabrication. Although the book purports to be a compilation of texts from the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods, historians overwhelmingly agree that it was written by Yi himself and published in 1979. Yoo Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, described Hwandan Gogi as “a fantasy born from a sense of national inferiority and a form of self-consolation,” during a lecture Tuesday at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. Yoo said the president’s remarks should not be interpreted as an endorsement. “The reference was not to validate its historical claims,” he said, “but to question how the Foundation is dealing with blind followers of such views.” Opposition politicians nevertheless seized on the controversy. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party and former head of the People Power Party, wrote on Facebook: “If Hwandan Gogi is history, then The Lord of the Rings is history too.” He added that calling it a matter of interpretation was “like saying flat-earth theory is just another scientific opinion.” The presidential office moved quickly to contain the fallout. Spokesperson Lee Kyu-yeon said the president was merely encouraging public interest in ancient history research and “was not offering any positive evaluation of Hwandan Gogi or lending it legitimacy.” Lee Jeong-bin, a history professor at Kyung Hee University, bluntly summed up: “Discussing the text itself is a waste of time,” he said. “It only reconfirms that Hwandan Gogi is a complete fantasy — not history.” 2025-12-17 17:47:46 -
SHINee's Key leaves TV shows amid alleged improper medical treatment controversy SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - K-pop boy band SHINee member Key belatedly admitted to receiving improper medical treatment and issued an apology, announcing his departure from all the shows he had been appearing on. According to a statement released by his agency, SM Entertainment on Wednesday, Key had received treatment at a hospital in Gangnam, southern Seoul after being referred by a circle of his acquaintances and believed the hospital's practitioner, known by her last name Lee, to be a licensed doctor. While continuing to receive treatment from her, he sometimes requested house calls when hospital visits were difficult. The controversy arose after Lee posted photos of Key's pet on social media. Lee is also alleged to have treated comedian Park Na-rae, who recently stepped down from all her shows following multiple allegations involving her former managers including verbal abuse and physical assault. Key, who recently toured U.S. cities for his solo concerts, had remained silent on the allegations, with suspicions growing among fans. SM apologized for the delayed response, citing the need to coordinate with various parties involved in the overseas tour, adding that Key was shocked to learn Lee lacked a medical license. Key regularly appeared on MBC's popular reality show "I Live Alone" and cable channel tvN's "Amazing Saturday." 2025-12-17 17:26:14 -
Hanwha to develop radar for South Korea's next-generation missile shield SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems said it has secured a contract worth about $135 million to develop a multifunction radar for South Korea’s next-generation Cheongung-III missile defense system. The contract is part of the M-SAM Block-III program, led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and will run through June 2030, the company said on Wednesday. The project represents the first full-scale development of the Cheongung-III system since the upgrade of Cheongung-II in 2012. Hanwha Systems said it will apply advanced radar technologies and experience gained from earlier Cheongung radar programs in close cooperation with ADD. The multifunction radar will serve as the core sensor for the Cheongung-III system, detecting, tracking and identifying airborne threats while supporting interception operations. The radar will use active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, allowing it to perform multiple functions simultaneously, including tracking ballistic missiles and aircraft. Hanwha said the new radar is designed to strengthen South Korea’s lower-tier missile defense capabilities against emerging threats such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. “Through the development of the Cheongung-III multifunction radar, we aim to demonstrate our position as a global leader in radar technology,” said Park Hyuk, head of Hanwha Systems’ radar center. 2025-12-17 17:22:39 -
Salvation army red kettle campaign under way SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Salvation Army red kettle campaigns are under way across the country as the year draws to a close. Active in Korea since 1908, the Salvation Army continues its long-running tradition of collecting donations to support neighbors in need. 2025-12-17 17:13:53 -
Korea set to test digital ADHD treatment amid overuse of concentration pills SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often taken lightly in Korea, particularly when strong school grades compensate for disruptive or reckless behavior — and, in some cases, when parents quietly encourage medication use ahead of college preparation. The neglect, delayed diagnosis and lingering aversion to child psychiatry frequently lead to long-term difficulties for patients. For many, treatment begins late and remains narrowly focused on medication. For Kim, a 31-year-old Seoul resident who asked to remain anonymous, "the fear of running out of prescriptions" has become a constant part of daily life. "For most Koreans, the most discreet way to keep ADHD hidden is medication," he said — a reliance that often deepens over time. Against this backdrop, health authorities and researchers are moving to broaden treatment options to curb the overuse of stimulant drugs. The Ministry of Health and Welfare this week revised its guidelines on the safety and effectiveness of new medical technologies, clearing the way for a digital therapeutics-based cognitive training program for pediatric ADHD. Under the fast-track designation, specialists at designated medical institutions will be allowed to prescribe screen-based treatment from February 2026 through January 2029. The program will be available to children aged six to under 13 who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Under a doctor's supervision, children will engage with an immersive, game-like platform designed to improve attention, working memory and impulse control. The treatment can be prescribed alongside oral medication, depending on symptom severity, and is being referred to by policymakers as a form of "digital medicine." The policy shift comes as ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions continue to climb nationwide. According to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the total number of patients who received medical treatment for ADHD reached 260,334 in 2024, up 229 percent from 79,244 in 2020. By age group, teenagers (10s) accounted for the largest share of ADHD patients in 2024, with 92,704 cases, or 35.61 percent of the total. They were followed by people in their 20s at 65,927 (25.32 percent), children under the age of 10 at 45,016 (17.29 percent), and those in their 30s at 40,679 (15.63 percent). The number of adult ADHD patients also rose sharply. In 2024, 122,614 adults received treatment for ADHD, up from 25,297 in 2020 — an increase of 385 percent, or nearly 4.9 times. It marked the first time that the number of adults treated for ADHD exceeded 100,000 in a single year. Another NHIS data showed, prescriptions for methylphenidate — one of the most commonly used ADHD medications — reached 1.28 million cases as of May, a 33.4 percent increase from 960,000 cases during the same period last year. Annual prescription volumes have also risen steadily. Last year, methylphenidate prescriptions totaled 2.47 million cases, up 24 percent from 1.99 million in 2023. By age group, teenagers recorded the highest number of prescriptions per 100,000 people at 2,305, followed by those in their 20s at 1,414, and children under 10 at 1,360. Regional disparities are equally striking. Within Seoul, the so-called "Gangnam Three" districts — Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa — have ranked first through third in ADHD prescription volume since 2019. Affluent neighborhoods in southern Seoul known for intense academic competition, including Daechi-dong, Banpo-dong, Jamsil-dong and Irwon-dong, showed particularly high prescription rates relative to population, according to NHIS data. Prescriptions also tend to spike ahead of major exams, including the college entrance test season. Similar concerns resurfaced ahead of last month's 2026 college entrance exam, according to online parent communities. Advertisements for so-called "concentration-enhancing drinks" and "exam supplements" surged, targeting anxious students and parents. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it detected more than 750 violations during a 10-day inspection period in October. According to the Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center (KPIC), ADHD is associated with deficiencies in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which regulate attention and focus. Medications such as methylphenidate raise levels of both, while atomoxetine selectively increases norepinephrine. While these drugs are effective in improving concentration by stimulating the central nervous system, concerns persist over side effects and long-term use — particularly among children and adolescents whose brains are still developing. KPIC said that inappropriate use of ADHD medication can lead to side effects ranging from headaches and anxiety to, in severe cases, hallucinations, delusions, or suicidal behavior. "ADHD medications themselves are generally safe, and long-term use does not significantly increase the risk of misuse among diagnosed patients," said Lee Hae-kook, a psychiatrist at The Catholic University of Korea. "But when prescription rates rise sharply in specific regions or during specific seasons, it suggests some prescriptions may be driven by short-term attempts to boost concentration rather than clear medical necessity." Lee added that digital therapeutics are unlikely to replace medication outright, but could play a complementary role. "Some patients worry about how long they need to stay on medication or want to reduce their dosage," he said. "Using digital therapeutics consistently alongside medication may help shorten treatment duration or lower dosages in certain cases." 2025-12-17 17:07:13 -
South Korea's Doosan Enerbility wins new US gas turbine order for data center SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Doosan Enerbility said on Wednesday it has signed a contract to supply three large gas turbines to a major U.S. technology company. Under the deal, Doosan Enerbility will supply three 380-megawatt gas turbines for use at the customer’s data center, with one unit scheduled for delivery in 2027 and the remaining two in 2028. The company did not disclose the name of the customer or the contract value. The latest agreement follows an earlier deal signed in October to supply two gas turbines to the same customer, bringing the total number of turbines ordered over the past two months to five, Doosan Enerbility said. Doosan began domestic production of large gas turbines in 2019 and has since completed more than 17,000 hours of performance testing. Including the latest contract, the company has secured orders for a total of 12 gas turbine units, it said. Doosan said its U.S.-based subsidiary, Doosan Turbomachinery Services, headquartered in Houston, has played a key role in strengthening maintenance and after-sales service capabilities, helping the company win overseas contracts. “Doosan Enerbility is solidifying its position as a global gas turbine supplier,” said Son Seung-woo, head of the Power Service Business Group at Doosan Enerbility. “We aim to expand our footprint in the rapidly growing North American market and respond proactively to rising demand.” 2025-12-17 16:51:58 -
PHOTOS: Annual winter festa lights up night of Seoul SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The 2025 Seoul Winter Festa officially commenced on Dec. 12, marking the start of a city-wide celebration of light and culture. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by the Seoul Tourism Organization, the festival aims to bridge the gap between local residents and international visitors. The event features a diverse lineup of programming that blends live performances and interactive experiences with the global appeal of K-culture. The festivities are spread across Seoul’s most iconic landmarks, including Gwanghwamun Square, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Uicheon Stream, and the Seoul Plaza Skating Rink. Visitors can expect a rotating schedule of media art shows and cultural performances designed to showcase the city's modern aesthetic. The Seoul Winter Festa is scheduled to run through early next year, positioning the capital as a premier winter destination. 2025-12-17 16:43:29 -
South Korea sees steady rise in fathers taking parental leave SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The number of fathers taking parental leave in South Korea surpassed 60,000 for the first time last year, accounting for 30 percent of all parental leave takers. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Wednesday, the number of parental leave takers reached 206,226 in 2024, up four percent from the previous year, with some 29.2 percent being fathers. The number of fathers taking parental leave has steadily increased from 32,051 in 2019 to 50,815 in 2023, with most of them in their late 30s. About 67.9 percent of fathers and 57.7 percent of mothers were employed at large companies with over 300 employees. By region, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number of parental leave takers with 60,917, followed by Seoul with 37,265, Incheon with 12,549, and Busan with 11,358. Under relevant laws, parental leave allows pregnant women or parents with children under the age of 8 to take up to one year off from work. 2025-12-17 16:41:54