Journalist
Lee Hugh
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National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrives in Washington for World Cup draw SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrived in Washington, D.C., just days before this week's group draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Wednesday, Hong said, "Just qualifying for the World Cup is a great honor." When asked which countries would be ideal opponents for South Korea in the upcoming quadrennial sporting event next summer, which will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., Hong declined to comment, saying it is too early to predict. About 42 teams have been assigned to four different groups for the draw based on November's world rankings, with the remaining six to be determined after the European and intercontinental playoffs. South Korea, ranked 22nd, has been grouped with Austria, Australia, Croatia, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, Iran, Morocco, Senegal, Switzerland, and Uruguay. This gives the country some relief as teams from the same group or the same continent, with the exception of Europe, cannot be drawn together for the group-stage matches. The top-tier group features the three host countries, along with nine football powerhouses such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The draw is set to take place at the John F. Kennedy Center in the U.S. capital on Friday. 2025-12-04 08:53:23 -
INTERVIEW: South Korea's Tesolo targets global humanoid market with robotic hand SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korean robotic gripper maker Tesolo is positioning itself at the forefront of the emerging “physical AI” era, betting that its multi-joint robotic hand can become a core component of next-generation humanoids. The company plans to accelerate commercialization through partnerships with major Korean manufacturers and global humanoid robotics startups. In an interview, CEO Kim Young-jin said Tesolo’s competitive edge lies in its ability to generate high-quality AI training data through advanced manipulation. “We aim to leverage our strengths in AI data collection to elevate our status in the robot automation market,” he said. Founded in 2019 after Kim’s research tenure at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Tesolo specializes in robotic grippers — an essential technology that enables robots to grasp and manipulate objects with human-like dexterity. Its flagship product, the DG-5F (Delto Gripper-5F), features five fingers and 20 active joints, allowing precise, delicate movements modeled after the human hand. Kim said the company is now focused on deploying its technology in industrial settings. “Although we’re currently in the sample market, we have completed all verification for field use,” he said, adding that Tesolo plans to introduce the DG-5F to automotive production lines. Tesolo has also accelerated its global push. The DG-5F made its international debut at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where it won an innovation award in robotics. Kim said the company held “successful meetings” with U.S. humanoid developers and advanced academic collaborations with Stanford University and ETH Zurich, contributing to roughly $2 million in exports this year. The company will also showcase its technology at the “K-Humanoid” booth at CES 2026. Tesolo is expanding further into China, where it already operates three dealerships in Beijing and Shanghai and collaborates with PND Robotics. “We are focusing on robot-hand platform development to showcase a variety of convergent technologies,” Kim said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 08:41:31 -
PHOTOS: One year after martial law, citizens return to the streets SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - On December 3, marking one year since the declaration of martial law, groups from both the progressive and conservative blocs held separate rallies in Yeouido, Seoul. Progressive groups, including the Emergency Action for Ending Insurrection and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, gathered around National Assembly Station, calling for the dismantling of martial law. Participants held light sticks and candles, recalling the night the declaration was issued. The KCTU held an additional rally starting at 4 p.m. At the same time, conservative groups organized by Liberty University and Youth for Liberal Democracy assembled in front of the People Power Party headquarters and at Exit 2 of National Assembly Station, arguing that the declaration had been justified. Participants waved Korean flags and said they planned a separate performance at 10:27 p.m., the exact time martial law was declared last year. Later this evening, President Lee Jae-myung has joined a civic march — an unusual move for a sitting president. 2025-12-04 08:01:36 -
North Korea-U.S. Summit without denuclearization: a 'Korea passing' When South Korea’s new Democratic Party president took office in June, his administration moved quickly to explore the possibility of a summit between North Korea and the United States. During his first meeting with the U.S. president, President Lee Jae Myung described himself as a “pace maker” and the American president as a “peace maker,” signaling his intention to shepherd the two sides toward dialogue. His approach echoes the Moon Jae-in government’s diplomacy in 2018, when Seoul sought to revive inter-Korean engagement. But the track record since then is sobering. Pyongyang demolished the inter-Korean liaison office, scrapped the Sept. 19 military agreement and formally labeled South Korea an enemy state. Those actions severely eroded trust, yet the Democratic Party continues to favor engagement—a stance that many critics argue risks repeating the mistakes of the past. Given today’s geopolitical landscape, a North Korea–U.S. summit remains unlikely, at least until the war in Ukraine reaches some resolution. Former President Donald Trump recently suggested a Ukraine peace deal might be possible “with adjustments,” but the realities are far more complicated: territorial claims, security guarantees and an international order tested by revisionist powers. Meanwhile, Seoul is reportedly considering a shift from confronting North Korea’s “hostile two-state theory” to embracing a “peaceful two-state theory” centered on coexistence. This would align with President Lee’s three guiding principles: acknowledge the North Korean regime, avoid hostile acts and reject any notion of absorption unification. The Unification Minister has gone further, advocating recognition of “two states” and the institutionalization of a peace regime—ideas that could eventually require constitutional reinterpretation. He argues that South Korea must adjust its legal and political frameworks to reflect the long-term reality of division on the Korean Peninsula. Still, the administration remains hopeful it can help facilitate a North Korea–U.S. dialogue. But the memory of 2018—when Seoul found itself sidelined even after brokering the initial breakthrough—serves as a warning against excessive optimism. Some of the recent attempts underscore the challenge. Efforts to deliver a letter from Mr. Trump to Pyongyang reportedly went nowhere. Though U.S. and North Korean officials have held quiet, working-level conversations in recent weeks, North Korea’s demands were seen as unrealistic by Washington. Kim Jong-un has since declared that denuclearization is no longer on the agenda and that future talks should instead focus on peaceful coexistence and recognition as a sovereign nuclear state. He has also claimed that sanctions relief is no longer a priority, an assertion likely rooted in Pyongyang’s strengthened ties with China and Russia. Under these conditions, the prospect of a North Korea–U.S. summit during Mr. Trump’s planned visit to China next April appears remote. The U.S. ambassador to Seoul has noted that a second Trump administration may try unconventional approaches, but only if Washington sees clear strategic value. A turning point could come with the end of the Ukraine war. A shift in the global balance—particularly if it weakens the North Korea–China–Russia alignment—might create new space for diplomacy. Until then, Seoul would be wise to avoid making concessions on territorial claims and to maintain a pragmatic, clear-eyed approach toward Pyongyang. About the Author Joo Jae-woo is a professor at Kyung Hee University. He studied political science at Wesleyan University and international politics at Peking University. He has served as a visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution and a visiting associate professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 07:26:33 -
Gov't ramps up safety inspections for high-rise buildings after Hong Kong's deadly fire SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - Following a massive fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong, government authorities here are conducting emergency safety inspections of buildings over 30 floors. Despite current regulations mandating the use of non-combustible materials and the installation of safety-related equipment, some buildings constructed before these regulations took effect still use flammable materials. Of some 140 skyscrapers over 50 floors or 200 meters, 18 are affected, the National Fire Agency said on Wednesday. The agency began inspections of these buildings on Dec. 1, along with more than 80 mid-rise structures. In collaboration with local governments and experts, it will also carry out comprehensive safety checks on approximately 6,280 high-rise buildings across the country. Similarly, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will inspect construction sites for buildings over 30 stories to ensure compliance with safety measures. Training and public awareness will also be strengthened, with annual evacuation drills in preparation for fires and other disasters. Meanwhile, the death toll from last week's fatal fire in Tai Po, northern Hong Kong has risen to 156. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 17:27:11 -
Major Asian markets climb; China slips on deepening recession fears SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Asian equity markets ended mixed on Wednesday, with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan advancing on rising expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut, while China-related indices slid across the board amid renewed recession worries. The Korean won closed at 1,467.8 per dollar, up 1.7 won, supported by sustained foreign and institutional buying on the KOSPI and what traders described as “steady, visible intervention” by financial institutions and FX authorities. Government bond yields rose broadly, with the three-year sovereign yield finishing 1.9 basis points higher at 3.041 percent in the afternoon session. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI climbed 1.04 percent to 4,036.30, reclaiming the 4,000-point threshold as a two-day rally gained traction. Institutions led the gains with 756.5 billion won ($515 million) in net purchases, followed by foreign investors who bought a net 159 billion won. Retail investors took profits, selling 898.7 billion won. Market leaders were mixed. Samsung Electronics rose 1.06 percent to 104,500 won, extending gains for a second day. SK hynix slipped 1.08 percent to 552,000 won after its Japanese NAND affiliate Kioxia posted weaker-than-expected earnings. Samsung C&T closed 9.35 percent higher at 245,500 won following news that Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Leeum Museum of Art, completely gifted her entire stake in the company to her son and Samsung Group Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Hong's decision raised expectations that Chairman Lee's management control defense line would be significantly strengthened, leading the Samsung Group to pursue a more consistent strategy. Nuclear-energy names also spiked after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Washington would prioritize nuclear plant projects funded jointly with Korea and Japan. Hyundai Engineering & Construction jumped 6.98 percent to 70,500 won, while Doosan Enerbility rose 4.53 percent to 78,400 won. Theme stocks related to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal redevelopment surged after the Seoul Metropolitan Government selected the developer for the project. Chunil Express, the second largest shareholder of the terminal, surged 29.97 percent to 399,000 won, and Shinsegae, the selected developer, closed 4.19 percent higher at 248,500 won. Chunil Express, however, has been designated as an investment warning stock after seeing an extraordinary surge of over 700 percent since November 18, despite the official start of the development project being yet to commence. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.14 percent to 49,864.68, led by semiconductor-related names. Advantest soared 5.3 percent to 20,860 yen ($134.13), and Tokyo Electron gained 4.73 percent to 32,780 yen. Kioxia Holdings slid 2.24 percent to 9,011 yen on disappointing earnings. Export-heavy autos fell as a BOJ rate hike appeared increasingly probable, with Toyota down 1.31 percent at 3,005 yen and Honda off 0.76 percent at 1,504 yen. Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 0.83 percent to 27,793.04 after signals of a nearing U.S. rate cut buoyed risk sentiment. TSMC, which represents more than 40 percent of the market, climbed 1.4 percent to 1,450 Taiwan dollars ($46.32). MediaTek fell 1.06 percent to 1,400 Taiwan dollars as profit-taking continued for a second day. Chinese markets weakened uniformly. The latest manufacturing PMI contracted for an eighth straight month, reinforcing concerns that China remains trapped in recessionary conditions. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.51 percent to 3,878, while the Shenzhen Component slipped 0.78 percent to 12,955.25. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index traded 1.23 percent lower at 25,773 as of 4:30 p.m. 2025-12-03 16:53:49 -
Korean authorities up penalties and tax probe to fight online scalpers SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Scalping of concert and sports tickets has exploded across Korea—surging 41-fold over the past five years—despite tougher penalties and enforcement, prompting regulators and tax authorities to intensify punitive measures. Ticketbay, the country's largest resale platform, is now capping all resale prices at 1 million won ($681) in an attempt to rein in runaway premiums and speculative behavior. The platform said Monday that listings with "abnormally high prices" had surged, fueling user complaints and public anger. Starting Jan. 1, "any amount exceeding the 1 million won ceiling will be automatically blocked, regardless of seat section or grade," the company said, adding that the new limit was necessary to curb distorted pricing. The rise in scalping has been especially pronounced in professional baseball, which drew a record 12 million spectators this year—its largest audience since the league launched in 1982. A wave of younger and female fans, combined with upgraded stadium experience, has pushed demand to historic highs and emboldened scalpers. Data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shows suspected scalping cases in professional sports jumped from 6,237 in 2020 to 259,334 in 2025, based on figures recorded through August and expected to rise further by year-end. On Ticketbay alone, scalping cases reached 25,188 by August—nearly eight times last year's 3,613. The concert industry has been hit just as hard, driven by the global frenzy for K-pop events. At G-Dragon's two-day solo concert in March at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, VIP seats priced at 220,000 won were resold for as much as 6.8 million won. Hoang Phuong Ly, a 32-year-old Vietnamese fan who paid 1 million won to attend, said, "Buying at the original price through official channels isn't impossible, but after trying multiple times and failing, I can understand why some fans feel pushed toward resale tickets." For G-Dragon's upcoming encore concert on Dec. 12–14 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, VIP seats priced at 230,000 won are now listed for up to 9.8 million won on Ticketbay. Despite the scale of the problem, Korea's regulations have stayed lax. Under current law, scalping is punishable only when macro ticketing software—programs that snap up large volumes of tickets faster than ordinary users—is used. Most individual transactions conducted through platforms such as X, community forums, or private marketplaces remain effectively outside regulatory reach. The government has moved to change that. "A proposed amendment to the National Sports Promotion Act includes imposing fines of up to 50 times the profit gained from illegal resale. It could significantly reduce the financial motivation for scalping," said Um Kyong-chon, lawyer at Lawfirm Family. The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee recently approved the amendment, which would outlaw scalping regardless of macro use, enable the government to confiscate resale profits, and impose fines of up to 50 times the unauthorized amount. At the same time, the National Tax Service has launched its first large-scale tax investigation into high-volume scalpers who profited from reselling tickets to K-pop concerts and sports events late last month. Authorities identified 17 individuals—ranging from schoolteachers and public-sector workers to entrepreneurs—who allegedly distributed more than 20 billion won worth of scalped tickets. Some macro brokers were found driving high-end imported cars while receiving tax benefits, while others sold macro software or direct queue-bypass links for cash without reporting income. 2025-12-03 16:44:22 -
Chief Justice calls for thorough discussion on judicial reform SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - The Supreme Court's Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae emphasized the need for thorough public discussion on ongoing talks for judicial reform, citing the importance of protecting citizens' rights and maintaining social order. Speaking at a luncheon with President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Cho said, "While not everyone may agree with judicial decisions, these verdicts gain legitimacy and trust through the constitutional three-tier court system." This was seen as his cautious stance toward the ruling Democratic Party (DP)’s proposals for judicial reform, including increasing the number of top court justices, as well as establishing a separate bench to review impeached former President Yoon Seok Yeol's cases. Yoon has been on trial for charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year. Cho's comments on the three-tier system were interpreted as a veiled opposition to the DP's proposals for a retrial system, which many fear could delay cases or be abused to allow those with wealth or power to evade accountability. He expressed hope that the ongoing discussions would serve the public's best interests. Cho also reaffirmed the judiciary's stance that Yoon's declaration of martial law was "unconstitutional" but refrained from commenting further as relevant trials are ongoing. Cho concluded by affirming his belief in the judiciary's independence, stressing that each court would continue to deliberate and deliver rulings independently in accordance with the constitution and the law. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 16:42:46 -
Samsung wins national technology award for GDDR7 as AI inference demand grows SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ latest graphics memory was recognized by South Korea’s government as a key technology underpinning the country’s future AI competitiveness, amid growing industry focus on AI inference rather than model training. At the 2025 Korea Tech Festival, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at COEX in Seoul on Wednesday, Samsung received the Korea Technology Awards Presidential Prize for its 12-nanometer, 40 gigabits-per-second, 24-gigabit GDDR7 DRAM, according to Samsung. The award is granted annually to technologies judged to have made outstanding contributions to national industrial competitiveness. The company said the GDDR7 product is designed for graphics processing and AI computation, and has been adopted across use cases including high-end graphics cards, gaming consoles, laptops and data center servers that require thermal stability and reliability. The award comes as the AI industry shifts part of its focus from model training to inference, where cost efficiency and power consumption have become increasingly important. GDDR7 offers advantages over high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in terms of cost, power efficiency and form factor, making it suitable for large-scale inference deployments, Samsung said. Major AI platform companies are expanding adoption of graphics memory for inference workloads. Nvidia has said it plans to equip its Rubin CPX inference-focused GPU with up to 128 gigabytes of GDDR7, a move analysts say could broaden demand for high-speed graphics DRAM. Market research firm TrendForce has forecast that demand for GDDR7 will rise sharply alongside growing GPU shipments for edge AI and generative AI applications, including Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 5090 series. Samsung has been expanding its portfolio of next-generation memory products alongside GDDR7. The company said its sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory product, HBM4, based on 1c DRAM, is undergoing customer evaluation, while development is also under way for compute express link (CXL) memory modules using the CXL 3.1 standard. In addition, Samsung’s advanced research arm has published research on ferroelectric transistor technology for low-power NAND flash in the journal Nature, which the company said could significantly reduce power consumption if commercialized. Samsung also said several of its semiconductor products, including a quantum security chip and next-generation mobile memory, have been selected for innovation awards ahead of the CES 2026 technology show in Las Vegas. The Korea Technology Awards are presented annually by the government to recognize technologies deemed to strengthen the country’s industrial competitiveness, with winners selected from corporate research and development achievements. 2025-12-03 16:36:05 -
Newcomers to Korean stock markets in roller-coaster ride SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Newcomers to South Korea’s stock market are drawing increased warnings from the Korea Exchange (KRX), as freshly listed companies swing sharply in price and trading volume. Samyang Biopharm, which debuted on Nov. 24, was designated an investment-warning issue on Tuesday after its shares overheated in early trading. Nota, listed on Nov. 3, received the same label from Nov. 11 to 25 as AI-themed retail buying sent the stock surging before a rapid pullback. IT Chem, which listed in August, also saw wide intraday swings and was placed under warning from Sept. 26 to Oct. 20. The Pinkfong Company, best known for its children’s content franchise, was flagged as an investment-caution stock on Nov. 19 after its post-listing jump triggered abnormal-trading indicators. The KRX’s alert system classifies stocks under “caution,” “warning” and “risk” categories depending on price spikes, trading surges or excessive short-term concentration. Designations can lead to tighter credit-transaction limits, additional disclosure obligations and temporary restrictions intended to cool speculative trading. The creator of Baby Shark drew early caution status as its trading volume and price surged immediately after listing. Nota’s volatility was fueled by momentum-driven demand from retail investors chasing AI exposure, sending shares on a quick ascent before correcting. Market observers note that newly listed companies tend to have relatively small free floats and attract heavy interest from individual investors—conditions that often produce sharp, sentiment-driven swings. “Since mid-year, the IPO market has been buoyant, and that naturally brings short-term distortions in pricing,” said a securities-industry official. “Investment warnings act as a necessary brake.” Some analysts warn that repeated designations could spill over into broader market sentiment if investors interpret them as signaling stress in specific sectors. “Caution or warning labels usually stem from isolated events,” a Korea Exchange official said. “But when one stock surges excessively, it can amplify volatility across related names.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 16:34:43