Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Japanese R-rated anime dominates Korean box office amid drought in Korean cinema SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - KPop Demon Hunters may have ruled the global animation scene on the small screen, but it is R-rated Japanese anime films that are pulling South Koreans back to the big screen this year. Han Suk-hee, a 27-year-old web novel writer, returned for a second viewing of "Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc" after being "bewitched" by the immersive big-screen experience and its dark, kinetic storytelling. Adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto's hit manga series, Han said the film captivates far beyond its core anime fanbase. "People come to experience the perfected mise en scène and the lingering aftertaste," he said. "It's not one of those day-to-day films. The beginning, climax, and finale are all stunning." Having read the original comic series and watched the Netflix adaptation, Han joins a wave of avid moviegoers driving the surge in so-called "otaku-genre" films in Korea, as the domestic film pipeline remains in the doldrums. Another Japanese anime sensation, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle," recently became the highest-grossing Japanese film ever released in Korea. It drew a cumulative 5.63 million viewers as of Tuesday, coming within 30,000 viewers of the year's No. 2 Korean box office title, "My Daughter Is a Zombie." In revenue terms, the Japanese blockbuster has earned 60.4 billion won, more than 7 billion won above the Korean film. "Demon Slayer" also broke the previous Japanese box office record in Korea, surpassing the 5.58 million cumulative viewers set by "Suzume," until now the most successful Japanese release in the local market. Meanwhile, "Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc" recorded 2.97 million cumulative viewers over the Nov. 7 to 9 weekend, overtaking Park Chan-wook's festival-lauded "No Other Choice," which drew 2.93 million viewers. The anime has remained a top performer into its eighth week since opening on Sept. 24, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and steady advanced ticket sales. Repeat viewings by both curious newcomers and longtime fans continue to fuel its resilience. Industry observers say the two anime films excelled at stoking repeat engagement through post-screening events, brisk sales of film merchandise, and an already solid fanbase built through original comics and globally accessible anime series. Domestic films, facing a thin and uninspired slate, have struggled to defend their home turf. The theatrical slump deepened through November and is extending into December, marking a stark reversal from last year. According to the Korean Film Council's first-half industry report published on July 31, total box office revenue fell 33.2 percent from a year earlier to 407.9 billion won, while total admissions declined 32.5 percent to 42.5 million. Korean films performed even worse. Revenue fell 43.1 percent year on year to 202.3 billion won, and admissions dropped 42.7 percent to 21.36 million. Domestic film revenue share slid 8.8 percentage points to 50 percent, and audience share dropped 9 percentage points to 50.3 percent. The absence of big hits—unlike last year's "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment," both of which surpassed 10 million admissions—left theaters without strong anchors. Japanese anime, which did not crack Korea's annual top 50 between 2015 and 2020, began gaining traction during the later pandemic years. Four anime titles entered the top 50 in 2021, including "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" with 2.22 million viewers. By 2023, six titles made the list, led by "Suzume" with 5.58 million and "The First Slam Dunk" with 4.9 million. Many analysts link this shift toward fandom-driven and niche content to the explosive growth of global streaming platforms after the pandemic. Streaming fragmented viewer habits by exposing audiences to a far broader range of global content, enabling more refined personal tastes to emerge. Japanese anime fits neatly into this pattern. Once a subculture sustained by a small group of devoted fans willing to navigate illegal downloads, anime has now entered the mainstream as major titles became easily accessible on platforms like Netflix. Series such as "Demon Slayer" and "Chainsaw Man" are available on virtually every major streaming service operating in Korea. Critics argue Korean cinema fell into complacency, continuing to churn out broadly targeted films that worked before viewing patterns changed. "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy," released in late July, is a striking example. Despite its source material—a web novel with 2 billion cumulative global views—the adaptation stripped away much of what energized core fans. Strongly rejected by loyal readers, the film attracted only one-sixth of its 6 million break-even target before exiting theaters. 2025-11-11 15:12:06 -
Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings invests in livestock distribution startup Pink Packer SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings has completed a seed investment in Pink Packer Co., a global livestock distribution tech startup. The investment was made through the "Seoul Campus Town University Startup Private Investment Association," jointly established by Sookmyung Women's University, Kookmin University, and Sogang University. Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings is the entity that manages the university's startup investment and commercialization programs. It supports university-based ventures and represents Sookmyung Women's University in collaborative initiatives such as the Seoul Campus Town project, bridging academic research with entrepreneurial growth. Pink Packer specializes in connecting meat supply and demand between countries using AI-based matching technology. By analyzing data on lesser-preferred livestock parts by region, the company helps optimize logistics and reduce food waste, transforming undervalued resources into high-value products in line with ESG principles. In 2025, Pink Packer was selected by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as one of the global top 10 startups, earning international recognition. The company, which joined the Sookmyung University Campus Town earlier this year, has built a foundation for growth through technical collaboration with Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings. Through this partnership, Pink Packer plans to enhance its platform and use the new investment to expand into overseas markets and validate its business model globally. Jung Jin, CEO of Pink Packer, said, "This investment marks the beginning of our full-scale effort to innovate data-driven livestock distribution and build a global model that combines sustainability with profitability." Shin Ji-young, CEO of Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings and professor at the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, noted, "Discovering and nurturing companies with innovation and global scalability is a key task for the startup ecosystem. Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings plays a unique role by connecting corporate discovery, technology collaboration, and investment attraction, and Pink Packer is a strong example of this effort." 2025-11-11 14:57:21 -
Hazardous towers demolished at Ulsan power plant as search for missing workers continues SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Two large boiler towers at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan were blown up at around noon on Tuesday to facilitate rescue operations for four workers still missing after a similar structure collapsed during demolition work last week. The towers at the state-run utility company Korea East-West Power had posed an obstacle to search efforts due to the risk that they could also collapse. According to rescue officials, search operations will resume after inspecting the site and implementing necessary safety measures. Nine workers were at the site when a 60-meter boiler tower fell during demolition with explosives last Thursday. Three were killed shortly after the collapse, two were injured, two remain missing, and two are trapped in the rubble and feared dead. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 14:50:24 -
South Korea's HD Hyundai targets naval contracts in India SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said Tuesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Cochin Shipyard, India’s largest state-owned shipbuilder, to help the country modernize its maritime capabilities. The agreement centers on the Indian Navy’s Landing Platform Dock (LPD) project, part of New Delhi’s effort to strengthen domestic shipbuilding. Under the accord, the two companies will cooperate on design, construction and technology sharing, combining Cochin’s local manufacturing base with HD Hyundai’s naval engineering expertise. Cochin Shipyard, based in Kerala, has built a wide range of vessels, including India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. The South Korean company’s latest deal follows an earlier partnership inked in July between Cochin Shipyard and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai’s intermediate holding company. That initial agreement focused on collaboration in procurement, productivity improvement and workforce development. The new MOU aims to jointly execute the LPD program, which could serve as a strategic entry point into India’s broader naval and defense shipbuilding market, HD Hyundai said. HD Hyundai plans to provide design and technical support, drawing on its experience in building naval vessels for countries such as the Philippines and Peru. India has stepped up its naval modernization drive under its TPCR 2025 plan, which outlines military technology and capability development through 2040, including next-generation destroyers, submarines and amphibious ships. “We believe we are the ideal partner for the Indian Navy’s modernization efforts,” said Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy's naval and medium-sized ship division. “This collaboration represents a significant step in expanding our footprint in the Indian naval market.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 14:39:57 -
PHOTOS: Korean rivers, coasts teem with seasonal life SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - As the Korean Peninsula transitions into the late days of autumn, a familiar drama has begun to unfold along its coasts and waterways, offering a stark tableau of seasonal migration and feeding rituals. In the south, the rare spoonbill has once again been sighted along the shores of Jeju Island. Concurrently, farther north in Gangneung, photographers have gathered at Namdaecheon Stream, staking out positions to capture images of the magnificent osprey as it hunts for its winter sustenance. Off the adjacent coast of Gangneung, a dramatic natural phenomenon has captivated observers: vast schools of mullet have amassed near the shoreline, creating a vivid spectacle as the fish cluster together in the shifting coastal waters. 2025-11-11 14:23:51 -
Budget carrier Jin Air reaches milestone of 100 million passengers SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Jin Air has carried over 100 million passengers as of early November, the budget carrier said on Tuesday. The milestone comes roughly 17 years and four months after the airline launched its no-frills service with its first route between Gimpo and Jeju in July 2008. The accumulated number of passengers had reached approximately 99.94 million by the end of October, surpassing 100 million in early November, with 56.1 million traveling on domestic flights and 43.9 million on international routes. As travel demand began to recover after the coronavirus pandemic,, Jin Air has expanded its fleet and routes, now operating 15 domestic and 32 international routes, including exclusive flights from Incheon to smaller Japanese islands such as Miyakojima and Ishigaki, as well as flights from Busan to Clark in the Philippines." With the annual number of passengers surpassing 10 million for the first time last year, the airline posted a record operating profit of 182.2 billion Korean won and achieved its highest-ever revenue of 1.4613 trillion won. A Jin Air spokesman said, "We will do our best to provide enjoyable travel experiences for our passengers and become a leading airline by successfully completing mergers with Air Busan and Air Seoul." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 14:12:53 -
Korean and Japanese businesses to hold forum on bilateral FTA and economic bloc SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese business leaders, academics and media professionals will gather next week in Seoul to discuss how Asia’s second- and fourth-largest economies can align to build a tech-driven economic bloc and better navigate global uncertainties. The Korea-Japan Business Forum, co-hosted by Aju Media Group (AJP, ABC, Aju Business Daily) and Japan’s NNA, will take place on Nov. 19 at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club. Participants will explore the shifting global order and the challenges posed by a second Donald Trump presidency, as well as opportunities for deeper economic cooperation between the two neighbors. The event comes as Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman and SK Group leader Chey Tae-won prepares to outline a Korea-Japan economic and AI partnership in Tokyo — a vision he has been promoting alongside the idea of a bilateral free trade agreement to create an economic bloc rivaling the U.S., European Union and China. 2025-11-11 14:11:36 -
South Korea's largest hydrogen center begins operation SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - A joint venture between Lotte Chemical and Air Liquide has opened South Korea’s largest high-pressure hydrogen shipping center. The facility, located in the Daesan Petrochemical Complex in South Chungcheong Province and operated by Lotte-Air Liquide Ener’Hy, a joint venture established in 2022, will supply high-pressure hydrogen across South Korea’s central region, including Seoul. It is expected to play a key role in fueling hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks — a crucial step toward building a viable hydrogen economy. Executives from both companies were joined for the opening ceremony on Tuesday by government and industry officials, including An Se-chang, director of climate energy policy at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Seosan Mayor Lee Wan-seop, Air Liquide Asia-Pacific head Ronnie Chalmers, Lotte Chemical chief executive Lee Young-jun and Hyundai Motor vice president Ken Ramirez. Backed by the government’s hydrogen shipping center initiative and leveraging Lotte Chemical’s byproduct hydrogen output, the Daesan facility is capable of producing hydrogen at 450 bar, or roughly twice the pressure of conventional systems. According to the company, that capacity is enough to supply fuel for about 4,200 passenger vehicles or 1,100 commercial buses a day. The introduction of advanced high-pressure tube trailers will also improve logistics efficiency, allowing each vehicle to transport about 3.5 times more hydrogen than older 200-bar systems, the company said. “The completion of the Daesan center demonstrates our commitment to a sustainable energy future in South Korea,” said Kim So-mi, chief executive of Lotte-Air Liquide Ener’Hy. “We aim to accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption and contribute to the country’s ambitious hydrogen ecosystem goals.” Lee, Lotte Chemical’s chief executive, said the new facility marks an important step in turning industrial byproduct hydrogen into a high-value energy source. “The Daesan center represents a milestone in our journey toward carbon neutrality,” he said. “We will continue to lead in hydrogen innovation and expand new energy businesses.” South Korea has set a goal of becoming one of the world’s leading hydrogen economies by 2035, with plans to deploy more than 200,000 hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and establish nationwide refueling infrastructure. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 13:49:39 -
KOSPI and Nikkei remain bellwethers in Asia, recharged by U.S. market easing SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Korean and Japanese equities extended their coupled strength on Tuesday, lifted by easing concerns over the U.S. government shutdown and renewed confidence that recent warnings over an AI bubble may have been overstated. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI climbed as much as 2.6 percent to 4,179.51 in early trading, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 1 percent to 897.31. Large-cap shares led the advance: Samsung Electronics gained 3.8 percent to 104,400 won ($71), SK hynix added nearly 4 percent to 629,000 won, Hyundai Motor rose 1.1 percent to 273,500 won, LG Energy Solution jumped 4.9 percent to 488,250 won, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries increased 1.7 percent to 547,000 won, and Naver climbed 3.5 percent to 269,000 won. SK Square surged 11 percent to 322,000 won, breaking into the 300,000-won range for the first time. NH Investment & Securities raised its target price to 350,000 won from 165,000 won, citing a sharp increase in the company’s net asset value driven by the rally in its chipmaking affiliate. “With SK hynix accounting for the largest share of NAV, the steep rise in its stock price is driving SK Square’s rally,” said Ahn Jae-min, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities. Doosan Corp. jumped 12.5 percent to 1,056,000 won amid expectations of record fourth-quarter earnings. Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Lee Joo-hyung projected that Doosan’s electronics business will post fourth-quarter revenue of 549.9 billion won ($376 million), up 64 percent on year, and operating profit of 165.2 billion won, up 269 percent, supported by stable output of its GB300 rack servers and higher weekly production of its GB200 servers. U.S. stocks closed higher Monday on optimism that Washington was moving toward reopening the federal government after the prolonged budget standoff. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8 percent to 47,368.63, the S&P 500 climbed 1.5 percent to 6,832.43, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.3 percent to 23,527.17. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.8 percent to 51,326.60, with most blue-chip names extending gains. Toyota Motor edged up 1 percent to 3,163 yen ($20.5), Fast Retailing rose 2 percent to 59,400 yen, and SoftBank Group surged 5.4 percent to 23,455 yen. Strong foreign inflows remain the backbone of Japan’s rally, supported by the revival of the yen carry trade—borrowing in near-zero-yielding yen to chase higher returns abroad. Goldman Sachs said Monday that U.S. capital inflows into Japan have accelerated to the fastest pace since the height of Abenomics. “U.S. investor participation in the Japanese equity market is at its highest since October 2022,” said Bruce Kirk, chief strategist at Goldman Sachs. Analysts cite Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s stimulus measures and the yen’s depreciation as key tailwinds. While the S&P 500 is up about 14 percent this year, the Nikkei has surged roughly 30 percent. Goldman Sachs noted that U.S. buyers have concentrated on Japanese technology and AI-related stocks. According to Japan Exchange Group data, foreign investors purchased a net 284 billion yen ($1.8 billion) of Japanese equities—spot and futures combined—over the final two weeks of last month. Kirk said global allocations to Japanese equities “remain low, suggesting further room for inflows,” while cautioning that “after the recent sharp rally, a period of consolidation could follow.” Elsewhere in the region, China’s Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.01 percent to 4,018.36, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 percent to 26,722.73. 2025-11-11 11:19:41 -
Hyundai Motor to supply electric buses to Indonesia's Bali SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor said on Tuesday that it had been selected as the final contractor to supply electric buses to Bali, Indonesia. The South Korean automaker won the contract through an international bidding process organized by the Global Green Growth Institute, or GGGI, an environmental organization backed by the South Korean government. The project is part of Indonesia’s broader push to promote sustainable mobility and reduce carbon emissions in tourism-heavy regions. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed in April between South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Indonesian government to collaborate on what is called the Bali e-Mobility Project, an official development assistance program. The project aims to transition Bali’s public transport network to electric vehicles and serve as a model for other Indonesian cities. Under the agreement, Hyundai will supply 10 units of its County electric buses for Bali’s public transport system — the first time electric buses will be used on the island. Hyundai had previously provided the same model to Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, in 2023. “Supplying electric buses to Bali, a destination for tourists worldwide, is significant,” said Kim Seong-nam, executive vice president at Hyundai’s Asia-Pacific headquarters. “We plan to continue supporting the development of eco-friendly public transportation in major Indonesian cities.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 11:02:37