Kpop Demon Hunters makes No. 2 most trending search on Google in 2025 SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - Google’s Year in Search 2025 revealed a digital world captivated by culture clashes, political shocks and breakout entertainment — and Korea’s cultural engine once again emerged as one of the year’s dominant global forces. While U.S. political turmoil topped America’s trending list, Korean pop culture and gaming IP cemented their global imprint: Netflix’s animated “KPop Demon Hunters” surged to No. 2 in the United States' trending searches, Nexon’s ARC Raiders ranked among the world’s hottest games, and Squid Game reclaimed relevance as one of the most-searched TV titles of the year. The most striking global mover was KPop Demon Hunters — an animated adventure where a trio of K-pop idols fight a demonic boy band. Released by Netflix, the film became a cross-platform sensation, riding on K-pop’s established global fandom and the rise of stylized Asian animation. The movie didn’t just dominate film charts; it also spilled into fashion, TikTok edits, and global meme culture, pushing searches for “K-pop,” “K-pop animation,” and “K-pop demon characters” to new highs. Google’s list of “Trending Games of 2025” included heavyweights like Battlefield 6 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, but Korea’s Nexon stood out with ARC Raiders emerging as a breakout global title. The extraction shooter, built by Stockholm-based Embark Studios under Nexon, redefined the genre with communal robot-hunting mechanics and a more casual-friendly loop. With more than 7 million copies sold within a month, ARC Raiders became Korea’s first mainstream global gaming hit since PUBG, reigniting Seoul’s ambition to challenge U.S. and Japanese dominance in triple-A gaming. Squid Game, which reshaped global streaming entertainment in 2021, returned as a trending search in 2025 on the back of renewed global streaming cycles, behind-the-scenes revelations during production of its next installment, and Korea’s political and economic crises echoing the show’s original themes. Google’s trending musicians list for 2025 included household Western names like Bad Bunny and Coldplay — but one of the biggest surprise entries was KATSEYE, the multinational K-pop girl group formed through HYBE and Geffen’s global trainee program. 2025-12-06 10:59:26

Korea draws Mexico, South Africa and European playoff winner, all World Cup games in Mexico SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - South Korea landed in what many analysts consider a manageable Group A for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, avoiding global powerhouses and setting the stage for Hong Myung-bo’s squad to target its first-ever overseas quarterfinal run. At Friday’s draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Taegeuk Warriors were grouped with host nation Mexico, South Africa, and the yet-to-be-determined winner of European Playoff Path D—a four-way contest among Denmark, Czechia, Ireland and North Macedonia scheduled for March. For Hong Myung-bo, whose side topped the Asian Qualifiers Group B unbeaten (6 wins, 4 draws), the result offered relief and realism: South Korea dodged tournament favorites such as France, Spain, Argentina and Brazil, but must still confront a historically difficult Mexican side on home soil. Favorable logistic: All matches in Mexico South Korea will also enjoy the rare advantage of staying in a single country for the entire group stage—minimizing travel fatigue across the vast North American tournament footprint. June 12 (Guadalajara) – vs. European playoff winner June 19 (Guadalajara) – vs. Mexico June 25 (Monterrey) – vs. South Africa The schedule offers both stability and climate consistency, with the team avoiding long-haul flights between the United States and Canada that other groups must endure. Mexico clash likely to decide the group While Mexico enters the tournament with the second-lowest FIFA ranking among host nations (15th), the team’s athletic, high-tempo style has historically troubled Korea. El Tri leads the all-time series 8–4–3, including World Cup wins in 1998 and 2018. The two sides most recently fought to a 2–2 draw in a friendly in Los Angeles in September, reinforcing expectations of a tight, tactical battle. The U.S. media reaction also highlights Korea as Mexico’s main challenger for top spot in Group A. USA TODAY noted the matchup as “a battle of overall tactical quality,” with Korea’s European-based stars—Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in—forming the spine of a squad entering its 12th consecutive World Cup. South Africa: a wild card with momentum South Africa, FIFA-ranked 61st and the lowest-ranked team in Pot 3, appears on paper to be the least threatening opponent. But Bafana Bafana arrive with renewed confidence after finishing atop their CAF qualifying group ahead of Nigeria. The two nations have never played each other, making the final group match an unpredictable but potentially decisive encounter. The European mystery: Denmark or a softer landing? The biggest variable is the unidentified European entrant. The Path D playoff unfolds next March: Czechia vs. Ireland (March 26) winner meets , Denmark vs. North Macedonia (March 26) winner, Final playoff: March 31. Among them, Denmark (21st) poses the toughest challenge, while North Macedonia (65th) would be the most favorable draw for all three Group A teams. Hong Myung-bo’s mission: a historic overseas breakthrough South Korea enters the North American World Cup as a consistent qualifier with rising expectations. Since debuting in 1954, the national team has reached the knockout stage three times, and famously reached the semifinals in 2002 under Guus Hiddink. Hong, who captained that squad, now seeks to guide Korea to its first quarterfinal on foreign soil. The path is clearer than in recent tournaments: with 48 participating nations and third-place teams eligible for the Round of 32, Group A provides multiple mathematical routes for advancement. A draw free of giants—but full of nuance While Korea avoided the dreaded "Group of Death," Group A is far from predictable as Mexico is dangerous at home and historically strong against Korea, South Africa is inconsistent but capable of giant-killing, and the European playoff winner could dramatically shift the group’s difficulty. Still, compared with groups featuring Spain–Uruguay (H), France–Senegal (I), or England–Croatia (L), Korea’s prospects appear brighter. As Hong Myung-bo put it privately before the draw, the mission is simple: “Avoid the giants early, control our travel and create our chances.” Korea got all three. "It's a little good for us.' South Korea was in Group A with Mexico, one of the co-hosts, South Africa of Africa, and the winner of the European Playoffs (PO) D. Among soccer fans, there is a reaction of "'Greatest honey team ever", he told Korean reporters after the draw. It has become a World Cup in Mexico instead of across Americas, he said as he moved onto tactics. "The first and second games will be held at 1,600 meters above the ground. The third game is not that high, but it is very humid and matches are played in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. I think that will be the biggest and most important pointIt takes at least 10 days or more than two weeks to adapt to the highlands. If I call up the national team, I think I'll have to go and adapt right away." 2025-12-06 09:29:35

Samsung widens lead in foldable market with latest Galaxy 7 SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics widened its commanding lead in the foldable smartphone segment it pioneered, capturing 64 percent of the global market in the third quarter with its latest Galaxy Z Fold7 despite intensifying competition from Chinese brands, research showed. Global foldable shipments rose 14 percent on-year in the July–September period — the highest quarterly volume to date — with Samsung’s book-type flagship exerting “outsized influence,” according to market tracker Counterpoint Friday. The stronger-than-expected performance was driven by the Z Fold7’s slimmer frame, lighter hardware, improved hinge durability, and reduced crease visibility, features that “broadened its premium appeal,” the firm said. Chinese brands, meanwhile, continued steady momentum. Motorola “emerged as one of the standout performers globally, expanding its foldable base through competitive pricing, strong channel partnerships and favorable usability reviews,” it added. Counterpoint forecasts a “more pronounced expansion phase” for foldables in 2026, helped by Apple’s expected entry in the second half of that year. Samsung is also preparing a first tri-fold model, though initial shipments will be extremely limited. “Scale is not the objective,” said Counterpoint Associate Director Liz Lee. “With competitive dynamics set to shift materially in 2026, especially with Apple’s expected entry into the foldable segment, Samsung is positioning this device as a multi-fold pilot to reinforce its technology leadership. This release is designed to validate durability, hinge architecture and software optimization while gathering real-world user insights ahead of broader commercialization.” 2025-12-05 17:42:45

Korea's income gap widens by largest rate in 3 years SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s income gap between the top and bottom 20 percent of households widened to 5.78 times last year, snapping a three-year trend of improvement as income growth slowed and gains increasingly concentrated among high-income earners and older asset-holding households. According to the 2025 Household Finance and Welfare Survey released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Thursday, average household income rose 3.4 percent to 74.27 million won ($54,900) in 2024, the slowest increase in five years. Average household assets stood at 566.8 million won and liabilities at 95.34 million won as of March 2025. Housing and property assets accounted for 75.8 percent of total household assets, with the largest holdings among those in their 50s and 60s. Income growth slowed sharply across major categories—wages, business earnings and asset income—pulling down overall gains. Public and private transfer income, however, swung back into positive territory after a decline the previous year. Gains were heavily skewed toward upper-income households. The top 20 percent saw income climb 4.4 percent to 173.38 million won, while the bottom quintile posted a 3.1 percent increase and the second-lowest quintile just 2.1 percent. The pattern also diverged by age. Households headed by people in their 50s recorded a 5.9 percent income increase, supported by strong labor and asset gains. Those led by seniors aged 60 and older saw income rise 4.6 percent. In contrast, 40-something households posted a 2.7 percent rise, and those headed by adults under 40 saw income inch up only 1.4 percent amid weaker wage and asset gains and a decline in business income. The Gini coefficient for disposable income rose to 0.325 from 0.323, worsening for the first time since 2021. The income quintile ratio—comparing average income of the top 20 percent with that of the bottom 20 percent—expanded to 5.78 from 5.72. While inequality widened among working-age households, retirees moved in the opposite direction. For those aged 66 and older, both the Gini coefficient and quintile ratio improved, reflecting higher senior employment, increased national and basic pension benefits, and stronger asset income. The relative poverty rate among retirees fell 2.1 percentage points to 37.7 percent, the lowest level since the data series began in 2011. Non-consumption household spending—including taxes, social insurance contributions and interest payments—rose 5.7 percent to an average of 13.96 million won. Surveyed households estimated their “adequate” average monthly living cost after retirement at 3.41 million won, slightly higher than a year earlier. 2025-12-04 15:14:17

Seoul lifts 2026 cap for foreign-currency sovereign bonds to $5 bn SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea has raised the ceiling for next year’s foreign-currency denominated sovereign bond issuance to $5 billion from $3.4 billion offerings this year, giving authorities more firepower to stabilize the won as demand for U.S. dollars can intensify to finance the government’s pledged $20 billion in annual U.S. investments. The stretch marks the largest foreign-currency borrowing capacity since crisis periods—$6 billion cap in 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis and $4 billion in actual issuance in 1998 during the Asian liquidity crunch. The revision was included in the 2026 budget framework approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) said Thursday. The government issued $3.4 billion this year across dollar, euro, and yen tranches—just under the $3.5 billion cap that was raised in May from an originally planned $1.4 billion. In October, Seoul sold $1.7 billion in bonds at a record-low spread of under 2 percent across maturities from two to ten years. Korean sovereign foreign-currency debt continues to hold solid investment-grade ratings: AA from S&P, Aa2 from Moody’s, and AA- from Fitch. Under the FX stabilization bond program, the issuance ceiling may be adjusted depending on global financing conditions, repayment schedules, and movements in the foreign-exchange market. The increase comes as the won has weakened roughly 7 percent this year, hovering near crisis-era levels of 1,500 won per dollar, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, heavy Korean investment in dollar-denominated assets, and concerns surrounding the government’s $350 billion investment pledge in the United States. The dollar, which has been easing lately as institutional players complied with pleas from authorities to help defend the won, is trading at 1,466.20 won in Seoul as of 9.15 a.m. Thursday. Domestically, the government trimmed next year’s won-denominated bond issuance target to 225.7 trillion won from the initial proposal of 232 trillion won. In a separate statement, the finance ministry stressed that Korea’s external liquidity remains sound despite the won’s slide. The liquidity coverage ratio—a measure of financial institutions’ high-quality assets available to meet short-term foreign-currency obligations—stood at 160.4 percent at the end of September, well above the 80-percent supervisory guideline. Net foreign assets exceeded $1 trillion, while the foreign-debt-to-FX-reserves ratio stayed at a manageable 40.7 percent. Korea held the world’s ninth-largest foreign-exchange reserve, totaling $430.7 billion as of November. 2025-12-04 09:23:04

UPDATE: Korea's factory output and investment slump Oct on stalled chip activity SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s factory output in October shrank at the steepest rate in five years, while facility investment tumbled by double digits — all tied to stalled chip activity — further underscoring the country’s heavy reliance on the semiconductor sector for economic performance, data showed Friday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, mining and manufacturing output fell 4 percent on month, the steepest drop since the 7.5 percent decline in May 2020. Output was also down 8.1 percent on year, the sharpest contraction since April 2023, when global supply disruptions hampered production lines. The slump was led overwhelmingly by semiconductors. Chip output plunged 26.5 percent on year, marking the biggest contraction in 43 years amid tightening in supply of legacy chips as Korean foundries redirect capacity toward long-term AI and data-center clients and shift resources to higher-performance lines. Excluding semiconductors, overall manufacturing output would have risen 1.1 percent. The dismal figures reverberated through financial markets. As of 1:30 p.m., the KOSPI had retreated 1.5 percent, while the Korean won weakened 2.8 won against the U.S. dollar. The yield on three-year government bonds jumped 6.7 basis points to end the morning trade at 3.08 percent. The downturn extended beyond manufacturing. Service-sector output slipped 0.6 percent on month, contributing to a 2.5-percent industry-wide decline, the steepest since February 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. Facility investment posted an even sharper drop. Investment fell 14.7 percent on month, the largest decline in four years since the 16.7-percent plunge in October 2020. Spending on machinery — including semiconductor equipment — decreased 12.2 percent, while investment in transportation equipment such as automobiles and ships fell 18.4 percent. The ministry cited a high base effect and suspended capital expenditure amid delays in tariff negotiations between Seoul and Washington. Construction investment was also weak, tumbling 20.9 percent, the largest contraction on record. Signaling a protracted slowdown, industrial orders dropped 41.6 percent on year. The ministry attributed the fall to sharply higher procurement costs from the weakened currency and subdued housing demand following tighter real estate regulations. Retail sales offered the sole bright spot, rising 3.5 percent on month partly driven by the second round of government stimulus vouchers. Cyclical indicators pointed to continued weakness. The coincident index fell 0.4 percent, indicating an ongoing slowdown, while the leading index remained flat, suggesting that the economic outlook ahead remains uncertain. 2025-11-28 14:07:47

Korea's Oct factory output dips steepest in 5 years on chipmaking cutback SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s industrial output shrank at the steepest rate in five years in October on a sharp contraction in semiconductor activity that again underscored the economy’s heavy dependence on chipmaking, government data showed Friday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics Industrial Output data, mining and manufacturing output declined 4 percent on month, the steepest drop since 7.5 percent in May 2020, and 8.1 percent on year, the sharpest since 8.3 percent in April 2023 amid global supply disruptions. The slump was led by semiconductors, where output plunged 26.5 percent on year — the biggest contraction in 43 years. The fall reflects a tightening supply of legacy chips as Korean foundries divert capacity toward long-term AI and data-center clients and higher-performance semiconductor lines. Weakness extended beyond manufacturing. Service-sector output slipped 0.6 percent on month, contributing to a 2.5-percent overall industry-wide decline, the largest drop since February 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. 2025-11-28 09:27:25

Sitcom at 70 and stage at 90, Korea's eternal actor Lee Soon-jae SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - "I'm forever indebted to you," 90-year-old actor Lee Soon-jae told television viewers on Dec. 31 last year after becoming the oldest recipient of the KBS top acting award in 2024. Since his debut in 1957, he appeared in more than 100 TV dramas, embracing any role — comedy, historical epic, classical theater — so long as he could act. Lee, who passed away on Nov. 25 at age 91, was a “born actor” who never feared challenge and moved effortlessly across genres. From traditional historical dramas to sitcoms, films, and stage productions, he remained a model of passion for younger performers until his final days. Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, and raised in Seoul from age four, Lee discovered acting early. At Daejeon High School he staged plays with friends, and at Seoul National University he helped revive the theater club in 1956 alongside Shin Young-kyun, Lee Nak-hoon, and Hwang Eun-jin. That same year he made his stage debut in "Beyond the Horizon". The following year he appeared on Korea’s first television broadcaster, DBK, in the drama Beyond Horizon, introducing his face to the small screen. In his early career, as an exclusive actor for TBC, Lee performed in more than 100 dramas. Through the 1980s he remained prolific across television and film, though largely in supporting roles. His breakthrough came at age 57. In 1991 he portrayed Lee Byung-ho, a patriarchal print-shop owner, in the MBC drama "What Is Love." The show averaged a record 59.6 percent viewership, and the nation embraced “Daebal’s father.” Riding the drama’s popularity, Lee successfully ran for the National Assembly in 1992. Even during his political years, he continued acting in "Ambition", "Farewell", "Bathhouse Men", and other series. After leaving politics in 1996, he returned fully to the screen. In 1999 he played Yoo Ui-tae, the strict yet warm-hearted physician and mentor to Heo Jun, in the MBC historical drama "Heo Jun", marking a dramatic image shift and winning renewed acclaim. He went on to appear in a wide range of works — from historical blockbusters like Sangdo, Jang Hee-bin, Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and Lee San to contemporary dramas such as The Heungbo Family. Lee’s second golden era arrived with the 2006 MBC sitcom "High Kick!." Shedding his stern image, he played a cranky but harmless traditional-medicine doctor. A notorious scene where he is caught watching adult videos earned him the nickname “Yadong Soon-jae,” endearing him to the young generation. At 72, he won the MBC Entertainment Grand Prize for the role. Despite the grueling five-day-a-week shoot, he once said he worked harder after hearing that hospitalized patients found rare moments of laughter watching the show. In 2008 he moved audiences again as an oboe player battling dementia in "Beethoven Virus." In the 2011 film I Love You, he portrayed a prickly but tender elderly man whose love story left theaters in tears. He continued to show comedic chemistry in "High Kick Through the Roof (2008)", including a late-life romance with the late Kim Ja-ok and playful quarrels with on-screen son-in-law Jung Bo-suk. In 2013, Lee joined the cast of tvN’s travel variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers" alongside Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung, and Baek Il-sub. His tireless energy — studying instead of sleeping on flights, shooting without complaint — earned him praise from young viewers as a “true adult.” He led the ensemble through the 2014, 2015 and 2018 seasons. In his later years, he returned frequently to his first love: the stage. Even in his eighties, he endured the physical and mental demands of live theater. In 2021, at age 87, he delivered a celebrated performance in "King Lear", performing barefoot with flowing white hair and reciting nearly 200 minutes of lines without falter, drawing critical acclaim. Last year, he appeared in "Waiting for Godot… Waiting," though health issues forced him to cancel some shows. He vowed to return “in healthy form,” but doctors recommended three months of rest, prompting concerns among the public. His lifetime of relentless work was rewarded late. In 2024, he won the KBS Drama Award for his role as a veteran actor who can hear a dog’s voice in Dog Sound, becoming the oldest-ever winner of the network’s top prize. “I always believed a chance would come someday, so I kept preparing,” he said tearfully in his acceptance speech. “Today I received this beautiful, precious award.” In 2025, he was named a Korea PD Award winner in the actor category, though worsening health prevented his attendance. Lee Soon-jae leaves behind a legacy unmatched in Korean performing arts — a career that spanned nearly seven decades, countless genres, and generations of audiences who grew up with his voice, his authority, his mischief, and above all, his devotion to the craft of acting. 2025-11-25 13:31:59

Korean consumer confidence most upbeat in eight years SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - South Koreans turned markedly more upbeat about the economy in November, buoyed by the stock market’s record-setting rally, the settlement of a tariff deal with the United States, and stronger-than-expected third-quarter growth led by resilient exports. The Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) rose 2.6 points from October to 112.4, the highest since 113.9 in November 2017, the Bank of Korea said Tuesday. A reading above 100 signals optimism about current and future economic conditions. The strongest improvement came from future economic outlook, which jumped 8 points to 102. Current economic assessment and household-income expectations also gained, while views on current living conditions and household spending remained unchanged. The index measuring assessments of the economy compared with six months earlier stayed below the neutral 100 at 96, but the reading improved by five points from October and stands far above its long-term average of 72. Expectations for economic conditions six months ahead climbed eight points to 102, reflecting easing uncertainties after Korea finalized a trade agreement with the United States that had clouded export prospects to the world’s largest market. Job-market sentiment remained weak at 95, though improved from 91 a month earlier and well above the March trough of 72. Perceived inflation over the past year held steady at 2.9%, and expectations for inflation a year ahead were unchanged at 2.6%. Grocery prices—particularly agricultural and fishery products—were cited as the biggest inflation burden by 51% of respondents, followed by utility bills (36%) and fuel prices (30.5%). 2025-11-25 09:20:46

 NPS pushed to front line of FX defense as KRW sinks to crisis levels SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s fiscal and monetary authorities, constrained in their ability to slow the won’s steep decline, are turning to an unlikely player for relief: the National Pension Service (NPS), the country’s largest institutional investor and one of the biggest structural movers of the dollar–won rate. Working-level officials from the NPS met finance ministry counterparts at the Sejong Government Complex on Monday. In a press statement, the finance ministry said it has formed a joint "council" with the NPS, the Ministry of Health and Welfare that oversees the pension, and Bank of Korea to "monitor" the foreign exchange impact of the fund's overseas investment portfolio. The irony is that the fund is one of the biggest sellers of Korean currency as it finances a record expansion of its overseas portfolio—especially U.S. equities concentrated in the same big-tech and AI names now at the center of global bubble concerns. The dollar has strengthened more than 3 percent over the past month, nearing 1,480 won—a level touched only during extreme stress periods such as the 2009 global financial crisis or this April’s political turmoil. The won’s weakness has persisted even as foreign investors were record buyers of Korean shares last month, only to abruptly reverse course amid renewed fears of overvalued AI stocks in the U.S. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, after meeting with the Bank of Korea governor and top financial regulators earlier this month, underscored the need to “improve structural imbalances” in FX supply and demand. The government has been consulting with major exporters and the NPS to help “smooth” excessive won depreciation. A giant investor—and a structural source of dollar demand Policymakers’ concern centers on the sheer offshore footprint of the NPS, one of the world’s largest institutional investors. As of end-August, the fund managed 1,322 trillion won, with 486.4 trillion won—36.8 percent—allocated to global equities, according to official data. Separate U.S. SEC filings show that U.S. holdings now form the sharpest edge of this exposure. In a Form 13F filed on Nov. 4, the NPS reported $128.8 billion in U.S. equities across 552 companies, up 11.2 percent from the previous quarter as both buying and valuations increased. At the top of its holdings sit Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta—America’s AI and cloud heavyweights. According to Fintel, the NPS holds roughly 49.6 million Nvidia shares, making it one of the world’s largest institutional shareholders. From the government’s perspective, the NPS is simultaneously a potential stabilizer in the FX market and a structural driver of dollar demand. Korean individuals separately hold $99.85 billion in overseas securities as of September. The NPS features prominently in recent FX-related verbal intervention, but its mission is fundamentally long-term: sustaining retirement payouts in a rapidly aging society. Its mid-term allocation plan calls for a continued increase in overseas and risk assets while trimming domestic bonds to improve returns. Each incremental shift into foreign stocks requires fresh dollar buying—a persistent downward force on the won that no one-off FX operation can meaningfully offset. This dynamic also explains why movements in Korea’s FX reserves remain modest despite recent volatility. Authorities, however, cannot exert too much pressure without inviting accusations of politicizing the nation’s last-resort retirement savings. Still, the combination of record overseas allocation and an AI-heavy portfolio is one of the most sensitive macro-financial issues facing policymakers. Analysts doubt the NPS will bend easily to government wishes. Details of Monday’s meeting remain sealed, but the market’s verdict was clear: the dollar gained an additional 3.9 won to close at 1,475.90. 2025-11-24 16:47:00