For K-pop fans, star pets — and even plants — draw equal attention SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - As the countdown begins for the long-awaited comeback of South Korean superstar BTS, every small detail surrounding the seven-member group captures fans’ attention — even the fate of a struggling houseplant. V, known in Korean as Kim Tae-hyung, has long been open about the quieter attachments in his life. His black-and-tan Pomeranian, Yeontan, first appeared in 2017 via BTS’s official X account and later alongside V during a VLIVE broadcast in December 2018. Over time, Yeontan surfaced regularly in social media posts, livestreams and even photo content for V’s solo album Layover. No explanation was ever needed. His presence simply became part of V’s offstage world. Lately, that world has included something more fragile: a pot of leaves that refuses to thrive. In short captions and fleeting posts, V shared the small frustrations of plant care — wilting leaves, uncertain watering, modest hopes. He referred to himself as a “shik-rinni,” a Korean portmanteau combining sikmul (plant) and eorini (child), commonly used to describe a plant-care beginner. Instead of performance updates or studio hints, fans were given imperfect moments of daily effort. They did not overanalyze. They recognized a shift in rhythm. On Instagram Stories and Weverse, fans offered gentle encouragement. V replied with equally simple honesty: “I brought it home three days ago,” and later, “I’ll do my best as a beginner.” There was no dramatic conclusion — only a quiet exchange that revealed care without certainty, effort without polish. This attention to the small and personal is hardly new in K-pop fandoms, where companion animals often achieve celebrity status of their own. Rosé’s dog Hank, for instance, maintains a social media presence followed by roughly 4.5 million users. Though the account is run independently, a single image is enough for fans to identify whose dog it is. In August 2025, Hank appeared in Vogue’s pet-focused digital special edition DOGUE, introduced as a rescue dog turned global favorite. The recognition did not arrive suddenly; it accumulated over years of casual photos, short videos and consistent visibility. Other examples are familiar through television. SHINee member Key’s dogs, Comme des and Garçons, became recognizable through repeated appearances on the variety show I Live Alone and YouTube’s Kang Hyung-wook’s Bodeum TV. Scenes of daily life — meals, walks, birthdays — unfolded without fanfare. Over time, the dogs were no longer guests but fixtures. Jennie’s dog Kuma followed a similar path. Introduced through a Vogue Korea YouTube feature and the 2020 photo spread “Jennie and Kuma,” Kuma now needs no introduction within the fandom. The name alone evokes an image — quietly settled beside Jennie’s own. What links these cases is not spectacle, but continuity. Being there. Being seen often enough that explanation becomes unnecessary. Pets — and now even plants — do not serve as narrative devices, but as background details that show how a star’s life keeps moving forward. V’s plant now occupies that same space. It has no name. It does not flourish easily. Its care remains tentative and openly imperfect. Still, the process is shared. Life continues — and for K-pop stars, it continues in public, one small, ordinary detail at a time. 2026-01-26 15:48:30

Asian markets end week upbeat as KOSPI, KOSDAQ hover near milestones SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Asian equities finished the week on a firm footing Friday, with South Korea’s main stock indexes hovering near key psychological thresholds amid brisk sector rotation and steady foreign inflows. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.7 percent to close at 4,990.10, after briefly breaking above the 5,000 mark earlier in the session. Gains were capped by profit-taking near the milestone, though demand for large-cap shares remained intact. The KOSPI 200 also advanced 0.7 percent to 727.30. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ moved even closer to a landmark of its own, jumping 2.43 percent to finish at 999.93, just shy of the 1,000 level. Institutional and foreign investors absorbed retail selling around record highs. Foreigners posted net purchases of 133.3 billion won ($91 million) on the KOSPI, while institutions added 491.1 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 725.6 billion won, extending a pattern of profit-taking near peak levels. Sector performance highlighted a sharp rotation. Healthcare services led gains, surging 9.4 percent, followed by IT services, up 7.2 percent. Among major movers, Kakao Pay soared 29.9 percent to 67,800 won, while NAVER climbed 8.4 percent to 266,000 won. LG CNS rose 8.4 percent to 73,700 won. Semiconductor shares remained resilient, with SK hynix gaining 1.6 percent to 767,000 won. Automakers and select battery stocks lagged. Hyundai Motor fell 3.6 percent to 510,000 won, while Samsung SDI slipped 3.0 percent to 373,000 won. Samsung Electronics was little changed, edging down 0.13 percent to 152,100 won. Market attention increasingly shifted toward the KOSDAQ, which investors see as offering greater upside potential than the KOSPI at current levels. Foreign investors bought a net 86.7 billion won of KOSDAQ shares, while institutions added 987.4 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 1.0359 trillion won, underscoring rotation out of smaller names following the recent rally. In currency and bond markets, signals were mixed. The won stabilized around 1,465.7 per dollar. Government bond yields rose, with the three-year yield at 3.14 percent and the 10-year at 3.59 percent. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.29 percent to 53,846.87 after the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 0.75 percent, easing concerns over faster tightening. Regional sentiment was further supported after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would not proceed with additional tariffs linked to Greenland-related trade disputes, helping temper global risk aversion. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3 percent to 4,136.20, reinforcing the broadly positive tone across Asian markets. 2026-01-23 17:49:30

In BTS' spring comeback season, even birthdays become world tours SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - The return of BTS as a full seven-member group this spring is dominating headlines, charts and countdown clocks. But for fans, the calendar holds more than just album drops and stage schedules. In the BTS universe, every detail matters — including birthdays. SUGA turns 33 on March 9, and long before the candles are lit, the celebration has already spilled into cafes, timelines and city streets. For fans, this is not a side event. It is the event. To become a fan in Korea is not simply to admire from a distance. It is to enter a parallel world — one built on devotion, design, logistics and an almost ceremonial sense of care. Fandom here demands labor and money, yes, but also creativity, community and a distinctly Korean flair for making affection visible. That spirit is on full display this month through the now-familiar ritual of the “birthday cafe.” A birthday that doesn’t stay in one city Fan-organized birthday cafes honoring SUGA will run from March 6 to March 9 at L’ombre 378, according to organizers. The event announcement ricocheted across social media, inviting fans to document their visits using hashtags such as #탕이아빠생축, #HBD_to_our_black_kitty, and #Happy_black_kitty_day — affectionate nicknames that need no translation within the fandom. Inside, visitors will receive a carefully curated set of fan-made gifts: photo cards, postcards, stickers and a key ring. Those who complete a full set can expect additional items, including a shopping bag and pin badge. Organizers have teased further perks — from first-come giveaways to lucky draws — to be announced closer to the date. The planning, notably, is not confined to Seoul. BTS birthdays rarely are. What looks like a cafe event is, in practice, a coordinated global gesture — replicated, localized and shared across borders in real time. From letters to LED lights — and then to tables you can sit at Birthday cafes did not appear overnight. They are the latest chapter in the long evolution of Korean fandom culture. In the early generations, celebration was largely indirect. Fans mailed handwritten letters and postcards to broadcast stations or entertainment agencies. Support arrived in bulk rice wreaths, snack deliveries to music show waiting rooms, or congratulatory ads placed in newspapers and magazines. As online platforms expanded in the 2000s, fan cafes and message boards became the main stage. Digital banners, collective letters and charity donations made in an artist’s name flourished. The affection was visible — but mostly on screens. Then came the era of scale. LED billboards in subway stations, bus stop ads and even city buses wrapped in idols’ faces turned birthdays into urban landmarks. They were impressive, but untouchable. You could see them — not enter them. Birthday cafes changed that. Emerging in the early 2010s, often near entertainment company offices, they began as modest gatherings. A few printed photos taped to walls, handwritten notes, fans lingering over drinks. The shift was subtle but profound: celebration moved from being displayed to being shared. How a fan ritual became a format Over time, birthday cafes became standardized. Dates, locations and themes now circulate primarily on X (formerly Twitter), where fans exchange maps, schedules and visual guides with near-professional precision. What began as informal meetups evolved into a recognizable format — complete with themed interiors, curated visuals and coordinated merchandise. A fan of rookie group ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), Kim So-jun, remembers when proximity mattered most. “They were often held near the company building,” Kim said. “Sometimes there were rumors that idols stopped by. I never saw it myself, but I heard that an idol I liked had visited a birthday cafe once.” As the scale grew, some cafes began incorporating small exhibitions or concepts tied to albums and performances. Still, fans are careful not to treat birthday cafes as a hierarchy. “I think a birthday cafe is just one of many ways to celebrate an artist,” Kim said. “There are also LED billboards, bus ads and other methods. This is simply one option.” Offline affection in a hyper-online world Promotion happens online, but the ritual is completed offline. Fans gather to meet others who share the same affection, trading conversations, stories — and fan-made goods. Foreign fans are increasingly visible. “It’s both,” said Lee Jun-su, a fan of fromis_9, when asked whether people come for interaction or the cafe experience itself. “Some come to connect with other fans, and some come because birthday cafes feel uniquely Korean. But everyone comes with the same intention — for the artist.” Official merchandise is not sold, but fan-made items circulate freely. “There’s a lot of fun in seeing each item,” Lee said. “You can tell they were made with care.” Artists themselves rarely appear at these events, though rumors occasionally swirl. Yet the absence hardly diminishes the meaning. “Wanting to celebrate the artist’s birthday is the biggest reason,” Lee said. “Even if the artist doesn’t come, that doesn’t change.” From idols to icons What began with global superstars like BTS has now expanded far beyond K-pop. Birthday cafes are now organized for rookie idols, television producers — and even historical figures. Fans have commemorated scientists such as Isaac Newton and figures like King Sejong, the creator of the Korean alphabet, using the same format. The cafe has become less about celebrity and more about remembrance — a way to mark significance through space, repetition and presence. Asked to define birthday cafes in one sentence, one fan offered a modest reply. “They’re just one of many ways to celebrate an artist.” Yet taken together — from handwritten letters to billboards, from bus ads to cafes — birthday cafes reveal something larger. In Korean fandom, celebration has evolved from being seen, to being shared, and finally, to being lived. And in the world of BTS, even a birthday is never just a date on the calendar. 2026-01-23 17:16:16

BTS' Jin thanks fans after receiving Golden Disc upbit popularity award SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - BTS member Jin thanked fans on Thursday after receiving his plaque for the "Upbit Male Popularity Award" at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, sharing a message on Weverse, a global superfan platform operated by HYBE that enables direct communication between artists and fans. “The precious award that ARMY gave us. It’s been delivered to me now. Thank you. I’ll cherish it,” Jin wrote, expressing appreciation for his fan's support. The Golden Disc Awards select winners based primarily on annual album sales and digital streaming performance, combined with evaluations by industry experts. Jin has continued to receive strong listener response with “Don’t Say You Love Me,” the title track of his second mini album Echo, as well as “Running Wild,” “I’ll Be There,” and “Super Tuna.” Meanwhile, BTS announced on Weverse that the group will return on March 20 with its fifth full-length album ARIRANG, a 14-track release that reflects the group’s Korean roots and shared emotional identity. 2026-01-23 11:14:35

Stocks at record highs, growth at 1%: Korea's market–economy divide widens SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) -Korean stock market pushed deeper into uncharted territory Thursday, with the KOSPI briefly climbing over the 5,000 mark before closing just below the milestone, a historic high unfolding even as economic growth remains stuck near 1 percent, highlighting a widening gap between buoyant asset prices and a fragile real economy. The growth outlook marks the weakest performance since the economy contracted 0.7 percent in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lowest growth rate on record outside the pandemic period since GDP data collection began in 1954. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.9 percent to finish at 4,952.5 after hitting a historic high of 5,019.54, extending its rally and reinforcing views that the market is entering a higher valuation regime. The KOSPI 200 gained 1.03 percent to 722.3, reflecting renewed demand for heavyweight stocks, even as trading showed clear signs of sector rotation rather than broad-based risk-taking. On the main board, foreign investors and institutions were major sellers, offloading 297.2 billion won ($202 million) and 102.8 billion won, respectively, while retail investors bought in 155.6 billion won. Investors increasingly view the advance toward — and brief move above — 5,000 as more than a liquidity-driven rally. Expectations of improved corporate governance following revisions to commercial law, a recovery in the semiconductor cycle and ample liquidity have helped lift the market’s valuation range. Hopes that long-standing governance concerns could be addressed have also fueled expectations of a narrowing “Korea discount,” drawing sustained interest toward large-cap stocks. Gains were led by technology and electronics shares. Samsung SDI surged 18.7 percent to 384,500 won, lifting the broader electrical equipment sector by 8.4 percent. Semiconductor heavyweights also advanced, with Samsung Electronics rising 1.9 percent to 152,300 won and SK hynix gaining 2.03 percent to 755,000 won. Internet stocks outperformed as well, with NAVER up 2.9 percent at 245,500 won. Not all sectors participated. Automakers and heavy industry shares lagged, with Hyundai Motor falling 3.6 percent to 529,000 won. Energy and shipbuilding names also weakened, as Doosan Enerbility slipped 1.42 percent to 90,000 won and Hanwha Ocean dropped 2.7 percent to 137,700 won. In the secondary market, the KOSDAQ outperformed. The index climbed 2.0 percent to 970.4, supported by individual and selective foreign buying. Foreign investors purchased a net 66.1 billion won worth of shares, while institutions sold 138.6 billion won and retail investors added 104.6 billion won, underscoring continued appetite for growth-oriented names despite elevated volatility. Currency exchange rate and bonds sent mixed signals. The won weakened slightly, with the dollar closing at 1,469.6 won, up 1.9 won, or 0.13 percent. Government bond yields edged lower, with the 10-year yield around 3.06 percent and the 3-year at about 2.98 percent, reflecting lingering expectations for future rate cuts alongside a cautious growth outlook. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.73 percent after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would not proceed with additional tariffs linked to Greenland-related trade disputes, easing risk aversion. 2026-01-22 17:46:33

In wintry Korea, grandma's vest turn practical warmth into style  SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) — What was once dismissed as a purely functional item worn by Korean grandmothers has quietly become a global fashion statement. “Grandmacore” — a trend rooted in nostalgia, domestic hobbies like knitting and baking, and unapologetically cozy silhouettes — has caught on with fashion-forward MZ women worldwide. At the center of this movement is an unlikely hero: the flowery, quilted vest South Korean grandmas wear to stay warm. Popularly known as the “gimjang vest,” the colorful padded body warmer has long been a staple in rural Korea. Villagers traditionally wear it during the annual kimchi-making season or for outdoor chores, valuing warmth and mobility over style. Thick quilting, lightweight fabric and a loose, sleeveless fit allow for easy movement while keeping the torso insulated — practical workwear, plain and simple. Even the name reflects its roots. Closely associated with gimjang, the labor-intensive winter ritual of making kimchi, the vest was never meant to be fashionable. It existed purely to keep the cold out. That perception has flipped. The old-fashioned “granny look” has found new life among MZ consumers, especially as group outfits for parties and highly shareable social-media posts. Young celebrities helped accelerate the shift. Viral photos of K-pop stars such as Karina, Jennie and Taeyeon wearing gimjang vests reframed the garment from rural necessity to playful, ironic chic. As the trend spread, the vest also became a must-buy souvenir for foreign visitors. “This is what Jennie wore!” exclaimed a tourist from Singapore at Seoul’s Namdaemun Market. “We’ve seen it everywhere on Instagram Reels and TikTok.” Similar reactions have surfaced across social media platforms. “I love that these are becoming popular with younger people — it’s funny but cute,” one user wrote. “I don’t think I could wear one though.” Another post read, “They were everywhere and so affordable. I bought one for my daughter and she’s so cute in it! We got ours at Namdaemun — it was 6.50 per vest.” The fashion evolution has been swift. As the garment moved from traditional marketplaces into the mainstream fashion scene, designs expanded beyond floral prints to include check patterns, reversible styles, minimalist quilting and fleece-lined versions. Pet-size gimjang vests have also entered the market, enabling coordinated looks for owners and their dogs. Major sportswear brands have taken note. Adidas, for instance, incorporated floral elements into youth-targeted product lines, with one quilted jacket priced at 150,000 won selling out shortly after release. Search data confirms the momentum. According to Naver Data Lab, searches for “gimjang vest” reached a relative index of 100 — the platform’s highest score — on Nov. 26, 2025, surpassing last winter’s peak. Analysts point out that the surge coincided with a sharp drop in temperatures, underscoring the garment’s enduring practicality. The aesthetic has also found its way into lifestyle spaces. At Café Inju, a hanok-style bakery in South Chungcheong Province, owner Yoo Eun-duk places gimjang vests on display for visitors to wear while taking photos. “The concept fits the bakery’s retro, grandmother-inspired vibe,” Yoo said. “We weren’t chasing trends. We were looking for props that matched the nostalgic atmosphere, and the gimjang vest felt like a natural choice.” The photo zone near the entrance draws interest across age groups, including visitors who do not try on the vest but linger to engage with the surrounding objects. The blend of function and charm has even caught the attention of luxury fashion houses. Valentino released the “Gobelin Après L’Hiver Fiorellini Vest” in 2026, priced at about 6.3 million won, featuring shearling details, floral motifs and branded lining. Moncler has also introduced a reversible floral down vest. What was once winter workwear born of necessity is now being reinterpreted through premium materials and high fashion design. For some, the vest is simply a way to stay warm. For others, it is playful self-expression. Either way, the trend offers a gentle reminder: sometimes the most fashionable thing to do is finally visit your grandmother — and take a closer look inside her closet. 2026-01-22 16:41:58

Koreanness, the answer BTS found for its return SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - As BTS prepares to return as a full group after nearly four years, the question surrounding the comeback has never really been whether it would make an impact, but how the group would choose to reappear. The answer, it seems, is rooted in something familiar — and distinctly Korean. BTS will release its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” on March 20, marking its first full reunion in three years and nine months. Around the album, a series of details has drawn attention for pointing in the same direction: a return framed by Korean sentiment, symbols and space. The group is also reportedly planning a three-day performance at the Gwanghwamun Square from March 20 to 22 to coincide with the album’s release, though details have yet to be officially confirmed. Gwanghwamun Square occupies a central position in Seoul’s historical axis, linking the modern city to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, and extending symbolically toward Sungnyemun Gate, the former southern gateway to the capital. The square is home to statues of King Sejong the Great, creator of the Korean alphabet, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a national hero revered for his leadership in times of crisis. Together, these landmarks and figures anchor Gwanghwamun as a space where Korea’s political history, cultural identity and civic life converge — a place shaped by continuity, disruption and restoration across centuries. According to South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration, BTS’s agency HYBE has received conditional approval to use Gyeongbokgung Palace and Sungnyemun Gate for filming. While no official confirmation has been made about whether filming will actually take place — or in what form — the possibility alone has sparked interest. These are not the kinds of locations typically associated with pop productions. Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, while Sungnyemun Gate, long known internationally as Namdaemun, once marked the southern entrance to the capital. Both sites are deeply woven into Korea’s historical landscape, carrying layers of memory shaped by destruction, restoration and daily coexistence with modern city life. The album title adds another layer. “Arirang” is one of Korea’s most widely recognized folk songs, passed down through generations in countless regional versions. With no single composer or definitive form, the song has endured precisely because it has remained open — absorbing different emotions and meanings over time. In a statement, HYBE described ARIRANG as an album that reflects BTS’s identity and the emotions they wish to share with fans, noting themes of longing and deep connection. The agency said the group naturally turned toward its roots as it prepared for its return. Taken together, the choices surrounding the comeback suggest a mood that feels less about spectacle and more about grounding. Rather than chasing something new or unfamiliar, BTS appears to be leaning into symbols that already carry shared meaning — places and melodies that resonate without explanation. For a group that has spent much of the past decade operating on a global stage, the emphasis on Koreanness stands out not as a retreat, but as a point of reference. Gyeongbokgung, Sungnyemun and Arirang are not owned by any single era or creator. Their meanings have been shaped collectively, through repetition and memory, and continue to evolve. As anticipation builds ahead of the album’s release, details about promotional plans remain limited. HYBE has not confirmed how the heritage sites might be used, nor what visual concepts will accompany the album. What is becoming clear, however, is the tone BTS has chosen for its return. In a moment when expectations are high and attention is intense, the group appears to have found its answer not in scale or novelty, but in something closer to home — the familiar pull of Korean roots. 2026-01-21 17:48:13

KOSPI recovers early losses, buoyed by surge in foreign buying SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks reversed early losses Wednesday morning, buoyed by strong foreign buying and a sharp rebound in the won, even as global markets remained cautious amid lingering trade uncertainty from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff pressures. As of 10:40 a.m., just a few hours into the day's trading, the benchmark KOSPI was up 0.43 percent at 4,907.1, rebounding from an earlier 0.6 percent decline. The KOSPI 200 rose 0.9 percent to 715.3, signaling renewed demand for large-cap stocks, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ fell 2.5 percent to 952.6, showing a widening divergence between blue chips and growth-oriented shares. Foreign investors drove the turnaround with net purchases of 435.6 billion won ($320 million) on the KOSPI, joined by institutions at 71.5 billion won. But retail investors sold 570.6 billion won. On the junior KOSDAQ, foreigners and institutions sold while individuals bought. The won's sharp recovery shaped market sentiment. Strengthening to 1,472.8 per dollar, a gain of 7 won, or 0.5 percent, the currency eased pressure and helped stabilize the day's volatile start. Investor confidence was further bolstered by remarks from President Lee Jae Myung, who said he would seek to ease concerns over foreign-exchange volatility. "If there were extraordinary measures needed to stabilize the currency, they would already be in place," Lee said during a press conference earlier in the day. He also said he believes the won's exchange rate against the greenback could return to the 1,400-won range within one to two months. Auto-related stocks led the early rebound, benefiting from both currency moves and heavy foreign inflows. Hyundai Motor surged 10.2 percent to 528,000 won and Kia jumped 4.7 percent to 171,600 won. Chip stocks remained strong, with Samsung Electronics climbing 3 percent to 149,600 won and SK hynix rising 0.9 percent to 751,000 won, supported by optimism over artificial intelligence-driven demand. But not all sectors joined the rally. Energy and infrastructure shares lagged, with Doosan Enerbility falling 3.2 percent to 92,200 won on profit-taking. Portals also underperformed, as NAVER slipped 1.6 percent to 240,000 won. Elsewhere in Asia, sentiment remained cautious. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.4 percent to 52,785.8, as optimism over an impending snap election and tax relief proposals was overshadowed by U.S. trade concerns. 2026-01-21 11:46:05

KOSPI catches its breath after two-week rally SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI pulled back on Tuesday, ending its year-opening rally, as selling pressure in major technology and auto shares outweighed gains in select growth and thematic stocks. The index fell 0.4 percent to close at 4,885.8, snapping a 13-session winning streak that included a series of record highs. Despite the pullback, it briefly climbed to an intraday high of 4,935.48, extending its run of fresh peaks before momentum faded in later trading. The KOSPI 200 dropped 0.8 percent to 708.5, reflecting pronounced weakness among large-cap constituents. By contrast, the tech-heavy KOSDAQ outperformed, rising 0.8 percent to 976.4, near the 980 level and its highest point in four years, highlighting the growing divergence between the main board and smaller, theme-driven stocks. On the KOSPI, institutional investors were heavy sellers, offloading a net 606.1 billion won ($410 million), more than offsetting net purchases by individuals of 352.5 billion Korean won and foreign investors' buying of 79.3 billion won. Foreign investors extended their buying streak to a fourth consecutive session, while retail investors ended a six-day run of net selling that had persisted since Jan. 12. On the KOSDAQ, institutional investors dominated buying with net purchases of 284.4 billion won, while retail investors offloaded 260.4 billion won. Foreign participation remained subdued, with only a marginal net inflow of 1.8 billion won. Semiconductor giants pulled the index lower as profit-taking intensified amid ongoing concerns about global trade tensions and potential U.S. tariffs. Samsung Electronics slid 2.75 percent to 145,200 won, while SK hynix dropped 2.8 percent to 743,000 won, both underperforming after sharp rallies earlier this month. Hyundai Motor fell 3.02 percent to 479,000 won, adding to the index's losses. Trading was more mixed for other stocks, with Naver rising 2.5 percent to 244,000 won, defying the broader decline. Robotics-related shares remained in focus, with Doosan Robotics surging 9.7 percent to 118,100 won. Samsung SDI gained 3.8 percent to 326,000 won, leading advances among battery-related stocks. Thematic trading continued beneath the surface. Shares linked to nuclear power plant decommissioning surged 8.4 percent, while the aerospace sector climbed 7.8 percent, reflecting sustained investor appetite for policy- and technology-driven growth areas even as blue-chip stocks cooled. The Korean won weakened to 1,479 per dollar, down 4.5 won from the previous session, tracking broader dollar strength. Across Asia, sentiment was subdued. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.1 percent to 52,991.1 as fiscal concerns and rising bond yields weighed on technology shares, while China's Shanghai Composite edged down 0.009 percent to 4,113.7. 2026-01-20 17:56:29

South Korean stocks extend rally to 12th session on robotics surge SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended their rally to a 12th consecutive session on Monday, driven by strong gains in robotics-related shares. The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.32 percent to close at 4,904.7, marking another record high after maintaining gains throughout the session. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ advanced 1.4 percent to 968.4, while the KOSPI 200 climbed 1.3 percent to 713.96. Foreign investors led the advance. In the KOSPI market, foreigners posted net purchases of 551.3 billion won, while retail investors and institutions were net sellers of 751.1 billion won and 23.8 billion won, respectively. On the KOSDAQ, foreign investors bought a net 202.6 billion won, while individuals and institutions sold 137.5 billion won and 29.6 billion won. Robotics stocks were at the center of the rally. Doosan Robotics surged 19.14 percent to 107,700 won. Shares of Hyundai Motor Group also jumped on growing optimism over its robotics strategy, particularly its humanoid robot Atlas. Hyundai Motor soared 16.2 percent to 480,000 won, while Kia gained 12.2 percent to 169,600 won. The strength in robotics shares reflected a broader thematic rotation in the market. With renewed tariff pressure on semiconductors in the United States, investors have increasingly turned to sectors seen as less directly exposed to trade frictions, including robotics, automation and next-generation mobility. Expectations are also building that investment momentum is shifting from generative artificial intelligence toward practical industrial and manufacturing applications. By contrast, former market leaders showed more subdued performance. Naver fell 3.1 percent to 238,000 won, while Samsung Electronics edged up 0.3 percent to 149,300 won. In currency markets, the won strengthened slightly against the dollar to close at 1,474 won. Elsewhere in Asia, markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.7 percent to 53,583.6, while China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.3 percent to 4,114. 2026-01-19 17:50:42