Journalist

Kim Hee-su
  • To shorten working hours, Korea wants employers to pay strictly by hours 
    To shorten working hours, Korea wants employers to pay strictly by hours  SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea is known for long working hours. The five-day workweek is only a generation old, and the 52-hour cap has been in place for less than eight years. Average working hours remain above the OECD average, and the government now wants to address this by overhauling the way wages are calculated. It plans to tackle the loosely defined "comprehensive wage" system, under which various allowances and overtime pay are bundled into an annual or monthly salary. The government aims to require employers to track actual working hours and compensate overtime strictly based on recorded time. The move marks the first attempt to bring under statutory control a wage practice that has long been tolerated through court rulings rather than explicitly defined in labor law. The comprehensive wage system largely exists for employer convenience, allowing a preset amount of overtime, night work and holiday pay to be included in monthly salaries when tracking actual hours is deemed difficult. The practice is not stipulated in the Labor Standards Act but has been permitted in limited cases through Supreme Court rulings dating back to the 1970s. The term itself became widely used in the 1990s and gradually spread as a common pay arrangement. The system has been especially prevalent in sectors such as information technology (IT) and gaming, where long working hours are common. In practice, however, many companies have failed to pay additional compensation even when employees worked beyond the hours implicitly covered by their salaries, drawing criticism that the system has enabled unpaid overtime and wage violations. Labor experts say the controversy stems from a gap between the law's wording and how it has been enforced. The Labor Standards Act requires employment contracts to clearly specify both wages and agreed working hours, defined as the hours set within statutory limits by agreement between employers and workers. "If the law is interpreted literally, comprehensive wage arrangements are fundamentally inconsistent with this framework," said Jung Bong-soo, a labor attorney at KangNam Labor Law Firm. He added that in reality, many white-collar workers have a fixed number of overtime hours — such as 20 or 24 hours per month — vaguely included in their salaries, with no additional pay even when they work longer. "Strictly speaking, most of these practices amount to violations of the law," he said. To address the issue, the government plans to require employers to guarantee full pay even when workers perform fewer hours than agreed, while mandating additional compensation for any work exceeding the agreed hours. As a core measure, all companies would be required to record actual working hours for overtime, night and holiday work. Wage ledgers would have to include detailed information on working days and overtime hours, institutionalizing transparent tracking and management of working time. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it intends to make clock-out records mandatory for overtime work across all businesses, with detailed requirements to be laid out in forthcoming legislation. The legal package is also expected to include a provision prohibiting after-work text orders. Korea currently has no explicit rules governing after-hours contact, with disputes handled indirectly under workplace harassment or overtime regulations. Some labor scholars caution that stronger enforcement will be crucial if the reforms are to have any real impact. "Supervision of working hours has been weak due to limited administrative capacity," said Kim Sung-hee, a professor at Korea University's Graduate School of Labor Studies. "Without clear, binding rules on how and when the measures apply, recommendations alone will not bring about change." Labor attorney Jung also noted that South Korea already has a legally defined "discretionary work system" for jobs where working time is genuinely difficult to measure. Expanding its application in line with industry characteristics and job roles could help reduce confusion surrounding comprehensive wage practices. The debate comes amid persistent concerns over South Korea's long working hours compared with other advanced economies. South Korea continues to rank among the countries with the longest working hours in the developed world. According to OECD data cited by the government, annual working hours stood at 1,859 last year, compared with an OECD average of 1,708. Although the figure has declined from 2,071 hours in 2015, South Korea still ranks near the top among member countries. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and France report fewer than 1,500 working hours per year, while the United States — the next highest among major economies — stands at around 1,810 hours. The government says its latest measures are aimed at narrowing that gap by making long hours more visible — and more costly — for employers. 2025-12-31 15:10:19
  • 2025 K-pop: between global success and internal strain
    2025 K-pop: between global success and internal strain SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The K-pop industry in 2025 stood at a crossroads, marked by record-setting global achievements alongside growing structural challenges at home. From the global success of Netflix's animated series "KPop Demon Hunters" to Rosé's "APT." topping the Billboard charts — and from the NewJeans dispute to a shrinking album market — K-pop experienced a year of both expansion and strain. 'KPop Demon Hunters': Turning K-pop into a universe One of the most notable phenomena of 2025 was the global success of Netflix's animated series "KPop Demon Hunters." Released in June, the series went beyond surface-level aesthetics, weaving idol training systems, fandom culture and music industry rituals into a cohesive narrative universe. The fictional idol groups Huntrix and Saja Boys were consumed much like real K-pop acts. The OST single “Golden” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight nonconsecutive weeks, while Huntrix ranked No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. daily chart, forming a real-world fan base. The success, however, also underscored structural limits. Despite being rooted in Korean popular culture, the project was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and launched by Netflix in the U.S., with intellectual property revenues largely flowing overseas. Stray Kids break records, as the market contracts Stray Kids dominated 2025 with eight consecutive No. 1 debuts on the Billboard 200, a record unmatched globally. According to Circle Chart, the group sold 6.98 million physical albums domestically and drew more than 500,000 concertgoers in North America through three world tours, attracting a total of over 2.15 million fans worldwide and setting a record for the largest cumulative tour attendance by a K-pop act. Yet the broader market showed signs of fatigue. Korea's physical album sales fell 7.5 percent year on year through the 50th week of 2025, with sales by female artists dropping nearly 20 percent. Total sales among the top 400 albums stood at about 90.9 million units, making a return to the symbolic 100 million mark increasingly unlikely. Rosé's 'APT.' and the question of K-pop's boundaries Rosé of BLACKPINK topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "APT.", becoming the first Korean female solo artist to do so. Inspired by a Korean drinking game, the song went viral on TikTok and served as the lead single from her debut studio album "rosie," released in December 2024. Other BLACKPINK members also remained active as solo artists throughout the year, releasing albums largely in English and collaborating with pop musicians — a shift that underscored the group's growing emphasis on individual branding. At the same time, "APT.", an English-language track led by U.S. producers, reignited debate over how K-pop should be defined as artists increasingly pursue global audiences. The NewJeans dispute and cracks in the system The most disruptive development of 2025 involved NewJeans. A dispute that began in late 2024 between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and parent company HYBE escalated into the group's announcement in November that they would seek to terminate their contracts. Three members ultimately chose to remain with ADOR, while the status of the remaining two diverged. The case highlighted deeper tensions within the K-pop system, raising questions about artist autonomy and the pressures placed on young performers. BTS's return and hopes for a rebound In June, all seven members of BTS completed their mandatory military service. BigHit Music has announced plans for a comeback and world tour in the first half of 2026. With major acts such as BTS and BLACKPINK set to return, alongside milestone events like BigBang's 20th anniversary, the industry is cautiously optimistic that 2026 could mark a rebound after a year defined by both growth and strain. 2025-12-30 16:30:21
  • South Koreas foreign arrivals seen topping 21 million in 2026 on China-Japan tensions
    South Korea's foreign arrivals seen topping 21 million in 2026 on China-Japan tensions SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea could see the number of foreign visitors rise to more than 21 million in 2026, driven by a continued recovery in inbound travel and potential spillover demand from escalating tensions between China and Japan, industry researchers said. Yanolja Research, a data-driven tourism research institute, projected that foreign arrivals to South Korea would reach a baseline of 20.36 million next year, up 8.7 percent from an estimated 18.5 million in 2025. The figure could climb to around 21 million if Chinese tourists divert travel away from Japan, it said. The forecast is based on a deep-learning demand model that incorporates seasonality, exchange rates, macroeconomic indicators and geopolitical factors, according to the institute. By country, China is expected to remain the largest source market with an estimated 6.15 million visitors, followed by Japan at 3.84 million and the United States at 1.66 million. Chinese arrivals are projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels for the first time, supported by the recovery of air routes, expanded cruise travel and eased policy barriers. Recent data already point to a strong rebound in inbound tourism. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), 1.6 million foreign visitors entered South Korea in November, up 17.3 percent from a year earlier and surpassing 2019 levels for the same month. China and Japan accounted for the largest share of November arrivals, with both markets showing solid recovery trends, while visitors from Taiwan, the United States and the Philippines also exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Cumulative arrivals from January to November reached 17.4 million, up 15.4 percent from the same period last year. Yanolja Research noted that a slowdown in Chinese travel to Japan following diplomatic frictions between Beijing and Tokyo could further boost South Korea's inbound demand. During diplomatic tensions triggered by the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in 2017, around 10 to 13 percent of Chinese outbound travel shifted to alternative destinations, including Japan, the institute said, adding that a reverse effect could now benefit South Korea. If substitution demand materializes, Chinese arrivals could rise to more than 7 million, pushing total inbound travel to between 20.7 million and 21.2 million next year, it said. Despite the upbeat outlook for inbound tourism, outbound travel by South Koreans is also expected to continue rising, keeping the country's tourism balance in deficit. Yanolja Research forecasts outbound trips at 30.23 million in 2026, widening the gap between outbound and inbound travel to around 10 million. Recent outbound travel figures point to sustained pressure on the tourism balance. Overseas trips by South Koreans totaled 2.47 million in November, up 3.2 percent on-year, while cumulative outbound travel in the first 11 months of the year reached 26.8 million, slightly above pre-pandemic levels, according to the KTO. 2025-12-30 14:11:45
  • Fractured NewJeans as Danielle and ADOR head toward legal standoff
    Fractured NewJeans as Danielle and ADOR head toward legal standoff SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The future of NewJeans as a full five-member act has been thrown into doubt after agency ADOR unilaterally notified member Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract, raising concerns that the group could remain divided amid ongoing uncertainty over another member's return. With Danielle effectively ruled out of future activities under ADOR and Minji's status still undecided, prospects for NewJeans resuming activities as a complete lineup appear increasingly uncertain, industry observers say. Danielle now faces the possibility of substantial legal liability, as ADOR has indicated it will pursue legal action seeking contractual penalties and damages over alleged violations of the exclusive agreement. If the claims are upheld, the financial burden could amount to hundreds of billions of won. ADOR confirmed the termination of Danielle's contract on Monday, citing alleged breaches of contractual obligations. The agency said the violations may include entering into conflicting contracts, engaging in independent entertainment activities, and actions that undermine the credibility of the company or the group. ADOR did not disclose specific details regarding Danielle's alleged misconduct. The agency also said it plans to pursue legal action against one of Danielle's family members, believed to be her mother, as well as former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, whom it holds partly responsible for triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s return. An ADOR official told AJP, "The termination notice leaves little room for a future settlement, and Danielle's return to the group is now considered highly unlikely." At the same time, ADOR confirmed that member Hanni has decided to return to the agency. Minji, however, remains in talks with the company. "No final decision has been made" regarding her return, an ADOR official said. NewJeans' fandom, known as "Bunnies," then issued a strongly worded statement condemning ADOR's handling of the situation. The fan group said in a statement released Monday that HYBE and ADOR had notified the termination of only one member's contract, despite all members having expressed their intention to return together. The fandom further criticized ADOR CEO Lee Do-kyung, who has led the label since August following Min's dismissal, questioning whether the legal battle to retain NewJeans was ultimately intended "to fracture the group rather than preserve it." The group also accused HYBE, ADOR's largest shareholder, and its founder Bang Si-hyuk of exercising excessive influence over the decision. ADOR, meanwhile, said the members had been exposed over an extended period to what it described as "distorted and one-sided information," leading to misconceptions about the company, and said it would provide further explanations regarding the controversy at a later date. NewJeans first announced in November 2024 that it would seek to terminate its contracts with ADOR, citing the agency's alleged failure to fulfill its obligations. After months of legal proceedings, a court in October once again ruled in favor of ADOR in its lawsuit seeking confirmation of the contracts' validity. Last month, ADOR said members Haerin and Hyein had expressed their intention to return. 2025-12-30 10:44:17
  • South Korea races toward a cashless society, leaving many elderly behind
    South Korea races toward a cashless society, leaving many elderly behind SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - In South Korea, wallets are fast becoming relics, as most people now pay with a swipe of their phones. Cash use has fallen sharply over the past decade, reflecting the country's rapid embrace of digital payments — a shift that is transforming daily life but also exposing a growing divide between the digitally fluent and those being left behind. This year, individuals spent an average of 324,000 won ($226) a month in cash, less than half the 808,000 won recorded a decade ago, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). Cash now accounts for just 17.4 percent of monthly spending, down from 21.6 percent four years earlier. The transformation has been accelerated by rising minimum wages and the rapid spread of kiosks and automation across restaurants, cafés and service businesses. In many parts of Seoul, ordering and payment are now completed without human interaction, with staff limited largely to preparing food and drinks. According to the National Information Society Agency, the number of kiosks nationwide surged from 210,033 in 2021 to 536,602 in 2023 — an increase of more than 300,000 units in just three years. Most cafés in central Seoul now operate two to three kiosks, while fast-food outlets often have five or more. "I don't carry a wallet anymore," said Kim Sang-deuk, a 57-year-old office worker. "Everything works with Samsung Pay, so there's no need for cash." Coins quietly disappearing Physical currency, especially coins, is steadily vanishing from everyday use. This year, the BOK for the first time placed no orders for new circulation coins with the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp., reflecting sharply declining demand. Traditionally, the central bank forecasts annual demand by denomination and orders coins for both circulation and commemorative use. The absence of any circulation order underscores how rarely coins are now used in daily transactions. "Coffee costs 4,500 or 6,700 won, and there's nowhere to put the change," said Lee Sung-jin, a 28-year-old office worker. "It's just easier to pay by card." Convenience for some, exclusion for others Yet the shift toward a cashless economy is uneven. Older people and low-income households remain far more dependent on cash. People aged 70 and older still use cash for 32.4 percent of their spending, while households earning less than 1 million won a month rely on cash for 59.4 percent of expenditures, according to the BOK. As South Korea enters a super-aged society — with those aged 65 and older now accounting for more than 20 percent of the population — the idea of going fully cashless remains contentious. A recent survey found that 45.8 percent of respondents oppose a cashless society, while only 17.7 percent support it. The most common concern, cited by 39.1 percent, was the risk of excluding financially vulnerable groups. The challenge is visible on the ground. At a café in central Seoul, a foreign customer and a middle-aged woman struggled for several minutes to place orders at a kiosk, eventually requiring staff assistance. "It's become too troublesome just to eat out," the woman said afterward. A growing digital divide A 2023 survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that only about 18 percent of older adults were able to place orders independently using kiosks. In practice, more than eight in ten elderly people experience difficulty using such machines. Experts say the problem lies not only in digital literacy but also in design. "Kiosks are designed from the supplier's perspective, not the consumer's," said Hur Jun-soo, a professor at Soongsil University's School of Social Welfare. "The icons, fonts and interfaces are not tailored to older users." Hur added that although digital education programs for seniors have expanded, they often fail to reach people where help is most needed. "Support should go beyond senior welfare centers and community halls," he said. "It needs to extend to the places where older people actually live and carry out their daily activities." 2025-12-29 16:42:43
  • NewJeans full comeback ruled out after Danielles exit
    NewJeans full comeback ruled out after Danielle's exit SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - ADOR confirmed Monday that K-pop girl group NewJeans members Minji and Hanni will resume activities under the agency, while Danielle has been notified of the termination of her exclusive contract, to finalize a four-member return for the K-pop sensation. According to the agency, “Hanni recently visited Korea with her family and had extensive talks with ADOR, during which she had time to review the events leading up to the dispute.” Following what the company described as candid and in-depth discussions, Hanni decided to accept the court’s ruling and continue working with ADOR. ADOR added that “Minji is also in ongoing talks with the company, as both sides seek to reach a mutual understanding of the situation. The agency, however, said it had concluded that continuing its relationship with Danielle would be difficult and notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract. ADOR also stated that “it plans to seek legal accountability from one of Danielle’s family members and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, whom the company says bear significant responsibility for triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s return.” ADOR said its recent discussions revealed that the members had been exposed over a long period to “distorted and one-sided information,” which led to misunderstandings about the company and ultimately escalated into a legal conflict. The agency added that both ADOR and the artists plan to address the controversies that arose during the conflict at a later date, with details on timing and format still under discussion. “ADOR will do its utmost to resolve the matter amicably and ensure that NewJeans can return to fans as soon as possible,” the company said. NewJeans announced in November 2024 that it would seek to terminate its contracts with ADOR, citing the agency’s alleged failure to fulfill its obligations. After months of legal proceedings, a court in October once again ruled in favor of ADOR in its lawsuit seeking confirmation of the contracts’ validity. Last month, ADOR said members Haerin and Hyein had also expressed their intention to return. 2025-12-29 11:37:48
  • NYT: K-pop global peak raises questions about what comes next
    NYT: K-pop global peak raises questions about what comes next SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -K-pop has never been more visible on the global stage, but its very success is now forcing a reckoning over where the genre goes next. A recent New York Times analysis argues that while K-pop has reached a new peak of cultural influence, it is also confronting structural limits that could shape its future trajectory. The paper points to the runaway success of KPop Demon Hunters, a Netflix animated film built around rival idol groups, as a symbol of K-pop’s full entry into the global mainstream. The film became one of the platform’s most-watched titles, with its soundtrack topping charts worldwide. For the Times, the phenomenon shows that K-pop has evolved from a niche export into a shared global cultural language. Yet the article quickly pivots from celebration to caution. Beneath the surface, it argues, K-pop is grappling with the constraints of the very system that made it successful. The genre’s highly centralized, top-down production model — long praised for efficiency and polish — now risks limiting creativity at a time when novelty has become harder to sustain. This tension is most clearly illustrated by the ongoing dispute involving NewJeans, which the Times describes as the most innovative K-pop group of recent years. The group’s conflict with its label, Ador, over creative control and workplace issues has effectively stalled its activities, even after a court upheld the validity of its contract. The episode has become a symbol of the broader dilemma facing the industry: how to reconcile artistic originality with corporate control. The article suggests that K-pop has entered a phase of saturation. Major groups continue to thrive commercially, but their musical frameworks are increasingly familiar. The industry’s ability to scale success remains intact, yet its capacity to surprise audiences is under strain. In this sense, K-pop resembles other mature global genres that must reinvent themselves to avoid stagnation. At the same time, the Times highlights emerging signs of transformation. New hybrid projects such as Katseye — formed through a partnership between Hybe and Geffen Records — point to a future in which K-pop functions less as a fixed genre and more as a flexible template. These groups borrow the training systems and visual language of K-pop while loosening its stylistic and linguistic boundaries. Beyond the mainstream, innovation is increasingly occurring outside the idol system. Independent and experimental Korean artists, often influenced by digital subcultures and hyperpop, are reworking K-pop’s aesthetics in more fragmented and unconventional ways. This shift suggests that creativity is migrating to the margins, even as the center remains commercially dominant. Ultimately, the New York Times frames K-pop as standing at a crossroads. Its global triumph is undeniable, but the next phase will depend on whether the industry can balance scale with experimentation, and control with creative freedom. The question is no longer whether K-pop can conquer the world — but whether it can reinvent itself after having done so. 2025-12-26 07:52:28
  • BLACKPINKs Rosés APT. tops TikTok music chart, named Apple Musics song of the year
    BLACKPINK's Rosé's 'APT.' tops TikTok music chart, named Apple Music's song of the year SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - Rosé of BLACKPINK has once again demonstrated the global staying power of her hit single "APT.", following a string of major achievements across international charts. According to The Black Label, Rosé and Bruno Mars's duet "APT." was named Song of the Year by Apple Music, while also ranking No. 1 on Billboard's Global 200 and No. 9 on the Hot 100 year-end charts for 2025. The song also performed strongly on TikTok, topping its 2025 Year in Music chart for Korea and placing sixth globally, further underscoring its worldwide popularity. Released in October last year as the pre-release single from Rosé's first full-length album "rosie," "APT." quickly gained global recognition. The song remained on Billboard's Hot 100 for 45 consecutive weeks, setting a new record for the longest-charting K-pop song. Its music video has also surpassed 2.2 billion views on YouTube. She became the first K-pop artist to win Song of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with "APT." in September. The song has also received nominations at the Grammy Awards next February for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, marking the first time a K-pop act has been nominated in two major categories. Meanwhile, Rosé is currently on the road on BLACKPINK's "Deadline" world tour, with Tokyo and Hong Kong as the next stops. 2025-12-25 16:55:58
  • Presidential office to raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday
    Presidential office to raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - The presidential office said it will raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, returning to the site after three years and seven months. It said the flag, featuring South Korea's national flower mugunghwa at the center and two phoenixes facing each other, will be lowered at the Yongsan presidential office at midnight on Dec. 29 and simultaneously raised at Cheong Wa Dae. "The official name of the presidential office will be changed to Cheong Wa Dae starting on Dec. 29," the office said. The flag is flown at the location where the president is working or residing to indicate the seat of executive authority. President Lee Jae Myung is expected to begin duties at Cheong Wa Dae, marking the reopening of the "Cheong Wa Dae era" about 44 months after former president Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office in May 2022. The site ceased to function as the presidential office after Yoon moved operations to Yongsan, citing a desire to break away from what it described as the image of a secluded power center. However, following Yoon's impeachment after his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, the Lee administration moved forward with restoring Cheong Wa Dae, fulfilling one of Lee's campaign pledges. The decision was also based on concerns that the Yongsan office was structurally vulnerable to surveillance and security risks. While the presidential office will return to Cheong Wa Dae, the official residence there is scheduled to undergo repairs through the first half of next year, as it is still severely damaged. Lee is expected to commute from the existing Hannam-dong residence to Cheong Wa Dae for the time being. The history of Cheong Wa Dae dates back to the Japanese colonial period. Built in 1927 as the residence of the Japanese Governor-General of Korea, it later served as the residence of Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge, head of the U.S. Army Military Government in Korea, following the country's liberation in 1945. With the founding of the First Republic in 1948, the site became President Rhee Syngman's office and residence under the name "Gyeongmudae." In 1960, then-president Yun Posun renamed it Cheong Wa Dae, inspired by the blue tiles of the main building, as "cheong" means blue in Korean. Cheong Wa Dae served as the office and residence of South Korean presidents from Park Chung-hee through Moon Jae-in until 2022. 2025-12-25 15:17:18
  • Android malware Wonderland steals OTPs, enables real-time financial fraud
    Android malware 'Wonderland' steals OTPs, enables real-time financial fraud SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - A new Android malware dubbed "Wonderland" is being actively distributed, enabling attackers to steal one-time passwords (OTPs) and remotely control infected devices to carry out real-time financial fraud, according to cybersecurity researchers. An analysis released on Thursday by Group-IB said Wonderland initially infiltrates devices through a "dropper" disguised as a legitimate application, which then installs malicious components. Unlike typical trojanized APK files that begin malicious activity immediately upon installation, Wonderland masquerades as a normal app before executing its malicious payload within the user's environment. This technique allows the malware to be installed without a network connection and helps it evade initial security checks and static analysis. It also enables two-way communication, allowing attackers to issue commands in real time. Once activated, Wonderland can intercept text messages (SMS) and OTPs, trigger USSD codes, steal contacts and phone numbers, hide notifications, and send additional SMS messages, the research said. As a result, attackers are able to bypass financial authentication procedures to steal funds and use infected devices as secondary launch points for further attacks. Researchers also found that Wonderland operators rely heavily on Telegram as a core part of their infrastructure. When users grant permissions, attackers can hijack Telegram accounts using the victim's phone number and then use the compromised accounts to spread malicious apps to chat histories and contact lists. Stolen Telegram accounts are currently being traded on the dark web and reused in subsequent attacks, the research added. Wonderland is not the only threat targeting Android users. Other malware strains, including Nexus Root and Frogblight, have also been detected recently, often disguising themselves as legitimate apps, prompting heightened caution among users. 2025-12-25 13:43:57