Journalist

Kim Hee-su
  • K-steel strains to stay afloat amid prolonged slump and govt relief
    K-steel strains to stay afloat amid prolonged slump and gov't relief Editor's Note: This is the third installment in AJP's 2026 outlook series on South Korea's key industries, based on forecasts by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) -Stagnation is set to extend into 2026 for Korean steelmakers as demand remains sluggish and global markets stay flooded with low-priced Chinese exports — a downturn severe enough to draw legal protection for the industry. According to data compiled by the KCCI, steel output is expected to remain virtually unchanged at 63.9 million tons in 2026, extending a decline that has persisted since 2021. Exports, which rose 1.5 percent this year to 28.8 million tons, are forecast to fall 2.1 percent to 28.2 million tons next year, as Chinese mills accelerate overseas shipments while the United States and Europe harden trade barriers. Domestic demand offers little relief The prolonged slump in construction and automobiles continues to weigh heavily on domestic steel consumption. Apparent steel consumption fell 9.1 percent to 43.4 million tons in 2025, with only a modest 1.2 percent rebound expected in 2026. Construction investment has been in retreat, with building starts through September down 4.6 percent year-on-year. Automotive production through October also slipped 1.5 percent, compounding weakness in flat products such as hot-rolled coil and thick plates that are closely tied to construction and manufacturing demand. China's import share surges despite trade remedies Steel imports fell 8.7 percent to 13.4 million tons in 2025, reflecting softer demand and the impact of anti-dumping measures. Even so, China's share of Korea's steel imports surged to 62.2 percent, up sharply from 47.7 percent in 2022, intensifying concerns that low-priced Chinese products continue to undercut domestic producers. Data from the Korea Iron and Steel Association show Chinese steel imports nearly quadrupled from 338,000 tons in 2021 to 1.26 million tons in 2023. Hot-rolled coil imports reached 1.53 million tons in the first 11 months of 2023 alone, with Chinese products priced up to 30 percent below Korean equivalents. The pressure has been especially severe for specialized producers. SeAH CSS, a major maker of special steel bars, saw operating profit plunge 91 percent, from 125.7 billion won in 2022 to 11.4 billion won in 2024, as Chinese special steel bar imports jumped 50 percent over two years to 670,000 tons, accounting for 92 percent of total imports in the category. Two headwinds define 2026 The outlook for 2026 is shaped by two overriding challenges: China's relentless outbound push and escalating trade walls in advanced economies. China's steel production capacity still far exceeds domestic demand, forcing mills to ship out excess supply and further depress prices. This erodes the competitiveness of Korean producers, which tend to compete on quality and specialized grades rather than volume. Beijing said in March it would aim to cut annual crude steel output by about 50 million tons, potentially bringing production below 1 billion tons for the first time in six years. POSCO Group said during its third-quarter earnings call that it expects Chinese output to decline about 5 percent this year and possibly 10 percent next year, though skepticism remains after past pledges failed to meaningfully absorb oversupply amid a prolonged property downturn. At the same time, the United States and the European Union (EU) are tightening import controls. Washington imposed 50 percent tariffs this year on steel and aluminum derivatives, scrapping a quota system that had allowed Korea limited duty-free volumes and forcing Korean suppliers to compete more directly on price. In Europe, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is moving closer to full implementation, imposing carbon-based costs on imports. The EU remains Korea's largest regional steel export market, with shipments totaling $4.48 billion last year, slightly ahead of the United States at $4.35 billion. K-Steel Act opens restructuring path A rare legislative breakthrough in late November injected cautious optimism into the industry. The National Assembly passed the "Special Act on Strengthening Steel Industry Competitiveness and Carbon Neutrality Transition," widely known as the K-Steel Act, marking the first comprehensive government support framework for the sector. The law establishes a special committee under the Prime Minister's Office and mandates five-year master plans and annual roadmaps by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Crucially, it allows coordinated capacity reductions and production cuts without triggering antitrust penalties — a long-standing obstacle to industry-wide restructuring. "Article 38, which provides an antitrust exemption for joint production adjustments, gives companies legal cover to coordinate capacity cuts in response to oversupply," said Kwon Ji-woo, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities. The act also includes measures aimed at shielding domestic producers from unfair imports and calls for national infrastructure planning for hydrogen pipelines and power grids, both seen as essential for hydrogen-based steelmaking and expanded electric-arc furnace capacity. Industry officials caution that legislation alone will not reverse structural headwinds, but welcomed the framework as a foundation for coordinated action that could reshape the competitive landscape from 2026 onward. Hyundai Steel bets on U.S. expansion Against the domestic malaise, Hyundai Steel is moving to deepen its U.S. footprint. The company said it will form a joint venture with POSCO Group to build a 2.7-million-ton electric-arc furnace mill in Louisiana, targeting automotive steel demand tied to Hyundai Motor Group's expanding U.S. manufacturing base. The $5.8 billion project will be funded equally through equity and external borrowing and will produce hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil for Hyundai Motor's Metaplant America in Georgia. The plant began mass-producing the Ioniq 5 in October 2024 and is ramping toward a long-term capacity target of 1.2 million vehicles annually. The mill is slated to come online in 2029, positioning Hyundai Steel to navigate rising protectionism and intensifying competition in North America, including changes triggered by Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. 2025-12-18 16:01:31
  • Korea set to test digital ADHD treatment amid overuse of concentration pills
    Korea set to test digital ADHD treatment amid overuse of concentration pills SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often taken lightly in Korea, particularly when strong school grades compensate for disruptive or reckless behavior — and, in some cases, when parents quietly encourage medication use ahead of college preparation. The neglect, delayed diagnosis and lingering aversion to child psychiatry frequently lead to long-term difficulties for patients. For many, treatment begins late and remains narrowly focused on medication. For Kim, a 31-year-old Seoul resident who asked to remain anonymous, "the fear of running out of prescriptions" has become a constant part of daily life. "For most Koreans, the most discreet way to keep ADHD hidden is medication," he said — a reliance that often deepens over time. Against this backdrop, health authorities and researchers are moving to broaden treatment options to curb the overuse of stimulant drugs. The Ministry of Health and Welfare this week revised its guidelines on the safety and effectiveness of new medical technologies, clearing the way for a digital therapeutics-based cognitive training program for pediatric ADHD. Under the fast-track designation, specialists at designated medical institutions will be allowed to prescribe screen-based treatment from February 2026 through January 2029. The program will be available to children aged six to under 13 who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Under a doctor's supervision, children will engage with an immersive, game-like platform designed to improve attention, working memory and impulse control. The treatment can be prescribed alongside oral medication, depending on symptom severity, and is being referred to by policymakers as a form of "digital medicine." The policy shift comes as ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions continue to climb nationwide. According to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the total number of patients who received medical treatment for ADHD reached 260,334 in 2024, up 229 percent from 79,244 in 2020. By age group, teenagers (10s) accounted for the largest share of ADHD patients in 2024, with 92,704 cases, or 35.61 percent of the total. They were followed by people in their 20s at 65,927 (25.32 percent), children under the age of 10 at 45,016 (17.29 percent), and those in their 30s at 40,679 (15.63 percent). The number of adult ADHD patients also rose sharply. In 2024, 122,614 adults received treatment for ADHD, up from 25,297 in 2020 — an increase of 385 percent, or nearly 4.9 times. It marked the first time that the number of adults treated for ADHD exceeded 100,000 in a single year. Another NHIS data showed, prescriptions for methylphenidate — one of the most commonly used ADHD medications — reached 1.28 million cases as of May, a 33.4 percent increase from 960,000 cases during the same period last year. Annual prescription volumes have also risen steadily. Last year, methylphenidate prescriptions totaled 2.47 million cases, up 24 percent from 1.99 million in 2023. By age group, teenagers recorded the highest number of prescriptions per 100,000 people at 2,305, followed by those in their 20s at 1,414, and children under 10 at 1,360. Regional disparities are equally striking. Within Seoul, the so-called "Gangnam Three" districts — Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa — have ranked first through third in ADHD prescription volume since 2019. Affluent neighborhoods in southern Seoul known for intense academic competition, including Daechi-dong, Banpo-dong, Jamsil-dong and Irwon-dong, showed particularly high prescription rates relative to population, according to NHIS data. Prescriptions also tend to spike ahead of major exams, including the college entrance test season. Similar concerns resurfaced ahead of last month's 2026 college entrance exam, according to online parent communities. Advertisements for so-called "concentration-enhancing drinks" and "exam supplements" surged, targeting anxious students and parents. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it detected more than 750 violations during a 10-day inspection period in October. According to the Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center (KPIC), ADHD is associated with deficiencies in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which regulate attention and focus. Medications such as methylphenidate raise levels of both, while atomoxetine selectively increases norepinephrine. While these drugs are effective in improving concentration by stimulating the central nervous system, concerns persist over side effects and long-term use — particularly among children and adolescents whose brains are still developing. KPIC said that inappropriate use of ADHD medication can lead to side effects ranging from headaches and anxiety to, in severe cases, hallucinations, delusions, or suicidal behavior. "ADHD medications themselves are generally safe, and long-term use does not significantly increase the risk of misuse among diagnosed patients," said Lee Hae-kook, a psychiatrist at The Catholic University of Korea. "But when prescription rates rise sharply in specific regions or during specific seasons, it suggests some prescriptions may be driven by short-term attempts to boost concentration rather than clear medical necessity." Lee added that digital therapeutics are unlikely to replace medication outright, but could play a complementary role. "Some patients worry about how long they need to stay on medication or want to reduce their dosage," he said. "Using digital therapeutics consistently alongside medication may help shorten treatment duration or lower dosages in certain cases." 2025-12-17 17:07:13
  • Foreign arrivals hit records, but Koreas duty-free shops face deepest slump in a decade
    Foreign arrivals hit records, but Korea's duty-free shops face deepest slump in a decade SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Korea has waived visas for Chinese group tourists, the won is about 4 percent weaker than a year ago, and inbound foreign arrivals are on track to hit a record high in 2025. Yet duty-free sales are shrinking to levels last seen a decade ago. Once the backbone of tourist retail — and a near-mandatory stop for Chinese and Japanese visitors — duty-free shops are shuttering outlets, downsizing operations and renegotiating rents as foot traffic thins. The downturn reflects not a collapse in tourism, but a fundamental shift in who is visiting Korea and how they shop. From January to October, domestic duty-free sales totaled $7.3 billion, down 16.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Duty Free Shops Association. Even allowing for year-end seasonality, the full-year market is expected to fall to its lowest level since 2015, when sales stood at about $8.1 billion. The slump stands in stark contrast to tourism numbers. Foreign arrivals reached 15.82 million over the same period, up 15 percent year on year. At the current pace, Korea is likely to surpass its pre-pandemic record of 17.5 million visitors set in 2019 and meet the government’s full-year target of 18.5 million. Retailers had hoped the return of Chinese group tours — credited with driving pre-pandemic duty-free sales above $20 billion annually — would provide relief. Chinese tourists are back, but their shopping itineraries have changed. Instead of duty-free counters, visitors are flocking to health-and-beauty chains such as Olive Young, discount retailers like Daiso and fashion platforms including Musinsa. These outlets offer lower prices, faster transactions and products perceived as more closely tied to Korean lifestyle trends. "Visitors are buying more items, but spending less per product," said a Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) official, noting that budget-friendly shopping is crowding out luxury spending. KTO data released Tuesday underscore how sharply consumption patterns have shifted. Compared with 2019, average spending per purchase by foreign visitors fell from 150,000 won ($102) to 120,000 won in 2025. At the same time, average spending per visitor rose 83 percent year on year, while the number of purchases surged 124 percent — pointing to more frequent transactions across a wider range of lower- to mid-priced goods. Foreign card payment data show particularly strong growth in capsule-toy "gacha" shops, where transactions jumped 142 percent from January to September. Spending also rose sharply at stationery stores (up 48.7 percent) and bookstores (up 39.9 percent). Cosmetics, daily necessities, character goods and small lifestyle items are emerging as key growth categories. As profitability deteriorates, even conglomerate-run operators are retreating. Hotel Shilla and Shinsegae Duty Free have both returned their Incheon International Airport concessions early, opting to absorb termination penalties of more than 190 billion won each rather than continue operating at a loss. City-based stores are also scaling back. Lotte Duty Free downsized its flagship store at Seoul's Lotte World Tower, while Hyundai Duty Free closed its Dongdaemun branch and reduced the size of its COEX location. Korea's five major duty-free operators recorded combined losses exceeding 300 billion won last year — a stark reversal for an industry once seen as a bellwether of the country's tourism boom. 2025-12-16 17:05:53
  • Korea, Qatar broaden green energy ties, coinciding with National Day  
    Korea, Qatar broaden green energy ties, coinciding with National Day   SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Green energy projects, led by large-scale solar power, dominated senior-level discussions in Seoul this week as Korea and Qatar reconfirmed a broadening of bilateral energy cooperation beyond liquefied natural gas, long the backbone of their relationship. At a reception held Monday ahead of Qatar's National Day on Dec. 18, Khalid bin Ebrahim Al-Hamar, Qatar's ambassador to Korea, highlighted a flagship renewable project involving Korean companies: a 2,000-megawatt solar power plant being developed in the Dukhan area west of Doha. "The QatarEnergy project to build a solar power station in Dukhan, with a production capacity of 2,000 megawatts, is the largest solar power plant implemented by Korean companies in the region," Al-Hamar said, describing it as a milestone in the evolution of bilateral energy ties. The project underscores how cooperation between the two countries has expanded beyond hydrocarbons and construction into renewables, low-carbon manufacturing and advanced digital infrastructure. Al-Hamar said relations had matured into a comprehensive strategic partnership spanning health care, education, youth exchanges, agriculture, smart networks, investment, culture and sports. Renewable energy has become a central pillar of Qatar's broader economic diversification drive. Samsung C&T Corp. said in September it had secured a 1.46 trillion won ($993 million) contract from QatarEnergy to build the Dukhan solar facility, which will cover roughly 27 square kilometres — about nine times the size of Seoul’s Yeouido district — and deploy around 2.74 million solar panels. Scheduled for completion in 2030, the project is expected to be the largest solar power plant ever built by a Korean construction company. At the same time, Korean firms continue to expand their footprint in Qatar's conventional power sector. Doosan Enerbility announced on Monday that it had signed a 130 billion won contract to supply key equipment for a 2,400-megawatt gas combined-cycle power plant, known as "Facility E," to be built southeast of Doha. Under the agreement with Samsung C&T, Doosan will deliver steam turbines, generators and auxiliary equipment by 2029. The deal follows a 290 billion won combined cycle power plant, PP12 (Power Plant 12), secured by Doosan earlier this year, highlighting how renewable and thermal power projects are advancing in parallel as Qatar balances energy security with decarbonization goals. Kwon Oh-eul, Korea's Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said Qatar remained a critical energy supplier for Korea, contributing to the country's energy security, while Korean companies have played a key role in Qatar's urban development, plant construction and shipbuilding. He noted that the two countries elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership at a 2023 summit, expanding cooperation to defense, artificial intelligence and health care. 2025-12-16 13:16:00
  • K-Content in 2025: The year animation won — but largely without Korea
    K-Content in 2025: The year animation won — but largely without Korea SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Animation was the biggest winner in Korea's film and streaming market in 2025 — a year otherwise marked by stagnation — but much of that success bypassed Korean creators. Japanese R-rated animated films dominated domestic box offices, while local streaming releases struggled to gain traction against international blockbusters such as "KPop Demon Hunters." Industry observers warn that if Netflix's reported pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) materializes, Korean originals could be further crowded out, accelerating a shift toward platform-driven franchises at the expense of the genre-blending experimentation that once defined the global rise of Korean content, from "Parasite" to "Squid Game." Japanese animation lifts theaters In cinemas, Japanese animation provided rare relief for exhibitors. According to year-end box office rankings, "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" topped the charts, drawing around 5.68 million viewers, while Korean releases struggled to produce a comparable breakout. "Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc" alone surpassed 3.41 million admissions, ranking fifth overall and sustaining strong momentum throughout its run. The animation boom was fueled largely by Japanese manga IP and a loyal adult fan base — particularly viewers in their 40s and under — tied to the fandom surrounding shonen franchises such as "Demon Slayer," "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Chainsaw Man." The result was a paradoxical year: theaters benefited from animation's revival, but Korean films were not central to the recovery. A global OTT hit — but not a Korean production On streaming platforms, "KPop Demon Hunters" towered over competitors in the second half of the year. Despite being steeped in Korean themes — K-pop, food, beauty, tradition, and lifestyle — Korea can claim little industrial credit for its success. Netflix's Tudum data, which tracks views in the first 91 days, showed the film ranked No. 1 across all film and TV categories globally in 2025, outperforming both English- and non-English-language titles. It surpassed flagship series such as "Squid Game" and "Wednesday" in raw viewership. Netflix said the film recorded 325.1 million views, becoming the first title on the platform to cross the 300 million mark. Its soundtrack, led by "Golden," peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week and remained on the chart for 24 consecutive weeks despite seasonal competition from Christmas classics. International media hailed the phenomenon as "a new chapter for K-content and K-pop." From an industrial perspective, however, the film is fundamentally an American production. It was produced by Sony Pictures Animation, with Netflix handling distribution and full investment. According to foreign media reports, including Forbes, the production budget was around $100 million, while Sony's earnings — earned without direct investment — are estimated at roughly $20 million. Netflix, which controls the intellectual property, is expected to extract long-term value exceeding $1 billion through future exploitation. The film's success underscored the limits of this year's K-content narrative. Produced in English for a global audience, "KPop Demon Hunters" traveled well — but it did not redefine Korean storytelling in the way earlier Korean-language works once did. Local creativity still flickers Still, Korean filmmakers showed they have not lost their creative instincts. One of the year's most unexpected successes was "My Daughter Is a Zombie," a homegrown comedy that defied a market dominated by franchises and imported animation. It became the first Korean release of 2025 to surpass 5 million admissions, while also setting records for advance ticket sales and the strongest opening ever for a Korean comedy. Adapted from cartoonist Lee Yun-chang's popular Naver webtoon series of the same name (2018–2020), the film stayed faithful to the tone and emotional appeal of the original work. Its success revived the communal theatrical experience, drawing audiences back into cinemas to laugh, cry and react together. At the other end of the spectrum stood "No Other Choice," the latest film by internationally acclaimed director Park Chan-wook. While not positioned as a mass-market blockbuster, the film reaffirmed the enduring pull of globally recognized Korean auteurs, attracting audiences driven by artistic credibility rather than scale or spectacle. "Both K-pop and Korean cinema felt as though they were in a cooling phase overall," culture critic Kim Herin-sik said. "In theaters, films largely lost their presence to animation. At the same time, there was some progress among independent films, including works by director Yoon Ga-eun, suggesting the industry may need to reorganize around smaller-scale productions." "If 'No Other Choice' goes on to win major awards," he added, "it could help reverse the overall mood." Netflix dominance and consolidation risk Despite these challenges, Korean titles continue to maintain a strong presence in an English-heavy streaming landscape. Among Netflix's global top-10 titles ranked by views in the first 91 days, eight were English-language productions. The only two non-English titles on the list were both Korean, led by "Squid Game." The contrast reflects the enduring dominance of English-language content, while also confirming sustained global demand for Korean storytelling when cultural specificity translates effectively across markets. "Squid Game" resonated by pairing universal themes — economic inequality and class tension — with distinctly Korean elements such as childhood games including "Red Light, Green Light" and "gonggi." The tension has sharpened as Netflix signals a new phase of consolidation following reports earlier this month regarding a potential acquisition of WBD. If completed, such a deal would fundamentally reshape the global streaming landscape. Netflix would not only consolidate market share but also absorb a vast production apparatus, including WBD's intellectual property — from the "Harry Potter" franchise to HBO flagships such as "Game of Thrones" and "Friends." Industry observers warn that deeper consolidation could accelerate the platformization of content production, making it increasingly difficult for studios to maintain independent voices. For many, a partnership or merger may become the only viable path to survival. Domestic players recalibrate Amid these shifts, domestic players show mixed signals. CJ ENM posted improved results in the third quarter of 2025, supported by theatrical revenue from "No Other Choice" and stronger exports driven by expansion into new markets such as Latin America and the Middle East. Revenue rose across film, drama, music and commerce divisions, signaling a broad-based recovery. According to a regulatory filing in November, CJ ENM reported operating profit of 17.6 billion won ($12 million), up 11 percent year-on-year. The company also entered a strategic partnership with WBD to jointly produce K-content — a move that gained added significance as WBD later emerged as a potential acquisition target for Netflix. Attention also briefly turned to a proposed merger between domestic streaming platforms TVING and WAVVE, viewed by some as a counterweight to global players. The process, however, stalled due to opposition from key shareholder KT, which cited concerns about potential damage to its IPTV business. With a merger now likely pushed into 2026, the two platforms have pursued merger-level cooperation — including a joint subscription package and integrated advertising platform — even as they continue to stress the urgency of competing with Netflix. 2025-12-15 17:03:12
  • Year-end office drinking binges quietly disappear in Korea
    Year-end office drinking binges quietly disappear in Korea SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - December used to mean one thing at Korean companies: mandatory year-end dinners, overflowing soju bottles and long nights that spilled into second and third rounds. This winter, that ritual is quietly fading. Rising dining costs and MZ workers' allergy to after-work obligations have thinned corporate calendars, leaving December unusually light — and restaurants unusually empty. At a fried chicken pub near Gwanghwamun, the year-end peak barely registers. On a recent Friday night, a staff member said the owner hadn't even come in. Bookings were that thin. In Myeongdong, Kim, who runs a samgyeopsal (pork barbecue) restaurant, said it doesn't feel like year-end at all. "By early December, these streets are usually so crowded you can barely move," he said, gesturing outside. "But look — it's empty." Next door, the story is the same. "Business is down from last winter," an employee said. "And it's not just restaurants. Even people in real estate say it's slow." Inflation has taken much of the cheer out of the season. According to Statistics Korea, consumer prices rose 2.4 percent year on year in November to 117.2 (2020=100). While housing and public service costs stayed relatively stable, personal service prices climbed 3 percent, with dining-out prices up 2.8 percent — enough to make another round of grilled pork feel like a luxury. The pressure is showing in survival rates. The National Tax Service says the three-year survival rate for 100 major livelihood industries, including food service, has slipped to 52.3 percent, meaning fewer than half of new businesses make it past their third birthday. The figure has been falling steadily since 2022, a sign of cooling domestic demand. But what's happening on the ground is not just about prices. It's also about culture. Company dinners — once treated as an extension of work itself — are losing their grip. A nationwide survey by market research firm Embrain Trend Monitor of 1,000 salaried workers aged 19 to 59 shows how sharply attitudes have shifted since the pandemic. Nearly eight in 10 respondents (79.2 percent) said the overall workplace atmosphere now leans toward avoiding company dinners. Even when they do happen, they tend to end early: 76.2 percent said gatherings wrap up faster than before, and 57.5 percent said evening drinking sessions have increasingly been replaced by lunch-time meals. For many workers, that's a relief. More than 70 percent said the stress of attending company dinners has eased, while 63.9 percent said they feel less pressure — or guilt — about skipping them altogether. Not everyone is celebrating. Regret over the decline in company dinners is strongest among older workers and senior managers. While 60.5 percent of executives in their 60s said they miss the tradition, only 41.1 percent of entry-level employees felt the same. And despite the new "voluntary" label, social pressure hasn't disappeared. Six in 10 respondents (60.7 percent) said that while attendance is technically optional, they still feel they have little choice. Lower-ranking employees, in particular, worry that skipping dinners could still carry consequences. If dinners must happen, many workers now favor a new rule of thumb: "119" — a tongue-in-cheek nod to Korea's emergency fire number. One drink, one round, and home by 9 p.m. Park, 27, who works in the public sector in Seoul, puts it bluntly. "I really don't want to go," she said. "If we have to meet, lunch is enough — and it should be during work hours." Lee Chun-ae, 57, who works at a tax office in Seoul, agrees, with limits. "Once every three months is plenty," she said. "And if there is a dinner, it should end after the first round." For restaurants, the quiet December is painful. For many workers, it feels like progress — proof that the era of endless year-end drinking may finally be over. 2025-12-12 18:30:42
  • After game-curfew flop, Seoul unlikely to adopt Australias drastic social media ban
    After game-curfew flop, Seoul unlikely to adopt Australia's drastic social media ban SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - In every advanced society — from the United States to East Asia to Australia — one common reality defines modern childhood: kids and teenagers are glued to their screens. Whether scrolling through social media, watching YouTube, or toggling between both, their digital immersion is constant. Governments are responding with varying degrees of intervention, but only a few have taken dramatic steps. Australia is now the boldest example, and one that Seoul is highly unlikely to follow. According to Britain's Ofcom, 99 percent of children now spend time online, and nine in ten own a mobile phone by age 11. The regulator warns of "a blurred boundary between the lives children lead online and the 'real world,'" describing how deeply digital habits shape childhood. Ofcom also found that three-quarters of children aged 8 to 17 who use social media have at least one account, even though most platforms set a minimum age of 13. Among 8- to 12-year-olds, six in ten maintain their own profiles. The United States shows a similar pattern. A Pew Research Center report released Tuesday found that most American teenagers use YouTube and TikTok daily, and about one in five are on one of the two platforms "almost constantly." Experts warn of risks ranging from diminished attention spans to delayed cognitive development, but few governments have enacted hard rules. Australia stands out for enforcing a complete ban on social media accounts for anyone under 16, prohibiting minors from creating or maintaining profiles on designated platforms. The measure has sparked intense debate. The Australian Human Rights Commission has warned that VPNs and fake age declarations could undermine the law and argues that an account ban "does not address the root causes of online risks or make platforms safer for everyone." For Seoul, such a prohibition would be politically and socially untenable. Korea's last attempt at sweeping digital regulation — the so-called shutdown law, which barred anyone under 16 from online gaming between midnight and 6 a.m. — was repealed in 2021 after a decade of resistance and ridicule. It had little impact on gaming habits, even as Korean gamers became world-class e-sports competitors. "I don't think parents would tolerate it," said Song Ki-chang, professor of education at Sookmyung Women's University. "Parents and children communicate through these apps these days. They check things or send messages whenever needed. I'm not sure a ban on SNS accounts is even feasible." The Ministry of Science and ICT's 2024 smartphone dependency survey shows why the concern persists but heavy-handed controls are unlikely. More than four in ten Korean adolescents fall into the "risk group" for smartphone overuse — including both high-risk and potential-risk users. Dependency risk in 2024 reached 42.6 percent among adolescents aged 10 to 19 and 25.9 percent among children aged 3 to 9, compared with 22.4 percent among adults aged 20 to 59 and 11.9 percent among seniors. The OECD notes that governments have a critical role in shaping safer digital environments, yet reliable global data on youth digital behavior remains limited, hampering evidence-based policymaking. For educators, the answer lies less in prohibition and more in resilience-building. "It's not going after the companies that can really do something, which are Apple, Google, and Microsoft," said Douglas Weir, 33, a principal at an international school in Seoul. Larger schools face greater challenges in monitoring usage, he said, but the underlying problem is universal. "When we were kids, we had to learn how to use search engines and computers for the first time. The same conversations were happening then about whether it was appropriate or dangerous. I don't think we're going to solve this overnight — but the approach needs to be about educating kids, not banning." 2025-12-11 16:43:38
  • Korea takes more active approach to find missing persons through AI and viral media
    Korea takes more active approach to find missing persons through AI and viral media SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Kim Tae-hee had a habit of staring at things a little longer than others, narrowing his eyes to make sense of a world blurred by poor sight. His speech was halting, shaped by a lifelong mental disability, but he could say his name and home phone number. None of it helped on April 23, 1988, when he disappeared in Seoul's Gangnam District at age 14. Thirty-seven years have passed since. Today, at 51, this is what he might look like. What once required foreign outsourcing, weeks of processing time, and high cost is now being done in Korea in a matter of moments. Using homegrown generative AI, researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) are reconstructing the faces of long-term missing children — not as faded memories, not as sketches, but as people who might walk among us today. Sixty such individuals have been reimagined in collaboration with the government, the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), KIST, and private partners. They reappear in middle age with softened jaws, thinning hair, or the deepening lines of a life lived elsewhere — a life their families never got to witness but still yearn to reclaim. "In the past, aging technology meant adding wrinkles or altering facial shape — what we used to call an 'aging function,'" said Kim Ig-jae, head of KIST's AI & Robotics Research Center, in an interview with AJP. "Generative AI learns the distribution of real human faces. When features such as skin texture, hair color, and contours change, the model interprets those variations as probabilities and generates new images based on them." "All of this happens in what we call a 'latent space,'" he said. "It's an abstract map of human characteristics. By modeling how attributes shift over time, the AI can estimate how a missing child might realistically appear today." The shift is transformative. Instead of outsourcing to U.S. firms at high cost, domestic researchers can now produce images rapidly, leaving stylization — hair, clothing, the personal signatures of a face — for manual adjustment. The National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has woven these images into public awareness campaigns with the KNPA, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare worked with KIST to generate current-age portraits for 60 of the 189 long-term missing children. While 99.6 percent of children reported missing in 2024 were found within a year, 1,417 remain lost for more than a year — including 1,128 missing for over two decades. To amplify recognition, Daehong launched "Runway to Home," a campaign that transforms the AI-generated adults into virtual models walking a fashion runway — paired alongside their younger selves. A symbolic reunion in digital form, the two versions walk side by side, asking commuters to look twice. "Hairstyles or clothing can dramatically change how someone is perceived, so we created multiple versions to spark associations," a Daehong manager said. The campaign is running on billboards in downtown Seoul during rush hour — a deliberate attempt to draw attention in an age when video captures more eyes than posters ever could. Families who viewed the campaign responded emotionally, according to the NCRC. "Both parents wear glasses, so we think he would too," one family said. Another pointed to the neatly tied hair in the AI rendering, saying, "It looks just like his aunt." For KIST's Kim, the effort carries both scientific promise and human weight. 'After we distributed an early version of this technology nearly ten years ago, one missing child was found after 38 years," he said. "Even when someone cannot be located, families tell us the images are a gift — a reminder that their children are still with them." Anyone with information or possible sightings is urged to call the Korean National Police Agency at 182 (no area code needed) or contact the National Center for the Rights of the Child at 02.777.0182. 2025-12-10 16:43:17
  • KTX-SRT integration after 10 years enabling easier rail access from southern Seoul
    KTX-SRT integration after 10 years enabling easier rail access from southern Seoul SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Korea will merge its two high-speed rail operators — KTX, run by the state-owned Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and SRT, operated by SR Corporation — by the end of next year, which can enable easier rail travel from southern part of Seoul and reduce overlapping costs. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Monday that the two services will begin cross-operating their trains in March. Under the plan, SRT trains, which currently depart exclusively from Suseo Station in southern Seoul, will also run from Seoul Station, the city's largest rail terminal. KTX trains, normally operating from Seoul or Yongsan stations, will start departing from Suseo as well. The government expects the shift to ease seat shortages on popular routes. The KTX trains scheduled to operate from Suseo have 955 seats across 20 cars — more than double the 410 seats on a standard 10-car SRT train. KORAIL estimates the integration will add about 16,690 seats nationwide on peak-demand weekends, raising daily high-speed rail capacity by roughly 6.5 percent from the current level of 255,000 seats. Authorities also said reducing duplication between the two operators could allow KTX fares to be lowered by up to 10 percent. Seat shortages at Suseo have become a persistent problem since SRT launched in 2016. Because all SRT trains depart from Suseo, passengers in the busy southern Seoul region — including Gangnam and Bundang — overwhelmingly rely on the station, especially during peak travel times such as Friday evenings or Monday mornings, when tickets routinely sell out within minutes. Capacity limitations are made worse by SRT's smaller trains and the lack of flexibility to redeploy rolling stock between the two systems, as KTX and SRT have been operated separately. Following the operational transition next year, the government plans to merge ticketing platforms and allow passengers to book all high-speed services through a single application. Full institutional consolidation between KORAIL and SR is expected by the end of 2026, marking the first such merger since SR was established in 2013 and 10 years after SRT first entered service. However, critics argue that the key problems behind the initial decision to separate the two operators — including heavy debt loads and repeated safety incidents — remain unresolved. KORAIL's debt ratio rose from 242 percent in 2020 to 265 percent last year, while SR's stood at 173 percent. Concerns have also been raised that combining KORAIL's nearly 30,000-person workforce with SR's 700 employees will expand the organization without structural reform. Safety remains another major issue. KORAIL currently holds exclusive responsibility for maintenance, yet serious accidents have continued. In August, seven workers were killed or injured during track maintenance in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, prompting renewed criticism of oversight. A KORAIL public relations official, responding to questions about concerns over maintenance responsibilities remaining solely with KORAIL after the merger, said, "This is a roadmap that now requires discussion and agreement between labor and management. Nothing is finalized yet." Labor-related risks have also drawn attention. KORAIL's union is affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), while SR's union is independent. At present, even if KORAIL workers strike, SRT trains continue running. After the merger, a nationwide strike could halt all high-speed rail operations, raising concerns about the country's logistics infrastructure. Transport experts say the merger could benefit passengers if executed effectively, but warn that without financial reform, safety investment, and labor restructuring, consolidation could simply enlarge an already inefficient system. For now, the public remains divided on whether the integration will ultimately improve service or create new vulnerabilities. "Integration is now the government's decided direction, and any side effects from institutional consolidation must be assessed objectively, and we hope decisions regarding structural changes will be made rationally and based on objective data," a high-speed rail industry official said. 2025-12-09 16:29:12
  • With too many skeletons out of the closet, Coupang founder Kim may have to come out
    With too many skeletons out of the closet, Coupang founder Kim may have to come out SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Coupang earns roughly 90 percent of its estimated $34 billion in revenue from Korea, yet operates and trades as a U.S.-based company often dubbed "Korea's Amazon." Increasingly, however, it resembles something closer to a Chinese tech firm—with opaque recruiting practices and oversight failures that culminated in the mass-scale data leak exposing virtually all of its online shoppers. For negligence and liability related to the loss of data on 33.7 million users, Coupang could face penalties of up to 3 percent of revenue, or as much as $1 billion, in addition to a raft of civil and criminal lawsuits. Bom Kim, the Korean-born American who owns 76 percent of the New York Stock Exchange-listed Coupang Inc., remains out of sight as domestic CEO Park Dae-jun is hounded by police investigators, lawmakers and furious consumers. The breach has shed light on Coupang's extensive reliance on foreign developers, including a sizable cohort of Chinese engineers. The alleged perpetrator is a former Chinese employee. Coupang has refused to disclose the nationalities of its engineering workforce, saying only that it recruits "talent from diverse backgrounds." Activity on Maimai, China's equivalent to LinkedIn, suggests the company has maintained steady recruitment pipelines there. Verified accounts claiming Coupang affiliation have remained active through the second half of this year, alongside postings from headhunters and industry insiders seeking candidates for the company. One user identifying himself as a senior vice president of a Chinese holding company ranked Coupang eighth among the most attractive foreign IT employers in Shanghai, behind Google, Amazon and Apple. In a June post, he wrote that Coupang's Shanghai office in Changtai Plaza pays competitively with Alibaba and employs numerous former Alibaba engineers across functions, adding that the attraction is "no overtime work." Operationally, Coupang resembles Alibaba and JD.com more than Amazon. Instead of a marketplace model connecting external sellers to buyers, the company directly purchases inventory, stores it in proprietary warehouses and fulfills orders through its own vertical logistics network. Despite investing 89 billion won annually in cybersecurity and employing more than 200 security engineers, the leak did not result from a sophisticated attack but a basic managerial lapse. A former employee kept access through an unrevoked JWT (JSON Web Token) signing key after leaving the company, enabling unrestricted entry for five months without triggering security alerts. Coupang Corp., the Korean operating subsidiary, is wholly owned by Coupang Inc., a Delaware-registered holding company. Kim controls 76 percent of the voting rights, effectively placing the company under his personal authority. While the Korean unit is the legal entity liable for the breach, Coupang Inc. argues that it neither stores nor manages user data directly. "A corporation and its CEO or shareholders are legally separate entities since a joint-stock corporation is based on limited liability. It is generally difficult to hold an individual—such as Chairman Bom Kim—personally accountable unless there are exceptional circumstances," said Um Kyong-chon, attorney at Lawfirm Family. Kim stepped down from Coupang's Korean board shortly after the Serious Accident Punishment Act took effect in 2021, removing himself from the scope of internal criminal liability. Coupang has repeatedly underscored that its "headquarters is in the U.S., and Kim is an American citizen." The company's dominance in online retail has shielded it from labor and regulatory controversies for years. J.P. Morgan projected minimal customer defection after the breach, citing limited competition and historically low public sensitivity to data privacy. Korean consumers accustomed to overnight delivery, the report noted, are unlikely to abandon the platform. Adding to public anger are signs of potential insider trading. Several U.S.-based executives sold substantial shareholdings in the weeks surrounding the breach. According to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing Tuesday, CFO Gaurav Anand sold 75,350 shares for about $2.2 million on Nov. 10. Former Vice President Pranam Kolari, who oversaw search and recommendations, sold 27,388 shares for $772,000 on Nov. 17, just days after resigning. Given the sensitivity of the scandal, Bom Kim may eventually have to respond to public and political pressure. Korean law recognizes the concept of a "de facto" decision-maker—someone who exercises authority regardless of whether he holds a formal board seat. 2025-12-04 17:13:45