Lee asks Xi to play mediator role for peace on Korean Peninsula SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday said he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to play a mediator role in maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula including North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Lee made the remarks at a luncheon in Shanghai with South Korean reporters, after his talks with Xi in Beijing the previous day. "We have to find a realistic path that helps everyone," Lee said, questioning whether North Korea could give up its nuclear weapons now, even as denuclearization remains a long-term goal. He said he asked Xi to convey South Korea's sincerity regarding the proposed phased approach to North Korea. Lee also urged caution in interpreting Xi's remarks at the summit, in which Xi said leaders should "stand firmly on the right side of history and make the correct strategic choice." When asked about the comment, Lee said he interpreted it as a Confucian saying, meaning that people should live kindly. Lee returns home later in the day. 2026-01-07 17:11:27

CES 2026: Korea, U.S. and China clash in AI robotics as mass-deployment era begins LAS VEGAS, January 07 (AJP) - Shenzhen-based Engine AI brought its T800 humanoid to the show floor, underscoring China's scale advantage in the physical-AI race, while South Korean and U.S. contenders such as Hyundai Motor and Tesla showed that the devil is in the details. The world's largest technology expo has become a battleground for humanoid robots, with Korea, the United States and China unveiling rival strategies to dominate the emerging era of physical AI — intelligent machines capable of perceiving, reasoning and acting in the real world. At CES 2026, the competition is no longer about who can build the smartest prototype. It is about who can manufacture robots at scale, deploy them across factories and homes, and reshape industries before rivals catch up. China's scale-first push China arrived in Las Vegas with an unmistakable message: mass production is here. According to the Korea Information & Communications Technology Industry Association, Chinese companies account for 149 of the 598 robotics exhibitors at this year's show — roughly one in four. In humanoid robotics alone, 21 of 38 exhibitors hail from China, making up more than half. The numbers reflect a coordinated national push. Morgan Stanley estimates that China has filed 7,705 humanoid-related patents over the past five years, compared with 1,561 in the United States. AgiBot recently rolled out its 5,000th humanoid robot, while UBTech Robotics plans to scale output to 10,000 units annually by 2027. Irving Chen, general manager of Unitree Robotics, told AJP that while exact production figures for all models cannot be disclosed, monthly sales of its flagship Go2 quadruped robot have exceeded 10,000 units. Shenzhen-based Engine AI showcased its T800 humanoid — a heavyweight model that rivals Tesla's Optimus and Boston Dynamics' Atlas. Evan Yao, co-founder of Engine AI, said the company is producing about 200 units per month and plans to raise output to 500 units by the end of the first quarter. "The robot is open source, so it can be used for any purpose," Yao said, adding that the company is seeking a U.S. distribution partner. U.S. bets on function over form The American approach looks markedly different. Rather than chasing humanoid aesthetics, U.S. firms are betting on purpose-built robots designed to solve specific problems. Richtech Robotics demonstrated ADAM, a robotic barista, while Mammotion unveiled wire-free autonomous lawnmowers aimed at residential users. The common thread: efficiency over spectacle. Realbotix offered another take on humanoids. "Our robots focus on customer service, entertainment and companionship — not physical labor," CEO Andrew Kiguel told AJP. The robots are already being used in senior homes, hotels, resorts and corporate events. The company assembles about five units per month and plans to triple capacity by the end of next year. While not exhibiting at CES 2026, Tesla is accelerating development of its Optimus humanoid. CEO Elon Musk has set a long-term target of producing one million robots a year by 2030. Korea's platform strategy South Korea is carving out a third path, emphasizing platforms, ecosystems and vertical integration over raw manufacturing scale. Hyundai Motor Group staged the first public demonstration of Atlas, developed by Boston Dynamics. The humanoid rose from the floor, walked across the stage and waved to spectators — a signal of readiness for industrial deployment. "We are building robots that can be deployed directly on factory floors and evolve alongside business needs," said Zachary Jackowski, head of Atlas development at Boston Dynamics. Hyundai aims to produce 30,000 robots annually by 2028. Atlas will be deployed at the group's Metaplant America facility in Georgia starting in 2028, initially for parts sequencing and classification tasks, before expanding to assembly by 2030. LG Electronics introduced CLOiD, a home-assistant robot with two articulated arms and five-fingered hands. In a live demonstration, CLOiD opened a refrigerator, selected a drink, set an oven timer and handled laundry — illustrating LG's vision of a "Zero Labor Home," where machines take over repetitive chores. Three philosophies, one race The divergent strategies on display reflect deeper differences in industrial philosophy. China prioritizes scale, mass-producing humanoids to capture market share and drive down costs. The U.S. focuses on function, building robots tailored to specific commercial uses. Korea emphasizes integration, leveraging strengths in AI software, semiconductors and precision components to create platforms that tightly connect hardware and intelligence. The stakes extend far beyond the exhibition floor. As robots move from research labs into factories and homes, the winners will shape how work is performed, how goods are manufactured and how daily life is organized. 2026-01-07 16:53:41

KOSPI remains regional winner, Hyundai Motor gains on CES momentum SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) — South Korean stocks remained the regional standout on Wednesday, extending their record-setting rally despite a broadly subdued mood across Asian markets. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.6 percent to close at a fresh all-time high of 4,551.06. Foreign investors were the primary drivers, snapping up a net 1.25 trillion Korean won (US$930 million), while retail investors and institutions sold roughly 294 billion won ($219 million) and 940 billion won ($700 million), respectively. Among large-cap stocks, Hyundai Motor surged 13.8 percent to 350,500 won ($262), leading the market higher. The rally followed Chairman Chung Eui-sun's high-profile appearances at CES 2026, as well as reports of deeper cooperation with Nvidia and other global technology firms. Investors have increasingly focused on Hyundai’s push into robotics and its broader "physical AI" strategy. Samsung Electronics rose 1.5 percent to 141,000 won ($105), while SK hynix gained 2.2 percent to 742,000 won ($556), supported by sustained optimism over AI-driven memory demand and recent target-price upgrades from global investment banks. Analysts said momentum tied to CES-related headlines could cool in the near term, but added that Hyundai's longer-term robotics push and software-defined manufacturing strategy are likely to remain structural drivers for the stock. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ underperformed, falling 0.9 percent to 947.39. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 slid 1.06 percent to 51,962.0, while China's Shanghai Composite was flat in late trade. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell about 1.2 percent. 2026-01-07 16:48:36

Samsung Elec shares hit record high on red-hot earnings outlook ahead of Q4 guidance SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - Shares of Samsung Electronics climbed to a fresh record high Wednesday, extending a near-nonstop rally since late December as investors bet on the company’s strongest quarterly and annual earnings in seven years. The stock has surged about 32 percent since Dec. 22, rising from a Dec. 19 close of 106,300 won to 141,000 won Wednesday, amid mounting optimism over a renewed memory supercycle fueled by artificial intelligence demand. Samsung Electronics will release its guidance for fourth-quarter and full-year earnings before the market opens in Seoul on Thursday. The rally has been driven by a sharp tightening in the global memory market, spanning legacy DRAM products to cutting-edge high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI accelerators. Rapid adoption of AI applications has triggered aggressive stockpiling, pushing demand well ahead of supply. “Demand for DRAM and NAND currently exceeds supply by more than 30 percent, and Samsung is positioned to benefit most from the tightening market,” said Kim Dong-won, head of research at KB Securities, in a recent report. KB Securities on Tuesday raised its estimate for Samsung’s operating profit for the October–December period to 20.3 trillion won ($14.0 billion), the highest quarterly level since the third quarter of 2018, when profits peaked during the previous memory supercycle. Quarterly revenue is projected at around 90 trillion won ($62.0 billion), led by a strong rebound in the semiconductor business as memory prices surged. The brokerage estimates that operating profit at Samsung’s device solutions (DS) division reached 16.3 trillion won in the fourth quarter, supported by quarter-on-quarter price gains of 41 percent for DRAM and 20 percent for NAND. Looking ahead, KB Securities raised its target price for Samsung to 180,000 won, citing expectations that operating profit in 2026 could reach 123 trillion won—nearly triple last year’s level—as HBM shipments accelerate and AI server demand continues to expand. The firm forecasts that Samsung’s HBM shipments will triple next year, with market share expected to double as the company secures new supply contracts with major global customers, including Nvidia and Google. Broader sentiment toward memory and semiconductor stocks has also been supported by comments from Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Huang said Nvidia’s next-generation chips are now in “full production,” reinforcing expectations of sustained demand for AI infrastructure and underpinning the current memory upcycle. 2026-01-07 16:41:14

Stray Kids, Jennie to headline major US music festival 'The Governors Ball' SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Jennie and K-pop boy band Stray Kids will headline The Governors Ball Music Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the U.S. Organizers of The Governors Ball Music Festival announced on Tuesday the lineup for this year's event, scheduled to take place from June 5 to 7 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York. HYBE's Korean-American joint girl group KATSEYE, which has been nominated for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards set to be held in February, will open the festival on June 5. Stray Kids will headline the June 6 show, while Jennie will take the stage as a headliner on June 7. Jennie is expected to perform tracks from her first full-length solo album, "Ruby," during her set. The festival is a large-scale outdoor music event held annually in New York during the summer. Past headliners include Eminem, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Lizzo. Meanwhile, Stray Kids have set a record by topping the U.S. Billboard 200 with eight consecutive releases. According to the latest chart released on Tuesday, the group's fourth full-length album, "KARMA," ranked No. 117, marking its 19th consecutive week on the chart and extending the group's longest charting record. Jennie recorded the highest first-week sales ever for a female solo artist in Korea last year, selling around 660,000 copies, according to the Korea-based music sales tracking system Hanteo Chart. She also logged the highest cumulative views at the Melon Music Awards, organized by Korea's largest music streaming platform, with a total of 1.7 billion streams to date. 2026-01-07 16:37:05

South Korea to import eggs, cut mackerel prices as it targets rising living costs SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea will move to stabilize prices of fresh eggs and mackerel as part of broader efforts to curb rising living costs, the finance ministry said on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the government has begun procedures to import 2.24 million fresh eggs and supply them to the domestic market in January, responding to a growing cull of laying hens amid the spread of avian influenza. Authorities will also consider lowering egg delivery prices depending on supply and demand conditions, he said. In addition, the government plans to import more than 7 million fertilized eggs for broiler hatching to expand chicken supply. To stabilize seafood prices, the government will support discounts of up to 60 percent on mackerel starting Wednesday, Koo said, adding that authorities plan to diversify import sources currently concentrated in Norway. The government will also expand the release of stockpiled seafood in processed forms so products can be sold immediately to consumers. Koo was speaking at a meeting held at the Government Complex Seoul, where officials discussed steps to strengthen price management and improve distribution. Koo said the government would work with relevant ministries to structurally stabilize food prices and improve livestock distribution and competition, with a detailed plan to be announced next week. 2026-01-07 16:29:42

Around 500 elementary schools in Seoul welcome new students SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Some 566 public elementary schools in Seoul are holding two-day prep sessions this week to welcome new students. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, there are 51,265 first-graders this year, down about five percent from last year, as the young population continues to shrink due to the country's ultra-low birthrates. These sessions are an annual event aimed at preparing students for their upcoming school life. This year, they are being held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate working parents who might not be able to take time off. 2026-01-07 16:25:24

Seoul subways go fully self-service on fares SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - Seoul Metro announced on January 6 that it has completed the installation of 440 new transportation card kiosks across all 273 stations on Lines 1-8, marking the first upgrade in 17 years since the introduction of cash-only machines in 2009. The new kiosks now accept credit cards and mobile payment methods including KakaoPay and Naver Pay for purchasing and recharging single-journey tickets, monthly passes, and Climate Companion Cards. The number of available card types has expanded from one disposable option to five varieties including the Climate Companion Card. Passengers can now independently process refunds for single-journey and monthly passes, change prepaid card types, and re-register lost or stolen public transportation safety cards—services that previously required staff assistance. Seoul Metro emphasized accessibility improvements for transportation-vulnerable users, incorporating standards from the Disability Discrimination Act. The kiosks feature screens and control panels positioned within 1,220mm from the floor for wheelchair users and children, along with a low-screen mode. Additional features include braille keypads, audio guide headphone jacks for the visually impaired, and simplified interfaces with large text for elderly and low-vision users. 2026-01-07 16:01:31

PHOTOS:Seoul exhibition explores centuries of human-equine history SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - The National Folk Museum of Korea has launched a comprehensive exhibition to commemorate the Year of the Red Horse, exploring the deep-seated historical and cultural bonds between humans and horses. The exhibition, which opened on Dec. 16 and is scheduled to run through March 2, examines how horses transitioned from essential tools of survival to significant figures in global mythology and belief systems. For centuries, horses served as a primary means of transportation and labor. However, the museum’s curation goes beyond utility, tracing the animal’s evolution into a cultural icon. The displays feature artifacts and historical records that highlight the horse's prominent place in the human imagination, illustrating its role as both a companion in daily life and a symbol of power and spiritual significance. Curators say the collection offers visitors a chance to revisit the changing dynamics of the human-equine relationship across different eras, showcasing the horse's enduring legacy in the modern age. 2026-01-07 16:00:02

PHOTOS:Cinematic society bids farewell to late actor Ahn Sung-ki SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - A memorial space honoring the late actor Ahn Sung-ki has been opened at the Seoul film center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and will operate from January 6 to 8. The space is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing citizens to freely pay their respects. Ahn Sung-ki made his debut in the film industry at the age of five through director Kim Ki-young's film "Twilight Train" in 1957. Over six decades, he appeared in more than 170 films and is regarded as a pillar of Korean cinema history. He led the Korean film industry through major works including "Whale Hunting," "Chilsu and Mansu," "Two Cops," "Taebaek Mountains," "Silmido," and "Radio Star." Ahn Sung-ki passed away at the age of 74 on the morning of January 5 at the intensive care unit of Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. 2026-01-07 15:58:40