Hyundai Steel Industry wins $450 million offshore wind contract in South Korea SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - Hyundai Steel Industry, a unit of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, said on Wednesday it has won a $450-million contract to manufacture and install substructures for an offshore wind farm in South Jeolla Province. The company signed a deal with Hanwha Ocean covering fabrication and installation of substructures for the project. The contract is valued at 611.5 billion won ($450 million), with work scheduled to run from this month through January 2029. Hyundai Steel Industry said it will apply the “pre-piling” method for the first time in South Korea, a technique that involves installing piles before placing the substructure. The approach is expected to shorten construction schedules and improve installation accuracy. The Shinan Ui offshore wind farm is a large-scale project that will build 390 megawatts of generating capacity in waters southeast of Uido in Shinan County, South Jeolla Province. Hyundai Steel Industry has accumulated offshore wind construction experience at home and abroad since taking part in the Tamra offshore wind project in 2012, South Korea’s first commercial offshore wind farm. Its portfolio includes projects in Taiwan, Hallim on Jeju Island and Jaeun in South Jeolla Province. “This Shinan Ui project will be an opportunity to elevate South Korea’s offshore wind construction technology to the next level,” Park Yong-seop, executive director and head of Hyundai Steel Industry’s offshore wind business division, said in a statement. 2026-01-07 13:39:04

OPINION: Why Korean words are likely to stay “Language is the dress of thought,” wrote Samuel Johnson, suggesting that the words a society adopts reveal what it values, often more clearly than any manifesto or statistic. If that is true, then the latest update to the Oxford English Dictionary offers an unusually revealing glimpse into the cultural mood of the moment. This year, the dictionary added several Korean-origin words, including haenyeo and ramyeon, alongside terms such as jjimjilbang, bingsu, sunbae, ajumma, Korean barbecue and officetel. The additions follow last year’s inclusion of words like dalgona, maknae and tteokbokki, marking a second consecutive expansion of Korean vocabulary in English’s most authoritative record. The Oxford English Dictionary does not chase trends. It documents language only after words have been used repeatedly, across contexts, and with enough consistency to leave a durable trace. Once entered, words are not removed, even if their popularity fades. Inclusion, therefore, signals not momentary fascination but cultural absorption. What stands out is the shift in emotional tone between last year’s additions and this year’s. In 2024, dalgona entered the dictionary on the back of the global phenomenon Squid Game. The candy, fragile and unforgiving, became a symbol of competition, survival and elimination—an object perfectly suited to a story about pressure and precarity. It captured the anxieties of an era defined by zero-sum contests and relentless performance. This year’s standout word, haenyeo, points in a different direction. The term refers to the traditional women divers of Jeju Island, whose lives have recently drawn global attention through the Netflix drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. Unlike spectacle-driven narratives, the series portrays endurance rather than victory, responsibility rather than escape. The haenyeo are not heroic in a conventional sense; they are steady, repetitive and deeply embedded in family and community. Their appearance in the English dictionary suggests a growing global attentiveness to quieter forms of dignity. The same sensibility runs through other newly added words. Ramyeon, long familiar as instant food, has taken on a broader cultural meaning through Korean storytelling. In dramas and films, it is rarely eaten alone. It appears late at night, after hardship, shared between people who may lack the words to express what they feel. In K-Pop Demon Hunters, ramyeon is not fuel for action but what comes afterward—a pause, a moment of regrouping, a sign of togetherness. Such scenes require no explanation for global audiences, because food-sharing is one of the most universal human rituals. Words like jjimjilbang tell a similar story. They describe spaces designed not for efficiency or privacy, but for rest and shared presence. A jjimjilbang is not simply a facility; it is a place where strangers lie side by side, where time slows, and where bodies and conversations are allowed to exist without urgency. The word resists translation because it names an experience rather than a function, a way of being together rather than a service rendered. Taken together, these words suggest that the global appeal of Korean content lies not only in style, technology or production value. It also lies in the moral texture of the stories being told. What travels across borders is a sensibility that values endurance over dominance, care over spectacle and shared time over solitary achievement. Dictionaries change slowly. But when they do, they leave a long shadow. The movement from dalgona to haenyeo—from games of survival to lives patiently lived—marks a subtle but meaningful shift in what resonates globally. ' As BTS prepares to return as a full group, expectations are rising not only for new music but for another wave of Korean language entering everyday global life—this time through lyrics that linger, phrases that are repeated, and emotions that are learned before they are translated. If language is indeed the dress of thought, then English today is beginning to wear words shaped by Korean experiences of food, labor, rest and song. These are not just borrowed terms. They are signals of what the world is learning to notice—and perhaps, to value. *The author is the managing editor of AJP 2026-01-07 11:53:48

Ramyeon, haenyeo among latest Korean-origin words added to Oxford English Dictionary SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) -As Korean dramas, music and food continue to spread across global streaming platforms and dining tables, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added eight new Korean-origin words to its latest update, underscoring how Korean culture is becoming part of everyday English usage. The newly added entries include ramyeon, haenyeo and sunbae, along with bingsu, jjimjilbang, ajumma, Korean barbecue and officetel. The additions follow last year’s inclusion of seven Korean words such as dalgona, maknae and tteokbokki, marking the second consecutive year that Korean-related terms have expanded in the dictionary. First published in 1884, the OED is regarded as the most authoritative historical record of the English language. Now operated as a continuously updated online platform, it adds new entries only after sustained and verifiable usage in English-language sources. Once included, words are not removed, even if their frequency later declines. The dictionary said the latest additions reflect the growing presence of Korean culture in English-speaking societies, driven largely by the global popularity of Korean television series, films, music and cuisine. The inclusion of haenyeo this year reflects heightened global awareness of Korea’s traditional female divers, fueled in part by the international success of the Netflix drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines", which portrays life in mid-20th-century Jeju and prominently features the island’s haenyeo culture. The series has drawn attention not only to Jeju’s landscape but also to the lives and labor of its women divers, bringing the term into wider English-language discussion. A similar pattern was seen last year with dalgona, which entered the OED following the global phenomenon of "Squid Game". The series propelled the traditional sugar candy into worldwide recognition, with the term appearing frequently in English-language media, recipes and social platforms. Food-related terms continue to feature prominently. Ramyeon is one such example. While the Japanese term ramen was added earlier, the Korean spelling and usage have gained distinct recognition as Korean food and media reached wider international audiences. In recent years, ramyeon has appeared repeatedly in global streaming hits, where it often functions as a shared ritual rather than simply a meal. Social and relational terms were also highlighted. The addition of sunbae reflects growing familiarity with Korean expressions describing hierarchical relationships. Unlike the English word “senior,” sunbae conveys a broader mix of hierarchy, familiarity and responsibility shaped by Korean social norms. Other relational terms, including oppa and maknae, were added in previous updates. Lifestyle-related words such as jjimjilbang and bingsu were included as references to uniquely Korean experiences that are difficult to translate into existing English terms. Their usage has increased as Korean lifestyle content has circulated widely through streaming platforms, social media and travel-related media. The OED also formally added Korean barbecue as an English expression, expanding beyond individual dish names such as galbi, samgyeopsal and bulgogi, which were already listed. The dictionary cited usage dating back to a 1938 Hawaiian newspaper as part of its historical record. According to Jieun Kiaer, a professor of Korean linguistics at the University of Oxford who serves as a consultant to the dictionary, inclusion in the OED requires clear textual evidence that a word is being regularly used and discussed in English-speaking contexts. She noted that once a word enters the dictionary, it remains permanently as part of the historical record. The steady expansion of Korean-origin words in the OED reflects how Korean content and cuisine have moved beyond niche interest to become embedded in everyday language, signaling a lasting linguistic imprint of Korean culture on global English usage. 2026-01-07 11:35:06

KOSPI unfazed in upward march as Asian markets turn subdued SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - South Korean stocks surged Wednesday while most Asian markets traded lower, as renewed foreign buying and strength in artificial intelligence-related shares propelled the benchmark to fresh highs. In Seoul, the KOSPI rose 1.0 percent to 4,572.50 as of 11:00 a.m., extending its year-to-date rally and marking another record level. The advance followed a rotation in investor leadership, with foreign investors taking the baton from retail traders after Tuesday's rally. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.8 percent to 948.40, weighed down by losses in entertainment and biotechnology stocks. Overall market sentiment remained stable, with investors rotating among sectors rather than pulling money out of equities. Gains in defense, artificial intelligence and select industrial stocks helped offset weakness elsewhere. Chipmakers led the advance. Samsung Electronics climbed 2.3 percent to 142,100 won ($98.10), while SK hynix jumped 3.6 percent to 752,000 won, extending gains on sustained optimism toward AI-related demand. The rally followed remarks by Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, who highlighted accelerating demand for advanced computing and memory technologies during his keynote address at CES 2026. Huang's comments reinforced market expectations for continued investment in AI infrastructure, supporting the medium-term demand outlook for high-bandwidth memory and advanced semiconductors produced by Korean chipmakers. Battery and industrial shares traded mixed. LG Energy Solution fell 1.6 percent to 371,500 won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 3.3 percent to 568,000 won on continued optimism over shipbuilding orders. Hanwha Aerospace slipped 0.7 percent to 1,015,000 won after recent strong gains. Entertainment stocks underperformed after President Lee Jae Myung's visit to China failed to deliver progress on the long-anticipated lifting of the de facto ban on Korean concerts and entertainment activities. HYBE fell 4.2 percent to 321,500 won, while JYP Entertainment dropped 3.3 percent to 69,200 won. SM Entertainment slid 4.7 percent to 111,600 won, and YG Entertainment declined 3.9 percent to 62,900 won. In the foreign-exchange market, the won traded narrowly at around 1,448.3 per dollar, as gains in equities were offset by lingering external uncertainties. Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese stocks moved lower in early trade. The Nikkei 225 slipped 0.5 percent to 52,284.2, pressured by declines in financial and technology shares. Toyota Motor fell 2.6 percent to 3,344 yen ($21.30), while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group edged down 0.3 percent to 2,617 yen. SoftBank Group slipped 0.3 percent to 4,704 yen. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite edged down 0.1 percent to 4,080.4, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.5 percent to 26,588.9, as investors remained cautious amid unresolved geopolitical risks. 2026-01-07 11:23:38

Record amounts of smuggled cigarettes seized SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Record amounts of smuggled cigarettes were seized last year, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said on Wednesday. The customs watchdog said it has worked closely with major foreign customs authorities to crack down on multinational smuggling, seizing some 5.16 million packs or 103 tons of cigarettes bound for South Korea in separate cases, the largest since 2021, when about 3.6 million packs were detected. The massive seizure came after the KCS monitored routes and shipments from suspected cargo in collaboration with overseas authorities in major countries such as China, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom to tackle a recent surge in cigarette smuggling, resulting in the detection of some 50 suspected shipments, including 23 from Australia and five each from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The KCS expressed concern that such smuggling could be linked to more serious international crimes, such as drug trafficking and arms deals, adding that multinational cooperation among relevant authorities is crucial to stopping them. It said smugglers often try to export cigarettes disguised as legitimate cargo by transferring them through a third country, a method that can effectively evade customs clearance. "We will further strengthen cooperation with countries currently forming a joint task force and expand partnership with more countries including those in Southeast Asia as well as Central and South America," a KCS official said. 2026-01-07 11:18:38

LG CNS to lead key projects in Korean military's IT transformation SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - LG CNS said on Wednesday it has secured back-to-back defense information technology contracts, strengthening its role in South Korea’s push to digitally transform its military. The company said it signed agreements for the Armed Forces Command, Control and Communications Command’s communications network integration project and the Defense Information Agency’s next-generation integrated defense facilities information system project. The contracts were awarded on the strength of its defense IT capabilities, experience delivering large-scale systems and industry expertise, the company said, citing past projects including the Joint Command and Control System, command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems for the Army and Air Force, and a next-generation defense finance information system. The communications network integration project aims to combine separate networks operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff into a single integrated network. LG CNS said it will carry out the project over about 15 months. South Korea’s military is seeking to build a “Korean-style" command and control system to support integrated operations across space, maritime, ground and cyber domains, with network integration seen as a core step in establishing that foundation. Under the project, LG CNS will standardize network environments across units and consolidate equipment that has been installed and operated redundantly. The company plans to replace complex one-to-one information linkages with a unified network architecture to streamline information flows and improve operational efficiency. LG CNS also said it will apply software-defined networking technology to enable centralized management of routers deployed nationwide. Separately, the Defense Information Agency project will modernize existing systems and infrastructure used for managing defense facilities. The goal is to enhance user convenience and operational efficiency while standardizing data to integrate the full life cycle of defense facilities, from planning and design to construction, operation and maintenance. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-07 10:42:39

Lee begins final leg of China trip with startup forum in Shanghai SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to China, is set to meet entrepreneurs from both countries to discuss partnership and promote future cooperation at a forum in Shanghai on Wednesday. In a written press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said that the final leg of Lee’s four-day trip to China begins with a forum attended by about 400 entrepreneurs from startups and venture companies, where they will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries while laying the groundwork for South Korean firms seeking to make inroads into the Chinese market. The forum will feature a dialogue session and business meetups. Products and technologies from leading South Korean startups seeking to expand into China will also be on display. Participants include Huo Jianjun, general manager of China Merchants Bank International, better known as CMBI, a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank, one of China's largest commercial banks. 2026-01-07 10:29:06

Lee encourages Oceans Ministry staff with hearty meals SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung has sent pizza to encourage staff at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries which was relocated to the southern port city of Busan recently, the ministry said on Wednesday. The relocation from the administrative city of Sejong, which was finalized last month, was part of Lee's campaign pledges during last year's presidential election, aimed at taking the lead in the era of Arctic shipping routes while fostering new growth engines. It is also part of broader efforts to promote balanced regional development across the country, beyond Sejong, where most ministerial offices and other government agencies have been relocated since 2012. The ministry explained that the surprise pizza delivery was meant to encourage staff and other officials for their efforts during the relocation. Lee previously made similar deliveries of hearty meals to other ministries last year. 2026-01-07 10:04:51

South Korea's Taihan wins power grid contract in California SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s electricity equipment maker Taihan said on Wednesday that its U.S. subsidiary, T.E.USA, has secured a contract worth about 100 billion won ($77 million) to supply equipment for a 230-kilovolt extra-high-voltage power transmission project in the United States. The project involves construction of a new 230-kV transmission line in the Riverside area of Southern California and is aimed at meeting rising electricity demand while ensuring a stable power supply during emergencies, the company said. Taihan said it will execute the project on a full turnkey basis, covering the entire process from design and manufacturing to installation, splicing, testing and final commissioning. The company said that as power grid upgrades and large-scale infrastructure investment accelerate across the United States, Taihan plans to leverage its local subsidiary and branch network to expand projects nationwide. The latest contract reflects growing recognition of its quality and technical competitiveness, built through the successful execution of previous U.S. projects, Taihan said. The firm has won all 500-kV high-voltage alternating current transmission projects it has bid for in the United States and has also participated in technically demanding work, including a 320-kV high-voltage direct current project and the replacement of aging power grids in major U.S. cities. 2026-01-07 09:55:15

South Korea seeks major economic leap through innovation-led growth SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea will accelerate a shift toward an “ultra-innovation economy” to lift its potential growth rate, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday, describing this year as the starting point for a major economic leap. Speaking at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly, Koo said the ministry will deploy active macroeconomic policies, including measures to boost overall demand and to help revive activity among small business owners and the self-employed. Koo pointed to last year’s third-quarter economic growth, which he said was the strongest in 15 quarters, as well as gains in financial markets. He said South Korea’s exports exceeded $700 billion for the first time last year, while the effects of a supplementary budget — including the distribution of consumption coupons — helped expand job creation, particularly in service industries linked to domestic demand. "However, the economy faces mounting challenges amid a more difficult global environment and structural constraints at home," Koo said. The government plans to accelerate a transition toward an innovation-led growth structure by concentrating policy support on national strategic industries such as semiconductors, defense, biotechnology and K-culture, Koo said. He added that authorities will step up efforts in AX, or artificial intelligence transformation, and GX, or green transformation, to help revive potential growth. “Global competition has reached a stage where it is difficult to survive without becoming No. 1 in the world or an ultra-innovation economy,” Koo said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-07 09:46:20