Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial feature set for release later this month SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial debut feature is set to be released later this month. "Rectangle, Triangle," slated to hit local theaters on Jan. 21, tells the story of a family gathering meant to be pleasant but instead brings long-simmering conflicts to the surface. Beneath its comic setup, the film lays bare the emotional rifts that have built up under the name of family, leaving a lasting impression. The 46-minute film starring Jin Sun-kyu was also invited to this year's Jeonju International Film Festival, which will be held this spring in the southwestern city. Lee's upcoming film comes after his directorial debut with his 2018 short film, "Mad Rush." 2026-01-07 09:28:38

Korean shipbuilders ride eco-friendly, LNG vessels to stronger earnings outlook SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s three major shipbuilders are expected to post profits for a second consecutive year, with momentum likely to carry into 2026 as demand for high-value, eco-friendly vessels remains strong, analysts said. Expectations have also risen that orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and special-purpose ships could flow to Korean yards as the South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative known as MASGA moves into full operation. According to consensus data compiled by financial information provider FnGuide, the combined operating profit of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries is estimated at 6.18 trillion won ($4.7 billion) for 2025. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is projected to generate operating profit of 4 trillion won. Hanwha Ocean is forecast to post 1.32 trillion won, while Samsung Heavy Industries is expected to earn about 871 billion won. All three companies met their annual order targets last year, returning to profitability and improving margins after a prolonged downturn that began in the mid-2010s. Analysts attribute the turnaround to a strategy of selectively securing high-value contracts, particularly for LNG carriers, alongside improvements in cost structures. That trend is expected to persist this year. "With MASGA moving into a full-scale phase, LNG carrier orders are expected to increasingly concentrate at Korean shipyards," an industry source said. Market sentiment has also been supported by remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump about working with South Korean companies on building new frigates for the U.S. Navy. Naval and special-purpose vessels are widely viewed as having higher technological barriers and more stable profitability than commercial ships. An expansion of orders in defense and special-purpose vessels, alongside LNG carriers, would further diversify shipbuilders’ order books, analysts said. Order targets for this year reflect that confidence. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has set an annual order target of $23.31 billion for its shipbuilding and offshore businesses, about 29 percent higher than last year’s goal. The company said it will continue to focus on high-value projects, including LNG carriers, eco-friendly vessels and offshore plants. Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries, which both met their targets last year, have also signaled plans to maintain steady order intake centered on LNG carriers and offshore projects. A persistently weak won is expected to further support earnings, as most shipbuilding contracts are denominated in U.S. dollars. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-07 09:03:12

CES 2026: From delivery robots to driverless taxi - inside Hyundai showroom LAS VEGAS, January 07 (AJP) -Step into Hyundai Motor Group’s CES showroom and robotics is already at work. A humanoid robot sorts objects with precision, a four-legged machine patrols and inspects equipment autonomously, while compact mobility robots labeled MobED Pick and Place and MobED Delivery glide across the floor carrying cargo. Nearby, a fully driverless Ioniq 5 robotaxi prepares for commercial service — all operating as part of an artificial-intelligence system designed to function in real time. That is the scene Hyundai has built at CES 2026, where the group is demonstrating how its robotics portfolio — from factory floors to city streets — can operate as a single, connected ecosystem rather than isolated machines. The group is operating a 1,836-square-meter (about 557-pyeong) booth in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, designed as a lab-style environment that mirrors how robots would perceive, decide and move in real industrial and urban settings. At the center of the exhibit, a next-generation electric Atlas performs precision sorting tasks, adjusting grip strength in real time using vision sensors and AI models. Nearby, Spot autonomously inspects equipment using Orbit AI, simulating patrol and monitoring work at industrial sites. Mobility robotics is showcased through MobED, with concept variants including MobED Pick and Place and MobED Delivery, illustrating how a single platform can be adapted for logistics, material handling and service tasks through interchangeable top modules. Autonomous mobility extends beyond robots to vehicles. Hyundai is displaying a robotaxi jointly developed with Motional, based on the Ioniq 5 and Hyundai’s E-GMP architecture. Rated at SAE Level 4, the robotaxi is set to be deployed this year in Las Vegas for public ride-hailing service. 2026-01-07 07:26:44

A big delegation, thin deliverables from Korean state visit to China SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung arrived in China this week with one of the largest economic delegations Seoul has dispatched in years. What he returned with, critics say, was less clear. Accompanied by roughly 200 business leaders — including Lee Jae-yong, Chung Euisun and Koo Kwang-mo — Lee’s four-day state visit marked South Korea’s first presidential trip to China in eight years and the first major business delegation since 2019. The message, at least visually, was unmistakable: Korea wants to reset ties. Yet beyond symbolism, the economic substance of the visit appeared limited, reinforcing a long-standing reality of Korea–China relations — plenty of ceremony, cautious language, and incremental gains, but no breakthrough. Before departure, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won struck a familiar note, saying the delegation would seek “meaningful growth opportunities,” particularly in supply-chain cooperation. Korean conglomerates remain deeply embedded in China: Samsung, SK hynix, Hyundai, Kia and LG all operate major production facilities there. But while the footprint is large, the policy environment remains uncertain — and the summit did little to change that. MOUs and goodwill – and most gains Fourteen MOUs and a donation certificate were signed after the Lee–Xi meeting, spanning economy, culture, environment and science. Among them, the agreement on intellectual property cooperation stood out as the most tangible economic outcome, potentially helping Korean firms protect patents and brands more efficiently in China. Other outcomes — regularizing trade minister meetings and reopening China’s market to certain Korean seafood products — were welcomed but modest. None addressed Korea’s deeper concerns: supply-chain vulnerabilities, export competitiveness or market access barriers. The ceremonial donation of Qing-era stone lions from Korea’s Kansong Art Museum to China, meanwhile, was widely read as a goodwill gesture — diplomatically sensitive, culturally symbolic, but economically marginal. Content, fashion and the limits of expectation The delegation’s composition hinted at where Korea sees room to move: culture, content and consumer brands. Galaxy Corporation, home to G-Dragon and actor Song Kang-ho, joined amid renewed interest in China’s entertainment market. Fashion platform Musinsa showcased its China expansion plans. Shinsegae signed an MOU with Alibaba International to export Korean consumer goods. Yet the elephant in the room remained untouched: the unofficial Chinese restrictions on Korean cultural content — the so-called Han Han-ryeong. No timeline, no commitment, not even public acknowledgment. China continues to deny the ban’s existence, and Seoul, once again, stopped short of pressing the issue. “We agreed to approach it gradually through working-level consultations,” National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said — language that sounded more like damage control than progress. Reset diplomacy — or just resetting the optics? The presidential office framed the visit as a turning point. A senior aide described it as “gateway diplomacy toward full restoration” of relations, pointing to the seafood deal as proof of tangible results. Some analysts agreed the direction was right. “The economy is the only realistic entry point for improving Korea–China relations,” said Choi Woo-sun of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Others were unconvinced. “There was no clear economic agenda,” said Lee Khan-pyo of Sogang University. “This summit is unlikely to produce distinctive economic impact.” Opposition figures were sharper still. Lawmakers from the People Power Party criticized Lee for failing to raise the cultural ban or broader economic-security issues, calling the visit “one-sided” and “overly deferential.” “The business leaders did their part — but the president did none,” said People Power Party lawmaker Choi Soo-jin, adding that Lee “looked obsequious in China” and failed to resolve the Korean Ban or raise maritime concerns. Even within the ruling party, voices urged caution. China is no longer just a partner, they noted, but a competitor — particularly in high-tech industries where overcapacity and dumping have become concerns. Supreme Council member Lee Un-ju stressed cooperation should focus on culture, tourism and food, while warning: “Unlike in the past, China is now a competitor to Korea,” particularly in high-tech industries sensitive to economic security and fair trade. 2026-01-06 17:42:02

Army's Nonsan training camp welcomes first recruits of 2026 SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Korea's biggest Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, officially commenced its 2026 operations on Monday with the year’s first enlistment ceremony. Approximately 1,760 new recruits took part in the proceedings, joined by thousands of family members and friends. As the primary gateway for military service, the Nonsan facility handles approximately 60 percent of all Army enlistees. Following this inaugural intake, the center expects to process and train an estimated 120,000 troops throughout this year. The recruits are scheduled to undergo six weeks of intensive basic combat training. Upon completion of the program, they will be assigned to their permanent units starting next month to fulfill their mandatory military service. 2026-01-06 17:41:06

Hot Stock: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gains over 6% on LNG carrier order SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Shares of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries surged more than 6 percent on Tuesday after its parent secured a major LNG carrier order, reinforcing expectations for a strong orderbook this year. The stock closed up 6.2 percent at 545,000 won, after climbing as high as 550,000 won during intraday trading. Buying interest intensified following news that HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) had landed a 1.5 trillion won ($1.02 billion) contract to build four ultra-large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. HD KSOE disclosed that it signed the deal with a shipowner in the Americas to construct four 200,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers, which will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard and delivered sequentially through the first half of 2029. The order highlights HD KSOE’s competitiveness in the high-value LNG carrier segment, where demand is expected to remain robust as global energy companies expand liquefaction capacity and modernize aging fleets. According to a report from Clarksons, global LNG trade volumes are projected to grow steadily over the next decade, providing long-term structural support for demand for advanced LNG carriers such as those built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The newly ordered vessels will be equipped with high-efficiency shaft generators and LNG reliquefaction systems, technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions—features increasingly favored by shipowners amid tightening environmental regulations. Investor sentiment toward the broader shipbuilding sector has also improved on expectations of a sustained order upcycle and rising demand for eco-friendly vessels. Separately, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it has delivered a 22,000-cubic-meter liquefied carbon dioxide carrier to Greece-based Capital Clean Energy Carriers. The vessel, named ACTIVE, is the first of four such carriers ordered from the shipbuilder in 2023 and 2024. 2026-01-06 17:37:57

Samsung taps K-pop star RIIZE to showcase "everyday AI" at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is highlighting how artificial intelligence is being integrated into everyday life at CES 2026 through a collaboration with six-member K-pop group RIIZE. RIIZE attended a series of events held by Samsung during the show, including its flagship “The First Look” program, as global brand ambassadors, experiencing new products and services and sharing the experience with global audiences. The group has previously worked with Samsung across multiple campaigns, including music videos for its first full album Odyssey, advertisements for the Galaxy Watch8, SmartThings social content and a Samsung Health global music project. All six members also attended Samsung’s “The First Look 2026” press conference on Jan. 4 (local time), where they were introduced to the company’s vision and new products. During the exhibition, the members selected Samsung products based on their personal interests and created short-form social media content introducing them. Member Sungchan chose Samsung’s 130-inch Micro RGB TV — billed by the company as the world’s first — and appeared in a video with fellow member Wonbin watching a football match on the screen. The video highlights Samsung’s “AI Soccer Mode,” which analyzes scenes in real time and automatically optimizes picture and sound quality, according to the company. Content featuring RIIZE will be released sequentially from Jan. 5 (local time) on Samsung’s YouTube channel and the group’s official social media platforms. Samsung is also operating a standalone exhibition space from Jan. 4 to 7, where visitors can experience AI-powered sound through products such as the “Music Studio 5” speaker and “The Freestyle+” portable projector, using RIIZE tracks including “Boom Boom Bass” and “Fly Up.” The Music Studio 5 speaker features an art-inspired design, while the Freestyle+ projector offers upgraded image-correction functions such as “3D Auto Keystone,” which optimizes display even on non-flat surfaces like curtains or corners. “Through our collaboration with K-pop artist RIIZE, we wanted young people around the world to experience and connect with Samsung’s AI technology,” Park Jung-mi, vice president and head of the Global Brand Center at Samsung Electronics’ Global Marketing Office, said. “We hope visitors will experience Samsung’s AI vision through ‘The First Look.’” RIIZE said, “After experiencing Samsung’s AI technology firsthand at ‘The First Look,’ we found it very easy and convenient to use. As K-pop artists, we are glad to share Samsung’s vision of ‘AI in everyday life.’” 2026-01-06 17:35:39

Seoul's all-out defense of the won takes heavy toll on FX reserves Dec SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign-exchange reserves fell by nearly $3 billion in December, marking the largest monthly decline among major reserve-holding economies and underscoring the cost of aggressive market intervention to defend the won. According to data released Tuesday by the Bank of Korea, the country’s FX reserves stood at $428.05 billion at end-December 2025, down $2.6 billion from the previous month. While the headline figure remains substantial, the contraction represents the second-steepest December decline on record, surpassed only by the nearly $4 billion plunge during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when South Korea sought an IMF bailout. The drawdown is notable not only for its size but also for its timing. December is typically a month when global financial institutions build up foreign-currency buffers to meet capital-adequacy requirements under Bank for International Settlements Basel III rules, which recommend a common equity Tier 1 ratio of at least 10.5 percent, including a 2.5-percentage-point capital conservation buffer introduced after the 2008 global financial crisis. In recent years, South Korea followed that seasonal pattern. FX reserves increased in December 2023 and 2024, and even during periods of acute stress the year-end drawdowns were modest. During the 2022 “Legoland” municipal debt default, which rattled domestic credit markets, December reserves fell by just $140 million. At the height of the 2008 global financial crisis, the December decline was limited to about $600 million. An outlier among major reserve holders The divergence between Seoul and its peers was stark. China, the world’s largest reserve holder, added roughly $30 billion to its reserves in December. Japan, ranked second, increased its holdings by around $120 billion, while India added $45 billion, the second-largest increase after Japan. Even Russia, in war-related hemorrhage and sweeping sanctions, recorded a net increase of about $1.5 billion in reserves. The comparison suggests that Korea drew down reserves more aggressively than economies grappling with far more severe external shocks. Other countries did post declines, but for fundamentally different reasons. Switzerland saw a roughly $5 billion drop, largely reflecting valuation effects from a stronger Swiss franc and a weaker U.S. dollar, rather than active intervention. Saudi Arabia’s estimated $15 billion decline reflects deliberate spending to finance large-scale projects such as the Neom giga-city. Korea’s case stands apart. The reserve loss was driven primarily by direct and sustained intervention in the currency market to curb the won’s slide amid renewed dollar strength following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Market stability remains a key concern for regulators. As of September, South Korean banks posted a total capital ratio of 15.87 percent, according to the Financial Supervisory Service, a level that appears comfortable on paper. However, during its annual consultation in November, the International Monetary Fund urged Seoul to maintain even higher buffers, citing rapidly rising household debt—now estimated at 2,000 trillion won (about $1.4 trillion)—which is growing faster than in most advanced economies. If government intervention continues, analysts warn that FX reserves could remain under pressure through the end of January. The broader impact on the private financial system may become clearer in March, when the FSS releases updated capital-adequacy data for banks. “Measures to address exchange-rate volatility led to the decrease in reserves,” the Bank of Korea said in its statement. A central-bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the private and institutional sectors are expected to maintain precautionary measures until the exchange rate stabilizes, but declined to comment on how deeply the interventions may be affecting banks’ capital positions. 2026-01-06 17:32:29

KOSPI blasts through 4,500, stealing the spotlight in a solid Asian session SEOUL, Jan. 6 (AJP) — Asian markets were broadly in the green on Tuesday, but one market didn’t just rise — it showed off. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI smashed through the long-watched 4,500 level, capping a blistering start to the year that has already rewritten the index’s record book. The rally has been fast, loud and unapologetic: more than 13 percent in under two weeks, with 4,300 and 4,400 barely registering as speed bumps. Retail investors, who sat out much of last year’s grind, are back with conviction. They snapped up a net 597.6 billion won worth of shares, emboldened by a growing chorus of forecasts calling for a run toward 5,000. Heavyweights did the heavy lifting. Samsung Electronics climbed to 138,900 won, while SK hynix surged to 726,000 won, extending the AI-driven chip rally. Hyundai Motor advanced to 308,000 won, and Celltrion rose to 213,000 won. Not everything joined the party. LG Energy Solution traded lower, while NAVER edged higher in subdued fashion. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ lagged behind the headline-grabbing rally, slipping 0.16 percent to 955.97, as institutions and foreign investors locked in profits after recent gains. The tone there was cautious rather than euphoric — a reminder that this rally has been selective. In currency markets, the dollar strengthened slightly, rising 1.7 won to 1,445.5, but the move failed to dent equity momentum. Across the region, markets were steady rather than spectacular. Japan’s Nikkei hovered near record territory above 52,500, while China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng traded higher in afternoon sessions. For now, investors appear willing to look past valuation worries, betting that earnings momentum — especially tied to AI and large-cap exporters — can keep the rally alive. Attention is shifting toward upcoming U.S. economic data and policy signals, but until those turn hostile, Korea’s market looks intent on enjoying its moment above 4,500. 2026-01-06 17:31:12

Lee heads to Shanghai after meeting with Chinese Premier SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to China, on Tuesday met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed hope that the talks would mark a turning point for a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations. During his meeting with Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, Lee shared that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed the previous day to develop a "strategic cooperative partnership" that contributes to people's livelihoods and peace. Lee expressed expectations for Li's role in enhancing bilateral relations, saying that Li oversees China's economic affairs and is responsible for stabilizing livelihoods, and has contributed to "laying the foundation for peace and cooperation in the region." Lee also hoped the two countries would expand "mutually beneficial" cooperation and promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula for shared prosperity. Citing the Korean saying "Friends are better the longer you know them, and clothes are best when they're new," Lee said he was able to exchange views candidly with him like "old friends" as it was his third meeting with Li. Lee then added China probably has a similar expression. Li responded by praising Lee for boosting the economy and improving livelihoods as his top priorities since taking office in June last year. As he wraps up his itinerary in Beijing with the meeting with Li, Lee is now traveling to Shanghai. 2026-01-06 17:10:09