CES 2026: Hyundai Motor to start deploying self-developed robots in US plants in 2028 LAS VEGAS, January 06 (AJP) -South Korea's auto conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group will start training its self-developed fleet of robots for full deployment in U.S. assembly lines from 2030, according to its vision on “AI robotics” unveiled at the CES. At a CES 2026 media day held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the group presented its overarching theme, “AI Robotics, From the Lab to Life,” signaling a shift beyond hardware- and mobility-focused robotics toward what it calls human-centered AI robotics. Hyundai outlined three strategic priorities: expanding human–robot collaboration beginning on factory floors; building an AI robotics ecosystem by integrating the technological capabilities of its group affiliates; and strengthening partnerships with leading global AI companies. The group said it aims to become a leader in “physical AI” by leveraging its broad value chain and product portfolio. To support that push, Hyundai said it plans to establish a Hyundai Motor Group Physical AI Application Center in South Korea, along with a robot finished-product manufacturing and foundry plant based on customized robot technologies developed through physical AI. A Hyundai Motor Group official said the company’s focus is “not what technology can do, but what humanity can achieve through technology,” adding that Hyundai will demonstrate “true cooperation” between humans and robots in line with its corporate philosophy of “progress for humanity.” Hyundai said Atlas, showcased at CES, is expected to play a pivotal role in turning human–robot collaboration into reality across manufacturing and industrial sites. The humanoid robot combines Hyundai’s manufacturing data and production expertise with research and development from Boston Dynamics. The group also introduced a next-generation electric Atlas development model, which adds autonomous learning capabilities and enhanced flexibility. Hyundai said the upgraded model can be applied across diverse work environments, improving efficiency in real-world manufacturing settings. Hyundai identified humanoid robots as the largest future market within physical AI and set a goal of mass-producing the next-generation electric Atlas model to enable large-scale deployment at industrial sites. Hyundai plans to deploy Atlas at production bases, including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), with a phased rollout following process-by-process verification. From 2028, the robot will first be applied to tasks with clearly verified safety and quality benefits, such as sequencing work for parts classification. From 2030, Hyundai plans to expand Atlas’s role to parts assembly. Hyundai also said it will open a Robot Metaplant Application Center (RMAC) in the United States this year. Atlas models trained at RMAC are expected to contribute to worker safety and product quality improvements at HMGMA. Hyundai said it has maintained a strategic partnership with Nvidia since January last year and plans to use advanced AI infrastructure and platforms to accelerate innovation and improve development efficiency. Within the group, Hyundai Motor and Kia will provide manufacturing infrastructure, process control systems and production data. Hyundai Mobis will develop precision actuators, while Hyundai Glovis will optimize logistics and supply-chain flows. Hyundai Mobis also plans to supply actuators for Atlas in partnership with Boston Dynamics, marking what the group described as a full-scale entry into the global robot components market. Hyundai said it aims to build a system capable of producing 30,000 robots annually by 2028, accelerating mass production and positioning Atlas as an industrial humanoid robot for large-scale deployment across industrial and commercial markets. Over the longer term, the group plans to use data accumulated through Atlas to enhance learning and usability, expand beyond automotive manufacturing into other industrial fields, and eventually enter the B2C market by developing a general-purpose humanoid robot. Hyundai said its existing robots Spot and Stretch have already proven their usefulness at companies including Intel, Michelin and DHL, and are expected to expand into sectors such as construction, logistics, facility management and energy. Separately, the group announced plans to invest $26 billion in the United States over four years starting in 2025, expanding cooperation with leading U.S. companies in future technologies including robotics, AI and autonomous driving. Hyundai said it expects broader economic cooperation between South Korea and the United States and plans to widen business opportunities to strengthen competitiveness across mobility and future industries. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-06 08:00:57

Korea's FX reserves recede by near $3 billion Dec amid won defense efforts FX rates displayed at a currency exchange shop in Seoul’s Myeong-dong on Jan. 5, 2026. AJP You Na-hyun SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) -South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $2.6 billion in December from the previous month — the first decline in seven months — signaling stepped-up dollar-selling intervention to shore up the won, which had hovered near crisis-era lows. According to a report released Tuesday by the Bank of Korea, the country’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $428.05 billion at the end of December, down from $430.66 billion a month earlier. The reserves had dropped to $404.6 billion at the end of May, the lowest level in nearly five years, after the dollar surged to the 1,480-won range in April amid a tariff barrage from the new Trump administration. They then recovered steadily, topping $430 billion for the first time in three years and three months in November. That milestone proved short-lived, however, as the dollar revisited the 1,480-won range late in the year. Authorities encouraged the National Pension Service and other institutional investors to hedge their dollar exposure to stabilize the won as it edged closer to the psychologically sensitive 1,490-per-dollar level, while mobilizing a range of incentives to prompt the sale of dollar assets. A Bank of Korea official attributed part of the earlier increase in reserves to quarter-end effects, including a rise in foreign-currency deposits at financial institutions and valuation gains from converting non-dollar assets into U.S. dollars. At the same time, measures aimed at curbing foreign-exchange market volatility weighed on the total. These included smoothing operations in both the spot and forward markets, as well as hedging activity by the pension fund, the official said. By asset class, securities — such as government and corporate bonds — fell by $8.22 billion to $371.12 billion, suggesting the divestment of foreign-currency-denominated papers to secure ammunition for won-stabilization efforts. Deposits, by contrast, increased by $5.44 billion to $31.87 billion. Holdings of the International Monetary Fund’s special drawing rights rose $150 million to $15.89 billion, while gold holdings were unchanged at $4.79 billion, as they are recorded at purchase price rather than market value. As of the end of November, South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves ranked ninth globally at $430.7 billion. China topped the list with $3.3464 trillion, followed by Japan ($1.3594 trillion), Switzerland ($1.0588 trillion), Russia ($734.6 billion), India ($687.9 billion), Taiwan ($599.8 billion), Germany ($552.3 billion) and Saudi Arabia ($463.7 billion). The dollar has returned toward the 1,450-won level after all-out year-end stabilization efforts from authorities upon a renewed flight to safe-haven assets following the Venezuela crisis. 2026-01-06 07:44:34

Lee, Xi push economic cooperation as summit sidesteps regional flashpoints SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Monday to deepen economic and technology cooperation and frame 2026 as a “year of full restoration” in bilateral ties, even as the summit conspicuously avoided addressing several sensitive security and geopolitical issues looming over the region. Meeting for about 90 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Lee called the talks the first state-level diplomatic engagement of 2026 for both leaders and pledged to make bilateral relations an “irreversible trend of the times.” He emphasized expanding cooperation in areas tied to people’s daily lives and jointly supporting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Xi welcomed Lee’s state visit - the first by a South Korean president in about nine years, stressing the importance of frequent high-level exchanges between the two neighbors amid a rapidly destabilizing global environment. “Friends grow closer the more they interact, and neighbors grow closer the more they visit,” Xi said in opening remarks, urging the two sides to meet more often and communicate regularly. “In just two months, we have met twice and made mutual visits,” Xi said, calling it a sign that both countries attach great importance to South Korea–China relations. Xi said the world is undergoing “changes unseen in a century,” with international affairs becoming increasingly complex. Against that backdrop, he said South Korea and China share “a major responsibility” to safeguard regional peace and promote global development, adding that the two countries have broad overlapping interests and should “stand firmly on the right side of history” by making the right strategic choices as great-power competition sharpens. The two governments signed 14 memorandums of understanding and one deed of donation, spanning science and technology, digital cooperation, startups and small businesses, climate and environment, transportation, food safety, intellectual property protection, and quarantine procedures for animal and plant trade. The agreements underscored a shared effort to anchor the relationship in practical, economy-focused cooperation after years of diplomatic strain. Yet the summit’s carefully calibrated agenda also revealed what was left unsaid. North Korea fired a ballistic missile on the day Lee traveled to Beijing — a development that underscored heightened security risks on the Korean Peninsula — but the provocation was not publicly addressed in joint remarks or official readouts. While Lee reiterated the need for peace and stability, there was no explicit reference to Pyongyang’s latest launch, nor to concrete coordination measures with Beijing. The leaders also avoided direct mention of the United States’ recent military intervention in Venezuela, an issue with far-reaching implications for global energy markets and geopolitical alignments. Xi referred only broadly to rising international instability, without naming specific conflicts or actors. The omissions appeared deliberate, reflecting a shared preference to keep the summit tightly focused on restoring bilateral ties and advancing economic cooperation, while steering clear of issues that could expose strategic differences or complicate relations with Washington. Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s respect for China’s “one-China” position, a long-standing stance that remains a sensitive diplomatic signal amid rising cross-strait tensions. Discussions on other contentious issues — including North Korea’s denuclearization, maritime concerns in the Yellow Sea, and the easing of China’s informal restrictions on Korean cultural content — were described as ongoing but incremental. The Beijing meeting followed the leaders’ first summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Gyeongju in November, signaling a rapid resumption of high-level diplomacy after years of friction. Still, analysts say the summit highlighted the limits of rapprochement, with Seoul and Beijing opting for pragmatism and restraint over confronting the region’s most volatile fault lines head-on. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-05 20:23:47

OPINION: Intervention in Venezuela may be unjust unjust but what about inaction? U.S. intervention in Venezuela has triggered swift criticism framed as a violation of international law. Civic groups, some governments and parts of the international community argue that forcibly removing a sitting president of a sovereign state sets a dangerous precedent that risks eroding the global order. These concerns deserve serious consideration, because legal norms exist precisely to restrain the use of force. But if the debate ends there, it avoids a more difficult question: What was the alternative? Venezuela is not a country condemned by geography or resources. It is among the world’s most resource-rich states. It holds one of the largest proven oil reserves globally and significant natural-gas reserves within South America. Add strategic minerals such as gold, iron ore, bauxite and coltan, along with vast hydropower and agricultural potential, and the foundations for a stable society were firmly in place — had institutions been allowed to function normally. Instead, Venezuela has descended into a prolonged economic, social and humanitarian collapse. International institutions have described the situation as a breakdown of state functions comparable to wartime conditions. Years of governance from Hugo Chávez to Nicolás Maduro hollowed out markets and institutions through populist policy choices and aggressive nationalization. Oil revenues were channeled into political survival and short-term loyalty, while investment and maintenance at the state oil company steadily eroded. The damage is visible in hard data. Oil production, once close to 3 million barrels a day, fell to a fraction of that level by the late 2010s. Aging refineries and pipelines suffered repeated failures and spills, compounding environmental harm. An industry meant to anchor the economy instead became a source of fragility. The human cost has been staggering. More than 7 million Venezuelans — roughly one-third of the population — have fled the country. Many describe Venezuela not in ideological terms but simply as “a country you can’t return to.” Doctors, teachers and technicians crossing borders only to survive on informal work illustrate how institutional collapse translates into personal loss. The crisis has not remained contained within national borders. As state authority weakened, Venezuela became a transit hub for drug trafficking and illicit economies, straining public safety across Latin America. Yet for years, the international response largely consisted of cautious language about sovereignty and calls for dialogue. It is difficult to argue that such restraint prevented hunger or slowed the exodus. Washington had signaled pressure and the possibility of action for months. During that period, the Maduro government deepened ties with China and Russia rather than pursuing structural reform or political compromise. Critics argue that the intervention also reflects geopolitical rivalry and energy interests. That argument carries weight, underscoring why this episode cannot be reduced to a simple morality play. The debate ultimately returns to practical questions: Who will revive Venezuela’s economy, under what conditions, and with what capital? With trust in law and institutions shattered, large-scale reconstruction is unlikely to emerge from humanitarian appeals alone. The focus now should move from judging the past to managing what comes next. Condemnation will not rebuild Venezuela. What is required is coordinated international judgment — restoring public security, restarting economic activity and repairing damaged rights in parallel. Support for free and fair elections must follow so that a government with democratic legitimacy can emerge. The transition will be fraught with risk. Societies shaped by prolonged authoritarian rule rarely move smoothly toward stability. Security vacuums, elite fragmentation and public disillusionment are real dangers. A poorly managed transition could deepen suffering rather than relieve it. The priority, therefore, is not speed but management — a phased, multilateral approach that links institutional recovery, social stability and economic reconstruction step by step. Ultimately, this crisis is not only about whether intervention was justified. It is also about the cost of prolonged inaction. Intervention is not always right. But in Venezuela’s case, inaction repeatedly failed — and its burden fell first and most heavily on the most vulnerable. About the author ▲Latin America specialist (former diplomat; honorary professor at Peru’s National University of Trujillo) ▲Global ambassador, Korea National Railway ▲Director, Latin America Railway Economy Research Institute * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-05 17:55:11

New S. Korean regional carrier SUM Air's first aircraft arrives at Gimpo SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - SUM Air, a new South Korean regional carrier, said its first new-build aircraft has arrived at Gimpo International Airport after completing a multi-leg ferry flight from France. The inaugural aircraft of SUM Air, a Regional Air Mobility (RAM) operator, departed Toulouse on Jan. 1 and landed at Gimpo International Airport on Jan. 4, according to the company. The aircraft was formally handed over on Dec. 29 following the completion of leasing procedures with aircraft lessor Avation. It was registered in South Korea on Dec. 30 under the registration number HL5264 before departing France. The delivery flight was conducted as a ferry flight, operating without passengers or cargo, and passed through Cairo, Muscat, Nagpur and Da Nang en route to South Korea. SUM Air said the aircraft will undergo demonstration flights required for air operator certification. Following consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the airline plans to conduct trial takeoffs and landings in February at Goheung Airfield in South Jeolla Province, which has a 1,200-meter runway comparable in length to Ulleung Island's planned airport. SUM means "island" in Korean, and the carrier plans to connect cities and islands, including Ulleung, Heuksan and Baengnyeong, once their airports open. "SUM Air aims to address mobility challenges in regions with limited air connectivity and grow into a core regional carrier linking communities across Korea by revitalizing regional airports," said Choi Yong-duck, CEO of SUM Air. 2026-01-05 17:35:18

Seoul's National Folk Museum draws record number of foreign visitors SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Over a million foreign tourists visited the National Folk Museum in central Seoul last year. According to tallies compiled by the museum and released on Monday, out of 2.28 million total visitors, about 1.35 million were foreigners, the highest among museums in South Korea. Overall admissions rose about 58.3 percent from 1.44 million in 2024, while foreign visitors increased by 103 percent. The country's largest museum showcases everyday life and culture including historical and traditional rituals, seasonal customs, and folklore, attracting many foreign visitors as it sits at the heart of Seoul near Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the top attractions for international travelers. Based on its survey conducted last year, the museum said foreign respondents cited informative displays and exhibitions as the top reason for their visit, followed by various hands-on programs and a tour package with Gyeongbokgung Palace. "As the museum marks its 80th anniversary this year, we will make efforts to enhance visitors' experiences by offering more programs and revamping shops and other facilities,” said the museum's director Jang Sang-hun. Meanwhile, the museum held a New Year's Day event, giving a welcome gift to its first visitor, who came from Ho Chi Minh City, visiting with her family. 2026-01-05 17:30:20

Asian markets surge to record highs as CES week kicks off SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Asian equity markets rallied in a synchronized surge on Monday as investor focus shifted to major technology players ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas. Benchmarks in Seoul and Taipei led the advance, with both markets scaling fresh record highs. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI jumped 3.43 percent to close at 4,457.52, marking its sharpest daily gain this year and pushing the index to the doorstep of the 4,500 level after surpassing its previous all-time high. Foreign investors drove the rally with net purchases of 2.17 trillion won (about $1.5 billion), while retail and institutional investors booked profits, selling 1.5 trillion won and 703 billion won, respectively. Despite a firmer U.S. dollar amid geopolitical tensions — including a U.S. military operation in Venezuela — the won–dollar exchange rate held nearly flat at 1,446.8 as of 5 p.m. The stability was widely attributed to heavy foreign inflows into Korean tech stocks and continued vigilance by foreign-exchange authorities. Tech leads the charge Blue-chip technology names powered the rally. Samsung Electronics, a flagship CES participant, surged 7.47 percent to a record 138,100 won. Sentiment was buoyed by upbeat brokerage views, with Sangsangin Investment & Securities lifting its 2026 target price to 150,000 won. At CES, Samsung is set to unveil its “Affectionate Intelligence” concept for integrated home appliances. SK hynix, the global leader in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), rose 2.81 percent to a new peak of 696,000 won as it prepares to highlight its role as a “full-stack memory provider.” Optimism spilled over to supply-chain plays, with Hanmi Semiconductor surging 15.8 percent in regular trading before leaping another 23 percent to 178,000 won in after-hours Nextrade (NXT) trading. Energy, utilities and refiners rally Energy and utility stocks also logged outsized gains. Doosan Enerbility soared 10.64 percent to 83,200 won, tracking last week’s rally in U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) names. Korea Electric Power Corporation climbed 7.2 percent to 49,850 won. Manufacturers tied to transformers and high-voltage equipment advanced sharply, with Iljin Electric up 7.23 percent, HD Hyundai Electric gaining 6 percent, and Hyosung Heavy Industries rising 3.7 percent. Refiners joined the rally on expectations of improving margins and reduced Middle East dependence as Washington signaled a push to boost oil production in Venezuela. S-Oil gained 5.35 percent, while SK Innovation added 2.8 percent. Hyundai Motor Company and LG Energy Solution rose 2 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively, as both companies look to showcase new initiatives at CES. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ advanced a more modest 1.26 percent to 957.50, led by aerospace names. Innospace jumped 14.7 percent to 15,570 won, rebounding from earlier launch setbacks, while Nara Space Technology surged 10.1 percent to 31,050 won. Regional markets ride the CES wave Japan’s Nikkei 225 rallied 2.97 percent to 51,832.80, fueled by a broad semiconductor upswing. Chip-testing specialist Advantest climbed 7.84 percent to 21,175 yen, while Tokyo Electron, Disco and Ibiden gained between 6 percent and 8 percent. Toyota Motor Corporation added 1.28 percent. Taiwan’s TAIEX rose 2.57 percent to 30,105.54, extending gains ahead of CES. TSMC jumped 5.36 percent to a record 1,670 Taiwan dollars, cementing its position as the world’s sixth-largest company by market capitalization. MediaTek and Foxconn rose 3.74 percent and 1.08 percent, respectively. On the mainland, China’s Shanghai Composite gained 1.38 percent and the Shenzhen Component climbed 2.24 percent as CES-driven tech optimism lifted sentiment. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, however, ended flat at 26,326.84, with lingering geopolitical uncertainty prompting a more cautious stance among some foreign investors. 2026-01-05 17:25:57

HOT STOCK: Hopes of China K-pop ban easing fizzle, sending shares lower SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) -South Korea’s K-pop sector retreated Monday as high expectations for an easing of China’s long-standing de facto ban on Korean entertainment though the momentum of President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Beijing fizzled out. Shares that had rallied on optimism over renewed access to the Chinese market reversed sharply. HYBE fell 2.5 percent, JYP Entertainment slid 6.2 percent, and YG Entertainment dropped 7.5 percent. SM Entertainment posted the steepest decline, plunging 10.1 percent and erasing a large portion of recent gains tied to China-reopening hopes. The retreat followed comments by presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, who said the “lifting of the unofficial ban on Korean culture is expected to take some time,” dampening expectations that concerts and broadcasts would resume in the near term. Among the roughly 200-member business delegation accompanying Lee’s trip were entertainment industry figures, including Son Kyung-shik, chairman of CJ Group, and SM Entertainment CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk—fueling earlier speculation that progress on cultural exchanges could be imminent. Entertainment stocks had surged ahead of the visit on prospects of concerts, broadcasts and online content distribution resuming in China, one of the industry’s most lucrative overseas markets. Despite the sell-off, Choi Min-ha, an equity analyst at Samsung Securities, said fundamentals for leading entertainment companies remain intact, supported by robust global demand for K-pop, strong overseas touring and expanding digital content businesses. Monday’s move suggests profit-taking and a reset of timelines rather than a reassessment of the sector’s long-term prospects, he added. 2026-01-05 17:21:21

PHOTOS:Brushstrokes of heritage: A mother-daughter duo redefine tradition in Bukchon SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Tucked away in the winding alleys of Gahoe-dong, the Bukchon Hanok Office serves as a serene sanctuary from the city's modern pulse. In late 2025, this traditional space — operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government — offered more than just a glimpse of historic architecture; it became the stage for a deeply personal convergence of art and lineage. The exhibition, titled "Yeon: A Mother-Daughter Story Connected by Brush," brought together calligrapher Baek Kyung-ja (known by her art name, Yesol) and her daughter, dancheong (traditional decorative coloring) artist Lee Eun-young. The show’s origin is as heartwarming as the art itself. When Lee suggested her mother hold a solo exhibition, Baek initially declined. The impasse was broken by Lee’s simple, spirited invitation: "Mom, then let's do it together!" Stepping through the sarangchae (guest quarters) and main house, visitors were greeted by a dialogue between generations. Baek, a veteran artist with over 40 years of experience in Korean calligraphy and folk painting, displayed works that radiated the profound weight and refinement of a life dedicated to the brush. Beside her, Lee — who transitioned from fashion design to training under a National Intangible Cultural Heritage master — presented dancheong pieces that felt strikingly modern in their composition and interpretation. As natural light filtered through the hanji (traditional paper) windows, it illuminated the vibrant pigments and deep ink tones of the artworks. Walking through the wooden-floored rooms, the concept of "yeon" — the Korean word for a karmic connection or bond — felt palpable. For those wandering the historic slopes of Bukchon, this modest yet soulful exhibition offered a rare moment where traditional and contemporary artistry harmoniously intertwined, proving that the strongest threads of heritage are often those shared between a mother and her daughter. 2026-01-05 17:18:43

Korea–China Summit: Seoul bets on diplomatic reset, pundits doubt breakthrough SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Expectations remain muted over tangible outcomes from the Korea–China summit in Beijing, as experts warn that the first state visit by a South Korean leader in nearly nine years is more likely to deliver symbolic reassurance than substantive policy breakthroughs. President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to exchange what many analysts describe as “ceremonial cordiality” at a time when Beijing has moved closer to North Korea and Seoul’s strategic room for maneuver remains constrained by intensifying U.S.–China rivalry. The South Korean presidential office, however, framed the summit as a necessary reset. Kang Yoo-jung, spokesperson for the Blue House, said the meeting is “meaningful in restoring the long-stagnant relationship between the two countries and rebuilding a mutually beneficial and future-oriented partnership as inseparable neighbors.” Lee echoed that message upon meeting South Korean residents in Beijing, calling the “full restoration” of bilateral ties the primary objective of his visit. Carefully Calibrated ‘One China’ Messaging The diplomatic tone was set ahead of the summit. In an interview aired on China Central Television, Lee said he “respects the ‘One China’ policy,” a remark that immediately drew scrutiny at home. Woo Jung Moo, professor of political science and international relations at Dongguk University, interpreted the comment as a deliberate attempt to lower friction rather than a substantive policy shift. “It should be understood as acknowledging China’s position without revealing South Korea’s own stance on Taiwan,” Woo said, stressing that Seoul continues to emphasize peaceful resolution and does not endorse any unilateral attempt to alter the regional order by force. Kim Youcheer, a professor at Duksung Women’s University, described the remarks as part of a pragmatic effort to manage entanglement risks that have grown amid heightened alliance expectations under the U.S. National Security Strategy. “The phrasing ‘respecting One China’ reflects South Korea’s long-held diplomatic language since normalization, not China’s unilateral ‘One China principle,’” Kim said, adding that the administration appeared to calibrate its message carefully ahead of the summit. Park Han-jin of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies also viewed the positioning as pragmatic, noting that it reaffirmed South Korea’s diplomatic principles while anchoring them to universal values such as regional peace and stability. Domestic Political Divide The summit has exposed sharp divisions within South Korea’s political sphere. Kim Sang-hoon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, warned that Seoul risks undermining trilateral security cooperation with the United States and Japan. “China consistently maintains a dominant posture,” he said, expressing concern over possible fallout for advanced technology alliances with Washington. By contrast, Kim Joon-hyung of the Rebuilding Korea Party called the summit “a long-overdue restoration” of Korea–China relations after what he described as years of diplomatic stagnation. Limits on North Korea Impact Most experts agree the summit is unlikely to produce meaningful progress on inter-Korean relations. Kim Hyun-Wook, president of the Sejong Institute, said Korea–China economic ties have shifted from complementarity to competition, limiting the scope for cooperation. Still, he noted that any easing in U.S.–China tensions could marginally expand diplomatic space around North Korea. Lee Wang Hwi of Ajou University was more blunt. “China’s influence over North Korea is limited,” he said, adding that Pyongyang’s deepening ties with Russia now outweigh Beijing’s leverage. Woo Jung Moo concurred, arguing that North Korea would seek to dilute any joint messages emerging from Seoul and Beijing by leaning further on Moscow. Park Han-jin offered a more conditional view, suggesting that sustained trust-building between Seoul and Beijing could, over time, expand China’s willingness to play a stabilizing role — though likely only in exchange for concessions linked to economic or regional issues. Strategic Ambiguity and Economic Reality On the broader trajectory of Korea–China relations, views diverge sharply. Former presidential economic security secretary Ahn Se Hyun argued that geopolitical shifts leave China little choice but to adopt a more conciliatory approach toward South Korea, even as the bilateral relationship remains structurally constrained by the U.S.–ROK alliance. Others urged caution. Choi Jung-wook of Konkuk University described China as both a competitor and a potential long-term security threat, calling for “maximum strategic ambiguity,” particularly on cross-strait issues. Lee Jung-tae of Kyungpook National University countered that despite security frictions, Korea and China remain deeply economically integrated, making outright confrontation unrealistic. Several scholars emphasized the importance of expanding non-political exchanges. Kang Jun-young of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies said economic, social and cultural interaction with Taiwan should continue as long as it remains non-political, while Lee Han-eol of Pusan National University stressed the value of student, academic and business exchanges in reducing misperceptions. 2026-01-05 17:15:22