Final season of 'Squid Game' wins Critics Choice award again SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Netflix's hit South Korean series "Squid Game" won an award for the Best Foreign Language Series at the annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday. The third and final season of the dystopian thriller beat Apple TV's comedy "Acapulco" and Netflix's Japanese series "Last Samurai Standing" to claim its third Critics Choice honor, having previously won for its first season in 2022 and its second season in 2025. The latest series with six episodes continues the deadly, high-stakes saga that began with its first season in September 2021, once again revolving around hundreds of cash-strapped players who "accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games" for a tempting prize. Earlier in the day, Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" also won two prizes at the 31st prestigious awards which "honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement." 2026-01-05 15:37:19

Packaging becomes the real bottleneck in AI race — opening a window for Samsung SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - In the premium AI chip race, supremacy is increasingly defined not by transistor density but by advanced packaging — the ability to assemble multiple high-performance chips into a single accelerator capable of handling massive workloads efficiently. Packaging was once regarded as a back-end step, sealing finished chips into protective casings and mounting them onto boards, work largely handled by outsourced assembly and test firms. In the era of AI accelerators, however, “advanced packaging” has emerged as a decisive stage of chipmaking, bringing graphics processing units (GPUs) and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) into ultra-close proximity to boost performance, reduce power consumption and shorten time to market. This shift is blurring traditional boundaries between foundries and packaging specialists — and turning packaging capacity into the tightest choke point in the AI supply chain. “Advanced packaging has become essential — not optional — in the AI era. Without it, AI semiconductors simply cannot be built,” said Ahn Ki-hyun, secretary general of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association. “Globally, only two companies — TSMC and Samsung — currently possess truly advanced AI packaging capabilities.” The most sought-after advanced packaging technology today is CoWoS, short for Chips-on-Wafer-on-Substrate, developed by TSMC. The technology allows logic chips and memory stacks to be integrated on a shared substrate, a configuration essential for high-end AI accelerators. TSMC is struggling to keep up with surging demand from customers such as Nvidia, AMD and major cloud service providers. Google has reportedly scaled back its tensor processing unit (TPU) output target this year despite strong demand, as a significant portion of Taiwan’s CoWoS capacity through 2027 has been reserved for Nvidia — underscoring how critical access to packaging has become. According to TrendForce, TSMC’s monthly CoWoS capacity grew from roughly 13,000–15,000 wafers at the end of 2023 to 35,000–40,000 wafers by late 2024 that doubled to 75,000–80,000 wafers by the end of 2025. The capacity is expected to expand to 120,000 wafers or more in 2026. Even so, demand continues to outstrip supply. The imbalance has made advanced packaging the most acute bottleneck in AI chipmaking. A single 12-inch wafer typically yields only nine to 10 Nvidia H100-class chips even under near-perfect packaging yields, sharply limiting how quickly AI accelerators can reach the market. Nvidia is estimated to account for nearly half of TSMC’s CoWoS output, followed by AMD and Broadcom — which manufactures Google’s TPUs. Remaining capacity is shared among customers including Amazon Web Services, Meta and Marvell. Global shipments of high-end AI accelerators rose sharply in 2024 and are expected to climb further in 2025, intensifying competition for limited packaging slots. Supply constraints have already forced adjustments across the industry, with Google carrying over part of its planned TPU output and server makers such as Dell and Supermicro facing delivery delays that at times stretched beyond 50 weeks. The ripple effects extend beyond AI chips themselves. Prices for legacy memory such as DDR4 have jumped as manufacturers prioritize high-end AI memory, highlighting the strategic value of tightly integrated memory and packaging capabilities. Samsung’s opening The persistent bottleneck is prompting major customers to seek alternatives to TSMC’s near-dominance in advanced packaging — a shift that is bringing Samsung Electronics back into focus. Unlike most competitors, Samsung can offer a turnkey solution that combines foundry manufacturing, HBM supply and advanced packaging under one roof. “Samsung holds an integrated edge,” Ahn said. “It has HBM technology, advanced manufacturing capabilities, fabs, and the ability to package HBM together with CPUs or GPUs. If customers bring a design, Samsung can deliver a fully packaged chip.” The company’s I-Cube (2.5D) and H-Cube (3D) platforms are designed to integrate logic chips with next-generation HBM, a capability expected to grow more important as the industry moves toward custom memory designs and the HBM4 era. Samsung’s share of the combined foundry and advanced packaging market remains modest compared with TSMC, but analysts note that the gap itself underscores Samsung’s potential upside as customers pursue multi-vendor strategies to reduce supply-chain risk. “TSMC, by contrast, does not produce HBM, making it difficult to describe its offering as a full turnkey solution,” Ahn added. That strategy has begun to yield results. Samsung’s recent win to manufacture Tesla’s AI6 chip, valued at an estimated $16.5 billion, is widely seen in the industry as validation of its integrated approach. Packaging sets the pace The growing focus on packaging reflects a broader shift in how AI hardware competitiveness is measured. Even with sufficient GPU designs and memory supply, AI accelerators cannot be shipped without access to advanced packaging lines — making CoWoS and its alternatives the final gatekeeper of AI infrastructure expansion. As AI workloads scale and next-generation chips such as Nvidia’s Blackwell platform enter the market, the industry’s center of gravity is moving from transistor scaling to assembly capacity. For Samsung, the persistent packaging crunch represents less a threat than a strategic opening — one that could reshape competitive dynamics as customers increasingly prioritize supply-chain resilience over single-vendor dependence. “From the perspective of Big Tech firms, receiving a completed AI chip from a single provider is highly attractive,” Ahn said. “Given that TSMC cannot absorb all demand on its own, it is increasingly likely that orders will flow toward Samsung.” 2026-01-05 15:36:51

Incheon Airport sets daily passenger record with nearly 240,000 travelers SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - A record 239,530 passengers passed through Incheon International Airport last Sunday, the most in a single day since it opened in 2001, operators said on Monday. The figure was nearly 5,000 higher than the previous record of 234,171 set on Aug. 4, 2019, and was also up about 13.7 percent from a year earlier, when 210,891 passengers used the airport. Chinese passengers accounted for the most at 49.2 percent of all travelers, seeing the biggest increase, likely due to a temporary year-long visa-free entry program between South Korea and China that runs until the end of this year. Passenger traffic from Chinese-speaking countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan also rose by 24 percent. However, the number of travelers to and from Southeast Asia remained relatively low, rising by just 1.7 percent despite the winter peak season, which was attributed to recent revelations of online phishing scams and other crimes, mostly in Cambodia. Despite the record passenger numbers, the airport appears to be handling the surge smoothly, with an average processing time of just 7.9 minutes and a peak wait of 42 minutes at around 6 a.m. The airport said it is expanding automated immigration clearance systems and adding additional security and screening staff. Lee Hak-jae, the airport's president, said, "We will continue to improve convenience for foreign travelers and other visitors by revamping multilingual signage and increasing more personnel." 2026-01-05 14:55:34

South Korea's top business leaders join President Lee on China visit SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - A large delegation of South Korea’s top business leaders, including the heads of the country’s biggest conglomerates, are accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his state visit to China as attention turns to whether bilateral economic cooperation can enter a new phase amid shifting global supply chains. Business groups said on Monday that an economic delegation organized by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry is travelling to China to coincide with Lee’s trip from Jan. 4 to Jan. 7. The delegation includes about 200 executives, among them Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo. Also joining the delegation are POSCO Group Chairman Chang In-hwa, GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo, LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun and CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik. It will mark the first visit by a South Korean economic delegation to China since 2019. Industry officials said the trip is being viewed as more than a simple resumption of exchanges, describing it as a potential opportunity to pursue a “new phase” of economic cooperation between the two countries. "Discussions are expected to range from advanced industries — such as semiconductors, batteries, electric vehicles and displays — to services and cultural content," an industry source said. In the semiconductor sector, attention is focused on the recent move by the United States to partially ease restrictions on bringing equipment into Chinese plants operated by South Korean firms. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix run major production bases in Xian and Suzhou, and in Wuxi and Dalian, respectively, raising expectations of limited but practical progress in manufacturing cooperation with China. Automakers and battery makers are also seeking to rebuild their presence in the Chinese market. Hyundai Motor and Kia are rolling out China-specific electric vehicles and repositioning local plants as export bases, while LG Energy Solution is maintaining production in China as part of a broader global supply-chain strategy. During the trip, the delegation plans to hold a South Korea–China business forum to discuss stabilizing manufacturing supply chains, tapping new consumer markets, and expanding cooperation in services and content. Companies are also expected to sign memorandums of understanding and hold one-on-one business meetings. 2026-01-05 14:19:10

K-pop anime wins two gongs at Critics Choice Awards SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" won two prizes at the annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday. The 110-minute film by Korean-Canadian director Maggie Kang won an award for "Best Animated Feature" and also received a gong for "Best Song" with its main theme song, "Golden" at the 31st prestigious awards which "honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement." By beating competitors from traditional animation powerhouses like Disney and Pixar, the film has boosted its chances as a strong contender in the run-up to the Academy Awards in mid-March, as these awards are often considered the "most accurate predictor" of the Oscars. "KPop Demon Hunters" tells the story of fictional K-pop superstars who possess secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats. Its soundtrack has been hugely successful, spending several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart, with "Golden" reaching the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. 2026-01-05 14:15:36

South Korea's Iljin Electric secures largest-ever power equipment deal, valued at $150 million SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - South Korea's Iljin Electric said on Monday it has signed its largest-ever single supply contract in the United States, bolstering its presence in the North American power equipment market. The company said in a press release that it recently secured a transformer supply deal worth about 198 billion won ($150 million) for a new project by a major U.S. renewable energy developer. Under the contract, Iljin Electric will supply 24 transformers through the third quarter of 2029. The order represents its biggest single contract in the U.S. market and marks its first supply of 525-kilovolt extra-high-voltage transformers for a renewable energy project, the company said. The U.S.-based contractor, whose name was withheld due to confidentiality agreement, is pursuing multiple large-scale renewable energy and energy storage system projects across the country and has worked with Iljin Electric as a strategic partner on renewable projects over the past six years. Iljin Electric said the contract reflects growing confidence in the company’s technology and product quality. “Building on this order, we aim to further strengthen our position in the North American extra-high-voltage power equipment market and secure additional contracts focused on high value-added products,” the company said. 2026-01-05 14:05:41

SK hynix bets on HBM4 to maintain market lead in AI memory SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - SK hynix vowed on Monday to extend its leadership in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market this year, as investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerates globally. Citing industry data from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, the South Korean chipmaker said in a press release that the global semiconductor market will grow 26.3 percent from a year earlier to about $975 billion this year. The memory segment is expected to exceed $440 billion, accounting for 45.1 percent of the total market, SK hynix said. Bank of America has described 2026 as a semiconductor “supercycle” comparable to the boom of the 1990s, forecasting year-on-year growth of 51 percent in global DRAM revenue and 45 percent in NAND flash. Average selling prices are projected to rise 33 percent for DRAM and 26 percent for NAND, the bank said. Demand for AI-oriented memory, led by HBM, is expected to grow rapidly from 2025 through 2028. BOA estimates the global HBM market will reach $54.6 billion in 2026, up 58 percent from a year earlier, with some forecasts suggesting the HBM market in 2028 could surpass the size of the overall DRAM market in 2024. SK hynix said it plans to build on its fifth-generation HBM product, HBM3E, to maintain market leadership as the industry transitions to sixth-generation HBM4 in 2026. The company said HBM3E is increasingly being selected as an “optimal solution” as global technology companies expand custom chip development, citing Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra AI accelerator series as well as projects by Google and Amazon Web Services. According to Counterpoint Research, SK hynix ranked first in the HBM market with a 62 percent share of shipments as of the second quarter of 2025 and a 57 percent share by revenue in the third quarter. Goldman Sachs has said SK hynix is likely to retain a dominant position in HBM3 and HBM3E through at least 2026 and maintain more than a 50 percent share of the overall HBM market. SK hynix said it secured the world’s first mass-production system for HBM4 in September and is strengthening cooperation with Taiwan's TSMC on advanced packaging technology. The company is also building its Cheongju M15X fabrication plant and establishing a dedicated HBM technology organisation, alongside new global AI research centres and production infrastructure, to meet rising AI memory demand. UBS has forecast that SK hynix could capture about 70 percent of the HBM4 market used in Nvidia’s next-generation “Rubin” platform in 2026. 2026-01-05 13:49:30

[[CES 2026]] China accelerates robotics push as Korea takes platform-focused approach LAS VEGAS, January 04 (AJP) - As the world’s largest technology exhibition CES 2026 opens on Jan. 6 in Las Vegas, competition around robotics and physical AI is expected to intensify. With artificial intelligence expanding beyond software into hardware, robotics has moved to the center of the show’s technology landscape, and Chinese companies are set to play a more visible role this year. According to the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association (KICTA), about 4,300 companies are participating in CES 2026. Of these, 942 are Chinese firms, accounting for roughly 22 percent of all exhibitors, the second-largest national presence after the United States. South Korea ranks third with 853 participating companies. While the overall numbers remain close, attention is increasingly shifting toward how heavily companies are concentrating on robotics-related exhibits. Chinese firms make up 149 of the 598 exhibitors participating in the robotics category, representing nearly one quarter of the total. Their displays span humanoid robots, embodied robots, and hybrid models that combine bipedal and wheeled mobility. Many Chinese companies are presenting products intended for commercialization rather than concept demonstrations, placing emphasis on practical deployment and near-term use cases. This momentum is closely tied to China’s industrial policy direction. The Chinese government has designated 2025 as the first year of humanoid robot commercialization and has supported the sector through national roadmaps, large-scale investment funds, tax incentives, and policy-based financial programs. CES 2026 provides a venue where these efforts are reflected through product launches and live demonstrations. Interest is also building around individual Chinese robotics companies participating in the show. CES 2026 features firms such as UBTECH and Fourier Intelligence, alongside Unitree, which has gained attention for advancing both quadruped and humanoid robots toward commercialization. Unitree has focused on relatively lower pricing and rapid development cycles, expanding its presence in research and industrial markets overseas. The company is expected to conduct live demonstrations during the exhibition. South Korean companies are approaching the robotics competition from a different angle. Although their overall participation level is comparable to China’s, fewer domestic firms are emphasizing complete robot hardware systems. Instead, strengths are concentrated in AI software, sensors, semiconductors, and key components. While many South Korean companies have received CES Innovation Awards, their robotics presence reflects a more selective and targeted focus. Among major exhibitors, Samsung Electronics is taking a measured approach. Rather than competing through large-scale public demonstrations, the company plans to engage clients and partners through private exhibitions, presenting an integrated technology stack spanning AI data centers, on-device AI, and physical AI. The emphasis is placed on platforms and ecosystems rather than individual robot products. 2026-01-05 12:59:54

[[CES 2026]] South Korea fields 853 companies, 3rd largest presence LAS VEGAS, January 05 (AJP) - South Korea is fielding 853 companies to the world’s largest technology showcase, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, cementing its position as the third-largest national contingent despite a sharp decline from last year. The Korea Information & Communication Technology Industry Association (KICTA) said the figure marks a 17.2 percent drop from 1,031 Korean participants at CES 2025. The pullback was driven primarily by startups, which fell to 458 from 641 a year earlier, while general corporate exhibitors edged up to 395. "A single booth can cost at least 100 million won once accommodation, logistics, patent filings and rental fees are included. The amount can be quite burdening for startups," said Lee Han-bum, president of the KICTA. Major conglomerates are also scaling back their presence along CES’s main exhibition avenues. SK Group — which staged large, multi-affiliate pavilions from 2019 to 2025 — will send only SK hynix this year. HD Hyundai, a regular CES participant known for showcasing next-generation autonomous vessel technologies, will skip the show entirely. Hyundai Motor Group is also scaling down its exhibition footprint, pulling back software and autonomous-driving displays in areas where U.S. rivals currently dominate. Samsung Electronics, meanwhile, plans to host its showcase at a private hotel rather than its usual anchor space at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall, which has increasingly been occupied by Chinese electronics giants such as TCL and Hisense. CES 2026, which opens Monday in Las Vegas, has drawn about 4,300 companies from roughly 160 countries, down from around 4,800 exhibitors in 2025. The decline reflects reduced participation from South Korea and China, which together accounted for much of the overall drop. The United States leads this year with 1,476 registered companies, followed by China with 942 and South Korea in third place. France and Taiwan round out the top five with 160 and 132 firms, respectively. Asian companies from South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong comprise about 2,200 exhibitors, or 51 percent of the total, down from roughly 60 percent last year. China's participation tumbled 29.7 percent to 942 firms from 1,339, partly due to what industry experts say visa delays and reduced advance booth purchases by local agents. Still, Korean firms will dominate the startup-strong Eureka Park pavilion, with 411 companies accounting for the largest national presence among 1,100 global entrants. The United States trails with 195, followed by France at 145. About 80 percent of Korean participants, or 689 companies, will exhibit in group pavilions backed by government agencies, local authorities, universities and conglomerates. Some 164 firms secured independent booths at their own expense. This year's CES carries the theme "Innovators Show Up," with artificial intelligence, robotics, digital health, mobility and smart home technologies highlighted as key exhibition categories. 2026-01-05 12:58:22

Türkiye's Foreign Policy Vision and Türkiye–Korea Relations in 2026 2026-01-05 12:51:46