PHOTOS:How Seoul turns cold days into playgrounds SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) -In Korea, where the four seasons are distinctly felt, outdoor leisure activities change with the weather — swimming pools in summer often transform into skating rinks or sledding grounds in winter. As colder days settle in, seasonal attractions such as sledding hills and snow playgrounds are once again drawing crowds across Seoul. District governments have opened a range of winter-themed facilities, including snow playgrounds and hands-on activity zones, offering residents of all ages a chance to enjoy the season without leaving the city. Seocho District has converted the Yangjaecheon swimming pool site into a family-friendly “Winter Snow Playground,” which has been operating since Dec. 20. Now in its third year, the venue repurposes a 6,400-square-meter former outdoor pool into an urban sledding park, providing children and parents with a safe and accessible winter recreation space. The playground features snow sledding slopes along with children’s play areas such as trampolines, inflatable bounce houses for young children, and a snow play zone. Visitors can also take part in experiential programs including ice fishing, mock fishing activities, and curling. Greenhouses, tents, and snack shops are available to provide rest and convenience for families. This year, an additional sledding slope for young children has been newly installed alongside the existing adult slope, improving accessibility for different age groups. Decorative installations themed around a “Yangjaecheon Arctic Village” have also been set up near the entrance and around the snow play area to add visual appeal. The Winter Snow Playground will operate through Feb. 22 next year. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, with closures on Mondays and on Lunar New Year’s Day. Admission fees are 6,000 won for Seocho District residents and 8,000 won for non-residents. Fees for certain programs, such as ice fishing, are announced on the Seocho District Office website. Winter skating rinks and snow play facilities set up across the city are offering citizens sparkling seasonal memories despite the cold weather. 2026-01-02 16:51:24

China's robotics supremacy set for full display at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - To underscore how far China has come in robotics, humanoid robots are now being sold like vacuum cleaners and televisions at a shopping mall in Beijing. That supremacy will be on full display at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. According to official CES data, Chinese companies account for 21 of the 38 exhibitors in the humanoid robotics category this year, making up more than half of all participants. The lineup includes established players such as Unitree Robotics as well as first-time exhibitors like AgiBot and Noetix Robotics, all seeking to expand their footprint in overseas markets. The scale of participation reflects China's rapid ascent in a field widely seen as the next frontier of advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. Analysts say the sheer number of Chinese exhibitors points to a coordinated national push to dominate the humanoid robotics market before it fully matures. China has filed 7,705 humanoid-related patents over the past five years, far exceeding the 1,561 recorded in the United States over the same period, according to a December report by Morgan Stanley. The lead extends beyond intellectual property into manufacturing capacity, where Chinese firms are moving aggressively toward mass production. AgiBot recently rolled out its 5,000th humanoid robot, while UBTech Robotics plans to scale output to 5,000 units in 2026 and 10,000 units in 2027. By comparison, Tesla is believed to have produced only several hundred units of its Optimus humanoid so far. Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company often described as one of China's "Six Little Dragons" of emerging technology, opened what it calls the world's first offline humanoid robot retail store on Dec. 31 at a JD Mall in Beijing. Customers can purchase its G1 humanoid robot for about 85,000 yuan ($12,149), or its Go2 quadruped robot starting at around 10,000 yuan, after interacting with the machines in person. Orders can be fulfilled through JD's logistics network for delivery or in-store pickup. The retail rollout highlights a broader shift in how robots are being positioned in China — not merely as industrial equipment, but as consumer products akin to smartphones or home appliances. Behind this push lies a broader state strategy. Beijing has made "embodied intelligence" a core pillar of its upcoming 15th five-year plan, viewing robotics as a way to offset labor shortages caused by rapid population aging and falling birth rates. Pilot programs are already under way to deploy robots in households, nursing facilities and community centers. Globally, the humanoid robotics race is being led primarily by companies in China and the United States. Key players include Tesla, Figure AI, Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics and Unitree Robotics. Boston Dynamics, acquired by Hyundai Motor Group in 2021 for $880 million, is technically a South Korean-owned company, though its research and engineering operations remain based in Massachusetts. South Korea will also showcase its ambitions at CES 2026. Hyundai Motor Group is set to debut the next-generation Atlas humanoid robot on stage, marking its transition from laboratory development to commercial demonstration. The automaker plans to pilot Atlas at its Metaplant America factory in Georgia. LG Electronics, meanwhile, will introduce its CLOiD home assistant robot, equipped with two articulated arms, seven degrees of freedom per arm and five-fingered hands designed to handle delicate household tasks. The United States will field its own group of humanoid robotics exhibitors at CES, though analysts note that many American firms remain focused on research, software development and pilot programs rather than mass manufacturing. China's advantage lies in its deep manufacturing ecosystem and cost competitiveness. Morgan Stanley estimates that building a supply chain for Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 without Chinese participation would cost nearly three times as much. The competitive stakes extend beyond the exhibition floor. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote on Jan. 5 highlighting "physical AI" and robotics, including more than 20 use cases involving robot training and digital twin technologies. Nvidia projects that embodied AI could eventually transform 10 million factories and 200,000 warehouses worldwide. In Washington, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has reportedly been meeting with robotics executives as part of discussions on a national strategy, with an executive order on robotics said to be under consideration. Running through Jan. 9, CES 2026 is expected to draw about 140,000 visitors from 160 countries. More than a technology showcase, the event is shaping up as a global barometer for which nations are best positioned to turn humanoid robots from experimental machines into everyday tools — and for now, China appears determined to lead that transition. 2026-01-02 16:15:53

Drug case involving Namyang Dairy heiress transferred to prosecutors SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - A case involving Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products was transferred to prosecutors over drug-related allegations on Friday. According to police in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Hwang, 37, who was arrested last week after fleeing abroad is currently being questioned. The recidivist is suspected of having used methamphetamine again with two acquaintances in southern Seoul in 2023. Hwang reportedly fled to Thailand shortly after learning that she was the target of a police investigation in December 2023 and is believed to have lived in Cambodia after entering the country illegally with an invalid passport. She recently indicated that she would turn herself in, prompting officers to travel to Phnom Penh on Christmas Eve to arrest her, but she is reportedly denying all the allegations. However, some paparazzi media have raised suspicions that she was involved in drug distribution or sex trafficking while on the run. Hwang, who previously drew public attention for her relationship with singer-turned-actor Park Yoo-chun, was convicted of using methamphetamine three times between May and September 2015 at her home in Seoul and elsewhere and received a suspended prison sentence in 2019. The following year, she was again convicted on drug-related charges and received a harsher sentence of 20 months in prison. 2026-01-02 16:14:30

BTS comeback set for March, greeted with both excitement and anxiety SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - It is official: K-pop supergroup BTS will resume full seven-member activities with the release of a new album on March 20, marking their first group comeback in nearly four years. The album will be the group’s first collective release since Proof, the 2022 anthology that preceded their announcement of a temporary hiatus to fulfill South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements. All seven members — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — completed their roughly two-year service in 2025 and personally shared the comeback news with fans. RM wrote that he had been “longing more than anyone” for the group’s return, while Jimin told fans, “This is the year we meet again.” The announcement immediately reignited global fan enthusiasm. BTS’s 2022 track “Run BTS” surged back onto the iTunes Top Songs charts in 61 countries following the news, underscoring the group’s enduring global pull even during their hiatus. BTS’s agency HYBE shares rose 4.9 percent on Friday to close at 346,000 won ($240). For fans, BTS’s return represents more than a music release — it is a cultural moment. “Their music helped me process feelings I didn’t have words for,” said Candace Epps-Robertson, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who turned to BTS’s lyrics while caring for her ailing mother. As a scholar of fan communities, she also described ARMY as “an army of librarians,” noting how fans meticulously archive performances, translations and research, creating a uniquely organized global cultural ecosystem. Korean music critic Lim Jin-mo said the comeback could mark “a revival of originality in K-pop.” “Fans often say ‘BTS-pop’ rather than K-pop,” he said. “They are the group whose fans most strongly long for a full-member return.” Debuting in 2013 under producer Bang Si-hyuk’s BigHit Entertainment, now HYBE, BTS reshaped the global trajectory of K-pop through self-written music and candid storytelling. They became the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200, addressed the United Nations, and received Korea’s Order of Cultural Merit for advancing national culture. Son Min-hyun, editor-in-chief of Korean pop music magazine IZM, described BTS as “the greatest conquerors of K-pop,” meaning the group that has done the most to expand the genre’s global reach. “The music market has changed considerably since their last comeback four years ago,” Son said. “After the global success of K-Pop Demon Hunters last year, audiences around the world understand K-pop much more clearly than before. That means BTS will now be expected to show even greater originality than they did with songs like ‘Butter’ or ‘Dynamite.’” Such expectations help explain why the group’s return has taken longer than many fans anticipated. During a Weverse livestream in early December, RM addressed questions about the group’s prolonged silence following their discharge. “Many people ask, ‘Why did you waste the second half of 2025?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do anything?’” he said. “I also wanted to do many things after being discharged, but there were circumstances I can’t talk about. I don’t have the right to explain everything.” SUGA was the last member to complete his service, finishing in June, following RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook earlier in the year. Jin, the eldest, was discharged in June 2024, and j-hope in October that year. The pressure of returning as a full group has weighed heavily on the members. RM spoke candidly about the emotional toll. “I want to perform right away, but preparing for it requires so much, and the pressure is huge,” he said. “Since last month, I haven’t been able to sleep. I even thought about whether I should get a prescription for sleeping pills.” He added that he had repeatedly questioned the group’s future. “I’ve wondered thousands of times whether it would be better for us to disband or go on hiatus,” he said. “But the reason we’re still together is because of the love between the members and the respect we have for our fans.” Fans, for their part, remain confident the wait will be worth it. “Since becoming a BTS fan, I’ve been studying Korean,” said Lina, an ARMY member from Antwerp, Belgium. “I think Korean is a beautiful language — it sounds musical, and Hangul looks like geometric art.” Monica, a 33-year-old fan from New York, said she was counting down to the comeback. “I’m super excited,” she told AJP. “It’s been such a long time. They were in the army for so long. I’m really looking forward to new music — and especially the tour. I haven’t seen them live since 2016.” She added, “I’m just grateful for all the good memories already. Whatever they have in store for ARMY next, I’m excited for it.” 2026-01-02 16:09:47

Samsung Heavy wins $520 million order for two LNG carriers SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Friday it has secured an order worth 721.1 billion won ($520 million) for two liquefied natural gas carriers. In a regulatory filing, the company said the contract was signed in December and that the vessels are scheduled for delivery in stages by September 2028. The name of the shipowner was not disclosed due to contractual confidentiality requirements, a common practice in shipbuilding deals involving commercial and strategic considerations. With the latest deal, Samsung Heavy said it booked total orders worth $7.9 billion for 43 vessels in 2025, surpassing its 2024 results of $7.3 billion for 36 ships. Orders last year included 11 LNG carriers, nine shuttle tankers, nine container ships, two ethane carriers, 11 crude oil carriers and a preliminary contract for offshore production facilities, the company said. As of the end of 2025, Samsung Heavy’s order backlog stood at 133 ships valued at $28.6 billion. A company official said Samsung Heavy exceeded the previous year’s order performance by prioritizing profitability and selectively accepting contracts, supported by a stable backlog, despite a volatile global business environment marked by U.S.-led trade tariff pressures. The official added that the company expects solid order momentum to continue this year, citing a recovery in demand for LNG carriers. 2026-01-02 15:30:03

Can Lee's visit to China 'open new chapter' in bilateral relations? SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Economic cooperation would be a key topic at President Lee Jae Myung's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week. During a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday, just days ahead of Lee's four-day trip to China starting Sunday, national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said the two leaders will have "in-depth discussions to strengthen bilateral relations and come up with practical steps to address 'livelihood and peace' issues facing both countries." The trip will be a South Korean leader's first state visit to China in nine years and comes about two months after Lee met with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in November, in what Cheong Wa Dae referred to as a reciprocal visit. Wi highlighted that it is "unprecedented" for the two leaders to meet each other within just two months, saying it could open a "new chapter" in bilateral relations. Lee is set to arrive in Beijing on Sunday and start his itinerary with a dinner with South Korean expats there. After attending a business forum the following day, he will hold a summit with Xi, which will include a welcoming ceremony and a banquet. "South Korea and China share the common goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Wi said, stressing that the summit would yield fruitful outcomes along with practical solutions. They are also expected to discuss various issues including China's veiled restrictions on South Korean films and dramas, and the installation of dubious structures on the submerged shelf of Ieodo in the West Sea, which overlaps with maritime zones of both South Korea and China. After a series of talks and other events including a meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Lee will then move to Shanghai on Tuesday to attend a forum for startup entrepreneurs from both countries to foster partnership and promote future cooperation. As the final leg of his trip, Lee will attend an event commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of independence fighter Kim Gu, who led the country's provisional government-in-exile in Shanghai, as well as the centennial of the provisional government's founding in 1919. 2026-01-02 15:29:07

China's silver export curb adds cost pressure on Korea' tech activities SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - China’s move to tighten controls on silver exports is set to add fresh cost pressure on South Korean industries heavily reliant on the precious metal, at a time when prices are already surging on strong demand from high-tech and clean-energy sectors. From Jan. 1, exporters in China must obtain government approval to ship silver overseas, after Beijing added the metal to its “2026 List of Goods Subject to Export Licensing Administration.” The measure places silver alongside tungsten, antimony and rare earth elements — materials China has increasingly treated as strategic assets in its economic and technological rivalry with the United States. China dominates the global silver supply chain, accounting for an estimated 60 to 70 percent of internationally traded refined silver. It also ranks second worldwide in silver reserves and mine output, trailing only Mexico, reinforcing its position as a pivotal player capable of influencing global supply conditions. The policy comes as silver has emerged as “the new gold,” buoyed by soaring demand tied to its wide industrial applications and its appeal as a hedge asset. Silver futures surged more than 150 percent in 2025, rising from around $20 per troy ounce at the start of the year to about $71 by the final trading session — the strongest gain among major commodities. The rally was driven by five consecutive years of global supply deficits and a weakening U.S. dollar, which boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Although prices briefly retreated from a late-December peak of $86 per ounce, China’s export curbs reignited market momentum. Silver prices jumped about 3 percent on Friday, approaching $73 per ounce as of 1:30 p.m. For South Korea, the trend poses a growing headwind. Silver is a critical input across the country’s high-tech manufacturing base, including electronics, semiconductors and advanced materials, as well as a key component of the domestic smelting industry. The metal plays an increasingly central role in the AI and digital era due to its superior electrical conductivity — the highest among major metals. It is used as a protective coating to prevent copper oxidation in printed circuit boards, and as electrodes in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), both of which are essential components in smartphones, data centers and AI servers. Beyond electronics, silver is indispensable in solar panels, where silver paste converts sunlight into electricity. It is also used, alongside platinum, as a catalyst in water electrolysis systems for hydrogen fuel production. As a result, rising silver prices directly translate into higher costs and weaker margins across a wide range of advanced industries. The burden is already showing up in trade data. According to the Bank of Korea, import prices for the “other precious metals” category — which includes silver — surged 66 percent year on year in November, exacerbated by both higher global prices and the weak won. Korea Zinc, one of the world’s largest non-ferrous metal producers, is particularly exposed. Silver accounts for more than 30 percent of the company’s total revenue, surpassing even zinc, its flagship product. With ore procurement costs climbing, analysts warn that profit margins could come under mounting pressure. Wall Street expects the rally to continue. Goldman Sachs has forecast silver prices could reach $100 per troy ounce in 2026, while Citigroup projects a potential peak of up to $110, underscoring the long-term supply tightness surrounding the metal. 2026-01-02 14:47:17

Hyundai Group chair urges 'readiness' for inter-Korean exchanges SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - As the Lee Jae Myung administration signals renewed efforts to ease tensions with North Korea, Hyundai Group Chair Hyun Jeong-eun said the conglomerate must be ready to act swiftly should conditions for inter-Korean economic cooperation improve. In a New Year’s message to employees on Friday, Hyun reaffirmed her support for engagement with North Korea, saying expectations are rising again for a thaw on the Korean Peninsula. She expressed hope for “constructive change” in inter-Korean relations this year and urged employees to prepare thoroughly so the group can respond immediately if opportunities emerge. Hyundai Group, long associated with cross-border projects such as the Mount Kumgang tourism venture through affiliate Hyundai Asan, has been viewed as a potential private-sector partner in any future economic cooperation between the two Koreas. Hyun sent the message by email to about 6,000 employees across affiliates including Hyundai Elevator, Hyundai Movex and Hyundai Asan. Beyond inter-Korean issues, Hyun called for proactive execution across the group, urging employees to “show the will and action to lead this era of transition.” She said uncertainty often accompanies new opportunities and stressed that decisive action matters more than perfect information. 2026-01-02 14:25:24

PHOTOS: Sculptures mark 'Year of Red Horse' SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - To mark the start of 2026, the Year of the Red Horse, World Cup Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, has unveiled horse sculptures crafted entirely from silver grass, drawing crowds of local residents and tourists alike. The centerpiece installations, symbolizing the "Red Horse," were constructed using natural silver grass harvested from the park. The eco-friendly displays blend traditional zodiac symbolism with the seasonal beauty of the park’s natural resources. 2026-01-02 14:08:33

Seoul's lantern festival extended for two more weeks SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Seoul's annual lantern festival along the Cheonggye Stream will be extended by two more weeks, organizers said on Friday. In its 17th year, the festival featuring around 500 lanterns made from traditional handmade paper, as well as glowing displays and other festive decorations, was supposed to close this weekend but will now continue to illuminate the capital until mid-January. The extension came as the festival has drawn nearly 300 million people including foreign travelers, in about three weeks since its opening on Dec. 12. "Thanks to the strong interest and support from citizens and tourists, we decided to extend the festival," said Kil Ki-yeon, CEO of Seoul Tourism Organization. Except for next Monday, when it will be closed for maintenance and preparations, the festival runs nightly from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. until Jan. 18, with closing extended by one hour to accommodate after-work crowds. But visitors should hurry to see some of the highlights such as a 73-meter-long installation featuring Magikarp, a piscine Pokémon with reddish-orange scales before it is removed this week to make way for new displays. 2026-01-02 14:05:41