Hyundai Motor Group to showcase AI robotics strategy at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group plans to present robotics-centered visions for future mobility at CES 2026, highlighting a broader industry shift from vehicles toward robots and artificial intelligence, industry officials said Friday. Hyundai Motor Group will attend CES 2026, which opens next week in Las Vegas, where it will outline its core strategy for AI-driven robotics. A key highlight will be the first live demonstration of Atlas, the humanoid robot developed by affiliate Boston Dynamics. Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics plan to begin testing Atlas at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the automaker’s manufacturing facility in Georgia, before gradually deploying it at factories in South Korea and other locations. The group is also expected to detail plans to validate robotics technologies through a software-defined factory, using production-line testing to refine and expand its AI robotics ecosystem. Under the strategy, robots would be deployed and verified in manufacturing environments, with operational data fed back into system upgrades. Hyundai Motor Group plans to build out its AI robotics ecosystem in phases, covering robot hardware as well as AI software, services and platforms. Affiliates will also showcase a range of technologies. Hyundai Mobis will present more than 30 mobility-convergence solutions, including its integrated cockpit platform M.VICS 7.0 and electronic control system X-by-Wire, with a focus on securing orders from North American customers. Hyundai Wia is expected to seek new clients by unveiling a future-oriented vehicle climate-control system dubbed “distributed HVAC,” along with next-generation drive components. The growing emphasis on robotics and AI reflects a broader shift in the mobility industry. Several global automakers that attended CES last year — including Toyota Motor, Volkswagen AG, and U.S. manufacturers General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis — will not participate this year, while robotics and autonomous-driving companies are expected to draw greater attention. HL Mando, a major South Korean auto parts supplier under HL Group, will operate a joint booth with affiliates under the theme “robots, AI and mobility,” positioning robotics as a future core business. The company plans to present a mid- to long-term roadmap to enter the robotics market, leveraging its decades of experience in automotive components, software capabilities and global supply chain. This year's CES is expected to highlight technologies such as AI, robotics, mobility, digital health and quantum computing, which are increasingly blurring industry boundaries. 2026-01-02 09:29:26

Tesla price cuts set to spur EV competition in South Korea SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Tesla’s decision to cut prices on key electric-vehicle models in South Korea is expected to intensify competition in the country’s EV market, as expanded government subsidies and the growing presence of imported brands put pressure on domestic automakers. The U.S. firm has discounted the Model 3 Performance all-wheel-drive version by up to 9 million won ($760), lowering its price below 60 million won, the threshold for eligibility for South Korea’s EV purchase subsidies. The move comes as Seoul strengthens policy support for electric vehicles and as Chinese manufacturers prepare to enter the market with lower-priced models. Under the government’s revised 2026 EV purchase subsidy plan released on Jan. 1, buyers who scrap or sell gasoline-powered or other internal-combustion vehicles and then purchase an EV will be eligible for up to 1 million won in additional subsidies starting this year. The measure broadens support as South Korea works toward its 2035 national greenhouse gas reduction target under its nationally determined contribution (NDC), though per-vehicle subsidy amounts remain unchanged from last year. Industry officials expect competition between domestic and imported brands to intensify under the expanded incentives, with around 20 new EV models scheduled to launch in South Korea this year. Imported brands have steadily increased their market share. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, new EV registrations in South Korea totaled about 207,000 units from January through November last year. Imported vehicles accounted for 84,045 units, or 40.6 percent of the market, up from 25 percent in 2022 and 29.2 percent in 2023. Tesla remains one of the dominant players. Led by the Model Y, the company sold 55,594 vehicles in South Korea from January through November last year, ranking second behind Kia, which sold 59,939 units. Model Y sales reached 46,927 units, the highest of any EV model sold in the country. Chinese automakers are also expanding their presence. BYD, which ranked third in South Korea’s imported EV market in its first year, has signaled plans to launch the compact electric SUV Dolphin, which it said could be priced in the 20 million won range after subsidies. Following Zeekr’s market entry last year, Xpeng is also expected to enter the South Korean market this year. Domestic automakers are responding with new models. Hyundai Motor plans to launch the Genesis flagship electric GV90, while Kia is preparing to introduce new electrified vehicles, including GT versions of the EV3, EV4 and EV5. “The EV market will see very fierce competition this year as imported brands move into South Korea to strengthen global competitiveness,” said Kim Pil-soo, a professor of future mobility at Daelim University College. Hyundai and Kia “have no choice but to roll out proven models” to defend their home market against foreign rivals competing aggressively on price, he said. 2026-01-02 08:25:10

OPINION | Korea's AI ambition falters where it matters most: data security South Korea speaks confidently of becoming an “AI powerhouse,” yet the foundation of that ambition — data governance — remains dangerously fragile. The reported leak of 33.7 million Coupang user records is not just another corporate security lapse. It exposes a deeper structural failure in how the country understands, designs and governs data itself. Each time a major breach occurs, authorities respond with familiar language: tougher oversight, stricter certification, stronger encryption. But the pattern repeats. The reason is simple. Korea’s security framework remains focused on outer defenses — access controls, compliance checklists and perimeter protection — while neglecting the core of the system: how data are structured, classified and controlled inside databases. In the digital era, data are no longer a byproduct of administration or commerce. They are a strategic national asset, increasingly concentrated in large cloud-based systems. That reality demands a shift in thinking, from “protecting networks” to governing data itself. Yet repeated government network outages and recurring large-scale leaks suggest that this shift has yet to occur. The Coupang case illustrates the problem starkly. Reports indicate that tens of millions of records — amounting to several terabytes — were accessed over months. Such a volume could not plausibly have been extracted through a simple external intrusion or a personal device. It points instead to access at the core database level, what might be called the system’s “inner room.” This matters because database security is fundamentally different from general information security. It is not about building higher walls at the entrance, but about deciding — at the design stage — who can see which data, under what conditions, and with what technical limits. In advanced systems, high-value data are separated from general data and stored in dedicated databases with multiple clearance levels. Even if someone penetrates the network, they cannot read or copy sensitive data without the appropriate authorization. This is why database security has long been treated as a national-security issue in countries such as the United States. Multi-level security architectures, originally developed for defense systems, classify data by sensitivity and strictly limit access rights. Users cannot read or write information above their clearance level, and abnormal access attempts are automatically blocked and logged. South Korea, by contrast, still operates largely on a “front-door security” model. Once inside the system, internal users may retain excessively broad privileges. Reports that a single account could access tens of millions of personal records — if accurate — point to a breakdown of basic principles such as separation of duties and least-privilege access. Audit logs, meant to detect abnormal behavior, appear to have functioned more as formalities than as real safeguards, given that unusual activity allegedly went unnoticed for months. This regulatory blind spot is not accidental. Oversight has focused on visible security measures and certification processes rather than on the substance of database architecture. Even parliamentary reviews tend to stop short of examining how data are actually structured and governed. As a result, database security remains a gray zone — acknowledged rhetorically, but weakly regulated in practice. The distinction between “protection” and “security” matters here. Protection refers to outward defenses and compliance checklists. Security, in contrast, is a matter of national resilience. Treating database security as a subset of general IT protection understates its strategic importance. It requires its own legal basis, supervisory authority and professional standards. This also exposes the limits of the current “chief information security officer” model. Database governance demands specialized expertise that cannot be absorbed as a side function. What is needed is a separate framework — and accountability structure — dedicated to data security, including legally defined responsibilities and enforcement powers. Nor should “data” be treated as a vague or all-encompassing term. A database is not an Excel file. It is a structured system governed by a data model, and its security depends on how that model is designed. True data governance requires expert architects who define how information is classified, linked and accessed across systems. Without such design discipline, encryption alone offers little protection. Indeed, many firms quietly avoid encrypting core databases, citing performance concerns. But those concerns often stem from poor data architecture. Properly designed systems can handle encryption without meaningful slowdowns. Encryption becomes ineffective only when insiders already have unrestricted privileges — a design failure, not a technical inevitability. The same logic applies to Korea’s most sensitive identifier, the resident registration number. After decades of leaks, encrypting it offers limited protection if it continues to be widely used across the private sector. Preventing harm now requires institutional reform, including restricting its usage and redesigning identity systems for the internet era. Slogans about a “data dam” or an “AI powerhouse” ring hollow if the databases holding that data remain poorly governed. Artificial intelligence cannot be built on structurally weak foundations. Without robust data design, access control and accountability, AI simply scales existing vulnerabilities. The Coupang case should therefore be treated not as an isolated corporate failure, but as a warning about systemic weakness. Database security must be elevated to a core policy domain — with its own legislation, oversight and professional standards. Only then can Korea claim to be serious about data sovereignty, digital trust and the foundations of an AI-driven economy. About the author ▷Professor, KAIST Graduate School of Management ▷Ph.D. in computer science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ▷Asia representative director, European IT Society ▷Goodwill ambassador, Korean Red Cross ▷Professor of computer science at KAIST, the University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-02 07:30:18

[[AI Analysis]] Economy outweighs politics in South Korea, New Year polls show SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -New Year polls show economic anxiety outweighs political concerns as livelihoods come under strain in South Korea. Across multiple polls released at the turn of the year, voters expressed more anxiety than optimism — not in the form of crisis fear, but as a growing sense of fatigue from prolonged cost pressures and stalled improvement in daily life. Roughly 45–50 percent of respondents said the economy would worsen this year, while only the mid-30 percent range expected improvement. Notably, those predicting a sharp deterioration remained limited to around 10 percent, suggesting the public is not bracing for collapse but rather for continued stagnation under high prices and tight financial conditions. This pattern reflects what analysts describe as a widening gap between macro indicators and lived experience. Inflation has moderated on paper, but household budgets remain strained, reinforcing a sense that economic recovery has yet to reach everyday life. Economic performance outweighs political alignment Presidential approval ratings in several surveys hovered in the mid-50 percent range, with negative evaluations in the mid-30s to low-40s. Yet the reasons cited by respondents point less to ideology or foreign policy than to bread-and-butter concerns such as prices, jobs and housing costs. In other words, political judgment is increasingly being filtered through economic outcomes. Policy effectiveness — not rhetoric — has become the dominant yardstick. This shift is also visible in party support. Rather than a clear advantage for either camp, surveys show a notable expansion of independents, with 25–30 percent of respondents saying they support no party. In some polls, the non-aligned group rivals or exceeds individual party support. The rise of this bloc suggests not apathy, but caution: voters appear unwilling to commit politically until they see tangible improvements in daily life. Seoul mayoral race mirrors broader sentiment The same pattern emerges in polling on the Seoul mayoral race. Hypothetical two-way matchups show margins largely within the statistical error range, with leading candidates clustered between the high-30s and low-40s. Equally striking is the share of respondents answering “undecided” or “no preferred candidate,” which reaches around 20 percent in some surveys. The data suggest that Seoul voters are withholding judgment rather than rallying behind partisan identities. Age-group breakdowns reinforce this view. Among voters in their 20s and 30s, pessimism about the economy is particularly strong, and political engagement is more conditional. Many in this group say politics has limited power to improve their lives, reflecting concerns over housing affordability, job stability and long-term mobility. Another notable shift is the weakening of the traditional “government evaluation” frame. In several surveys, more respondents prioritized policy outcomes over assigning political responsibility. The underlying question has changed from who is to blame to what actually works. Experts interpret this as accumulated political fatigue combined with prolonged economic pressure. As inflation remains sticky and real purchasing power recovers slowly, public patience with symbolic politics has thinned. Messaging centered on ideology or confrontation is proving less persuasive than concrete, measurable results. Taken together, the New Year surveys amount to more than a snapshot of approval ratings. They form a collective portrait of economic sentiment — cautious, fatigued and pragmatic. The tight race seen in Seoul mayoral polling fits this broader picture. Voters are not rallying around personalities or camps, but reserving judgment until they see credible plans and execution on housing, costs of living and urban management. For policymakers, the challenge ahead is no longer how to win the political narrative, but how to translate policy into improvements people can actually feel. 2026-01-01 18:33:35

South Korea welcomes first babies of 2026 amid signs of fragile fertility recovery SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - South Korea marked the start of the Year of the Red Horse with the birth of its first newborns at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, as two baby girls were delivered simultaneously at a maternity hospital in Seoul. According to CHA University Gangnam Medical Center, the two girls were born at exactly 12:00 a.m. to mothers aged 37, both in stable condition. One baby, weighing 2.88 kilograms, was delivered by cesarean section, while the other, weighing 3.42 kilograms, was born naturally. Both newborns and their mothers were reported to be healthy. One of the babies, nicknamed “Jjaem,” is the first child of a couple married for four years. Her father, Yoon Sung-min, 38, said he felt especially joyful that his daughter arrived at the very beginning of the new year. “I hope she grows up happy and enjoys life, just like her nickname suggests,” he said with a smile. The other newborn, nicknamed “Dori,” is the second child of her parents. Her father, Jung Dong-gyu, 36, said he had expected a late-December birth but was grateful that both mother and child held on until the new year. “It feels meaningful that she became one of the first babies of 2026,” he said, adding that he hopes more children will be born around her so she can grow up with many friends. Separately, another baby girl was born under dramatic circumstances later that day aboard a fire-service helicopter in the skies over Jeju Island. According to the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, emergency services received a request at 11:30 a.m. from an obstetrics clinic in Jeju City to transport a woman in her 30s who was experiencing premature rupture of membranes at 30 weeks of pregnancy. A rescue helicopter was dispatched, but during the flight to a mainland hospital, the woman went into labor and delivered the baby at 1:17 p.m. Both the mother and newborn were reported to be in stable condition. Officials described the airborne delivery as a rare case, made possible by the swift response of emergency personnel. The symbolic New Year births come as South Korea shows tentative signs of a rebound in childbirth after years of record-low fertility. The country’s total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime — stood at about 0.80 for the January–October period last year. If the trend holds through year-end, it would mark the first return to the 0.8 range in four years. Korea’s fertility rate fell to 0.81 in 2021, dropped further to 0.78 in 2022 and hit a record low of 0.72 in 2023, before edging up to 0.75 in 2024 — the first rebound in nine years. Government and research projections suggest the recent uptick may continue. The National Assembly Budget Office estimates the fertility rate at 0.80 last year and 0.90 this year, with a gradual rise to 0.92 by 2045. It attributes the improvement to a rebound in marriages delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the population of women in their 30s, and gradually improving perceptions toward marriage and childbirth. Official population projections also point to a recovery trend. Under the medium scenario, the fertility rate is expected to bottom out at 0.65 before rising to 0.68 this year, 0.71 in 2027 and 0.75 in 2028. A more optimistic scenario sees the figure climbing from 0.75 to 0.80 this year and 0.84 by 2027. Public attitudes appear to be shifting as well. A survey by the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy showed that the share of people expressing willingness to marry rose from 61.0 percent in March 2024 to 65.2 percent a year later. The proportion saying they believe children are necessary increased from 61.1 percent to 70.9 percent over the same period. Still, the country's fertility rate remains well below the OECD average of 1.43 in 2023 and far under the replacement level of 2.1 needed to sustain the population. 2026-01-01 17:22:26

Samsung Display rolls out 360Hz QD-OLED with new pixel structure as high-end monitor competition intensifies SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - Samsung Display has begun mass supply of a 34-inch QD-OLED monitor panel featuring a newly designed “V-Stripe” pixel structure, as panel makers race to differentiate performance in the premium gaming and productivity market. The company said it started shipping the panels in December to seven global manufacturers, including ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte. The model supports a 21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio, a 360Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The V-Stripe layout arranges red, green and blue sub-pixels vertically rather than in the conventional triangular configuration used in existing QD-OLED panels. Samsung Display says the redesign improves edge clarity for text, addressing demand from users involved in coding, document editing and content creation. High-refresh-rate performance on ultra-wide displays typically poses challenges due to increased pixel counts, heat generation and the need for uniform signal timing across the panel. The company said it improved material efficiency and panel design to mitigate luminance loss and thermal load during high-speed operation. The new panel will appear in several monitor models to be unveiled at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Samsung Display will also showcase the technology at a private booth at the Encore at Wynn hotel during the event. According to market researcher Omdia, products using self-emissive displays such as OLED are expected to account for 27 percent of premium monitors priced above $500 in 2026, up from 14 percent in 2024, reflecting a continued shift away from LCD. Samsung Display is projected to hold more than 75 percent of the OLED monitor panel market next year, with estimated shipments of 2.5 million units. 2026-01-01 15:47:31

Half of Koreans expect economy to worsen in 2026, inflation tops concern: poll SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -About half of South Koreans believe economic conditions will deteriorate in 2026, with inflation emerging as the most urgent concern, even as many remain optimistic that the stock market’s rally can extend further, a survey showed Thursday. A poll conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Energy Economy News found that 46.4 percent of respondents expect the economy next year to be “worse than now,” compared with 33.8 percent who believe conditions will improve. The pessimistic view outweighed optimism by 12.6 percentage points, beyond the margin of error. Pessimism was strongest among the young, reflecting the anxieties over job and income insecurity of the younger cohort. Respondents in their 50s were relatively upbeat, with 45.8 percent expecting improvement versus 38.8 percent anticipating deterioration. In contrast, pessimism was strongest among those aged 18–29 (56.8 percent) and those 70 or older (55.3 percent). When asked which economic issue the government should prioritize in 2026, respondents most frequently cited price stability, at 29.4 percent, reflecting continued pressure on household budgets from elevated living costs. Other priorities followed at a distance: easing corporate regulations and boosting investment (15.9 percent), strengthening export competitiveness and nurturing new industries (12.8 percent), expanding jobs and employment (12.0 percent), and reducing household debt and interest burdens (10.9 percent). Support for the self-employed and small businesses (8.3 percent) and assistance for youth and future generations (7.7 percent) ranked lower. Political orientation also played a decisive role. Among conservatives, 71.1 percent said the economy would worsen, while 59.0 percent of progressives expected improvement. Centrists were more divided, with pessimistic views (42.7 percent) narrowly exceeding optimistic ones (34.4 percent). Despite the downbeat economic outlook, views on the stock market were more balanced. When asked whether the benchmark KOSPI index could reach 5,000 points in 2026, 48.7 percent said it was possible, exceeding the 42.5 percent who said it was unlikely. By age group, optimism was highest among people in their 40s (55.1 percent), 50s (57.1 percent) and 60s (52.6 percent), while respondents aged 70 or older were the most pessimistic, with 54.4 percent doubting the possibility of a KOSPI 5,000 era. Ideological divides again surfaced, with 73.0 percent of progressives saying the index could reach 5,000, compared with 60.4 percent of conservatives who said it could not. Centrists were split, with 48.2 percent optimistic and 42.5 percent pessimistic. The survey was conducted on Dec. 29–30, 2025, among 1,025 adults aged 18 or older nationwide using automated random-digit dialing (RDD) of mobile phones. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. Results were weighted by gender, age and region based on October 2025 resident registration data. 2026-01-01 15:38:50

Son of Mirae Asset founder moves to core Mirae unit to renew speculation on generational shift SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -Park Jun-beom, the eldest son of Mirae Asset Chairman Park Hyun-joo, has moved from Mirae Asset Venture Investment to Mirae Asset Securities, the core unit of South Korea's top asset managing conglomerate, renewing speculation about a generational shift under making despite the founder's long-stated opposition to hereditary succession. Mirae Asset Securities said Thursday that Park, previously a senior investment reviewer at Mirae Asset Venture Investment, was reassigned through a personnel reshuffle the previous day. Beginning this year, he will work in the proprietary investment (PI) division, which focuses on investments in new-growth industries and innovative companies. Born in 1993, Park majored in economics at Washington University in St. Louis. After graduating, he worked as a project manager at game developer Netmarble starting in 2020. He joined Mirae Asset Venture Investment in 2022, where he led startup deal sourcing and investment execution, including a secondary-share investment in apparel brand Andar, according to industry sources. His move to Mirae Asset Securities — widely regarded as the group’s core operating arm — has fueled market speculation that preparations for a future management succession may be gaining momentum. A Mirae Asset Securities official, however, downplayed such interpretations, saying the reassignment reflects Park’s professional background rather than a governance shift. “His experience as a venture investor focused on long-term investments in innovative companies will be useful for proprietary investment activities,” the official said, adding that Mirae Asset maintains a professional management system and that the chairman’s children are not expected to take board positions.Speculation over succession has been floated after change in the ownership structure of Mirae Asset Consulting, the holding company at the top of the group’s governance chain, two years ago. Regulatory filings placed Park Jun-beom as the second-largest shareholder of Mirae Asset Consulting after receiving 25,884 shares, or 3.33 percent, from his aunt Park Jung-sun through a gift transaction. His stake rose from 8.19 percent to 11.52 percent, second only to Chairman Park Hyun-joo’s 48.63 percent. The transfer pushed Park’s mother, Kim Mi-kyung, to third place with a 10.24 percent stake. His sisters, Park Ha-min and Park Eun-min, each hold 8.19 percent, while cousins Song Sung-won and Song Ha-kyung hold 1.37 percent each. Mirae Asset Consulting sits at the apex of the group’s ownership structure, which runs through Mirae Asset Global Investments, Mirae Asset Capital, Mirae Asset Securities and Mirae Asset Life Insurance. The group has been making meaningful strides on the global market. In September, the company's global exchange-traded fund assets have surpassed 250 trillion won ($179.2 billion), reaching 254 trillion won. Its ETFs are now operated across multiple markets, including South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, making Mirae Asset the world’s 12th-largest ETF provider by assets. Mirae Asset’s global ETF assets have grown at an average annual rate of 37 percent over the past decade, nearly double the global industry average of about 20 percent. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-01 15:14:47

Kim Jong Un stresses internal unity, honors troops sent to Russia in New Year address SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used his New Year speech to emphasize domestic cohesion and praise soldiers deployed to Russia, avoiding any direct message toward South Korea or the United States. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim delivered the remarks late Wednesday at a large celebration held at Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium. He said North Korea’s drive for “comprehensive socialist development” had successfully passed its first stage, crediting both central and provincial regions for propelling nationwide progress. Kim devoted a significant portion of the speech to the Korean People’s Army, commending troops who endured “heavy hardships” and achieved “remarkable results” on what he described as front lines of construction and change. He said their “noble sacrifices” would be remembered “for generations,” in an apparent reference to forces dispatched to support Russia. He also highlighted workers, agricultural laborers and the women’s national football team, which won last year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, describing them as key contributors to the country’s direction over the past year. Calling on the public to remain faithful to socialism and “people-first” principles, Kim urged citizens to strengthen unity ahead of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Ninth Congress, which is expected to outline major policy directions for the next five years. KCNA said Kim’s speech contained no references to the United States or South Korea, signaling a focus on tightening internal discipline rather than foreign policy messaging. Kim attended the event with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and their daughter, Ju Ae, who sat beside him during the performance. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-01 15:01:51

South Korean defense minister conducts New Year's Day command flight SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back conducted a command flight on New Year’s Day under escort by domestically produced fighter jets in a symbolic move to demonstrate military readiness across the Korean Peninsula, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday. Ahn boarded an Air Force E-737 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control aircraft before dawn for what the ministry described as an “airborne command post” operation. Six Air Force fighter jets escorted the flight, including the KF-21, FA-50 and TA-50. It marked the first time domestically produced aircraft have been deployed to escort a command flight, the ministry said. During the mission, Ahn held a series of command-line briefings with frontline commanders to assess operational readiness. Those briefed included the captain of the Navy’s Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer operating in the East Sea, an Air Force flight leader responsible for aerial patrol and escort missions, the battalion commander of the Marine Corps’ 6th Brigade defending a front-line contact area, and the Army commander overseeing a guard post in the 22nd Division. Ahn later spoke by secure line with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Young-seung, stressing the importance of maintaining a strong state of readiness and a fully prepared operational posture. During the calls, the defense minister checked for any unusual developments along the front lines and in key operational areas. He thanked service members for their dedication, saying, “Thanks to your commitment, our people can welcome the New Year in peace,” and urged commanders to maintain a gap-free readiness posture throughout the year. Ahn also underscored the importance of self-reliant defense capabilities, saying, “Only when we have the strength to protect ourselves can sustainable peace be possible,” adding that the military must “proactively prepare for the future security environment based on our own defense capabilities.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-01 14:51:15