Actor Ahn Hyo-seop to appear on US talk show SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Actor Ahn Hyo-seop will ring in the new year with an appearance on a popular U.S. talk show. He is set to appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Jan. 12, riding the wave of popularity from Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters," in which he lent his voice. The 100-minute K-pop-themed anime became one of Netflix's most popular films, accumulating 500 million views worldwide within about 27 weeks of its June release, and also earned multiple nominations from the prestigious Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards, which are set to be presented early next month in the U.S. The soundtrack from the anime he participated in is also up for prizes at the annual Grammy Awards, slated to be held in February next year. Ahn is also gaining global recognition with the release of his latest film "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy," which has been sold to some 113 countries around the world. 2025-12-31 17:10:12

Japan tops most popular international routes as China sees sharp rise in passengers SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Japan-bound flights emerged as the most popular international routes this year, while passenger traffic on China routes posted the strongest growth, according to travel data released by South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet. Based on an analysis of customer usage data for its 2025 travel trends, Eastar Jet said on Wednesday that it carried approximately 5.6 million passengers this year, up 23 percent from the previous year, bringing its cumulative passenger total to 12 million. The airline expanded its fleet to 20 aircraft after introducing five new Boeing 737-8 jets, logging more than 34.2 million kilometers of flights—equivalent to circling the globe 853 times. Eastar Jet also added 12 new routes, including services to Almaty in Kazakhstan, Manado in Indonesia, and new international departures from Busan, expanding its network to more than 30 routes. The most frequently used international routes were Incheon–Osaka, Incheon–Tokyo and Incheon–Fukuoka, while the domestic Gimpo–Jeju route accounted for more than 70 percent of all domestic passengers. China routes stood out this year, with passenger numbers rising by more than 128 percent year on year. Average load factors on China flights also climbed by over 28 percent per flight. Foreign nationals accounted for about 30 percent of Eastar Jet's passengers. Among them, Taiwanese travelers made up the largest share at 38 percent, followed by Japanese (32 percent), Chinese (18 percent) and other nationalities (12 percent). Taipei emerged as the most popular overseas destination, reflecting Eastar Jet's extensive service to the city from Gimpo, Incheon, Busan, Cheongju and Jeju. The airline data aligns with broader tourism trends. According to Korea Tourism Organization statistics released on Tuesday, the number of foreign visitors to South Korea from January to November reached 17.42 million, up 15.4 percent from a year earlier and equivalent to 108.6 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019. By country, China led with 5.09 million visitors, followed by Japan (3.35 million), Taiwan (1.73 million), the United States (1.38 million) and the Philippines (560,000). Outbound travel by South Koreans also continued to recover. From January to November, the number of overseas trips by Korean nationals totaled 26.8 million, up 3.2 percent from the same period last year and reaching 101.6 percent of 2019 levels. By age group, travelers in their 30s recorded the highest monthly average at around 460,000, followed by those in their 40s and 50s, with roughly 410,000 and 380,000 travelers, respectively. Eastar Jet said its youngest passenger this year was under one year old, while the oldest was 103. Eastar Jet also observed distinct booking patterns depending on departure timing. About 42 percent of passengers purchased tickets between two weeks and two months before departure, while 21 percent booked more than two months in advance and around 20 percent bought tickets within a week of travel. 2025-12-31 16:54:46

Policymakers scramble to rescue Korea's fast-sinking film industry SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Moviegoing is quickly going out of fashion in South Korea, with the only films able to stay in theaters for more than a month being foreign, fandom-driven animation franchises this year. As audiences remain glued to YouTube and Netflix, visits to cinemas have dwindled, prompting the government and film policymakers to roll out a series of measures to rescue a struggling industry. “The biggest challenge is that audiences now draw a very clear line between what they are willing to watch in theaters and what they prefer to stream at home,” said Kim Bo-yeon, director of the Policy R&D Department at the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). “Viewers go to theaters only for blockbusters, while everything else is pushed to OTT platforms,” Kim told AJP. “As attendance declines, production companies are reluctant to invest in large-scale films because there is no guarantee they can recoup costs. Naturally, the market has shifted toward mid- and small-budget projects.” To counter the downturn, KOFIC plans three major initiatives starting in 2026. The first is expanded support for project development, or what Kim calls “lineup development,” which allows production companies to receive funding for multiple projects rather than on a title-by-title basis. The goal is to strengthen studios’ long-term planning capacity and reduce risk concentration. Second, the agency plans to double support for mid-budget commercial films, raising funding from 10 billion won this year to 20 billion won next year, in an effort to rebuild the industry’s hollowed-out middle tier. The third pillar focuses on independent filmmaking, which Kim described as “the foundation of Korean cinema.” “We will actively support independent filmmakers so their creative work and distribution channels can recover,” she said. Subscription theaters and shrinking output Separately, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is considering a subscription-style program for cinemas starting in 2027, modeled loosely on streaming services. Under the proposal, moviegoers would pay 15,000 won ($10.40) to watch four films — roughly a quarter of the current per-ticket price. Whether such incentives can lure audiences back remains uncertain, as viewers increasingly complain that recent theatrical offerings are not compelling enough to justify a trip to the cinema. Industry data underscore the severity of the downturn. Only around 20 Korean commercial films were produced in the first half of 2025, barely above the pandemic low of 2021 and far below the roughly 60 titles released in 2019. There was also no domestic film this year that surpassed the symbolic 10 million admissions mark. For the first time, a Japanese animation — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle — topped the Korean box office, drawing 5.65 million viewers. Today, nearly 40 percent of Koreans subscribe to three or four streaming platforms, reflecting how deeply on-demand viewing has reshaped consumption habits. The global success of Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters, which surpassed 314 million views by September, has reinforced the sense that cultural gravity is shifting decisively toward streaming platforms. Reports of a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Netflix have further heightened concerns about an emerging OTT monopoly — anxieties now acutely felt in South Korea’s once-dominant film sector. Even established auteurs are increasingly opting for streaming-first releases. Veteran director Lee Chang-dong is reportedly preparing his next film, Possible Love, for Netflix rather than for theatrical release. “I was shocked to hear that even Lee Chang-dong’s film may not be shown in cinemas,” said a film director who requested anonymity. “If his work moves online, what future is left for theaters? It’s a frightening thought.” 2025-12-31 16:52:08

Stock boom, currency bust: Korea's uneven market rally may spill into 2026 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Roaring stock prices and a tumbling currency defined South Korea’s financial markets in 2025 — a divergence that may persist well into next year. The benchmark KOSPI closed the year Tuesday at 4,214.17, up 75.6 percent from a year earlier, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ jumped 37 percent to 925.47. Both far outperformed regional peers, powered by surging demand for semiconductors, shipbuilding and defense-related stocks. Chipmakers were the undisputed champions. Samsung Electronics surged 125 percent to close at 119,900 won ($82.9), while SK hynix soared 250 percent to 651,000 won. Together, the two now account for more than one-third of the KOSPI’s total market capitalization, underscoring the market’s heavy concentration in artificial intelligence–linked plays. Shipbuilders also enjoyed a banner year. Hanwha Ocean jumped 204 percent to 113,600 won, driven by its strategic alignment with U.S. industrial policy, including the acquisition of Philly Shipyard. The move has positioned the company to secure lucrative U.S. naval maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contracts, alongside a strong backlog of LNG carrier orders. Defense stocks delivered similarly robust gains. Hanwha Systems rose 140.7 percent, while LIG Nex1 climbed 90.9 percent, defying earlier expectations that easing tensions in the Middle East would dampen demand. Instead, the prolonged war in Ukraine and an intensifying global arms race continued to provide strong tailwinds. “Semiconductor stocks are expected to account for more than half of the KOSPI’s projected 14 percent return in 2026,” said Lee Jae-man, a researcher at Hana Securities, adding that defense companies are also poised for further upside as the government earmarks a record share of its research and development budget for military technologies. Lee singled out Hanwha Ocean for its strengthening pricing power and expanding profit margins. Bullish outlook — with caveats Market sentiment remains broadly optimistic. Daishin Securities and NH Investment & Securities project the KOSPI could peak between 5,300 and 5,500, supported by synchronized monetary easing and fiscal stimulus across major economies. Lee Kyung-min, a strategist at Daishin, said the rally reflects a coordinated global shift toward rate cuts, suggesting the cyclical bull market could extend at least through the first half of 2026. Government-led “value-up” initiatives have also helped narrow the so-called Korea discount. Measures such as tax incentives for higher dividend payouts, tighter fiduciary duties for corporate directors, and plans to expand pension fund investment into the KOSDAQ have bolstered investor confidence. Still, risks are mounting. Analysts warn of renewed talk of an AI bubble and the possibility of a sharper-than-expected policy pivot if inflation reaccelerates. “A liquidity squeeze following the end of the global easing cycle could trigger a market correction,” Hana Securities cautioned, noting that renewed inflation pressure in the United States could quickly sour risk sentiment. Won weakness clouds the rally In stark contrast to soaring equities, the Korean won remained among the weakest major currencies. It closed the year at 1,445.4 per dollar, down nearly 9 percent from its high earlier in May. The divergence between stocks and the currency is highly unusual. “It is unprecedented for the KOSPI to break above 4,000 while the exchange rate stays entrenched above the 1,400-won level,” said Kim Hak-kyun, managing director at Shinyoung Securities. A key driver has been the surge in overseas investment by Korean residents. From January to October, net outbound investment reached a record $117.1 billion, with $17.3 billion flowing out in October alone — the largest monthly outflow on record. The wide interest-rate gap between South Korea and the United States continues to weigh on the won. While the Federal Reserve has begun easing, its policy rate of 3.75 percent still far exceeds the Bank of Korea’s 2.5 percent, limiting Seoul’s room to maneuver. The central bank remains constrained by household debt exceeding 1,000 trillion won, making rate hikes politically and economically untenable. “Unless the U.S. economy deteriorates sharply, downward pressure on the won is likely to persist,” said Moon Jung-hee, an economist at KB Kookmin Bank. Some relief may come from policy and structural developments. The government’s foreign-exchange stabilization measures and South Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) next April could provide a floor for the currency. “The WGBI inclusion alone could attract stable long-term inflows, potentially pulling the exchange rate back toward the low-1,400 range,” said Seo Jeong-hoon, a researcher at Hana Bank. He added that a possible policy shift at the U.S. Federal Reserve under a Trump administration more inclined toward monetary easing could give the won additional breathing room by late 2026. 2025-12-31 16:43:44

PHOTOS: Seoul's DDP prepares for high-octane New Year countdown with media art SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul’s landmark cultural hub, is currently serving as a massive digital canvas for the “Seoul Light: Winter” media art festival. The event, which illuminates the iconic silver curves of the Zaha Hadid-designed structure, is part of the city’s broader “Seoul Winter Festa” celebrations. Running for 14 days from Dec. 18 through Dec. 31, the exhibition uses the building’s 222-meter-long outer facade to project high-tech visuals, transforming the architectural landmark into a vibrant "Christmas Town." The festivities will culminate on New Year’s Eve, with a grand countdown event scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. on Dec. 31. The celebration is set to feature a synchronized media art show, live performances, and a DJ set, alongside a rooftop fireworks display to welcome the start of 2026. 2025-12-31 16:41:47

South Korean crypto exchange Korbit fined over anti-money laundering breaches SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has fined cryptocurrency exchange Korbit 2.73 billion won ($2 million) for violations of anti-money laundering (AML) obligations, issuing an institutional warning against the company. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said on Wednesday a comprehensive FIU inspection found Korbit had breached legal requirements, including prohibitions on transactions with unreported virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and obligations related to customer due diligence and transaction restrictions. The FIU held a sanctions review committee meeting on Tuesday and finalized follow-up measures after considering past sanction precedents, Korbit’s voluntary corrective actions and relevant legal standards, the commission said. The FIU conducted an on-site inspection of Korbit from Oct. 16 to 29, uncovering around 22,000 violations related to customer due diligence and transaction-restriction requirements. Korbit was also found to have supported 19 virtual asset transfer transactions involving three overseas VASPs that had not met reporting requirements under South Korean law, violating the ban on dealing with unreported providers. In addition, inspectors identified 655 cases in which Korbit failed to conduct required money-laundering risk assessments when supporting new transactions, including those involving non-fungible tokens. 2025-12-31 16:28:44

Minor earthquake detected in Goheung SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - A 2.0-maginitue earthquake struck Goheung in southwestern South Korea on Wednesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the quake occurred at around 3:30 p.m., about 14 kilometers northeast of Goheung, South Jeolla Province. The epicenter was located at 34.70 degrees north latitude and 127.37 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 14 kilometers. The KMA stated that some residents in the affected area felt weak tremors, but there have been no reports of damage or injuries. 2025-12-31 16:23:27

Look to license plates for clues to Pyongyang's shifting pecking order SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - That North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un favors symbolism is hardly surprising. But his latest gesture suggests a particular flair for political semiotics. Kim has reportedly replaced the license plate on his state limousine — a Russian-made Aurus Senat gifted by President Vladimir Putin — with one bearing the number “7·27 0001.” The first three digits mark July 27, 1953, the date of the Korean War armistice. The remaining four leave little room for interpretation: No. 1. In Pyongyang, nothing is accidental. Recent footage aired by state broadcaster Korean Central Television (KCTV) suggests that license plates themselves have become a visible code for hierarchy inside the regime. The numbers “0002” and “0003” are now assigned to Premier Pak Thae-song, head of the Cabinet, and Choe Ryong-hae, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), respectively. The sequencing — placing the premier ahead of the nominal head of state — has fueled speculation among analysts that the administrative arm of the government is gaining renewed prominence under Kim’s rule. At major public events, including the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in Pyongyang last October, Pak was seated immediately after Kim’s main guest, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and ahead of Choe. In official party roll calls as well, Pak has been introduced before the SPA chief, reinforcing perceptions that he has emerged as the regime’s de facto second-in-command. “Formally, the president of the SPA Presidium functions as North Korea’s head of state, signing credentials and representing the country diplomatically,” Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, told AJP. “In practice, however, real authority often rests with the premier, who oversees economic management and state administration. It is similar to South Korea, where the National Assembly speaker ranks second in protocol but does not necessarily wield comparable political power.” Another Dongguk University scholar, Hwang Jin-tae, offered a complementary reading of the symbolism. “People are paying attention to the fact that the No. 2 plate was assigned to the premier,” he said in a separate interview with AJP. “Traditionally, the party was considered the ‘head’ and the Cabinet the ‘hands.’ But with the growing emphasis on regional development initiatives such as the ‘20×10 Regional Development Policy,’ which directly affects people’s livelihoods, the premier’s role appears to be gaining weight.” Hwang noted that similar interpretations surfaced during the tenure of former Premier Kim Tok-hun. “Even then, coverage highlighted the Cabinet’s responsibility for economic management,” he said. “Assigning numbers 2 and 3 to the heads of the executive and legislative branches may be symbolically fitting for a regime eager to project a more ‘normalized’ state structure.” Still, he cautioned, ultimate authority remains firmly within the Workers’ Party, particularly among senior figures such as Jo Yong-won, director of the Organization and Guidance Department, and Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. While internal symbolism may be shifting, observers in Seoul say Pyongyang’s external posture remains hard-edged. Kim Gunn, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, said North Korea may soon enter another phase of provocation aimed at strengthening its bargaining position with Washington. Kim, who previously served as South Korea’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and as chief nuclear negotiator, is now secretary of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. “The direction of North Korea’s policy this year will depend on decisions taken at the Ninth Party Congress,” he told AJP. “But the recent display of what appears to be a nuclear-powered submarine under construction suggests Pyongyang is preparing to raise tensions as a negotiating tactic.” “The key for Seoul and Washington,” he added, “will be close coordination and efforts to encourage constructive engagement by surrounding powers.” 2025-12-31 16:23:15

IU donates 200 million won to charities SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Singer and actress IU has donated 200 million won (about US$ $139,000) to charities, sharing holiday joy with the underprivileged. According to her management agency EDAM Entertainment, IU made the donation to several charities, which will be distributed to support single mothers facing economic hardship and social prejudice, children and youth in poverty, individuals with hearing disabilities, and the elderly at risk of going hungry during the cold winter. IU has donated on numerous occasions including her birthday and other anniversaries. 2025-12-31 15:50:19

Lee to lead large entourage for his trip to China SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will be accompanied by a group of financial leaders on his trip to China next week for a summit with President Xi Jinping. Among his entourage is Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong, who will join Lee during his state visit to China from Jan. 4 to 7, according to industry sources on Tuesday. With the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) organizing the entourage, Jin, who chairs the business lobby's financial committee, would be the sole top financial executive. Several heads of major banks including KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-ju, Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-sung, Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan and NH Nonghyup Bank CEO Kang Tae-young will also be part of the delegation, along with business tycoons and leaders. While their detailed itinerary has not been finalized, a large number of the delegation are expected to help strengthen cooperation between Seoul and Beijing. Lee is expected to lead an entourage of about 200 businesspeople including the heads of the country's four largest conglomerates such as Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, who also leads the KCCI, Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Eui-sun and LG Group chairman Koo Kwang-mo. 2025-12-31 15:36:39