Doosan Enerbility secures 575 billion won deal to build offshore wind farm SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea's Doosan Enerbility has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the 104-megawatt Yeonggwang Yawol offshore wind farm in South Korea. The project involves installing 13 offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 8 megawatts, off Nakwol-myeon in Yeonggwang-gun, South Jeolla Province. Doosan Enerbility said the contract is valued at 575 billion won ($430 million) and covers the full EPC scope, including the supply of turbines. The company said Wednesday this marks its first commercial contract for its 8-megawatt offshore wind turbine, the DS205-8MW, which it independently developed in 2022 using domestic technology. The turbine has obtained international certification from UL, according to the company, and was designed to perform efficiently under South Korea’s relatively lower wind-speed conditions compared with Europe. Under the agreement, Doosan Enerbility will supply the turbines, while providing key equipment and oversee installation and construction. Following completion, the company will also provide long-term maintenance services to ensure stable operations. Construction of the offshore wind farm is scheduled to be completed in March 2029, Doosan Enerbility said. Lee Hyun-ho, head of Doosan Enerbility’s Plant EPC Business Group, said the deal is significant as it combines the first deployment of the company’s 8-megawatt turbine with full EPC responsibilities for a large-scale offshore wind project. “Based on proven technology, we aim to contribute to revitalizing South Korea’s offshore wind ecosystem,” Lee said. 2025-12-31 13:54:07

KAIST researchers develop brain-like AI chip perceiving and thinking instantly SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a next-generation artificial intelligence semiconductor that integrates sensing, computing, and memory into a single chip. By mimicking the structure of the human eye and brain, the technology allows devices to perceive and process information instantly without the power loss or delays found in traditional computers. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 31, Wednesday, that a research team led by Professor Chon Sang-hun from the School of Electrical Engineering presented six papers at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEEE IEDM 2025) in San Francisco. The team work on integrated vision sensors was selected as a "Highlight Paper," and their research on highly reliable memory received the "Top Ranked Student Paper" award. Standard AI systems function like a relay race: a camera sensor takes a picture, converts it into numbers, moves those numbers to memory for storage, and then sends them to a processor to be calculated. This constant moving of data back and forth uses a lot of electricity and creates a "lag" in response time. The KAIST team solved this by creating a "full-stack" AI chip where the sensor and the brain-like processing circuits are physically stacked on top of each other in very thin layers. This "in-sensor" technology allows the chip to "see and think" at the same time. Instead of sending raw data elsewhere, the sensor itself performs the calculations. This mimics how the human nervous system processes basic visual features before the information even reaches the deep brain. By eliminating the need to move data between different chips, the system uses significantly less power and reacts much faster, making it ideal for real-time use in mobile devices, drones, and robots. In addition to the sensing technology, the team improved the storage part of the AI chip. They developed a new type of memory called "Next-Generation NAND Flash" that uses a special material to store data more reliably while using lower voltage. This ensures that the AI can store vast amounts of information safely for a long time without draining the battery. Professor Chon Sang-hun stated that this research proves that sensors, computation, and storage—which used to be designed separately—can be combined into one single system and material. He noted that this platform will be expanded for use in "edge AI," which refers to smart devices that need to process complex information locally and instantly without relying on a central server. The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. It was conducted in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, Kyungpook National University, and Hanyang University. (Paper information) Journal: IEEE IEDM 2025 Title: Monolithically Integrated Photodiode–Spiking Circuit for Neuromorphic Vision with In-Sensor Feature Extraction DOI: https://iedm25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=255 Title: A Highly Reliable Ferroelectric NAND Cell with Ultra-thin IGZO Charge Trap Layer; Trap Profile Engineering for Endurance and Retention Improvement DOI: https://iedm25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=124 2025-12-31 13:46:54

Farewell, volatile 2025. Welcome, year of the Fire Horse SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea passed through a year of sharp political rupture, marked by martial law and impeachment, yet it did not remain suspended in crisis. Gradually, the pulse of society returned. The economy gathered speed from near stillness, and the KOSPI rose with uncommon force, its 76 percent surge reflecting both the promise of artificial intelligence and shifting winds in the global order. Beneath the recovery, divisions linger and the young continue to shoulder uncertainty. Still, as the Year of the Fire Horse approaches — a symbol of strong motion, resolve and renewal — there is a quiet hope that 2026 will carry brighter energy, steadier ground, and a deeper sense of confidence for the people. 2025-12-31 13:39:48

Celltrion forecasts record quarterly revenue, operating profit for Q4 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Celltrion said Wednesday that it expects to post record-breaking fourth-quarter results, projecting revenue of 1.28 trillion won ($889 million) and operating profit of 472.2 billion won for the October-December period. The South Korean biopharmaceutical giant's forecast marks a 20.7 percent year-on-year surge in revenue and a 140.4 percent jump in operating profit, with operating margin reaching 36.8 percent. Should the projections hold, Celltrion's full-year revenue would climb 15.7 percent to 4.12 trillion won, while annual operating profit would more than double to 1.17 trillion won — breaching the 4 trillion won and 1 trillion won thresholds for the first time in the company's history. The robust performance stems from the rapid global uptake of newer biosimilar products including Remsima SC, Yuflyma, and Vegzelma, which are expected to post double-digit growth rates and account for more than 60 percent of quarterly sales. Celltrion also disclosed that its fourth-quarter cost of goods sold ratio dropped to 36.1 percent from 39 percent in the previous quarter, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is projected to hit a record 538.9 billion won. The company said it will complete the acquisition of Eli Lilly's biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Branchburg, New Jersey by year-end and will begin contract manufacturing operations and U.S.-bound production next year. "From 2026, we will focus on substantive growth centered on high-margin product lines," said a Celltrion spokesperson. The company added that it applied conservative assumptions to the forecast, citing market volatility ahead of final earnings confirmation. 2025-12-31 13:37:36

Samsung Electronics begins manufacturing operations in Kazakhstan SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has officially launched the production of televisions and washing machines in Kazakhstan, marking the South Korean tech giant's first manufacturing presence in the Central Asian nation. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in South Korea said Wednesday that the new production lines are operating at the Silk Road Electronics plant in Saran, a city in the Karaganda Region. The facility currently employs more than 1,100 people. The project is a joint initiative involving the Kazakh government, private investors, and industry partners designed to expand the country's domestic machine-building capabilities. According to the embassy, the plant has an annual production capacity of 150,000 televisions and 200,000 washing machines. It is currently producing washing machines that support the SmartThings ecosystem, as well as Crystal UHD 4K, FHD, and HD television models. Since mass production began earlier this year, the facility has turned out more than 42,000 units. These include models featuring artificial intelligence technology and user interfaces localized in the Kazakh language. Officials plan to add QLED TV series to the production lines in the future. The plant has also started manufacturing 2026 model-year televisions, which the embassy noted meets Samsung's international production standards. 2025-12-31 13:35:25

Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki in critical condition after collapsing at home SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki was rushed to a hospital in Seoul after his health suddenly deteriorated, his agency said on Wednesday. According to his management agency Artist Company, he was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest after collapsing at home from choking on food the previous day. He is reportedly in critical condition. Making his debut in 1957 with director Kim Ki-young's "Twilight Train," he has appeared in more than 150 films over a career spanning roughly 60 years. He has been receiving treatment for blood cancer since 2019. 2025-12-31 10:56:51

New year to bring box-office hope for domestic films SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - As the Year of the Snake draws to a close, a slew of domestic films stands ready to usher in the new year, after Hollywood blockbusters dominated the year-end box office. With no single standout hit seen among domestic films, "Zootopia 2," Disney's sequel to the 2016 hit animated film, and "Fire and Ash," the third installment in director James Cameron's epic "Avatar" franchise, have dominated the holiday season, drawing cumulative attendances of 7 million and 4 million respectively since their releases in late November and mid-December. But expectations are building for the new year, as a slate of domestic films such as "Once We Were Us," "Heartman," and "Project Y" awaits moviegoers. Released on the eve of the Year of the Horse, "Once We Were Us" starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, tells a nostalgic love story of a couple who reunite by chance after 10 years, retracing their past memories. Set for release on Jan. 14, Romantic comedy "Heartman" starring Kwon Sang-woo and Moon Chae-won revolves around a man who bumps into his first love and tries to win her back until a life-altering secret throws him into unexpected chaos. Following their releases, heist flick "Project Y" is set to arrive on Jan. 21 to keep the momentum. Much anticipation has been building for the female buddy movie starring Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo, which was invited to the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival last fall, and also won the top prize at the London Asian Film Festival last month. 2025-12-31 10:31:06

Korea's inflation holds near 2% target in 2025, but everyday prices stay close to 3% SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s headline inflation remained broadly anchored near the central bank’s target in 2025, easing to a five-year low of 2.1 percent for the full year, even as households continued to face elevated price pressures in daily expenses hovering near 3 percent — a gap likely to widen further amid persistent weakness in the won. The consumer price index rose 2.3 percent in December from a year earlier, slowing slightly from the 2.4 percent pace recorded in the previous two months, according to data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. For all of 2025, inflation averaged 2.1 percent, the lowest since 2020 and down from 2.3 percent in 2024, signaling a return to the government’s target range of “around 2 percent.” Everyday costs remain elevated Beneath the headline figure, pressures tied to daily living costs remained stubbornly high. Fuel prices rose 6.1 percent on year in December despite softer global oil prices, reflecting the impact of the sharply weaker won. Prices for private services — a category closely linked to household spending — hovered near 3 percent, driven largely by higher dining-out costs. Currency weakness is emerging as a key inflation risk heading into next year. The won has traded at crisis-era levels, pushing up import prices and raising the likelihood of further pass-through to consumer prices with a time lag. The U.S. dollar averaged 1,421.97 won in 2025 based on weekly closing rates, marking the first time the annual average has exceeded the 1,400-won threshold. Previous record lows were 1,394.97 won in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis and 1,364.38 won in 2024 amid domestic political turmoil following the martial-law episode. The exchange rate hovered near 1,480 won for much of December. Economists note that higher import costs typically take three to six months to feed through to consumer prices, suggesting upward pressure could intensify in the first half of 2026 even as headline inflation currently appears stable. Reflecting this trend, the living expenditures index climbed 2.8 percent on year, its highest reading of 2025, driven in particular by a 3.3 percent rise in food prices. Weak won lifts fuel prices despite falling oil Despite an 8.6 percent drop in Dubai crude prices — from $63.8 to $58.3 per barrel in December — domestic petroleum prices continued to rise as currency depreciation pushed up import costs. Diesel and gasoline prices jumped 10.8 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively, marking the steepest increases among manufactured goods. As of Tuesday, gasoline in Seoul stood at 1,791 won per liter, while diesel was priced at 1,697 won. By contrast, prices for automotive liquefied petroleum gas fell 6 percent on year, reflecting a more than 20 percent decline in global LPG prices as U.S. production surged in 2025. Cooking oil prices also dropped 15.5 percent, supported by a sharp increase in soybean supplies from major exporters such as the United States and Brazil. Food prices continue to weigh on households Prices for agricultural, livestock and fishery products rose 4.1 percent on year, maintaining a strong upward trend. The increase was driven by higher fertilizer import costs linked to the weak won, as well as supply disruptions from heavy rainfall and wildfires. Rice prices surged 18.2 percent due to weather-related damage, while apple prices jumped 19.6 percent after wildfires significantly reduced cultivation areas. Livestock prices also continued to climb. Imported beef prices rose 8 percent on year, while domestic beef increased 4.9 percent. On a monthly basis, imported and domestic beef prices advanced 2.7 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, reflecting higher import costs for U.S. beef and rising feed prices. By contrast, prices for vegetables less affected by weather conditions posted broad declines, with radish prices plunging more than 30 percent on year in December. The fresh food index rose 1.8 percent from a year earlier, a marked slowdown from November, although fish and shellfish prices remained elevated, up 6.9 percent. Spending categories also reflected persistent pressure on household budgets. Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 3.6 percent, while dining and lodging costs increased 3 percent. Dining-out prices continued to climb, with raw fish prices up 4.2 percent and coffee prices rising 4.3 percent, following year-end increases in seasonal fish and coffee bean costs. 2025-12-31 09:59:25

KAIST nuclear engineering professor named head of Korean Nuclear Society SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Choi Sung-min, a professor of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), will assume office as new president the prestigious Korean Nuclear Society, effective Jan. 1. Choi earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from Seoul National University, before completing a master’s degree and a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He later served as a visiting researcher at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is currently a professor at KAIST. He has held a number of senior roles in the nuclear field, including chair of the board of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, president of the Asia-Oceania Neutron Scattering Association, president of the Korean Neutron Beam Users Association, head of the Center for Advanced Nuclear Technology Research, and director of the Nuclear Basic Joint Research Institute. In a statement marking his appointment, Choi described nuclear power as “a key national asset” capable of meeting rising electricity demand in the era of artificial intelligence while supporting carbon neutrality goals and energy security. He added that the society would present future energy solutions grounded in scientific evidence and objective data. 2025-12-31 09:26:34

MASGA shipbuilding push lifts outlook for Korean yards SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is expected to gain momentum next year as a bilateral initiative with the United States aimed at revitalizing American shipbuilding moves toward full implementation, industry officials said on Wednesday. The project, dubbed MASGA, short for “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again,” is designed to support Washington’s efforts to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity. South Korean yards are widely seen as key beneficiaries, given their global competitiveness in both commercial and specialized vessels. MASGA refers to a framework under which the South Korean government, through trade negotiations with the United States, would establish a shipbuilding cooperation fund worth up to $150 billion (around 209 trillion won). Hanwha Group, HD Hyundai Group and Samsung Heavy have been cited as core industry participants. Observers say South Korea’s three major shipbuilders — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries — will begin to see tangible benefits from the initiative in the new year. U.S. President Donald Trump recently unveiled what he described as a next-generation U.S. Navy strategy known as the “Golden Fleet,” and named Hanwha as a key partner. Speaking at a news conference on Dec. 22 at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said that the Navy would work with the South Korean company as part of a planned new frigate program. HD Hyundai Heavy has also been mentioned by industry sources as a potential partner under the Golden Fleet framework, citing its close technical cooperation with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the prime contractor selected for the U.S. Navy’s new frigate program. In October, the two companies signed a memorandum of agreement covering cooperation in the design and construction of commercial ships and naval vessels, including joint efforts on next-generation logistics support ships and the potential establishment of shipbuilding facilities in the United States. Samsung Heavy, meanwhile, is expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business and pursuing joint-building projects with U.S. shipbuilders, including Vigor Marine and General Dynamics NASSCO. The MASGA initiative is also expected to create opportunities for smaller South Korean shipbuilders. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction and K Shipbuilding, both known for specialized vessels, were cited as potential beneficiaries. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction recently secured its first MRO contract involving a 40,000-ton U.S. Navy logistics support ship, leveraging its experience in naval shipbuilding and maintenance work. Separately from MASGA, industry prospects are also supported by expectations of rising global demand for high-value vessels, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, driven by increased LNG exports from the United States and Europe. Clarkson Research, a London-based shipping and shipbuilding consultancy, forecasts 115 LNG carrier orders next year, up 24 percent from this year. Oh Hyun-seok, a professor of international trade at Keimyung University, said the initiative could benefit not only shipbuilders but also suppliers of components and equipment. “Given the limited shipbuilding infrastructure in the United States, how South Korean companies deploy skilled workers and structure supply strategies will be critical to the success of the project,” Oh said. 2025-12-31 08:30:21