KAI signs $69 million deal to upgrade Philippines' FA-50PH jets SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract with the Philippines on Friday to upgrade 11 FA-50PH fighter jets for about 93 billion won ($65 million). The deal includes aircraft performance upgrades and follow-on logistics support for jets delivered between 2015 and 2017, with work to be completed by 2029, the South Korean aircraft manufacturer said. The upgrade will strengthen the FA-50PH's ability to operate precision-guided weapons, extend its range and sustained-operations capability, and improve network-based joint-operations performance, according to KAI. A total of 23 FA-50PH aircraft, including additional jets contracted in June, are expected to contribute to the Philippine Air Force's airspace defense and modernization efforts. The upgrade reflects requirements drawn from the Philippine Air Force's operational experience and is aimed at improving aircraft performance and operational efficiency. The project reflects ongoing cooperation based on aircraft capability, stable follow-on support and long-term partnership, KAI said. The company said the program demonstrates its ability to serve as a "total solution provider," covering the full life cycle from development and production to follow-on support. Follow-on support and upgrade capabilities over an aircraft's 30- to 40-year service life are increasingly seen as key to export competitiveness, with such costs reaching two to five times the acquisition cost, KAI noted. The company has operated performance-based logistics programs for about 15 years, from the South Korean Air Force's KT/A-1 to the T-50 and Surion aircraft families, demonstrating improvements in availability and reductions in operating and maintenance costs. KAI has expanded its global support operations through Iraq's T-50IQ contractor logistics support program in 2022, a performance-based logistics contract for the Philippines' FA-50PH last year, and Indonesia's KT-1B service-life extension program this year. "This contract once again confirms the trust and cooperative relationship between the Philippine Air Force and KAI," CEO Cha Jae Byung said in a statement. "We will continue to expand our presence in the global defense market through tailored upgrades and systematic follow-on support." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 15:50:48

Seoul's presidential office returns to Cheong Wa Dae Monday SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will formerly begin work at the Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, making the end of the presidential office's temporary operation in Yongsan-gu. The official name of the president’s office will change from the Office of the President to Cheong Wa Dae on the same day. At midnight, the phoenix flag symbolizing the head of state will be lowered at the Yongsan presidential office to be raised at Cheong Wa Dae. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office on May 10, 2022, relocated the presidential office to the former Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan and opened Cheong Wa Dae to the public as a tourist site. The experiment with relocating a presidential office outside the traditional Cheong Wa Dae ended with his removal from office. On Dec. 3, 2024, Yoon declared martial law, and on Apr. 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment with a unanimous ruling by all eight justices. A snap election followed on Jun. 3. President Lee Jae Myung upon declared victor began term the following day. In Korean, Cheong Wa in Cheong Wa Dae means “blue tiles,” while dae means “building.” The name comes from the main building’s distinctive blue-tiled roof. The complex was officially renamed Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 30, 1960, during the administration of President Yun Po-sun. According to the Cheong Wa Dae website, roughly 150,000 blue tiles were used in the roof, each individually fired. Their durability is said to exceed 100 years. The current main building of Cheong Wa Dae, where the president conducts official duties and receives foreign guests, was completed on Sept. 4, 1991. Its construction followed mounting criticism that it was inappropriate for the president of the Republic of Korea to operate from the former office of the Japanese Governor-General, a remnant of the colonial era. Designed in the style of a traditional royal palace, the building was intended to symbolize state authority and represent the Republic of Korea. The president’s main office is located on the second floor. President Lee Jae Myung’s primary office is reportedly planned to be located on the third floor of Yeomin Building 1, part of the Cheong Wa Dae office complex where senior presidential aides work. According to a presidential aide, the arrangement is intended to minimize movement between the president and top staff to enhance communication efficiency. Historically, the site of Cheong Wa Dae has served multiple roles. During the Japanese colonial period, it housed the residence of the Governor-General. Under the U.S. military government, Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge used the residence as his official quarters. South Korea’s first president, Rhee Syngman, later used the same building as both his office and residence. Earlier still, during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392), the site contained a royal villa, and during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), it formed part of the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Cheong Wa Dae has also hosted moments of modern diplomatic symbolism. In July 1993, during an official visit to South Korea, then-U.S. President Bill Clinton jogged for 15 minutes and 20 seconds along the Nokjiwon trail with then-President Kim Young-sam. 2025-12-26 14:57:58

Korean won revisits 1,430 versus dollar for the first time since Nov SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -The Korean won strengthened more than 1 percent on Friday, extending its 1.3 percent jump in the previous session on Wednesday, as the U.S. dollar broadly weakened against major East Asian currencies, including the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan. The dollar opened at 1,449.9 won after the Christmas break and slid as low as 1,429.5, marking its first dip below the 1,430 level since Nov. 4 — a move that signaled a possible shift in market positioning toward the won. Dollar-selling gathered pace on expectations that the greenback could face further downside pressure amid renewed strength in regional currencies, a trader said, cautioning that it remains unclear whether the past two sessions mark a structural turning point. The Chinese yuan has strengthened past 7 per dollar, supported by easing geopolitical tensions and a rebound in local equity markets, while the yen has remained firm since the Bank of Japan’s rate hike last week. 2025-12-26 14:45:52

Samsung to showcase unified AI vision in standalone CES 2026 exhibit SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - For the first time in its CES history, Samsung Electronics will operate a fully standalone exhibition space, breaking away from its long-established practice of presenting its products in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall. The move underscores Samsung’s push to position itself as a leader in connected AI ecosystems ahead of next year’s show. Samsung has secured a 4,628-square-meter venue at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, separate from the main CES grounds. The company said the location will allow it to present an “AI living platform” — a curated environment linking TVs, appliances, mobile devices and services through unified software and artificial intelligence. Unlike previous years, Samsung will structure the space around thematic experiences rather than product-by-product displays. The standalone format will consolidate demonstrations, technical briefings, partner meetings and a newly introduced “Samsung Tech Forum,” featuring panels on AI, devices, services and design between Jan. 5–6. A Samsung official said the decision to leave the LVCC was deliberate. “We previously showcased most of our systems in the Central Hall, but this year we wanted a larger, more private space,” the official said. “By operating a dedicated hall, visitors — whether consumers or business partners — can move seamlessly from product displays to announcement events and technology forums in one place.” Samsung said the shift reflects the need to demonstrate its AI capabilities across its entire device portfolio rather than as isolated features. The standalone venue is also intended to minimize congestion and offer guided, structured sessions. Ahead of the official CES opening, the company will host “The First Look,” an event used to preview new hardware and technologies. It will also hold two media briefings outlining its AI strategy and product roadmap. “Our goal at CES 2026 is to show how AI can blend into everyday routines through tightly connected hardware–software experiences,” said a representative. 2025-12-26 14:41:00

Homeless left outdoors in Seoul's deep freeze SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A bitter cold settled over Seoul as temperatures fell below zero, pushing the wind chill near minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Beneath Seoul Station, some homeless people lay on the floor wrapped in cardboard and thin sleeping bags, sheltering under fluorescent lights that never go out. Outside, they huddle inside fragile tents as Arctic air cuts through. The city issued its first freeze warning of the winter and activated round-the-clock monitoring, as forecasters said the cold wave would persist through the weekend. As trains came and went above ground, winter tightened its hold — quiet, relentless, and unevenly felt. 2025-12-26 14:04:50

PHOTOS: Seoul art show opens in Coex SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The 2025 Seoul Art Show, an exhibition offering a comprehensive look at the latest trends in contemporary art, opened December 24 at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and runs through December 28. Now in its 14th year, the Seoul Art Show is held annually during the Christmas season and has become a fixture of the city's year-end cultural calendar. The event serves as a barometer for the Korean art market and a primary point of contact between the public and the arts. Reflecting this role, large crowds visited the venue on the December 24 opening day and on Christmas Day, December 25. The exhibition features approximately 150 domestic and international galleries alongside several curated special programs. A special exhibition highlighting the diversity and innovation of Korean art includes works by Kim Whan-ki, Lee Jung-seob, Nam June Paik, Chun Kyung-ja, Kim Ku-lim, and Lee Ufan. Previously unreleased works by Lee Jung-seob are among the pieces on display. A second special exhibition, "60 Years of Korea-Japan Art Exchange," focuses on how artistic dialogue has fostered cultural sensitivity and reduced prejudice by offering insights into the history, tradition, and modern society of both nations. This year's show includes works by Korean artists Lee Ufan, Lee Kun-yong, Lee Jong-sang, Lee Seung-taek, and Lee Il-ho, as well as Japanese artists Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, and Kenji Takashi. "We will ensure that leading domestic and international galleries and renowned artists participate in this show to establish it as a center of the international art market," said Kim Jong-geun, co-director of the Seoul Art Show. "We intend to play a pivotal role in the growth of the Korean art market." 2025-12-26 13:53:10

Special counsel seeks 10-year jail term for ex-President Yoon over martial law case SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A special counsel team on Friday asked a Seoul court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 10 years in prison on charges including obstruction of justice and abuse of power related to his short-lived martial-law declaration in December last year. It is the first request for sentencing on the disgraced president whose term was cut short in the wake of his Dec. 3 martial-law stunt. During the final hearing of Yoon’s obstruction-of-justice trial at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 35, the prosecution team argued the former president had abused state power to block investigators, infringed on Cabinet members’ constitutional rights and attempted to conceal evidence after the lifting of martial law. The special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, sought five years in prison for allegedly obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant; three years for infringing on Cabinet members’ deliberation and voting rights, spreading false information to foreign journalists and destroying evidence linked to a secure phone; and two years for drafting a martial law proclamation after the decree had already been lifted. “This case involves a serious crime in which state institutions were effectively privatized to conceal and justify unlawful acts,” Assistant Special Counsel Park Eok-su said during closing arguments. He added that Yoon showed no remorse and instead attempted to justify his conduct, even describing efforts to detain him as “childish." Prosecutors argued that South Korea, as a democratic republic, operates on the principle that all power derives from the people, and that Yoon violated constitutional checks on presidential authority. They said his actions damaged the country’s legal order and betrayed voters who elected him, stressing the need for a heavy sentence to prevent the recurrence of abuses of power by future leaders. On the charge of obstructing arrest, the team emphasized that it was unprecedented for a president to allegedly mobilize Presidential Security Service personnel as “private soldiers” to block the execution of a warrant. The requested five-year sentence exceeds the standard sentencing guideline of one to four years for such offenses. The court has said it is likely to deliver a verdict on Jan. 16, two days before Yoon’s detention period expires. His lawyers had requested that sentencing be postponed until the conclusion of his separate insurrection trial. The article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 13:16:22

Asian stocks rise following record close for S&P 500 SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, following a rally on Wall Street after U.S. economic data showed stronger-than-expected third-quarter growth earlier in the week. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 0.6 percent to 4,132.65 as of 10:14 a.m., and the KOSDAQ gained 0.2 percent to 916.70. The regional advance followed a Wednesday close in which the S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent to an all-time high of 6,932.05. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.6 percent to 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.2 percent to 23,613.31. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, third-quarter GDP grew at an annualized rate of 4.3 percent, surpassing the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 3.2 percent. Samsung Electronics led the gains in Seoul, jumping 3.4 percent to 114,900 won. The stock reached an intraday high of 115,100 won, breaking its previous record of 112,500 won set on Tuesday. SK hynix gained 2 percent to 600,000 won. The semiconductor sector was supported by a 3.8 percent rise in Micron Technology to a record high. Additionally, Nomura Securities raised its target price for Samsung Electronics to 160,000 won on Friday. "The memory supercycle is likely to last at least until 2027," Nomura stated. Performance among other large-cap stocks was mixed. Hanwha Aerospace rose 1.3 percent to 889,000 won, but LG Energy Solution fell 1.5 percent to 384,500 won. Other decliners included HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which dropped 1 percent, and Doosan Enerbility, which fell 1.5 percent. KB Financial Group and Naver slipped 1.2 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. The entertainment sector saw a broad decline, with Hybe falling 2.5 percent, SM Entertainment dropping 2.6 percent, and JYP Entertainment losing 1.5 percent. In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,449.9 won per dollar and moved to 1,442.9 won by 11 a.m. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 percent to 50,849.62. All of Japan’s 10 largest companies by market capitalization gained, with SoftBank Group jumping 2.5 percent and Fast Retailing advancing 2.3 percent. Toyota Motor rose 0.4 percent, while tech firms Advantest and Tokyo Electron gained 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Chinese markets were little changed, with the Shanghai Composite Index edging up 0.1 percent to 3,964.91 and the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rising 0.2 percent to 25,818.93. 2025-12-26 12:49:57

Cold wave grips South Korea SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Bitter Artic air gripped South Korea Friday, sending temperatures in Seoul and elsewhere well below freezing and triggering widespread weather alerts. The mercury fell to as low as minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit) as of 5 a.m. and will stay subzero for most of the day. 2025-12-26 11:26:53

Seoul to decide whether to lift ban on North Korean state media access The South Korean government is weighing whether to allow public access to North Korea's state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun and, more broadly, to ease restrictions on North Korean websites, as part of a policy review led by the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The issue will be discussed at a Cabinet-level meeting on Friday involving officials from the NIS, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Korea Communications Commission. Under current law, most North Korean publications are classified as "special materials" under Article 7 of the National Security Act of 1970. The designation bans public access to materials deemed to promote or praise North Korea's political system or deny South Korea's democratic order. According to Democratic Party lawmaker Youn Kun-young, a member of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, the NIS has notified lawmakers that it is reviewing whether to reclassify Rodong Sinmun at the request of the Ministry of Unification. The move follows remarks by President Lee Jae Myung during a recent government briefing by the unification ministry last week, in which he said South Koreans should not be treated as incapable of distinguishing propaganda from facts. He argued that the public should be trusted to exercise judgment rather than be shielded through blanket restrictions. In a report to the National Assembly, the NIS said it is "positively considering expanding access to North Korean websites" in order to strengthen the public's right to know and promote inter-Korean exchange. The agency also said it plans to cooperate with two bills currently under review by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that would establish a legal framework for the management and use of North Korean materials. At present, nearly 90 percent of all North Korean publications are classified as "special materials," making them inaccessible to the general public. Access is granted only with special approval from the Ministry of Unification and is limited to supervised viewing on designated computers at the Unification Education Institute. Ordinary users attempting to visit North Korean websites typically encounter a notice stating that the content is blocked as illegal or harmful. As part of the policy shift, the NIS has also decided to abolish its existing internal guidelines on North Korean materials and transfer authority over their management to the Ministry of Unification, signaling a broader institutional realignment in how such content is regulated. 2025-12-26 10:32:48