Celimax serum tops Amazon Australia beauty bestseller rankings SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - South Korean dermacosmetic brand Celimax's flagship product, the Retinal Shot Tightening Booster, ranked first overall on Amazon Australia’s beauty bestseller list, the company said on Monday. The product initially climbed to the top spot in the facial serums category during Amazon Australia’s International Brand Pavilion promotion before rising to No. 1 across the broader beauty category, which includes products from major global brands, according to the company. Celimax said the serum has continued to post strong results on global e-commerce platforms based on actual purchase data. The product previously ranked No. 1 for the search keyword “retinal” on Amazon in North America and also topped the overall beauty products category on global shopping platform YesStyle. Kim Min-seok, CEO of Celimax, said the performance on Amazon Australia underscores growing overseas acceptance of the company’s “steady-seller strategy,” which emphasizes core products over short-term trends. “We will continue to focus on developing products that deliver clear skin benefits and build long-term consumer trust,” Kim said. 2025-12-22 09:33:21

OPINION: Are museum admission fees worth it? SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Debate is intensifying over whether the National Museum of Korea should start charging admission fees. Proponents of free entry argue that public museums exist to serve everyone, while opponents point to chronic budget shortfalls that leave few viable alternatives. But this debate often fixates on price, overlooking a more fundamental issue: what, exactly, would visitors be paying for, and is the experience worth charging for? That question becomes clearer when looking abroad. At many major tourist sites, from Egypt's pyramids to Europe's cathedrals and ancient ruins in South America, locals and foreign visitors often pay different prices. Locals may pay only a few bucks, while foreigners can be charged much more. At the ticket window, travelers inevitably do the math and ask themselves: Is it worth paying this to go in? Sometimes the answer is yes. Sites that offer compelling narratives, carefully curated collections, and immersive environments can make even high fees feel reasonable. Visitors understand that conservation, research, and meaningful public engagement require substantial investment. But the opposite is just as common: steep admission fees paired with neglected galleries, faded signage, and little information for visitors. Even when officials say fees fund repairs and restoration, it can be hard to see the results. "What exactly am I paying for?" Even so, most people still visit these places. They buy the ticket despite their doubts, partly because the opportunity may not come again. Having already spent heavily on airfare, lodging, and transportation, the admission often feels like a relatively small additional cost. Skipping signature sites can feel like both an emotional regret and an economic loss, a kind of obligation to see what represents the country. At that point, "value" is not only about how well a site is managed or presented. It is also about symbolism, national identity, and experiences that seldom come around again. Visitors weigh whether it is worth the price, but they also consider what they would miss and when that loss feels significant, they choose to pay. Before debating admission fees, South Korea needs to answer a more fundamental question: does the museum offer experiences compelling enough that visitors would genuinely regret walking away? Foreign tourism to South Korea has surged, driven in part by the global popularity of K-pop and hit dramas. Many visitors now arrive with cultural and historical curiosity, seeking more than sightseeing or shopping. The country has extensive cultural heritage, but whether it is curated and presented to meet global visitor expectations is a separate question. Admission fees are not merely about revenue. They are a public statement that something is "worth the time to see." Charging admission is hard to justify when spaces are poorly managed, artifacts lack context, and explanations are unhelpful. When a site or exhibition presents a strong story and a thoughtfully crafted experience, visitors are more willing to pay without hesitation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-22 09:17:24

OPINION: A decade that changed US-China economic power SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - The year 2025 is likely to stand as a watershed in U.S.-China relations. After nearly a decade of confrontation, the Trump administration has effectively acknowledged the limits of its strategy to contain China — a campaign pursued in earnest since 2017. The contrast between two tariff battles tells the story. In the trade war launched in 2018, President Donald Trump pressured President Xi Jinping and extracted a Phase One trade deal in early 2020. But in the tariff confrontation of 2025, China proved far more resilient. This time, Beijing weathered U.S. pressure and secured a key concession: the easing of export controls on advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence. Washington’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy has also shown signs of strain. In an apparent bid to smooth the path toward a U.S.-China summit expected in April next year, Trump stopped short of strongly backing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who had publicly discussed Japan’s potential military role in a Taiwan contingency. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — long regarded as one of Washington’s most outspoken China hawks — has likewise stressed the need for cooperation with Beijing while avoiding damage to relations with U.S. allies such as South Korea and Japan. How did China manage to withstand sustained U.S. pressure? The central answer lies in technological self-reliance built on a steadily upgraded manufacturing base. That effort was formalized a decade ago. In March 2015, then-Premier Li Keqiang introduced “Made in China 2025” in his work report to the National People’s Congress. The industrial strategy sought to shift growth from factor-driven expansion to innovation-led development; to move China’s competitive edge from low costs to quality and efficiency; to transition manufacturing from resource-intensive, high-pollution production toward greener processes; and to pivot from pure production to services. The plan set ambitious benchmarks: raising the domestic share of core components and basic materials to 40 percent by 2020 and 70 percent by 2025. It identified 10 priority sectors, ranging from next-generation information technology and advanced machine tools to aerospace, high-speed rail, electric vehicles, new materials and biomedicine. Progress was tracked through 12 indicators across four categories, including innovation capacity, productivity, digital integration and environmental performance. According to a report by Renmin University’s Central Institute for Financial Studies, more than 86 percent of the plan’s more than 260 quantitative indicators had been achieved and were likely to be completed by the end of 2025. Despite mounting U.S. pressure, China increased both manufacturing value-added and research and development spending, improved its position in global value chains, and partially offset export controls imposed by the United States and the European Union — a phenomenon often described as the “weaponization of interdependence.” Yet Beijing has been careful not to celebrate too loudly. After the trade war erupted in 2018 and Washington demanded the plan’s abandonment, Chinese leaders largely stopped referring to “Made in China 2025” in official documents, beginning with Li’s government work report in March 2019. Nor were all targets met. Studies by the Rhodium Group and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission conclude that China achieved world-leading competitiveness in sectors such as power equipment, electric vehicles, solar energy and high-speed rail. At the same time, the country remains heavily dependent on foreign technology in semiconductors, aircraft, advanced manufacturing equipment and biopharmaceuticals. To address those shortcomings, Beijing has rolled out successor frameworks, including policies promoting “new quality productive forces” — emphasizing efficiency and quality — and the “China Standards 2035 Vision,” which aims to position China as a leader in setting international technical standards. Rubio himself anticipated much of this trajectory. In 2019, as chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, he warned that “Made in China 2025” was a state-led strategy to dominate global technology sectors and challenge U.S. economic and military primacy. Five years later, in a report titled A World Made in China, Rubio acknowledged China’s substantial gains across nine of the 10 priority sectors. “If President Xi were a fund manager,” he wrote, “he would have ample reason to be satisfied with this portfolio’s performance.” The achievements, however, have come at a price. Central and local governments mobilized vast fiscal resources — subsidies, special funds, tax incentives and state-backed financing — often amplified by state-owned enterprises. The result has been overcapacity, brutal price competition and a spreading phenomenon known as neijuan, or involution, in which investment fails to generate commensurate productivity gains. As deflation deepens and domestic demand remains weak, many firms have turned to exports, intensifying trade friction not only with the United States but also with the European Union. In that context, even a goods trade surplus exceeding US$1 trillion for the first time this year has proven difficult for Beijing to celebrate. “Made in China 2025” has also reshaped China’s economic relationship with South Korea. As China upgraded its manufacturing base, the two economies shifted from a vertical, complementary relationship to a more horizontal and competitive one. South Korea’s exports to China have declined while imports have remained resilient, reversing a trade surplus that lasted three decades after diplomatic ties were established in 1992. Since 2023, that balance has turned into a structural deficit — one that Seoul is unlikely to escape in the short term without a sharp rebound in exports. The lesson is clear. To compete with China’s rapidly advancing manufacturing sector, South Korea needs a more coherent and long-term industrial strategy. Beijing pursued its approach consistently for a decade despite intense U.S. pressure. By contrast, five-year plans that shift with each change of administration in Seoul are unlikely to suffice. Without a bipartisan, public-private strategy extending at least 10 years, South Korea risks seeing its manufacturing base reduced to little more than a subcontracting hub for China’s industrial machine. About the author Lee Wang-hwi is a professor in the Department of Diplomacy at Seoul National University and director of the Ajou Institute for Unification. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-22 08:53:39

Samsung closes in on HBM race after winning top marks from Nvidia SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) -South Korea's Samsung Electronics is rapidly closing the gap with local rival SK hynix in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) race after securing top marks from AI chip frontrunner Nvidia, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power in next-generation memory supply. According Industry sources Sunday, Samsung Electronics recently received the strongest evaluation among memory makers in Nvidia’s HBM4 System-in-Package (SiP) testing, delivering superior operating speed and power efficiency. Nvidia’s requested HBM4 volumes from Samsung for next year are also said to have exceeded the company’s internal expectations, fueling optimism for a strong comeback for the chipmaker amid dire memory shortage from legacy to premium hyperscale chips. The developments narrow the lead held by SK hynix, the pioneer and market leader of HBM, as competition intensifies to supply Nvidia’s next-generation Rubin AI accelerator. Nvidia plans to launch Rubin in the second half of next year. Given that HBM shipments typically begin six to seven months before an AI accelerator launch, full-scale deliveries could start as early as the second quarter, placing the current negotiation window at a critical juncture. As the race accelerates, both Samsung and SK hynix have begun delivering paid final HBM4 samples to Nvidia, moving beyond free prototypes and into a commercially driven, pre-contract phase. Industry officials say paid samples typically indicate that performance has largely met customer specifications and that pricing and volume talks are under way. Market tracker TrendForce said the final outcome is likely to become clearer by mid-to-late quarter, once quality qualification is completed and supply contracts are formally finalized. Volumes and pricing are widely expected to be locked in during the first quarter of 2026. SK hynix confirmed during its third-quarter earnings call that its HBM4 mass-production system is already in place. Industry sources have dismissed rumors of major redesigns, saying the company is now making only minor performance tweaks. Shipments are expected to begin in the fourth quarter, with a full sales ramp next year. Local media reports say SK hynix is currently supplying around 20,000 to 30,000 final HBM4 samples to Nvidia for validation. Samsung, meanwhile, appears to be rebounding after losing ground in the HBM3E cycle. Industry sources say its HBM4 supply talks with Nvidia are nearing completion, positioning Samsung as the likely second-largest supplier after SK hynix. Paid HBM4 samples have already been delivered and are undergoing quality checks within Nvidia’s Rubin platform. Samsung’s Device Solutions division has also cleared Production Readiness Approval (PRA), the final internal gate before volume manufacturing. HBM4 is expected to deliver roughly 60 percent higher bandwidth than current HBM3E products, with Samsung’s early samples already exceeding Nvidia’s next-generation requirement of 11 gigabits per second per pin. The company is using improved 1c-class DRAM combined with a 4-nanometer logic base die, a configuration that helps close the performance gap with rivals while keeping power consumption and thermal output in check at higher speeds. Once Nvidia gives final approval, Samsung can move straight into mass production, with manufacturing lines already prepared. Samsung had already signaled progress during its third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 30, saying HBM4 samples were being shipped to major global customers alongside mass production of HBM3E. The company also confirmed that its foundry arm will prioritize stable 2-nanometer gate-all-around output and HBM4 base-die production in 2026, alongside the ramp-up of its new Taylor, Texas fab. KB Securities in recent report projected that Samsung and SK hynix will command more than 90 percent of global HBM4 demand, with Micron Technology’s share in Nvidia’s Rubin platform likely to remain below 10 percent. TechInsights estimates that Samsung and SK hynix will account for about 80 percent of the HBM market by 2027, when HBM4 becomes the mainstream product. Industry sources say Micron’s initial HBM4 supply to Rubin is expected to be limited, partly due to performance constraints linked to its logic-die manufacturing approach. 2025-12-21 21:28:46

S. Korea's consumer watchdog orders compensation for SK Telecom data breach victims SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - The Korea Consumer Agency has ordered SK Telecom to compensate victims of a data breach earlier this year with 100,000 won ($67.5) per person, a move that could result in total payouts of up to 2.3 trillion won if applied to all affected users. The Consumer Dispute Settlement Commission under the Korea Consumer Agency said Sunday that it reached the decision at a dispute meeting held on Dec. 18. "Based on the findings of a joint public-private investigation released in July and the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC)'s actions in August, it has been confirmed that the SK Telecom hacking incident resulted in the leakage of personal data and consumer harm," the committee said, adding that it had also confirmed the company's responsibility to compensate affected consumers. Under the decision, each applicant is to receive a 50,000-won discount on phone bills and 50,000 T-Plus points, which can be used like cash at affiliated stores. The decision followed a request filed in May by 58 consumers, who said their personal information had been exposed in a data breach involving SK Telecom's Home Subscriber Server and sought compensation and measures to prevent a recurrence. If SK Telecom accepts it, the committee plans to require the company to extend compensation to victims who did not participate in the mediation process. The total number of affected users is estimated at about 23 million, which would bring the overall compensation amount to approximately 2.3 trillion won if all victims receive the same payment. SK Telecom must inform the panel within 15 days of receipt whether it accepts the ruling. The commission's chairman said the compensation plan was designed to ensure swift recovery for a large number of consumers while taking into account the company's efforts to restore trust through voluntary compensation. He added that recent data breaches underscore the need for stronger technical and institutional safeguards to prevent similar incidents. SK Telecom said it will "carefully review the details and make a prudent decision" regarding the mediation proposal. The company declined a separate PIPC proposal last month that called for 300,000 won per person, citing its voluntary compensation and information security spending totaling more than 1 trillion won. 2025-12-21 17:11:00

Shinsegae Chairman Chung steps up US outreach, meets Trump Jr., AI and media leaders SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, has met with a series of high-profile political and business figures in the U.S. as part of efforts to strengthen the group's overseas network and explore new growth opportunities. According to Shinsegae Group on Sunday, Chung attended a Christmas dinner hosted by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and went on to meet key figures in Florida and Los Angeles from Dec. 16 to 18, including Donald Trump Jr., Misha Laskin, and David Ellison. Chung met Trump Jr. at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, along with 1789 Capital co-founders Omeed Malik and Christopher Buskirk, and discussed the possibility of Shinsegae Group participating in the development of Palm Beach led by 1789 Capital. Shinsegae said it plans to begin a feasibility review of the project. He also met Misha Laskin, founder of Reflection AI, a company established by former core researchers at Google DeepMind. Reflection AI has recently drawn attention after securing about $2 billion in investment from backers including NVIDIA. Reflection AI is developing autonomous AI agents, and the two sides discussed potential applications of the technology across Shinsegae's core businesses, including retail operations and supply chain management. After his Florida meetings, Chung traveled to Los Angeles on Dec. 18 to meet David Ellison, founder of Skydance Media and son of Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison. Ellison became chief executive of the merged company after Skydance acquired Paramount Global last year and has recently been linked to a bid for Warner Bros. Chung and Ellison discussed ways to enhance synergies between Shinsegae Group and Skydance, reviewed the status of investment cooperation for the construction of Asia's largest international theme park in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and explored opportunities to develop products using Paramount's intellectual property. Shinsegae Group selected Paramount last year as a global brand partner for the theme park development. "Chung's recent U.S. trip reflects his focus on strengthening global networks and identifying future growth engines through a wide range of business partnerships," a Shingsegae Group official said. 2025-12-21 15:00:02

Coupang hit with shareholder class action in US over data breach response SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - U.S.-listed Coupang Inc. is facing a shareholder class action lawsuit in California over its handling of disclosures related to a massive data breach. According to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Friday, Coupang shareholder Joseph Berry filed a class action suit against the company, its Executive Chairman Bom Kim, and Chief Financial Officer Gaurav Anand. In the complaint, plaintiffs' attorney Lawrence Rosen alleged that Coupang made "false or misleading public statements, or failed to make timely disclosures," after experiencing what he described as the largest data breach in South Korean history, causing investors to suffer losses. The lawsuit claims that inadequate cybersecurity protocols at Coupang allowed a former employee to access sensitive customer information for approximately six months without detection, significantly increasing the company's exposure to regulatory scrutiny and legal risks. The complaint further alleges that despite being aware of the data breach, Coupang failed to file required reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, rendering the company's periodic filings materially false. The shareholder lawsuit is separate from consumer class actions seeking damages over the data breach itself, and centers on alleged violations of U.S. federal securities laws. Several domestic and international law firms are reportedly preparing additional class actions in U.S. courts, including claims for punitive damages, and are in the process of recruiting plaintiffs. Coupang's share price declined following reports of the data breach, falling about 18 percent from $28.16 on Nov. 28 to $23.20 on Dec. 19. Separately, the U.S. Senate showed that Coupang spent a total of $10.75 million on lobbying activities targeting the U.S. Congress, the Department of Commerce, the Trade Representative and the White House from August 2021 through the third quarter of this year. Meanwhile, Coupang also drew criticism after sending only two foreign executives who do not speak Korean to a parliamentary hearing on Dec. 17, prompting objections from both ruling and opposition lawmakers. The executives were criticized for offering perfunctory responses and failing to directly address lawmakers' questions. 2025-12-21 13:40:17

G-Dragon sweeps three grand prizes at Melon Music Awards 2025 SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - K-pop singer G-Dragon dominated the Melon Music Awards 2025 on Saturday, winning three grand prizes and a total of seven awards to emerge as the biggest winner of the night. The artist claimed the top honors of Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year at the 17th annual awards ceremony, held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. He also took home trophies for Top 10, Millions Top 10, Best Male Solo Artist and Best Songwriter. His third full-length album, "Übermensch," released in February, surpassed one million streams within four hours of its release and was inducted into Melon's Hall of Fame. Its title track, "Home Sweet Home," recorded the highest number of listeners on Melon in the first half of the year, demonstrating its commercial success. In his acceptance speech for Album of the Year, G-Dragon said the past year would remain personally meaningful, describing "Übermensch" as a title reflecting his desire to transcend his former self. He also expressed gratitude to his fans, known as VIPs, and shared his affection for his fellow members of BIGBANG. Accepting Artist of the Year, he pledged to continue striving to become an artist worthy of the moment. Upon winning Song of the Year, he said that "Home Sweet Home" felt warmer because it was created together with his members. Meanwhile, Jennie of BLACKPINK won Record of the Year for her first solo studio album, "Ruby," released in March. The album’s title track "like JENNIE" entered Melon's Top 100 chart immediately after release and has remained on the chart for an extended period. The New Artist of the Year was jointly presented to co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT and girl group Hearts2Hearts, both of whom pledged to continue growing as artists. The ceremony also featured a special performance by EXO, who unveiled their new song "Back It Up" for the first time alongside a medley of hit tracks. Additional special stages by aespa, RIIZE and IVE heightened the year-end awards buzz. 2025-12-21 10:50:48

S. Korea, US to begin talks next year on nuclear submarines, other nuclear issues SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to begin talks next year on nuclear submarines and other nuclear-related issues to implement agreements reached at summits between the two countries. "From next year, we agreed to begin discussions in all areas, including nuclear submarines, along with the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and uranium enrichment," National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Saturday after visiting Canada following a trip to Washington. The agreements follow Wi's visit to Washington last week, where he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, among other senior officials. In preparation for the talks, Seoul has established a task force on nuclear submarines and another on uranium enrichment under the National Security Office, and plans to begin working-level negotiations as soon as Washington designates its official counterparts. Wi said bilateral discussions were progressing smoothly overall, adding that the U.S. has described the alliance as a "model" alliance. He added that Seoul intends to move swiftly to follow up on the agreements under the current favorable atmosphere. Regarding nuclear submarines, Wi said the two sides agreed to pursue a separate bilateral arrangement based on Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which allows the U.S. president to authorize the transfer of nuclear material for military purposes. The move is intended to bypass restrictions limiting the transfer of nuclear materials, similar to the approach taken by Australia under the AUKUS partnership. The move follows comprehensive joint fact sheets released last month after summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October. 2025-12-21 10:13:00

South Korea, U.S. to launch parallel talks on nuclear submarine, fuel cycle issues SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) -South Korea and the United States plan to begin simultaneous, issue-by-issue consultations next year to implement leaders’ agreements on Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarine program, civilian uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, South Korea’s national security adviser said Sunday. Wi Sung-lac said the two sides agreed to “launch consultations all at once” starting next year as follow-up measures to agreements reached at recent summit meetings, Yi told Yonhap News Agency after wrapping up his three-day trip to New York and Washington. He had met secretary of state Marco Rubio and energy secretary Chris Wright among other officials. South Korea has formed a “nuclear-powered submarine task force” and an “enriched uranium task force” under the presidential National Security Office and is preparing to begin working-level negotiations as soon as U.S. counterparts are designated, Wi said. “Consultations between South Korea and the United States are generally going smoothly, and the U.S. has referred to the alliance as a ‘model alliance,’” Wi said. “Based on this atmosphere, we intend to move swiftly to implement the leaders’ agreements.” On the nuclear-powered submarine program, Wi said the two sides agreed to pursue a separate bilateral accord under Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which allows the transfer of military nuclear material with presidential authorization. The approach is intended to work around restrictions in the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement that limit transfers of weapons-usable nuclear material. Wi said the framework would mirror Australia’s precedent under AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership among the United States, Britain and Australia, under which Canberra received an exception through a separate agreement to pursue nuclear-powered submarines. “In Australia’s case, an exception was granted under Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which required a separate bilateral agreement,” Wi said. “Since we may also need such an arrangement, that possibility will be discussed.” The consultations follow joint fact sheets released after summit meetings in August and October between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the documents, Washington agreed to support South Korea’s civilian uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes, within the bounds of the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement and U.S. legal requirements. The United States also agreed to approve South Korea’s construction of nuclear-powered submarines and to work closely with Seoul on related issues, including securing nuclear fuel. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-21 09:08:06