Construction site collapse leaves one in cardiac arrest, several injured SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - A steel bar collapsed at a subway construction site near Yeouido in Seoul, trapping several workers, police authorities said on Thursday. According to rescue officials, the collapse occurred at around 1:20 p.m., and all seven workers were rescued shortly afterward. Among them, one man in his 50s was found in cardiac arrest and was taken to a nearby hospital, while another man in his 50s suffered a minor ankle injury. A foreign worker in his 30s escaped on his own and was later treated at the scene for an injury to his wrist. The accident is believed to have occurred about 70 meters underground when the steel bar fell during concrete pouring work. Police said they plan to investigate whether there were any safety lapses during the work. 2025-12-18 16:22:44

Samsung tests LPDDR-based server memory as AI data centers seek lower power alternatives SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is testing a new LPDDR-based server memory module as artificial intelligence data centers increasingly prioritize power efficiency over raw performance, signaling a potential shift in how memory is deployed in next-generation AI infrastructure. The company said it has begun sampling its second-generation SOCAMM (Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Module), a server memory module built on low-power LPDDR technology, to global customers. The move comes as operators of AI servers grapple with rising electricity costs and thermal constraints driven by GPU-intensive workloads. SOCAMM2 is designed to address those pressures by bringing mobile-class low-power memory into the server environment — a domain long dominated by RDIMM-based DRAM. Samsung said the module delivers more than twice the bandwidth of earlier LPDDR-based solutions while cutting power consumption by over 55 percent compared with conventional server memory configurations. The product is not positioned as a replacement for RDIMM, which remains the industry standard for general-purpose servers. Instead, SOCAMM2 targets specific AI workloads, particularly inference-oriented systems where power efficiency and heat management increasingly outweigh peak compute performance. According to Samsung, the Korean tech giant is working with Nvidia to validate SOCAMM2 in AI server platforms, reflecting broader efforts to optimize memory architectures for GPU-driven systems. Nvidia did not disclose details of the collaboration, but Samsung said the two companies are jointly evaluating performance and compatibility. The development highlights a growing reassessment of memory design in AI data centers. While DRAM capacity and speed have historically been the primary focus, power consumption is emerging as a critical bottleneck as AI deployments scale. Samsung added that discussions are under way to standardize SOCAMM through JEDEC, the industry body that defines memory specifications. Standardization would be a key step toward broader adoption, allowing system makers and cloud providers to integrate the module beyond limited pilot deployments. Analysts at TrendForce and Omdia have noted that while LPDDR-based server memory offers clear efficiency gains, its adoption will hinge on compatibility with existing server architectures and performance trade-offs at scale. For Samsung, the move underscores an effort to expand its memory portfolio beyond conventional DRAM and HBM products as AI infrastructure evolves. Whether SOCAMM2 becomes a niche solution or a wider industry option will hinge on customer uptake and standardization progress in the coming quarters. 2025-12-18 16:10:52

Weapons testing deal to sharpen KF-21 fighter jet's strike capability SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said on Thursday it has signed a contract with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to conduct additional weapons testing for the KF-21 fighter jet. The contract is valued at 685.9 billion won ($500 million) and is intended to support continued development of the aircraft by enabling flight-test verification of air-to-ground capabilities, KAI said. The additional weapons testing program will run through December 2028. Under the plan, testing and performance verification will expand the KF-21’s operational envelope from its current focus on air-to-air weapons to include air-to-ground armaments. KAI said it will also conduct tests of air-to-ground functions for the aircraft’s active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and other core avionics, with the goal of securing broader combat capability by the end of the program. Based on the test results, KAI said it plans to begin sequentially fielding air-to-ground capabilities from the first half of 2027, earlier than the original target of the end of 2028. The expanded weapons capability is expected to enhance the KF-21’s competitiveness in the global fighter aircraft market and increase interest from overseas customers, the company said. KAI is currently producing the first mass-production batch of the KF-21, with deliveries to the South Korean Air Force scheduled to begin sequentially in the second half of 2026. The company said a number of countries, including those in the Middle East and Southeast Asia that already operate the FA-50 light attack aircraft, have expressed strong interest in the KF-21. “Successfully carrying out the phased test and evaluation of additional KF-21 armaments will provide an opportunity to demonstrate testing and verification capabilities tailored to future customer requirements,” KAI CEO Cha Jae-byung said. 2025-12-18 16:03:16

K-steel strains to stay afloat amid prolonged slump and gov't relief Editor's Note: This is the third installment in AJP's 2026 outlook series on South Korea's key industries, based on forecasts by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) -Stagnation is set to extend into 2026 for Korean steelmakers as demand remains sluggish and global markets stay flooded with low-priced Chinese exports — a downturn severe enough to draw legal protection for the industry. According to data compiled by the KCCI, steel output is expected to remain virtually unchanged at 63.9 million tons in 2026, extending a decline that has persisted since 2021. Exports, which rose 1.5 percent this year to 28.8 million tons, are forecast to fall 2.1 percent to 28.2 million tons next year, as Chinese mills accelerate overseas shipments while the United States and Europe harden trade barriers. Domestic demand offers little relief The prolonged slump in construction and automobiles continues to weigh heavily on domestic steel consumption. Apparent steel consumption fell 9.1 percent to 43.4 million tons in 2025, with only a modest 1.2 percent rebound expected in 2026. Construction investment has been in retreat, with building starts through September down 4.6 percent year-on-year. Automotive production through October also slipped 1.5 percent, compounding weakness in flat products such as hot-rolled coil and thick plates that are closely tied to construction and manufacturing demand. China's import share surges despite trade remedies Steel imports fell 8.7 percent to 13.4 million tons in 2025, reflecting softer demand and the impact of anti-dumping measures. Even so, China's share of Korea's steel imports surged to 62.2 percent, up sharply from 47.7 percent in 2022, intensifying concerns that low-priced Chinese products continue to undercut domestic producers. Data from the Korea Iron and Steel Association show Chinese steel imports nearly quadrupled from 338,000 tons in 2021 to 1.26 million tons in 2023. Hot-rolled coil imports reached 1.53 million tons in the first 11 months of 2023 alone, with Chinese products priced up to 30 percent below Korean equivalents. The pressure has been especially severe for specialized producers. SeAH CSS, a major maker of special steel bars, saw operating profit plunge 91 percent, from 125.7 billion won in 2022 to 11.4 billion won in 2024, as Chinese special steel bar imports jumped 50 percent over two years to 670,000 tons, accounting for 92 percent of total imports in the category. Two headwinds define 2026 The outlook for 2026 is shaped by two overriding challenges: China's relentless outbound push and escalating trade walls in advanced economies. China's steel production capacity still far exceeds domestic demand, forcing mills to ship out excess supply and further depress prices. This erodes the competitiveness of Korean producers, which tend to compete on quality and specialized grades rather than volume. Beijing said in March it would aim to cut annual crude steel output by about 50 million tons, potentially bringing production below 1 billion tons for the first time in six years. POSCO Group said during its third-quarter earnings call that it expects Chinese output to decline about 5 percent this year and possibly 10 percent next year, though skepticism remains after past pledges failed to meaningfully absorb oversupply amid a prolonged property downturn. At the same time, the United States and the European Union (EU) are tightening import controls. Washington imposed 50 percent tariffs this year on steel and aluminum derivatives, scrapping a quota system that had allowed Korea limited duty-free volumes and forcing Korean suppliers to compete more directly on price. In Europe, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is moving closer to full implementation, imposing carbon-based costs on imports. The EU remains Korea's largest regional steel export market, with shipments totaling $4.48 billion last year, slightly ahead of the United States at $4.35 billion. K-Steel Act opens restructuring path A rare legislative breakthrough in late November injected cautious optimism into the industry. The National Assembly passed the "Special Act on Strengthening Steel Industry Competitiveness and Carbon Neutrality Transition," widely known as the K-Steel Act, marking the first comprehensive government support framework for the sector. The law establishes a special committee under the Prime Minister's Office and mandates five-year master plans and annual roadmaps by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Crucially, it allows coordinated capacity reductions and production cuts without triggering antitrust penalties — a long-standing obstacle to industry-wide restructuring. "Article 38, which provides an antitrust exemption for joint production adjustments, gives companies legal cover to coordinate capacity cuts in response to oversupply," said Kwon Ji-woo, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities. The act also includes measures aimed at shielding domestic producers from unfair imports and calls for national infrastructure planning for hydrogen pipelines and power grids, both seen as essential for hydrogen-based steelmaking and expanded electric-arc furnace capacity. Industry officials caution that legislation alone will not reverse structural headwinds, but welcomed the framework as a foundation for coordinated action that could reshape the competitive landscape from 2026 onward. Hyundai Steel bets on U.S. expansion Against the domestic malaise, Hyundai Steel is moving to deepen its U.S. footprint. The company said it will form a joint venture with POSCO Group to build a 2.7-million-ton electric-arc furnace mill in Louisiana, targeting automotive steel demand tied to Hyundai Motor Group's expanding U.S. manufacturing base. The $5.8 billion project will be funded equally through equity and external borrowing and will produce hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil for Hyundai Motor's Metaplant America in Georgia. The plant began mass-producing the Ioniq 5 in October 2024 and is ramping toward a long-term capacity target of 1.2 million vehicles annually. The mill is slated to come online in 2029, positioning Hyundai Steel to navigate rising protectionism and intensifying competition in North America, including changes triggered by Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. 2025-12-18 16:01:31

Constitutional Court upholds impeachment of police chief over martial law involvement SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea on Thursday unanimously upheld the impeachment of police chief Cho Ji-ho over his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law martial law debacle last year. With the verdict, the commissioner general of the National Police Agency was immediately stripped of his post. The decision comes nearly a year after the National Assembly voted to impeach him for allegedly blocking lawmakers from entering the National Assembly to oppose Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The court said Cho carried out "unconstitutional and illegal" orders from Yoon, violating the principles of democracy and the separation of powers. His grave violations were deemed sufficient grounds for dismissal. Cho was indicted in January this year while in custody on charges related to the debacle. He was later granted bail due to treatment for blood cancer and is now standing trial without detention. 2025-12-18 15:56:35

South Korea's Daesang to buy German amino-acid maker for $36 million SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - South Korea's Daesang Corp. said on Thursday it will enter the pharmaceutical biotechnology sector through the acquisition of AMINO GmbH, a German company specializing in pharmaceutical-grade amino acids. In a regulatory filing, Daesang said it will acquire a 100 percent stake in AMINO for about 50.2 billion won ($36 million). The company said it is in the process of securing the necessary regulatory approvals and aims to complete the transaction by March 2026. Founded in 1958, AMINO manufactures pharmaceutical amino acids used in intravenous solutions, clinical nutrition products and cell culture media, as well as excipients used in biopharmaceutical production. The company operates a research center and three manufacturing facilities in the Prellstedt area of northern Germany and supplies major global biopharmaceutical companies and medical nutrition specialists. Daesang said the acquisition will allow it to enter the high-value pharmaceutical amino-acid market, citing steady growth in demand for IV solutions and patient nutrition. The company also pointed to rising demand for inputs linked to the growth of biopharmaceuticals, including protein-, gene- and cell-based therapies. AMINO’s purification technology, manufacturing infrastructure and experience navigating European regulatory requirements are expected to be key assets as Daesang expands into pharmaceutical biotechnology, the company said. “This acquisition is a strategic investment that enables Daesang to expand beyond its existing materials business into the high-value pharmaceutical biotech market,” CEO Lim Jung-bae said in a press release. “We will strengthen our competitiveness in pharmaceutical amino acids by leveraging AMINO’s technology and global network.” 2025-12-18 15:29:38

Pro-Pyongyang paper slams Washington for omitting North Korea from US security policy SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - What is most "notable" in the U.S.' National Security Strategy (NSS) released early this month is that it does not mention North Korea at all, said a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan. In a column published on Thursday, Choson Sinbo, a mouthpiece for Pyongyang run by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan or Chongryon said failing to mention North Korea would amount to the U.S. admitting the "complete failure" of its denuclearization policy for the Korean Peninsula. The paper also criticized the NSS as lacking strategic depth, describing the "self-contradictory and distorted" document as containing little international analysis and being driven primarily by U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" principles. The rebuke followed similar remarks last Friday when the paper slammed Washington for trying to shift from "world police" to "fortress America." Released on Dec. 4, this year's NSS, which outlines U.S. security visions and strategies, made no mention of North Korea or its denuclearization. The omission marks an unusual departure from previous administrations, raising concerns here about shifting U.S. security priorities. 2025-12-18 15:25:16

South Korean government backs Korea Zinc's US smelter plan SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - The South Korean government has given a positive assessment of Korea Zinc's plan to invest in a smelter in the United States, raising expectations that key procedures such as permits and financing could move more quickly. The investment is also expected to strengthen Korea Zinc’s global footprint and deliver tangible progress in South Korea–U.S. cooperation on critical minerals, the government said. Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan told reporters on Wednesday, after a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung, that Korea Zinc’s proposal to build a smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee, was “a strategic decision despite the financial burden.” Kim said there had been “some consensus” on the project in August through a memorandum of understanding, adding that the investment would help South Korea secure a more stable supply chain for rare earths and other critical minerals. Korea Zinc formally announced on Monday that it plans to invest about 11 trillion won alongside the U.S. government and other strategic investors to build the smelter. Minister Kim said he understood that the company had carefully assessed the project’s costs and returns, and described it as an initiative welcomed by the U.S. Department of Commerce. According to Korea Zinc, the planned U.S. smelter will produce 13 minerals, including base metals such as zinc, lead and copper, as well as antimony, indium and bismuth. Of those, 11 are included on the U.S. government’s 2025 critical minerals list. According to South Korean credit rating agencies, the investment could strengthen Korea Zinc’s long-term business competitiveness, while also increasing its financial burden. Korea Zinc said U.S. investors will not hold management control or decision-making authority in the entity that will build and operate the smelter. 2025-12-18 14:42:49

Foreign jobs hit record high in South Korea, exceeding 1.1 million SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Foreign employment in South Korea has exceeded 1.1 million for the first time, driven by a sharp increase in international students and nonprofessional workers, government data showed on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics’ 2025 survey on foreign employment, the resident foreign population stood at 1.692 million this year, up 132,000, or 8.4 percent, from a year earlier. The rate of working foreign residents rose 1.4 percentage points to 70 percent, exceeding 1.1 million for the first time. Growth was driven mainly by international students, whose employment rose by 23,000, and holders of nonprofessional employment visas, up 18,000. The number of unemployed foreign residents also increased by 15,000. Nearly 90 percent of foreign residents, or 89.8 percent, said they intend to remain in South Korea. By nationality, the largest groups among nonprofessional employment visa holders were from Cambodia and Nepal, each with 47,000 workers, followed by Vietnam with 39,000. Respondents said they chose South Korea because of relatively high wages and favorable working conditions. As of May, Vietnam accounted for the largest number of international students in South Korea, at about 100,000, followed by China with 45,000 and Uzbekistan with 17,000. Students cited South Korea’s strong education programs and interest in their fields of study as key reasons for choosing the country. 2025-12-18 14:20:53

OPINION: Oscar Night in 2030 - except that it won't end in one night On a spring evening in 2030, few people will reach for a television remote. They will tap the YouTube icon on the living-room screen instead. The Oscars will not appear on a numbered channel, but at the top of an algorithmic feed, marked simply: "Live now". The ceremony will begin—and almost immediately, it will splinter. Acceptance speeches will circulate as concise summaries. The red carpet will resurface as tagged video clips. Jokes will dissolve into memes. A small audience will still watch the broadcast from beginning to end. Most will not. Yet nearly everyone will encounter the Oscars in one form or another. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has agreed to stream the Academy Awards exclusively on YouTube for five years starting in 2029. The partnership will bring to a close nearly half a century of broadcast exclusivity with ABC, which began in 1976 and will end after the 100th ceremony in 2028. To frame the decision as an attempt to court younger viewers misses the larger point. The question is not age, but where attention gathers. Audiences no longer assemble around broadcast schedules. Live events migrate to platforms where people already spend their time. YouTube has long dominated mobile screens. It has now become a default presence on television sets themselves. Measured by TV viewing time, YouTube has surpassed Netflix—an inflection point that speaks less to the triumph of streaming than to the quiet replacement of broadcasting by platforms as the central architecture of media consumption. The more profound shift lies in what has happened to the live event itself. The Oscars no longer exist as a single night sealed off from the rest of the year. Red-carpet arrivals, backstage exchanges, interviews and short clips circulate continuously, resurfacing through search and recommendation long after the ceremony has ended. AMPAS’s decision to digitize its vast archive with Google reflects the same logic. The awards show is evolving from a one-off spectacle into a perpetually accessed repository of content. For audiences in South Korea, this transformation feels familiar. We no longer speak of “watching television” so much as opening apps. Messaging platforms sustain relationships; video platforms absorb hours; news reaches readers increasingly through summaries, clips and recommendations rather than full articles. As artificial intelligence settles into this environment, the contours sharpen further. Summaries precede full viewing. Experience is completed through circulation. Advertising slips away from traditional commercial breaks into short-form video, commerce and live sales. Viewers are no longer merely audiences; they function as editors, amplifiers and distributors all at once. The Oscars’ move to YouTube does not herald the death of broadcasting. It confirms that broadcasting as a format has already begun to dissolve. What matters now are the questions that follow: Where does public value attach in a platform-dominated media order? When editorial power drifts toward algorithms, who bears responsibility for diversity and balance? And who controls the record? The Academy’s renewed emphasis on archiving acknowledges a reality that extends far beyond Hollywood: platforms are becoming not just spaces of consumption, but custodians of cultural memory. The Oscars of 2030 will likely feel quieter. Some will watch live. Others will catch up the following morning. Many will decide that a handful of clips is sufficient. The ceremony will not vanish—but it will no longer be a moment experienced collectively, in real time. In truth, we already inhabit that world. The Oscars are simply arriving late. 2025-12-18 14:16:38