SM Line Named Top Partner by China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai Ports SM Line, the shipping affiliate of South Korea’s SM Group, has been named an outstanding partner by major Chinese port authorities, a recognition the company said reflects confidence in its growth potential. The company said Tuesday it was selected as a carrier with “sustained growth potential” at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port annual port-transport exchange meeting recently held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is among the world’s top three ports by container volume. It handled 39.31 million TEUs in 2024, trailing Shanghai (51.51 million TEUs) and Singapore (41.12 million TEUs). SM Line said its volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan topped 200,000 TEUs last year. SM Line first called at Ningbo in 2017 after launching its U.S. West Coast service (CPX), and added a Pacific Northwest service (PNS) the following year, expanding service in the region. The company said it was recognized alongside global carriers including Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine Transport, T.S. Lines, China’s Sinotrans and SITC, and Singapore-based Sea Lead. Separately, Shanghai Port selected SM Line as a “carrier with promising prospects.” The award is tied to Shanghai’s 15th five-year development plan, which aims to upgrade logistics links among Shanghai Port, the Yangtze River and nearby rail networks. SM Line said the designation reflects its status as a key partner expected to share and help carry out the port’s long-term strategy. SM Line said it plans to step up efforts this year to win export cargo from China bound for the Americas and Asia, while working closely with local ports to provide stable capacity and respond flexibly to shifts in global trade and the shipping market. “It is meaningful and gratifying that major Chinese ports have recognized our future value and potential,” SM Line CEO Kang Ho-jun said. “As a bridge linking Asia and the Americas and competing with global carriers, we will devote ourselves to accelerating growth in the China market and strengthening trust.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 15:13:00

Impeached ex-president appeals life sentence over martial law debacle SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday filed an appeal of his life sentence on charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to his martial law debacle in December 2024. It comes about a week after the Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of the botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which it ruled was an act of insurrection in violation of the Constitution, condemning his actions as having "fundamentally undermined the core values of democracy." Yoon's legal representatives argued last Thursday's ruling was riddled with factual and legal errors. "We have a responsibility to clearly point out the problems with it, not only for court records but for future historical records," they said in a statement. They also vowed to fight what they called the prosecutors' "excessive indictment," which they claimed was politically motivated. Prosecutors also appealed the case earlier in the day. Yoon, who was ousted from the presidency on April 4 last year after the Constitutional Court of Korea unanimously upheld his impeachment, had already been sentenced last month to five years in prison in a separate trial on one of several charges related to the debacle. 2026-02-24 14:55:12

Disney+ ‘Fate War 49’ Apologizes for Segment Involving Fallen Police Officer, Firefighter The producers of Disney+’s “Fate War 49” apologized Tuesday after the show drew backlash for a mission that asked contestants to guess the causes of death of a fallen police officer and firefighter. In a statement, the “Fate War 49” team said that while a shaman contestant was performing a reading without knowing the deceased, “inappropriate language and descriptions” were used. The producers said they “sincerely apologize” to those who died in the line of duty, their bereaved families, colleagues and others who were distressed by the segment. They added that staff are listening to the families, apologizing for failing to consider their feelings in advance, and working to resolve the issue. The producers also said they will take greater care across production and strengthen internal review and production processes going forward. “Fate War 49” is a survival variety show in which 49 fortune-tellers carry out missions to test their fate. In Episode 2, released Feb. 11, a mission asked contestants to guess the cause of death of the late Senior Police Officer Lee Jae-hyeon, who died in 2004 while apprehending a suspect in a violent crime case. During the segment, one shaman said, “People commonly call getting stabbed a ‘kalbbang,’ don’t they? I can see being stabbed, too.” The National Police Officers’ Workplace Council, described as an alternative organization to the police union, protested in a statement, saying it was “deeply angry and devastated” by what it called the cast and producers’ “senseless behavior” in belittling a public servant’s sacrifice with a crude slang term and turning it into entertainment. In the same episode, some contestants also discussed possible causes — including fire, collapse and being crushed — in connection with the death of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Cheol-hong, who died in 2001 at a fire scene in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul. The family and a firefighters’ union also raised objections.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:54:15

KLPGA Winner Bae So-hyeon Signs Management Deal With BeNumberOne Golf marketing firm BeNumberOne said Feb. 24 it signed a management contract with Bae So-hyeon (Mediheal), a four-time winner on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Bae is known on the KLPGA Tour as a late-blooming player. She struggled through 2023 with a back injury but worked her way back and established herself as one of the tour’s long hitters. She won three times in 2024 and added one win last year. Her goal this year is two wins, including a major title. Ahead of the new season, Bae said, “I was preparing for the season with various possibilities in mind. Just starting the new season with BeNumberOne, which will support me strongly, gives me strength. With sponsors, family and fans cheering me on, I’ll push forward.” BeNumberOne also said it has signed KLPGA players Yang Hyo-ri (Very Good Tour) and Jo Eun-chae (Kyunghee Co.), and KPGA player Jeong Tae-yang (Kyunghee Co.). The company manages KPGA players Kim Hong-taek, Park Hyun-seo, Yeom Seo-hyun and Jeong Han-mil; Lee Seung-taek, who has entered the PGA Tour; and KLPGA players Kim Yun-gyo, Lee Se-hee and Lee Ji-young5. BeNumberOne CEO Choi Yong-seok said, “We will do our best so players can achieve their best results without inconvenience.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:51:00

Actor Lee Jong-hyuk’s Son Lee Jun-su Enters Chung-Ang University Actor Lee Jong-hyuk’s second son, Lee Jun-su, has entered Chung-Ang University. Lee posted photos on social media on the 24th from the “2026 academic year Chung-Ang University College of Arts freshman entrance ceremony,” along with an image of the campus. He previously was accepted through early admissions to several programs, including the acting major in the Department of Performing Arts at Seoul Institute of the Arts — Lee Jong-hyuk’s alma mater — as well as the theater (acting) major in Chung-Ang University’s School of Performing Arts and Film and the acting arts major in Sejong University’s College of Film and Arts, in both the first and second rounds. Lee chose Chung-Ang over Seoul Institute of the Arts. With that decision, all three in the family will have studied theater: Lee Jong-hyuk graduated from the theater department at Seoul Institute of the Arts, and his eldest son, Lee Tak-su, is studying theater at Dongguk University’s College of Arts. 2026-02-24 14:48:15

Seoul opts for antidumping duties on Chinese, Japanese steel for industry relief SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - South Korea's shipbuilders enjoy heyday on robust orders and backlog, but they had limited trickle-down effect on steelmakers at home as they struggled with the flood of cheaper Chinese and Japanese imports. The government stepped in for relief as the industry undergoes stringent cost-saving streamlining to survive a global glut, a protectionist environment and the U.S. 50-percent tariff on steel imports. On Monday, it warned of antidumping duties of up to 33.43 percent on steel imports after a yearlong investigation. The Korea Trade Commission (KTC), which operates under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, recommended a set of penalty duties to the Minister of Economy and Finance for final approval. The tariffs, ranging from 28.16 percent to 33.43 percent depending on the exporter, will replace provisional duties that have been in force since September 2025. It will hear counterclaims from nine exporters — three Japanese and six Chinese firms — that together accounted for about 81 percent of South Korea's total hot-rolled steel imports over the past three years. Focus on hot-rolled coils The judgment centers on hot-rolled coils (HRC), the foundational building block of the modern steel supply chain. Produced by rolling heated steel slabs at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius, HRC serves as the primary feedstock for downstream products including cold-rolled sheets, galvanized steel, steel pipes and color-coated plates. South Korea's domestic HRC market alone is valued at about 10 trillion won ($6.92 billion) annually. Because HRC is a commodity-grade material with minimal technical differentiation, pricing is the dominant factor in purchasing decisions, making it especially vulnerable to low-cost import competition. Sector downturn deepens The antidumping action comes as South Korea's broader steel sector grapples with its worst downturn in years. Domestic reinforcement bar (rebar) consumption plunged to a 25-year low in 2025, dragged down by a prolonged slump in the construction industry, according to the Korea Iron & Steel Association. Rebar usage shrank 14.4 percent year on year to 6.66 million tons, the lowest since the association began tracking the data in 2000. Local steelmakers, strained by Chinese oversupply, slowing domestic demand and U.S. tariffs, have resorted to restructuring to survive. Hyundai Steel has decided to permanently shut down one production line at its Incheon rebar plant, while Dongkuk Steel halted production at its own Incheon facility due to similar overproduction issues. Earnings under pressure End-year results show that the financial toll has been stark. Dongkuk Steel's full-year 2025 operating profit tumbled 42.1 percent to 59.4 billion won on revenue of 3.2 trillion won. POSCO Holdings saw consolidated operating profit drop 16 percent to 1.83 trillion won as revenue slipped 5 percent to 69.1 trillion won. Hyundai Steel, which filed the original antidumping petition in December 2024, posted 2025 revenue of 22.7 trillion won, down 2.1 percent, though its operating profit rose 37.4 percent to 219.2 billion won, buoyed by lower raw material costs. However, the company posted an earnings shock in the fourth quarter, with revenue of 5.5 trillion won and operating profit of 43.3 billion won, plunging 53.6 percent from the previous quarter and sharply missing market expectations. Price gap narrows The root of the trade remedy lies in a widening price gap. Japanese and Chinese HRC was sold in the Korean market at an average of about 708,000 won per ton in July 2025, roughly 12.8 percent cheaper than comparable domestic products priced at 812,000 won. After stripping out tariffs and logistics costs, exporters' home-market prices were estimated to be 15 to 20 percent below Korean mills' prices. Provisional duties took effect in September 2025, narrowing the price differential to about 5 percent and resulting in import decline. The government projected that domestic HRC shipments could rise by more than 1 million tons, lifting local producers' market share by about 8.9 percentage points. Some analysts say the latest U.S. tariff measures may have a more limited impact than feared. "The steel tariffs were already imposed during Trump's first term under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows the president to impose duties on national security grounds, so the impact is limited," said Park Sung-bong, an analyst at Hana Securities. "The Trump administration is reportedly reviewing a reduction in tariffs on derivative products containing steel and aluminum. If this materializes, exports of those products to the U.S. could recover, which is expected to have a partially positive effect on domestic steel demand." 2026-02-24 14:32:32

107th National Winter Sports Festival Opens Feb. 25 in Gangwon; Yu Seung-eun, Cha Jun-hwan to Compete The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee said Tuesday it will hold the 107th National Winter Sports Festival, the country’s largest winter sports event, from Feb. 25-28 across Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Competition will be held in eight sports: skating, ice hockey, skiing, biathlon, curling, bobsleigh and skeleton, mountaineering, and luge. A total of 4,380 people — 2,797 athletes and 1,583 officials — from 17 cities and provinces will take part across five divisions: under 12, under 15, under 18, university and general. Speedskating (Jan. 12-14) and short-track (Jan. 15-18) were staged as preliminary events. The main competition begins on the opening day, Feb. 25. The opening ceremony is set for 5 p.m. Feb. 25 at Mona Yongpyong Bliss Hill Stay. The committee said the event is expected to carry the momentum of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at home. Competitors are to include Yu Seung-eun, who won bronze in women’s snowboard big air at the Winter Olympics, along with South Korea’s figure skating stars Cha Jun-hwan and Lee Hae-in. Detailed information, including schedules and results, will be provided in real time on the official website. Figure skating will be televised live on KBS N SPORTS, while ice climbing (mountaineering) and luge will be streamed via YouTube on the official site.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:27:00

S-Oil Promotes Key Executives Ahead of Shaheen Project Startup S-Oil has reshuffled and promoted executives ahead of the planned January commercial startup of its Shaheen Project, moving key leaders to the forefront to strengthen launch preparations and stabilize early operations. The company on Monday announced promotions for three vice presidents, eight senior managing directors and four managing directors. Many of those promoted lead organizations responsible for Shaheen Project operations. Among the vice president promotions was Lee Jeong-ik, head of the Shaheen Project Headquarters. Promoted to senior managing director were Lee Uk-yong, who leads Shaheen Project operations, and Heo Seong-hun, head of the project technology division. The moves bolster both overall management and the operations and technology lines as the company focuses on stabilizing the project’s operating organization. Also promoted to vice president were Jeong Yeong-gwang, head of the chemical production headquarters, and Lee Geon-myeong, head of the domestic sales headquarters. Promoted to senior managing director were Lee Gyeong-mun, head of the new business division; Lee Jeong-il, head of the central region headquarters; Kim Seung-hu, head of the supply and demand division; Shin Jong-cheol, head of the lubricants sales division; Seo Gyeong-seop, head of the general affairs division; and Shin Bong-su, head of the RFCC1 plant. Promoted to managing director were Ahn Jeong-woo, head of the management planning division; Lee Hyeon-min, head of the southern region headquarters; Yang Hyeon-jun, head of the logistics division; and Kim Hyeon-woo, head of the domestic sales division. The Shaheen Project is a large-scale development in the Onsan National Industrial Complex, with a total investment of 9.258 trillion won on about 880,000 square meters. Construction began in March 2023, with mechanical completion targeted for late June this year. After test runs, the project is scheduled to begin commercial operations in January next year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:12:19

More South Koreans flock to national parks, with Mt. Bukhansan most visited SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Some 43.31 million people visited national parks last year, with Mt. Bukhansan seeing the most visitors, according to data released by the Korea National Park Service on Monday. It was a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year and a full recovery from the sharp drop seen during the coronavirus pandemic, when the number of annual visitors fell into the 30 million range from a pre-pandemic high of around 43 to 44 million. The number climbed back above 40 million in 2024 and has remained there since. Mt. Bukhansan was visited by 7.53 million people, up about 540,000 from the previous year, accounting for 17.4 percent of all national park visits. Its steady draw reflects its easy access from the Seoul metropolitan area, along with a diverse range of trails and walking paths. People also headed in large numbers to other major parks. Gyeongju National Park in the southeastern city ranked second with 4.21 million visitors, up 9 percent from a year earlier, largely due to the city's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last fall. It was followed by Hallyeohaesang National Park with 3.79 million visitors and Jirisan National Park with 3.23 million. The service's chairman, Joo Dae-young, said it will strive to "provide a safe and comfortable environment so that national parks remain a leading natural retreat for the public." 2026-02-24 14:10:03

OPINION: Another year of Russian aggression against Ukraine SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Today, the world marks the fourth year since the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. After four years of war, 2026 must be the year the war comes to an end. The European Union’s view is crystal clear. We want peace in Ukraine, and we want this peace to last. Peace must be just, durable, credible and consistent with international law. Whether aggression is rewarded or rebuffed will either encourage or discourage aggressors in other regions, including the Indo-Pacific. But still today, Russia is intensifying its attacks and targeting and killing civilians every day. Last year was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since the full-scale invasion. Russia’s bombing of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has left millions of people facing darkness, cold, and water shortages during the coldest winter since 2022. This must end. Ukrainians continue to demonstrate incredible resilience, and they deserve peace. Since the beginning of the war, the Republic of Korea has been an ally and friend. Last year, at the high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the maintenance of international peace and security on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Cho reaffirmed Korea’s “unwavering commitment to respect for internationally recognized borders, and in particular, to upholding the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine”. All UN member states must uphold the UN Charter, as the cornerstone of the international order. How this war ends will further shape the future standing of these principles, already under immense test elsewhere. To compound its disregard for international law and commitments, Russia has engaged also in wide-ranging military cooperation with North Korea. The transfer of ballistic missiles, ammunition, and even troops constitutes a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, that Russia itself had supported. These transfers not only prolong the war in Ukraine; they also provide North Korea with funds, military experience, and technical insights that contribute to advance its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and lead to escalatory behaviour. This cooperation undermines the global non-proliferation regime and raises serious security concerns on the Korean Peninsula. At the UN, European countries and other like-minded partners have joined Seoul in condemning these violations of the UN Charter. Just like the Republic of Korea, we, members of the European Union, want peace in Ukraine, and we want this peace to last. Peace must be durable, credible, and consistent with international law, which protects countries large and small — both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific. The European Union stands fully behind Ukraine and is actively contributing to the US-led peace efforts, in coordination with partners. As discussions continue, the EU’s priorities remain clear. First, any agreement should deliver a just, stable and lasting peace. And it should ensure real security. Second, we must uphold Ukraine's sovereignty. There cannot be a unilateral carving up of a sovereign nation state. Borders cannot be changed by force anywhere in the world. Third, we must secure Ukraine's financial needs, so that it can continue defending itself, be in a position of strength at the negotiation table and rebuild what Russia has destroyed. Since February 2022, the EU has stood united in its unwavering support for Ukraine. We are providing substantial political, economic and military support to Ukraine, while isolating Russia and implementing an ever-widening net of sanctions directed against Russia’s war machine. Most recently, in December 2025, The EU has decided on a loan of €90 billion for 2026 and 2027 for Ukraine. With this support, we want to make sure that Ukraine can bolster its defence on the battlefield; strengthen its defence capabilities for a peace agreement; and keep running basic services, including water, heating and electricity. We have reaffirmed Europe's commitment to the security, defence, and European future of Ukraine. This should serve as a stark reminder to Russia and a message to the world: Europe will always stand with Ukraine. The EU is very grateful to the Republic of Korea for its humanitarian aid for Ukraine. During this extremely difficult winter, Ukraine urgently needs more equipment for the rapid restoration of power, heating, and water supply, as well as air defence. We call on all our partners, including the Republic of Korea, to strengthen their support to Ukraine and contribute to easing the suffering of its people. The implementation of sanctions is also a very important part of what the international community can do for Ukraine. In 2024, the Republic of Korea announced a significant expansion of its export controls against Russia and Belarus. These restrictions are not merely symbolic. They prevent the transfer of many advanced technology items, helping to weaken Russia’s military capabilities, including those that are criminally used to destroy apartment buildings, energy and other civilian infrastructure The principles at stake in Ukraine — sovereignty, territorial integrity, respect for international law — matter to all of us, whether in Europe or the Indo-Pacific. As in the days of the Korean war, the international community must come together to stop the aggression and the suffering. Let us work together so that 2026 is the year Russia abandons its imperialistic goals, ends its unprovoked aggression and engages in a lasting peace in Ukraine. 2026-02-24 13:55:27