PHOTOS: Annual winter festa lights up night of Seoul SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The 2025 Seoul Winter Festa officially commenced on Dec. 12, marking the start of a city-wide celebration of light and culture. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by the Seoul Tourism Organization, the festival aims to bridge the gap between local residents and international visitors. The event features a diverse lineup of programming that blends live performances and interactive experiences with the global appeal of K-culture. The festivities are spread across Seoul’s most iconic landmarks, including Gwanghwamun Square, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Uicheon Stream, and the Seoul Plaza Skating Rink. Visitors can expect a rotating schedule of media art shows and cultural performances designed to showcase the city's modern aesthetic. The Seoul Winter Festa is scheduled to run through early next year, positioning the capital as a premier winter destination. 2025-12-17 16:43:29

South Korea sees steady rise in fathers taking parental leave SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The number of fathers taking parental leave in South Korea surpassed 60,000 for the first time last year, accounting for 30 percent of all parental leave takers. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Wednesday, the number of parental leave takers reached 206,226 in 2024, up four percent from the previous year, with some 29.2 percent being fathers. The number of fathers taking parental leave has steadily increased from 32,051 in 2019 to 50,815 in 2023, with most of them in their late 30s. About 67.9 percent of fathers and 57.7 percent of mothers were employed at large companies with over 300 employees. By region, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number of parental leave takers with 60,917, followed by Seoul with 37,265, Incheon with 12,549, and Busan with 11,358. Under relevant laws, parental leave allows pregnant women or parents with children under the age of 8 to take up to one year off from work. 2025-12-17 16:41:54

Propaganda leaflets floated to North Korea months before martial law fiasco, Defense Ministry reveals SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea floated propaganda leaflets into North Korea at least 23 times under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. According to the ministry's recent internal investigation, the leaflet drops, halted in July 2017 under Yoon's predecessor, resumed from February to November last year after a decision was made at a security meeting in October 2023, attended by then-Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, then-Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, and then-National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyu-hyun. Specific reasons for the resumption remain undisclosed, as the meeting records are classified as presidential documents. Whether it was a calculated move to provoke the North or not, leaflets targeting around 35 locations in North Korea including Pyongyang and Wonsan, were floated for about a year just before Yoon's botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. In response, North Korea launched its bizarre campaign of seeing trash-filled balloons toward the South about 32 times from May to November last year. The latest revelation comes after independent prosecutors wrapped up their investigation earlier this week, concluding that Yoon prepared for his martial law fiasco as early as October 2023, more than a year before. 2025-12-17 16:05:26

KAIST develops AI training method that learns human preferences with less data SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a new artificial intelligence training method that allows AI systems to learn human preferences more accurately using far less data, even in noisy or uncertain conditions. KAIST said on December 17 that a research team led by Kim Jun-mo has created a reinforcement learning framework called Teacher Value-based Knowledge Distillation, or TVKD. The approach improves how AI systems align their decisions with human judgment, a long-standing challenge in fields ranging from large language models to recommendation systems. Conventional preference-based AI training relies heavily on large volumes of comparison data, such as choosing whether option A is better than option B. While effective in controlled settings, the method often breaks down when data is limited or when human judgments are inconsistent, causing unstable learning and unreliable outcomes. The KAIST team addressed this problem by introducing a “teacher-student” structure. In the new framework, a teacher model first learns how valuable different choices are across full contexts, rather than relying on simple comparisons. The teacher then passes this distilled information to a student model, which learns more efficiently and consistently. Instead of copying binary judgments like “good” or “bad,” the student model learns why a decision is better by inheriting the teacher’s value-based evaluation. This allows the AI to make more balanced decisions in ambiguous situations and reduces confusion caused by conflicting data. The researchers also designed the system to account for the reliability of preference data. Clear and consistent data is given more weight during training, while noisy or uncertain inputs are downplayed. This helps the AI remain stable in real-world environments where human feedback is often imperfect. Tests across multiple AI benchmarks showed that the new method outperformed existing state-of-the-art approaches. The framework delivered stronger and more stable results on widely used evaluation tools such as MT-Bench and AlpacaEval. Kim said the method reflects how learning works in practice, where perfect data is rarely available. He added that the framework could be applied across a wide range of AI applications that require reliable alignment with human values. The research was led by Kwon Min-chan, a doctoral student at KAIST, and has been accepted to NeurIPS 2025, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence conferences. The study will be presented at a poster session on December 3, Pacific time. The project was supported by funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT through the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation. 2025-12-17 15:47:32

Korea's shipbuilders to extend order growth streak in 2026 Editor's Note: This is the second 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 17 (AJP) - South Korea's shipbuilding industry is expected to extend its growth streak into 2026 after posting record shipments in 2025, although slowing global orders and intensifying competition from Chinese yards are emerging headwinds, according to forecasts compiled by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Vessel exports are projected to reach an estimated $31.2 billion this year, up 22 percent, driven mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and large container ships. LNG carriers and container vessels accounted for 38.1 percent and 33.3 percent of total exports, respectively. Export growth is expected to moderate next year. Based on current order books, KCCI forecasts exports of $33.92 billion in 2026, marking a slower but still solid annual increase of 8.6 percent. Orders thin, but Korea holds ground New orders thinned sharply in 2025, clouding the mid-term outlook. Global ship orders through October plunged 43 percent year-on-year to 37.89 million compensated gross tonnage (CGT). Korean shipyards secured 8.06 million CGT over the period, down 5.4 percent — a comparatively mild decline that underscores Korea's resilience amid intensifying global competition. Orders included 80 container ships, 63 tankers, 16 LNG carriers and seven LPG carriers. Low-carbon container vessels stood out as the strongest segment. Orders for such ships rose 5.1 percent year-on-year, accounting for 45.6 percent of total orders, while backlogs surged 31.5 percent as shipping lines accelerated fleet renewals to meet tightening environmental regulations. Despite softer ordering, shipbuilding remains one of South Korea's brightest export sectors heading into 2026, supported by prolonged geopolitical disruptions — including the Red Sea crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war — that continue to sustain replacement demand. LNG and container pipelines stay robust LNG carriers, a traditional stronghold for Korean builders, are showing signs of recovery. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has reportedly signed a letter of intent with Japanese shipping group NYK for up to eight 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers worth an estimated $2.08 billion, linked to Cheniere Energy's Texas projects. Hanwha Ocean is also expected to finalize separate deals with Norway's Knutsen and Equinor totaling around $1 billion. "Interest in new LNG carrier builds has grown," said Georgios Plevrakis, head of Hanwha Ocean's European business development, at the World LNG Summit in Türkiye. "Delivery slots for 2029 are filling quickly, and from mid-next year, availability will shift to 2030." The container ship pipeline also remains firm. HMM awarded a combined $2.16 billion contract to HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean last month for 12 LNG dual-fuel container vessels. Singapore-based Pacific International Lines is seeking bids for four to eight 13,000-TEU vessels valued at least $1.28 billion, with Korean yards among the leading contenders. MASGA and U.S. naval ties lift sentiment A Korea–U.S. memorandum of understanding signed in November has further buoyed sentiment. Under the agreement, Seoul committed roughly $150 billion in shipbuilding-related investments to upgrade U.S. shipyards, while Washington publicly backed Korea's ambitions in nuclear-powered submarines. Cooperation is already materializing. Hanwha Ocean became the first Korean builder to secure a U.S. Navy maintenance contract and has undertaken multiple repair projects, including work on the dry cargo vessel Charles Drew. Its $100 million acquisition of Philly Shipyard last year has emerged as a flagship project under the "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" initiative. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, meanwhile, won a maintenance contract in August for the 41,000-ton USNS Alan Shepard and completed its merger with HD Hyundai Mipo on Dec. 1 to streamline operations. 2026 outlook: LNG rebound, tankers next Clarkson Research projects global ship orders of 49.78 million CGT across 1,952 vessels in 2026. LNG carrier orders are expected to rebound to 115 units as major projects — including Plaquemines LNG Phase 2, Port Arthur and Rio Grande LNG Phase 1 — reach final investment decisions. Qatar's fleet renewal program could add another 15 to 30 LNG carrier orders. Tankers may emerge as the next growth driver once containership ordering cools. Clarkson forecasts 442 tanker orders next year, including 115 crude carriers and 215 product carriers. Expectations for Korea-built nuclear-powered submarines have also strengthened after Washington's public endorsement during the APEC summit in Gyeongju. While no contracts have been confirmed, U.S. Navy Chief Adm. Daryl Caudle visited HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean facilities in November, urging Korea to "move beyond a regional navy." "U.S. naval vessel and nuclear submarine themes that drove share prices in 2025 will continue to support the sector next year as MASGA details emerge," said Byun Yong-jin, analyst at iM Securities. "But earnings will take time to materialize. Nuclear submarines, in particular, are long-cycle projects, and expectations should be tempered." 2025-12-17 15:37:37

Samsung's tri-fold phone sells out again despite hefty price tag SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ ultra-premium Galaxy Z Tri-Fold smartphone has sold out again within minutes, reflecting strong demand for the company’s latest foldable innovation despite its price exceeding 3.59 million won ($2,450). Samsung said a second batch of the Galaxy Z Tri-Fold sold out in about two minutes after going on sale at 10 a.m. on its official website and at major retail outlets nationwide. The first batch, released on Dec. 12, sold out in roughly five minutes. The second sale allowed online orders with in-store pickup or home delivery within two to three days. Samsung has not disclosed official sales volumes. However, industry sources said supply could rise to between 2,500 and 5,000 units by early next year, potentially expanding to around 10,000 units over the longer term. The Galaxy Z Tri-Fold ranks among the most expensive smartphones currently on the market. Limited availability has pushed resale prices sharply higher on online platforms, with listings ranging from about 4 million to 5.5 million won, and some asking prices reaching as high as 10 million won. The Galaxy Z Tri-Fold is Samsung’s first tri-foldable smartphone, featuring a display that folds twice. When fully unfolded, it offers a screen measuring about 253 millimeters, or roughly 10 inches, while folding down to a bar-type smartphone with a 164.8-millimeter display. 2025-12-17 15:35:50

PHOTOS: Incheon's Inspire entertainment resort filled with Christmas SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Stepping into the rotunda, the view inside the resort’s grand circular hall drew an instinctive pause. The space, transformed into a “Winter Storybook Gift Factory,” felt like a page lifted from a Christmas tale — as if one had wandered into Santa’s workshop itself. Animatronic bears, brought to life through advanced technology, busied themselves with making and wrapping gifts, their small movements both charming and oddly lifelike. Visitors moved through six themed zones — a gift registration desk, baking station, toy workshop, wrapping area and more — watching brightly colored boxes glide along conveyor belts. Children and adults alike raised their phones, eager to capture the scene unfolding before them.​​​​​​​ Photo zones placed throughout the hall offered another simple pleasure. In front of oversized gift boxes or beside glittering Christmas trees, visitors stopped to frame their own holiday moments. Families were especially prominent, and the sound of children’s laughter echoed across the open space of the resort.​​​​​​​ From there, the walk continued to “Aurora,” a 150-meter digital entertainment street. The scale was immediately striking. Massive LED screens stretched across ceilings and walls, filling the corridor with a continuous panorama of snow-covered winter villages. Santa’s village and aurora-themed visuals played in rotation, and at the top of every hour, a special two- to three-minute sequence began.​​​​​​​ In those moments, Santa appeared gliding across the sky in a sleigh pulled by Rudolph, tracing golden arcs through the air. The scene unfolded with a dreamlike quality, closer to cinema than decoration. According to resort officials, additional events are planned from December 20 to 25. A Nutcracker parade will take place at 5:30 p.m. and again at 8 p.m., along with opportunities for visitors to take photos with Santa. Mini carol concerts and other interactive programs are also scheduled, offering more reasons to return as Christmas draws near.​​​​​​​ 2025-12-17 15:32:44

Samsung seen emerging winner in premium smartphones as memory costs surge SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Soaring memory prices — spilling over from DRAM into NAND flash that powers smartphones — are forcing device makers to respond with specification downgrades or price hikes. Samsung Electronics, however, with its full-cycle smartphone capabilities spanning memory, application processors, displays and handsets, may hold the strongest edge, particularly in the premium segment. Memory prices are projected to climb sharply again in the first quarter of 2026, pressuring smartphone and notebook brands to either raise prices or cut specifications, according to market tracker TrendForce. As memory accounts for a growing share of device bills of materials, the upcycle is already translating into concrete changes in pricing strategies and product configurations across the industry. What was once a theoretical cost risk is becoming a market reality. Manufacturers are adjusting launch prices, trimming memory options or shortening product lifecycles to cope with rising component costs. The question is whether any player can respond differently — and whether Samsung’s in-house NAND supply gives it that flexibility. TrendForce estimates that memory components, including DRAM and NAND flash, will take up a significantly larger share of smartphone BOM costs in early 2026 as prices remain elevated. Even Apple, known for its pricing power, is expected to reassess pricing strategies for new models and scale back discounts on older ones as memory costs rise, the firm said. Memory is among the most cost-sensitive components in a flagship smartphone. Teardown analyses by Counterpoint Research and TechInsights show that DRAM and NAND together account for roughly 18 to 23 percent of a premium device’s BOM, placing memory alongside application processors and displays as one of the largest cost categories. Within that slice, NAND plays an outsized role. Storage typically represents more than half of total memory costs, and its impact escalates rapidly as manufacturers push higher-capacity models. Moving from 128GB to 512GB can multiply NAND costs three- to four-fold, making storage configuration a critical lever for margins and pricing. This is where Samsung’s structure stands apart. Unlike most smartphone makers, Samsung sources the majority of its NAND internally, with its semiconductor-focused Device Solutions division supplying advanced UFS storage directly to its Mobile eXperience business. That vertical integration allows Samsung to adjust internal transfer pricing, potentially cushioning its smartphone unit from the full force of market-level NAND price increases. “The advantage lies primarily in supply stability,” said Yangpaeng Kim, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. “Because Samsung produces its own NAND, it can stabilize its supply chain through internal transactions,” Kim said. “Even at the same price level, securing components internally provides a meaningful advantage. Supply stability alone can be a significant edge.” Apple, by contrast, relies entirely on external suppliers for NAND, including Samsung Electronics, Kioxia and SK hynix. While long-term contracts and large-scale procurement help smooth volatility, Apple remains directly exposed to higher contract prices when NAND costs rise, analysts say. This has reinforced Apple’s reliance on storage tiering — keeping base models at lower capacities while charging steep premiums for upgrades. TrendForce noted that cutting specifications or delaying upgrades has become an essential cost-control tool for device makers. Among Android brands targeting the mid- to low-end segments, where memory capacity is a key selling point, rising costs are already prompting price increases and revisions to existing product lineups. The broader cost environment is adding to the strain. A weak won is pushing up the price of imported components, while costs for high-end application processors and advanced OLED displays continue to rise. Industry sources say the pace of cost inflation is too rapid for device makers to absorb indefinitely. Whether Samsung’s structural advantage translates into sustained pricing power remains an open question. Internal sourcing can soften the initial shock, but it does not eliminate cost pressure — it redistributes it within the group. The coming pricing cycle will test whether Samsung can preserve storage specifications or price points longer than rivals, or whether it, too, will be forced into the same trade-offs now spreading across the industry. Some in the industry speculate that Samsung is carefully controlling the rollout of the world’s first trifold smartphones following initial bookings in December, reflecting the high production costs involved. 2025-12-17 15:28:07

South Korea to end free disposable plastic cups under new anti-plastic plan SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea plans to end the free distribution of disposable plastic cups at cafes and other food outlets, requiring consumers to pay a fee as part of a broader push to curb plastic waste, the government said on Wednesday. The Ministry of Environment said the measure would be included in a comprehensive anti-plastic strategy to be released next week. The policy will replace the existing disposable cup deposit system. Under the new plan, individual businesses will be allowed to set their own prices for disposable cups, but the government will establish a minimum fee reflecting production costs. The ministry said the price is expected to range between 100 and 200 won per cup. South Korea previously introduced a deposit system that refunded money to consumers who returned used cups, but the scheme was suspended after small business owners raised concerns over administrative burdens. The system was implemented only in limited areas, including Sejong and Jeju Island, drawing criticism over its effectiveness. Plastic straws will continue to be provided free of charge upon request, the ministry said, despite an existing ban on their use in stores. Enforcement of the ban has been postponed indefinitely under a grace period. A draft of the anti-plastic strategy is set to be released early next week, followed by a public hearing to gather feedback, the ministry said. 2025-12-17 15:27:27

Ex-golfer Pak Se-ri's father gets suspended sentence for fraud SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korean golf pioneer Pak Se-ri's father received a suspended sentence for document forgery and fraud on Wednesday. The Daejeon District Court in central South Korea sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years on several charges. He was convicted of falsely claiming to be the head of his daughter's namesake foundation from June 2021 to July 2023, and allegedly forging the foundation's seal and other documents in an attempt to establish an international golf academy. After becoming aware of this, the foundation filed a complaint against him in September 2023, although he claimed that he had acted on behalf of his daughter with tacit approval from the foundation. But the court said, "There is no evidence of delegated authority from the foundation to him." 2025-12-17 15:08:59