Snowboarder Yoo Seung-eun Finishes 12th in Olympic Slopestyle, Ends Medal Bid Big air bronze medalist Yoo Seung-eun (Seongbok High School) ended her first Olympic appearance with a 12th-place finish in women’s snowboard slopestyle. Competing Feb. 18 (Korea time) at Livigno Snow Park in Italy, Yoo posted a best score of 34.18 across three finals runs, placing 12th among the 12 finalists at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The final had been scheduled for Feb. 17 but was postponed a day because of heavy snow and severe weather. Yoo had raised medal hopes by scoring 76.80 in qualifying, third overall, but struggled to complete clean runs in the final. Going 10th, she scored 20.70 on her first run after a landing mistake in the rail section (Section 3). Her best score came on the second run. She landed a switch backside 900 on the first jump (Section 4) and followed with a frontside 360 in Section 5, but fell on the landing while attempting a backside 720 on the final jump (Section 6), finishing with 34.18. On her third run, she slipped early in Section 2 and again attempted a switch backside 900 on the first jump, but wobbled on the landing and scored 15.46. Yoo finished the Games after making history for South Korea’s snow events by winning bronze in snowboard big air. Japan’s Mari Fukada won gold with 87.83 points. Silver went to Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand, and bronze to Japan’s Kokomo Murase.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 00:15:00

Lee Ufan Works Lead Seoul Auction and K Auction Sales in Late February The year’s first art auction delivered stronger-than-expected results, raising expectations of a market rebound, and major houses are now preparing a new round of February sales. According to the art auction industry on the 19th, Seoul Auction and K Auction will hold their February auctions on the 26th and 27th, respectively. Together, the two houses will offer 226 works by artists whose value has been tested in domestic and international markets, with a combined estimate of about 17.6 billion won. Seoul Auction will feature Lee Ufan’s “Dialogue,” a work defined by minimal brushwork set against broad areas of open space. It is estimated at 950 million won to 1.8 billion won. Works by key figures in modern Korean art, including Lee Jung-seob, Chang Ucchin and Choi Young-rim, will also be offered. K Auction will also lead with large-scale “Dialogue” paintings by Lee, including No. 300 and No. 100, and will add a wider range of works, from ceramics to small terracotta pieces. The No. 300 painting, made in 2007, is described as a rare, extra-large format within Lee’s output. It is estimated at 1.35 billion won to 2.4 billion won. Lee’s ceramic works and terracotta pieces offered alongside the paintings highlight another side of his practice. His painted ceramic work titled “Untitled” extends the relationship between dots and empty space from his flat canvases into three-dimensional form. At Seoul Auction, Kim Tschang-yeul’s “Sunflower” and “Return” are also expected to draw attention. “Sunflower,” made in 1955, shows the artist’s early style before his well-known water-drop series and is estimated at 250 million won to 500 million won. “Return,” a large folding-screen-format work made in 1996, is estimated at 120 million won to 250 million won. K Auction will also offer works by Dansaekhwa masters including Park Seo-bo and Yun Hyong-keun, alongside international names such as Yayoi Kusama, Bernard Buffet, Gerhard Richter and Yoshitomo Nara. Kusama’s 1991 “Pumpkin” will be included. Chun Kyung-ja’s “Woman,” selected for the auction catalog cover, is also positioned as a key work in the sale. A K Auction official said the January auction ended with strong interest, confirming steady demand and high collector participation. The official added that the positive start to the year is fueling expectations for more active movement in the art market in 2026. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 00:03:00

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo Wins Team Sprint Gold for Fifth Title at Milan-Cortina Olympics Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo became the first five-time gold medalist in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, bringing his career Olympic gold total to 10. Klaebo and Einar Hedegart won the men’s team sprint final on Feb. 18 (Korean time) at the Tesero Cross-Country Ski Stadium in Italy. Klaebo and Hedegart, who also teamed up in the men’s 4x7.5-kilometer relay on Feb. 15, finished in 18 minutes, 28.98 seconds. They beat the U.S. duo of Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher (18:30.35) by 1.27 seconds. Host Italy’s Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino took bronze in 18:32.29. In the team sprint, two skiers form a team and each races a roughly 1.5-kilometer course three times, with places decided by combined time. Klaebo swept five events at these Games: the 10km+10km skiathlon, sprint classic, 10km interval start free, the 4x7.5km relay and the team sprint. With the relay win, he moved into first place for the most Winter Olympic gold medals in history with nine, then extended the mark to 10 with Tuesday’s victory. Klaebo won three golds at Pyeongchang 2018 and two at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, and now has five at this Olympics for 10 total. Across the Summer and Winter Olympics, the all-time record for most gold medals is 23 by U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. Klaebo also matched the record for most gold medals at a single Olympics, set by American speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Lake Placid Games with five (500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m). Klaebo is scheduled to race the 50km mass start on Feb. 21. A gold there would put him ahead of Heiden and set a new single-Games record for the first time in 46 years. 2026-02-18 22:33:00

Cha Jun-hwan Reveals Ankle Injury After Historic Fourth-Place Olympic Finish South Korean men’s figure skating standout Cha Jun-hwan said he delivered the best Olympic result in the country’s history — fourth place at his third Olympics — while dealing with a painful right ankle injury. After an official practice session on Feb. 18 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena’s training rink, the 25-year-old Seoul Metropolitan Government skater told reporters his condition had been worse than it appeared. “My right ankle, around the ankle bone, was in such bad shape that it had fluid buildup,” Cha said. He said the pain intensified during a recent skate change because the boot pressed on his ankle. “I was getting treatment while it was swollen with fluid, and it ended up stiffening while still swollen,” he said. “But I approached it thinking I had to endure somehow until the Olympics, and I didn’t show it for psychological stability.” Cha said that after finishing the free skate, the tension lifted and he came down with a severe cold and body aches. “It’s a good thing I got sick after everything was over,” he said with a smile. Cha’s effort also drew praise from a special visitor: Martina Corgnati, the daughter of late Italian singer Milva, whose original song “Ballad for a Madman” Cha used for his free skate. Corgnati visited Korea House to express thanks. In a video message, she said, “If my mother, who passed away five years ago, had seen it, she would have been moved.” She added, “The way he got back up after falling during the performance and continued was sublime. I was touched by how deeply he connected with the music.” Cha replied, “I never imagined this, so I’m surprised and grateful. Performing to that piece actually gave me strength. I really think I made the right choice changing the music.” Cha is set to skate in the Feb. 22 gala show to “Not a dream” by Korean traditional vocalist Song So-hee. He said the word that runs through his skating is “freedom,” and called it a Korean-style piece that expresses that well. He was cautious about what comes next. On the world championships after the Olympics, Cha said he is considering whether to compete given his ankle condition. Asked about a bid for the 2030 Alps Olympics, he said he needs time to regroup.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 22:15:00

Lee Eui-jin, Han Da-som Miss Final in Women’s Cross-Country Team Sprint at 2026 Milan Olympics Lee Eui-jin (Busan Metropolitan City Sports Council) and Han Da-som (Gyeonggi Provincial Government) were eliminated in qualifying for the women’s cross-country team sprint at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The pair placed 23rd out of 26 teams with a combined time of 7:50.72 on Feb. 18 at the cross-country stadium in Tesero, Italy, missing the top 15 that advanced to the final. In the team sprint qualifier, two skiers form a team and each races a course of about 1.5 kilometers once, with places decided by combined time. The top 15 teams move on, and the final is contested over three laps each, with results based on the combined time. Han skied first for South Korea and posted 3:55.12, 46th overall. Lee followed with 3:55.59, 47th overall, leaving them outside the top 15 on aggregate. In the final, Sweden’s Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist won gold in 20:29.99. Switzerland’s Nadja Kaelin and Nadine Faehndrich took silver in 20:31.39, and Germany’s Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek won bronze in 20:35.86.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 20:36:00

Copyright Issues Over Pop Music Spotlight Olympic Figure Skating as Amber Glenn Places 13th Copyright concerns tied to the use of pop music became a major talking point in figure skating at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Even with support from pop star Madonna, U.S. skater Amber Glenn finished 13th in the women’s short program. Glenn scored 67.39 points in the women’s singles short program on Feb. 18 (Korean time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, placing 13th. Glenn chose Madonna’s hit “Like a Prayer” for her short program this season and had worried about copyright issues. Before the competition, Madonna sent Glenn a video message granting permission and offering encouragement, saying, “You can use this song. I hope you win the gold medal.” But Glenn made a costly mistake late in her program, turning a planned triple loop into a double. She received zero points for the element and cried after finishing. Music-rights disputes have surfaced repeatedly in Olympic figure skating beyond Glenn’s case. Glenn also faced an objection on social media from the creator of her free-skating music, “The Return,” and resolved the issue through contact just before the team event. In men’s singles, Spain’s Guarino Sabate ran into opposition from distributor Universal Pictures over his short-program music from the “Minions” soundtrack, but secured approval shortly before the competition. The International Skating Union said it is working with major record labels to help athletes use music without copyright problems.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 20:12:00

South Korea Women’s Curling Beats Sweden 8-3 to Keep Semifinal Hopes Alive South Korea’s women’s curling team known as “5G” kept its push for the semifinals alive by defeating Sweden in seven ends. World No. 3 South Korea — skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and fifth Seol Ye-ji — beat Sweden 8-3 in its eighth round-robin game of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics on the 18th (Korea time) at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Sweden, the most successful nation in Olympic women’s curling, opened these Games with six straight wins and had already clinched a semifinal berth. After securing that spot the previous day, Sweden made a series of mistakes against South Korea. With the hammer in the first end, South Korea loaded three stones into the house, then Kim Eun-ji used the final stone to knock out Sweden’s second shot stone for three points. South Korea added one more in the second end after Sweden skip Anna Hasselborg missed her final draw. Sweden faltered further as the deficit grew to 4-0. In the third end, Hasselborg tried a double takeout with her seventh stone to remove two South Korean stones near the button but missed, and South Korea scored two to make it 6-0. South Korea added two more in the fourth for an 8-0 lead, then allowed one point in the fifth end. In the sixth, South Korea had a chance to score but chose to give up one to keep last-stone advantage for the next end, making it 8-2. Sweden scored one more in the seventh as it used a center-guard setup, but South Korea managed the end calmly. Sweden then offered handshakes, judging a comeback unlikely. South Korea improved to 5-3 in group play and will face Canada on the 19th in its final round-robin game, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 19:27:00

Hyundai’s U.S. sales hit January record as SUVs and hybrids drive growth Hyundai Motor is extending its momentum in the U.S. market on the strength of SUVs and hybrids, with January sales topping 60,000 for the first time as it pushes for another annual record. Industry data released Tuesday showed Hyundai’s U.S. retail sales in January totaled 60,794 vehicles, up 2.4% from 59,355 a year earlier. Sedan sales, including the Sonata and Ioniq 6, fell 12.6% to 13,569. But RV sales — including SUVs such as the Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade — rose 7.8% to 47,225, accounting for 77.7% of Hyundai’s U.S. sales. A Hyundai official said the Santa Fe and the all-new Palisade stood out, strengthening the company’s position in the family SUV segment. Hyundai’s U.S. market share in January rose 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier to 5.5%. Hyundai has been setting annual sales records in the United States. Last year, its U.S. sales rose 7.9% from a year earlier to 984,017 vehicles, and it surpassed 1 million on a wholesale basis. Hybrids have also been a major driver. Since launching Sonata Hybrid sales in the U.S. in 2011, Hyundai has sold a total of 1,014,943 eco-friendly vehicles — including hybrids, EVs and hydrogen vehicles — through last month. Hybrids accounted for 759,359 vehicles, about 75% of the total. In January alone, Hyundai’s U.S. hybrid sales jumped 51.9% from a year earlier to 14,316. The Tucson Hybrid, introduced in the U.S. in 2021, has sold 233,793 units through January, the company said. According to the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association’s “2025 U.S. Electric Powertrain Vehicle Market Analysis,” U.S. sales of eco-friendly vehicles rose 12.7% last year to 3,575,924 despite slower EV sales, helped by strong hybrid demand. Hybrid sales climbed 27.6% to 2.05 million. Hyundai said it plans to broaden its lineup and strengthen local production as the market shifts. In the U.S., it currently sells four hybrid models, seven EV models and one hydrogen fuel cell model. The Palisade hybrid, launched locally last year, won the utility category at the “2026 North American Car of the Year” awards, citing strong reviews of Hyundai’s next-generation hybrid system. Hyundai also plans to add hybrid production by introducing a mixed-model production system at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, its EV production hub. It aims to expand annual capacity to 500,000 vehicles from 300,000.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 18:03:00

S.Korea's top policy aide says AI race hinges on electricity, not code SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - South Korea's presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom urged the nation to elevate its power grid to the status of strategic national infrastructure, warning that the global artificial intelligence contest is no longer a battle of algorithms but of physical resources. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Kim wrote that AI had evolved into a capital-intensive hardware industry, making scarce commodities such as graphics processing units (GPUs), memory chips, transmission lines and electricity far more decisive than software code. "Intelligence spreads and is replicated quickly. Models are caught up to. Code proliferates. But power plants, transmission networks and semiconductor fabs cannot be copied overnight," Kim said. Kim singled out what he described as a looming paradox for Asia's fourth-largest economy: SK hynix and Samsung Electronics produce the world's most advanced high-bandwidth memory (HBM) destined for Nvidia GPUs in overseas data centers, yet South Korea itself lacks sufficient large-scale AI computing clusters to harness the technology at home. The policy chief stressed that while South Korea does not face an outright electricity shortage, the deeper challenge lies in delivering power at the scale and speed that AI demands. Kim also championed the principle of local production and consumption of electricity, insisting that power-generating regions should share in the industrial benefits. The remarks come as South Korea prepares to draft its 12th basic plan for electricity supply and demand, a 15-year blueprint covering 2026 through 2040 that will shape the country's energy mix amid surging demand from AI data centers. The government earlier committed to constructing two large-scale nuclear reactors under the 11th electricity supply plan finalized in February 2025, signaling its intent to align energy policy with the power-hungry demands of next-generation industries. 2026-02-18 17:24:55

Steelmakers Eye Humanoid Robots as New Growth Market for Specialty Steel Humanoid robots are emerging as a potential new growth market for South Korea’s steel industry, as demand is expected to increase for specialty steel and electrical steel sheets used in key drive components such as reducers, joint shafts and motor cores. Analysts say steel demand, long centered on construction and shipbuilding, could broaden to robots and other automation equipment. Industry officials said Feb. 18 that Korean steelmakers could strengthen a two-track strategy: adopting humanoid robots in their own plants as users while also supplying robot-grade materials. While artificial intelligence makes robots smarter, specialty steel is what enables them to handle heavy work in industrial settings. High-strength, high-durability specialty steel is used in critical reducer parts that power robot joints, including internal gears and splines. Steel is also applied to load-bearing sections of robot frames, often combined with aluminum alloys to reduce weight. Ultra-high-strength steel sheet developed for automobiles and non-oriented electrical steel sheet used in drive motors are also closely tied to energy efficiency, supporting expectations of rising demand. Korean steelmakers already say they have the capability to produce materials for humanoid robots. SeAH Besteel has said it developed steel for robot reducers in 2021. POSCO produces its ultra-high-strength steel sheet Giga Steel for robot applications and its high-efficiency non-oriented electrical steel sheet Hyper NO. Hyundai Steel is also seen as able to supply materials for precision machinery and drive components through its high-cleanliness specialty steel production system. Steelmakers are also accelerating efforts to bring humanoid robots into worksites to help replace labor. POSCO signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. humanoid startup Persona AI to apply industrial humanoid robots in the field. In unloading finished rolled coils that can weigh tens of tons, cranes are required; the plan is for humanoid robots to work with on-site workers to fasten crane belts to the coils. Hyundai Steel has introduced a tagging robot at its Dangjin specialty steel plant to automate shipping processes as it moves faster on smart-factory implementation. “While the market is still in its early stages, the expansion of the robot industry could lead to increased demand for high value-added specialty steel and electrical steel sheets,” an industry official said. “The amount of specialty steel used in humanoid robots is not large, but we are preparing mid- to long-term strategies as the market grows.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 17:06:00