Comedienne Park Na-rae suspends activities amid mounting allegations SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - A slew of allegations from verbal abuse and tantrums to illegal medical practices that emerged last week has led comedienne Park Na-rae to suspend all activities. In a message posted on social media on Monday, Park said, "I have decided to stop all activities until everything is resolved," adding, "I cannot continue to burden my colleagues on the programs ." In response, the shows and programs she had regularly appeared on soon parted ways with her, confirming her departure. MBC's long-running reality show "I Live Alone" said, "Considering the gravity of the situation..... we have decided to halt her appearance on the show." The broadcaster also canceled altogether a planned travel-themed reality show that was set to feature Park along with her colleagues Jang Do-yeon, Shin Ki-ru, and Heo Anna, scheduled to air sometime in January. Cable channel tvN's "Amazing Saturday" also said, "We respect Park's decision to suspend her activities and will allow her to leave the show." Following a decade of obscurity, the 40-year-old, who had enjoyed a spectacular rise by striking a chord with viewers through her cheerful and candid character while leading a seemingly fun-filled life, became embroiled in controversy last week when two former managers accused her of verbal abuse, physical assault, and forcing them to run personal errands, among other allegations. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 16:12:57

Korean big techs toughen data-protection systems, Coupang faces lawsuits in U.S. and at home SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Major South Korean digital-tech companies are scrambling to revisit their data-protection posture and reinforce security protocols after Coupang's colossal data breach put the personal information of more than 30 million shoppers at risk, triggering tougher regulatory scrutiny and a wave of litigations. The incident has laid bare the vulnerability of Koreans' private data in a society where virtually every aspect of daily life — banking, shopping, communication, mobility — runs through digital platforms, while exposing corporate and government complacency in safeguarding privacy. Kakao, operator of the country's dominant messaging platform, said it is upgrading its internal security response processes after this year's repeated data leaks. "With so many security breaches this year, including Coupang's case, we are re-examining and advancing our overall internal security response processes. We are expanding mock drills based on actual incident scenarios and strengthening monitoring to identify and respond to potential risks earlier," a Kakao spokesperson in charge of security told AJP. With nearly the entire Korean population relying on KakaoTalk for communication and business transactions, the company is conducting scenario-based infiltration training by hiring white-hat hackers and expanding company-wide security drills to bolster practical preparedness. Kakao is also stepping up user-side protection. Through its KakaoTalk Wallet, it has been sending cautionary alerts to help prevent secondary damages linked to the Coupang breach. Its government-notification service — which alerts users when overseas direct purchases are made under their name — is designed to detect early signs of identity theft. Viva Republica, operator of the financial super-app Toss, said it is conducting regular mock hacking exercises, vulnerability scans, and penetration-based safety checks. "We are meticulously reviewing our security systems across all services. We operate a 24-hour monitoring and response system for detecting anomalies and are prepared to respond immediately if additional measures are needed," a Viva Republica spokesperson said. Naver, the country's largest internet portal, declined to comment on its latest response measures. The company already maintains dedicated security personnel in its commerce and shopping divisions, overseeing personal data protection from service design to operation. It has also allocated resources to address security vulnerabilities and misuse issues — and stands to benefit from an influx of users if trust in the leading e-commerce platform continues to erode. While major platforms are tightening internal defenses, the government is also accelerating regulatory updates. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is expected to revive efforts to pass the Online Platform Act once ongoing non-tariff negotiations with the United States conclude, according to industry sources. The bill would classify major platform operators — including Naver and Coupang — as dominant market players subject to stricter Fair Trade Commission oversight. The legislation stalled earlier this year after U.S. officials raised concerns it would disproportionately target American firms such as Google and Meta. But the Coupang breach has given lawmakers fresh political momentum. President Lee Jae Myung called for stronger penalties and punitive damages mechanisms in the wake of the breach. "We need to strengthen fines and make the punitive damages system a reality," Lee said, referring directly to Coupang. Coupang has maintained there is no evidence of direct secondary damages so far. But the Korean National Police Agency has urged heightened vigilance, warning of persistent phishing and smishing attempts exploiting the situation. Authorities said they are receiving reports of new scam schemes — including fake delivery-delay notifications and credit card fraud alerts referencing the Coupang leak to instill urgency. The agency urged users to avoid clicking unknown links and to report suspicious activity to the 112 hotline. Meanwhile, Coupang faces class-action lawsuits both in the United States and Korea. SJKP, the U.S. affiliate of Korea's Daeryun Law Firm, held a press conference in Manhattan on Monday announcing plans to file a punitive damages suit in U.S. courts against the company, which is based and publicly traded in the U.S. while earning money through retail business in Korea. Unlike in Korea, American law allows punitive damages that could yield significantly larger compensation. Daeryun said it will pursue litigation simultaneously in both countries and is examining whether Coupang properly disclosed the breach to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as listed companies are required to report major cybersecurity incidents within four business days. 2025-12-08 15:45:38

Hana Financial expands India network with new Mumbai, Devanahalli branches SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Hana Financial Group said Monday it has opened new branches in Devanahalli and Mumbai in India. The branches opened on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, completing the group's “One India” network, which already includes operations in Chennai and Gurugram, launched in 2015 and 2019, respectively. India’s young population, large domestic market and rapid digital transformation have helped sustain annual economic growth of six to seven percent in recent years, boosting demand for cross-border financial services from South Korean companies investing in manufacturing, information technology, energy and infrastructure, the group said. Hana said the new branches are designed to provide faster, customized services for corporate clients and improved digital retail offerings. The Devanahalli branch, located near Bengaluru, often referred to as India’s technology hub, will focus on supporting advanced manufacturing and research and development companies. The Mumbai branch will concentrate on investment banking, trade finance and capital markets services. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 15:44:02

Starlink's entry into S. Korea triggers push for independent satellite networks SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - SpaceX’s Starlink has formally entered the South Korean market, prompting domestic space and defense companies to reassess strategy amid growing concerns over dependence on foreign low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks for communications and military operations. Industry sources said Monday that Hanwha Systems, a major South Korean space and defense contractor, is reviewing its satellite communications plans as Starlink’s commercial rollout gathers pace. In June, the company sold its stake in European satellite operator OneWeb for 120 billion won, after acquiring the shares in 2021 for about 300 billion won, citing weak investment returns. Despite retaining exclusive rights to operate a military satellite network linked to OneWeb until 2030, the long-term viability of the partnership remains uncertain, underscoring pressure on South Korea to build an independent LEO satellite capability. The strategic value of LEO constellations has been highlighted by the Russia–Ukraine war, where Starlink terminals have been used to support Ukrainian military operations, including drone control and battlefield communications. “Dependence on foreign core technologies can create structural vulnerabilities,” said Park Joo-hong, a professor in the IT Convergence Engineering Department at POSTECH. “Independent satellite development is especially critical for defense applications, where secure control and data management are essential.” Starlink operates more than 8,000 satellites and provides download speeds of up to 500 megabits per second. The service now has more than 8 million users across roughly 150 countries, and its low-latency connections have driven rapid adoption by commercial customers. In South Korea, Starlink has signed a supply agreement with Hanjin Group. Five affiliated airlines, including Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, plan to replace existing geostationary satellite services from Panasonic with Starlink-based in-flight Wi-Fi by the third quarter of next year. Industry experts warn that reliance on foreign networks could pose long-term security and sovereignty risks. They say South Korea needs to develop a private sector-led satellite ecosystem combining domestic launch capabilities and satellite manufacturing to reduce strategic dependence. Analysts estimate that at least 100 LEO satellites would be required to establish a viable independent network. The South Korean government is accelerating efforts to build domestic capacity. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to invest 320 billion won by 2030 to develop a national LEO satellite communications system, including two satellites and ground infrastructure. Hanwha Systems is also expanding work on space-grade semiconductors and related infrastructure, including facilities at the Jeju Space Center. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 14:57:29

Hundreds evacuated after Korean War-era bomb found in Pocheon SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - About 440 students and teachers were evacuated after a World War II-era bomb was found at an elementary school in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. According to police, the bomb, believed to be from the Korean War (1950~1953), was discovered at a construction site at the school at around 10:13 a.m. Students were evacuated to a nearby gymnasium and later sent home after the bomb was safely removed. The heavily rusted bomb, about 1 meter long, was identified as an aerial bomb used by the South Korean Air Force during the war. The bomb was handed over to the military for further analysis and disposal. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 14:50:32

One in 20 in South Korea is of migrant origin SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Migration backgrounds spanning naturalized Koreans, foreigners, second-generation immigrants, and North Korean defectors – counted for the first time - made up 5.2 percent of South Korean population as of November 2024, according to the first comprehensive dataset tracking the rise of multicultural diversity in the traditionally homogenous society. According to the 2024 Migration Background Population Statistics published by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 2.715 million people living in Korea as of last November last year were either not originally from South Korea or had at least one parent of a migration background. The figure represents 5.2 percent of the total population and marks a 0.3 percentage-point increase from a year earlier. About a quarter are Korean citizen and the rest registered as foreign nationals who have stayed in the country for more than three months. The demographic profile skews distinctly young. Youth and working-age individuals dominate the group, with 2.223 million (81.9%) in the 15–64 age bracket, 344,000 (12.7%) aged 14 or under, and only 148,000 (5.5%) aged 65 or older. Men outnumber women at 52.5 percent, producing a sex ratio of 110.7 men for every 100 women. The 20s and 30s make up the largest cohorts, at 21 percent and 24.3 percent respectively. Compared with the overall Korean population, this group is markedly younger with a much smaller share of elderly,” said Kim Seo-young, head of the Population Census Division. Migration-background residents are heavily concentrated in the greater capital area, with Gyeonggi Province alone accounting for 32.7 percent, followed by Seoul (17.5%) and Incheon (6.6%). The cities with the largest absolute populations are Ansan, Hwaseong and Siheung, while Yeongam County in South Jeolla Province and Eumseong County in North Chungcheong Province record the highest ratios relative to their total populations. Children and adolescents under 24 account for 738,000 people — 27.2 percent of the migration-background population — reflecting Korea’s accelerating demographic diversification. Among this group, domestic nationals grew 3.4 percent from last year to make up 49.7 percent, while foreign residents increased 12.8 percent to 50.3 percent. The nationality of parents shows Vietnam as the most common origin at 27.2 percent, followed by China (16.5%) and Korean-Chinese (12.0%). Among naturalized citizens, 34.5 percent trace their origin to China, while 33.3 percent of second-generation immigrants come from Vietnam. Kim noted that the agency included North Korean defectors in the data set for the first time to ensure “no group is overlooked in policy planning,” adding that the rise in foreign workers, international students, and marriage immigrants continues to expand Korea’s migration-background population. 2025-12-08 14:39:50

US envoy reaffirms Washington's commitment to denuclearization of North Korea SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Acting U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Kevin Kim on Monday reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in collaboration with South Korea. After a closed-door meeting in Seoul earlier in the day with South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, Kim said U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung "reiterated their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea," which remains "our current Korea policy." His comments appear intended to counter concerns raised after a recent U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) report omitted the customary phrasing. The report, released last Friday, also does not contain any mention of North Korea. Kim then highlighted ongoing cooperation between the two allies on various issues, citing his recent meetings with Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek. He added that talks with South Korean officials will continue. When asked about any talks or progress in revising the bilateral nuclear energy pact, Kim said discussions are under way, but it still remains to be seen. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 14:30:51

PHOTOS: College admissions rush SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Following the release of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scores, a fierce and highly competitive strategic maneuver is unfolding in South Korea. Students and parents are intensely calculating their optimal university and major applications based on their results. The high-stakes nature of this post-exam period was dramatically illustrated on the afternoon of Dec. 7 when a massive crowd descended upon an admissions briefing session hosted by a private academy at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. The event saw overwhelming attendance. A long queue of hopeful attendees stretched far beyond the entrance, continuing long after the official start of the session. Indoor seating quickly became exhausted. Students and parents unable to secure a spot inside were forced to sit on chairs arranged in the university lobby or even on outdoor steps, relying on large monitors to follow the critical advice being given. The reach of the event extended digitally, with the number of applicants registering for the online live broadcast surpassing 10,000, highlighting the widespread anxiety and demand for guidance in South Korea's competitive university admission cycle. 2025-12-08 14:22:41

South Korea's economy shows gradual recovery as consumption improves: KDI SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korea’s economy is showing signs of gradual improvement, driven by stronger consumer spending, but risks remain from a prolonged construction downturn and persistent global trade uncertainties, the state-run Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in a report published on Monday. In its December economic assessment, KDI said the delayed effects of interest rate cuts and continued government support were lifting household consumption, helping to sustain a modest recovery despite weakness in the construction sector. Since August, KDI has shifted from a negative assessment to describing the economy as entering a consumer-led recovery phase, a view it has maintained in recent monthly reports. The think tank said export momentum has been supported by a global semiconductor upturn, but warned that uncertainty surrounding trade conditions remains high. Industrial production in October fell 3.6 percent from a year earlier, partly due to fewer working days, but showed a combined 1.6 percent increase across September and October. Construction output declined 14.2 percent year on year, underscoring the depth of the sector’s slowdown. Manufacturing production rose 1.6 percent, led by a 14.6 percent jump in semiconductor output. Service sector production grew 3.6 percent, supported by health and social welfare services, up 6.6 percent, and finance and insurance services, up 4.2 percent. Consumer spending showed further signs of recovery. Retail and service consumption rose a combined 1.3 percent in September and October, although October retail sales increased only 0.3 percent, partly reflecting the Chuseok holiday. “Interest rate cuts are gradually taking effect, and with the consumer sentiment index at 112.4, consumption is expected to continue improving,” the KDI report said. Construction investment remains weak despite a recent uptick in building orders. KDI also highlighted ongoing uncertainty over external trade conditions, including tariff negotiations between the United States and South Korea and pending rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 13:59:18

South Korea and Türkiye to explore common path based on historic ties in Seoul SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korea and Türkiye will convene a high-level strategic forum in Seoul on Dec. 15 to reflect on their historical ties and chart a roadmap for future comprehensive cooperation across next-generation industries and agenda on the momentum of the 75th year of the outbreak of the Korean War, where Turkey had been second only to Americans in arriving in the country to defend South Korea. Hosted jointly by the Embassy of Türkiye in the Republic of Korea and the Korea University Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) International Policy Forum, the event — titled "Türkiye Meetings" — will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Korea University's International Studies Hall, compromised of panel and separate high-level discussions among senior government officials, policy specialists, think tank scholars, and innovation leaders of the two countries. Marking what officials describe as a relationship rooted in "friendship, fraternity and brotherhood," the program opens with a photo exhibition tracing the evolution of Türkiye–Korea ties — from Türkiye's participation in the Korean War and Cold War-era solidarity to the launch of the strategic partnership in 2012 and the countries' present-day geopolitical alignment. The main forum features a panel discussion and seminar joined by leading figures from both countries' diplomatic and academic communities, including Prof. Ferhat Pirinççi, Deputy Director of Communications, Presidential Communications Directorate of Türkiye, Prof. Kim Byungki, Board Chair, Korea University GSIS International Policy Forum, Dr. Hong Hyun-ik, former Chancellor, Korea Diplomatic Academy, Prof. Nam Sung-wook, former Director, Institute for National Security Strategy, Prof. Kılıç Buğra Kanat, Executive Advisor and Professor, SETA Foundation, Prof. Murat Yeşiltaş, Professor of Geopolitics, Ankara Social Sciences University and SETA Director of Foreign Policy Studies, and Prof. Kadir Üstün, SETA Washington DC Chair The lineup reflects a shared intention to situate bilateral relations within a broader strategic context shaped by regional security demands, shifting global alliances, and accelerating technological change. President Lee Jae Myung visited Ankara on Nov. 24 for summit talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing the country as "brotherly nation" for sending more than 20,000 soldiers soon after the North Korean invasion in 1950, even as the two countries lacked diplomatic relations at the time. The two summits signed memorandums of understandings on cooperation in nuclear energy, road infrastructure, defense capabilities, biotechnology cooperation, and AI and digital infrastructure. Erdoğan invited "vast and untapped potential" for cooperation across advanced industries" while Lee highlighted Türkiye’s role in mediating Middle East tensions and its relevance to stability on the Korean Peninsula. The event is additionally linked to commemorations organized through the Turkish Cultural Center of Ankara to mark Turkish Language Diaspora Day on December 15, reinforcing the cultural dimension of Türkiye's engagement with Korea. A special gala exhibition and seminar component is being prepared by the Embassy in Seoul, the Presidential Directorate of Strategic Communications, and the SETA Foundation to honor both President Erdoğan and President Lee's state-level exchanges. Founded in 2005, SETA (Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research) is Türkiye's leading non-profit think tank, conducting research across domestic and foreign policy, security, economy, law, society, media, energy, and technology. It is also involved in cultivating future policy researchers through training programs and seminars. 2025-12-08 13:48:37