Coming-of-age indie film becomes this year's biggest sleeper hit SEOUL, December 1 (AJP) - Low-budget film "The World of Love" has attracted over 150,000 viewers since its release in late October, becoming this year's biggest sleeper hit. According to the Korean Film Council, the 119-minute film directed by Yoon Ga-eun, reached the impressive milestone as of the end of November, consistently attracting viewers. The film's success has been driven by strong word of mouth, with viewers and critics alike praising it, despite the absence of a star-studded cast or major promotional activities. "The World of Love," which earned critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, revolves around a teenage girl who becomes isolated and ostracized after refusing to participate in a school-wide petition. 2025-12-01 09:41:25

Subway workers in Seoul go on partial strike SEOUL, December 1 (AJP) - Commuters may have to brace for some delays as unionized workers in Seoul launched a partial strike, Seoul Metro said on its website on Monday. Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 through 8, apologized for any inconvenience. It would involve operational slowdowns such as delayed door closures and reduced train speeds, likely causing disruptions for commuters during the morning and evening rush hours. The move came after Seoul Metro's labor union voted in favor of a strike last week. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations to narrow differences, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. Unionized workers are threatening a full-scale strike next week unless their demands for higher wages, the hiring of additional staff, and a halt to large-scale layoffs and pay cuts are met. 2025-12-01 09:16:02

SingCham Korea prepares Golden Ticket year-end event for 50th anniversary of ties SEOUL, November 30 (AJP) - The Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Korea is preparing to host its Golden Ticket year-end event next week as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The event will take place on December 5 at Floating Island’s Vista Hall in Seoul. It follows SingCham Korea’s year-end gala event held last year at Signiel Seoul, where more than 200 guests from the business, diplomatic and cultural sectors gathered for an evening that underscored the chamber’s growing profile in South Korea. Singapore and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1975, making 2025 the 50th year. SingCham Korea said the anniversary offers an opportunity to bring the business communities of both countries closer. In its event material, the chamber also noted the recent upgrade of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, a step that outlines cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, green industries and defense-linked technology. The upcoming Golden Ticket event is expected to draw business leaders, diplomats and representatives from Singaporean companies active in Korea. Guests will be served a course dinner, with the chamber noting that the evening will provide space for networking and engagement. The Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Korea is a non-profit organization that supports Singaporean businesses in Korea and promotes trade, investment and community links. The chamber said it plans to expand its activities throughout the anniversary year. 2025-11-30 17:00:28

Retail investors not to blame as NPS drives bigger dollar demand SEOUL, November 30 (AJP) - Growing attention has been placed on Korean retail investors pouring money into U.S. stocks, with some blaming their buying streak for the recent jump in the exchange rate. New data, however, show that the National Pension Service has been buying far more overseas equities, reinforcing the view that individual investors are not the main driver of the won's weakness. According to Bank of Korea figures released on November 30, overseas equity purchases categorized as "general government" reached 24.514 billion dollars in the first three quarters of the year. The central bank noted that this category generally reflects the National Pension Service. The amount is nearly double the 12.785 billion dollars recorded a year earlier. A separate category used to indicate individual retail investors, "non-financial corporations and others," showed offshore stock purchases of 16.625 billion dollars in the same period. That figure was up 74 percent from last year, but still smaller than the pension fund's buying. The gap between the two groups has widened. Last year, the National Pension Service bought about 1.3 times more overseas equities than retail investors during the January to September period. This year, the ratio has risen to about 1.5 times. When measured against all offshore equity purchases by Korean residents, the pension fund accounted for about 34 percent, compared with 23 percent for individuals. Retail activity has still been unusually strong. Data from the Korea Securities Depository show that individual investors bought a net 12.337 billion dollars in overseas stocks during October and November. October alone reached a record 6.813 billion dollars, followed by 5.524 billion dollars in November. If combined with earlier Bank of Korea data, retail investors' total offshore buying could reach 28.962 billion dollars through November. This figure is a simple addition of the two sets of data. The rise in retail demand coincided with a sharp climb in the exchange rate. After staying below 1,400 won per dollar in August and September, the currency began strengthening in the holidays and then reversed course in October. On November 24, it touched 1,477.3 won in intraday trading, the highest level since April 9. Many analysts say the exchange rate reflects a wider set of pressures beyond retail investor behavior. They point to the high cost of U.S. investments, the parallel weakness in the yen and the won, and foreign investors selling Korean stocks. In their view, retail buying is only one piece of the market, and the larger shifts are being driven by broader economic conditions. 2025-11-30 15:11:41

Super-aged South Korea sees record share of one-person households SEOUL, November 30 (AJP) - South Korea's population structure is shifting faster than expected as the share of one-person households climbed to a new high last year and the number of older adults passed the 10 million mark for the first time. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's annual social security statistics released on November 30, the number of people living alone reached 8.045 million in 2024, accounting for 36.1 percent of all households. The steady rise reflects long-term changes in living patterns, including delayed marriage, lower birthrates and a growing preference for independent living. In 2015, one-person households made up 27.2 percent of all homes, or 5.2 million. The figure passed 30 percent in 2020 at 6.64 million and has increased each year since. If current trends continue, the ministry projects that single-person households will reach 8.55 million in 2027, 9.71 million in 2037 and approach 9.94 million in 2042. The country's aging curve is steepening at the same time. Last year, the number of people aged 65 or older reached 10 million, the highest on record. Older adults now make up 20.1 percent of the population, placing Korea in what officials classify as a super-aged society. The demographic shift is expected to influence everything from labor supply to social spending in the years ahead. The decline in younger families is most visible in early childhood services. The number of childcare centers nationwide has fallen steadily for more than a decade, dropping from 43,770 in 2013 to 30,923 in 2022 and 28,954 in 2023. By last year, the total had declined further to 27,387. While the overall number has shrunk, the share of public childcare centers has grown, accounting for 23.8 percent of all facilities last year. Private education spending also continued to rise. The proportion of students receiving private tutoring reached 80 percent in 2024, up from 78.5 percent a year earlier. Average monthly spending on private education was 474,000 won per student. High school students spent an average of 520,000 won, middle school students 490,000 won and elementary school students 440,000 won. The number of practicing doctors totaled 109,274 last year, down 4.7 percent from 114,699 the previous year. Koreans continued to see doctors far more frequently than people in other advanced economies. Based on 2023 data, the average number of annual doctor visits per person was 18, compared with the OECD average of 6.7. Government spending on social welfare, health and related services came to 237.6 trillion won last year, equal to 36.2 percent of all national expenditures. The Ministry of Health and Welfare publishes its annual statistical report under the Framework Act on Social Security, compiling data from national surveys and administrative records to analyze trends across household structure, income and employment security and access to social services. 2025-11-30 14:09:27

Coupang hit by massive personal data breach affecting 33 million accounts SEOUL, November 30 (AJP) - Coupang, the top e-commerce platform with some 33 million monthly active users in South Korea, is facing growing criticism after confirming that personal information belonging to more than 33 million customer accounts was exposed in a major data breach. The scale of the incident has stirred anxiety among consumers and intensified scrutiny of how large technology companies protect basic personal data. The breach has drawn wide attention because Coupang has become deeply embedded in daily life across Korea. For many households, especially working families and parents with school-age children, the overnight delivery service and wide product range function almost like everyday infrastructure rather than a simple retail option. Coupang announced on November 29 that approximately 33.7 million accounts had been improperly accessed. According to the company, the leaked information includes customer names, email addresses, phone numbers, delivery addresses and parts of order histories. Coupang said no credit card numbers, passwords or payment information were exposed. The company stated that unauthorized access is believed to have begun on June 24 through an overseas server, meaning that customer information may have been vulnerable for nearly five months before the breach was detected. The seriousness of the incident was underscored by a text message Coupang sent to customers around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. In the message, the company apologized and said it had “reported the incident to the relevant authorities immediately” after discovering it. Coupang described the breach as the result of “unauthorized access,” said it had blocked abnormal pathways, strengthened internal monitoring, and confirmed that “card information, payment data and login-related information such as passwords were not exposed.” The message also warned customers to be cautious of calls or messages impersonating Coupang and included a link to an FAQ page for further updates. Coupang said it identified unusual activity on November 18 and filed reports with the Personal Information Protection Commission on November 20 and November 29. The commission, known as the PIPC, has launched an investigation and said it will take action if any violations of the Personal Information Protection Act are confirmed. The Ministry of Science and ICT has formed a joint public-private team to examine the cause of the breach and prepare preventive measures, while police began a separate investigation after receiving a complaint from Coupang on November 25. Public concern has risen steadily. Many users expressed fears about phishing attempts, identity theft and other secondary risks that often follow major data leaks. Others questioned how such a large breach could remain undetected for months and whether additional information may have been exposed during that period. Scrutiny intensified after Coupang revised its initial estimate. On November 20, the company announced that about 4,500 accounts had been affected. Nine days later, the estimate rose to 33.7 million, an increase of roughly 7,500 times. The updated figure exceeds the company’s own total of 24.7 million active customers reported in its third-quarter results, suggesting that nearly all registered users, including inactive accounts, were affected. The size of the breach surpasses the data leak at SK Telecom, which was breached in April 2025, which affected 23.24 million people and resulted in a record fine of 134.8 billion won imposed by the Korea Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the country's personal information watchdog. Other recent incidents have contributed to a sense of distrust among consumers. In September, Lotte Card initially said no customer information had been compromised in a security breach, then later acknowledged that card numbers and CVC codes had been leaked. KT faced allegations that evidence was removed during its response to a hacking case, prompting forced investigations earlier this month. These comparisons were drawn from publicly reported domestic cases. With names, phone numbers, home addresses and years of purchase records potentially exposed, concerns about targeted scams remain high. Some users worry that increasingly personalized fraud attempts may follow because the stolen data could be used to craft convincing messages. Coupang is facing questions about why the breach went unnoticed for so long and what steps it will take to support affected customers. Although the company maintains that payment information was not involved, many consumers say that even basic personal data can create long-term problems once leaked. Investigations by the PIPC, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the police are continuing, and the findings are expected to provide a clearer picture of what happened. 2025-11-30 11:16:39

Kookmin University professor listed among world's top 2 percent scientists for third straight year SEOUL, November 30 (AJP) - Kookmin University said in a recent announcement that Jang Young-min, who teaches electronic engineering at the university, has been named to the 2025 Top 2% Scientists list compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. The global list, based on Elsevier’s Scopus database, evaluates citation indicators and academic influence to identify leading researchers across major fields. Jang’s inclusion marks the third consecutive year he has appeared on the list. University officials noted that his work spans a wide mix of AI-convergence research, from optical wireless communication and battery management to sensor fusion, drone communication, quantum AI, 6G systems, and IoT networks. Much of his recent work sits within the university’s broader AI+X focus, especially in optical wireless links and energy management tied to international standardization efforts. In his laboratory, Jang and his team have built core technologies such as LiDAR, RADAR and camera sensor fusion systems, energy AI, and device-to-edge-to-cloud AI platforms. Those technologies have been pushed toward international standardization, giving his research both practical and commercial weight. Over the past five years, he has published 65 SCIE-indexed papers and secured 12 international patents, with 13 more currently filed, underscoring the originality and industrial relevance of his work. “It is meaningful to see our AI+X convergence research recognized at the international level, especially because it is a collective achievement with graduate students and industry partners,” Jang said. He added that he plans to translate problem-solving research in industrial AI into verified technologies and develop them into internationally recognized ICT standardization guidelines. 2025-11-30 10:12:38

Kookmin University posts top growth rate among Seoul universities in 2025 Joongang rankings SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Kookmin University marked a decisive milestone this year, as President Jung Seung-ryul noted that the institution is now recognized for its sustained rise in academic competitiveness. In the 2025 Joongang Ilbo University Rankings released on Nov. 28, Kookmin placed 14th overall and recorded the highest 10-year growth rate among universities in Seoul, securing second place nationwide in the new long-term growth index. Jung said the results reflect a decade of steady work to strengthen both teaching and research. The Joongang evaluation reviewed universities across four areas — faculty research, educational environment, student performance, and reputation. Kookmin has shown a consistent upward line since ranking 19th in 2017, climbing to 18th in 2018, 16th in 2019, and 13th last year. This year's outcome maintains the university's momentum while underscoring the effects of its internal reforms. Faculty research showed some of the most visible progress. The number of international journal publications per professor rose sharply, moving from 24th to 13th, a jump evaluated as evidence of stronger global research capacity. Industry-academic cooperation revenue per science and engineering professor — one of the university's traditional strengths — held steady at second place nationwide. University officials said the results align with Kookmin's eight specialized growth areas: design and content, mobility, quantum, AI+X, robotics, advanced materials and semiconductors, water-energy-environment, and bio. Research funding secured this year alone in AI and bio-related government programs reached 134.4 billion won, reflecting an active push into future-oriented fields. Kookmin also highlighted its new mid-to-long-term roadmap, "KMU VISION 2035: EDGE," unveiled in October. The plan focuses on strengthening the quality and global visibility of faculty research through targeted incentives and more systematic internal support. The university aims to recruit competitive scholars, raise the international presence of its research output, and secure a clearer institutional edge in an increasingly crowded higher-education landscape. In the educational environment category, scholarship-related indicators continued to improve. Scholarship per student rose from 13th to 11th, supported by a range of programs spanning national scholarships, university-funded awards, and tailored support based on individual circumstances. The university was recognized as a model institution in scholarship management in audits by the Korea Student Aid Foundation and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Student performance and outcomes also showed measured gains. The university's dropout rate improved from 14th to 12th, while startup support funding moved up from 8th to 7th. Reputation scores echoed a similar movement. The social influence of graduates — a metric closely tied to hiring outcomes and public recognition — climbed by 10 places compared to last year. Corporate recruiters ranked Kookmin 12th among preferred universities for new hires, while surveys of high school students and parents placed the school 12th and 13th, respectively. Reflecting on the results, Jung said the university will use its approaching 80th anniversary next year to advance a new institutional vision. "We have established the vision 'A university that sets the standard in higher education' and the slogan 'Make the Rule, Break the Rule'," he said. "As the meaning behind this vision suggests, we will not settle for this year's rankings but continue to improve conditions across education, research, and global engagement so that we can compete not only within Korea but with universities abroad." 2025-11-28 17:37:27

Asian markets mostly gain, but Seoul tumbles on foreign sell-off SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Asian equities ended mostly higher on Friday, with the notable exception of South Korea’s KOSPI, which slumped sharply amid renewed currency volatility and recession concerns. The Korean won weakened to 1,471.8 per dollar, up 8.8 won as of 5 p.m., with traders saying recent verbal intervention by authorities has done little to stabilize the currency. Bond yields eased after an early climb. The three-year government yield, which touched a morning peak of 3.08 percent — up 6.7 basis points — slipped to 2.99 percent by the close. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 1.51 percent to 3,926.59, the only major Asian index to post a drop of more than 1 percent. Foreign investors were the main sellers, offloading 2.06 trillion won ($1.4 billion). Analysts said the weak won and limited impact of FX intervention weighed on sentiment. A batch of softer-than-expected industrial activity data released earlier in the day also stoked concerns about a looming economic slowdown. Capital outflows from the KOSPI coincided with inflows into the tech-heavy KOSDAQ, where expectations of government stimulus measures pushed the index 3.71 percent higher to 912.67. Foreigners and institutions contributed net inflows of 488 billion won and 602.6 billion won, respectively. Blue chips dragged on the main board. Samsung Electronics slipped 2.9 percent to 100,500 won, while SK hynix lost 2.57 percent to 530,000 won. LG Energy Solution was the weakest among major stocks, plunging 6.85 percent to 408,000 won. By contrast, KOSDAQ shares surged, led by robotics plays. Rainbow Robotics jumped 13.43 percent to 435,000 won, and Yujin Robot gained 5.08 percent to 12,200 won. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.17 percent to 50,253.91. Toyota Motor was little changed at 3,133 yen ($20), down 0.16 percent, as persistent doubts over its electric-vehicle strategy offset solid hybrid sales. Energy and telecom stocks in Tokyo posted small gains, with wire and fiber-optic maker Furukawa Electric rising 4.73 percent. Chip stocks were mixed. Advantest climbed 0.81 percent while Tokyo Electron fell 1.18 percent. Taiwan’s TAIEX added 0.26 percent to 27,626.48. TSMC inched up 0.35 percent to NT$1,440 ($45.86), while MediaTek advanced 4.1 percent to NT$1,395. Mainland Chinese markets ended higher — the SZSE Component up 0.85 percent and the Shanghai Composite up 0.34 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.2 percent to 25,895.20, pressured by cautious sentiment following a deadly apartment fire. 2025-11-28 17:28:28

Economy/Business Calendar Seoul, November 28 (AJP) - Dec 1 (Mon) ISM Manufacturing (Nov) - U.S. NBS/Caixin PMIs (Nov) - China Dec 3 (Wed) GNI (3Q) - Ministry of Data and Stats ADP, ISM Services - U.S. Dec 5 (Fri) BoP (Oct) - Bank of Korea Industrial Loans (Q3) 2025 - Bank of Korea Jobs Report (Nov) - U.S. Dec 9-10 (Tue-Wed) FOMC meeting - U.S. Export/Import price indexes (Nov) - Bank of Korea Dec 15-18 (Mon-Thu) Trade, CPI/PPI (Nov) - China Dec 16 (Tue) Combined Oct–Nov Employment - U.S. Monetary Aggregates (Oct) - Bank of Korea Dec 18 (Thu) US CPI (Nov) - U.S. CPI (Nov) - Japan Dec 19 (Fri) PPI (Nov) - Bank of Korea Dec 23 (Tue) GDP 3Q (final), consumer confidence - U.S. Dec 24 (Wed) CSI (Dec) - Bank of Korea NYSE/Nasdaq early close - U.S. Dec 25 (Thu) Christmas Closures - KR/US/HK Holiday Dec 29-30 (Mon-Tue) Nov Industrial output Dec 31 (Wed) CPI (Dec, Annual) - Ministry of Data and Statistics KRX/TSE Closed - KR/JP Holiday 2025-11-28 17:27:04