Chinese copycat of Olive Young raises concerns over South Korean brands' reputation SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - As retail giant CJ's health and beauty chain has become a popular destination for foreign tourists visiting Seoul, a copycat brand has emerged in China, raising concerns about potential damage to the reputation of South Korean beauty products. According to industry watchers on Tuesday, a beauty store called "Only Young," reminiscent of Olive Young, has opened in Changsha, the vibrant capital of China's Hunan Province, and has been expanding its outlets in recent years. while advertising free delivery across the country. The Chinese copycat goes beyond mere concept, replicating everything from the name and logo to the store layout itself. Nearly everything, from its shopping bags to its store design, strikingly resembles Olive Young's signature colors and style, raising concerns that foreign shoppers might mistake it for the genuine South Korean retailer. The Chinese knockoff brand also runs a channel on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, posting promotional featuring K-pop music and advertising free delivery across the country. The channel has accumulated around 230,000 likes, suggesting it has gained considerable traction in China over the past two years. Experts say the case appears to be "intentional copying" aimed at deliberately confusing consumers, rather than merely being a similar brand. The development comes after Olive Young, which operated offline outlets in Shanghai from 2010 to 2013, exited the Chinese market amid declining sales caused by an unofficial boycott of South Korean products and services in protest of the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries here in 2016. An industry worker pointed to the case of dollar store Daiso to raise concerns about the emergence of Chinese copycat brands. "Like Daiso's Chinese copycat Mumuso, the Chinese copycat of Olive Young may also attempt to expand into overseas markets," he said. "Consumers who buy products there believing they are South Korean could tarnish the retailer's global image, affecting its long-term growth." "As South Korean brands gain popularity overseas, cases of Chinese companies riding the Korean Wave and copying brands appear to be on the rise," said Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University. "Now it is time to more actively protect intellectual property rights at the government level, along with strategies to prevent repeat cases," he added. 2026-01-13 10:36:10

South Korea joins US-led talks on critical minerals SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, Koo Yun-cheol, joined counterparts in Washington on Monday for talks aimed at strengthening cooperation on critical minerals, the ministry said Tuesday. Participants at the meeting of finance ministers agreed on the need for swift action to address risks in the supply of minerals essential to advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defense industries. U.S. officials urged countries to move beyond statements of intent and commit to concrete investment, emphasizing a strategy of “de-risking” rather than decoupling from existing supply chains, the ministry said. Washington also proposed deeper coordination among allied and partner economies to improve supply-chain resilience. In an open session, Koo highlighted South Korean companies’ strengths in critical-minerals processing and argued that global value chains should be reinforced by linking countries’ comparative advantages. He also stressed the growing importance of recycling critical minerals as a means of restoring supply stability and called for the creation of a forum that would allow companies to pursue cooperation centered on specific projects. Resource-rich countries, including Canada and Australia, expressed strong interest in technology cooperation with South Korea, particularly in refining and recycling, as part of efforts to build more resilient critical-minerals supply chains, the ministry said. 2026-01-13 10:10:29

SK hynix expands AI chip capacity with new $14 billion plant in Cheongju SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - SK hynix will invest about 19 trillion won ($14 billion) to build a new advanced semiconductor packaging plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in a move to meet surging global demand for high-bandwidth memory. The South Korean chipmaker said Tuesday that the investment will bolster its next-generation memory competitiveness, particularly in HBM, a critical component for AI data centers, while aligning with the government’s push for more balanced regional development. In a statement posted on its newsroom website, SK hynix said it selected Cheongju after reviewing multiple locations, citing the importance of close links between front-end chipmaking and back-end packaging and testing. Accessibility, logistics efficiency and operational stability were key considerations, the company said. The new facility, known as P&T7, will handle the packaging and testing of chips produced in front-end fabs, completing them as final products. While front-end processes form circuits on silicon wafers, back-end operations cut, package and verify the chips. Advanced packaging has taken on growing importance as it directly affects performance and power efficiency in AI-focused memory products such as HBM. With the project, SK hynix will operate advanced packaging bases in three locations: Icheon and Cheongju in South Korea, and West Lafayette, Indiana. The P&T7 plant will be built on a 230,000-square-meter site within the Cheongju Technopolis industrial complex. Construction is scheduled to begin in April, with completion targeted for the end of 2027. The company said the Cheongju campus will form an integrated semiconductor cluster spanning NAND flash and DRAM production through advanced packaging. SK hynix already operates several NAND fabs in the area, including M11, M12 and M15, along with a back-end facility, P&T3. It is also building its next-generation DRAM line, M15X, following a separate 20 trillion won investment decision last year. SK hynix said M15X opened its cleanroom ahead of schedule in October and is currently installing equipment as it prepares for early operations. The company plans to link front-end and back-end production more tightly, with P&T7 expected to play a central role in converting DRAM produced at M15X into HBM. Market researchers forecast the global HBM market will expand at an annual rate of more than 30 percent through 2030, driven by intensifying competition among technology companies to scale AI computing infrastructure. SK hynix also framed the investment as part of a broader effort to strengthen South Korea’s industrial base amid ongoing debate over the concentration of corporate investment in the Seoul metropolitan area. “The Cheongju P&T7 investment reflects a decision to build a foundation for competitiveness across the industrial ecosystem and regional coexistence, beyond short-term cost considerations,” the company said. 2026-01-13 10:00:53

Esports gears up for biggest year with major global events SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The booming esports industry is poised for its biggest year yet, fueled by its recognition as an official discipline at major global sporting events and international tournaments. Major events are scheduled throughout the year including the quadrennial Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan in September, the annual Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July and the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, also in Riyadh, in November. The upcoming Asian Games will be the major highlight, as e-sports returns with 11 events, up from seven, following its official debut at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where South Korea proved itself an e-sports powerhouse by winning four medals including two gold, one silver, and one bronze. Several Japanese games including "Gran Turismo 7" will be featured to reflect the host country, while Krafton's "Battlegrounds Mobile" has been selected again. But Nexon's "FC Online" will be replaced by Konami's "eFootball." Meanwhile, the Esports World Cup in the oil-rich country, which drew great attention last year with a total prize money of $70 million, is expected to be even bigger this year, with the number of events expanding to 24. The Esports Nations Cup, a country-based tournament in which players compete under their national flags, will be held every two years, with the inaugural event taking place in Riyadh. 2026-01-13 09:17:40

Korea Exchange to extend stock trading hours to 12 starting in June SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The Korea Exchange plans to introduce premarket and after-hours trading starting in June, extending daily stock trading to 12 hours to keep pace with global moves toward near–round-the-clock markets. The exchange currently operates from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Beginning in June, it aims to double that window. Exchange officials said the move is intended to broaden investor access in line with international standards, referring to long-term ambitions for the benchmark index. Major overseas exchanges are moving in a similar direction. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are pursuing 24-hour trading in the second half of this year, while regulators in the U.K. and Hong Kong are reviewing extended hours. Competitive pressure has also intensified at home following the rapid growth of NextTrade, an alternative trading system launched in March last year. NextTrade operates a premarket session from 8 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. and an after-hours market from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Trading on alternative platforms accounted for about 12 percent of total market volume in the previous session, the exchange said. To differentiate itself, the Korea Exchange is considering opening a premarket as early as 7 a.m. A trading day running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. would mirror NextTrade’s schedule but could put the exchange at a disadvantage on transaction fees. If the earlier opening is adopted, South Korea’s equity market could operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m The exchange said it plans to solicit feedback from member firms as early as this week before finalizing the schedule. Beyond equities, the exchange plans to extend derivatives trading hours to 24 hours a day by the end of 2027, from the current 19 hours, which would make it the first market in Asia to offer round-the-clock derivatives trading. It also plans to shorten the stock settlement cycle to T+1 from T+2, following trends in advanced markets. The United States and Canada completed the shift to T+1 in May 2024, and the U.K. and Europe are expected to follow around October 2027. 2026-01-13 09:00:43

South Korea to chair global renewable energy agency SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korea has been selected to chair the next General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency, a role that will place Seoul at the center of global discussions on the expansion of clean energy. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that South Korea was designated as chair at IRENA’s 16th Assembly, held Jan. 11–12 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The chairmanship runs for one year. Founded in 2011, IRENA promotes the development and broader adoption of renewable energy worldwide. The organization has 171 members, including the European Union. Its annual Assembly is the agency’s highest decision-making body. South Korea has served on IRENA’s council since the organization’s early years, but this marks the first time the country has been appointed to lead the Assembly. As chair in 2027, South Korea will preside over Assembly meetings, help shape the agenda and work to foster cooperation among member states to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. The government said it expects the role to bolster international coordination around its policy priorities, including a renewables-led energy transition and broader efforts toward decarbonization and green growth. Lee Won-ju, director general for energy transition policy at the climate ministry, said the appointment reflects international confidence in South Korea’s clean-energy strategy. “By successfully hosting the next Assembly, we will enhance South Korea’s standing in global clean-energy governance and produce tangible outcomes in international cooperation, including securing overseas projects,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 08:41:50

OPINION: Seoul needs a balance act between China and Japan with a practical approach President Lee Jae Myung is heading to Japan Tuesday for a two-day summit, a week after a state visit to China. His rapid back-and-forth diplomacy reflects intensifying friction between China and Japan, which has escalated since November after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested possible armed intervention “in a Taiwan contingency.” As the dispute grows, both countries are courting Seoul. During Lee’s China trip, Beijing rolled out a high-profile welcome, and state media repeatedly highlighted South Korea-China cooperation. Japan, too, has appeared eager to avoid provoking Seoul. Ahead of Lee’s China visit, the Nikkei published a column urging Takaichi not to stir tensions with South Korea over Dokdo. Both sides have also leaned on history and symbolism. China emphasized the shared anti-Japanese struggle in the colonial era. Japan chose Nara Prefecture — Takaichi’s home region and a historic hub of exchanges between Baekje and Japan — as the venue for a summit, appealing to sentiment as well as strategy. The key for South Korea, however, is strict pragmatism. China and Japan can shift quickly, and both hold leverage that could hit South Korean industry. China has already used rare earths — a card that helped it withstand U.S. tariff pressure — and Japan, a leader in materials and components, has its own tools, including photoresist, a key semiconductor material. South Korea has previously faced difficulties when such pressure was applied. China’s export controls on dual-use items are aimed at Japan, but South Korea could be caught in the fallout because of tightly linked supply chains: Chinese raw materials → Japanese processed materials → South Korean finished products. During Lee’s visit, China announced dual-use export controls targeting Japan and signaled possible sanctions even on third countries involved. Japan also poses risks. The Takaichi government’s rightward shift and security buildup could raise tensions in Northeast Asia and increase the likelihood that Tokyo will press South Korea for “security participation.” If Seoul loses its footing amid the courtship, it risks becoming not a mediator in China-Japan tensions but a proxy battleground bearing the costs of their rivalry — on top of already being squeezed by U.S.-China competition. The international order under the second Trump administration is driven less by ideology than by national interest and practical gain. On Tuesday as Lee heads to Japan, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China for the first time in eight years. The two countries, which clashed in recent years over issues including human rights and Huawei, are now exploring cooperation in response to the Trump administration’s “America First” approach. South Korea’s interests in managing China and Japan are clear. With China, it should restore an economic partnership while continuing “de-risking” to reduce supply-chain dependence. With Japan, it should strengthen security and supply-chain coordination while holding firm principles on historical and territorial issues. That requires focusing on practical cooperation in future industries such as semiconductors, AI and energy — taking neighbors’ outstretched hands while coolly watching where their hidden blades may point. *The author is the deputy head of international economy team at Aju Business Daily 2026-01-13 07:56:10

South Korea's Lee to hold summit with Japan's Takaichi in Nara SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will make a one-night, two-day visit to Japan starting Tuesday for summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as Seoul seeks to advance pragmatic, national interest-focused diplomacy amid escalating U.S.-China tensions. The presidential office said Lee will depart from Seoul Air Base for Japan’s Nara Prefecture, Takaichi’s hometown, at her invitation. The visit comes days after Lee’s state visit to China and underscores Seoul’s effort to balance ties with both Tokyo and Beijing. During the trip, Lee and Takaichi will hold a one-on-one meeting, followed by expanded talks, a joint press statement, a private discussion and a working dinner. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the two leaders are scheduled to communicate “a total of five times” during the short visit, holding frank and substantive discussions. This will mark the second South Korea–Japan summit since Lee took office, following their first meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in Gyeongju last October. The reciprocal visits come just over three months after Takaichi took office, raising expectations that “shuttle diplomacy” between the two countries could become more regularized. On Wednesday morning, the two leaders will visit Horyuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where they are expected to discuss ways to revitalize regional economies and strengthen the role of local governments. Lee will also meet ethnic Koreans living in the Kansai region, including Osaka, before returning home. The presidential office said the visit aims to deepen trust through shuttle diplomacy, expand practical cooperation, pursue humanitarian cooperation on historical issues and enhance coordination on the Korean Peninsula, as well as regional and global affairs. Wi said the leaders will broadly discuss cooperation in areas closely tied to daily life, including protection of intellectual property, future industries such as artificial intelligence, countering cross-border crimes such as online scams, social challenges and people-to-people exchanges. Humanitarian cooperation on historical issues is also expected to be on the agenda, including efforts related to the Chosei undersea coal mine, where 136 Korean forced laborers died in a 1942 flooding incident. The Lee administration has pursued a “two-track” approach of expanding future-oriented cooperation while continuing to address unresolved wartime history issues stemming from Japan’s 1910–45 colonial rule of Korea. Regional and global security issues, including North Korea, are also likely to be discussed. Lee has welcomed Takaichi’s stated interest in engaging Pyongyang over the long-standing abduction issue and has indicated Seoul’s willingness to help facilitate dialogue between Tokyo and North Korea. Economic issues may also surface, including South Korea’s restrictions on seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures imposed after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. In a recent interview with Japan’s NHK, Lee said easing the restrictions would take time until public concerns are addressed but noted that the issue remains an important diplomatic agenda item as Seoul seeks Tokyo’s support for its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. In the interview, Lee stressed that South Korea’s relations with Japan are “as important as relations with China,” adding that tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan are not matters Seoul intends to “engage in or intervene in.” 2026-01-13 07:35:26

Icy rush-hour disruption inevitable as Seoul city bus strike begins SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Seoul commuters faced inevitable rush-hour disruption amid icy temperatures Tuesday as city bus drivers launched an indefinite strike after last-minute wage talks collapsed overnight. Members of the Seoul City Bus Workers Union began the walkout with the first buses of the day at 4 a.m., after negotiations with the Seoul City Bus Transport Business Association broke down around 1:30 a.m., according to both sides. The talks, mediated by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in Yeongdeungpo, stretched more than 10 hours from Monday afternoon but failed to bridge differences over wage structure and the definition of ordinary wages. At the heart of the dispute is how bonuses should be treated under a Supreme Court ruling that broadens the scope of ordinary wages, which directly affects overtime pay and retirement benefits. Management proposed restructuring the pay system by folding bonuses into base pay to contain additional labor costs, offering a total wage increase of 10.3 percent. The union rejected the proposal, arguing that payments tied to recognizing ordinary wages should be excluded from this round of bargaining. Instead, the union is demanding a 3 percent wage increase without altering the current pay system, raising the retirement age to 65 and eliminating what it calls wage discrimination. Employers countered that accepting a 3 percent raise now, followed by a future recalculation of bonuses as ordinary wages, would amount to an effective pay hike of about 20 percent, calling the demand excessive. No further bargaining schedule has been set, though both sides indicated that informal contacts may continue. With all 64 city bus companies participating in the strike, operations across Seoul’s 394 routes — involving 7,382 buses — were halted, raising fears of widespread commuting chaos during one of the coldest weeks of the winter. The Seoul Metropolitan Government activated emergency transportation measures from 4 a.m., deploying alternative transit options to ease congestion. Subway services were expanded during peak commuting hours, with morning and evening rush periods extended from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., while late-night subway operations were pushed back to 2 a.m. the following day. In total, subway services will run an additional 172 times per day. To improve access to subway stations, all 25 district offices in Seoul are operating free shuttle buses. “We will mobilize all available transportation resources to minimize inconvenience to citizens,” said Yeo Jang-kwon, head of Seoul’s transportation bureau. He also urged the bus union to consider public hardship and return to work as soon as possible. 2026-01-13 07:16:58

Sweet, stretchy, but Dubai's chewy cookie craze leaves a sticky mark on prices SEOUL, January 12, 2026 (AJP) — South Korea has a new dessert obsession, and it doesn’t crumble quietly. The Dubai Chewy Cookie, locally nicknamed dujjonku, is selling quite literally like hot cake — except hotter, thicker and far more Instagrammable. What began as a café novelty has now spilled across menus nationwide, with sushi joints and sandwich shops alike slipping the chewy chocolate slab into delivery apps, as if dessert were now a compulsory add-on to every meal. Search interest reflects the sugar rush. Google Trends data show queries for “dujjonku” surging over the past 90 days, with some regions hitting a peak index of 100 in early January — a level usually reserved for election nights or celebrity scandals. For the uninitiated: yes, the dessert traces its name to Dubai. But what Korea is eating today is less a faithful import than a full-scale reinterpretation. The craze took off last September after IVE’s Jang Won-young posted about the dessert on social media. As often happens in Korea’s tightly wired influencer ecosystem, one post was enough. Others followed. Cafés rushed to recreate it. Within weeks, the chewy cookie was no longer exotic — it was everywhere. The dessert borrows from Middle Eastern sweets, combining crisp kadaif pastry, pistachio cream and cocoa powder. But the Korean version leans into exaggeration. Wrapped in a marshmallow-like chew, the cookie favors thickness over delicacy, volume over restraint. If the original “Dubai chocolate” was elegant, the chewy cookie is maximalist. Its appeal is as visual as it is edible. The dramatic cross-section, the audible crack, the slow stretch — all play perfectly to short-form video platforms, where desserts are judged less by taste than by how spectacularly they break apart on camera. “Dessert trends in Korea consistently favor abundance,” said food critic Lee Yong-jae. “Visual overwhelmingness often matters more than balance or subtlety of flavor.” Food columnist Jeong Dong-hyun points to Korea’s unusually flexible food culture. “Unlike Europe, Korea does not cling strongly to the ‘original form’ of food,” he said. “That allows dishes to be endlessly reinterpreted to suit local tastes — and entirely new foods to be created.” The sugar rush is translating into real money. At Paris Baguette’s Louvre flagship near Gwanghwamun, staff say the chewy cookie has climbed rapidly into top-seller territory. “We sell around 4,000 to 5,000 units a day,” said Sandy Lim, a café employee in her 50s, noting that foreign customers account for a larger share on weekends. But sweetness has a price. The Dubai Chewy Cookie relies heavily on imported ingredients, particularly pistachios and specialty pastry components, whose costs fluctuate with global supply conditions. As these ingredients spread across café menus, their price tags are quietly filtering into everyday food costs. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, food and dining-out prices have been rising faster than overall inflation in recent months — a reminder that even viral desserts can leave a macroeconomic aftertaste. In that sense, dujjonku offers a bite-sized lesson in demand-driven inflation: when trends go viral, costs don’t stay contained. At 7,000 to 8,000 won per piece, the chewy cookie now costs more than a burger set — or a modest weekday lunch. Sweet, stretchy, and a little expensive, Korea’s favorite new dessert may be indulgent — but it is also, quietly, inflationary. 2026-01-12 17:54:26