Silver prices hit fresh all-time high SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Global silver prices rose above US$80 an ounce, reaching an all-time high. According to data released by Bloomberg on Monday, spot silver briefly jumped to $84 an ounce, setting a new record, and was trading around $80.1 in the afternoon. Silver, a precious metal with strong industrial demand in semiconductors and solar power, has surged this year as supply constraints coincided with expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts. Silver has surged about 180 percent so far this year and is expected to record its biggest annual gain since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, though some analysts warn of potential near-term corrections. Spot gold remained strong, trading around $4,500 an ounce after hitting a record high recently. Copper also extended gains, trading at $12,960 a ton on the London Metal Exchange and nearing $13,000. The industrial metal topped $12,000 a ton for the first time last week amid growing concerns that the U.S. could impose additional tariffs starting next year. 2025-12-29 16:01:23

South Korea tops $700 billion in annual exports for first time SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - South Korea has become the sixth country in the world to surpass US$700 billion in annual exports, achieving the milestone for the first time. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, preliminary data show that this year's cumulative exports reached $700 billion as of Monday. The export-dependent country first exceeded $100 billion in annual exports in 1995, then surpassed $200 billion in 2004, $300 billion in 2006, $400 billion in 2008, $500 billion in 2011, $600 billion in 2018, and $700 billion this year, more than seven decades after its founding in 1948. With the milestone, South Korea became the sixth country to surpass $700 billion in exports, after the U.S. (2000), Germany (2003), China (2005), Japan (2007) and the Netherlands (2018). The ministry said the milestone was reached despite headwinds from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies and growing protectionism. It said exports have helped boost economic growth and create jobs through trade surpluses despite South Korea's heavy reliance on energy imports. Exports fell in the first half of the year amid global economic uncertainties, but monthly exports have set record highs for six straight months since June. By sector, manufacturing industries led by semiconductors as well as automobiles, ships, and biotechnology drove the growth, while food, beauty products, and electrical equipment emerged as new growth engines. By region, exports to the U.S. and China have declined, while shipments to ASEAN, the European Union, and Latin America have increased, helping diversify South Korea's export markets. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is also recovering after declining in the first half, already surpassing last year's record of $34.57 billion, buoyed by increased investment in advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI). The ministry said it will work to maintain this momentum next year by strengthening competitiveness and fostering innovation in manufacturing and other industries. 2025-12-29 15:33:02

Job security demands shadow S. Korean president's return to Blue House SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - As South Korean President Lee Jae Myung officially commenced duties at Cheong Wa Dae, the celebratory atmosphere was met with immediate domestic pressure as non-regular presidential staff launched a labor protest through the heart of the capital. On Monday morning, members of the Seoul Regional Public Services Branch — a chapter under the powerful Korean Confederation of Trade Unions — convened at Gwanghwamun Square to demand permanent job security guarantees from the incoming administration. Following a press conference, union members began a traditional form of protest involving full-body bows every few steps — traveling from Gwanghwamun Square toward the presidential office. The demonstration highlights a growing rift between the administration’s symbolic return to the historic "Blue House" and the precarious status of the personnel who maintain it. The protesters represent a segment of "non-regular" workers — contractors and temporary staff — who handle essential services within the presidential complex. The march serves as an early litmus test for the Lee Jae Myung administration’s labor policy. During the presidential campaign, Lee emphasized social equity, yet the union claims the current lack of an official employment roadmap contradicts those promises. 2025-12-29 15:31:07

PHOTOS: Seoul Illustration Fair highlights growing 'character culture' SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s premier celebration of visual storytelling, the Seoul Illustration Fair, concluded its 11th-anniversary edition on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands to the COEX convention center in Gangnam. The four-day event, which ran from Dec. 25 to 28, featured over 900 artists and more than 1,000 booths. This year’s iteration saw a significant global presence, with approximately 50 international teams joining a diverse roster of domestic creators. As South Korea’s largest illustration event, the fair lived up to its reputation for high demand. Long queues formed hours before the doors opened each morning, with average wait times exceeding 60 minutes during the weekend peak. The exhibition floor was dominated by the "character culture" that has become a staple of South Korean digital communication. Driven by the mainstream popularity of mobile emoticons, over half of the displays featured animal-themed characters and whimsical graphic styles. However, the fair also maintained space for traditional fine arts, showcasing dreamy watercolors and avant-garde conceptual works. Merchandise sales were brisk, with popular artists reporting "sell-outs" of plush toys, keychains, and stationery within the first day. This year’s theme, "Recording is Existence," served as the finale to an annual trilogy of exhibitions. The theme pavilion focused on the visualization of memory and emotion, offering a more introspective contrast to the high-energy marketplace. 2025-12-29 15:14:29

Home robots take center stage as Korea leads physical AI push at CES 2026 SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Robots that cook, clean and care — and appliances that think before users speak — will define South Korea's showcase at CES 2026, where Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group roll out a new generation of "physical AI" spanning smart homes, humanoid robots and intelligent mobility. The world's largest consumer electronics show opens Jan. 6 in Las Vegas under the theme "Innovators Show Up," drawing about 4,500 companies from 160 countries. This year's spotlight falls on physical AI — systems capable of perceiving, reasoning and acting in the real world, rather than merely generating text or images. Korea is expected to command an outsized presence. The country secured about 60 percent of CES 2026 Innovation Awards and captured eight of the 15 prizes in the robotics category, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, underscoring its growing influence in embodied AI technologies. Samsung Electronics will step away from its usual standalone booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center and instead stage an "AI living platform" exhibition at the Wynn Hotel. The showcase will present a fully connected environment linking televisions, home appliances, mobile devices and services through unified software and artificial intelligence. At the center is the company's Bespoke AI refrigerator, powered by Google's Gemini and Cloud technologies. The appliance moves beyond simple ingredient recognition to offer personalized meal recommendations based on users' dietary patterns and health data. "In pioneering the application of vision-based AI technology, Samsung has led innovation in the kitchen appliance market," said Jeong Seung-moon, head of the R&D team for Samsung's digital appliances business. "Through collaboration with Google Cloud, we aim to deliver an even higher level of consumer experience." LG: "affectionate intelligence" and household robots LG Electronics will showcase what it calls "affectionate intelligence" across its premium Signature lineup, marking the brand’s 10th anniversary. Around 10 appliances embedded with large language models will respond to natural voice commands — including instructions such as asking a refrigerator to preserve meat for a specific period. The highlight of LG's exhibition will be the CLOiD home assistant robot. Equipped with two articulated arms, seven degrees of freedom per arm and five-fingered hands, the robot is designed to handle delicate household tasks. It embodies LG's vision of a "Zero Labor Home, Makes Quality Time," in which machines take over repetitive chores to free up human time. Hyundai Motor Group will return to CES after a two-year absence, unveiling AI-integrated mobility technologies that blur the boundary between vehicles and intelligent companions. Among them is a robotaxi capable of detecting passenger fatigue and emotional states, automatically adjusting lighting, temperature and entertainment settings. Boston Dynamics, Hyundai's U.S. robotics subsidiary, will also demonstrate its Atlas humanoid robot. Industry observers are watching closely for signs of readiness to deploy the machine in Hyundai's manufacturing operations. Korean startups are also drawing attention with applied robotics solutions recognized by CES 2026 Innovation Awards. GoLe Robotics won for its AA-2 last-mile autonomous delivery robot, which uses flexible materials to reduce injury risk in collisions with children or elderly pedestrians. The robot also features improved navigation, obstacle avoidance and automated elevator-calling capabilities. Navifra received an award for its vision-based AI system that enables robots to stop with millimeter-level precision without relying on lidar or floor markers, significantly simplifying installation and real-world deployment. Hurotics and Humanix were recognized for rehabilitation and exercise robots, reflecting CES 2026's growing emphasis on "empathy AI" — technologies designed to enhance quality of life rather than simply expand functionality. Korea's strong showing comes as competition in physical AI accelerates worldwide. China's TCL has taken over Samsung's former prime exhibition space at the convention center, showcasing 115-inch and 163-inch micro LED televisions. Hisense is promoting its AI cooking assistant and integrated smart home platform, while robot vacuum maker Dreame Technology now occupies space previously used by SK Group, presenting physical AI demonstrations including robotic pool-cleaning systems. Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics will unveil its G1 humanoid robot, priced from around $13,500 for fully functional models. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote on Jan. 5 focused on physical AI and robotics, projecting the technology could transform 10 million factories and 200,000 warehouses worldwide. The chipmaker plans to demonstrate more than 20 use cases involving robot training and digital twin technologies. Japan's MinebeaMitsumi will make its CES debut with humanoid robot solutions using high-torque micro actuators for robotic hands, while U.S.-based Realbotix plans to unveil four AI-powered humanoid robots with advanced conversational abilities. "We've built a world-class foundation for AI embodiment where software and hardware meet personality and presence," said Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel. CES 2026 runs through Jan. 9 and is expected to draw about 140,000 visitors. Samsung Electronics CEO Roh Tae-moon and newly appointed LG Electronics CEO Lyu Jae-cheol are both scheduled to address attendees, as Korea positions itself at the forefront of the global race to turn artificial intelligence into physical reality. 2025-12-29 14:47:09

Personal information of 30,000 Korean Air employees leaked SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Personal information of around 30,000 Korean Air employees has been leaked, the country's flagship carrier said on Monday, raising security concerns after a spate of massive data breaches across various industries recently. The leak occurred when KC&D, the airline's supplier for in-flight meals and onboard sales, was hit by a hacking attack. According to Korean Air, the leaked data includes employees' names and bank account numbers. Korean Air said it is taking the breach seriously and has implemented emergency security measures. The airline added that no additional leaks have been detected beyond those already confirmed. KC&D was sold off from Korean Air in December 2020. 2025-12-29 14:43:54

Korea's national pension fund eyes 20% annual gain, assets seen at 1,473 trillion won SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s national pension is expected to post a record annual return of about 20 percent this year, lifting its assets to an estimated 1,473 trillion won, the government said on Monday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said preliminary December figures show the fund’s annual return is projected at around 20 percent, surpassing last year’s 15 percent gain and marking the highest level since the national pension system was introduced in 1988. The ministry attributed the strong performance to robust domestic and global equity markets, with stock investments driving overall returns. By asset class, preliminary returns were led by domestic equities at about 78 percent, followed by overseas equities at about 25 percent. Alternative investments returned roughly 8 percent, overseas bonds about 7 percent and domestic bonds around 1 percent, the ministry said. On the back of the gains, the fund’s assets rose to an estimated 1,473 trillion won as of December, up 21.4 percent, or about 260 trillion won, from 1,213 trillion won at the end of last year. The increase is equivalent to about 5.9 times last year’s pension benefit payouts of 44 trillion won. The final annual return, which will reflect fair-value pricing of alternative assets such as private equity, real estate and infrastructure, is scheduled to be announced in February. The government said higher premium revenue, depending on future contribution-rate adjustments, could further expand the fund and enable more active investment. The ministry added it plans to raise the fund’s long-term annual return target to 5.5 percent from 4.5 percent by refining its asset-allocation framework and expanding infrastructure, including professional investment staff. Under revisions to the National Pension Act passed in April, the contribution rate will rise to 9.5 percent next year from 9 percent. Based on the average monthly income of all subscribers, 3.09 million won, monthly contributions will increase by about 7,700 won for workplace subscribers and by about 15,400 won for regional subscribers. The income replacement rate will also rise to 43 percent from 41.5 percent. For a subscriber with a lifetime average monthly income of 3.09 million won who pays contributions for 40 years starting next year, the monthly pension benefit would increase by about 92,000 won, to 1,329,000 won from 1,237,000 won. 2025-12-29 14:40:14

Hyundai Motor marks 40 years in US as tariffs, EV rivals test growth strategy SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor will mark its 40th anniversary in the United States next year as it confronts a convergence of challenges, including a remaining 15 percent tariff, intensifying competition from Tesla and Chinese electric-vehicle makers, the expiration of subsidies and a rapidly evolving race in software-defined vehicles such as autonomous driving. Attention is focused on whether Hyundai Motor Group can navigate these pressures under the leadership of Chairman Chung Eui-sun. Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with exports of the Excel, South Korea’s first front-wheel-drive passenger car, produced at its Ulsan plant. Emphasizing value pricing, the automaker sold about 160,000 vehicles in its first year and more than 260,000 the following year, quickly drawing attention from U.S. consumers. The early momentum later faded amid criticism over quality issues and an underdeveloped service network. Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chair Chung Mong-koo subsequently launched a sweeping “quality management” drive aimed at improving quality, safety and performance for customers worldwide, including in the United States. In 1999, the group sought to directly address quality concerns by introducing a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, a move that helped reshape its brand image. Since then, Hyundai has garnered major U.S. awards and positive reviews, alongside steady improvements in both quality and sales. This year, 21 Hyundai Motor Group models earned either Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick ratings in crash tests released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, giving the group a second consecutive year with the highest number of models recognized among the safest vehicles. In J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study, Hyundai Motor Group recorded the best overall performance among 17 global automotive groups, according to the company. The study is widely referenced by U.S. consumers and is a key benchmark for evaluating vehicle quality. Hyundai Motor Group also said it has been named World Car of the Year for four consecutive years. Automotive News, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year, selected three generations of Hyundai leadership — founder Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chair Chung Mong-koo and Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun — as figures that have had a major impact on the development of the global auto industry. Chung Eui-sun said his grandfather’s customer-centered management philosophy and his father’s emphasis on quality, safety and research and development are deeply embedded in the group’s management principles. Hyundai sold about 896,000 vehicles in the United States from January through November, putting it on track for a third consecutive annual sales record, the company said. Despite auto tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, Hyundai said it limited price increases and instead responded by expanding local production and adjusting its sales mix. In March, the group held a completion ceremony for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, or HMGMA, in Georgia, as it moved to establish a U.S. production system with capacity for up to 1.2 million vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest $21 billion in the United States through 2028 across automobiles, parts and logistics, steel and future industries. 2025-12-29 14:27:56

South Korea, US complete all joint drills postponed from last summer SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - The military has carried out all 22 joint field training with the U.S. that were rescheduled after being postponed in August, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Monday. Those drills were among about 40 exercises that are part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, aimed at maintaining a combined defense posture, including combined tactical airborne training, rescue operations, equipment maintenance, and live-fire drills. According to the JCS, two of the drills were conducted solely by South Korea. The military postponed the drills earlier in the summer, citing extreme heat and other factors. 2025-12-29 14:17:47

Coupang's $1.2 bn compensation plan suspected as marketing, not atonement SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) -Already in the hot seat for what many see as a dismissive attitude toward consumers and regulators, Coupang has drawn fresh public backlash in South Korea with its $1.2 billion compensation plan widely seen as marketing tactic to retain customers rather than offering genuine redress. The e-commerce giant said Monday it would distribute 1.685 trillion won worth of purchase vouchers to 33.7 million current, former and withdrawn users whose personal information was exposed in a data breach disclosed last month. The package — the largest ever announced in South Korea in response to a data-leak incident — applies to Wow paid members, regular users and even former account holders who received official notification. Under the plan, customers will receive four one-time vouchers totaling 50,000 won: 5,000 won each for Coupang and Coupang Eats, and 20,000 won each for Coupang Travel and the luxury platform Alux. The vouchers, which can be used only within Coupang’s ecosystem, will be issued starting Jan. 15. Coupang said the program reflects its determination to “take responsibility and restore customer trust.” Harold Rogers, the company’s interim Korea chief executive, said the firm “deeply reflects on the concern and inconvenience caused” and would make customer trust its top priority. Despite the scale of the package, public reaction has been largely negative, reflecting lingering distrust toward the company. "What it says sounds more like a customer-retention campaign,” one commenter wrote on a major online community. “Even the compensation makes you shop at Coupang in the end,” another widely shared comment read. One accused the company of “trying to lure back users who already left, using compensation as bait.” A closer look finds that only 10,000 won of the total compensation applies to Coupang’s most frequently used services, while the remaining 40,000 won is tied to platforms with far lower usage rates. Because the compensation takes the form of in-platform vouchers rather than cash, it also can forces users to continue spending within Coupang’s ecosystem, blurring the line between restitution and marketing. In absolute terms, the size of the compensation is striking. At 1.685 trillion won, it is more than three times larger than SK Telecom’s 500 billion won compensation package announced earlier this year following its own data breach. The amount also exceeds Coupang Inc.’s combined net profit for the first three quarters of 2025 by more than four times and is roughly 17 times its full-year profit in 2024. At the heart of the backlash is Coupang's aloofness toward public accountability. The U.S.-listed company, whose revenues are generated almost entirely in Korea, has faced repeated criticism over labor practices and governance issues, as well as founder and chairman Bom Kim’s refusal to attend National Assembly hearings. A recent survey by polling firm Realmeter underscores the depth of public dissatisfaction. According to the poll, 69.1 percent of respondents said Kim was avoiding accountability by hiding behind his U.S. citizenship. When asked about appropriate punitive measures, 32 percent supported criminal punishment for those responsible, while 29.4 percent favored business suspension. The controversy appears to be influencing consumer behavior. Some 60 percent of respondents said the scandal had already affected their use of Coupang services. Of those, 26.1 percent said they were considering deleting their accounts, 18.5 percent said they had reduced usage, and 16.1 percent said they had already stopped using the platform. Support was also strong for institutional sanctions, with 63.2 percent backing legislation that would restrict or bar entry into Korea for foreign executives who fail to appear before the National Assembly without legitimate justification. The survey was conducted on Dec. 26 among 512 adults nationwide using an automated response system, with a response rate of 4.4 percent. 2025-12-29 13:40:15