NYT: K-pop global peak raises questions about what comes next SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -K-pop has never been more visible on the global stage, but its very success is now forcing a reckoning over where the genre goes next. A recent New York Times analysis argues that while K-pop has reached a new peak of cultural influence, it is also confronting structural limits that could shape its future trajectory. The paper points to the runaway success of KPop Demon Hunters, a Netflix animated film built around rival idol groups, as a symbol of K-pop’s full entry into the global mainstream. The film became one of the platform’s most-watched titles, with its soundtrack topping charts worldwide. For the Times, the phenomenon shows that K-pop has evolved from a niche export into a shared global cultural language. Yet the article quickly pivots from celebration to caution. Beneath the surface, it argues, K-pop is grappling with the constraints of the very system that made it successful. The genre’s highly centralized, top-down production model — long praised for efficiency and polish — now risks limiting creativity at a time when novelty has become harder to sustain. This tension is most clearly illustrated by the ongoing dispute involving NewJeans, which the Times describes as the most innovative K-pop group of recent years. The group’s conflict with its label, Ador, over creative control and workplace issues has effectively stalled its activities, even after a court upheld the validity of its contract. The episode has become a symbol of the broader dilemma facing the industry: how to reconcile artistic originality with corporate control. The article suggests that K-pop has entered a phase of saturation. Major groups continue to thrive commercially, but their musical frameworks are increasingly familiar. The industry’s ability to scale success remains intact, yet its capacity to surprise audiences is under strain. In this sense, K-pop resembles other mature global genres that must reinvent themselves to avoid stagnation. At the same time, the Times highlights emerging signs of transformation. New hybrid projects such as Katseye — formed through a partnership between Hybe and Geffen Records — point to a future in which K-pop functions less as a fixed genre and more as a flexible template. These groups borrow the training systems and visual language of K-pop while loosening its stylistic and linguistic boundaries. Beyond the mainstream, innovation is increasingly occurring outside the idol system. Independent and experimental Korean artists, often influenced by digital subcultures and hyperpop, are reworking K-pop’s aesthetics in more fragmented and unconventional ways. This shift suggests that creativity is migrating to the margins, even as the center remains commercially dominant. Ultimately, the New York Times frames K-pop as standing at a crossroads. Its global triumph is undeniable, but the next phase will depend on whether the industry can balance scale with experimentation, and control with creative freedom. The question is no longer whether K-pop can conquer the world — but whether it can reinvent itself after having done so. 2025-12-26 07:52:28

Ex-Korean president faces closing hearing of insurrection-related trials SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will face a closing hearing Friday in a criminal case accusing him of obstructing an arrest and infringing Cabinet members’ constitutional rights in connection with his declaration of martial law. The hearing, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first time one of four insurrection-related cases involving Yoon has reached the final stage of arguments. Legal observers say the outcome could serve as a bellwether for how the remaining trials may unfold. Criminal Division 35 will hear final arguments in the case charging Yoon with aggravated obstruction of official duties and related offenses. If proceedings move as scheduled, the court is expected to set a date for a first-instance verdict later in the day. The timing is notable, as a ruling could come just days before Yoon’s detention is set to expire on Jan. 18. Under the special counsel law governing insurrection-related cases, courts are required to deliver a first-trial verdict within six months of indictment. At a previous hearing on Dec. 16, the court indicated that a decision would likely be issued around Jan. 16. During Friday’s session, the court will first question two witnesses: Lee Sang-min, former interior and safety minister, and Choi Sang-mok, former deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister. The special counsel team will then present its closing arguments and sentencing request, followed by the defense’s final arguments and Yoon’s own statement to the court. Yoon was indicted in July while in detention. Prosecutors allege that when he declared martial law on Dec. 3, he selectively summoned only Cabinet members considered favorable to him in order to create the appearance of a lawful Cabinet deliberation. They argue this violated the constitutional rights of nine ministers who were excluded from the decision-making process. The indictment further alleges that after martial law was lifted, Yoon ordered the creation of a false proclamation to make it appear the measure had been formally approved through a document bearing the signatures of then–Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Prosecutors say the document was later shredded, despite constituting an official presidential record. Yoon is also accused of ordering the deletion of secure communication records involving former Defense Security Command chief Yeo In-hyung, and of directing the Presidential Security Service to block the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials from executing an arrest warrant in January. Separately, the special counsel team has additionally indicted Yoon on charges of aiding the enemy, alleging that drones were sent into Pyongyang to heighten military tensions and create justification for declaring martial law. The team has requested extended detention in that case, and the court held a hearing on the request on Dec. 23. The court instructed both the prosecution and the defense to submit additional written opinions by Dec. 30, with a decision on the detention request expected after that date. In the same case, Kim Yong-hyun and Yeo In-hyung, indicted as Yoon’s accomplices, were issued additional arrest warrants on Dec. 24, extending their detention by up to six months. Kim’s previous detention was due to expire a day earlier, while Yeo’s was set to expire on Jan. 2. Yoon had asked the court to postpone sentencing in the current case until after proceedings conclude in what prosecutors describe as the “main case” — the charge of leading an insurrection — now being tried separately at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25 under Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon. That request was rejected. The insurrection-leader case is expected to conclude arguments as early as next month, with a first-instance ruling likely in February, according to court officials. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 07:34:08

OPINION: South Korea's 2026 structural reforms must shift how wealth is built The mission for next year is structural reform. If 2025 was the year to set the direction and strategy for change, the coming year must be about execution. Structural reform is often misunderstood as synonymous with layoffs or austerity, recalling the trauma of the Asian financial crisis. But its true meaning is different. At its core, structural reform concerns how an economy creates wealth — its mechanism of accumulation. For decades, South Korea’s accumulation model was vertical and top-down. In an era of capital scarcity and limited technology, growth was driven by a strict division of labor: the state planned, firms executed. Resources were allocated through command-and-control mechanisms, enabling rapid, manufacturing-led expansion. That model delivered results, but it is no longer sustainable. Vertical structures tend to create silos, hinder convergence across sectors, and reduce flexibility in responding to change. Even Germany, long admired for manufacturing efficiency, now faces what some describe as “industrial arteriosclerosis,” the result of delayed digital transformation within a highly optimized but rigid system. The first task of structural reform in 2026 is therefore to complete a shift toward horizontal connectivity that maximizes AI-driven productivity. Growth today depends less on scale within individual firms and more on collaboration that produces outcomes no single player can achieve alone. Collaboration is no longer limited to meetings or partnerships; it is increasingly a chemical process in which data flows across firms and industries, with AI mediating those flows to generate new value. In the past, the government selected and nurtured heavy and chemical industries. Today, its role should be to diffuse AI as a general-purpose technology — infrastructure that raises efficiency across the entire economy. This requires building a “virtuous data cycle,” where manufacturing process data links with service-sector solutions, and mobility data connects with urban planning and public services. It also means moving beyond closed, vertically integrated conglomerate structures toward open ecosystems in which startups and large firms combine technologies on shared AI platforms. The state’s task is not to command outcomes, but to design incentives and digital environments that allow data combinations and collaboration to occur freely. Financial reform must move in parallel by reshaping how capital flows. In the past, finance functioned mainly as a policy tool, channeling funds to designated strategic sectors. What is now required is a system of venture-oriented and productive finance that enables risk-taking by innovative firms. Capital must flow more readily into future growth areas such as artificial intelligence, deep tech and climate technology, attracting both talent and opportunity. True “risk sharing” becomes possible only when financing decisions are based on technological capability and growth potential, even in the absence of traditional collateral — highlighting the importance of sophisticated policy finance. For startups and innovative firms to become new engines of accumulation, finance must act as a partner that shares in the upside of innovation, rather than a conservative system that avoids risk while privatizing gains. Korea’s objective should no longer be development alone, but genuine prosperity. The direction of structural reform in 2026 is clear: replace a vertical system of commands and rigid division of labor with a horizontal, collaborative structure that maximizes AI-driven productivity. If the country once escaped poverty by accumulating factories and machines, it must now advance to the next stage by accumulating data and innovation capital. That is the essence of structural reform in 2026 — and the key to restarting the growth engine. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI. 2025-12-26 07:24:26

Seoul elevates response to Coupang data breach, puts deputy PM in charge SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) -South Korea has elevated its response to the massive personal data breach at e-commerce giant Coupang, placing the interagency investigation under the leadership of the deputy prime minister for science as concerns grow over accountability, transparency and regulatory oversight. The Ministry of Science and ICT said Thursday that the government will expand its joint task force probing the breach and have it chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon. The move follows a high-level meeting attended by senior officials from the presidential office and multiple ministries and watchdog agencies. Participants included officials from the foreign, industry and trade ministries, as well as the Fair Trade Commission, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the Korea Communications Commission and the Financial Services Commission. Authorities said the expanded task force will focus both on identifying the cause of the breach and on preventing secondary harm to consumers, while also preparing broader institutional reforms to prevent similar incidents at major digital platforms. The ministry criticized Coupang for publicly releasing its own conclusions about the breach before the government investigation was completed. In a statement, the ministry said it “strongly protested” the company’s unilateral disclosure, noting that key details — including the scale and mechanism of the leak — have not yet been verified by the public-private joint investigation team. Coupang said earlier Thursday that it had identified a former employee responsible for the leak, recovered all devices used, and confirmed through external forensic analysis that only limited customer data had been accessed. The company said data from about 3,000 accounts had been stored temporarily and later deleted, and that no information had been shared outside the company. However, authorities stressed that the investigation is still ongoing into how personal information linked to a total of 33.7 million user accounts was exposed, cautioning against drawing conclusions before the probe is completed. In its statement, Coupang said the former employee used stolen security credentials to access customer information and later confessed. The company said the accessed data included names, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses, but did not include sensitive information such as payment details, passwords or customs clearance numbers. Coupang said it has secured all devices involved, including storage hardware, and pledged full cooperation with government investigators. The issue escalated further after the presidential office convened an emergency meeting of senior officials on Christmas Day, reflecting growing concern over the scale of the incident and its broader implications. The meeting was chaired by Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom and attended by Science Minister Bae, PIPC Chair Song Kyung-hee, Korea Communications Commission Chair Kim Jong-cheol, Fair Trade Commission Chair Ju Byung-gi, and officials from the National Police Agency. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and officials from the Office of National Security also joined, highlighting concerns that the controversy could affect Korea’s external relations. Officials have expressed unease over Coupang’s extensive lobbying activities in the United States. According to U.S. Senate disclosures, the company has spent at least $10 million on lobbying since August 2021. President Lee Jae Myung has called for tougher penalties for repeat data breaches, saying companies must face consequences severe enough to deter misconduct. Speaking at a policy briefing earlier this month, Lee said sanctions should be strong enough to make firms “fear going out of business” if they repeatedly fail to protect personal information. The data breach, first disclosed in November, affected 33.7 million users and has triggered mounting criticism from lawmakers and consumer groups over Coupang’s handling of the case. Political pressure intensified after Coupang founder and chair Bom Kim failed to appear at a parliamentary hearing convened to address the breach. The National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee has filed a complaint accusing him of violating legal obligations to attend hearings. The committee is scheduled to hold another two-day hearing starting Dec. 30, warning that additional legal action could follow if Kim again fails to appear. 2025-12-25 19:57:48

BLACKPINK's Rosé's 'APT.' tops TikTok music chart, named Apple Music's song of the year SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - Rosé of BLACKPINK has once again demonstrated the global staying power of her hit single "APT.", following a string of major achievements across international charts. According to The Black Label, Rosé and Bruno Mars's duet "APT." was named Song of the Year by Apple Music, while also ranking No. 1 on Billboard's Global 200 and No. 9 on the Hot 100 year-end charts for 2025. The song also performed strongly on TikTok, topping its 2025 Year in Music chart for Korea and placing sixth globally, further underscoring its worldwide popularity. Released in October last year as the pre-release single from Rosé's first full-length album "rosie," "APT." quickly gained global recognition. The song remained on Billboard's Hot 100 for 45 consecutive weeks, setting a new record for the longest-charting K-pop song. Its music video has also surpassed 2.2 billion views on YouTube. She became the first K-pop artist to win Song of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with "APT." in September. The song has also received nominations at the Grammy Awards next February for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, marking the first time a K-pop act has been nominated in two major categories. Meanwhile, Rosé is currently on the road on BLACKPINK's "Deadline" world tour, with Tokyo and Hong Kong as the next stops. 2025-12-25 16:55:58

Presidential office to raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - The presidential office said it will raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, returning to the site after three years and seven months. It said the flag, featuring South Korea's national flower mugunghwa at the center and two phoenixes facing each other, will be lowered at the Yongsan presidential office at midnight on Dec. 29 and simultaneously raised at Cheong Wa Dae. "The official name of the presidential office will be changed to Cheong Wa Dae starting on Dec. 29," the office said. The flag is flown at the location where the president is working or residing to indicate the seat of executive authority. President Lee Jae Myung is expected to begin duties at Cheong Wa Dae, marking the reopening of the "Cheong Wa Dae era" about 44 months after former president Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office in May 2022. The site ceased to function as the presidential office after Yoon moved operations to Yongsan, citing a desire to break away from what it described as the image of a secluded power center. However, following Yoon's impeachment after his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, the Lee administration moved forward with restoring Cheong Wa Dae, fulfilling one of Lee's campaign pledges. The decision was also based on concerns that the Yongsan office was structurally vulnerable to surveillance and security risks. While the presidential office will return to Cheong Wa Dae, the official residence there is scheduled to undergo repairs through the first half of next year, as it is still severely damaged. Lee is expected to commute from the existing Hannam-dong residence to Cheong Wa Dae for the time being. The history of Cheong Wa Dae dates back to the Japanese colonial period. Built in 1927 as the residence of the Japanese Governor-General of Korea, it later served as the residence of Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge, head of the U.S. Army Military Government in Korea, following the country's liberation in 1945. With the founding of the First Republic in 1948, the site became President Rhee Syngman's office and residence under the name "Gyeongmudae." In 1960, then-president Yun Posun renamed it Cheong Wa Dae, inspired by the blue tiles of the main building, as "cheong" means blue in Korean. Cheong Wa Dae served as the office and residence of South Korean presidents from Park Chung-hee through Moon Jae-in until 2022. 2025-12-25 15:17:18

Korea's Hanwha is readying to join Golden Fleet project in Philadelphia yard SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) -South Korea's defense and shipyard-strong Hanwha Group has begun preparations at its Philadelphia shipyard to support the production of nuclear-powered submarines and other naval vessels for the United States, as Washington moves forward with an ambitious shipbuilding expansion plan under President Donald Trump’s “Golden Fleet” initiative. Tom Anderson, president of Hanwha Defense USA’s shipbuilding business and a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, said the Philadelphia yard has a “significant advantage” in supporting joint production of nuclear-powered submarines in cooperation with South Korea, which he described as America’s “strongest ally.” “Work is underway to expand the workforce, invest in facilities and transfer technology,” Anderson told Korean reporters, adding that Hanwha is recruiting experts with experience in the design, construction and operation of Virginia-class submarines. These include specialists in modular production and block assembly, key processes in nuclear submarine manufacturing. Anderson said the timing of any actual submarine production would depend largely on coordination and decisions by the governments of the two countries. Another Hanwha official said the current understanding is that nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy would be built at the Philadelphia shipyard, while Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in South Korea would handle production for Korea’s own nuclear-powered submarine program. Seoul and Washington agreed in October that their leaders shared an understanding on U.S. approval and support for South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines. Alex Wong, Hanwha Group’s global chief strategy officer, said there is growing consensus within the U.S. administration and Congress on the need to expand domestic shipbuilding capacity in cooperation with allies such as South Korea. Wong said President Trump has made strengthening U.S. shipbuilding a policy priority through executive action, and that Hanwha is well positioned to support the effort given its experience building diesel-electric submarines and other naval vessels at its Okpo shipyard. “This is a government-level decision,” Wong said, adding that the United States has a strong interest in reinforcing its industrial base for nuclear-powered submarines, particularly those based on the Virginia-class design. Trump earlier this week, when unveiling the “Golden Fleet” initiative, said that new U.S. Navy frigates would be built in cooperation with Hanwha. Last week, the U.S. Navy also announced plans for a new class of smaller combatants, known as the FF(X) frigates, which are intended to complement larger multi-mission warships and enhance operational flexibility. Navy Secretary John Phelan said the new frigate program would form part of the Golden Fleet initiative. Trump has also said the U.S. Navy plans to build two new “Trump-class” battleships, with the possibility of expanding the fleet to as many as 25 vessels. The president described the planned ships as among the most powerful surface combatants ever built, equipped with advanced weapons systems including hypersonic missiles, lasers, cruise missiles and nuclear capabilities. Hanwha said in August it would invest an additional $5 billion in the Philadelphia shipyard under a bilateral cooperation project dubbed MASGA — short for “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again.” The group had previously invested $100 million to acquire the shipyard at the former Philadelphia Navy Yard in December last year. The investment is part of a broader $150 billion shipbuilding package that South Korea has pledged to the United States as part of bilateral trade arrangements. Discussions are ongoing over how the funds will be structured and deployed, Wong said, adding that both governments are seeking to move quickly while ensuring proper implementation. Shares of Hanwha Ocean surged 10 percent on Tuesday after Trump said the company would help build new U.S. Navy frigates. South Korean defense stocks have rallied sharply this year, with Hanwha Aerospace and Hyundai Rotem gaining more than 170 percent and 270 percent, respectively. Hanwha Ocean has risen more than 220 percent year to date. Hanwha Ocean is one of South Korea’s major shipbuilders, producing commercial vessels such as LNG carriers as well as naval platforms including submarines and surface combatants. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-25 15:00:52

Bank of Korea signals cautious policy stance for 2026 on FX volatility SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) -The Bank of Korea plans to take a cautious and data-dependent approach to monetary policy in 2026, as financial markets showed heightened volatility in December and capital flows continued to shift overseas, according to its latest policy statement and financial stability report. In its Monetary Policy for 2026 report released Thursday, the central bank said it will decide “whether and when” to implement further base-rate cuts after comprehensively assessing inflation and growth conditions, as well as risks to financial stability. While inflation is expected to remain near the target level, the Bank warned that upward pressures could intensify due to elevated exchange rates and a recovery in domestic demand. Growth is projected to move toward its potential level of around 1.8 percent, but uncertainty remains high, reflecting risks related to the global trade environment, the semiconductor cycle and the pace of domestic demand recovery. From a financial stability perspective, the central bank said it will continue to monitor housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area, household debt and exchange-rate volatility. Financial markets experienced notable fluctuations toward the end of 2025. According to the Bank of Korea’s Financial Stability Report for December released earlier this week, equity prices rose sharply before showing increased volatility, while foreign-exchange markets remained sensitive to global conditions. The central bank said it would strengthen monitoring of financial and FX markets and stand ready to implement market-stabilization measures if excessive volatility or herd behavior emerges. It also pledged to enhance cooperation with the government to address structural imbalances in foreign-exchange supply and demand and to improve market accessibility, including through reforms such as extended FX trading hours. According to the report, both U.S. and Korean stock markets posted gains in September and October 2025. During that period, the KOSPI surged 28.9 percent, while the S&P 500 rose 5.9 percent. Despite the rally, individual investors moved in the opposite direction. Domestic stocks recorded net selling of 9.9 trillion won in September and 6.8 trillion won in October, while overseas equity investment surged. In October alone, residents posted net purchases of $6.8 billion in foreign stocks, the largest monthly amount on record. The BOK in the financial stability report said this reflected a strengthening substitution relationship between domestic and overseas equity investment. While domestic and foreign stocks had previously tended to move in tandem as complementary assets, recent patterns show investors increasingly reducing exposure to one market while expanding positions in the other. The central bank attributed the shift largely to differences in long-term returns and exchange-rate expectations. According to the report, the 10-year moving geometric average return on the KOSPI has ranged from –0.7 percent to 5.6 percent since 2020, compared with 7.7 percent to 13.1 percent for the S&P 500. As a result, expectations for long-term returns have remained relatively low for domestic equities but higher for U.S. stocks. When Korean share prices rise sharply above their long-term return trend, investors tend to view the gains as temporary and take profits. In contrast, rising U.S. equity prices are more likely to trigger follow-on buying, reflecting stronger long-term return expectations. The baml also noted that expectations of a weaker won have reinforced the preference for overseas assets. A higher exchange rate increases the potential for exchange-rate gains on foreign investments, further strengthening the relative appeal of overseas equities. Reflecting these dynamics, residents’ net overseas securities investment reached $117.1 billion in the January–October period of 2025, sharply up from $71.0 billion a year earlier. Of the total, equity investment accounted for $89.9 billion, while bond investment reached $27.2 billion, according to the central bank. October marked a record high, with net overseas investment totaling $17.3 billion, driven by expectations of continued strength in U.S. equity markets, particularly in AI-related sectors, as well as expectations of future Federal Reserve rate cuts. The bank said the increase involved a broad range of investors, including the government sector such as the National Pension Service, financial institutions and individual investors. Looking ahead, the Bank of Korea said it will continue to strengthen early-warning systems, stress testing and contingency planning to safeguard financial stability. It will also enhance liquidity support mechanisms for banks and non-bank financial institutions and improve the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission. The central bank emphasized that policy decisions in 2026 will balance inflation control with financial stability, as volatile capital flows and exchange-rate movements play an increasingly important role in shaping domestic financial conditions. 2025-12-25 14:38:05

Android malware 'Wonderland' steals OTPs, enables real-time financial fraud SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - A new Android malware dubbed "Wonderland" is being actively distributed, enabling attackers to steal one-time passwords (OTPs) and remotely control infected devices to carry out real-time financial fraud, according to cybersecurity researchers. An analysis released on Thursday by Group-IB said Wonderland initially infiltrates devices through a "dropper" disguised as a legitimate application, which then installs malicious components. Unlike typical trojanized APK files that begin malicious activity immediately upon installation, Wonderland masquerades as a normal app before executing its malicious payload within the user's environment. This technique allows the malware to be installed without a network connection and helps it evade initial security checks and static analysis. It also enables two-way communication, allowing attackers to issue commands in real time. Once activated, Wonderland can intercept text messages (SMS) and OTPs, trigger USSD codes, steal contacts and phone numbers, hide notifications, and send additional SMS messages, the research said. As a result, attackers are able to bypass financial authentication procedures to steal funds and use infected devices as secondary launch points for further attacks. Researchers also found that Wonderland operators rely heavily on Telegram as a core part of their infrastructure. When users grant permissions, attackers can hijack Telegram accounts using the victim's phone number and then use the compromised accounts to spread malicious apps to chat histories and contact lists. Stolen Telegram accounts are currently being traded on the dark web and reused in subsequent attacks, the research added. Wonderland is not the only threat targeting Android users. Other malware strains, including Nexus Root and Frogblight, have also been detected recently, often disguising themselves as legitimate apps, prompting heightened caution among users. 2025-12-25 13:43:57

INTERVIEW: Prevention starts with language: forensic scientist warns of growing drug risks in Korea SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - When a high school senior in Daejeon fatally stabbed his mother and aunt while under the influence of LSD, the crime in 2016 stunned the nation. For Chung Heesun, a veteran forensic scientist and former head of the National Forensic Service (NFS), it was another signal that South Korea’s long-held belief in being a drug-free society is rapidly eroding. “He didn’t even know he had stabbed his mother,” Chung said, recalling the forensic findings. “That’s why drugs are terrifying — they destroy judgment.” Now a chaired professor of forensic science at Sungkyunkwan University, Chung is regarded as one of South Korea’s leading authorities on toxicology and drug detection. She warns that drugs have quietly permeated everyday life, reshaping social attitudes and lowering psychological barriers — particularly among young people. Language, she argues, is part of the problem. Food and beverage products increasingly adopt the word mayak — meaning “drug” in Korean — to emphasize addictiveness, from “mayak gimbap” to “mayak coffee.” What may seem like playful marketing, Chung says, has deeper consequences. “That’s how people become desensitized,” she said. “We, as adults, must stop using those words.” She believes early, age-appropriate education is the most effective line of defense. Preventive spending, Chung argues, could save as much as 18 times the cost of treatment, law enforcement and incarceration later. Chung’s own career in forensic science began unexpectedly. As a university student, she attended a lecture introducing the work of the NFS — an institution she had not even known existed. Despite friends discouraging her from entering what they viewed as a grim profession focused on autopsies, she joined immediately after graduation. The work proved intellectually absorbing. Over the years, Chung helped crack some of South Korea’s most complex criminal cases, including the 1995 death of pop singer Kim Sung-jae. In that case, she identified a rare animal anesthetic after analyzing more than 130,000 substances. “The intellectual thrill of discovering an unknown substance,” she said, “that’s the greatest satisfaction a scientist can feel.” But the landscape of drugs has grown far more complex. South Korea, once widely described as a drug-free nation, no longer meets that definition. To qualify, drug offenders must number fewer than 20 per 100,000 people. Today, that figure has more than doubled to above 40. According to the Korea Customs Service, drug smuggling cases involving air travelers reached 557 from January to November this year — nearly triple the figure from the same period a year earlier. President Lee Jae Myung acknowledged the severity of the issue in November, instructing the National Intelligence Service to “fully commit all capabilities” to dismantling domestic drug networks. He even raised the possibility of launching an independent narcotics investigation agency. The “2024 White Paper on Narcotics Crimes,” released by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in June, shows that 103,231 drug offenders were recorded over the past five years — an average of more than 20,000 annually. Last year alone, about 23,000 offenders were detected, marking the second consecutive year the figure exceeded 20,000. Chung attributes the rapid spread to increasingly sophisticated production and distribution methods. “There are about 1,400 types of designer drugs now,” she said. “They tweak the chemical structure slightly, making them nearly impossible to detect.” Even advanced forensic techniques have limitations. Hair testing, widely used to trace drug use, can fail to detect one-time consumption — especially if hair has been repeatedly bleached or dyed. Analysts typically test hair at the crown, which grows about one centimeter per month, allowing investigators to reconstruct a timeline of use. Teenage girls, Chung noted, are becoming particularly vulnerable. Diet pills marketed as performance-boosting or slimming aids often serve as a gateway. “It starts with curiosity,” she said. “But it becomes dependency.” She is firmly opposed to cannabis legalization, describing marijuana as a stepping-stone drug rather than a harmless endpoint. “People rarely stop at marijuana,” she said. “They move on to something stronger. It never ends there.” Chung’s commitment to public education remains central to her work. She recently returned to her alma mater, Sookmyung Women’s University, to deliver a special lecture — and was struck by the packed hall. “The students were so earnest,” she said. “It was touching.” She recalled her own student days, when she served as vice president of the student council, an era when campus leadership structures borrowed heavily from military terminology. “I was like a brigadier general,” she said with a smile. “The student council president was the division commander.” Occasionally, she sees the long arc of her influence. After one lecture, a former student told her she had pursued pharmacy and later joined the NFS after reading Chung’s book. “Just one student like that,” Chung said, “makes every talk worthwhile.” Some of her most enduring professional ties were forged abroad. In 1989, as a junior analyst, Chung applied for the British government’s Chevening Scholarship. Her request initially faced resistance within the NFS — no woman, let alone an unmarried one, had studied abroad before. She persisted. A British Embassy official, Warwick Morris, kept her scholarship slot open. Chung later studied forensic science at King’s College London. Years later, Morris returned to Seoul as British ambassador. By then, Chung was deputy director of the NFS. He later presented her with a British royal honor on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. The two still exchange Christmas letters, and Chung visits his home whenever she is in London. Her ambitions now extend beyond her formal career. Chung hopes to build a science museum that helps young students approach science without fear. “Science shouldn’t intimidate anyone,” she said. “If a museum can make it approachable, that’s my next mission.” 2025-12-25 10:47:53