Record amounts of smuggled cigarettes seized SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Record amounts of smuggled cigarettes were seized last year, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said on Wednesday. The customs watchdog said it has worked closely with major foreign customs authorities to crack down on multinational smuggling, seizing some 5.16 million packs or 103 tons of cigarettes bound for South Korea in separate cases, the largest since 2021, when about 3.6 million packs were detected. The massive seizure came after the KCS monitored routes and shipments from suspected cargo in collaboration with overseas authorities in major countries such as China, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom to tackle a recent surge in cigarette smuggling, resulting in the detection of some 50 suspected shipments, including 23 from Australia and five each from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The KCS expressed concern that such smuggling could be linked to more serious international crimes, such as drug trafficking and arms deals, adding that multinational cooperation among relevant authorities is crucial to stopping them. It said smugglers often try to export cigarettes disguised as legitimate cargo by transferring them through a third country, a method that can effectively evade customs clearance. "We will further strengthen cooperation with countries currently forming a joint task force and expand partnership with more countries including those in Southeast Asia as well as Central and South America," a KCS official said. 2026-01-07 11:18:38

LG CNS to lead key projects in Korean military's IT transformation SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - LG CNS said on Wednesday it has secured back-to-back defense information technology contracts, strengthening its role in South Korea’s push to digitally transform its military. The company said it signed agreements for the Armed Forces Command, Control and Communications Command’s communications network integration project and the Defense Information Agency’s next-generation integrated defense facilities information system project. The contracts were awarded on the strength of its defense IT capabilities, experience delivering large-scale systems and industry expertise, the company said, citing past projects including the Joint Command and Control System, command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems for the Army and Air Force, and a next-generation defense finance information system. The communications network integration project aims to combine separate networks operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff into a single integrated network. LG CNS said it will carry out the project over about 15 months. South Korea’s military is seeking to build a “Korean-style" command and control system to support integrated operations across space, maritime, ground and cyber domains, with network integration seen as a core step in establishing that foundation. Under the project, LG CNS will standardize network environments across units and consolidate equipment that has been installed and operated redundantly. The company plans to replace complex one-to-one information linkages with a unified network architecture to streamline information flows and improve operational efficiency. LG CNS also said it will apply software-defined networking technology to enable centralized management of routers deployed nationwide. Separately, the Defense Information Agency project will modernize existing systems and infrastructure used for managing defense facilities. The goal is to enhance user convenience and operational efficiency while standardizing data to integrate the full life cycle of defense facilities, from planning and design to construction, operation and maintenance. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-07 10:42:39

Lee begins final leg of China trip with startup forum in Shanghai SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to China, is set to meet entrepreneurs from both countries to discuss partnership and promote future cooperation at a forum in Shanghai on Wednesday. In a written press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said that the final leg of Lee’s four-day trip to China begins with a forum attended by about 400 entrepreneurs from startups and venture companies, where they will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries while laying the groundwork for South Korean firms seeking to make inroads into the Chinese market. The forum will feature a dialogue session and business meetups. Products and technologies from leading South Korean startups seeking to expand into China will also be on display. Participants include Huo Jianjun, general manager of China Merchants Bank International, better known as CMBI, a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank, one of China's largest commercial banks. 2026-01-07 10:29:06

Lee encourages Oceans Ministry staff with hearty meals SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung has sent pizza to encourage staff at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries which was relocated to the southern port city of Busan recently, the ministry said on Wednesday. The relocation from the administrative city of Sejong, which was finalized last month, was part of Lee's campaign pledges during last year's presidential election, aimed at taking the lead in the era of Arctic shipping routes while fostering new growth engines. It is also part of broader efforts to promote balanced regional development across the country, beyond Sejong, where most ministerial offices and other government agencies have been relocated since 2012. The ministry explained that the surprise pizza delivery was meant to encourage staff and other officials for their efforts during the relocation. Lee previously made similar deliveries of hearty meals to other ministries last year. 2026-01-07 10:04:51

South Korea's Taihan wins power grid contract in California SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s electricity equipment maker Taihan said on Wednesday that its U.S. subsidiary, T.E.USA, has secured a contract worth about 100 billion won ($77 million) to supply equipment for a 230-kilovolt extra-high-voltage power transmission project in the United States. The project involves construction of a new 230-kV transmission line in the Riverside area of Southern California and is aimed at meeting rising electricity demand while ensuring a stable power supply during emergencies, the company said. Taihan said it will execute the project on a full turnkey basis, covering the entire process from design and manufacturing to installation, splicing, testing and final commissioning. The company said that as power grid upgrades and large-scale infrastructure investment accelerate across the United States, Taihan plans to leverage its local subsidiary and branch network to expand projects nationwide. The latest contract reflects growing recognition of its quality and technical competitiveness, built through the successful execution of previous U.S. projects, Taihan said. The firm has won all 500-kV high-voltage alternating current transmission projects it has bid for in the United States and has also participated in technically demanding work, including a 320-kV high-voltage direct current project and the replacement of aging power grids in major U.S. cities. 2026-01-07 09:55:15

South Korea seeks major economic leap through innovation-led growth SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea will accelerate a shift toward an “ultra-innovation economy” to lift its potential growth rate, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday, describing this year as the starting point for a major economic leap. Speaking at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly, Koo said the ministry will deploy active macroeconomic policies, including measures to boost overall demand and to help revive activity among small business owners and the self-employed. Koo pointed to last year’s third-quarter economic growth, which he said was the strongest in 15 quarters, as well as gains in financial markets. He said South Korea’s exports exceeded $700 billion for the first time last year, while the effects of a supplementary budget — including the distribution of consumption coupons — helped expand job creation, particularly in service industries linked to domestic demand. "However, the economy faces mounting challenges amid a more difficult global environment and structural constraints at home," Koo said. The government plans to accelerate a transition toward an innovation-led growth structure by concentrating policy support on national strategic industries such as semiconductors, defense, biotechnology and K-culture, Koo said. He added that authorities will step up efforts in AX, or artificial intelligence transformation, and GX, or green transformation, to help revive potential growth. “Global competition has reached a stage where it is difficult to survive without becoming No. 1 in the world or an ultra-innovation economy,” Koo said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-07 09:46:20

Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial feature set for release later this month SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial debut feature is set to be released later this month. "Rectangle, Triangle," slated to hit local theaters on Jan. 21, tells the story of a family gathering meant to be pleasant but instead brings long-simmering conflicts to the surface. Beneath its comic setup, the film lays bare the emotional rifts that have built up under the name of family, leaving a lasting impression. The 46-minute film starring Jin Sun-kyu was also invited to this year's Jeonju International Film Festival, which will be held this spring in the southwestern city. Lee's upcoming film comes after his directorial debut with his 2018 short film, "Mad Rush." 2026-01-07 09:28:38

Korean shipbuilders ride eco-friendly, LNG vessels to stronger earnings outlook SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s three major shipbuilders are expected to post profits for a second consecutive year, with momentum likely to carry into 2026 as demand for high-value, eco-friendly vessels remains strong, analysts said. Expectations have also risen that orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and special-purpose ships could flow to Korean yards as the South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative known as MASGA moves into full operation. According to consensus data compiled by financial information provider FnGuide, the combined operating profit of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries is estimated at 6.18 trillion won ($4.7 billion) for 2025. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is projected to generate operating profit of 4 trillion won. Hanwha Ocean is forecast to post 1.32 trillion won, while Samsung Heavy Industries is expected to earn about 871 billion won. All three companies met their annual order targets last year, returning to profitability and improving margins after a prolonged downturn that began in the mid-2010s. Analysts attribute the turnaround to a strategy of selectively securing high-value contracts, particularly for LNG carriers, alongside improvements in cost structures. That trend is expected to persist this year. "With MASGA moving into a full-scale phase, LNG carrier orders are expected to increasingly concentrate at Korean shipyards," an industry source said. Market sentiment has also been supported by remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump about working with South Korean companies on building new frigates for the U.S. Navy. Naval and special-purpose vessels are widely viewed as having higher technological barriers and more stable profitability than commercial ships. An expansion of orders in defense and special-purpose vessels, alongside LNG carriers, would further diversify shipbuilders’ order books, analysts said. Order targets for this year reflect that confidence. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has set an annual order target of $23.31 billion for its shipbuilding and offshore businesses, about 29 percent higher than last year’s goal. The company said it will continue to focus on high-value projects, including LNG carriers, eco-friendly vessels and offshore plants. Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries, which both met their targets last year, have also signaled plans to maintain steady order intake centered on LNG carriers and offshore projects. A persistently weak won is expected to further support earnings, as most shipbuilding contracts are denominated in U.S. dollars. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-07 09:03:12

CES 2026: From delivery robots to driverless taxi - inside Hyundai showroom LAS VEGAS, January 07 (AJP) -Step into Hyundai Motor Group’s CES showroom and robotics is already at work. A humanoid robot sorts objects with precision, a four-legged machine patrols and inspects equipment autonomously, while compact mobility robots labeled MobED Pick and Place and MobED Delivery glide across the floor carrying cargo. Nearby, a fully driverless Ioniq 5 robotaxi prepares for commercial service — all operating as part of an artificial-intelligence system designed to function in real time. That is the scene Hyundai has built at CES 2026, where the group is demonstrating how its robotics portfolio — from factory floors to city streets — can operate as a single, connected ecosystem rather than isolated machines. The group is operating a 1,836-square-meter (about 557-pyeong) booth in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, designed as a lab-style environment that mirrors how robots would perceive, decide and move in real industrial and urban settings. At the center of the exhibit, a next-generation electric Atlas performs precision sorting tasks, adjusting grip strength in real time using vision sensors and AI models. Nearby, Spot autonomously inspects equipment using Orbit AI, simulating patrol and monitoring work at industrial sites. Mobility robotics is showcased through MobED, with concept variants including MobED Pick and Place and MobED Delivery, illustrating how a single platform can be adapted for logistics, material handling and service tasks through interchangeable top modules. Autonomous mobility extends beyond robots to vehicles. Hyundai is displaying a robotaxi jointly developed with Motional, based on the Ioniq 5 and Hyundai’s E-GMP architecture. Rated at SAE Level 4, the robotaxi is set to be deployed this year in Las Vegas for public ride-hailing service. 2026-01-07 07:26:44

A big delegation, thin deliverables from Korean state visit to China SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung arrived in China this week with one of the largest economic delegations Seoul has dispatched in years. What he returned with, critics say, was less clear. Accompanied by roughly 200 business leaders — including Lee Jae-yong, Chung Euisun and Koo Kwang-mo — Lee’s four-day state visit marked South Korea’s first presidential trip to China in eight years and the first major business delegation since 2019. The message, at least visually, was unmistakable: Korea wants to reset ties. Yet beyond symbolism, the economic substance of the visit appeared limited, reinforcing a long-standing reality of Korea–China relations — plenty of ceremony, cautious language, and incremental gains, but no breakthrough. Before departure, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won struck a familiar note, saying the delegation would seek “meaningful growth opportunities,” particularly in supply-chain cooperation. Korean conglomerates remain deeply embedded in China: Samsung, SK hynix, Hyundai, Kia and LG all operate major production facilities there. But while the footprint is large, the policy environment remains uncertain — and the summit did little to change that. MOUs and goodwill – and most gains Fourteen MOUs and a donation certificate were signed after the Lee–Xi meeting, spanning economy, culture, environment and science. Among them, the agreement on intellectual property cooperation stood out as the most tangible economic outcome, potentially helping Korean firms protect patents and brands more efficiently in China. Other outcomes — regularizing trade minister meetings and reopening China’s market to certain Korean seafood products — were welcomed but modest. None addressed Korea’s deeper concerns: supply-chain vulnerabilities, export competitiveness or market access barriers. The ceremonial donation of Qing-era stone lions from Korea’s Kansong Art Museum to China, meanwhile, was widely read as a goodwill gesture — diplomatically sensitive, culturally symbolic, but economically marginal. Content, fashion and the limits of expectation The delegation’s composition hinted at where Korea sees room to move: culture, content and consumer brands. Galaxy Corporation, home to G-Dragon and actor Song Kang-ho, joined amid renewed interest in China’s entertainment market. Fashion platform Musinsa showcased its China expansion plans. Shinsegae signed an MOU with Alibaba International to export Korean consumer goods. Yet the elephant in the room remained untouched: the unofficial Chinese restrictions on Korean cultural content — the so-called Han Han-ryeong. No timeline, no commitment, not even public acknowledgment. China continues to deny the ban’s existence, and Seoul, once again, stopped short of pressing the issue. “We agreed to approach it gradually through working-level consultations,” National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said — language that sounded more like damage control than progress. Reset diplomacy — or just resetting the optics? The presidential office framed the visit as a turning point. A senior aide described it as “gateway diplomacy toward full restoration” of relations, pointing to the seafood deal as proof of tangible results. Some analysts agreed the direction was right. “The economy is the only realistic entry point for improving Korea–China relations,” said Choi Woo-sun of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Others were unconvinced. “There was no clear economic agenda,” said Lee Khan-pyo of Sogang University. “This summit is unlikely to produce distinctive economic impact.” Opposition figures were sharper still. Lawmakers from the People Power Party criticized Lee for failing to raise the cultural ban or broader economic-security issues, calling the visit “one-sided” and “overly deferential.” “The business leaders did their part — but the president did none,” said People Power Party lawmaker Choi Soo-jin, adding that Lee “looked obsequious in China” and failed to resolve the Korean Ban or raise maritime concerns. Even within the ruling party, voices urged caution. China is no longer just a partner, they noted, but a competitor — particularly in high-tech industries where overcapacity and dumping have become concerns. Supreme Council member Lee Un-ju stressed cooperation should focus on culture, tourism and food, while warning: “Unlike in the past, China is now a competitor to Korea,” particularly in high-tech industries sensitive to economic security and fair trade. 2026-01-06 17:42:02