S. Korea's KAIST researchers develop AI that fixes messy lab data to build better batteries SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - South Korean researchers have built an AI system that predicts how to make better batteries, even when the data from previous lab tests is messy or incomplete. This new tool helps scientists skip the long, expensive process of trial and error by figuring out the best recipe for battery materials before they ever step into the lab. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on January 26 that a team led by Professor Hong Seung-bum and Professor Jo Eun-ae developed this machine learning framework. It focuses on the cathode, the part of the battery that acts like a tank for storing energy. In most electric vehicles today, this tank is made of a mix of nickel, cobalt, and manganese, commonly called NCM. The secret to a long-lasting battery often lies in the size of the tiny particles that make up the cathode. If these particles are too big, the battery struggles to charge and discharge efficiently. If they are too small, the battery can become unstable. Finding the right size is essential for making electric cars go further and smartphones last longer. Until now, scientists had to spend months baking materials at different temperatures and for different amounts of time to see what size particles they would get. To make matters worse, lab records are rarely perfect. Sometimes a researcher forgets to record a temperature, or a measurement is missed, leaving gaps in the data that make it hard for traditional computers to learn the pattern. The South Korean team solved this by creating a two-part AI system. The first part, called MatImpute, acts like a smart autofill. It uses the laws of chemistry to guess what the missing lab data should have been. The second part, a model called NGBoost, then predicts the final particle size. What makes this AI different is that it does not just give a single answer; it also tells researchers how sure it is. For example, it might say, "I am 95 percent certain the particles will be this size." This helps scientists decide which experiments are actually worth their time. When the researchers tested the AI, it was right about 86.6 percent of the time. They even tried it on four brand-new recipes that the AI had never seen before. The AI predicted the particle sizes with an error of less than 0.13 micrometers, a distance much thinner than a human hair. The study showed that the way a material is cooked, including the temperature and time, actually matters more than the specific chemical ingredients when it comes to particle size. This insight will allow researchers to develop next-generation batteries, like all-solid-state versions, much faster than before. The research was led by Benediktus Madika, a doctoral student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and was published in the journal Advanced Science on October 8, 2025. The project was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT. (Paper information) Journal: Advanced Science Title: Uncertainty-Quantified Primary Particle Size Prediction in Li-Rich NCM Materials via Machine Learning and Chemistry-Aware Imputation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202515694 2026-01-26 15:46:57

South Korea sees sharp rise in FX deposits on equity, trade flows SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - Foreign-currency deposits by residents in South Korea surged by nearly $16 billion in December, marking the largest monthly increase on record, driven by inflows linked to foreigners’ equity purchases, trade-related payments and rising client deposits at securities firms amid robust overseas investment. Data released by the Bank of Korea on Monday showed resident foreign-currency deposits at domestic banks totaled $119.43 billion at the end of December, up $15.88 billion from the end of November. The increase followed a $1.72 billion rise in November and was the biggest monthly gain since the data series began in June 2012. Resident foreign-currency deposits include accounts held in South Korea by citizens, local companies, foreigners who have lived in the country for at least six months, and foreign companies operating domestically. By holder, corporate deposits climbed $14.07 billion to $102.5 billion, while individual deposits rose $1.82 billion to $16.93 billion, the central bank said. By currency, U.S. dollar-denominated deposits increased $8.34 billion to $95.93 billion. Euro deposits rose $6.35 billion to $11.75 billion, while yen deposits gained $870 million to reach $9 billion. By bank type, deposits at domestic banks rose $12.76 billion to $101.6 billion, and deposits at branches of foreign banks increased $3.13 billion to $17.83 billion. The BOK said the rise in dollar deposits reflected funds placed for foreigners’ purchases of stakes in South Korean companies, estimated at about $2 billion, as well as trade-related payments by exporters and importers and higher client deposits at securities firms. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-26 15:37:07

Korea's ex-PM Lee Hae-chan to be honored with five-day public funeral SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - The funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died during a business trip to Vietnam, will be held over five days this week in the format of a public funeral in recognition of his contributions to South Korean society, officials said Monday. Lee, the vice chair of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) that directly reports to the president, died Sunday at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 73. The funeral, jointly hosted by PUAC and the ruling Democratic Party, will run from Jan. 27 to 31, according to PUAC officials. Lee’s body is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport early Tuesday before being transferred to the funeral venue. The service will be conducted as a “social funeral,” a form of public memorial reserved for figures deemed to have made significant contributions to society. The five-day period is longer than the customary three-day funeral in South Korea. Lee arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday but collapsed the following day while preparing to return to Korea after flu-like symptoms worsened. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent an emergency stent insertion procedure but later died. A seven-term lawmaker, Lee was dubbed as a kingmaker on the liberal camp. He commanded key posts in all liberal governments - education minister under President Kim Dae-jung, prime minister under President Roh Moo-hyun, chairman of the Democratic Party during the Moon Jae-in administration, and senior vice chair of PUAC under President Lee Jae Myung. Lee’s political career was rooted in South Korea’s democracy movement. During the Yushin era, he was imprisoned for his involvement in pro-democracy activism, including the National Federation of Democratic Youth and Students case and the fabricated Kim Dae-jung insurrection plot case. He later entered formal politics under the post-1987 democratic system, experiencing firsthand both military rule and democratic transition. “South Korea today has lost a great teacher in the history of its democracy.," mourned President Lee on Facebook. He added that Lee “devoted his entire life to protecting and expanding democratic values amid the turbulence of modern Korean history.” 2026-01-26 15:02:07

Trams to return to Seoul after 58 years, powered by batteries not overhead wires SEOUL, January 26 (AJP)-Trams are set to return to Seoul for the first time in nearly six decades, but in a distinctly modern form: battery-powered, sensor-equipped and free of overhead wires. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Monday it has completed installation of key infrastructure for the Wirye Line tram, including tracks and a depot, and will begin large-scale test operations next month. The city plans to move the first trainset into the depot early Tuesday, with the transfer taking place overnight between 11 p.m. Monday and 5 a.m. Tuesday to minimize traffic disruption. SMG said it coordinated traffic controls and safety staffing with Songpa Police Station. From February, the city will carry out final checks ahead of opening. Through August, it will conduct mainline trial runs to verify 16 items, including running safety and coordination with ground equipment. From April through December, integrated railway test operations will assess the stability and interoperability of all systems and complete remaining procedures required for commercial service. Because the tram operates on public roads, the city said it will strengthen safety measures by deploying safety personnel at 13 intersections and 35 crosswalks along the route, as well as running a dedicated situation team to respond to accidents. “These trial runs are a critical step to comprehensively verify safety and system integration between vehicles, facilities and operating systems,” said Im Chun-geun, head of the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters. “We will conduct thorough testing so residents can use the line safely and conveniently.” The Wirye Line is Korea’s first catenary-free tram, operating without overhead power lines. Instead, it draws power from a large-capacity battery mounted on the roof, reducing visual clutter in urban areas while lowering construction costs. The 5.4-kilometer line will connect Macheon Station on Subway Line 5 with Bokjeong Station on Line 8 and the Suin–Bundang Line, as well as Namwirye Station on Line 8. Ten trainsets are planned to serve 12 stations and one depot, easing traffic congestion in Wirye New Town. The tram features a low-floor design to improve accessibility for seniors, wheelchair users and other mobility-impaired passengers. It is also equipped with a forward collision warning system that combines radar and camera sensors. When an obstacle is detected, the system alerts the driver and automatically activates emergency braking if there is no response. The exterior design reflects citizen preferences collected through on-site feedback and Seoul’s M-Voting platform. The tram is finished in purple, inspired by King Onjo of Baekje, who established Wirye as his first capital, with a design meant to convey elegance and dignity. Trams were first introduced in Seoul in 1899 and operated for nearly 70 years before being phased out in 1968. The opening of the Wirye Line marks their return to the city after 58 years — this time as a high-tech, battery-powered mode of urban transport. 2026-01-26 14:38:49

South Korea to deploy AI-based military command platform by 2029 SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - South Korea has launched development of its first artificial intelligence-based command-and-control system as it prepares for the transfer of wartime operational control, defense authorities and industry officials said on Monday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Hanwha Systems held a kickoff meeting on Jan. 23 in Seoul for the Allied Command and Control System (AKJCCS) performance upgrade project. Hanwha Systems won the DAPA-led contract for the project in December. The project calls for a full redevelopment of AKJCCS, a core system used to command and control South Korea-U.S. combined military operations on the Korean Peninsula. The upgraded system will be the first domestically developed command-and-control platform to incorporate AI-based situational analysis and automated decision-support functions, along with a cloud-based server architecture and virtual desktop infrastructure. The enhancements are intended to improve information sharing in an evolving combined-operations environment, enabling commanders and staff to make more accurate and timely assessments and responses, according to Hanwha Systems. South Korea’s military plans to deploy the upgraded AKJCCS by 2029. Hanwha Systems said it aims to play a central role in building a future combined-operations command system led by South Korea, leveraging its experience in command-and-control systems and defense information and communications technology. The kickoff meeting brought together officials from DAPA and Hanwha Systems, as well as representatives from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command and the Republic of Korea Army Command, Control, Communications and Computer Command. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-26 14:09:59

Ssangyong Engineering secures major contracts in UAE, Singapore SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - Ssangyong Engineering said on Monday it has secured major construction contracts in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. The company said it has won a $250 million contract from Dubai state-owned real estate developer WASL to build Avenue Park Tower, a residential project in central Dubai. The project comprises two residential towers ranging from 37 to 43 stories above ground in a key downtown development area about 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Ssangyong said it earned the client’s trust after successfully completing WASL’s Hyatt Centric hotel and One Residence projects in 2022. Since 2023, Ssangyong has secured additional projects in Dubai, including Immersive Tower, the Kifaf development and Creek Waters. The company is currently carrying out six projects in the emirate with a combined value of about 1.3 trillion won ($960 million). In Singapore, Ssangyong last month won a contract for the Alexandra Hospital outpatient building, a $580 million project commissioned by the Ministry of Health. The company formed a joint venture with Japan’s Shimizu Corp. and Singapore’s Kimly, with Ssangyong holding a 40-percent stake valued at about 3.4 trillion won. The project includes three basement levels and 12 stories above ground, housing examination rooms, clinics, offices and a four-story parking facility. Ssangyong said it has built advanced medical facilities worldwide with a combined capacity of around 12,000 beds. In Singapore, its track record includes projects such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 1998, the new K.K. Hospital in 1999 and the Woodlands Health Campus in 2024. The company has completed about 40 projects in Singapore, including the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-26 13:54:57

Resident FX deposits in Korea jumped nearly $16 bln in December SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) -Foreign-currency deposits at South Korea-based banks surged by nearly $16 billion in December on prolonged weakness in the Korean won, central bank data showed. The Bank of Korea said Monday that resident foreign-currency deposits at local foreign-exchange banks totaled $119.43 billion at the end of December, up $15.88 billion from the previous month. It marked the second consecutive monthly increase. Resident foreign-currency deposits include holdings by South Korean individuals and companies, foreigners who have lived in South Korea for at least six months, and foreign companies operating in the country. By currency, U.S. dollar deposits climbed $8.34 billion to $95.93 billion, while euro deposits rose $6.35 billion to $11.75 billion. Japanese yen deposits increased by $870 million to $9.0 billion. A Bank of Korea official said dollar deposits expanded as funds flowed into banks for multiple purposes, including about $2.0 billion related to foreigners’ purchases of equity stakes in South Korean companies, current-account settlements by exporters and importers, and investor funds held by securities firms. Euro deposits rose as foreign-affiliated companies placed funds tied to current-account payments due early in the year, including proceeds from discounting foreign-currency sales receivables, the official said. Yen deposits increased mainly due to investor deposits at securities firms. By depositor type, corporate foreign-currency deposits jumped $14.07 billion to $102.5 billion, while individual deposits rose $1.82 billion to $16.93 billion. By bank type, deposits at domestic banks increased $12.76 billion to $101.6 billion, while those at local branches of foreign banks rose $3.13 billion to $17.83 billion. 2026-01-26 13:07:57

KOSDAQ breaks above 1,000 as Asia trades mixed; Nikkei retreats on political uncertainty SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) – Asian equities opened the week mostly lower, with Japanese stocks retreating on rising bond yields and political uncertainty. South Korea’s secondary KOSDAQ bucked the sentiment, surging past the 1,000 mark for the first time in four years on policy optimism. The benchmark KOSPI opened higher but later pared gains. As of 10:37 a.m. local time Monday, the index was down 0.48 percent at 4,966.31. The KOSDAQ jumped 5.48 percent to 1,048.35, triggering a buying sidecar as momentum accelerated in growth stocks. A KOSDAQ buying sidecar is activated when KOSDAQ 150 futures rise more than 6 percent from the reference price and the spot KOSDAQ 150 index climbs more than 3 percent for at least one minute. At the time of activation, KOSDAQ 150 futures were up 6.29 percent, or 105.10 points, at 1,774.60, while the spot index rose 6.56 percent. Trading in both futures and cash markets was temporarily halted for five minutes to curb volatility. It marked the first KOSDAQ buying sidecar since April 10 last year. The rally was driven by continued expectations for government measures to revitalize the junior bourse, along with strong gains in biotech and secondary battery shares. Market sentiment was buoyed by reports that the KOSPI 5,000 Special Committee recently proposed leveraging digital assets to push the KOSDAQ toward the 3,000 level during a luncheon meeting with President Lee Jae Myung. Policy initiatives such as the proposed “National Growth Fund” to boost venture investment also supported sentiment. Among KOSDAQ stocks, ABL Bio surged more than 15 percent, EcoPro BM climbed about 12 percent, and Rainbow Robotics jumped over 22 percent. On the KOSPI, heavyweight stocks showed mixed performance. Samsung Electronics rose 0.33 percent to 152,600 won, while SK hynix fell 2.74 percent to 746,000 won amid speculation that Samsung may be gaining an edge in the HBM4 race. LG Energy Solution advanced 0.85 percent to 415,500 won. Samsung Life Insurance slipped 0.49 percent, and Samsung Biologics edged down 0.17 percent. Automakers traded lower, with Hyundai Motor falling 1.76 percent to 501,000 won and Kia dropping 2.45 percent to 155,100 won, after recent sharp gains. Defense and aerospace shares gained attention, with Hanwha Aerospace rising 1.04 percent to 1,268,000 won, as President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik departed for Canada as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation. Kang is seeking to support South Korea’s bid to secure Canada’s major submarine procurement project, estimated at up to 60 trillion won ($40.9 billion), where Hanwha Ocean is competing against Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Shipbuilders traded lower. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 2.55 percent to 611,000 won, while Hanwha Ocean slipped 0.50 percent to 139,600 won. In currency markets, the won strengthened to 1,444.40 per dollar, up 10.90 won from the previous session, supported by a firmer Japanese yen. Japanese stocks underperformed most in the region. The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.75 percent to 52,902.87, weighed down by a sharp rise in government bond yields and growing political uncertainty. Yields on Japan’s long-dated government bonds last week had neared 30-year highs while the yen toward the 160-per-dollar level, fueling concerns over investor confidence. Markets were unsettled after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a snap election for early next month, raising worries over fiscal policy direction amid proposals for additional stimulus and tax cuts. 2026-01-26 11:41:14

Team Korea heads for Canada for final push in $41 bn submarine bid SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik departed for Canada on Monday as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, seeking to support South Korea’s bid to secure Canada’s major submarine procurement project estimated at up to 60 trillion won ($40.9 billion). Kang left Incheon International Airport for Toronto as South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean competes for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), after being shortlisted as one of the final two contenders alongside Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). “The bidders for the Canadian submarine project have now been narrowed down to Korea and Germany,” Kang told reporters before departure. “During this visit, we will meet senior Canadian officials to explain the advanced capabilities of Korean submarines and convey the Korean government’s commitment to expanding security and industrial cooperation between the two countries.” Kang is accompanied by Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Commissioner Lee Yong-chul, along with senior executives from Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Motor Group and HD Hyundai. The CPSP involves the acquisition of up to 12 conventionally powered submarines of around 3,000 tons, along with long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul services, making it one of the largest submarine procurement programs currently under way. Kang stressed the need for pan-government support for the bid, noting that South Korea faces strong competition from Germany, a global manufacturing powerhouse and a country that previously transferred submarine technologies to South Korea. “Large-scale defense projects of this nature cannot be pursued by individual companies alone,” Kang said. “We will directly deliver the Korean government’s commitment to broadening industrial and security cooperation with Canada.” Following his Canada visit, Kang will travel to Norway to discuss expanding defense cooperation. It will mark his second trip to Norway after an earlier visit in October, when he delivered a personal letter from President Lee. In Norway, Hanwha Aerospace is seeking to secure a major long-range rocket procurement project with its K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. Kang said a decision on the Norwegian deal is expected “in the near future.” Kang added that the government is also preparing to expand defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Peru. Kang was appointed as President Lee’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation in October, as part of the administration’s goal to position South Korea among the world’s top four arms exporters. 2026-01-26 10:58:24

Seoul confirms plan to construct two nuclear reactors by late 2030s SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - South Korea will proceed with plans to build two new nuclear reactors by 2037-38, the government said on Monday, reviving a project that had effectively been on hold and paving the way for site selection to begin. Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan said construction of the reactors, included in the current national power plan, would move ahead as scheduled after public consultations showed broad support. “New nuclear power plant construction under the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand will proceed as planned,” Kim told reporters at the government complex in Sejong. Finalized early last year, the 11th plan calls for the construction of two large-scale reactors with a combined capacity of 2.8 gigawatts, targeted to come online in 2037–2038. Kim said reducing carbon emissions across the economy was unavoidable in responding to climate change and that emissions cuts in the power sector would require scaling back coal and liquefied natural gas generation. The electricity system, he said, would need to rely primarily on renewable energy and nuclear power. Following a change in government, debate emerged over whether the nuclear construction plan should be reconsidered or deferred to the 12th basic plan, prompting two public forums and opinion polls conducted late last year and earlier this year. In the surveys, respondents who said the nuclear construction plan “must proceed” accounted for 32.5 percent in a Gallup Korea poll and 43.1 percent in a Realmeter poll. Those who said it “should preferably proceed” made up 37 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively, meaning more than 60 percent supported moving forward. Opposition was lower, with 5.3 percent and 13.5 percent saying the plan “must be halted,” and 17.3 percent in both surveys saying it “should preferably be halted.” When asked which energy source should be expanded most, the largest share of respondents selected renewable energy — 48.9 percent in the Gallup Korea poll and 43.1 percent in the Realmeter survey — followed by nuclear power at 38 percent and 41.9 percent. Citing the results, the government said it would place renewed emphasis on nuclear power while expanding renewables. Kim said intermittency in renewable generation would be addressed through energy storage systems and pumped-storage hydropower, while nuclear power’s operational inflexibility would be mitigated through more flexible plant operations. The new nuclear build is also expected to be a key assumption in the upcoming 12th electricity basic plan, covering 2026–2040. A working-level draft is due in the third quarter after meetings of expert committees, followed by a strategic environmental impact assessment, a public hearing, a report to a National Assembly standing committee and a review by the Electricity Policy Deliberation Committee. Final approval is expected by year-end. The ministry said the next plan would reflect rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and broader electric-vehicle adoption, alongside targets for carbon neutrality and the expansion of a distributed power grid. However, the 11th plan assumes a construction period of about 167 months — nearly 14 years — for large reactors, making early site selection essential to meet the target completion date. Accordingly, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is expected to begin a site solicitation process soon, followed by five to six months of evaluation and selection. The aim is to secure construction permits in the early 2030s and complete the reactors by 2037–2038. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-26 10:53:44