In wintry Korea, grandma's vest turn practical warmth into style  SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) — What was once dismissed as a purely functional item worn by Korean grandmothers has quietly become a global fashion statement. “Grandmacore” — a trend rooted in nostalgia, domestic hobbies like knitting and baking, and unapologetically cozy silhouettes — has caught on with fashion-forward MZ women worldwide. At the center of this movement is an unlikely hero: the flowery, quilted vest South Korean grandmas wear to stay warm. Popularly known as the “gimjang vest,” the colorful padded body warmer has long been a staple in rural Korea. Villagers traditionally wear it during the annual kimchi-making season or for outdoor chores, valuing warmth and mobility over style. Thick quilting, lightweight fabric and a loose, sleeveless fit allow for easy movement while keeping the torso insulated — practical workwear, plain and simple. Even the name reflects its roots. Closely associated with gimjang, the labor-intensive winter ritual of making kimchi, the vest was never meant to be fashionable. It existed purely to keep the cold out. That perception has flipped. The old-fashioned “granny look” has found new life among MZ consumers, especially as group outfits for parties and highly shareable social-media posts. Young celebrities helped accelerate the shift. Viral photos of K-pop stars such as Karina, Jennie and Taeyeon wearing gimjang vests reframed the garment from rural necessity to playful, ironic chic. As the trend spread, the vest also became a must-buy souvenir for foreign visitors. “This is what Jennie wore!” exclaimed a tourist from Singapore at Seoul’s Namdaemun Market. “We’ve seen it everywhere on Instagram Reels and TikTok.” Similar reactions have surfaced across social media platforms. “I love that these are becoming popular with younger people — it’s funny but cute,” one user wrote. “I don’t think I could wear one though.” Another post read, “They were everywhere and so affordable. I bought one for my daughter and she’s so cute in it! We got ours at Namdaemun — it was 6.50 per vest.” The fashion evolution has been swift. As the garment moved from traditional marketplaces into the mainstream fashion scene, designs expanded beyond floral prints to include check patterns, reversible styles, minimalist quilting and fleece-lined versions. Pet-size gimjang vests have also entered the market, enabling coordinated looks for owners and their dogs. Major sportswear brands have taken note. Adidas, for instance, incorporated floral elements into youth-targeted product lines, with one quilted jacket priced at 150,000 won selling out shortly after release. Search data confirms the momentum. According to Naver Data Lab, searches for “gimjang vest” reached a relative index of 100 — the platform’s highest score — on Nov. 26, 2025, surpassing last winter’s peak. Analysts point out that the surge coincided with a sharp drop in temperatures, underscoring the garment’s enduring practicality. The aesthetic has also found its way into lifestyle spaces. At Café Inju, a hanok-style bakery in South Chungcheong Province, owner Yoo Eun-duk places gimjang vests on display for visitors to wear while taking photos. “The concept fits the bakery’s retro, grandmother-inspired vibe,” Yoo said. “We weren’t chasing trends. We were looking for props that matched the nostalgic atmosphere, and the gimjang vest felt like a natural choice.” The photo zone near the entrance draws interest across age groups, including visitors who do not try on the vest but linger to engage with the surrounding objects. The blend of function and charm has even caught the attention of luxury fashion houses. Valentino released the “Gobelin Après L’Hiver Fiorellini Vest” in 2026, priced at about 6.3 million won, featuring shearling details, floral motifs and branded lining. Moncler has also introduced a reversible floral down vest. What was once winter workwear born of necessity is now being reinterpreted through premium materials and high fashion design. For some, the vest is simply a way to stay warm. For others, it is playful self-expression. Either way, the trend offers a gentle reminder: sometimes the most fashionable thing to do is finally visit your grandmother — and take a closer look inside her closet. 2026-01-22 16:41:58

KOSPI flirts with 5,000 landmark despite grim GDP SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has touched the 5,000 mark for the first time in its history to cause euphoria on Thursday when the country reported a grim economic data, showing the gross domestic product contracting 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter. The KOSPI closed 0.9 percent up at 4,952.53 after rising as high as 5,019.54. The main index has cracked a new four-digit momentum in just two months since passing the 4,000 mark. 2026-01-22 16:33:20

Peru designates April 1 as 'Korea Friendship Day' during parliamentary visit to Seoul SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - A delegation of Peruvian lawmakers visited Seoul last week to strengthen diplomatic ties, presenting a newly approved law that designates April 1 as "Korea Friendship Day" to recognize the contributions of the South Korean community to Peru. Congressman Víctor Seferino Flores Ruiz, president of the Peru–Korea Parliamentary Friendship League, and Congresswoman Silvia María Monteza Facho led the official visit from January 11 to 17. The trip focused on enhancing the parliamentary relationship between Peru and South Korea. During a meeting with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Flores presented a physical copy of Law No. 32519, which was recently passed by the Peruvian Congress. The law establishes the commemorative day to acknowledge the role South Koreans have played in Peru's sustainable development. Flores also submitted a draft Joint Declaration proposing regular meetings between the parliamentary friendship groups of both nations to institutionalize their cooperation. Speaker Woo expressed appreciation for the designation of the friendship day and noted the South Korean legislature's own efforts to promote the inclusion of migrant populations. The Peruvian delegation also held talks with National Assembly member Min Hong-chul, president of the Korea–Peru Parliamentary Friendship League. The discussions covered legislative cooperation and the broader bilateral relationship, which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2012. Min highlighted the strong cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the defense sector, and recalled his own official visit to Peru in 2025 where the friendship leagues held a joint working meeting. As part of the itinerary, the visiting lawmakers paid tribute at the War Memorial of Korea and visited the United Nations Hall. Peru is recognized there as one of the 39 nations that provided material support to South Korea during the Korean War, demonstrating solidarity before the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963. The visit underscored the commitment of both nations to deepen political dialogue and celebrate more than six decades of diplomatic engagement. 2026-01-22 16:31:22

CJ vice chair among Forbes list of world's influential women over 50 SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Miky Lee, vice chair of South Korea’s CJ Group, has been named to Forbes’ “50 Over 50 Global 2026” list, becoming the only South Korean included this year. Forbes cited Lee’s role in helping propel Korean films and content onto the global stage, highlighting her long-standing influence on the international expansion of K-content. In its profile of Lee, Forbes described her as a central figure behind South Korea’s rise as a global content powerhouse. It noted her early investment in DreamWorks and her role as an executive producer of “Parasite,” the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for best picture. Launched in 2021, the “50 Over 50” list recognizes women aged 50 and older whose achievements have broken barriers across industries. This year’s honorees come from 36 countries and fields ranging from aviation and architecture to finance and entertainment. Other figures named on the list include Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Oscar-winning actor Penelope Cruz, and Rei Kawakubo, founder of fashion label Comme des Garçons. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-22 16:28:23

Simple structural change in drug molecules offers new path for Alzheimer's treatment SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Researchers in South Korea have discovered that simply rearranging the structure of a potential drug molecule without changing its ingredients can significantly alter its effectiveness against Alzheimer's disease. A team led by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on Wednesday that this strategy allows a single compound to simultaneously tackle multiple causes of dementia, offering a potential breakthrough for a disease that has proven difficult to treat with conventional methods. Alzheimer's disease is a complex condition driven by several interacting factors rather than a single cause. These factors include the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain, metal ions, and reactive oxygen species. When metal ions interact with amyloid beta, they can increase toxicity and accelerate brain cell damage. Conventional treatment approaches have typically focused on targeting just one of these elements, which limits their overall effectiveness in stopping the disease's progression. To overcome this limitation, the research team focused on a chemical concept known as "positional isomerism." This involves taking a molecule and, instead of adding new chemical ingredients, simply moving its existing components to different positions on the molecular structure. The researchers synthesized three variants of a molecule with the exact same chemical composition but slightly different structural arrangements. They found that even these minute changes drastically affected how the molecule interacted with the harmful elements associated with Alzheimer's. One specific structural arrangement demonstrated the ability to control reactive oxygen species, amyloid beta, and metal-amyloid complexes all at once. By modifying the "placement" of the molecule's components, the team successfully altered its chemical reactivity. In tests involving mouse models bred with Alzheimer's genes, this optimized compound effectively reduced nerve cell damage in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory. It also decreased the accumulation of amyloid plaques. Consequently, the treated mice showed significant improvements in memory and cognitive function that had previously been impaired. "This study demonstrates that simply adjusting the structural arrangement without changing the molecular composition allows us to simultaneously target multiple causes of Alzheimer's disease," said Professor Lim Mi-hee of the Department of Chemistry at KAIST. "It presents the possibility of a new treatment strategy that can more precisely control diseases with complex, intertwined causes." The research was conducted in collaboration with Professor Kim Min-keun of Chonnam National University and Dr. Lee Cheol-ho and Dr. Kim Kyung-sim from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). Na Chan-ju and Lee Ji-min, integrated master's and doctoral students at KAIST, served as co-first authors. The study was supported by the National Research Foundation of South Korea and KRIBB. The findings were published in the January 14 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. (Paper information) Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society (Impact Factor: 15.7) Title: Positional Isomerism Tunes Molecular Reactivities and Mechanisms toward Pathological Targets in Dementia DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c14323 2026-01-22 16:14:34

Giants' outfielder Lee Jung-hoo briefly held at LAX over paperwork issue SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Outfielder Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants was briefly detained by U.S. Customs officials after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday. According to the Giants, Lee "experienced a brief travel issue at LAX" due to paperwork problems, as he had apparently left some immigration-related documents in South Korea. He was momentarily held at the airport but released about an hour later with help from the team and others, including Democratic politician Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes San Francisco. Lee had been in Seoul since returning home in September last year to spend the offseason carrying out personal training and other commitments. He will undergo personal workouts in Los Angeles before heading to the Giants' spring training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona. 2026-01-22 15:56:03

Over 70 South Koreans to be deported from Cambodia over scam allegations SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Some 73 South Koreans detained in Cambodia over alleged involvement in online scams and other crimes are set to be deported from the Southeast Asian country, Cheong Wa Dae said on Thursday. In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said a chartered flight is set to be dispatched to Phnom Penh later in the day to bring them back, with arrival expected around 9 a.m. on Friday. They are accused of swindling a total of 486.7 billion won (US$331.5 million) from 869 South Korean victims and were nabbed by South Korea's task force in collaboration with Cambodian authorities, after the brutal torture and killing of a South Korean college student in Cambodia was belatedly reveled last summer. Investigators reportedly targeted several organized scam rings to arrest a score of suspects, including a couple who used deepfake technology to swindle about 12 billion won from 104 South Koreans and tried to evade arrest by altering their appearance through plastic surgery. Kang said arrest warrants have already been issued for all of them and they will be handed over to investigators for questioning, immediately upon arrival. 2026-01-22 15:29:25

Coupang union warns of job risks amid sweeping data breach probes SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - A labor union representing delivery drivers at South Korean e-commerce firm Coupang on Thursday urged the government to conduct what it called a reasonable and fair investigation into the company’s recent personal data breach, warning that an excessive probe could harm workers and small merchants. In a statement, the union said data breaches have affected many companies, including large corporations, but that it was difficult to find comparable cases in which investigations were as "wide-ranging" and "overlapping" as those currently facing Coupang. “The company’s wrongdoing must be clearly corrected,” the union said. “But in the process, many workers and small business owners who make a living through Coupang must not be sacrificed.” The union said a thorough investigation and follow-through on improvements were responsibilities shared by both government authorities and the company. However, it described it as unusual that more than 10 government bodies were simultaneously examining not only the data breach itself but also Coupang’s broader business operations. While stressing that it had no intention of defending the breach or downplaying responsibility, the union cautioned against sanctions that extend beyond accountability for personal data protection. It said excessive penalties could disrupt operations, lead to job losses among delivery drivers and logistics center workers, and cut off sales channels for small merchants, threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of families. The union added that workers are already experiencing a decline in delivery volumes and said any investigation or policy discussion should also consider workers’ right to earn a living. Calling for a careful and balanced approach, the union said the outcome of the probe would affect not only Coupang but also large numbers of frontline workers who depend on the platform. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-22 15:25:22

PM departs for Washington for possible meeting with US vice president SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Prime Minister Kim Min-seok left for the U.S. on Thursday. According to his office, Kim boarded a flight to Washington, D.C., accompanied by a small group of aides. During his five-day U.S. itinerary, which marks his first overseas trip since assuming his post in July last year, he is scheduled for talks with senior U.S. government officials and may meet with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. He will also meet with South Korean nationals living there He will then travel to New York before returning home early next week. His office expects the trip will contribute to further strengthening the country's relations with its closest ally. 2026-01-22 14:53:39

Rice consumption falls further in South Korea as dietary shift continues SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s per-capita rice consumption declined again last year, extending a decades-long slide as household eating habits continue to shift, government data showed on Thursday. According to the National Data Center’s survey results, annual per-capita grain consumption in the household sector fell 3 percent from a year earlier to 62.5 kilograms. Rice consumption accounted for 53.9 kilograms, down 3.4 percent, or 1.9 kilograms, from the previous year. Annual per-capita rice consumption is now about half of the 106.5 kilograms recorded in 1995 and has been on a steady downward trend since 1981. Average daily rice consumption also declined, falling 5.2 grams from a year earlier to 147.7 grams. In contrast, rice use in the business sector rose, driven by demand from food manufacturers. Rice used as an ingredient in food and beverage production increased 6.7 percent to 932,102 tons. Within that total, rice consumption by food manufacturers climbed 12.6 percent, while usage in beverage manufacturing declined 5.2 percent. By industry, rice cake manufacturers accounted for the largest share of business-sector rice consumption at 28.3 percent, followed by distilled alcohol producers at 23.2 percent and makers of other processed and ready-to-eat foods at 16.6 percent. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-22 14:33:28