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

PPP leader ends weeklong hunger strike after ex-President Park Geun-hye's visit SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Jang Dong-hyeok, the leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), ended his weeklong hunger strike on Thursday as his health condition worsened. Jang, who began the strike last Thursday, calling for independent investigations into allegations involving the Unification Church and other bribery cases, was taken to the hospital at around noon. Jang said, "I'm ending mu hunger strike for a longer and bigger fight," adding that public anger over what he called the "tyranny of the corrupt Lee Jae Myung administration" and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) would "blaze like wildfire." He decided to end the strike shortly after former President Park Geun-hye visited him at the National Assembly and urged him to stop, saying the public would recognize his sincerity. Park said, "While people may differ in their views, the public will recognize the sincerity of his fight as a politician for what he believes is right." Adding that they could meet again, she asked him to regain his health soon, saying "more difficulties could lie ahead." Several lawmakers including his fellow party members along with Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the minor centrist Reform Party, earlier visited him, urging him to end his fasting. 2026-01-22 14:29:47

Samsung SDS earnings lifted by AI, cloud demand SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Samsung SDS said on Thursday it posted annual revenue of 13.93 trillion won ($10.4 billion) last year, up 0.7 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit rose 5 percent to 957.1 billion won, as growth in cloud and artificial intelligence services offset weakness in logistics. Fourth-quarter revenue fell 2.9 percent from a year earlier to 3.54 trillion won, the company said, while operating profit rose 6.9 percent to 226.1 billion won. By segment, revenue from IT services increased 2.2 percent to 6.54 trillion won. Cloud revenue climbed 15.4 percent to 2.68 trillion won, leading growth in the IT services business. Samsung SDS said its cloud service provider business expanded on higher use of the Samsung Cloud Platform as generative AI services gained traction, alongside broader growth in high-performance computing and cloud network services. In AI platforms, Samsung SDS said it will support broader adoption of generative AI across industries through a ChatGPT Enterprise reseller partnership agreement signed with OpenAI in December, which it said was the first such deal by a South Korean company. In AI solutions, the company plans to expand its collaboration tool Brity Works and its generative AI service Brity Copilot — currently being piloted at three government agencies — to all 57 central government ministries. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-22 13:48:54

More young people move to Seoul SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - More young people have moved to Seoul from other cities and provinces, an analysis of census data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday reveals. Since 2019, the number of people in their 20s and 30s moving into Seoul has exceeded those moving out, except in 2021. Following this trend, the number of people leaving Seoul fell to 473,000 in 2024, down from 751,000 in 2001. Among Seoulites, those relocating within the city declined, while those relocating to the capital from other cities and provinces rose to 35.1 percent in 2024, up from 27.8 percent in 2001. As of 2024, the majority of people who changed their residence to Seoul came from nearby metropolitan areas, with over half or 53 percent moving from Gyeonggi Province and 7.7 percent from Incheon. The main reasons for moving to Seoul were jobs, education, and residential environment including convenient access to schools and other living conditions. Kang Ok-hyun, a city official, said, "Based on the findings, we will develop the city's policies to address changing demographics." 2026-01-22 13:45:27

South Korea enforces world's first comprehensive AI law as industry braces for compliance SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea on Thursday became the first country to enforce a comprehensive artificial intelligence law, a landmark move that establishes sweeping transparency and safety obligations while industry players scramble to navigate its sprawling requirements. The Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trustworthiness, or the AI Basic Act, which took effect a year after its promulgation, governs everything from deepfake labeling to high-impact AI oversight. South Korea is the second jurisdiction after the European Union to enact a comprehensive AI statute, but its approach diverges sharply from Brussels. South Korea's AI Basic Act takes a hybrid approach—more autonomous than the EU but stricter than the U.S. federal government. While all three have mandated identification watermarks for AI-generated content, the U.S. runs on dual tracks—the federal government emphasizing self-regulation while state governments pursuing detailed regulations. On the contrary, the EU categorized AI into four risk levels and banned high-threat AI usages, including those applying to social scoring systems and real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces. The Ministry of Science and ICT said the legislation fills regulatory gaps left by existing telecommunications and information network laws, which were not designed to address AI-generated content or algorithmic discrimination. The ministry pledged a "soft landing" for businesses by deferring its investigative powers and penalty enforcement for at least one year. Under the law, operators of high-impact AI systems in sectors such as healthcare, energy, hiring and loan assessments must implement human oversight and safety measures. The government said only fully autonomous vehicles at Level 4 or above currently meet the high-impact threshold, though industry observers expect the category to expand rapidly as AI capabilities advance. The law also enshrines a right to explanation, requiring AI operators to provide clear and meaningful information about the criteria and principles behind algorithmic decisions. Industry groups have characterized the provision as largely symbolic, noting that only a handful of companies worldwide possess the technical capability to interpret complex AI reasoning processes. Enforcement mechanisms include on-site inspections and fines of up to 30 million won ($20,459) for violations such as failing to notify users of AI deployment or neglecting to appoint a domestic representative for foreign operators. The ministry has pledged to hold off on exercising these powers during the grace period. The creative sector has mounted broader resistance. Sixteen organizations representing writers, artists and other content creators issued a joint statement on Jan. 13 demanding the government withdraw and overhaul its national AI action plan. "The government's AI action plan is an attempt to fundamentally violate copyright as private property rights, and amounts to a declaration that it will abandon the sustainability of Korea's cultural industries," the groups said. They added that the government is "taking the lead in removing legal barriers so AI companies can use copyrighted works without permission and at virtually no cost." The gaming industry has raised similar complaints, citing ambiguity over how AI disclosure rules apply to interactive entertainment classified as artistic expression. Regulators have said games may use labeling methods that do not disrupt the viewing experience, but have not specified concrete standards. 2026-01-22 13:38:09

Walmart sends senior delegation to Seoul to expand shelf presence of K-beauty as U.S. demand rises SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - As Korean beauty products climb U.S. sales rankings, retail giant Walmart is moving to expand their shelf presence, dispatching senior buying executives to Seoul to scout new K-beauty brands. According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on Thursday, a twelve-member Walmart buying delegation — including six vice presidents and senior purchasing executives — visited Seoul this week to hold one-on-one business consultations with local cosmetics companies. The visit reflects surging demand in the U.S. market. South Korea’s beauty exports rose 12.3 percent last year to a record $11.4 billion, with shipments to the United States accounting for the largest share at nearly 20 percent, or $2.19 billion. For the first time, exports to the U.S. surpassed those to China. The shift is prompting offline retailers to step more aggressively into the U.S. beauty market, traditionally dominated by established specialty chains such as Sephora. CJ Group’s beauty retailer Olive Young is set to open its first U.S. brick-and-mortar store in Pasadena, California, in May 2026, marking its formal entry into the world’s largest beauty market. The company has said the U.S. launch will focus primarily on skincare products, reflecting global demand trends and long-standing consumer perceptions of K-beauty. Walmart has identified K-beauty as a potential growth driver for its beauty division, prompting the retailer to send key decision-makers to assess product competitiveness and market fit, KOTRA said. A total of 57 Korean cosmetics companies, pre-screened and handpicked by KOTRA, participated in the consultations, presenting skincare and functional beauty products tailored to U.S. consumer demand. At Walmart’s request, the list of participating firms was not disclosed due to confidentiality concerns. “This was an exceptional case,” a KOTRA official said. “It was the first time such a large number of senior decision-makers participated in a single program, and we hope to make this a regular initiative and further strengthen it.” The official added that discussions with Walmart began during last year’s Korean Wave Expo in New York. “We previously held talks with Walmart at the New York expo,” the official said. “Given the retailer’s strong interest in K-beauty and consumer products, the needs of both sides aligned particularly well this time.” Walmart plans to first test consumer response through its online platform before considering expansion into physical stores across the U.S. according to KOTRA. Several participating companies said the consultations offered rare access to U.S. retail decision-makers at a time of shifting global trade conditions. Walmart officials, meanwhile, said Korean beauty brands demonstrated strong product quality and competitiveness during the meetings. KOTRA said it aims to build a longer-term cooperation framework with Walmart, supporting Korean firms’ entry into the retailer’s online marketplace and, eventually, its nationwide brick-and-mortar network. 2026-01-22 11:44:04

KOSPI hits historic 5,000-point milestone, following Trump's tariff relief SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI crossed the historic milestone of 5,000 points, just minutes after the day's trading began on Thursday. The milestone, which came for the first time since the country's stock market began trading some 70 years ago, was followed by gains on the Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not proceed with previously threatened tariffs on European countries, easing global trade uncertainty. The rally expanded beyond semiconductors, with gains spreading to other major sectors. The junior KOSDAQ also rose 1.38 percent, reaching 964.40 by around 11 a.m. Individuals bought a net 127.3 billion won ($86.8 million), joined by institutions with net purchases of 28.5 billion won, while foreign investors sold a net 202 billion won. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 3.81 percent to 153,200 won, SK hynix advanced 3.38 percent to 765,000 won, and LG Energy Solution gained 4.69 percent to 413,000 won. Samsung Life Insurance rose 1.6 percent to 177,500 won, while Samsung Biologics dropped 4.27 percent to 1,793,000 won. Auto-related stocks were mixed, Hyundai Motor advanced 1.91 percent to 559,500 won, continuing its upward momentum, while Kia down 1.69 percent to 169,200 won in the early trade. Defense and aerospace stocks declined, with Hanwha Aerospace down 0.99 percent at 1,302,000 won. Shipbuilding-related shares weakened, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries falling 2.54 percent to 615,000 won and Hanwha Ocean sliding 2.05 percent to 138,600 won. Boosted by the KOSPI's historic milestone, the won strengthened, trading at 1,467.30 won per dollar. Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares were higher, with the Nikkei 225 Index gaining 1.71 percent to 53,679.48. China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.39 percent to 4,132.97. Hong Kong shares also traded 0.25 percent higher at 26,651.26. 2026-01-22 11:41:12

Record number of South Koreans reaped handsome profits from overseas stocks SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Koreans who reported taxes on profits from overseas stock investments topped 500,000 for the first time, tax data reveals. According to data submitted by the National Tax Service to Park Sung-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and released on Thursday, some 523,709 people filed tax returns on profits earned in 2024, up from 207,231 a year earlier. Those who invest in overseas stock markets and sell them for profits are required to pay a 22 percent tax here on gains exceeding 2.5 million won (US$1,700). The increase was attributed to a bullish U.S. market that year, with the S&P 500 up 23.3 percent and the Nasdaq up 28.6 percent. Another factor is the growing interest in overseas stock investment among retail investors seeking higher returns, as profitability improved sharply. Total reported capital gains in 2024 reached 14.42 trillion won, up 303.1 percent from 3.58 trillion won the previous year, with average gains per person around 28 million won. U.S. stocks accounted for the largest share of their investment. According to the Korea Securities Depository, the value of U.S. stocks they held rose from US$44.2 billion in 2022 to $68 billion in 2023, $112.1 billion in 2024, and $163.6 billion by the end of last year. To encourage them to return to the domestic market, the Ministry of Economy and Finance is mulling a temporary tax incentive for those who sell overseas stocks and reinvest their profits in domestic assets, under a scheme to be tabled at the National Assembly next month. 2026-01-22 10:45:04