South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace showcases locally built K9 artillery in Egypt SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace showcased its K9 self-propelled howitzers at the Egypt International Defense and Security Exhibition (EDEX 2025) in Cairo, drawing strong interest from regional visitors, the company said Thursday. The firm operated a joint exhibition space with Egypt’s Ministry of Defense, displaying the K9 howitzer alongside ground and guided weapon systems. The biennial exhibition, the largest of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, drew more than 450 companies and over 40,000 visitors. In 2022, Hanwha Aerospace secured a package export agreement with Egypt worth about 2 trillion won (approximately $1.5 billion), covering K9 self-propelled howitzers, K10 ammunition resupply vehicles and K11 command armored vehicles. At this year’s exhibition, six K9 units and associated K10 and K11 vehicles were displayed outdoors. The systems, scheduled for delivery to the Egyptian military in the first quarter of next year, are adapted for desert operations with specialized coatings and enhanced dust-protection features. Hanwha is manufacturing the K9 in Egypt with performance specifications matching systems produced in South Korea. Following delays linked to German engine supply, the company localized engine production to reduce supply-chain risk. South Korean engineers are supporting local facilities with assembly, welding and machining to stabilize production. The company plans to gradually expand local manufacturing of core components to deepen long-term industrial cooperation. Building on the K9 program, Hanwha aims to accelerate its expansion across the Middle East and North Africa defense markets. Other systems on display included the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, coastal defense missiles, a 40mm unmanned air defense system, L-SAM long-range surface-to-air interceptors and naval platforms, including submarines. “The Egyptian people take great pride in producing the K9 locally through technological cooperation with South Korea,” said Sung Il, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s Middle East and Africa division. “We aim to expand into broader regional markets through this partnership.” * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 09:24:56

Strike by unionized railway workers averted after overnight negotiations SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - A full-scale strike by unionized railway workers in Seoul was averted early Thursday morning after a breakthrough was made during overnight negotiations between labor and management. State-run rail operator KORAIL's workers called off their planned strike after both sides tentatively agreed to further discuss key issues including bonus payments and safety measures, allowing all trains to run as scheduled. The union had demanded performance-based bonuses to be restored to 100 percent of base salary, matching other public enterprises, up from the current 80 percent. The Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), which operates Line 9 separately from Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 through 8, also decided to call off its strike after reaching a deal on wages. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 09:11:57

Seoul to hold govt briefings for policy roadmap to president live SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will begin his first round of public-sector briefings starting Thursday, setting the stage for his administration’s initial policy roadmap across the economy, agriculture, labor, and data governance. Lee, who just completed his first six months in office, will receive reports from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Data Agency, along with their affiliated institutions. The sessions will examine some of the administration’s most urgent as well as mid-term challenges: stabilizing the exchange rate and consumer prices, overhauling tax policy, expanding K-food exports, and rolling out a basic income program for rural regions. Labor and safety policy will also be a focal point. Officials are expected to outline plans to reduce industrial accidents and ensure the smooth implementation of the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, which strengthens protections for workers engaged in labor disputes. In total, the briefing process spans 228 public institutions, including 19 ministries, five offices, 18 agencies, and seven governmental committees. Meetings will be held across Sejong, Seoul, and Busan. Most sessions will be broadcast live to the public, with the exception of briefings related to diplomacy and national security. Lee has emphasized the significance of these inaugural briefings. At a recent Cabinet meeting, he instructed ministries to prepare “as if presenting a transparent national blueprint to the public, not merely reporting to the president,” underscoring his push for what he calls “national normalization” and Korea’s broader transformation agenda. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 07:30:07

OPINION: Morning 3K, Keep going My day begins with what I call a “morning 3K.” Since January, this routine has quietly reshaped my life. In summer, I rise at 5:30 a.m.; in early winter, at 6:30. As dawn breaks, I drink a glass of water and head to a nearby park. After a brief warm-up, I run three kilometers in about twenty minutes. The seasons have changed around me—spring, summer, fall, and now winter. In summer, sweat pours down, and I rinse my face with cool water. Even in late fall, I feel heat radiate from my body. After the run, I sit and listen to the world waking up. I never knew birds were so busy at dawn. This hour brings me a quiet, immense happiness. When my breath steadies, I stretch lightly to wake my joints and muscles before heading home. That single hour has become the most precious part of my day. This routine is more than just exercise. It is a ritual—a commitment to how I want to live. Before I began, I was worn down, living apart from my family, often drinking alone. As age crept in, so did loneliness and insomnia, clouding both body and mind. Choosing to move was, in many ways, choosing to live again. And the impact has been profound. The first gift was physical. Sweating in the morning stabilized my blood sugar, which had climbed from frequent drinking. My doctor confirmed the improvement, and I feel it every day. Mornings have become my clearest hours. I used to depend on coffee after lunch; now my focus holds naturally. My body sustains my mind instead of holding it back. Diet matters just as much. I don’t think, “I exercised, so I should eat less.” I eat well. My meals are simple: cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, and olive oil with soy sauce and vinegar. I always add eggs, tofu, or meat to maintain muscle. I don’t fear carbohydrates; I eat enough to recover. Preparing every meal myself feels like an act of self-respect. While it’s comforting when someone cooks for me, there is real satisfaction in nourishing myself with my own hands. Since starting this routine, my concentration and memory have sharpened. At sixty, it’s natural to expect decline. I certainly felt it—I was easily distracted, unable to sustain deep work. But after raising my heart rate each morning, I process daily stimuli more calmly. As a researcher, I spend hours analyzing complex data. Afternoons once felt impossible; now I focus longer and think more clearly. My writing comes faster, and information stays with me. Sometimes I regret not beginning sooner, but I remind myself: change is always possible, no matter the age. Sleep, too, becomes fragile as we grow older. I struggled to fall asleep and stay asleep. Since I began these morning routines, my nights have softened. By 10 p.m., I’m naturally sleepy, often dozing off while reading or watching TV. It’s not perfect, but it’s worlds better. Good sleep fuels my mornings, and good mornings strengthen my days. A gentle, sustainable cycle. In January, I added bodyweight exercises. I set simple daily goals: three sets of ten pull-ups, three sets of twenty push-ups, ten minutes (or one hundred reps) of squats, and three sets of one hundred calf raises. The key is consistency. I once thought daily exercise was unrealistic, but one habit changed everything: recording. Each day, I jot down what I did in a small notebook—not a sleek app. Seeing the pages fill up pushes me forward. For anyone struggling to maintain a routine, I recommend this humble tool. A small notebook can be a powerful companion. This morning, I ran another three kilometers. How long can I continue? Each day, I renew the promise to sustain this rhythm for life. Someday, I may slow down or shift to walking, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is the will to care for myself. Waking up and moving toward a healthier day is something I never want to lose. And each time I stand before the pull-up bar, I tell myself the same simple words: Keep going. Author's Background ▷Seoul National University, Economics ▷Hitotsubashi University, Ph.D. in Economics ▷Former Vice President, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 07:22:47

SM warns of legal action vs online harassment of Winter after rumor with Jungkook SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) -SM Entertainment has issued a sharp warning over what it calls a surge of malicious online posts targeting aespa member Winter, the South Korean agency threatening to expand legal action against defamation, sexual harassment and fabricated rumors circulating after recent dating speculation involving BTS member Jungkook. In a statement released Wednesday, the agency said it was “fully aware of the seriousness” of the growing wave of harmful content — including sexual remarks, personal attacks, privacy breaches and deepfake materials. SM said it has been monitoring major online communities and social media platforms, where it identified “a large volume of malicious posts and comments” aimed at the singer. The company said it has already begun filing both criminal complaints and civil claims against individuals who created or spread such content, and will submit additional complaints as it reviews further evidence. The agency added that it has secured a substantial amount of data through ongoing monitoring and tip-offs, stressing that it will respond “without leniency.” The girl band star found herself in the hot seat amid swirling rumors linking her to BTS's JungKook. Claims that the two shared couple-style tattoos, nail designs and similar fashion items spread quickly across Korean social media, fueling speculation among fans. Until the defamation claim, neither SM Entertainment nor HYBE, Jungkook’s agency, has addressed the claims, a silence that has only stirred further curiosity among online users. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-10 17:48:22

Mystery thriller debuts at No. 2 on Netflix's non-English chart SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Netflix's latest South Korean series "The Price of Confession" ranked to No. 2 on the American streaming giant's chart for non-English-language shows, immediately after its release last week. Since its release on Dec. 5, the 12-episode series has racked up 2.2 million views as of Wednesday. It also made the top 10 lists in nine countries including Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. The mystery thriller starring actresses Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun revolves around a woman accused of murdering her husband and another mysterious woman, as secrets and confessions and secrets unfold in a gripping pursuit of truth. Meanwhile, rom-com "Dynamite Kiss" starring Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin topped the chart with 4.8 million views. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-10 17:23:20

Asian markets hardly move ahead of Fed decision SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Asian markets barely budged Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision. In Seoul, the KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 4,135.00, extending its decline for a second session this week, while the KOSDAQ gained 0.4 percent to 935.00. Institutional investors unloaded 344.3 billion won ($234 million), offset by 296.4 billion won in foreign buying and 18.6 billion won from retail investors. Samsung Electronics fell 0.4 percent to 108,000 won ($73.4), but SK hynix jumped 3.7 percent to 587,000 won as foreign investors piled in following reports that the chipmaker is considering listing its treasury shares as American depositary receipts in the United States. An ADR allows U.S. investors to trade foreign stocks through certificates issued by a U.S. depository institution. Samsung SDI added 2.4 percent to 317,500 won after reports it had secured a battery supply deal worth about 2 trillion won ($1.36 billion) in the U.S. But most other large caps weakened. LG Energy Solution slipped 0.5 percent to 441,500 won, Hyundai Motor fell 1.5 percent to 302,500 won, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries eased 1 percent to 571,000 won, Hanwha Aerospace sank 3.9 percent to 923,000 won and Naver dropped 1.4 percent to 244,500 won. Entertainment stocks rose across the board, with HYBE up 2.8 percent to 299,000 won, SM Entertainment up 2.2 percent to 103,800 won, JYP Entertainment gaining 0.2 percent to 67,900 won and YG Entertainment rising 0.7 percent to 62,200 won. The Fed is widely expected to cut its target rate range — now at 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent — by 25 basis points. Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched down 0.1 percent to 50,602.80. Toyota Motor rose 1.6 percent to 3,116 yen ($19.9), while Honda Motor climbed 3.3 percent to 1,575.5 yen. But most other market heavyweights slipped: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 0.7 percent, SoftBank Group lost 0.7 percent, Sony Group dropped 2.9 percent and Hitachi dipped 0.5 percent. Nintendo retreated 2.7 percent, while Canon gained 2.1 percent. Bloomberg reported that Osaka — Japan’s second-largest economic hub and long a beneficiary of Chinese tourist inflows — is now facing sharp fallout from the slump in Chinese visitors. The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau said hotel cancellation rates have reached 50 to 70 percent, with Namba, the city’s main entertainment district, hit the hardest. Luxury spending by Chinese tourists is projected to fall to $40 million to $60 million per month, about half previous levels. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.2 percent to 3,900.50. Nomura’s chief China economist Ting Lu warned this week that Beijing must face the depth of its property-sector debt woes as export growth is expected to slow to around 4 percent next year. Lu expects the government to lower its official growth target from about 5 percent to 4.5–5.0 percent in 2026. Nomura projects China’s GDP will expand 4.3 percent in 2026. 2025-12-10 17:16:44

Wintry Seoul A woman bundles up against the cold as she waits from the traffic light to change at Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul on Dec. 10, 2025 as the mercury dropped below zero.(AJP/Yoon Na-hyun) 2025-12-10 17:08:45

South Korean robotics leaders highlight rise of 'Physical AI' at COMEUP 2025 SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - A discussion on the growing convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence drew a full audience at COMEUP 2025, South Korea's largest annual startup festival, on Wednesday, as two South Korean robotics entrepreneurs described how so-called "physical AI" is reshaping the sector and opening new markets for humanoid machines. The session, titled "Physical AI: Where Robotics Meets Intelligence," brought together ROBOTIS CEO Kim Byoung-soo and RLWRLD CEO Ryu Jung-hee. The two spoke candidly about the rapid shift taking place as robots move from rule-based industrial systems to AI-driven platforms capable of learning, perception, and autonomous action. Kim, who operates ROBOTIS, well-known for developing actuators widely used by robotics researchers, said the past year marked a major turning point. "Robots used to operate only on rule-based models inside factories," he said. "With AI attached, people now expect robots to move with real intelligence." He noted that demand for actuators is expanding beyond universities to AI labs and large companies investing in next-generation robotics. Ryu, formerly a venture investor, said he launched RLWRLD after realizing South Korea lacked a company building a foundation model for robotics. He described his team’s work on a "large vision-language-action model" that must interpret images, understand speech, and output robotic movements rather than text. "Human-level datasets for robots do not exist on the web," he said. "We have to create large amounts of data ourselves, and nobody yet knows the perfect model structure." The two speakers invited the audience to participate in real-time polls using colored lights attached to their seats. Most attendees said they expect humanoid robots to be working in homes within ten years, and an overwhelming majority predicted that South Korean companies will play an important role in the humanoid market alongside the United States and China. Kim said the industrial robot market, despite its long history, has a large room to grow once robots move out of factory lines. He pointed to global manufacturers already requesting robots that can be trained with long hours of data, adding that securing data and infrastructure has become a critical part of competition. Ryu said early demand for humanoids is strongest not in manufacturing but in service sectors such as convenience stores, hotels and logistics. "These are places that cannot relocate their operations abroad," he said. "Many of them told us they were waiting for humanoids with real AI." The speakers also discussed the challenges facing Korean robotics startups, including capital gaps with U.S. competitors and the difficulty of scaling data collection. Ryu noted that his one-year-old company is raising funds at a relatively high valuation by Korean standards, while comparable U.S. robotics-AI firms have reached multibillion-dollar levels. Both agreed that South Korea’s manufacturing expertise and its growing mix of hardware and AI companies allow it to compete in the emerging physical-AI field. Kim closed with a message to younger founders, warning against losing focus when investment becomes easier. "Stay with your original mission," he said. "Robotics and AI require discipline, not distractions." 2025-12-10 17:01:11

COMEUP 2025 COMEUP 2025, South Korea's largest annual startup festival, opened Dec. 10 for a three-day run at COEX in Seoul, drawing hundreds of founders, investors, and corporate leaders from around the world for three days of conferences, exhibitions, and business matching sessions. The event features startups from 46 countries and more than 270 companies presenting products and technologies across deep tech, AI, climate technology, gaming, mobile services and other sectors. Seven countries, including Saudi Arabia and India, have set up national pavilions to highlight their startup ecosystems. (AJP/Han Jun-gu) 2025-12-10 16:51:59