SK hynix secures top vehicle safety certification for LPDDR5X memory SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - SK hynix said Monday it has obtained the highest functional safety certification for its LPDDR5X automotive memory, as demand grows for reliable semiconductors used in advanced driver-assistance and autonomous-driving systems. The South Korean chipmaker said its LPDDR5X DRAM has been certified at ASIL-D, the highest safety level under the ISO 26262 international automotive functional safety standard. ASIL-D applies to systems directly linked to passenger safety, including autonomous-driving control and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Certification was conducted by global safety testing body TÜV SÜD, which assessed the company’s development, design, verification and quality-management processes. SK hynix said the certified memory is designed for use in ADAS, autonomous driving and in-vehicle infotainment systems, where stable processing of large volumes of data is required. As vehicles increasingly rely on software-based architectures, known as software-defined vehicles (SDVs), functional safety has become a key requirement for automotive semiconductors, alongside performance and power efficiency. Under ISO 26262, automotive components are evaluated based on severity, exposure and controllability of potential failures, with ASIL-D representing the strictest criteria. SK hynix said its LPDDR5X automotive memory incorporates safety mechanisms including error detection and correction, fault-diagnosis functions and redundancy designs to reduce the risk of random hardware failures. The company said the certification supports its strategy to expand its presence in the automotive memory market, where safety validation is becoming a prerequisite for supplier selection by global automakers. SK hynix did not disclose shipment volumes or customer details. 2026-01-19 17:48:47

South Korea's Jin Air posts first annual loss in 3 years, hit by weak won SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air returned to the red last year for the first time in three years, pressured by a weak won and intensifying competition in the airline industry. The company said on Monday that its standalone revenue fell 5.5 percent from a year earlier to 1.38 trillion won ($1 billion), based on preliminary results. Profitability swung to a loss for the first time since 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted travel. Jin Air posted an operating loss of 16.3 billion won last year, compared with an operating profit of 163.1 billion won in 2024. The airline had recorded operating profits for 10 consecutive quarters from the fourth quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of last year, but slipped into an operating loss in the second quarter due mainly to the won's weakness. Its annual net result also turned negative, with a net loss of 8.8 billion won, reversing a net profit of 95.7 billion won a year earlier. Despite the headwinds, the carrier said it launched new routes, including Incheon-Ishigaki in April and Jeju-Taipei in October, and worked to improve operating efficiency in an effort to cushion the impact on earnings. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-19 17:15:24

IMF flags structural FX fragility in Korea, citing shallow market and equity-heavy exposure SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange vulnerability has drawn renewed scrutiny from the International Monetary Fund, not because of short-term external debt — the trigger during the late-1990s liquidity crisis — but due to the country’s unusually large foreign equity exposure relative to the depth of its FX market. According to an IMF assessment released Sunday, South Korea’s foreign-exposed assets amount to roughly 25 times its average monthly foreign exchange trading volume, ranking it fourth globally. While the headline figure places Korea alongside advanced economies, a closer look reveals a structural imbalance that continues to weigh on the won. Data from the Bank of Korea and the Bank for International Settlements show that South Korea’s FX turnover averaged about $2.2 trillion per month last year. By comparison, Canada records roughly $11 trillion, Norway $2.8 trillion, while in the United Kingdom, around $2.7 trillion changes hands in a single day. Liquidity matters. The deeper the market, the more easily it absorbs external shocks such as geopolitical risk or global monetary tightening. Shallow markets, by contrast, can react sharply to even modest disturbances. Korea’s vulnerability is compounded by the composition of its foreign-exposed assets. Equities account for nearly 70 percent, far higher than in Taiwan, where stocks represent closer to 30 percent despite the island ranking first globally in total foreign exposure. Japan, benefiting from the yen’s safe-haven status, adheres to a de facto “1:1 rule,” keeping equity exposure below 50 percent. Because equities are inherently more sensitive to shifts in market sentiment than debt instruments, this structural tilt leaves the won more exposed to sudden capital outflows. Norway, often cited as a peer with high equity exposure, operates under a fundamentally different framework. Its overseas investments are managed by a sovereign wealth fund with no fixed payout obligations. Korea’s exposure, by contrast, is driven largely by the National Pension Service (NPS) — a pension fund with explicit future liabilities. The NPS faces a looming outflow phase in which benefit payments will eventually exceed contributions. Although a 75 percent surge in the KOSPI last year, combined with strong U.S. equity performance, pushed back the projected depletion date to 2064, the fund remains under pressure to pursue higher-risk returns. Norway’s fund, meanwhile, mitigates domestic risk by investing 100 percent of its assets overseas, an option unavailable to the NPS. Foreign exchange reserves add another layer to the so-called “won discount.” While South Korea’s reserves stand at $428 billion, ranking ninth globally, its reserves-to-GDP ratio is below 23 percent, placing it outside the global top 30. Among its four major Asian peers, Korea holds the smallest absolute reserves and the second-lowest ratio, ahead of only China. But China’s case is not directly comparable, given the yuan’s inclusion in the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights basket and the scale of its economy. Taiwan, another top-four country in foreign exposure, maintains a reserves-to-GDP ratio above 70 percent, with holdings reaching $602.6 billion as of December. Canada’s ratio, by contrast, sits near 5 percent, a level sustained only because the Canadian dollar functions as a quasi-reserve currency. Adding to concern, South Korea’s reserves fell by $260 million in December, bucking the trend among major economies and raising the prospect of being overtaken by Hong Kong in global rankings. A roadmap for diversification The IMF argues that expanding and diversifying Korea’s FX market structure is essential to reducing the won’s vulnerability. A key priority is extending trading hours. Korea’s FX market currently operates for 17 hours, from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., following a recent extension from a 3:30 p.m. close to better align with London. By contrast, markets in Japan, Canada, Norway and Taiwan operate on a 24-hour basis. Commercial banks have expressed support for a full transition. “Banks have been monitoring the FX market in three shifts since last February, but because dollar-related shocks often occur after 2 a.m., our ability to respond remains limited,” said an FX trader, who requested anonymity. Broadening participation by global investment banks is another priority. While Taiwan’s official trading hours are shorter, it benefits from active spot and forward trading by foreign institutions that act as shock absorbers during periods of stress. Korea’s market remains dominated by domestic banks, while foreign institutions are required to open local accounts — a barrier that limits participation. In response, the government’s 2026 Economic Growth Strategy, unveiled on January 9, includes plans to introduce 24-hour FX trading by July and allow foreign financial institutions to participate without local accounts. The goal, policymakers say, is simple: to deepen the pond, so that the won can better withstand the waves of global volatility. 2026-01-19 17:02:24

INTERVIEW: Park Seo-joon: confident "Waiting for Gyeongo" will linger despite low ratings SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - For Park Seo-joon, returning to the romance genre after seven years with, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" was a project that demanded full embracement of character’s life. Following the timeline of protagonist "Lee Gyeong-do," who continues to live with the same feelings even after two relationships at the ages of twenty and twenty-eight, the narrative goes beyond a simple reunion melodrama. Instead, it asks how the emotion of love is endured, accumulated, and carried over time. “Being able to portray Gyeong-do was, a very rewarding experience. I believed that 'Waiting for Gyeong-do' relies heavily on the shared narrative between two protagonists, and the real question was how deeply we could convey the narrative. More over, It was a project that encourages you to think a bit more deeply about the idea of love.” For Park Seo-joon, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" was a project where the process mattered more than the result. Instead of dramatic moments, the focus was on emotional nuance, building meaning through small, gradual changes — a process that demanded great nuance from an actor's standpoint. “I feel like it ended well. This was a project where emotional expression was incredibly important, therefore, I tried to approach it as delicately as possible, and in that process, I think I was able to give it my all. I have no regrets. I feel like this is a work I poured everything I could into.” Waiting for Gyeong-do also marked Park Seo-joon’s return to the romance genre after seven years. Actor addressed, what drew him to the project was not the milestone itself, but the story. The narrative, which spans a long passage of time, offered a fresh creative stimulus for him as an actor. “To be honest, I didn’t really think about how many years it had been since I last participated in a romance project. There are so many different kinds of romance. What grasped my attention the most, was that the story depicts a long period of time. I felt there was something meaningful about the way the narrative lays out the protagonist's life over those years.” After completing the shoot, Park Seo-joon realized the emotional density woven into the project while looking aback at the project. “After watching all 12 episodes, I realized there was far more in it than I had expected,” adding "scenes that you might simply pass over if you look only at the events all had meaning when viewed through the characters’ emotions. In that sense, it was a project that made me think a lot as an actor.” Although Park Seo-joon mentioned, he did not want to speak in terms of numbers, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" opened with a 2.7 percent viewership rating and ended at 4.7 percent. For Park Seo-joon, who sparked a phenomenon with "Itaewon Class," the ratings were admittedly disappointing. Given the high expectations surrounding his first romance drama in seven years, a sense of bitterness was unavoidable. “From the standpoint of those who worked on it, you want more people to watch it. It’s certainly a story that deserves higher viewing. Since there haven’t been many projects recently that deal with such a lengthy narrative, I think it ultimately comes down to viewers taste. If I may carefully wish for something, i personally believe 'Waiting for Gyeong-do' has a lot of potential to be brought up often by people. I don’t think the plot of 'Waiting for Gyeong-do' would be forgotten that easily.” By portraying Lee Gyeong-do, Park Seo-joon took on the challenge of embodying a single character across his twenties and thirties. In a story that moves back and forth in time, the decision for one actor to play different stages of protagonist's life risked appearing contrived. Actor addressed that he decided early on that he would portray both young and old version of the characters himself. “I felt it was important that I portray those differences myself,” adding “Because the timeline moves back and forth, I suggested that I should be the one acting in two different era and the director shared the same view. I was grateful for the opportunity, and I felt confident because those were years I’ve actually lived. While I did wonder whether I could convincingly convey my twenties externally, the difference between who I was then and who I am now is clear. I wanted to express that difference to show the passage of time, while preserving one consistent core in Gyeong-do.” Moving between the character’s twenties and thirties, Park Seo-joon focused consistency instead of changes. Actor explained that he wanted to convey the passage of time through emotion and attitude, rather than through physical transformation. “I felt it was important not to make drastic changes to my appearance, even down to details like hairstyles,” adding “Consistency also comes through externally. At his core, Gyeong-do is a character whose love for Ji-woo never changes, and that emotional stance was what mattered most. For the role I prepared physically and mentally, however the most important factor was to keep the emotion steady. .” Having spent years watching reporters up close, Park Seo-joon said the role of the deputy editor of entertainment division felt unfamiliar, however not entirely foreign. He added that the sense conveyed by the office environment itself played an important role in the project. “Even down to details like the computer, I thought about what felt appropriate for the role,” adding “It was my first time acting in an office setting, although I haven’t spent much time in offices myself, I felt the atmosphere of the space was important. The moment I sat down, I had a clear sense of being a reporter. There’s a brief scene where I watch a drama on a monitor, and I imagined that reporters might do something like that while working on articles. Through the interview process, the role didn’t feel far removed from my own experience. I’ve attended many production presentations, and early in my career I even visited newspaper companies directly for interviews, so approaching the role didn’t feel particularly difficult.” When asked about whether his perspective on reporters had changed, Park Seo-joon responded with a smile, candidly reflecting that what had once been curiosity had now turned into understanding. “I used to be very curious, I wondered how the same words could be presented so differently. But now, I understand it. I think it’s something that can happen, and I don’t have any bad feelings about it at all anymore." When asked about how he chooses his projects and his future direction, Park Seo-joon responded with “Instead of expanding the field I tend to focus on stories that I can portray now.” Rather than aiming to broaden his spectrum, he appeared more focused on prioritizing stories that align with his current age and emotional state. “Saying ‘expanding my spectrum’ sounds a bit grand to me. What mattered most was what I could do at this point in my life. After finishing this project, I found myself wanting to tell another story. Instead of planning things too far ahead, I want to go with whatever genuinely interests me at the moment. Spending about two years on 'Gyeongseong Creature' also made me naturally gravitate toward stories that feel more grounded in reality than that kind of genre.” When asked whether there was a role or moment he is waiting for, Park Seo-joon offered a candid reflection on age, revealing a clear sense of expectation about his forties. “My forties,” adding “People often say men truly begin at 40, but for now, it still feels like I’m preparing. Personally, I think that feeling will come somewhere between 40 and 43. One reason I haven’t gravitated toward noir is that I felt I looked too young for it — that it wouldn’t suit me. But at that age, I think it might. The range of choices could change: the projects I can challenge and the stories I can appear in may be different from now. And romance at that stage will likely be completely different as well.” 2026-01-19 17:01:32

With tariffs looming, Korea chipmakers run out of room to maneuver in the U.S. SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - To match the tariff concessions Taiwan has secured in the United States, South Korean chipmakers may be pressed to outline additional U.S. capacity expansion plans. Their options are however constrained as the foundry market faces oversupply risks while large-scale memory fabs pose significant economic and strategic hurdles. U.S. officials have adopted a more hardline tone in recent weeks, openly tying tariff relief to domestic semiconductor investment. Yet experts and chipmakers caution that further U.S. manufacturing commitments are far more difficult for Korean firms than for their Taiwanese counterparts. Following a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Micron Technology plant near Syracuse, New York, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warned that tariff measures outlined in Washington’s recent trade accord with Taiwan could also affect chipmakers from South Korea. “Everyone who wants to build memory has two choices: They can pay a 100% tariff, or they can build in America,” Lutnick said Friday. Under the Taiwan deal unveiled Thursday, companies expanding U.S. operations will be allowed to import semiconductors tariff-free up to 2.5 times their existing capacity during construction, with reduced tariffs applied above that threshold. Once new facilities are completed, the cap will be lowered to 1.5 times current capacity. The agreement also sets a 15 percent tariff on goods from Taiwan and commits the island’s technology sector to at least $250 billion in direct investment in the U.S. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is expected to build at least four additional chipmaking plants on top of six already planned, requiring roughly $100 billion in new capital. The Taiwanese government has said it will provide $250 billion in credit guarantees to support the investment. South Korea’s accord with the United States revealed last October, sets a 15 percent tariff on most goods while exempting semiconductor imports for now. The agreement includes a $350 billion South Korean fund for U.S. investments, but $150 billion of that is earmarked for shipbuilding, and the remaining $200 billion is government-led and not limited to semiconductors. Private-sector commitments are far smaller. Samsung Electronics has expanded its planned investment in Taylor, Texas, to $37 billion through 2030, up from an initial $17 billion. SK hynix has announced a $3.87 billion investment in Indiana to build an advanced packaging facility for artificial intelligence memory. How much tariff relief Washington will grant in exchange for those investments is emerging as a central negotiating issue. While tariffs will be imposed only after country-by-country talks are completed, pressure is already building. Washington has increasingly blurred the line between trade and industrial policy, explicitly using tariffs to steer semiconductor supply chains toward domestic production. “In practice, the two are closely intertwined,” said Ahn Ki-hyun, secretary general of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association. “When the U.S. talks about tariffs, what it really wants is investment. And investment naturally connects to supply chains.” The fundamental difference, industry officials say, lies in industrial structure. “Korea and Taiwan are different in what they make,” Ahn said. “Taiwan is centered on system semiconductors and foundries, while Korea is focused on memory. From the U.S. perspective, the logic is simple — if chips are made in America, the problem is solved.” TSMC has already begun production at its first U.S. fab and is preparing additional facilities. Korea, however, currently has no memory wafer production operating in the United States, a gap that analysts say lies at the core of the challenge. Building memory fabs overseas is technically feasible but significantly more complex. DRAM and high-bandwidth memory production requires large-scale infrastructure, long stabilization periods and extremely high yield control. “Memory fabs are not fundamentally different from system semiconductor plants in terms of construction,” Ahn said. “But unlike foundries, there is currently no memory production running in the U.S., which means the timeline is much longer.” Analysts warn that if Washington benchmarks Korea against Taiwan’s investment framework, Korean chipmakers would face a wide gap between existing commitments and the level of spending needed to secure comparable tariff treatment. New memory fabs would require tens of billions of dollars and several years before meaningful output could be achieved. Samsung Electronics said it is closely monitoring developments. “We are reviewing all news and policy changes related to tariffs,” the company said. “Internal discussions are ongoing, but at this stage, there is no official comment we can provide.” Kim Yang-paeng, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), said that estimating the scale of additional investment required under a Taiwan-style framework would be extremely difficult. “If the United States were to demand a similar investment model from Korea, it is not a matter of tens or even hundreds of trillions of won,” Kim said. “The scale would be virtually impossible to quantify in meaningful terms.” 2026-01-19 16:56:30

Korean won drifts toward 1,480 on global dollar strength SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) -The Korean won edged back toward 1,480 per U.S. dollar, a level widely viewed as a government defense line, amid broad dollar strength fueled by rising U.S. tensions with the European Union over Greenland and escalating risks linked to Iran and Venezuela. 2026-01-19 16:51:19

Plum blossoms defy winter as Daehan approaches Gangwon, January 18 (AJP) -Ahead of Daehan, the coldest period in the traditional Korean calendar, plum trees are already beginning to burst into bloom at Naksansa Temple on Korea’s east coast. Daehan, meaning “great cold,” is the 24th and final solar term, falling around Jan. 20 on the Gregorian calendar and marking the depths of winter in the lunar year. It is traditionally associated with biting winds, frozen ground and the harshest conditions of the season. Yet even as icy air lingers over the East Sea, the plum — long celebrated in East Asian culture as a symbol of resilience — pushes out its first buds. Unlike cherry blossoms that arrive with spring, plum trees bloom in late winter, often amid snow and frost, standing as quiet proof that renewal begins before the cold has fully loosened its grip. At Naksansa, where the temple’s stone pagodas overlook the winter sea, pale blossoms and tight buds contrast sharply with bare branches and muted winter tones — a fleeting moment when nature signals the turning of the season, even at its coldest. 2026-01-19 16:47:09

Thousands brave winter swim at Haeundae beach SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - About 2,000 people braved chilly winter weather to plunge into the icy waters of Haeundae Beach in Busan on Sunday for the southern port city's annual swimming festival. Under this year's "colorful" theme for the Haeundae Polar Bear Festival (HPBF), the beach was filled with swimmers in vibrant colors. Before plunging into the water, participants painted themselves with colorful powder symbolizing hope, love, and happiness. They splashed and played like children, completely absorbed in the moment. Fortunately, the temperature at the beach was around 10 degrees Celsius, making it feel bearable, almost like early spring. Now in its 39th year, the festival has remained popular, bringing together swimming enthusiasts, local residents, and tourists. 2026-01-19 16:18:36

Samsung, LG set for showdown in booming data center cooling market SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to compete head-to-head in North America as they seek a larger share of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) market, which is gaining momentum amid rapid growth in artificial intelligence infrastructure. With demand for home appliances slowing and competition from low-priced Chinese products intensifying, both South Korean companies are increasingly targeting data center heat-management solutions as a key business-to-business growth engine. Samsung and LG will take part in AHR Expo 2026, North America’s largest HVAC trade show, which runs for three days starting Feb. 2 in Las Vegas. This year’s exhibition is expected to focus on power efficiency and advanced cooling technologies as AI-driven data centers proliferate. The push reflects what industry executives describe as an “AI supercycle.” High-performance graphics processing units used for generative AI consume vast amounts of electricity and generate intense heat. Cooling accounts for roughly 40 percent of data center operating costs, making thermal management a critical issue for major technology companies. As a result, the HVAC market is expanding beyond residential air conditioners to include systems designed for large buildings and data centers. Market researchers estimate the North American HVAC market will grow from $51.61 billion last year to $75.75 billion by 2032. Samsung and LG are competing with established global players such as Trane and Carrier. Samsung has pursued rapid expansion through mergers, acquisitions and partnerships. It formed a joint venture with U.S.-based HVAC company Lennox to secure a North American distribution network, and late last year completed the acquisition of Flakt, described as Europe’s largest HVAC company, to strengthen its global presence. At AHR Expo, Samsung is expected to highlight high-efficiency hybrid products and energy-saving solutions linked to its SmartThings AI platform. LG, by contrast, is emphasizing what it calls its technological edge in core components such as motors and compressors. The company has established heat-pump research centers in Alaska and Norway to develop high-efficiency systems capable of operating in extreme climates. LG is also regarded as particularly competitive in chillers, a key technology for data center thermal management. LG has recently held talks with major technology companies, including Microsoft, on supplying cooling solutions for data centers, while expanding its reach beyond North America into markets such as the Middle East and the Global South, industry sources said. Analysts said 2026 could mark a turning point as Samsung and LG accelerate their shift from being primarily consumer appliance makers to positioning themselves as broader energy-solution providers. 2026-01-19 16:13:16

Korean Air beats Q4 expectations, positioned for post-merger liftoff SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Korean Air delivered stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, weathering a weak won that pushed up dollar-denominated fuel and aircraft lease costs, and easing concerns ahead of its planned full integration with Asiana Airlines next year. Operating profit came to 413.1 billion won ($280 million) in the October–December period, down 5.1 percent from a year earlier but comfortably above market expectations of around 360 billion won. Revenue rose 13 percent to 4.55 trillion won, while the operating margin slipped to 9.1 percent from 10.8 percent a year earlier. The earnings beat was driven by resilient passenger demand and improving yields. Passenger yield — average revenue per kilometer — rose 6.3 percent on year to 129 won, helping offset higher operating costs stemming from the weaker currency. The popularity of Korean culture and a favorable exchange rate continued to attract inbound travelers, supporting long-haul profitability. Demand from overseas visitors, particularly Chinese tourists, also lifted results. Chinese arrivals to Korea in October and November rose 24.7 percent year-on-year, as Beijing’s continued restrictions on group tours to Japan redirected more outbound travel toward Korea. Total foreign arrivals during the period increased 12.7 percent, aided by the weak won and the global appeal of Korean content. Inbound passenger traffic from North America rose 12.4 percent, allowing Korean Air to keep its trans-Pacific routes profitable despite a decline in transfer passengers from China amid ongoing U.S.–China tensions. Cargo operations showed a similar pattern. While cargo ton kilometers edged lower, a higher share of high-value IT and equipment freight, together with firmer rates, supported revenue. Cargo yield climbed 4.5 percent to 561 won per kilometer, offsetting much of the impact from currency moves and oil prices. Yield remains a key indicator of an airline’s earning power. Looking ahead, Korean Air said it will prioritize profitability by flexibly managing seat supply and sales channels. The carrier plans to increase overseas point-of-sale exposure to cushion against potential softness in outbound Korean demand, while diversifying its cargo portfolio and adjusting freighter capacity in line with market conditions. Management also emphasized fleet renewal and route optimization as levers to improve efficiency. Relatively low oil prices and a weaker won are expected to remain broadly supportive of its cost structure. Investor focus remains on the long-awaited merger with Asiana Airlines, expected to be completed between late this year and early next year. Once finalized, Korean Air will become Korea’s sole full-service carrier, with greater pricing power and scope to eliminate overlapping routes and costs. “We expect a gradual re-rating of Korean Air’s share price as expectations for integration are increasingly reflected,” said Choi Ji-yun, an analyst at Yuanta Securities. Brokerages largely maintained positive views following the fourth-quarter beat. KB Securities raised its target price by 10.7 percent to 31,000 won, while LS Securities lifted its target to 28,000 won, up 3.7 percent from its previous estimate. NH Investment & Securities, however, struck a more cautious tone, citing weaker earnings at subsidiaries and rising costs. The brokerage cut its target price to 29,000 won from 30,000 won, warning that consolidated results could lag expectations. “Peak-season demand has lifted international passenger and cargo fares, but rising depreciation from new aircraft and higher labor costs are keeping operating expenses elevated,” said Jeong Yeon-seung, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities. He added that weak profitability at Asiana’s long-haul routes and subsidiaries remains an overhang, and that a sustained share-price rebound is likely to depend on tangible synergies once full-scale joint operations begin this winter. 2026-01-19 16:01:23