Asian markets ride on Google-powered U.S. tech rally SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Asian markets climbed Tuesday on another AI-driven rally from the United States — this time powered by Google’s late-cycle breakthrough with Gemini — lifting semiconductor shares across the region. The benchmark KOSPI was up 1.2 percent at 3,892 as of 10:30 a.m., tracking overnight rebounds in the Nasdaq and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Gains were capped ahead of the Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Board meeting on Thursday. Foreign investors led the rise with 30.3 billion won (20.5 million dollars) in net purchases, followed by institutions with 14.8 billion won. Retail investors sold 26.1 billion won to lock in profits. The KOSDAQ added 0.76 percent to 863. The U.S. dollar eased to 1,473.1 won, down 2.1 won from the previous close, after fiscal and monetary authorities formed an FX stabilization team with the National Pension Service, one of the world’s largest institutional investors and a major holder of U.S. assets. Samsung Electronics climbed 2.8 percent to 99,400 won, and SK hynix gained 2.1 percent to 531,000 won. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 4.6 percent, lifting Nvidia partners globally, though the upside was limited as Gemini 3.0 relies on Google’s own inference chips, reducing immediate spillover demand for external suppliers. The construction sector surged on renewed expectations of a Ukraine ceasefire and post-war rebuilding. Hyundai Engineering & Construction rose 2.85 percent to 61,400 won, and Samsung C&T advanced 3.44 percent to 225,500 won. The sector gained momentum as the U.N. and World Bank estimate more than 524 billion dollars will be needed for Ukraine’s reconstruction over the next decade. Construction equipment stocks retreated after Monday’s sharp gains. HD Hyundai Construction Equipment fell 2.1 percent to 93,500 won. Defense stocks weakened on cooling geopolitical momentum. Hanwha Systems declined 1.37 percent to 46,750 won, and LIG Nex1 slipped 1.52 percent to 388,000 won. Hyundai Rotem, however, rose 0.9 percent to 176,500 won on expectations of potential demand for railway vehicles in Ukraine’s rebuilding phase. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.8 percent to 49,021.5, boosted again by semiconductor-related shares. Advantest rose 5.73 percent to 19,365 yen, Ibiden added 2.5 percent to 11,610 yen, and Tokyo Electron gained 3.2 percent to 31,130 yen. Taiwan’s TAIEX rose 1.54 percent to 26,913. TSMC climbed 2.9 percent to 1,415 Taiwan dollars, MediaTek gained 2.61 percent to 1,180 Taiwan dollars, and Hon Hai Precision Industry rose 1.6 percent to 225 Taiwan dollars. Greater China markets also advanced, led by technology shares. The SZSE Composite Index rose 1.2 percent to 12,732, lifted by electric vehicle–related stocks including CATL, which gained 1 percent to 374.5 yuan. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.9 percent to 25,952. Xiaomi climbed 3.52 percent to 40 Hong Kong dollars, and Alibaba Group Holding added 3.4 percent to 160 Hong Kong dollars. The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.46 percent to 3,854, a milder rise than its regional peers. 2025-11-25 11:58:26

Ultra-fine dust advisory issued for Seoul SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - An ultra-fine dust advisory has been issued for the Seoul metropolitan area overnight, the Seoul Research Institute of Public Health and Environment said on Tuesday. Such advisories are issued when the hourly average concentration of PM2.5 exceeds 75 µg/m³ for more than two consecutive hours. PM 2.5, which is about 1/30th the size of a human hair, can pass through the filters of the human respiratory system, causing greater harm to the body than regular fine dust. The institute said a high density of fine dust was caused by accumulated pollutants from outside and inside the country, combined with stagnant air conditions. The institute said, "Vulnerable people such as the elderly, children, and those with respiratory diseases are advised to refrain from outdoor activities. Those going outside should wear masks and avoid areas with heavy traffic." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 10:27:34

Naver Financial, Dunamu to merge in $13.5 billion deal creating Korea's fintech giant SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Naver Financial, the country's top mobile payment provider, and Dunamu, operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, will merge in a landmark deal valued at around 20 trillion won ($13.5 billion). The boards of both companies are set to convene on Wednesday to approve the merger, with a joint press conference scheduled for Thursday at Naver's headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul. The combined entity would become Korea's largest fintech company. Naver founder Lee Hae-jin and Dunamu Chairman Song Chi-hyung are expected to attend the announcement, with other executives from both firms, including Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Dunamu Vice President Kim Hyung-nyun, will also be present. The transaction will be structured as a comprehensive stock swap, with Dunamu shareholders exchanging their stakes for newly issued Naver Financial shares. Upon completion, Dunamu will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Naver Financial. Market observers estimate a swap ratio of one Dunamu share for three Naver Financial shares, based on Dunamu's valuation of about 15 trillion won and Naver Financial's valuation of about 5 trillion won. The merger faces regulatory scrutiny from South Korea's Fair Trade Commission, which will examine whether the combination of the nation's leading payment platform and dominant crypto exchange could stifle market competition. Financial regulators are also expected to assess potential systemic risks from integrating volatile cryptocurrency operations with mainstream payment infrastructure. Both companies are expected to frame the consolidation as a strategic imperative rather than a bid for market dominance, arguing that Korean platforms must scale up and integrate blockchain technology to compete against global technology giants expanding into financial services. The merged company aims to build a "Web3" financial ecosystem combining Naver's extensive platform reach with Dunamu's blockchain expertise, positioning itself as a formidable challenger in Asia's rapidly evolving digital finance landscape. 2025-11-25 10:26:35

Kia's EV6 GT outperforms Model Y, Polestar 4 in German magazine's comparison test SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Kia’s high-performance EV6 GT has topped a comparative test by German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport, outperforming Tesla’s Model Y and the Polestar 4, the company said Tuesday. The publication, one of Germany’s most influential auto outlets, assessed the three models across seven categories: body, safety, comfort, powertrain, driving performance, environmental performance, and cost. The EV6 GT scored 597 points overall, ahead of the Model Y’s 574 points and the Polestar 4’s 550. Kia’s flagship EV delivered particularly strong results in the powertrain and driving performance categories, which examine output, acceleration, dynamics and handling. The EV6 GT delivers up to 448 kW — rising to 478 kW with launch control — outpacing the Model Y’s 378 kW and the Polestar 4’s 400 kW. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, beating the Model Y’s 5 seconds and the Polestar 4’s 3.8 seconds. Mid-range acceleration was also a standout: the EV6 GT reached 62 mph from 37 mph in 1.5 seconds, faster than both rivals. The model also led the safety category, posting the shortest braking distance from 62 mph at 33.6 meters. The Model Y recorded 36.1 meters and the Polestar 4 stopped at 37.1 meters. “We are pleased that the EV6 GT performed so strongly against established competitors in a respected German publication,” a Kia spokesperson said. “We will continue expanding our EV lineup to deliver new electrification experiences to our customers.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 10:13:20

South Korea's central bank widely expected to freeze rate at Thursday's meeting: Survey Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong at the Oct. 23 monetary policy meeting/ Photo by Joint Press Corps SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.50 percent at its final policy meeting of the year, slated for Thursday, as it prepares to lift growth projections for both 2024 and 2025. The anticipated hold comes amid firmer economic activity and persistent concerns over a weak won, rising home prices and elevated household debt — factors that analysts say have effectively ended the rate-cut cycle that began last year. A survey by Aju Business Daily of 10 bond and macroeconomic analysts showed unanimous expectations for another rate hold at the Nov. 27 meeting, marking the fourth straight pause. Nine of the experts expect one dissenting vote in favor of a cut, while one respondent anticipates full consensus. Currency and property market pressures remain central to the bank’s cautious stance. The won has hovered over 1,470 per dollar recently. “With the exchange rate at 1,470 won, cutting rates is burdensome,” said Park Sang-hyun, an analyst at iM Securities. “Real estate prices in Seoul remain unstable, making a hold inevitable.” Cho Yong-gu of Shin Young Securities said stronger economic indicators and ongoing government efforts to stabilize housing and currency markets reduce the likelihood of a cut. “Economic forecasts are being revised upward. A rate cut seems unlikely,” he said. Markets are now watching for signals on whether the easing cycle has formally ended. Analysts say the key indicators will be the size of the revisions to next year’s growth outlook and the bank’s forward guidance through early 2026. A forecast that exceeds Korea’s potential growth rate — estimated at about 1.8 percent — would strengthen the case that no further cuts are coming. “If the growth forecast is raised to around 2 percent, expectations for a rate cut next year will diminish significantly,” said Ahn Ye-ha of Kiwoom Securities. Eighty-eight percent of surveyed experts expect the central bank to raise this year’s growth outlook from 0.9 percent to over 1 percent, and next year’s from 1.6 percent to 1.8–1.9 percent. Park of iM Securities said a revision is “highly likely,” citing the base effect and a recovery in the semiconductor sector. BOK Governor Lee Chang-yong has also hinted at a possible upgrade in the bank’s growth projections, reinforcing expectations that the easing phase is over. Four of analysts surveyed said the May rate cut marked the end of the cycle, with the central bank now entering a prolonged hold. Kang Seung-won of NH Investment & Securities expects the policy rate to eventually settle at 2.25 percent after the first half of next year, while noting that the exchange rate and updated growth forecasts remain crucial. Meritz Securities’ Yoon Yeo-sam predicted the 2.50 percent rate would likely stay in place through 2026. “We’ll see improved economic and inflation forecasts in this meeting,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 10:00:09

Seoul, Ankara agree to strengthen cooperation in defense, nuclear energy SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Monday, where the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation across various sectors. In a joint press conference after their talks, Lee began his remarks by saying that this year marks the 75th anniversary of Turkey's participation in the Korean War (1950–1953), referring to the country as a "brother nation." He added, "Bilateral relations have strengthened rapidly since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1957." Citing Turkey's program to develop and produce its indigenous battle tank, Altay, Lee said, "We agreed to continue cooperating on defense-related projects to expand joint production, technological cooperation, and training exchanges." He pledged support for Turkey's project to build a nuclear power plant in Sinop, saying, "South Korea's advanced nuclear technology will contribute significantly to the project." Lee also expressed his hopes to expand cooperation in advanced high-tech sectors including renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital technologies. After wrapping up his brief stop in Turkey, the final leg of his 10-day overseas trip, Lee is scheduled to return home on Wednesday. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 09:43:10

KAIST expands national science outreach programs SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on November 25 that it is expanding its major public science programs, including the KSOP education initiative, the OPEN KAIST festival, and non-degree IT and AI training programs for young adults and military personnel. The institute said these efforts support national policies to broaden science culture, strengthen future talent pipelines, and reinforce South Korea’s scientific competitiveness. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said the institute is committed to widening educational access regardless of background. He said KSOP and OPEN KAIST help students from different regions and socioeconomic conditions imagine themselves as future scientists. He added that KAIST will continue focusing on warm science, inclusive education, and a sustainable science culture ecosystem. KSOP, run by the KAIST Center for Gifted Education Research, selects socially disadvantaged students with strong potential in mathematics and science and connects them with KAIST undergraduate and graduate mentors. The program began in 2015 with 250 participants and expanded to 1,000 per year by 2022. About 8,000 students have taken part so far, and more than 70 percent have continued into science and engineering fields. Some graduates return as mentors, forming a cycle of talent sharing. The program also reaches students in areas with fewer opportunities for science education, including Jeju, Mokpo, and Andong. KAIST said these activities have helped ease regional education gaps and have become one of its main science culture initiatives. Parent sessions, family camps, and counseling programs have expanded steadily, with the fifth family camp held in 2025. KSOP graduates and mentors operate KSOP Friends, a network that supports scholarship programs, mentoring, and donations. The effort has grown into a public small-scale recurring donation campaign known as the Kidarri Ajeossi Project. OPEN KAIST, held every two years, recorded more than 8,000 visitors over two days in 2025, the highest number to date and more than four times the turnout in 2023. Laboratory tours were especially popular and drew long waiting lists. KAIST said it plans to expand access in future events after some visitors were unable to join because of stronger-than-expected interest. KAIST also operates non-degree IT and semiconductor training programs for military personnel and young adults. The KAIST IT Academy provides hands-on instruction in AI, computing, and programming and enrolls about 1,000 trainees annually. The university’s SW training program, known as Jungle, graduated 308 participants between 2021 and 2024, with many joining companies such as Naver, Krafton, Team Sparta, Nearthlab, and Woowa Brothers. The program emphasizes project-based learning, practical coding experience, and mentoring by working developers. Based on the success of Jungle, Krafton launched a related program in 2022 called Krafton Jungle as part of the company’s social contribution efforts. KAIST’s IC Design Education Center, IDEC, trains about 240 young semiconductor design specialists each year and supports their transition into industry. KSOP received international recognition in 2024 at the Asia Pacific Conference on Giftedness, where it earned the top program prize and top researcher prize. KAIST also launched Junior KAIST in 2025 to expand science, mathematics, and AI exploration opportunities for younger students. KAIST said it will continue strengthening its role as a public research university through national-level science outreach and talent development programs. 2025-11-25 09:39:28

Korean consumer confidence most upbeat in eight years SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - South Koreans turned markedly more upbeat about the economy in November, buoyed by the stock market’s record-setting rally, the settlement of a tariff deal with the United States, and stronger-than-expected third-quarter growth led by resilient exports. The Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) rose 2.6 points from October to 112.4, the highest since 113.9 in November 2017, the Bank of Korea said Tuesday. A reading above 100 signals optimism about current and future economic conditions. The strongest improvement came from future economic outlook, which jumped 8 points to 102. Current economic assessment and household-income expectations also gained, while views on current living conditions and household spending remained unchanged. The index measuring assessments of the economy compared with six months earlier stayed below the neutral 100 at 96, but the reading improved by five points from October and stands far above its long-term average of 72. Expectations for economic conditions six months ahead climbed eight points to 102, reflecting easing uncertainties after Korea finalized a trade agreement with the United States that had clouded export prospects to the world’s largest market. Job-market sentiment remained weak at 95, though improved from 91 a month earlier and well above the March trough of 72. Perceived inflation over the past year held steady at 2.9%, and expectations for inflation a year ahead were unchanged at 2.6%. Grocery prices—particularly agricultural and fishery products—were cited as the biggest inflation burden by 51% of respondents, followed by utility bills (36%) and fuel prices (30.5%). 2025-11-25 09:20:46

Rain delays preparations for homegrown space rocket, but liftoff still on track SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Preparations for the launch of South Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket have been delayed due to rain, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said Tuesday. The rocket, dubbed KSLV-II, was scheduled to be transported to the launch pad at around 7:30 a.m, ahead of its planned liftoff later this week at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. As KARI is likely to reschedule the transport later in the day while monitoring weather conditions, the liftoff tentatively set for between 12:54 a.m. and 1:14 a.m. on Thursday is expected to proceed as planned. The first civilian-led mission with Hanwha Aerospace, which participated in the rocket's production and assembly, is to put a next-generation medium-sized satellite into orbit approximately 600 km above Earth's surface to observe the planet's magnetic field and auroras. Along with the main satellite, the launch vehicle will also carry 12 smaller satellites. 2025-11-25 09:04:14

OPINION: Nvidia, Bitcoin and emergence of new economic order Global markets are increasingly dancing to the movements of Nvidia and Bitcoin. A surge in Nvidia’s share price now lifts trading floors from New York to Tokyo, Seoul, London and Frankfurt. When the chipmaker disappoints, the backlash ricochets across continents. Bitcoin produces similar tremors, swinging sharply on news of regulatory shifts or ETF flows. The pattern points to a deeper shift in modern capitalism: economic gravity is clustering around a small set of companies and assets rather than diffusing across sectors and national markets. Nvidia has become more than a semiconductor manufacturer; its GPUs power the AI boom and help set the tempo for data-center expansion, autonomous driving systems and cybersecurity tools. On Wall Street, analysts increasingly treat Nvidia as a barometer for the broader AI economy. Its valuation embodies the hopes — and sometimes the hype — around machine learning. This dynamic reflects the idea of “narrative economics,” popularized by Nobel laureate Robert Shiller, which holds that market stories often move prices as much as fundamentals do. Bitcoin, too, has evolved into a kind of real-time sentiment gauge for global finance. Despite its turbulence, it reacts instantly to geopolitical tensions and regulatory announcements, and in doing so has become a central reference point for risk appetite. The growing concentration of market influence in a handful of assets is not accidental. The structure of the digital economy favors early winners, and Nvidia has established itself as the essential supplier of AI hardware. The rise of passive ETFs intensifies this concentration by channeling ever-larger sums into the most successful names. Narrative-driven investing strengthens the trend. Nvidia has become shorthand for the AI story; Bitcoin represents a new monetary frontier. Both benefit from what economists call “platform lock-in,” where technologies become so widely adopted that rivals struggle to compete. The concentration creates clear vulnerabilities. Yet it also reveals a new economic architecture taking shape. The United States treats Nvidia’s ecosystem as a national security asset. Japan is leveraging global superstar stocks to revive its capital markets. South Korea, which is scrambling to secure GPU supplies, is still building governance frameworks to cope with market concentration risks. For mid-sized economies, the danger lies in sliding into technological dependence. South Korea will need to accelerate development of AI chips and data-center infrastructure if it wants to remain competitive. The gravitational pull of Nvidia and Bitcoin is not a market anomaly but a preview of the coming economic order. In this environment, strategic planning matters more than speed. South Korea will require an integrated national strategy — linking AI development, industrial policy and financial markets — to adapt to the next phase of global competition. The countries that thrive will be those that can shape, rather than simply react to, the new concentration of economic power. About the author -Former Deputy Editor of JoongAng Ilbo, Tokyo Correspondent -Former Visiting Professor at Seoul National University College of Engineering -Former Chair Professor of Technology Management at Hanyang University -Former Director of Gyeonggi Science and Technology Promotion Agency * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 08:49:59