Kazakhstan pushes Alatau Smart City and logistics in Seoul talks SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - The Kazakh ambassador to South Korea has met with a leading lawmaker to discuss cooperation on logistics and the Alatau Smart City project. The Embassy of Kazakhstan said Thursday that Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov met with Maeng Sung-Kyu, the chair of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, in Seoul on January 14. The talks focused on transport and logistics, which Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has identified as a national strategic priority. A key subject was the Alatau Smart City development. Both officials noted the importance of a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2025 between Kazakhstan's Ministry of Industry and Construction, the Alatau City Authority, and the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND). Ambassador Arystanov invited Meng to an upcoming international event in Astana. The two sides also reviewed the growth in tourism and travel between the nations, credited to increased direct flights from Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and Eastar Jet. 2026-01-16 16:48:38

Korean memory makers share boom year with employees in cash and stock rewards SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) -South Korea’s two largest memory chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are rolling out handsome cash and stock rewards for their employees amid red-hot earnings and extended stock rally. Samsung Electronics said its Device Solutions (DS) division, which oversees the company’s semiconductor operations, has set its excess profit incentive (OPI) at 47 percent of annual salary, according to an internal notice circulated this week. The rate applies across memory, System LSI and foundry businesses. Based on Samsung’s average employee compensation of 130 million won as of March last year, the average bonus payout is projected at roughly 61 million won per employee. OPI is paid once a year when a business unit exceeds performance targets set at the beginning of the year. The incentive can reach up to 50 percent of annual salary, within a cap of 20 percent of excess profit, and together with the target achievement incentive (TAI) forms the backbone of Samsung’s performance-based compensation system. The DS division’s payout reflects a sharp turnaround in semiconductor profitability. After entering recovery in the second half of last year, shipments rose rapidly across memory products, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and commodity DRAM. In the fourth quarter, Samsung Electronics posted best-ever three-month operating profit of 20 trillion won. The chip division is projected to have contributed 80 percent of the profit. The contrast with recent years is pronounced. The DS division’s OPI was set at 14 percent last year amid weak chip conditions and zero in 2023. Within Samsung’s Device Experience (DX) division, the Mobile Experience (MX) business set its OPI rate at 50 percent, translating into an average payout of about 65 million won per employee. The higher rate reflects strong sales of the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold/Flip7, up from 44 percent in 2024. OPI rates for the Visual Display (VD), Digital Appliances (DA), network and medical device businesses were set at 12 percent. Management support, Harman, the win-win cooperation center and the global CS center received 39 percent, while the production technology research institute was assigned 36 percent. SK hynix will again operate a “shareholder participation program” this year, allowing employees to receive part of their annual profit-sharing (PS) bonus in company shares, following the program’s initial rollout last year. According to industry officials on Thursday, the company announced the plan in an internal notice the previous day, with applications open through Jan. 22. Under the program, employees can elect to receive between 10 percent and 50 percent of their PS in SK hynix shares, in 10-percentage-point increments. PS is paid once a year based on annual performance, with a ceiling of 50 percent of annual salary, equivalent to 1,000 percent of base pay. For example, an employee earning 100 million won who opts to receive 50 percent of PS in shares would receive stock worth 50 million won. If the shares are held for one year, the employee receives an additional cash payment equal to 15 percent of the stock value, or 7.5 million won. Unlike last year — when shares could be distributed in four installments in the fourth quarter based on prevailing stock prices — participants this year must receive all elected shares at once at the start of the year. PS payments are expected as early as late January or early February. Under a revised labor-management framework, SK hynix scrapped its previous PS cap and now funds bonuses using the full 10 percent of the prior year’s operating profit. Of the calculated PS, 80 percent is paid in the current year, with the remaining 20 percent deferred over two years in 10-percent installments. Future operation of the stock-based program could be influenced by a proposed third revision of the Commercial Act, which would require companies to retire treasury shares. The bill is scheduled for review at a National Assembly subcommittee meeting on Jan. 21, raising the possibility of legislative action later this month or in March. Industry estimates widely put SK hynix’s operating profit for last year at nearly 45 trillion won. On a simple calculation, that level of profitability would translate into profit-sharing bonuses of roughly 136 million won per employee. SK hynix releases fourth-quarter and 2025 results on Jan. 29. Samsung Electronics shares closed Friday 3.5 percent up at fresh record high of 148,900 won and SK hynix also revisited the peak of 756,000 won. 2026-01-16 15:45:28

Ex-president gets 5 years in prison in first verdict on martial law-related charges SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday over one of several charges related to his botched martial law debacle. The Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul handed down the sentence over charges that Yoon obstructed law enforcement by blocking investigators and other officials who attempted to detain him following his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. It was Yoon's first sentencing among his eight different cases related to the debacle including the main charges of insurrection and abuse of power, whose verdict is likely to be handed down next month. Prosecutors had earlier sought 10 years in prison for Yoon - five years for obstruction of official duties, three years for abuse of power, and two years for fabricating official documents, making Thursday's sentence about half of what they had requested. In a nationwide televised trial, the court said Yoon, who had a duty "more than anyone to uphold the Constitution and obey the rule of law," deserves criticism for disregarding procedural requirements meant to prevent abuse of presidential power. The court also found Yoon guilty of convening only a few select Cabinet members to give the appearance of proper deliberation and of drafting a post hoc document related to the declaration to cover up procedural flaws. "When convening a Cabinet meeting, a notice should be given to all members," the court said, adding that notifying only some members infringes on their rights. The court also dismissed Yoon's argument that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), an independent agency established to root out government corruption, lacks jurisdiction over charges of insurrection and abuse of power. Thursday's verdict came about 145 days after the first hearing in the case was held in August last year. 2026-01-16 15:44:40

Daewoo E&C to build AI data centers in southwestern counties SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Daewoo Engineering & Construction announced a plan Friday to build artificial intelligence data centers with a combined power capacity of 500 megawatts in South Jeolla Province. The company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipal governments of South Jeolla Province, Jangseong County, Gangjin County and a consortium of public and private partners, to develop AI data centers in the region. Under the agreement, the partners plan to build two major AI data centers in Jangseong and Gangjin counties, with power capacities of 200 megawatts and 300 megawatts, respectively. Daewoo E&C will serve as a core construction partner in the consortium, participating across the engineering, procurement and construction process. Daewoo E&C has been expanding its non-housing businesses, including data centers, to reduce reliance on the housing market and to strengthen its role as a developer involved in development, investment and operations. As part of that strategy, the company has broadened its data center portfolio, starting with the Empyrion Digital AI Campus project in Seoul’s Gangnam district and expanding into projects such as the Jangseong Fine Data Center, described as South Jeolla’s first data center, where it participates as both an investor and builder. Chairman Jung Won-ju attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jangseong Fine Data Center on Dec. 15, where he said data centers are “core infrastructure” for the AI era and can play a key role in revitalizing regional economies and strengthening national competitiveness. The consortium said it plans to build high-efficiency, environmentally friendly data centers and develop AI infrastructure with global competitiveness. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-16 15:39:13

About a dozen injured as bus crashes onto sidewalk in Seoul SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - A bus crashed onto a sidewalk in Seoul on Friday, leaving two people seriously hurt and about a dozen others injured. According to rescue workers who arrived shortly after the accident, the bus ran onto the sidewalk near Seodaemun subway station at around 1:15 p.m. About 11 people including the bus driver were believed to be passengers on board and suffered minor injuries, while the two people seriously injured were pedestrians. Police said there were no signs of drunk driving but will conduct a drug test on the driver while investigating the exact cause of the accident. 2026-01-16 15:22:06

Actress Nana cleared of assault charges in home break-in case SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Actress Nana has been cleared of assault charges filed by a man who allegedly broke into her home late last year, police said Friday. Police in Guri, Gyeonggi Province said they would not pursue charges of attempted murder and assault against Nana in a countersuit filed by the intruder, determining that her actions were in self-defense. After questioning Nana last week, police concluded that her actions were lawful self-defense, in line with prosecutors who had placed the man in his 30s in custody on robbery charges. The case drew renewed attention online earlier this month after the suspect, arrested for breaking into Nana's home, filed a complaint from a detention center, claiming the actress injured him with a weapon. He allegedly climbed a ladder to Nana's home in the early hours of Nov. 15, entered through an unlocked door, and demanded valuables. Nana, who woke to her mother's screams, tried to stop him. During the confrontation, Nana reportedly injured the man's jaw while defending herself. 2026-01-16 14:57:29

KT taps Taiwan's cable leader to expand AI media footprint SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s KT said Friday it has partnered with Taiwan’s largest cable television operator, KBRO, to enter the Taiwanese market with artificial intelligence–based digital media and smart home services. Under a strategic memorandum of understanding with KBRO, signed on Jan. 15 in Taipei, KT will supply AI-driven media and device technologies, including smart home services, interactive voice recognition, AI-optimized user interfaces and intelligent content recommendation systems, the company said. The two firms will also jointly develop technology and service models for smart home upgrades, leveraging KT’s expertise in AI agents and AI-based media services. The partnership includes plans to introduce an all-in-one soundbar set-top box in Taiwan featuring Harman Kardon speakers and Dolby Atmos, with support for global over-the-top streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube. KT also plans to distribute its original content through Taiwanese platforms, including myVideo, while pursuing locally tailored content development and joint marketing initiatives. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-16 14:51:32

Former Air Force chief named ambassador to Israel SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Park In-ho, a former Air Force chief, has been named South Korea's new ambassador to Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. The graduate of the Korea Air Force Academy, long regarded as a bastion for elite cadets, served as Air Force chief from July 2021 to May 2022 under the former Moon Jae-in administration, after holding various posts including a policy planning role at the Ministry of National Defense. Since retiring, Park has taken a role advising the Air Force while working as a professor at Hankyong National University in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. He has also advised a law firm on matters related to aerospace and defense exports. 2026-01-16 14:02:39

US Navy selects South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding for ship repair partnership SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said on Friday it has been selected by the U.S. Navy as a partner for its ship repair program. The decision enables the South Korean shipbuilder to participate fully in maintenance, repair and overhaul work for major U.S. naval vessels. The agreement will run from Jan. 23 through Jan. 22, 2031, the company said. The U.S. Navy program is a framework agreement between the U.S. government and private shipyards that allows qualified companies to compete for maintenance, repair and overhaul contracts for U.S. Navy ships. While such an agreement is not required for servicing noncombat vessels such as logistics support ships, it is a prerequisite for bidding on MRO projects involving combat ships. HJ Shipbuilding said the agreement provides the company with a foothold in the U.S. Navy’s ship maintenance market, which the company estimates to be worth about 20 trillion won ($15 billion) annually over the next five years. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-16 13:56:19

South Korea's 'sovereign AI' push stumbles as Naver, Kakao step aside SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Naver Cloud and Kakao, South Korea’s two largest internet platform operators, have decided not to take part in an additional round of bidding for the government’s flagship artificial intelligence project, dealing an early setback to Seoul’s push to build a “sovereign AI” foundation model. The withdrawal by the two companies — long seen as natural contenders given their vast user data, cloud infrastructure and AI research capabilities — comes after the first-round evaluation of the Ministry of Science and ICT’s state-led project. Their absence has raised concerns that the so-called “K-AI” initiative could lose momentum at an early stage. Naver Cloud, after being eliminated in the first evaluation round on Thursday, said it “respects the government’s decision,” but added it is “not considering” participating in the additional call. Kakao, which failed to advance in an earlier selection stage, also confirmed it has “no plan to try again,” according to a senior company official. The decisions reflect doubts about the benefits of the program and disagreements over the government’s evaluation standards, industry officials said. The ministry has emphasized building an AI model “from scratch,” limiting reliance on external open-source code and retaining full control over data and the model itself. Naver Cloud was cut after falling short of those criteria, officials said. An industry source said major platform companies, which have actively adopted open-source technologies in line with global AI development trends, likely concluded their chances were slim unless the government’s strict interpretation of “independence” changes. Companies may also have weighed the reputational risks of failing again after an initial loss, the source added. Other eliminated bidders, including NC AI and KT, have said they are still considering whether to apply for the additional round. The government plans to add one more participant to form a four-way competition, but the process already faces uncertainty. If major players stay out and the field narrows to smaller firms, the symbolic value of naming a “national representative” AI model could be diluted, industry watchers said. The three teams that advanced from the first round struck a confident tone. LG AI Research, which posted the highest overall score, said its efforts reflect Chairman Koo Kwang-mo’s AI-focused strategy and pledged to pursue global leadership through its “K-EXAONE” model. SK Telecom said it will work with partners, including game developer Krafton, to scale its model to trillions of parameters. Upstage, the only startup to advance, said it plans to collaborate with Stanford University and other institutions to build a model competitive with global big-tech offerings. Experts said the controversy highlights a widening gap between the government and the private sector over the definition of “sovereign AI.” Kim Yoo-seok, head of the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, wrote in a recent report that South Korea needs a balance between technological self-reliance and global linkage, rather than unconditional localization. The ministry said it plans to proceed with the additional call for bids in the first half of the year. But with Naver Cloud and Kakao opting out, attention is now focused on whether the government can adjust incentives or criteria to lure them back — or whether the project will effectively consolidate around LG AI Research, SK Telecom and Upstage. 2026-01-16 13:45:34