Korean stocks kept up buoyance amid broad Asian listlessness SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korean shares climbed nearly 2 percent on Monday, sustaining momentum across otherwise listless Asian markets after Seoul and Washington finalized a bilateral trade deal that opened new business opportunities for shipbuilders, energy infrastructure firms and defense manufacturers. The KOSPI rose 1.9 percent to 4,089.25, while the small-cap KOSDAQ gained 0.5 percent to 902.67. Semiconductor stocks led the advance. Samsung Electronics rose 3.5 percent to 100,600 won ($69), and SK hynix jumped 8.2 percent to 606,000 won as investors welcomed their domestic investment commitments totaling 833 trillion won ($571 billion). Samsung pledged 450 trillion won in spending and 60,000 new hires over five years, while SK confirmed 128 trillion won in domestic investment. The Yongin semiconductor cluster alone may grow to 600 trillion won, with at least 14,000 to 20,000 jobs expected by 2029. Hyundai Motor Group announced 125 trillion won in local investments through 2030 and plans to hire 10,000 workers next year. LG Group laid out a 100 trillion won investment roadmap, while Hanwha said it would spend 11 trillion won in shipbuilding and defense. HD Hyundai and Celltrion plan to invest 15 trillion won and 4 trillion won, respectively. Food stocks also posted strong rallies. Samyang Foods gained 4.9 percent to 1,385,000 won, while Nongshim surged 9.4 percent to 462,000 won. Samyang said its third-quarter operating profit climbed 50 percent on-year to 131 billion won, with sales up 44 percent to 632 billion won on robust exports to the United States and China. IBK Investment & Securities raised its target price to 1.75 million won, and Yuanta Securities set it at 2 million won. Nongshim reported third-quarter revenue of 871.2 billion won, up 2.4 percent, while operating profit rose 44.7 percent to 54.4 billion won, driven by overseas demand. Revenue from foreign subsidiaries increased 14.4 percent to 266.1 billion won, offsetting a slight domestic decline. Analysts noted that references to Nongshim-like snacks and noodles in the new K-pop film K-Pop Demon Hunters further lifted investor sentiment. Brokerages raised their targets across the board: NH Investment & Securities to 560,000 won, Korea Investment & Securities to 600,000 won, Shinhan to 570,000 won, Samsung Securities to 509,000 won and Daishin to 520,000 won. NH analyst Joo Young-hoon highlighted double-digit revenue growth in China, Japan and Australia, adding that improving U.S. sales may support a fourth-quarter rebound. Elsewhere in Asia, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.1 percent to 50,323.91. Shares tied to tourism and Chinese consumer spending fell sharply as tensions between China and Japan escalated. Shiseido plunged as much as 11 percent intraday, while Pan Pacific International Holdings — operator of Don Quijote stores — dropped nearly 10 percent, according to Bloomberg. Daishin Securities analysts Moon Nam-jung and Moon Gun-woo said Chinese travelers accounted for more than 21 percent of Japan’s foreign tourism spending last year, warning that continued tensions could weigh on sentiment toward Japan’s economy and equity market. Concerns about tariff-driven inflation and fading expectations of a near-term U.S. rate cut also pressured Tokyo shares. As of Sunday U.S. time, CME FedWatch data showed traders pricing in a 55.6 percent chance the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady in December, compared with a 44.4 percent chance of a cut — a sharp shift from last month, when markets assigned a 90 percent probability to a cut. Shanghai’s benchmark index fell 0.5 percent to 3,972.03, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 0.8 percent to 26,354.42. As in Japan, Chinese shares were weighed down by rising friction between Beijing and Tokyo, with analysts adding that the pullback also reflects profit-taking after Chinese stocks gained nearly 20 percent earlier this year. 2025-11-17 17:37:04

South Korea proposes military talks with North to set clear demarcation line SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has formally proposed talks with North Korea to establish a clear baseline for the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), in what would be the first military dialogue between the two sides since 2018. Kim Hong-chul, director of the ministry’s Defense Policy Office, said Monday that North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the MDL while constructing tactical roads, laying fences and planting mines inside the Demilitarized Zone. The activity, he warned, has heightened tensions and increased the risk of unintended clashes. “This situation raises the possibility of accidental military conflict,” Kim said, urging the North to accept talks aimed at reducing tensions and preventing miscalculations. Seoul has proposed that the discussions take place through the inter-Korean liaison channel at Panmunjeom, with the timing and precise format to be arranged if Pyongyang agrees. Kim noted that the current disputes over the boundary stem from the deterioration and loss of many original MDL markers installed after the 1953 armistice, leaving both sides with differing views of the line’s exact location. A defense ministry official said the markers were placed under the supervision of the Military Armistice Commission in August 1953, but maintenance effectively ceased in 1973 after North Korean forces opened fire on UN Command personnel performing repairs. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 17:35:21

South Korea flags 210 suspicious foreign housing deals, plans crackdown SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - The South Korean government said on Monday it had uncovered more than 200 suspicious housing transactions involving foreign nationals over the past year. According to the Real Estate Supervision Task Force, operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, a review of 438 housing transactions involving foreigners between June 2024 and May 2025 found that nearly half — 47.9 percent — showed signs of illegality or regulatory breaches. Officials plan to expand the probe to include non-residential properties and land transactions by the end of the year. Of the 210 flagged cases, authorities said 162 involved false reporting of transaction amounts or dates. Investigators also identified 58 instances of illegal fund transfers and loan misuses. The task force said it would refer the cases to the Ministry of Justice, the National Tax Service and other agencies for further action. Under South Korean law, unauthorized commercial activity by foreign buyers can draw penalties of up to three years in prison or fines of up to 30 million won. Tax authorities will also investigate the suspected cases and plan to impose back taxes if necessary. "The violations by foreign nationals pose risks to the country’s housing market, which has experienced volatility in recent years," said Kim Kyu-chul, director general at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. “We will continue efforts to maintain market order by eradicating illegal practices in foreign real estate transactions." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 17:13:31

Korea weighs standardized vet fees to address runaway inflation in pet care SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - Three out of ten Korean households now own a pet, and the government is considering a standardized payment system for veterinary care to address soaring medical costs and widening price disparities. The move follows mounting public frustration over bills that vary dramatically by clinic and location. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), the cost of a first-time checkup for a 5-kilogram pet ranges from as low as 1,000 won ($0.69) to as high as 65,000 won. With no standardized fee schedule and all services priced independently, the same treatment can cost several times more at clinics in affluent districts. "I took my cat to a vet in Gangnam after it swallowed a thread. An MRI scan to locate it and the removal procedure cost 1.5 million won, which was almost half my monthly salary. It's insane," said Park Jae-wook, a 29-year-old Seoul resident. Rising medical bills have become a growing financial burden and a leading factor behind pet abandonment. A 2024 report by the KB Financial Group Research Institute found that pet-owning households spent an average of 194,000 won per month on pet care, or about 2.1 million won annually — nearly equivalent to one month of minimum-wage earnings. Spending patterns are becoming increasingly polarized, with the share of households spending less than 50,000 won a month rising from 9.2 percent in 2021 to 18.8 percent in 2024, while those spending more than 250,000 won grew from 14.2 percent to 20.6 percent. Private pet insurance has failed to ease the burden. Although 89 percent of pet owners are aware of insurance products, only 11.9 percent carry coverage due to high premiums and limited benefits. Owners surveyed in 2023 cited cost as the biggest barrier, followed by restrictive reimbursement terms. MAFRA plans to develop a feasible payment model by the second half of next year after consultations with veterinary groups and industry officials. But with no public insurance system for animals and wide differences in clinic size, equipment, and staffing, officials acknowledge that introducing mandatory standardized fees would be difficult to enforce. The Korean Veterinary Medical Association has opposed the plan, calling it "excessive" and impractical given the cost differences across clinics. The association warned that fixed prices could undermine service quality and limit investment in medical equipment. A senior official at MAFRA's Companion Animal Industry and Animal Health Care System division said the government is considering applying standardized fees only at designated public veterinary hospitals that treat vulnerable households or abandoned animals. The official added that introducing a nationwide public insurance system for pets would require broad public support, which remains uncertain since only about a quarter of Koreans own pets. As of the end of 2024, the number of pet owners stood at 15.46 million, or 29.9 percent of the population. Pet-owning households numbered 5.91 million, accounting for 28.6 percent of all households, a ratio that has remained near the 30-percent level for the past five years despite a declining population. By age group, pet ownership was highest among people in their 50s at 23.17 percent, followed by those in their 30s at 22.01 percent and 40s at 21.88 percent. Only 9.91 percent of pet owners were in their 20s, contradicting the belief that younger generations are replacing children with pets amid falling birthrates. 2025-11-17 16:46:11

Buldak dominates global hot-sauce shelves and fuels top line for Korean ramen maker SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - The Chinese have numbing-hot “mala,” the Mexicans have smoky “salsa,” and the Thai have sweet-spicy “sriracha.” But the enduring winner in the global chili-sauce canon is South Korea’s “buldak” — a magical blend of concentrated sweetness and addictive burn that has pushed its maker, Samyang Foods, to the top of the KOSPI’s food sector and made the stock almost unreachable for ordinary investors. The global phenomenon of Buldak Bokkeum Myun — Samyang’s iconic “Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen” — remains unstoppable, and so does its stock. Samyang Foods jumped 5 percent to 1,385,000 won ($1,010) on Monday after reporting stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings. Its ramen rival Nongshim, which gained 9 percent, still trades at one-third of Samyang’s valuation at 462,000 won. “I first tried Buldak back in 2015, and I still remember that shock of heat,” said Lee Yurim (31), an office worker in Seoul. “There was nothing like it back then. The flavor was so intense it hurt, but it was delicious. Ten years later, no other spicy noodle has come close. It’s that specific, fiery yet savory taste that keeps me coming back.” That same fire has now fueled Samyang Foods’ highest-ever quarterly earnings. The company posted 632 billion won ($460 million) in consolidated third-quarter sales, up 44 percent from a year earlier, and 131 billion won ($96 million) in operating profit — a 50 percent jump. Cumulative operating profit for the first nine months reached 385 billion won ($281 million), already surpassing last year’s total of 345 billion won. Overseas demand remains just as hot. Exports soared 50 percent to 510 billion won, accounting for 81 percent of total revenue, the highest share on record. Sales in the United States rose 59 percent to $112 million, while China logged a 56 percent increase to 951 million yuan ($131 million). Heartfelt response from the company to its sudden rise and fame also helped to sustain the brand's overseas popularity. “We’ve never started with marketing first,” the official said. “However, when something goes viral overseas, our marketing team reacts quickly and engages sincerely. For example, when a U.S. girl named Adalynn went viral on TikTok after crying with joy over receiving Buldak for her birthday, our team visited her home in a Buldak truck loaded with a year’s worth of Carbonara Buldak and threw her a surprise party.” The company also addressed the Denmark recall incident earlier this year, where regulators temporarily banned extra-spicy varieties over capsaicin concerns. “That wasn’t a marketing event — it became one naturally,” the official said. “After discussions with Danish authorities and Korea’s food regulator, the products were cleared and sales resumed. We view these moments as opportunities to communicate transparently and show that we take safety seriously.” Emotions aside, brokerages were eager to upgrade the stock. Yuanta Securities raised its target price for Samyang to 2 million won from 1.78 million won, maintaining a “buy” rating. “Even with expanded production at the Miryang plant, inventory declined — meaning demand is outpacing supply,” said Son Hyun-jung, analyst at Yuanta. “From the fourth quarter, we will start to see the impact of U.S. price hikes and higher Miryang utilization. We forecast 2025 revenue at 2.36 trillion won ($1.72 billion) and operating profit at 533 billion won ($389 million), up 37 and 55 percent year-on-year.” Korea Investment & Securities named Samyang its “top pick” in the food sector. “Samyang beat sales consensus by 6.6 percent despite tariff burdens,” said Kang Eun-ji, analyst at Korea Investment. “Tariff impacts will gradually ease through U.S. price adjustments, and American demand remains solid even after recent price increases.” She added that China sales climbed 60 percent to 189 billion won ($136 million), offsetting tariff pressure. At the core of the phenomenon is Buldak’s flavor formula — a calibrated mix of capsaicin heat, sweetness, and umami refined through years of in-house R&D. Although Samyang declined to disclose details, citing trade secrets, the company’s success lies in how the product balances pain and pleasure. The glossy, stir-fried texture and layered flavor made it ideal for the social-media era, fueling viral “spice-challenge” videos across TikTok and YouTube — with celebrity fans from British YouTuber Korean Englishman to rapper Cardi B. On whether the company had faced any supply bottlenecks amid the surging demand, the Samyang official said there were “brief moments earlier this year when orders piled up faster than production could keep pace.” “At the start of this year, we did experience some supply delays as demand spiked,” the official said. “We currently operate three factories in Korea — in Miryang, Iksan, and Wonju — with Miryang having two plants dedicated entirely to exports. We built the second Miryang plant anticipating continuous growth, but it quickly became clear that it might not be enough. So, about two to three months ago, we began constructing a new plant in Jiaxing, China, which will serve the domestic Chinese market by late 2026 or early 2027. This will free up Korean capacity for other global markets.” The brand’s explosive performance also coincides with a generational shift in leadership. Jeon Byung-woo, the 36-year-old third-generation heir, was promoted to Executive Director this month for driving Buldak’s international expansion and overseeing construction of the new Jiaxing, China factory. Jeon also led global marketing collaborations and product diversification, cementing Buldak’s place as a global megabrand. Analysts say Samyang has moved beyond simple volume growth toward structural transformation. “Strong sales despite expanded capacity show that global demand is still exceeding production,” said Son. “The company is now improving both sales efficiency and profitability.” With the Miryang No. 2 plant ramping up and the China factory set to begin operations in 2027, Samyang is poised to dominate ramen aisles — and hot-sauce shelves — worldwide for years to come. 2025-11-17 16:44:27

Hyundai Motor to provide Staria vehicles for G20 delegates in South Africa SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor said Monday it will supply 30 Staria multi-purpose vehicles for the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The vehicles will be used to transport delegates during the Nov. 22-23 summit, which is expected to draw leaders from the G20 member nations as well as representatives from the European Union, African Union, United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. This year’s agenda centers on themes of solidarity, equality and sustainability. Hyundai Motor said it aims to use the event to highlight the Staria’s design, cabin space and safety technology. The company signed an agreement in early September with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation to provide the fleet. “We are honored to support the first G20 summit on African soil,” Kim Il-beom, Hyundai’s vice president for global public operations, said in a statement. “We look forward to contributing to a successful event.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 16:09:15

Korea-U.S. MoU elevates trade partnership to co-development and related stocks in Seoul SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - Korean shares in chipmaking, utilities, defense, energy infrastructure and shipbuilding climbed 1 to 5 percent on Monday, refueling the KOSPI's run while most Asian markets stayed lethargic on expectations of active cross-border ventures following a newly signed memorandum of understanding between Seoul and Washington that caps months of delayed talks on a broader trade and tariff deal. The electronically signed MoU positions South Korea not merely as a trading partner but as a core U.S. collaborator in industrial development. Under the agreement, Korea pledges roughly $350 billion in investments into the U.S. economy, including $150 billion dedicated to shipbuilding. The remaining $200 billion will be directed toward "commercially reasonable" strategic investments in critical U.S. sectors — energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. In return, the United States will lower reciprocal tariffs on Korean exports, reducing the baseline rate from 25 percent to 15 percent as of Aug. 7. Shipbuilding at the center of the new partnership The shipbuilding component will channel Korean investment into modernizing America's shipbuilding base — from U.S. shipyard upgrades to workforce development. Both nations will operate a working group to coordinate maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), workforce training, and supply-chain resilience efforts. The MoU states that the partnership will increase the number of both U.S. commercial ships and combat-ready military vessels, including the potential construction of U.S. ships in Korea. In practice, cooperation is already underway. Hanwha Ocean became the first Korean shipbuilder to secure a U.S. Navy maintenance contract and has taken part in multiple repair projects, including for the dry cargo ship Charles Drew, scheduled for completion by January. Its $100 million acquisition of Philly Shipyard last year has become a symbolic flagship of the "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" initiative. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries won a maintenance contract in August for the 41,000-ton USNS Alan Shepard and is preparing to merge with HD Hyundai Mipo by Dec. 1 to boost operational flexibility. Mipo was acquired in 2002 but maintained separately until now. Korean shipbuilders form the backbone of the deal due to their global track record. "Korean shipbuilders' combined orders are expected to reach $38.8 billion next year, up 10 percent from this year, driven by LNG carriers, tankers and special-purpose vessels," said Jung Yeon-seung, analyst at NH Investment & Securities. He added that rising global demand for warships could extend earnings momentum beyond 2028 if Korean yards secure major naval programs. Nuclear-powered submarine pathway opens In a significant show of confidence, Washington publicly endorsed Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered attack submarines and committed to working closely with Seoul on fuel sourcing and other requirements. While former President Donald Trump initially claimed the submarine would be delivered from Hanwha's Philadelphia Shipyard, industry officials say construction would likely be led in Korea, though details remain under review. Hanwha Ocean is Korea's most experienced submarine builder, having developed diesel-electric technology through the KSS series — from Changbogo-class vessels to the Changbogo-III Batch-I and Batch-II. Its 3,600-ton Jang Young-sil, launched in October and set for Navy delivery by late 2027, features a design that allows conversion to nuclear propulsion. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has also secured successive orders for six Changbogo-II vessels and one Changbogo-III Batch-I submarine. It recently signed an MoU with Peru for joint development of next-generation submarines. Nuclear-powered submarines can stay submerged for months without refueling — a vast leap from diesel submarines that must surface every two to three days — effectively categorizing them as strategic underwater assets. During visits to both Hanwha and HD Hyundai facilities in Geoje and Ulsan on Nov. 15, U.S. Navy Chief Adm. Daryl Caudle underscored the strategic implications. "As they say in the movie Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility," Caudle said. "There will be a responsibility for Korea to deploy those submarines globally and move away from being just a regional navy." He added that Washington expects South Korea to play a prominent role in strengthening American shipbuilding capacity. The United States also explicitly backed Korea's path toward civil uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes, provided Seoul adheres to the bilateral 123 agreement and relevant U.S. legal requirements. 2025-11-17 15:50:14

Korean AI firm showcases multilingual dubbing technology at global conference SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - Eastsoft, a South Korean AI services company, said Monday that its research on multilingual automatic dubbing has been accepted for presentation at EMNLP 2025, one of the field’s leading conferences. The company’s study introduces an end-to-end dubbing framework that uses large language models to synchronize translated audio with the timing and rhythm of the original video — a longstanding challenge for automated dubbing systems, which often produce speech that finishes too early or too late relative to on-screen mouth movements. The research paper outlines a three-step pipeline combining speech-to-text, machine translation and text-to-speech modules. Eastsoft says it has enhanced the translation process with two LLM-driven techniques: “speech length adjustment” and “speech pause integration.” The first predicts how long translated speech should be in order to match the original speaker’s timing, while the second incorporates natural pauses — including breaths and short breaks — to create more humanlike rhythm in dubbed audio. Together, the additions aim to move beyond literal translation to generate dialogue that feels more natural across languages. According to Eastsoft, the system improved synchronization accuracy by 24 percent and multilingual user satisfaction by 12 percent compared with existing commercial AI dubbing tools, including the company's current products. “We are moving closer to producing naturally dubbed videos in multiple languages that preserve the speaker’s original pace and rhythm,” the company said in a press release. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 15:42:46

KAIST develops CT-style method to look inside light-based quantum computers SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - KAIST said on November 17 that its researchers have developed a way to look inside a light-based quantum computer almost like taking a CT scan. The idea is to make the machine’s hidden operations visible so researchers can understand how the device actually works. Light-based quantum computers use many small light signals that interact and become tangled with one another. This tangling makes the machines powerful, but it also makes them very hard to examine or verify. Until now, scientists struggled to analyze even around five of these signals at once. The KAIST team, led by physics professor Ra Young-sik, created a method that can examine up to sixteen light signals working together. According to the school, this is the first time such a large number has been analyzed experimentally. The basic idea is simple: send different kinds of light into the machine, see how they change on the way out, and then use math to recreate what happened inside. It works much like a medical CT scan, where images are rebuilt from many pieces of data. To make this easier to understand, the researchers separated the changes into two parts. One part shows how the light itself was strengthened or altered. The other part shows how much noise or unwanted disturbance came in from the environment. By splitting these two effects, the method gives a clearer view of both the ideal operation and the real-world imperfections. The new approach also cuts down the amount of data needed to run this kind of analysis. That makes it possible to study much larger quantum operations without overwhelming the system. The research team includes Gwak Geunhee as first author, along with Roh Chan, Yoon Young-do, and Imperial College London professor Kim Myung-sik. The findings were published online on November 11 in Nature Photonics. (Source: KAIST press release) The work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. 2025-11-17 15:33:19

South Korea to expand English-language disclosures for global investors SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s top financial regulator is moving to make corporate information more accessible to global investors, unveiling a new disclosure plan that would significantly expand English-language reporting and tighten transparency around shareholder meetings and executive pay. The Financial Services Commission announced the proposed changes on Monday in an effort to strengthen shareholder rights and bring local practices closer to international standards. Under the proposal, companies listed on the benchmark KOSPI index with assets exceeding 2 trillion won, or roughly $1.5 billion, would be required to file disclosures in English beginning May 1, 2026. The current threshold applies only to companies with assets over 10 trillion won. English-language reports on the results of shareholder meetings would be required starting March 1 of the same year. The scope of required English disclosures would also expand sharply — from 26 categories of management information to 55 — covering nearly all items required by the Korea Exchange. Companies with assets over 10 trillion won would need to publish English disclosures on the same day as Korean filings, while those above the new 2 trillion won threshold would have three business days. By 2028, the FSC said it plans to extend English disclosure rules to all KOSPI-listed firms and is considering similar requirements for major companies on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market. To lessen compliance burdens, the government said it would offer AI-based translation tools and industry-specific English templates. The overhaul also seeks to bring more clarity to South Korea’s tightly packed shareholder meeting season, when hundreds of companies hold annual meetings in the final days of March. Beginning in March 2026, companies would be required to release detailed voting results — including approval, opposition and abstention rates — on the day of the meeting. Regular filings would also need to include complete voting records and shareholder counts. The plan includes new rules on executive compensation as well. Companies would be required to include three years of total shareholder return and operating profit data in their pay disclosures, along with clearer explanations of how compensation was determined. All stock-based awards — including unrealized equity — would need to be reported in a single standardized format with cash-equivalent values. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 15:11:56