Building on Partnership: UK-Korea Priorities for 2026 As we begin 2026, the partnership between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea has never been stronger. Elevated to a Global Strategic Partnership in 2023, our relationship reflects shared democratic values, a commitment to the rules-based international order and a vision for a more prosperous, secure and sustainable future. The inaugural UK-Korea High Level Forum held in Seoul in December brought together leaders from government, business and academia to chart the course ahead and spark new ideas for collaboration. 2026 will be an opportunity to build on that momentum. Standing firm for Ukraine is our most urgent shared imperative. As Russia’s illegal war continues, the deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, with North Korean troops fighting on European soil, shows that Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are indivisible. What happens in Ukraine matters profoundly to the Korean Peninsula, and vice versa. The UK and Korea must continue unwavering support for Ukraine while maintaining robust sanctions against Russia. Together, we send a clear message: aggression will not be rewarded, and perpetrators will face consequences. Driving mutual economic growth remains central to our mission. Following the successful conclusion of negotiations in December to upgrade our Free Trade Agreement, we have unprecedented opportunities to deepen trade and investment. British and Korean businesses lead in artificial intelligence, clean energy and defence technology. In 2026, we will connect innovators across these sectors, leveraging complementary strengths to create jobs and prosperity in both countries. This year holds special significance for our security ties. 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imjin River, where British troops fought bravely for Korea’s freedom, and the establishment of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea in Busan, the resting place of over 880 British casualties of the Korean War. This shared history inspires our modern defence partnership. Climate leadership is another area where our partnership can make a global difference. Both nations have submitted ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions, and Korea’s commitment to phasing out coal demonstrates genuine resolve. We look forward to sharing expertise in offshore wind and nuclear energy as we pursue green transitions. Finally, our cultural ties continue to flourish. 2025 saw British creativity on display in Korea through exhibitions from Antony Gormley and the National Portrait Gallery, and Thomas Heatherwick’s curation of the Seoul Biennale. This year, we eagerly anticipate Damien Hirst’s exhibition at the MMCA and other exciting events. These exchanges remind us that our partnership lives in the connections between our peoples. 2026 promises to be a year of deepening friendship between our two countries. I look forward to all we will achieve together. *The author is the British Ambassador to South Korea. 2026-01-15 07:56:56

KRX eyes AI-driven overhaul to support 24-hour trading, reviews startup acquisition SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -The Korea Exchange (KRX) said Tuesday it is pursuing an artificial intelligence–based innovation strategy as groundwork for a future 24-hour trading system, including a possible acquisition of an AI startup. The exchange said it plans to integrate AI into market oversight and operations, calling the technology a core strategy that will determine the competitiveness of South Korea’s capital markets. AI is expected to be applied across market surveillance, corporate disclosures and other regulatory functions to improve efficiency and productivity as trading hours expand. KRX also said it intends to use AI in its information business to diversify revenue streams, including the development of commercial indexes and financial products based on unstructured data. While the acquisition of an AI startup is among the options under review, the exchange emphasized that no decision has been made. The announcement follows KRX’s plan to extend trading hours in stages, with premarket and after-hours trading set to begin in June. Under the plan, the exchange would operate a premarket session from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and an after-market session from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., extending total daily trading hours to 12 hours. KRX said the premarket would open one hour earlier than the 8 a.m. opening of alternative trading system Nextrade (NXT), allowing investors to respond more quickly to overnight developments in U.S. and European markets. The exchange said the move aims to attract greater participation from both domestic and foreign investors and to stem the outflow of liquidity to overseas markets. The exchange reiterated its goal of building a full 24-hour trading system by December 2027. It also plans to expand derivatives trading to a 24-hour schedule by the end of next year. Currently, derivatives trade for up to 19 hours a day, including the regular session from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and the night session from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day. In parallel, KRX said it will push to shorten the stock market settlement cycle from T+2 to T+1, bringing settlement forward to one business day after a trade. The exchange said longer trading hours are becoming a global standard, citing moves by major exchanges such as NYSE Arca, which currently operates 16-hour trading sessions and plans to introduce 24-hour trading with Nasdaq in the second half of the year. The London Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing are also reviewing similar measures. KRX said the global shift reflects intensifying competition for cross-border liquidity, particularly as retail investors in Asia increase overseas investment. As of the end of 2025, Korean investors held roughly 250 trillion won ($170 billion) in overseas equities, with domestic market liquidity continuing to flow abroad. Addressing concerns over increased workload, the exchange said off-hours trading will be limited to orders placed through headquarters, home trading services (HTS) and mobile trading services (MTS), excluding nationwide branch operations. Participation by exchange-traded fund (ETF) liquidity providers outside regular hours will be optional, and measures will be taken to minimize additional information technology development costs. 2026-01-15 07:42:21

Seoul city bus service back to normal after wage deal ends record strike SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -Seoul city buses are back on the roads on Thursday after labor and management reached a wage agreement late Wednesday, ending the longest city bus strike on record. The deal was struck at 11:55 p.m. during a second follow-up mediation session convened by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission at its special arbitration panel. The talks brought together the Seoul City Bus Labor Union, affiliated with the Korean Automobile Workers Federation, and the Seoul City Transport Business Association. Negotiations were nearly derailed when union representatives attempted to leave the session around 9 p.m., citing a lack of progress. Mediators and Seoul city officials physically blocked the exit and urged both sides to remain at the table, eventually steering talks back on track. Under the agreement, base pay for bus drivers will rise 2.9 percent — higher than the 0.5 percent offered in the initial proposal but slightly below the union’s 3.0 percent demand. The retirement age will be raised from 63 to 64 starting in July, and to 65 beginning in July 2027. The two sides also agreed to form a labor-management-government task force to further discuss the city’s bus operations monitoring system, which the union had sought to abolish. A broader restructuring of the wage system to reflect “ordinary wages,” a key union demand, was excluded from this round of negotiations at the union’s request and will instead be pursued through the courts. The strike began Tuesday after wage talks collapsed, marking the first walkout by Seoul bus drivers in two years. At its peak Wednesday morning, only 562 — about 8 percent — of the city’s 7,018 intracity buses were operating, causing widespread commuter disruption in subzero climate. In response, Seoul expanded emergency transportation measures, increasing rush-hour subway services from 172 to 203 trains, extending peak service hours by two hours, dispatching empty trains to congested stations, and deploying more than twice the usual number of safety personnel at 86 major stations. The city also mobilized chartered buses, deploying 677 vehicles on Tuesday and 763 by Wednesday. With the agreement reached, Seoul will lift all emergency measures. Extended subway operations will return to regular schedules, and district-run shuttle and chartered bus services will end. Mayor Oh Se Hoon welcomed the agreement, praising both sides for continuing dialogue despite difficult conditions. He also thanked residents for their patience and cooperation during the disruption. “The city will do everything it can to strengthen trust between labor and management and ensure that public transportation does not waver in serving the people of Seoul,” Oh said. 2026-01-15 07:22:03

Washington makes a rare Korean won-supporting remark SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - In a rare departure from Washington’s long-held opposition to currency intervention, the U.S. Treasury secretary echoed Seoul’s concerns over the weak Korean won, lending verbal support to efforts to stabilize the currency. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol on Monday (local time) to discuss market developments and preparations for the upcoming critical minerals ministerial meeting, according to a Treasury Department readout released Wednesday. During the meeting, the two officials exchanged views on economic conditions in both countries and ways to deepen bilateral economic ties. Bessent specifically addressed the recent depreciation of the Korean won, noting that the currency’s weakness does not align with South Korea’s underlying economic fundamentals. He emphasized that excessive volatility in foreign-exchange markets is undesirable, while underscoring South Korea’s role as a critical U.S. partner in Asia — particularly given the strength of its key industries that support the American economy, the readout said. The remarks mark an unusual shift in tone for Washington, which has traditionally cautioned Seoul against interventionist moves seen as supporting exports at the expense of the U.S. dollar and trade balance. Bessent and Koo also discussed the full and faithful implementation of President Donald Trump’s Korea Strategic Trade and Investment Deal. Bessent said he expects the rollout to proceed smoothly and stressed that the agreement would further deepen bilateral economic cooperation and contribute to the revitalization of U.S. industrial competitiveness. The comments appeared to have an immediate market impact. The dollar weakened sharply against the won overnight, sending the U.S. dollar down 13.50 won to 1,465.00 won. 2026-01-15 06:15:19

PHOTOS:Crowds flock to ice festival in Hwacheon Hwacheon, January 14 (AJP) - On a white canvas of snow-covered ice, hundreds of people hunched over holes drilled into the frozen river, their fishing lines disappearing into the dark waters below. Despite temperatures plunging to -14 degrees Celsius and heavy snowfall, crowds gathered from early morning last Monday, just days after the annual mountain trout-themed Sancheoneo Ice Festival kicked off last weekend. Around 10 a.m., parking lots near the entrance to the festival site were already packed. Visitors from all over the country, armed with thermos flasks and hand warmers stuffed into bags and bundled in heavy winter gear, took their spots on the ice. The sprawling fishing area, covering about 30,000 square meters, features more than 20,000 fishing holes drilled through ice more than 30 centimeters thick. People clutched fishing rods in one hand while holding plastic bags for their catch in the other. Around noon, large snowflakes began to fall, and visibility dropped suddenly, but many of the visitors endured it, with their eyes fixed on their fishing lines. Another fishing area for bare-hand fishing also greeted visitors. Inside a circular pool filled with water, sancheoneo swam in circles. Participants changed into short-sleeved shirts and shorts provided by festival organizers, then waited for their turn. The sight of people lined up in summer clothing in -15-degree weather was enough to make onlookers shiver. Without hesitation, they plunged into the icy water, thrusting their arms deep as they chased the quick-moving fish. Minutes later, shivering but triumphant, they hurried to nearby foot baths, sinking their frozen feet into the hot water and feeling relief wash over them. Various other amusements like sledding also await visitors. They can look at massive ice sculptures while participating in hands-on activities like making traditional snacks. There are also food stalls offering various preparations of sancheoneo - grilled, raw, or fried, providing savory delights for weary visitors after a long day of fishing. As the sun set, most visitors packed up and left, but hundreds of others arrived late, eager to compete for gold prizes awarded to those with the largest catch. Unlike the family-friendly atmosphere of the morning and afternoon fishing hours, the competition, which kicked off at 7 p.m., attracted what seemed to be seasoned anglers equipped with specialized rods, lighting, and various professional gear. The festival, now in its 21st year, runs until the first day of February and continues to attract hundreds of visitors each year. 2026-01-14 18:05:59

Philosophy and AI mix in Korea? Too early to tell SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Peter Thiel and Alex Karp, co-founders of Palantir — one of the world’s most prominent artificial intelligence data analytics companies, now valued at more than $426 billion — share an unusual academic background for Silicon Valley: both studied law and philosophy as undergraduates. Karp went further. He earned a Ph.D. in classical social theory under renowned German philosopher Jürgen Habermas at Goethe University in Frankfurt, grounding his thinking in traditions that probe the nature of reason, power and social systems. The renewed attention to philosophy in tech circles reflects a broader question facing the AI era. Philosophy, long focused on the human mind and modes of reasoning once thought exclusive to humans, is increasingly invoked as AI systems grow capable of mimicking — and sometimes surpassing — human cognitive tasks. As AI spreads rapidly from classrooms to workplaces, concerns over ethics, values and human agency have moved to the foreground. That shift is visible inside AI companies themselves. Amanda Askell, who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from New York University, works as an in-house philosopher at Anthropic. Appearing recently on CBS’s 60 Minutes, she answered host Anderson Cooper’s question — “What is somebody with a PhD in philosophy doing working at a tech company?” — by saying, “I spend a lot of time trying to teach the models to be good, and trying to teach them ethics, and to have good character.” Philosophy’s surprise resurgence in Korea Against this backdrop, philosophy — long regarded as an impractical or declining field — has seen a surge in popularity at some South Korean universities, where AI adoption is among the fastest in the world. At Seoul National University, the early-admission competition rate for the philosophy department rose from 9.92-to-1 in the 2020 academic year to 15.56-to-1 in 2026. Over the same period, linguistics climbed from 6.9-to-1 to 9-to-1, aesthetics from 7.2-to-1 to 12.56-to-1, and religious studies from 6.7-to-1 to 15.33-to-1. At Korea University, regular-admission competition for philosophy increased from 3.73-to-1 in 2020 to 5.27-to-1 in 2026, while linguistics rose from 4.57-to-1 to 6.5-to-1. At Kyungpook National University in Daegu, the philosophy department recorded a 15.6-to-1 competition rate for regular admissions in 2026 — the highest among all departments. Some analysts attribute the trend partly to tech companies showing greater openness to hiring graduates from disciplines such as philosophy and linguistics, valuing skills related to reasoning, language and abstraction. Baek Do-hyung, a philosophy professor at Soongsil University, said the AI era is reshaping how students view career risk. “Unlike when the internet or smartphones first emerged, students aspiring to become IT developers may now worry about job security,” Baek said. “Education increasingly requires the ability to think beyond memorizing established knowledge, which makes philosophical training more relevant.” He added that the AI transition “could become an opportunity to reverse the neoliberal trend that has marginalized foundational disciplines like philosophy within universities.” Moon Sung-hoon, a philosophy professor at Seoul Women’s University, framed the issue more fundamentally. “With the universal adoption of artificial intelligence, we are entering a society where machines use machines — something unprecedented,” Moon said. “This inevitably raises basic questions: What does it mean to be human? What are the signs of humanity? How should people live, and how should society be organized if AI replaces human activity?” Skepticism remains Still, not everyone agrees that philosophy’s rising admissions numbers reflect a genuine AI-driven revival. Some scholars argue the connection is overstated, noting that philosophy has long been a popular major among students preparing for law school, where logical reasoning and analytical writing are heavily tested. Kim Joon-sung, a professor in the Department of Youth Education and Leadership at Myongji University, called recent media coverage “somewhat exaggerated.” “In reality, philosophy departments have been closing at many universities for a long time,” Kim said. Kim, who taught in Myongji University’s philosophy department until 2024, now works in another department after the university stopped recruiting new philosophy majors in 2025. “Even though the department had high enrollment and solid employment outcomes, it was still abolished,” he said. Other universities have followed similar paths. Wonkwang University closed its philosophy department in 2022. Kyungnam University halted new admissions in 2014 and shut the department entirely after its final students graduated in 2021. Daejin University merged philosophy with history in 2016, while Hannam University replaced its philosophy department with a philosophy counseling program in 2014. Kim argued that the recent surge in applicants at elite institutions such as Seoul National and Korea University “appears to be driven more by law school preparation than by a structural link between philosophy and artificial intelligence.” For now, philosophy’s renewed visibility in the AI era may reflect aspiration as much as reality — a sign of changing anxieties about technology, rather than a clear transformation in how universities or labor markets value the discipline. 2026-01-14 17:46:56

Hanwha restructuring lifts Korean stocks as Asian shares end mixed SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Asian equities ended mixed on Wednesday, with South Korea's benchmark index closing at a record high, while markets elsewhere in the region showed divergent performances. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.65 percent to close at 4,723.10. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ fell 0.72 percent to 942.18, as investors rotated selectively between sectors. Market attention centered on Hanwha Group after it unveiled plans to split its businesses, separating defense, energy and financial units from its technology and lifestyle operations. The announcement triggered sharp moves across Hanwha affiliates. Hanwha Galleria jumped 30 percent to 1,622 won, hitting its daily upper limit, while Hanwha Life Insurance climbed 10.4 percent to 3,385 won. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics gained 1.96 percent to 140,300 won, while SK hynix rose 0.54 percent to 742,000 won. Hyundai Motor added 1.35 percent to 411,500 won, and Doosan Enerbility advanced 2.99 percent to 89,600 won. Losses were seen in LG Energy Solution, which fell 1.1 percent to 389,500 won, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which slid 4.7 percent to 615,000 won. In currency markets, the South Korean won weakened to around 1,475 per dollar. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.48 percent to end at 54,341.23, supported by speculation that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could call a snap general election as early as next month, a move investors see as raising the likelihood of more expansionary fiscal policy. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.3 percent to 4,125.94, retreating in afternoon trade after earlier gains. Hong Kong stocks were little changed, with the Hang Seng Index edging up about 0.1 percent. 2026-01-14 17:37:52

SK hynix determined to defend lead through talent and HBM investment SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Over the past year, South Korea’s memory chipmaker SK hynix has nearly quadrupled its market value and overtaken Intel in sales to become the world’s third-largest semiconductor company after behind Nvidia and Samsung Electronics. The turning point came in 2025, a decisive year for the AI-driven chip upcycle. Global semiconductor sales jumped 21 percent to $793 billion, led by AI processors, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and networking chips, according to preliminary data released by Gartner on Tuesday. “AI semiconductors — including processors, high-bandwidth memory and networking components — continued to drive unprecedented growth in the semiconductor market, accounting for nearly one-third of total sales in 2025,” said Rajeev Rajput, senior principal analyst at Gartner. The momentum is set to intensify. “AI infrastructure spending is forecast to surpass $1.3 trillion in 2026,” he added. HBM propels SK hynix past Intel SK hynix climbed to third place as its global revenue surged 37 percent on year to about $61 billion in 2025, powered by explosive demand for HBM used in Nvidia’s AI accelerators. Intel slipped to fourth, with its market share falling to around 6 percent — roughly half the level it commanded in 2021. Kim Duk-ki, a professor of semiconductor systems engineering at Sejong University, said Intel’s long-standing dominance has steadily eroded. “Intel once sat firmly on the throne, but its competitiveness has weakened in recent years,” Kim said. “Even with strong backing from the U.S. government and renewed efforts to rebuild its foundry business, its long-term direction remains uncertain.” By contrast, he said, SK hynix’s rise reflects more than a cyclical rebound. “Given the structural shift driven by AI, this should not be viewed as a temporary phenomenon,” Kim said. “The gap between SK hynix and Intel could persist for some time.” From memory supplier to “full-stack AI” player To cement its lead, SK hynix has decided to invest 19 trillion won ($14 billion) to build an advanced AI memory packaging plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. HBM lies at the heart of the strategy. The technology stacks multiple DRAM layers and integrates them with graphics processing units (GPUs) into a single package. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) currently leads advanced packaging, combining SK hynix’s HBM with Nvidia GPUs using its proprietary Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) process — now a standard for high-end AI chips. SK hynix’s decision to build large-scale packaging facilities is widely seen as an attempt to move beyond the role of a component supplier and realize its vision of becoming a “full-stack AI memory creator.” Its local competitor Samsung Electronics has been pitching its turnkey solution that combines foundry manufacturing, HBM supply and advanced packaging under one roof. The investment is also set to elevate the strategic value of SK hynix’s Cheongju campus as an AI semiconductor production hub. The site already hosts NAND fabs M11, M12 and M15, as well as the P&T3 facility handling back-end processes. To secure next-generation DRAM capacity, SK hynix has committed nearly 20 trillion won to its M15X fab. Originally scheduled for later completion, the facility opened its cleanroom last October and is now installing equipment, with mass production expected to begin as early as the second half of this year. Talent war intensifies As SK hynix climbs the global rankings, it is also investing heavily to secure future growth by retaining and attracting talent. The AI-driven memory supercycle has translated into record performance bonuses, intensifying competition across South Korea’s semiconductor industry. SK hynix recently revamped its profit-sharing system, linking employee bonuses more directly to operating profit and removing caps that previously limited payouts. Industry estimates suggest that if current earnings momentum holds, average bonuses could exceed 100 million won ($75,000) per employee this year, with some projections pointing even higher next year if profits continue to surge. The widening compensation gap is already being felt at rival Samsung Electronics, where employees in the memory division have raised concerns over disparities in rewards despite sharing in the same industry upcycle. The issue has added to labor tensions and renewed calls for changes to performance-based pay structures. The effects are visible upstream as well. Competition ratios for semiconductor majors at universities with recruitment agreements with SK hynix — including Hanyang, Chung-Ang, Sogang and Korea University — have climbed to between 9:1 and 11.8:1, sharply above the average 5.31:1 ratio across 11 elite Seoul-based universities. With AI processors generating more than $200 billion in sales last year and HBM accounting for nearly a quarter of the global DRAM market, Gartner forecasts that AI-related chips could represent more than half of total semiconductor revenue by 2029. 2026-01-14 17:09:29

After EV slowdown, Korea's battery giants pivot to robots via solid-state cells SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - After years of EV-led expansion, South Korea's battery makers are confronting a harsher reality as global electric-vehicle sales cool and clean-energy strategies fragment across regions. In response, the industry is doubling down on solid-state batteries — betting that humanoid robots, rather than cars, may offer an earlier and more reliable route to commercialization. POSCO Future M, the battery materials arm of POSCO Group, said this week it has begun R&D on solid-state battery materials specifically targeting humanoid robots and industrial robotics. Testing of the materials is now under way, with commercialization planned between 2028 and 2030. Solid-state batteries replace liquid electrolytes with solid materials, improving safety, energy density and charging speed compared with conventional lithium-ion cells. By eliminating risks such as electrolyte leakage, thermal runaway and dendrite penetration, the technology also allows for lighter battery packs — features increasingly critical for mobile robots operating for extended periods. The global solid-state battery market was valued at $98.96 million in 2024 and is projected to surge to $1.36 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 41.6 percent, according to Fortune Business Insights. Asia-Pacific accounted for 43.8 percent of the market last year. Samsung SDI leads commercialization push Among sulfide-based solid-state battery developers, Samsung SDI is widely seen as leading the commercialization race. The company aims to bring solid-state cells with energy density of 900 watt-hours per liter (Wh/L) to market by 2027 and is currently supplying samples produced at its Suwon pilot line to customers for performance verification. "Samsung SDI's earnings appear to be passing through their weakest phase," said Kwon Joon-soo, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities. "Short-term momentum remains intact, supported by expectations for energy storage system orders and solid-state battery investment." Last October, Samsung SDI signed a tripartite agreement with Germany's BMW and U.S.-based Solid Power to jointly validate automotive solid-state battery technology. The partners plan to install the cells in BMW's next-generation test vehicles as a final verification step. SK On has set its commercialization target for 2029 — one year ahead of LG Energy Solution's 2030 goal. The company completed a solid-state battery pilot plant at its Daejeon R&D center last year and is now accelerating development. The facility will produce prototype cells for customer supply while evaluating performance and quality. SK On is developing solid-state batteries with energy density of 800 Wh/L, with a long-term target of reaching 1,000 Wh/L. EV headwinds force strategic reset The pivot comes as the EV sector — once the industry's primary growth engine — faces mounting headwinds. LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On are all projected to post operating losses in the fourth quarter of 2025 as automakers scale back electrification plans and cancel battery orders. The combined value of terminated contracts in late 2025 alone exceeded 17 trillion won ($11.5 billion). Ford Motor canceled a 9.6 trillion won battery supply agreement with LG Energy Solution in December, followed days later by the termination of a separate 3.9 trillion won deal with Freudenberg Battery Power Systems. Cathode materials maker L&F disclosed that a 3.83 trillion won high-nickel cathode supply contract signed with Tesla in February 2023 had been reduced to just 9.73 million won — effectively nullifying the deal — amid shifting EV market conditions. Robots emerge as early solid-state adopters By contrast, humanoid robotics is rapidly evolving from a speculative concept into a commercial market. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas this month, Chinese firms accounted for 21 of the 38 exhibitors in the humanoid robotics category. Shanghai-based AgiBot led global shipments with an estimated 5,168 units in 2025, while Unitree Robotics now produces more than 10,000 units per month of its Go2 quadruped robot. Chinese EV maker XPeng's next-generation IRON humanoid robot is equipped with an all-solid-state battery, while Shenzhen-based Engine AI's T800 model features what the company describes as the industry's first dedicated high-performance solid-state cell, capable of four to five hours of continuous operation. As both technologies mature, the convergence of solid-state batteries and humanoid robotics is accelerating toward commercial deployment. Korea joins race via alliance strategy Hyundai Motor Group unveiled production plans for its Atlas humanoid robot, developed by subsidiary Boston Dynamics, at the same exhibition. The automaker aims to produce 30,000 units annually by 2028, with initial deployment focused on parts sequencing at its Metaplant America facility in Georgia. LG Electronics introduced CLOiD, a home-assistant robot with articulated arms and five-fingered hands, outlining its vision for a "Zero Labor Home." Doosan Group and HL Group also showcased robotics platforms at the event. Amid surging demand, all three Korean battery makers have joined the K-Humanoid Alliance, a government-backed consortium launched in April to develop high-density, long-life and high-safety batteries tailored for humanoid robots. The alliance plans to invest 1 trillion won by 2030, with LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On leading battery development alongside AI chipmakers Rebellions and DeepX. For Korea's battery giants, solid-state technology represents both a hedge and a necessity. As China tightens its grip on conventional batteries through scale and cost advantages, the race to commercialize next-generation cells for emerging applications may determine which players remain relevant in the post-EV era. 2026-01-14 17:02:05

Korea's M2 growth moderates as investors favor short-term returns SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s broad money growth stalled in November under a revised definition of M2, reflecting both a statistical adjustment and a deeper shift in investor behavior toward short-term, high-return assets. According to data released Wednesday by the Bank of Korea (BOK), the M2 money supply stood at 4,057.5 trillion won ($2.77 trillion) in November 2025, little changed from the previous month and marking a second consecutive month of flat growth. The figure represents a slight decline from October’s 4,059.5 trillion won. Beginning in January, the BOK revised its M2 methodology in line with International Monetary Fund (IMF) standards, excluding beneficiary certificates — including exchange-traded fund (ETF) units — from the broad money total due to their high price volatility. Under the previous definition, November M2 would have amounted to 4,498.6 trillion won, showing a modest month-on-month increase. Even after accounting for the revision, the data point to heightened liquidity volatility, driven by investor preference for fast-turnover assets such as equities and short-term bonds. On a year-on-year basis, M2 rose 4.8 percent in November, slowing from October’s 5.2 percent increase. While moderating, Korea’s monetary expansion continues to outpace that of major reserve-currency economies, exceeding the United States’ 4.3 percent growth and Japan’s 1.8 percent. Liquidity levels also remain elevated relative to economic output. Data submitted by the BOK to Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the ruling People Power Party show Korea’s M2-to-GDP ratio at 153.8 percent — more than double the 71.4 percent recorded in the United States. The composition of money holdings highlights a growing bias toward liquidity. Financial bonds with maturities of less than two years increased by 4.2 trillion won, while marketable instruments rose by 2.5 trillion won, reflecting a shift away from longer-term financial products amid a buoyant securities market and rising demand for overseas equities. The trend has carried into the new year. Recent data released Tuesday show demand deposits at the country’s five major banks fell by about 27 trillion won from end-December levels, while investor deposits climbed to a record high exceeding 90 trillion won as of Jan. 8 — signaling an accelerating flow of funds from bank accounts into equity markets. By sector, corporations increased their M2 holdings by 11 trillion won in November, while “other financial institutions,” including brokerages and asset managers, added 8.7 trillion won. In contrast, money holdings by households and non-profit organizations declined by 12.3 trillion won, underscoring the rapid shift by individual investors toward riskier assets. 2026-01-14 16:48:28