Korean pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon arrested over alleged role in court rampage SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -South Korean ultra-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church was arrested at court on suspicion of orchestrating a violent rampage at the Seoul Western District Court following the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol last year on Wednesday, the same day prosecutors asked for a death penalty for Yoon for his ill-served marital-law attempt. The Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for Jeon after a pre-arrest hearing, citing concerns that he could destroy evidence or flee. Senior Judge Kim Hyung-seok, who presided over the warrant review, said the risk factors justified taking Jeon into custody. Jeon is accused of instigating aggravated trespass of a public building by encouraging supporters to storm the court in the early hours of Jan. 19, 2025, shortly after Yoon’s arrest. Prosecutors allege that demonstrators smashed court fixtures and assaulted police officers during the incident. Investigators say Jeon exerted psychological control over followers under the guise of religious devotion and provided financial support to close aides and conservative YouTubers to incite violence. Police believe such actions played a central role in mobilizing the crowd. A total of 141 people have been sent to trial in connection with the rampage, including two individuals described as Sarang Jeil Church “special mission evangelists.” During the warrant hearing, police argued that Jeon posed a flight risk, citing his regional network known as “Freedom Village” and the possibility he could leave the country. Authorities also raised concerns about evidence destruction, noting that a church office computer was replaced in July last year shortly before a search and seizure. Before attending the hearing at around 9:50 a.m., Jeon held a news conference and denied the allegations, saying, “Now that it’s a left-wing president, they’re having a fit trying to arrest me.” He has consistently rejected claims that he instigated the violence, maintaining that he urged supporters not to clash with police. The arrest follows a procedural delay. Prosecutors initially rejected a police request in December to seek warrants for Jeon and Shin Hye-sik, head of the YouTube channel Shinui Hansu. After supplementary investigations, prosecutors requested a warrant for Jeon alone on Jan. 7. Police said they plan to soon refer Jeon’s case to prosecutors along with other suspects, including Shin. Jeon’s arrest marks the fourth time he has been taken into custody. In 2018, he was sentenced in a first trial to 10 months in prison for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 19th presidential election. An appeals court later reduced the sentence to six months, suspended for two years. He was arrested again in February 2020 ahead of the 21st general election on another election-law violation and released on medical bail. In September that year, he was re-imprisoned for violating bail conditions but later released after being acquitted. Jeon also faced a possible arrest in January 2020 during the Moon Jae-in administration over allegations that he led a violent protest near the presidential office, though a warrant was denied at the time. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 22:27:14

Special counsel seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over failed martial law bid SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk on Wednesday sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of leading an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Cho’s team asked the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25, presided over by Judge Ji Gui-yeon, to impose the maximum sentence during the final sentencing hearing, describing Yoon as the “ringleader” of an anti-constitutional attempt to seize control of the state. The prosecution’s sentencing request had originally been expected on Jan. 9 but was postponed after the review of documentary evidence and final arguments by Yoon and other defendants ran past midnight. The court scheduled an additional hearing, which concluded on Wednesday. Special counsel Park Eok-su said the martial law episode “betrayed the constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ freedoms” and “essentially infringed upon national security and the survival of the people,” adding that its purpose, methods and execution bore “the character of anti-state activity.” Park said it had become clear whom Yoon had labeled “anti-state forces” to justify the declaration, criticizing what he called an unprecedented “serious destruction of the Constitution.” He cited the storming of the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, as well as attempts to cut off electricity and water supplies to media outlets. According to the prosecution, Yoon declared martial law to seize control of the judiciary and legislature and to remain in power for an extended period, mobilizing state resources meant to serve the national community. Park added that Yoon had shown no reflection on the harm caused to constitutional order and democracy, arguing that “the biggest victims were the people who protected democracy through sacrifice against dictatorship and authoritarianism.” Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to declare unconstitutional and illegal martial law despite the absence of war, armed conflict or a comparable national emergency. Prosecutors allege he incited a riot aimed at undermining the constitutional order. He is also accused of deploying martial law troops and police to block access to the National Assembly in an effort to prevent lawmakers from voting to lift the decree, and of attempting to arrest and detain key political figures. Those allegedly targeted include National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, President Lee Jae Myung, who was then leader of the Democratic Party, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and senior officials at the National Election Commission. The trial involves eight defendants regarded as ringleaders of the martial law attempt, including Yoon and Kim. Yoon triggered a major political crisis when he announced the suspension of civilian rule in December 2024 and dispatched troops to parliament. The attempt collapsed within hours after lawmakers scaled fences and broke through a security cordon to convene and vote down the decree. He was detained in January 2025, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody. If convicted, Yoon would become the third South Korean president found guilty of insurrection, following former military leaders Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who were convicted for their roles in a 1979 coup. In 1997, the Supreme Court upheld life imprisonment for Chun and a 17½-year sentence for Roh, though both were later pardoned. Even if Yoon is sentenced to death, an execution is considered highly unlikely. South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment since December 1997, following President Kim Dae-jung’s inauguration in 1998. The court is expected to deliver its verdict in February, bringing to a close more than a year of political upheaval following Yoon’s failed martial law declaration. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 22:16:29

Japan and Korean stocks keep up rally SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Asian equities were mostly higher on Tuesday, led by sharp gains in Japan and Korea. In Seoul, the KOSPI rose 1.5 percent to close at a fresh high of 4,692.6, helped by gains in autos, energy and industrial shares. In contrast, the tech-heavy KOSDAQ edged down 0.1 percent to finish at 948.9. Among blue-chip stocks, Samsung Electronics edged down 0.7 percent to 137,900 won ($93.5), while SK hynix slid down 1.4 percent to 738,000 won, weighing on the broader market. Automakers led the market higher, with Hyundai Motor surging 10.6 percent to close at 406,000 won, marking one of the strongest performances among large-cap stocks and providing a key lift to the benchmark index. The rally came after Hyundai Motor showcased its latest advances in humanoid robotics and autonomous driving at CES 2026, while investor sentiment was further supported by the appointment of a global autonomous-driving expert to lead its software-defined vehicle and self-driving strategy. Energy, defense and industrial shares also posted strong gains. Hanwha Systems jumped 13.8 percent to 88,400 won, while POSCO Holdings advanced 14.1 percent to 353,000 won. Samsung SDI climbed 7.6 percent to 299,000 won, extending gains in battery-related shares. Shipbuilding and utility stocks moved higher as well, with Hanwha Ocean rising 2.6 percent to 149,400 won and Korea Electric Power Corp. gaining 8.6 percent to close at 55,400 won. The Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,474.1 after losing 6.1 versus the dollar on continued foreign selling and global-wide greenback strengthening. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 3.1 percent to close at 53,549.2, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.7 percent to 26,783. In contrast, China’s Shanghai Composite edged down 0.6 percent to finish at 4,138.8, as investors took profits following the recent rally. 2026-01-13 18:03:04

Rigorous Korean hair formula behind perfect K-drama hair fuels global sales SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) — Long, glossy black hair catching the light as it moves in the breeze has become a familiar image of Korean heroines in romantic dramas. The look has captivated global audiences — and it is translating into booming overseas sales of Korean hair-care products. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), cosmetics exports reached a record $11.4 billion in 2025, up 12.3 percent from a year earlier. The United States and Japan ranked as the two largest destinations, accounting for $2.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. That momentum is increasingly visible in hair care. Trade data based on HS Code 33.05 show that Korean hair-care exports totaled about $471 million in the 12 months through November 2025. The United States remained the largest market at roughly $103 million, and also the fastest-growing, with shipments rising by about $35 million between 2023 and 2024. Search data point to the same trend. Google Trends shows steady growth in global searches for “Korean hair care” throughout 2025, with notable spikes mid-year and particularly strong interest in countries such as Qatar, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, underscoring rising international curiosity. That curiosity is no accident. Industry research from Grand View Research indicates that global hair-care demand is shifting toward function-driven products, especially those focused on scalp health and damage repair — segments where premium formulations are growing fastest. Korean hair care closely follows the science-backed logic of K-beauty itself: prevent, treat and heal, with specialized products for each step rather than a single all-purpose solution. The shift is already showing up in company earnings. The Skin Factory Co., which operates the hair-care brand Kundal, posted estimated revenue of 124.1 billion won ($84.6 million) last year, up 6 percent from a year earlier. Overseas sales accounted for about 52 percent of total revenue, surpassing domestic sales for the first time. Wyatt Corp., owner of shampoo brand Dr.FORHAIR and hair-treatment label UNOVE, also reported record sales, crossing 100 billion won in annual revenue for the first time since its founding. “As K-beauty gained popularity in markets like the U.S. and Japan, hair products naturally followed,” said Kwon Kyu-seok, chief executive officer of Wyatt. “Rising overseas demand played a decisive role in pushing our sales beyond 100 billion won.” Once a supporting category, hair care is now emerging as a core export engine of K-beauty — powered as much by laboratory formulas as by the effortless shine seen on screen. 2026-01-13 17:58:31

PHOTOS:Tracking horse history in the Year of Horse SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - An exhibition titled “Year of the Horse, 2026: Galloping into Eternity,” planned by the Cultural Heritage Administration, opened on Jan. 9 at The Heritage of Shinsegae Department Store’s main branch in central Seoul, marking the Year of the Horse in 2026. The exhibition explores the cultural and historical significance of horses from ancient times to the present, examining how they have coexisted with humans and shaped life and society. The exhibition is co-hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. It brings together a wide range of artifacts and works, including ancient clay figurines, horse armor, decorative crafts, photographs, sculptures and artificial intelligence (AI) videos, illustrating how horses have symbolized mobility, survival, authority, belief and hope throughout history. The exhibition runs from Jan. 9 to Jan. 25. The exhibition consists of a prologue, four thematic sections and an epilogue. The prologue presents an AI-generated video of galloping horses, visually conveying the enduring presence of horses across time and space. Section 1, “The Horse, Holding Hope,” explores the symbolic meanings of horses through Silla-era clay figurines and pottery. The clay figurines, crafted with expressive faces and dynamic postures, reflect the lives and aspirations of people of the time. Also on display is a long-necked jar engraved with a procession of mounted figures, illustrating how horses were perceived as symbols of movement, protection and authority. Section 2, “The Horse, Forged in Strength,” focuses on the role of horses on the battlefield, centered on a reproduction of Gaya-era horse armor. The armor was constructed by linking iron plates into a flexible structure, divided into sections protecting the horse’s forelegs, saddle area, hind legs and head. The design highlights how mobility and protection were balanced, underscoring the strategic importance of horses in warfare. Section 3, “The Horse, Attired with Dignity,” presents decorative crafts including an ornate horse ornament excavated from Tomb No. 44 in the Cheonmachong cluster in Gyeongju. Horse ornaments were used to adorn horses and symbolized both the animal’s stature and the status of its owner. Intricate decorations and luxurious materials, such as jewel beetle wings, reveal the elevated status and aesthetic value of horses in ancient society. Section 4, “The Horse, Companion for the Future,” features works by contemporary sculptor Jake Lee, depicting the evolving relationship between humans and horses in modern and future contexts. Sculptures of a mare and her foal convey themes of care, connection and coexistence, symbolizing the continuity of the human-horse bond. The epilogue showcases photographs of Jeju horses taken by National Geographic photographers, portraying the enduring coexistence of horses, humans and nature. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the historical and cultural significance of horses from the past to the present, framed within the symbolism of the Year of the Horse. 2026-01-13 17:58:13

Stock-bound cash hits record as KOSPI powers higher SEOUL, Jan. 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has extended its rally for a third straight week, brushing past the 4,700 level on Wednesday and moving closer to the long-anticipated 5,000 mark, buoyed by a record pile-up of investor cash on the sidelines. According to the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA), investor deposits stood at 88.9 trillion won ($60.4 billion) as of Jan. 9, after briefly topping 92 trillion won a day earlier as retail investors rushed into the market. The KOSPI was the world’s best-performing major equity index in 2025, surging more than 75 percent, and the momentum has carried into the new year. The index gained 7.3 percent from the first trading session of 2026 through Jan. 12. At first glance, the swelling pool of idle cash and the index’s steep ascent point to overheating. A closer look, however, suggests leverage remains largely contained. Consignee unpaid accounts — funds used for credit-based stock purchases that have yet to be settled — totaled 1.1 trillion won as of Jan. 9, accounting for just 1.2 percent of investor deposits. Defaults within those credit positions stood at 11.8 billion won, or 1.1 percent, indicating that the rally has not yet morphed into unchecked speculative borrowing. Liquidity conditions are also far stronger than during past market shocks. When the yen-carry trade unwound on Aug. 5, 2024, triggering a “Black Monday” sell-off, investor deposits hovered near 50 trillion won — roughly 30 to 40 trillion won below current levels. In theory, today’s larger cash buffer offers greater shock-absorbing capacity. Still, market veterans warn against treating deposit figures as an ironclad safety net. “Investor deposits are a lagging indicator, not a leading one, and they can flow out to other asset classes at any moment,” said Kim Hak-kyun, head of research at Shinyoung Securities. Unless idle cash is converted into actual transaction volume, he cautioned, headline liquidity numbers can offer a false sense of security. History backs the caution. In the second half of 2021, deposits stayed above 70 trillion won, yet the KOSPI slid from around 3,300 in June to below 2,900 by November as fears of aggressive U.S. Federal Reserve tightening rattled markets. Currency weakness adds another layer of risk. During the volatility following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the won-dollar exchange rate spiked to 1,300, triggering a flight of deposits into perceived safe-haven assets and accelerating equity losses. With the won weakening past 1,474 per dollar as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, some analysts argue domestic liquidity could again be overpowered by global macro forces. “If an excessively weak won persists beyond a strong-dollar cycle, it could undermine confidence in the economy itself and erode the appeal of Korean equities,” said Oh Gun-young, head of Shinhan Bank’s wealth management division. Structural factors amplify the concern. “Because South Korea relies heavily on imported energy and raw materials, a weak won directly raises production costs and squeezes corporate margins,” said Lee Seung-hoon, a researcher at Meritz Securities, adding that currency depreciation ultimately undercuts industrial competitiveness regardless of how much cash is waiting on the sidelines. 2026-01-13 17:56:14

Korean classrooms are thinning fast and remain isolated from AI transition  SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Fewer than 300,000 children will enter first grade across South Korea when the school year begins in March — the smallest cohort on record. The number is set to fall further as the country's ultra-low birthrate continues to hollow out the school-age population. These eight-year-olds are starting school at a moment when artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping work, production and decision-making across society. Yet serious doubts remain over whether South Korea's education system is prepared to equip them for an AI-driven future — amid a shortage of trained teachers, weak curriculum guidance and limited classroom exposure to AI-related learning. Dropping below 300,000 first-graders is rare among OECD countries. The demographic shock is already reshaping schools: classes are being merged, and campuses are closing, particularly in rural areas where student numbers have collapsed. South Korea's total fertility rate rebounded slightly last year to around 0.8 — its first increase in four years — but remains the lowest in the OECD, far below the group's 2023 average of 1.43. According to the Ministry of Education's latest projections for 2026–2031, the number of first-graders nationwide will fall to 298,178. The milestone was originally forecast for 2027, but updated population registry and enrollment data pushed it forward by a year. In Seoul, education guidelines flag schools with fewer than three classes per grade or fewer than 18 students per class for potential teacher reductions. Daecheong Elementary School in Ilwon-dong, Gangnam — which has just 75 students in total — proposed a merger with nearby Yeonghee Elementary last November, but shelved the plan after parent opposition. In 2025, Daecheong had a single first-grade class with just eight students. AI fills labor gaps — but where do children go? As robots and AI systems increasingly replace younger workers, artificial intelligence is no longer viewed in South Korea merely as a technology, but as a structural response to demographic decline. Education, however, is lagging far behind that shift. Efforts to raise AI literacy and close skills gaps remain rudimentary. While AI capabilities are advancing at breakneck speed, school textbooks still reflect the 2022 curriculum revision, instructional hours devoted to information and AI education remain limited, and trained teachers are in short supply. Under the revised national curriculum in 2022, instructional time for information subjects in primary and secondary schools was roughly doubled. Even so, it remains low by international standards. In elementary schools, information education totals just 34 hours — 0.58 percent of the 5,892 hours taught over six years — and is embedded within practical arts classes rather than taught as a standalone subject. Middle school students receive 68 hours over three years, about 2 percent of total instruction time. In high school, AI-related courses are electives, meaning many students may graduate without ever taking one. By comparison, students in the UK receive about 374 hours of information-related instruction, compared with 405 hours in Japan and 212 hours in Beijing. Reflecting this gap, a survey by the Korea Youth Policy Institute found that teenagers rated their experience with AI education at just over 2 out of 4, indicating limited exposure. "South Korea is trying to build its own AI ecosystem right now, but when it comes to education, I see almost no strategic approach," said An Sun-hoi, a professor at the Graduate School of Education at Joongbu University. "Education is the area where democracy functions the least," An said. "Policies tend to favor educators as a group, while the demands of industry, parents and national strategy are barely reflected." As birth cohorts shrink, the stakes are rising, he warned. "We now have to raise a very small pool of human resources into the core talent that will lead the country." He added that greater authority in student evaluation has not translated into clear improvements in learning outcomes. Teaching fewer children — more deeply Global institutions are calling for a fundamental shift in how societies prepare workers for AI. The World Economic Forum has outlined four possible futures for AI and labor, arguing that a "copilot economy" — where humans and AI work together — is more likely than mass job displacement. McKinsey has likewise emphasized that AI and robotics will increase the value of uniquely human skills such as judgment, communication, coordination and creativity. Both stress that the future will depend not on a small elite of AI developers, but on a broad workforce capable of understanding and collaborating with AI systems. "If South Korea continues with its current education system, we risk creating a society where people are subordinated to AI rather than empowered by it," An said. "Critical and creative thinking cannot exist without a solid foundation in knowledge and concepts." Dr. Nancy Le Nezet, a high school principal at Seoul Foreign School, also emphasized education over restriction. "Adults need to keep pace with technological developments so they can understand how their children use AI and social media," she said. "Taking an interest in their world is the best way to protect them — and also a way for adults to keep learning." Experts increasingly argue that instead of shrinking classrooms and cutting staff in line with falling student numbers, South Korea should seize this moment to redesign public education — allocating more teachers, time and resources to each child. The imbalance is already visible. In Gyeonggi Province, average class sizes in 2025 stood at 21.7 students in elementary schools and 25 in middle schools, both above the national average. Nearly a quarter of classes are overcrowded, forcing schools to rely heavily on temporary teachers. Meanwhile, rural regions are seeing a rapid rise in schools with fewer than 100 students, where staffing shortages make it difficult to offer a full curriculum. 2026-01-13 17:56:02

Ice fishing at day and light festival at dark at Hwacheon SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -A small borderland county of some 20,000 residents readies itself each winter for a global influx of visitors, as Hwacheon opens its doors to the world-famous Ice Fishing Festival. The first glow appears on Seondeung Street, the gateway to Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon Province. Lined with some 27,000 handcrafted mountain-trout lanterns and LED lights, the street becomes a river of light at dusk. Each lantern is made of hanji, traditional Korean paper, painted with trout motifs and crafted over the past year by about 120 elderly residents from five local townships — a quiet collective effort that turns into a dazzling public spectacle. On Saturdays during the festival, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., traffic is halted and the Seondeung Street Festival takes over. K-pop cover dances, pop-up dance battles, DJ sets, magic, bubble and fire shows animate the street, while visitors drift between park-golf experiences, luck games, tarot readings and face painting. Seondeung Street lights up daily from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., continuing through Feb. 8 — a winter night market where handmade lanterns, local rhythms and cold mountain air welcome winter guests long after the sun goes down. 2026-01-13 17:07:20

POSCO raises $700 million in US dollar bond sale SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - POSCO, South Korea’s largest steelmaker, has completed its first U.S. dollar–denominated public bond sale of the year, becoming the first South Korean company to tap the global dollar bond market in 2026. The company said Tuesday that it raised $700 million through a two-part offering comprising $400 million of five-year notes and $300 million of 10-year notes. POSCO initially marketed the bonds at spreads of about 1.15 percentage points over U.S. Treasurys for the five-year tranche and 1.30 points for the 10-year notes. Strong demand during bookbuilding drew more than $6.6 billion in orders from over 180 institutional investors — more than nine times the deal size — allowing the company to tighten pricing. The final spreads narrowed by 0.4 percentage points to 0.75 points for the five-year notes and 0.90 points for the 10-year tranche. The offering came amid heightened geopolitical risks and volatility in global financial markets. POSCO conducted investor meetings in New York, Boston and London in November, followed by briefings for major investors in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore in January, as it sought to build demand ahead of the transaction. Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings rate POSCO at Baa1 and A-, respectively, reflecting the company’s solid market position, POSCO said. POSCO said it plans to use the proceeds primarily to refinance existing debt. “Based on a stable financial structure, we will continue to maintain trust in the global financial markets,” a company official said. 2026-01-13 17:06:40

North Korea's UN envoy defends Russia's airstrikes on Ukraine as 'self-defense' SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - North Korea on Tuesday defended Russia's recent air strike on Ukraine as a "just exercise of the right to self-defense of a sovereign state," amid its deepening military ties with Moscow. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song attended an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting in New York following Russia's barrage of missile attacks on Ukraine last week. In a statement, Kim said, "I express serious concern and strongly denounce and reject the shameless acts of Ukraine which covered up its heinous terrorism against Russia and took issue with Russia over its legitimate measures against it." "The terrorist act targeting the absolute sovereignty of a country can never be justified, and retaliation of justice can never be demonized by any assertion," he added. Russia had earlier warned of retaliation, accusing Ukraine of carrying out drone attacks on President Vladimir Putin's residence late last year and on a civilian café and hotel in occupied Kherson early this month. 2026-01-13 17:04:53