BTS Comeback D-48: BTS' Jung Kook tops 10.3 billion stream on Spotify streams SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - BTS member Jungkook has surpassed 10.3 billion cumulative streams on Spotify, marking yet another historic milestone for K-pop and the group's anticipated comeback in March. Jungkook surpassed 10.3 billion total streams on his personal Spotify profile (all credits combined). The achievement is a new record for the fastest time an Asian artist has reached the milestone, and also makes him the first K-pop solo artist to surpass the record. The latest marks are particularly notable as it was achieved during Jungkook’s mandatory military service, commonly referred to in Korea as a “military hiatus.” Despite the break in official activities, his Spotify profile continues to log an average of 5.9 million streams per day. His monthly listeners have also remained steady at around 16 million to 17 million, underscoring his reach as a global pop star beyond fandom-driven support. Driving force of the surge is Jungkook’s first solo debut single, ''Seven'' featuring Latto. The track has surpassed 2.77 billion streams, simultaneously setting both a first-ever and fastest-time record among songs by Asian artists. Beyond “Seven,” multiple tracks have crossed the billion-stream threshold, highlighting Jungkook’s strong performance on streaming platforms. The title track from his solo album ''GOLDEN,'' ''Standing Next to You,'' has surpassed 1.39 billion streams. His collaboration with Charlie Puth, ''Left and Right,'' has exceeded 1.15 billion streams, while his solo single ''3D'' has recorded more than 1.1 billion streams. With Seven, Left and Right, Standing Next to You, and 3D, Jungkook now has four tracks that have surpassed the 1.1 billion-stream mark. Jungkook upholds the record for both the first and the largest number held by an Asian solo artist. Additional tracks continue to draw steady attention, including the official soundtrack for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, ''Dreamers,'' which has reached 510 million streams, and his self-composed track ''Still With You,'' which has recorded 410 million streams. Long-running chart performance is also drawing attention beyond cumulative plays. Seven has remained on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs Global chart for 133 consecutive weeks, continuing to extend its own record for the longest chart run by an Asian solo artist. Meanwhile, GOLDEN has charted on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Global chart for 117 weeks, sustaining a record-setting run as the longest-charting album by an Asian solo artist. Jungkook’s 10.3 billion milestone has further highlighted his undiminished global popularity during military service, raising expectations for his post-discharge activities. 2026-02-02 10:49:47

Hawkish Fed expectations weigh on markets, drag Korean shares lower SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) – Asian stocks fell broadly after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, prompting investors to scale back expectations for further interest-rate cuts. Warsh is widely viewed as an inflation hawk, and his nomination triggered a shift in rate expectations that rippled through financial markets. South Korean equities opened lower, U.S. stock futures weakened, gold and silver prices fell sharply, and the U.S. dollar strengthened. The dollar traded at 1,459.00 won, up 7.00 won from the previous session. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index stood at 5,157.36 as of 10:24 a.m., down 1.27 percent, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 1.19 percent to 1,135.87. Stocks slid at the open as foreign investors stepped up selling amid a sharp rise in the won-dollar exchange rate. Losses narrowed later as individual investors moved in to buy on dips. Individual investors purchased a net 1.4755 trillion won worth of shares in early trading, while foreign and institutional investors sold a net 1.5 trillion won and 44.7 billion won, respectively. Most heavyweight stocks traded lower. Samsung Electronics fell 1.18 percent to 158,600 won, while chipmaker SK hynix dropped 2.86 percent to 26,000 won. Battery maker LG Energy Solution slipped 0.25 percent to 397,000 won. Financial and biotech shares also weakened, with Samsung Life Insurance down 1.33 percent to 185,800 won and Samsung Biologics losing 0.34 percent to 1,739,000 won. Automakers bucked the broader decline. Hyundai Motor rose 0.40 percent to 502,000 won, while Kia gained 1.51 percent to 154,900 won. Defense and aerospace stocks also edged higher, with Hanwha Aerospace up 0.08 percent at 1,301,000 won. Shipbuilders traded mixed. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 0.52 percent to 572,000 won, while Hanwha Ocean climbed 1.73 percent to 140,900 won. 2026-02-02 10:45:49

Amy Yang finishes runner-up at shortened LPGA season opener SEOUL, February 2 (AJP) - Amy Yang finished runner-up at this year's LPGA Tour season opener, which was reduced to 54 holes due to bitter cold and strong gusts in Orlando, Florida on Sunday. With the fourth and final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions canceled due to freezing temperatures, Yang, who shot 10-under 206 through the first three rounds, finished second, three shots behind Nelly Korda of the U.S. Without having to hit a single shot on Sunday, Korda, who went winless last season, opened this season by claiming her 16th LPGA career victory, the first in 14 months, earning US$315,000 from the $2.1 million prize purse. Yang was aiming for her seventh LPGA victory since winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June 2024, but will have to wait for next time. Meanwhile, Hwang You-min, making her LPGA debut, tied for fifth at 5-under 211 with Japan's Miyu Yamashita. Last year's champion Kim A-lim ended in a tie for ninth at 3-under 213, along with Lee So-mi and Ryu Hae-ran. 2026-02-02 10:24:06

Rising overseas demand pushes Korean seaweed prices to record levels SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Dried seaweed prices in South Korea have climbed to a record high as rising exports tighten domestic supply and fuel broader seafood inflation. Data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. showed Monday that the average retail price of mid-grade dried seaweed reached 1,515 won per 10-sheet pack in late January, the first time the period average has exceeded 1,500 won, or more than 150 won per sheet. Prices have risen about 50 percent over the past two years. Retail prices held near 100 won per sheet through early 2024 before climbing past 150 won per sheet by late January this year. The increase has accelerated since 2023. The annual average retail price rose 10 percent in 2023 from a year earlier, surpassing 100 won per sheet, then jumped another 25 percent in 2024. Prices continued rising last year, increasing by around 8 percent. Strong export demand has been a key driver. Seaweed exports last year rose 13.7 percent from a year earlier. By shipment volume, the largest destinations were Japan with 18.6 percent, followed by China at 17.5 percent, Thailand at 13.6 percent, the United States at 13.3 percent, Russia at 9.8 percent and Taiwan at 5.1 percent. Yang Young-jin, director general for fisheries policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said production of the 2025 crop increased compared with the previous year, but rising exports and domestic consumption absorbed the additional supply. He added that higher export prices, which began rising in 2024, have continued and are influencing domestic pricing, limiting the potential for price declines at home. Rising seaweed prices are also feeding into seafood inflation. In December, consumer prices for seaweed rose 14.9 percent from a year earlier, outpacing other seafood items such as yellow corvina, up 10.5 percent, and mackerel, up 10.3 percent. With prices rising across major seafood products, seafood inflation averaged 5.9 percent last year, nearly triple the overall consumer inflation rate of 2.1 percent. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-02 09:47:02

Joint research team develops wearable OLED hat to combat hair loss SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - A joint team of researchers from South Korea and Hong Kong has developed a wearable light therapy platform designed like a hat to treat hair loss. By using flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), the device suppresses the aging of hair follicle cells by approximately 92 percent. The project was led by Professor Choi Kyung-cheol from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in collaboration with Professor Yun Chi from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Light therapy has emerged as a safe alternative to pharmaceutical hair loss treatments, which can cause side effects during long-term use. However, existing light therapy devices are typically heavy, rigid helmets that use point-source light like LEDs or lasers. These structures are often uncomfortable to wear and fail to distribute light evenly across the curved surface of the human scalp. The researchers addressed these limitations by using OLEDs, which emit light from a flat surface rather than a single point. By integrating near-infrared (NIR) OLEDs into a flexible, fabric-like material, they created a light source that fits naturally inside a hat. This design allows the light to stay in close contact with the scalp, ensuring that stimulations are delivered uniformly to all affected areas. The technology works by targeting dermal papilla cells, which are located at the base of hair follicles and control hair growth. While different colors of light cause different cellular reactions, the team used wavelength control technology to emit near-infrared light specifically between 730 and 740 nanometers. This specific range was found to be the most effective for activating hair follicle cells and preventing them from aging. In laboratory tests using human dermal papilla cells, the near-infrared OLEDs reduced cell aging by 92 percent compared to a control group. This result outperformed traditional red light therapy. The flexible nature of the platform allows users to receive treatment during daily activities rather than being restricted to indoor use with heavy equipment. "By implementing fabric-based OLEDs that are as soft as cloth, we have proposed a wearable light therapy platform that can be used in everyday life," said Cho Eun-hae, the lead author of the study. Professor Choi Kyung-cheol noted that the thin and flexible nature of OLEDs is ideal for ensuring uniform light delivery to the scalp. The research team plans to conduct further pre-clinical studies to verify the safety and long-term effectiveness of the device for commercial medical use. The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea. The findings were published online in the journal Nature Communications on January 10. (Paper information) Journal: Nature Communications Title: Wearable textile-based phototherapy platform with customized NIR OLEDs toward non-invasive hair loss treatment 2026-02-02 09:40:56

K-pop OST "Golden" wins Grammy, marking first victory for K-pop songwriters SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -“Golden,” an original soundtrack from Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards, marking the first-ever Grammy win for K-pop songwriters and producers. The award was announced during the Premiere Ceremony of the 68th Grammys held in Los Angeles. Unlike performance-based categories, Best Song Written for Visual Media is awarded to songwriters and producers, recognizing excellence in composition for film and television. With the win, all creators involved in “Golden” are officially credited as Grammy Award winners. Riding on the global success of K Pop Demon Hunters, “Golden” also achieved a rare chart milestone, becoming the first K-pop song to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart, underscoring the genre’s expanding reach in major Western markets. The track was co-written and produced by EJAE (Lee Jae), Teddy, 24, and producer collective IDO, which includes Lee Yu-han, Kwak Jung-kyu and Nam Hee-dong. Additional credited writers include Park Hong-jun, Seo Jung-hoon and Mark Sonnenblick. While Korean engineer Hwang Byung-joon and Korean-American engineer Youngin have previously won Grammys in technical categories, this is the first time K-pop songwriters or music producers have received the award for their creative work — a milestone signaling a shift in how K-pop is recognized within the global music industry. “Golden” led the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack as a self-empowerment anthem performed in character by EJAE as a member of the fictional girl group Huntr/x. The song topped the Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks in 2025 and received four Grammy nominations this year, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. In the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, where “Golden,” Rosé’s “APT.” and KATSEYE’s “Gabriela” were nominated, the award went to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. K-Pop Demon Hunters was one of Netflix’s most-watched films in 2025 and a standout piece of global pop culture. With “Golden’s” Grammy win — along with its Golden Globe victory and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song — the film has now delivered K-pop its first Grammy triumph. 2026-02-02 09:28:36

Majority of workers use AI to enhance productivity, survey finds SEOUL, February 2 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly driving workplace productivity in South Korea, with more employees using AI tools to cut repetitive tasks and devote more time to strategic and creative work, according to data released on Monday by workplace solutions company Notion. The findings are based on a survey of 480 office workers and freelancers who have used AI. Some 61.5 percent of respondents said they used AI tools for work, a rate much higher than usage for daily assistance (46.7 percent), learning and self-development (33.5 percent), and leisure activities (33.1 percent). They said AI was most helpful for research (25 percent), followed by summarizing information (15.4 percent), refining phrasing (13.5 percent), writing reports and documents (9.8 percent), and translation (9.8 percent). More than 60 percent of respondents said AI tools reduce time spent on simple, repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on creative and strategic work and improve efficiency. Workers in their late 30s were the most active users of AI tools for work, at 71.7 percent, while those in their late 20s were the most likely to use AI more broadly, across both work and daily life. Among those in their mid-to-late 30s, AI has become a regular part of their day-to-day work, with many using AI tools at least six days a week, making them the most familiar with AI of any age group. Nearly 90 percent of respondents said AI tools will bring positive changes to the way they work, although barriers remain. Many cited lack of reliability (41.6 percent), concerns about data security and privacy (30.1 percent), and inconsistent results (23.7 percent) as reasons AI has not been more widely adopted. Nearly all respondents or 97.5 percent said they verify and revise AI-generated content before using it, indicating that while workers embrace AI as a useful tool, they remain cautious about relying on it entirely. "As AI takes over simple, repetitive tasks, a new work environment is emerging where people can focus on strategy, creativity, and collaboration," said Park Dae-sung, head of Notion's office in Seoul. 2026-02-02 09:25:59

K-economy analysis: hot chips, hot stocks — and a narrow growth base SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -A booming semiconductor cycle and a frothy equity rally have lifted sentiment around the Korean economy, but the apparent strength rests on an increasingly narrow base, leaving broader growth and domestic demand lagging behind. Exports and stock prices are sending powerful bullish signals. Korea’s benchmark equity index surged to record territory in January, while outbound shipments continue with record-setting growth streak, fueling talk of a durable recovery. Yet headline momentum obscures a deeper imbalance: growth is being pulled forward by a handful of capital-intensive industries, while large swaths of manufacturing, domestic demand and employment remain stuck in stagnation. The divergence is most evident in international comparison. Korea’s real GDP growth rounded to 1.0 percent last year, among the weakest in Asia. Taiwan — also heavily exposed to semiconductors — expanded 8.63 percent, while China grew 5 percent, Singapore 4.8 percent, and Hong Kong 3.5 percent. Despite sharing a similar export profile with Taiwan, Korea has captured far less spillover into consumption, jobs and non-IT investment. Exports remain strong. Shipments rose 3.8 percent last year to $709.4 billion, crossing the $700 billion mark for the first time. January exports surged 33.9 percent on year to $65.85 billion, reinforcing expectations of another strong annual performance. But the rebound is highly concentrated. Semiconductor exports jumped 21.9 percent last year to $175.3 billion, riding a global chip supercycle amplified by artificial intelligence investment. Passenger car exports edged up 0.3 percent, while ship exports climbed 24 percent. The chip strength maintained over 20-percent growth in January. Traditional manufacturing tells a different story. Steel exports fell 4.5 percent, petroleum products 9.4 percent, auto parts 6.5 percent, wireless communication devices 6.2 percent, and home appliances 17 percent, reflecting global oversupply, rising trade barriers and weakening downstream demand. As a result, export dependence has deepened. Semiconductors accounted for 25 percent of total exports last year, up sharply from 16 percent in 2023. The top five export items — semiconductors, passenger cars, steel, petroleum products and ships — together made up 52 percent of total shipments, underscoring the growing concentration of Korea’s export engine. Stock-market strength outpaces the real economy Equity markets have amplified the sense of recovery. Chipmakers, shipbuilder and defense-related stocks have driven index gains, buoyed by strong earnings and optimistic forward guidance. But the rally has remained sector-specific, offering limited support to small manufacturers, service firms or regional economies. Domestic demand remains subdued. Retail sales rose just 0.5 percent last year, with spending gains concentrated in automobiles and communication devices. Sales of clothing, cosmetics and other everyday goods declined, highlighting the disconnect between asset prices and household sentiment. Industrial activity reflects the same split. Overall manufacturing output increased 1.6 percent, but total shipments were flat as domestic shipments fell 2.6 percent, offsetting export growth. The recovery is export-led, not consumption-led — a pattern that limits job creation and income growth. A K-shaped economy hardens The imbalance is becoming structural. Production at small and medium-sized manufacturers fell 3.3 percent last year, the steepest decline since records began a decade ago. Large manufacturers posted a 3.0 percent increase, pushing their output index to a record high. Growth accounting underscores the distortion. Without the semiconductor boom, Korea’s growth rate would have fallen to around 0.4 percent. The IT sector contributed roughly 0.6 percentage points to growth, with semiconductors alone accounting for about 0.9 percentage points, offsetting sharp contractions elsewhere. Construction investment dropped nearly 10 percent, shaving 1.4 percentage points off growth. Employment-intensive sectors such as construction, steel and petrochemicals continue to struggle, while job gains have been concentrated in services linked to aging demographics rather than productive investment. Policy constraints come into focus The chip-led surge leaves policymakers with limited tools. Broad monetary easing, the central bank argues, would do little to address sectoral polarization and could worsen asset and income inequality by further inflating stocks and property. Instead, authorities are relying on targeted credit programs and industrial support for vulnerable sectors, while holding interest rates steady. The strategy reflects a growing consensus that Korea’s challenge is not cyclical weakness, but structural imbalance — one that interest rates alone cannot fix. For now, booming chips and soaring stocks provide a powerful narrative of resilience. But the longer growth remains dependent on a narrow set of industries, the greater the risk that today’s recovery hardens into a prolonged K-shaped expansion — one that lifts markets but leaves jobs, incomes and domestic demand behind. As AI and semiconductor investment accelerate, Korea faces a paradox: the industries driving growth are also those least capable of spreading it widely. Without a broader revival in traditional manufacturing and consumption, the gap between headline strength and economic reality is set to widen further. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-02-02 07:21:17

KOSPI shatters records in historic January rally SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI delivered one of the most explosive monthly rallies in the history of the local stock market in January, with virtually every major indicator posting record or near-record figures. According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the KOSPI closed January at 5,224.36 last Friday, up 1,010.19 points from the previous month-end. The index gained 23.97 percent over the month, marking its strongest monthly performance since October 1998. Since the early 2000s, the KOSPI has recorded a monthly gain exceeding 20 percent only twice, including this January. The rally was accompanied by extreme intramonth volatility. The index climbed as high as 5,321.68 during the month, repeatedly setting new highs, while the January low stood at 4,216.68 — a swing of more than 1,100 points within a single month. The sharp rise translated directly into a surge in market capitalization. Total KOSPI market value stretched to 4,319 trillion won at the end of January from about 3,478 trillion won at the end of last year, adding roughly 840 trillion won in just one month. Heavy liquidity inflows underscored the market’s momentum. January trading turnover on the KOSPI reached 568 trillion won, the highest monthly total on record, nearly double the 302 trillion won recorded in the previous month. Trading volume also jumped sharply to 11.55 billion shares from 8.4 billion shares, signaling a clear increase in investor participation. Investor interest intensified further as sidelines cash flowed back into equities. As of Jan. 29, investor deposits stood at 103.7 trillion won, having surpassed the 100 trillion-won mark earlier in the week. Margin trading also hit an all-time high, with outstanding credit loans exceeding 30 trillion won for the first time. The number of active stock trading accounts reached 100.2 million as of Jan. 29, up about 1.73 million from the end of last year. Active accounts refer to those holding at least 100,000 won in assets and having traded at least once in the past six months. Given South Korea’s population of roughly 50 million, the figure implies that each citizen holds, on average, more than two active trading accounts. Despite mounting concerns over valuation and leverage, securities firms remain broadly constructive on the medium- to long-term outlook, citing earnings improvement and favorable liquidity conditions. “Leadership centered on artificial intelligence-related stocks is likely to persist,” said Na Jung-hwan, an analyst at NH Investment and Securities Co.. “From a return enhancement perspective, gradually increasing exposure to cyclical sectors as economic indicators improve remains a valid strategy.” 2026-02-01 18:39:47

'Bedford Park' Wins Sundance Special Jury Award for Debut Feature SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -"Bedford Park", a romance starring Korean actors Son Suk-ku and Moon Choi, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, marking a strong showing for Korean-led storytelling at the world’s leading showcase for independent cinema. The award, which recognizes a first-time feature director, was presented during the festival’s closing ceremony in Park City, where the film had its world premiere last week. The jury cited the film “for inviting us into a world we’ve never seen depicted on film, and daring to share the very personal,” adding that the filmmaker “upended all of our assumptions of a story told with depth and skill.” Written and directed by Korean American filmmaker Stephanie Ahn, Bedford Park follows Audrey (Moon), a Korean American woman in her 30s haunted by childhood abuse. After her mother is injured in a car accident, Audrey returns to her parents’ home in New Jersey, where she meets Eli (Son), the man responsible for the crash. As the two confront their pasts as children of immigrants, a fragile romance takes shape. The film was produced by Gary Foster, Chris S. Lee, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Theresa Kang and Son, and features a supporting cast that includes Won Mi-kyung, Kim Eung-soo and Jefferson White. The title screened at Sundance as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition and is available online to festival audiences. Moon, known in Korea as Choi Hee-seo, has built a career across film and television, with credits including "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet", "Mistress and Now", "We Are Breaking Up". Her breakout role came in the 2017 historical drama "Anarchist From Colony", for which she won both best actress and best new actress at the Grand Bell Awards. Son has emerged as a fan favorite through television dramas such as "My Liberation Notes" and "D.P.", as well as the 2022 action hit "The Roundup," which drew more than 12 million admissions in Korea. Bedford Park marks the first U.S. production for both actors, who previously worked together in Korean projects including "Unframed" and "Night Fishing." Widely regarded as the most important launchpad for independent American cinema, Sundance has a growing history of spotlighting Korean and Korean American stories. Recent titles include "Past Lives" by Celine Song and "Minari" by Lee Isaac Chung, both of which went on to gain major awards recognition. Many of these films, like Bedford Park, explore themes of identity, generational tension and the immigrant experience. Separately, the Sundance Institute announced this week that the festival will relocate to Boulder, Colorado, beginning in 2027, ending its long run in Utah after the 2026 edition. According to industry publication Variety, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Bedford Park. A release date has not yet been announced. 2026-02-01 15:56:57