Amorepacific Donates 300 Million Won; WHO.A.U Debuts 2026 Collection; Skinfood Launches Limited Edition Amorepacific donates 300 million won to Hope 2026 giving campaign Amorepacific said Tuesday it donated 300 million won to the Community Chest of Korea’s “Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign.” The company has taken part in the campaign for 24 years since 2002. Since 2008, it has made designated donations to its “Beautiful Life” program to support the economic independence of women in vulnerable groups. Since 2024, it has directed donations to its “MEET YOUR BEAUTY” campaign aimed at helping teenagers develop a healthy sense of beauty. Amorepacific said it plans this year to expand MEET YOUR BEAUTY education through schools and related organizations, while also providing intensive programs for teenagers in vulnerable groups. It also plans to develop a standardized curriculum designed for use in the field to spread a message of inclusive beauty. An Amorepacific official said, “We see it as meaningful to practice social responsibility through the Hope Sharing Campaign,” adding, “We will continue sustainable giving and action so we can support neighbors in need.” E-Land’s WHO.A.U unveils first 2026 collection, “Urban Rhythm” WHO.A.U, operated by E-Land World, said Tuesday it will release its first 2026 collection, “Urban Rhythm,” simultaneously in online and offline stores. The collection is built around the theme of keeping one’s own rhythm in the fast pace of city life. The brand said the lineup reflects the lifestyle of today’s generation seeking balance amid noise and speed, featuring natural silhouettes and lightweight comfort. Key styles include lightweight padded outerwear and a “USA reversible warm-up jacket,” designed for everyday wear such as commuting or walking. The company said the items reflect the “granola girl core” trend, described as a nature-friendly outdoor style. A WHO.A.U official said, “Urban Rhythm is a collection for granola girls who keep their own tempo in the fast flow of the city,” adding that the brand is offering outerwear that combines style and mobility for a range of everyday settings. Skinfood launches limited-edition “Manggeureojin Bear” line in Olive Young collaboration Skinfood said Tuesday it is joining a collaboration campaign with Olive Young and the character Manggeureojin Bear, releasing a limited-edition lineup of pad and mask products. The main item, the “Manggeureojin Bear Collab Pad Double Planning Set (three types),” includes two full-size products and a free Manggeureojin Bear pouch (one of two types, selected at random). The “Manggeureojin Bear Collab Carrot Mask Planning Set” includes seven masks (5+2). Buyers of the planning sets will also receive a Manggeureojin Bear hair-fixing sheet. The products will be available starting Feb. 1 at Olive Young online and offline stores. To mark the launch, Skinfood said it will offer discounts of up to 40% throughout February, with discounts of up to 41% from Feb. 1-8. A Skinfood official said the collaboration with the popular character adds collectibility, and the company will continue trying new approaches to offer fresh brand experiences and enjoyment.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 17:15:17

Daehan Flour Mills to Cut Flour Prices by an Average 4.6% Starting Next Month Daehan Flour Mills said Tuesday it will cut prices on some flour products by an average 4.6% starting Feb. 1, citing the government’s push to stabilize prices. The cuts apply mainly to large 20-kilogram products supplied to businesses, including Gompyo Premium Noodle Flour (Australian wheat), Gom (first-grade all-purpose) and Elephant (first-grade bread flour). They also cover 3-kilogram, 2.5-kilogram and 1-kilogram products supplied to retailers. A company official said external factors remain uncertain, including recent tariff talks with the United States, but the won-dollar exchange rate has been gradually stabilizing. The official said the company decided on the cut to align with the government’s price-stability policy and respond to consumer demand, adding that it hopes the move will help ease household grocery costs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 17:12:25

SK hynix posts record 2025 profit, topping Samsung Electronics for first time Riding a boom in AI semiconductors, SK hynix posted record annual revenue and operating profit last year, and its operating profit topped Samsung Electronics’ annual operating profit for the first time. SK hynix said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that it posted 97.1467 trillion won ($97,146.7 billion) in revenue and 47.2063 trillion won ($47,206.3 billion) in operating profit. Net profit was 42.9479 trillion won ($42,947.9 billion). Revenue rose 46.7% from a year earlier and operating profit jumped 101.1%. The results surpassed the company’s previous record set in 2024. Revenue increased by more than 30 trillion won, and operating profit roughly doubled, setting a new annual high. SK hynix’s operating profit also exceeded Samsung Electronics’ companywide operating profit of 43.53 trillion won ($43,530.0 billion) over the same period. SK hynix’s operating margin was 49%. Momentum was especially strong in the fourth quarter, as demand rose not only for high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, but also for general-purpose server memory. SK hynix said it posted record quarterly figures, with revenue up 34% from the previous quarter to 32.8267 trillion won ($32,826.7 billion) and operating profit up 68% to 19.1696 trillion won ($19,169.6 billion). The operating margin was 58%. The company said the AI market is shifting from training to inference, expanding demand for distributed architectures and increasing the importance of memory. It expects demand to keep growing across memory products, including high-performance memory such as HBM, as well as server DRAM and NAND. SK hynix said it is the only company in the industry able to supply both HBM3E and HBM4 stably, and it will strengthen its technology lead along with verified quality and mass-production capabilities. It said HBM4, for which it built a mass-production system in September, is now being produced to meet customer-requested volumes. The company also said it is preparing to supply optimized products in custom HBM, which it described as an emerging next-generation competitive factor. Backed by its record results, SK hynix said it will carry out shareholder returns totaling 2.1 trillion won ($2,100.0 billion). It decided on an additional dividend of 1,500 won ($1.50) per share, totaling 1 trillion won ($1,000.0 billion). Including existing quarterly dividends, it set the year-end dividend at 1,875 won ($1.88) per share. Total dividends for 2025 will be 3,000 won ($3.00) per share, for an overall payout of about 2.1 trillion won ($2,100.0 billion). The company also said it will cancel all of its treasury shares totaling about 15.3 million shares, equivalent to a 2.1% stake, to boost shareholder value. Based on the previous day’s closing price, the shares are worth about 12.2 trillion won ($12,200.0 billion). Song Hyun-jong, president of SK hynix, said the company will pursue sustainable earnings growth based on differentiated technology while maintaining an optimal balance among future investment, financial stability and shareholder returns. He said SK hynix will strengthen its role as a core infrastructure partner in the AI era by helping customers meet AI performance requirements, beyond simply supplying products. 2026-01-28 17:12:00

SK hynix best-yet Q4 and 2025 income, beating consensus and Samsung Elec SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) -SK hynix, leveraging its dominant lead in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) powering hyperscalers and AI accelerators, delivered its strongest-yet quarterly and annual results and expects further gains this year as global memory revenue approaches $1 trillion. According to a regulatory filing Tuesday, operating income for the quarter ended December surged to 19.17 trillion won ($13.5 billion), up 68 percent from the previous quarter and 137 percent from a year earlier, marking the company’s best quarterly performance on record. Quarterly revenue climbed to a historic high of 32.83 trillion won. The results comfortably beat market expectations. A FnGuide consensus had projected operating profit of 16.4 trillion won on sales of 30.83 trillion won. SK hynix shares closed 5.13 percent higher at 841,000 won, although the earnings were released after market close and earlier than scheduled Thursday, coinciding with Samsung Electronics’ earnings call. For the full year, operating profit more than doubled to 47.2 trillion won from 23.47 trillion won in 2024, surpassing Samsung Electronics’ preliminary consolidated operating profit of 43.5 trillion won for 2025. Annual revenue jumped 47 percent year on year to 97.15 trillion won. An operating margin of 49 percent underscored the pricing power of the pure-play chipmaker, meaning nearly half of every won in chip sales translated into operating profit. “Our results demonstrate the outcome of strategic execution that secured both profitability and growth by reinforcing technology leadership and expanding the share of premium products,” SK hynix said in a statement, adding that 2025 marked “a year in which the company once again proved its world-class technological competitiveness.” SK hynix has been enjoying a clear heyday, overtaking long-time industry leader Samsung Electronics in global memory market share in the first half of the year, largely on the back of its leadership in HBM — widely described as the core memory architecture behind Nvidia’s AI accelerators. Despite market speculation over Samsung Electronics’ rapid progress in sixth-generation HBM4, SK hynix is widely believed to have secured nearly 70 percent of supply allocations for Nvidia’s next-generation Rubin platform, scheduled for release this year. Counterpoint Research estimates SK hynix will command around 54 percent of global HBM4 sales this year, compared with 28 percent for Samsung Electronics and 18 percent for Micron. In HBM3, the company accounted for 62 percent of shipments as of June 2025 and 57 percent of revenue as of September. Goldman Sachs expects SK hynix to maintain a comfortable lead in HBM3 through at least 2026, while UBS forecasts the company will capture around 70 percent of the next AI-standard memory market, HBM4. Bank of America, meanwhile, recently described 2026 as a “supercycle comparable to the memory boom of the 1990s,” projecting year-on-year growth of 51 percent in DRAM sales and 45 percent in NAND, with SK hynix positioned as the primary beneficiary of the industry-wide upswing. 2026-01-28 17:11:48

Hanwha Life Sells $25 Million in Performance-Based Retirement Annuities in 6 Months Hanwha Life said Tuesday that sales of three performance-based retirement pension insurance products reached about 25 billion won in the six months since their launch. As of the end of December 2025, that marks a 397% increase from the 6.3 billion won in assets under management across five existing performance-based insurance funds, the company said. Hanwha Life attributed the growth to product designs that reflect major pension funds’ asset-allocation strategies and to investor confidence in portfolio stability. The “pension asset-allocation” fund spreads investments across domestic and overseas stocks and bonds, as well as derivatives and alternative assets, aiming to manage risk over the long term. The company said it has been selected by multiple organizations as an option for customers who want pension-fund-style management but cannot invest directly. The “dollar MMF” fund seeks interest income by investing in U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade bonds. The “long-term bond” fund is built mainly around bonds with maturities of five years or longer and is designed to pursue capital gains when interest rates fall. “Because retirement pensions are managed over a lifetime, long-term stability matters more than short-term performance,” a Hanwha Life official said. The official added that the company will “contribute to revitalizing the retirement pension insurance fund market” by reflecting customer needs and market trends.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 17:06:00

Rubio Warns U.S. Could Use Force in Venezuela if Other Options Fail U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to warn that the Trump administration could take additional military action if Venezuela’s transitional government fails to meet U.S. expectations. According to The Associated Press, Rubio said in prepared remarks released by the State Department ahead of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Venezuela scheduled for Tuesday that the United States is “prepared to use force to secure maximum cooperation if other methods fail.” “I hope it won’t be necessary, but we will never turn away from our responsibility to the American people and our mission in this hemisphere,” he said. Rubio is expected to strongly defend President Donald Trump’s Venezuela-related actions, including an operation to capture Nicolas Maduro and military strikes on drug-smuggling vessels. “There was no war with Venezuela, and we did not occupy any country,” Rubio said in the prepared text. “U.S. forces were not stationed on the ground. This operation was to support law enforcement.” Rubio also suggested Venezuela’s transitional government, led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, will ultimately comply with Trump’s demands. “Rodriguez knows Maduro’s fate well,” he said. “We believe Rodriguez’s personal interests align with our core objectives.” The AP reported Rubio is expected to cite U.S. core goals as opening Venezuela’s energy sector, giving U.S. companies preferential access to Venezuelan oil production facilities, and using oil revenue to buy U.S.-made products. Rodriguez said earlier that Venezuela and the United States have “established a channel of communication based on mutual respect” and are working with Trump and Rubio to set a practical agenda. After capturing Maduro earlier this month and transferring him to the United States, the United States has been directly leading the sale and management of Venezuelan crude, citing the normalization of Venezuela’s oil industry. It has also sent State Department personnel focused on Venezuela to the country and begun steps toward normalizing relations, including preparations to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing sources, that U.S. officials are working to soon issue a “general license” that would lift some sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector. The report said partners and customers of Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA — including Chevron, Repsol, Italy’s Eni and India’s Reliance Industries — have in recent weeks applied for individual licenses to expand Venezuela’s crude production and exports.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:57:16

SK hynix posts record annual and fourth-quarter revenue and operating profit According to a filing on the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system on Tuesday, SK hynix posted annual revenue of 97.1467 trillion won and operating profit of 47.2063 trillion won last year. That was up 46.8% and 101.2%, respectively, from a year earlier, setting record highs for both revenue and operating profit on an annual basis. Fourth-quarter revenue totaled 32.8267 trillion won, and operating profit was 19.1696 trillion won. The figures rose 66.1% and 137.2% from the same period a year earlier, also marking quarterly records for both revenue and operating profit. The company attributed the gains to surging demand for high-performance semiconductors such as high-bandwidth memory, as the AI era accelerates. By business line, DRAM revenue from HBM more than doubled from a year earlier, while the company maintained competitiveness in mainstream DRAM by moving into full-scale mass production of 10-nanometer-class sixth-generation (1c-nanometer) DDR5. In NAND, it completed development of 321-layer QLC products in the first half and focused on demand for enterprise SSDs in the second half, achieving record annual revenue for the segment. Market expectations compiled earlier by financial data firm FnGuide had projected revenue of 95.2590 trillion won and operating profit of 44.5024 trillion won, meaning SK hynix beat forecasts on both measures. 2026-01-28 16:54:31

South Korean lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong sentenced to 2 years for illegal political funds People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, who was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church, was sentenced in a first trial to two years in prison. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, led by Presiding Judge Woo In-sung, held a sentencing hearing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday for Kwon on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. The court also ordered forfeiture of 100 million won. Kwon was accused of taking 100 million won on Jan. 5, 2022, ahead of the 20th presidential election, from Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church’s World Headquarters, allegedly to facilitate lobbying. He was arrested and indicted in the case. At a closing argument hearing on Dec. 17 last year, the special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki (the Kim Keon Hee special counsel team) asked the court to sentence Kwon to four years in prison and order forfeiture of 100 million won. The court said it recognized that Kwon received the 100 million won, citing that he visited Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, met church leader Han Hak-ja, arranged a private meeting with then-President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, and attended Unification Church events. The court rejected Kwon’s arguments, including claims that the indictment violated the principle barring prejudicial statements and that the case fell outside the special counsel’s investigative scope. On the indictment, the court said it was “somewhat lengthy and includes inappropriate parts,” but did not prejudice the judge or hinder understanding of the alleged crime, and therefore did not violate the rule. On the scope of the special counsel law, the court said a matter may be investigated if it has a reasonable connection to cases defined under Article 2, adding that the special counsel learned of the alleged Political Funds Act violation while investigating allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee received valuables. The court also did not accept Kwon’s claim that evidence was illegally obtained. In explaining the sentence, the court said lawmakers have a constitutional duty of integrity and must act accordingly. It said Kwon took 100 million won in political funds from the Unification Church, betraying public expectations and responsibilities and damaging democracy. As aggravating factors, the court said Kwon served 15 years as a prosecutor and 16 years as a lawmaker and previously chaired the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, making him a legal expert who would have understood the legal meaning of his actions. It also said he denied the charges from the investigation stage and showed no signs of remorse. As mitigating factors, the court said Kwon did not actively demand money from Yoon and noted his roughly 30 years in public service contributing to the country and society, as well as the absence of any notable criminal record. It then imposed a two-year prison term and forfeiture of 100 million won. After the ruling, Kwon sat with his head lowered. Some people in the gallery cried, and a disturbance broke out outside the courtroom. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:54:00

SK hynix to Return 2.1 Trillion Won to Shareholders Through Dividends SK hynix said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that it will carry out a large-scale shareholder return program totaling 2.1 trillion won, citing financial capacity secured through record results. The company decided on an additional dividend of 1 trillion won, or 1,500 won per share. Including its existing quarterly dividend, it set the year-end dividend at 1,875 won per share. Total dividends for 2025 will be 3,000 won per share, bringing the overall payout to about 2.1 trillion won. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:51:00

Lotte Wellfood Launches Premium Ghana Winter Berry Chocolates With Kim Yuna Campaign Lotte Wellfood has unveiled an ad campaign featuring Kim Yuna for its “Premium Ghana” line as it targets the winter dessert market. Lotte Wellfood said Tuesday it released the campaign alongside the launch of three limited-edition winter products. The campaign follows a teaser video released in December after Kim was named the brand ambassador. The main campaign consists of three videos highlighting the limited-edition “Triple Berry,” “Cookie Berry” and “Langue de Chat Cheese Berry.” The ads show Kim opening a large jewelry box in a snow-covered plaza and discovering the products, while emphasizing the colors of berries such as strawberries, raspberries and bokbunja (Korean black raspberry). “Premium Ghana Triple Berry” is a shell chocolate coated in rich Ghana chocolate, with a filling made from strawberries, raspberries and bokbunja, plus strawberry syrup. “Premium Ghana Cookie Berry” layers milk chocolate, triple-berry chocolate and berry powder over a chocolate butter cookie for varied flavors and textures. “Premium Ghana Langue de Chat Cheese Berry” coats a cream-cheese langue de chat cookie with strawberry chocolate. The campaign will run through Feb. 14 on TV and major platforms including YouTube, Instagram and Netflix, the company said. The three winter limited-edition products are being sold through major channels including big-box retailers, convenience stores and e-commerce sites. Lotte Wellfood launched Premium Ghana in 2023 as a higher-end line of Ghana chocolate and has expanded it beyond chocolate into desserts. Based on recipes from professional chocolatiers, the company blends cacao with other ingredients to create a deeper, balanced flavor, and has broadened the lineup to include chocolate bars, bite-size chocolates, shell chocolates, biscuits and ice cream. A Lotte Wellfood official said the campaign was designed to create synergy between Kim, “who fits the winter image,” and the three new berry-themed products, adding that the company plans to keep strengthening Premium Ghana’s image as a premium chocolate dessert brand. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 16:48:00