Presidential chief of staff leaves for UAE to discuss AI and defense cooperation SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in economic and defense sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) and other areas with the Middle Eastern country. In a Facebook post, Kang said he was embarking on a three-day trip for working-level consultations to discuss follow-up measures after President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to the UAE in November last year. Kang also said the trip serves as a return visit following Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, managing director of Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority, traveled to South Korea last month. Kang's trip also comes just months after his previous visit to the UAE, during which he met with Al Mubarak and prepared for Lee's summit with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. At the time, the two leaders discussed opening a high-level dialogue channel and expanding cooperation on AI, while also exploring ways to jointly enter the global nuclear power market by leveraging experience gained from the construction of a nuclear power plant in Barakah, the Arab world's first commercial facility of its kind. 2026-02-24 15:38:56

Rising Delinquencies and Bigger Provisions Cloud South Korean Banks’ Profits Rising loan delinquencies and heavy provisioning are weighing on South Korea’s banks, even as they step up efforts to sell off bad loans. Analysts say asset-quality management is being tested because new delinquencies are increasing faster than banks can dispose of nonperforming loans. According to the financial sector on Monday, banks sold 8.1 trillion won ($8.1 trillion) worth of NPLs last year. Banks typically classify loans delinquent for more than three months as NPLs and, when recovery looks unlikely, sell them to securitization firms to manage delinquency ratios. But delinquency rates have been slow to fall despite aggressive NPL cleanups, as newly delinquent loans are growing faster. Data from the Financial Supervisory Service showed the delinquency rate on won-denominated bank loans stood at 0.50% at the end of last year, the highest since the end of 2015 (0.58%). The corporate-loan delinquency rate rose to 0.59%, up 0.09 percentage points from a year earlier. With banks expected to expand corporate lending this year under a “productive finance” policy push, they are likely to build additional provisions. NPL sales aimed at maintaining asset quality could also increase. NPL sales in the first half are estimated at 4 trillion won, and the annual total is expected to exceed last year’s level. A larger volume of NPL sales can also cut net profit. When bad loans are sold below book value, banks record losses equal to the discount. Some in the industry warn that a full-scale push into corporate lending starting this year could lead to a stronger profit hit in coming years as NPLs rise. “NPL volumes won’t surge immediately, but they could gradually increase in a few years due to factors such as a prolonged economic slowdown,” a financial industry official said. “If net profit falls as a result, it could disrupt value-up plans and business strategy.” Other pressures on earnings are also growing, including fines tied to equity-linked securities and contributions to the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency. Fines for five banks that sold ELS — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, NH NongHyup and SC First Bank — are expected to be finalized at about 1.4 trillion won on Tuesday. As of the end of last year, KB Kookmin Bank had booked 263.3 billion won in provisions for the ELS fines but will need to add more than 500 billion won. Shinhan Bank and Hana Bank set aside 152.7 billion won and 92.0 billion won, respectively. The provisions are expected to be recorded as nonoperating expenses, weighing on net profit. From the second half of next year, banks will no longer be allowed to include statutory costs — such as reserve requirements, deposit insurance premiums and contributions to the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency — in the add-on spread used to calculate lending rates, adding to pressure on earnings. “If additional real estate rules are introduced, such as banning loan extensions for owners of multiple homes, borrowers could leave and banks could lose growth opportunities,” another financial industry official said. “Capabilities such as corporate analysis systems and long-term delinquency management will determine survival.” 2026-02-24 15:33:00

Hanwha Aerospace Launches Consortium to Localize Aircraft Engine Materials and Parts Hanwha Aerospace said it is moving to build a cooperative ecosystem to localize key aircraft engine materials and components. The company said it held an “Aircraft Engine Materials and Parts Localization and Shared-Growth Cooperation Agreement Ceremony” on the 24th at its Changwon Plant 1 in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. A total of 39 partner companies, including Korea Carbon, KPCM, Korea Lost Wax (KLW) and Tesco, jointly signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Testing Laboratory, the Korea Testing & Research Institute and Korea University of Technology and Education. Officials from the Korea Institute of Materials Science, the Air Force Aircraft Resource Management Group, the Agency for Defense Development and Gyeongsang National University also attended. Hanwha Aerospace said the signatories will form a consortium to pursue localization in a more systematic way and conduct joint R&D for development, testing, evaluation and certification. The company said it also plans to establish and carry out a global supply-chain strategy to help partners enter overseas markets, and later expand cooperation to other areas of aircraft engine development, including design and machining. Hanwha Aerospace said it has worked with partners to develop core technologies in aircraft engines. Working with domestic precision casting firms including Korea Lost Wax, Seongil Turbine and Cheonji Industry, it said it has developed and mass-produced turbine blades and high-temperature parts using second- and third-generation single-crystal materials over the past 20 years and obtained international certifications including NADCAP and KOLAS. It said it supplies coating materials to original equipment manufacturers with its joint venture, ThermTech Korea. It also said SeAH Changwon Special Steel, a specialty steel maker, has worked with Hanwha Aerospace to develop Waspaloy material for Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine, meeting quality requirements and nearing entry into the global supply chain. In October last year, Hanwha Aerospace said it established and is operating the Hanwha Materials Joint Research Center at the Korea Institute of Materials Science to develop key aircraft engine materials. Cho Moon-soo, chairman of Korea Carbon, said, “At a time when securing export competitiveness is more important than ever, I expect this newly launched consortium will lead to tangible growth in partners’ capabilities and export results.” Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, said, “Without shared growth with our partners, we cannot achieve localization of aircraft engines,” adding, “We will secure technological sovereignty through mutual growth.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 15:30:19

Kookmin University researchers develop real-time capture and analysis technique for aquatic microplastics SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Kim Hyung-min at Kookmin University has developed an innovative technology capable of capturing and analyzing micro- and nano-sized plastics in water in real time. The breakthrough addresses a major technical challenge in environmental science by allowing for the continuous monitoring of tiny plastic particles that are otherwise difficult to isolate from their surroundings. Microplastics, defined as particles smaller than 5 millimeters, originate from industrial processes and daily consumer activities. These particles eventually accumulate in marine ecosystems, where they pose significant risks to both the environment and human health. Despite these dangers, accurately mapping the distribution and weathering process of these particles in vast water bodies has remained difficult for the scientific community. To overcome these limitations, the researchers created a specialized inspection device that combines optical line tweezer technology with hyperspectral Raman spectroscopy. The system uses a laser to trap flowing microplastic particles along a linear path. By doing so, the device can effectively filter out interference signals from the surrounding water to precisely identify the size, shape, and specific type of each plastic particle. The equipment is sensitive enough to measure ultrafast, nano-sized particles continuously. This capability significantly improves the accuracy of underwater plastic analysis compared to existing methods, which often struggle to distinguish between organic matter and synthetic pollutants in moving water. Professor Kim Hyung-min stated that the significance of this technology lies in providing a foundation for the full-scale analysis and real-time monitoring of various chemical and biological substances beyond just aquatic microplastics. The study was conducted as a joint project with a research team led by Dr. Kim Jae-hun from the Nanophotonics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). The project received support from the National Research Foundation of Korea through its Nano and Materials Technology Development Program and Mid-career Researcher Support Program. The findings were published as a cover article in ACS Sensors, a leading journal in the field of analytical science, which ranks in the top 3.6 percent of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). Lee Ji-yeon, currently a researcher at Dongwoo Fine-Chem, and Dr. Park Su-bin, a postdoctoral researcher at KIST, served as the lead authors. 2026-02-24 15:28:32

S. Korean researchers develop protective layer to enable fast charging for lithium batteries SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Korea University has developed a technology to overcome stability issues that have hindered the commercialization of lithium metal batteries. The team created an intelligent protective layer that allows for rapid charging within 12 minutes while preventing the internal damage that typically shortens battery life. Lithium metal batteries are considered the next generation of energy storage because they can hold much more energy than current lithium-ion batteries. This could allow electric vehicles to travel much further on a single charge. However, during charging, lithium often forms needle-like structures called dendrites. These structures can pierce internal components, causing the battery to fail or catch fire. To solve this, the researchers added a substance called thiophene to the battery electrolyte. This additive creates a smart protective film on the electrode surface that acts like a flexible traffic management system for ions. Using a chemical structure known as a pi-conjugated system, the film rearranges its internal electrical charge in real time to create the easiest path for lithium ions to move through. By guiding the ions smoothly, the technology ensures that lithium builds up evenly on the surface rather than forming dangerous needles. The researchers confirmed this process at the molecular level using specialized microscopes that allowed them to watch the battery charging in real time. The study demonstrated that the battery could operate at high currents exceeding 8 milliamperes per square centimeter, which is double the level usually considered high in battery research. This performance level is close to what is required for the rapid acceleration and fast charging of real-world electric vehicles in South Korea and abroad. Professor Choi Nam-soon of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering stated that the research solves fundamental battery problems by designing the electronic structure of the materials. He noted that the technology could become a core foundation for next-generation electric vehicle batteries that require both fast charging and long lifespans. The technology is compatible with various existing battery materials, including lithium iron phosphate and nickel-cobalt-manganese oxides. This versatility suggests it could be applied to a wide range of future industries, including long-range electric vehicles and urban air mobility such as flying taxis. The research involved Professor Choi Nam-soon and Professor Hong Seung-bum from KAIST, alongside Professor Kwak Sang-kyu from Korea University. The findings were published in the academic journal InfoMat on February 2. (Paper information) Journal: InfoMat Title: Conjugation-mediated and polarity-switchable interfacial layers for fast cycling of lithium-metal batteries DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.70126 2026-02-24 15:22:55

SM Line Named Top Partner by China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai Ports SM Line, the shipping affiliate of South Korea’s SM Group, has been named an outstanding partner by major Chinese port authorities, a recognition the company said reflects confidence in its growth potential. The company said Tuesday it was selected as a carrier with “sustained growth potential” at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port annual port-transport exchange meeting recently held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is among the world’s top three ports by container volume. It handled 39.31 million TEUs in 2024, trailing Shanghai (51.51 million TEUs) and Singapore (41.12 million TEUs). SM Line said its volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan topped 200,000 TEUs last year. SM Line first called at Ningbo in 2017 after launching its U.S. West Coast service (CPX), and added a Pacific Northwest service (PNS) the following year, expanding service in the region. The company said it was recognized alongside global carriers including Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine Transport, T.S. Lines, China’s Sinotrans and SITC, and Singapore-based Sea Lead. Separately, Shanghai Port selected SM Line as a “carrier with promising prospects.” The award is tied to Shanghai’s 15th five-year development plan, which aims to upgrade logistics links among Shanghai Port, the Yangtze River and nearby rail networks. SM Line said the designation reflects its status as a key partner expected to share and help carry out the port’s long-term strategy. SM Line said it plans to step up efforts this year to win export cargo from China bound for the Americas and Asia, while working closely with local ports to provide stable capacity and respond flexibly to shifts in global trade and the shipping market. “It is meaningful and gratifying that major Chinese ports have recognized our future value and potential,” SM Line CEO Kang Ho-jun said. “As a bridge linking Asia and the Americas and competing with global carriers, we will devote ourselves to accelerating growth in the China market and strengthening trust.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 15:13:00

Impeached ex-president appeals life sentence over martial law debacle SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday filed an appeal of his life sentence on charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to his martial law debacle in December 2024. It comes about a week after the Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of the botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which it ruled was an act of insurrection in violation of the Constitution, condemning his actions as having "fundamentally undermined the core values of democracy." Yoon's legal representatives argued last Thursday's ruling was riddled with factual and legal errors. "We have a responsibility to clearly point out the problems with it, not only for court records but for future historical records," they said in a statement. They also vowed to fight what they called the prosecutors' "excessive indictment," which they claimed was politically motivated. Prosecutors also appealed the case earlier in the day. Yoon, who was ousted from the presidency on April 4 last year after the Constitutional Court of Korea unanimously upheld his impeachment, had already been sentenced last month to five years in prison in a separate trial on one of several charges related to the debacle. 2026-02-24 14:55:12

Disney+ ‘Fate War 49’ Apologizes for Segment Involving Fallen Police Officer, Firefighter The producers of Disney+’s “Fate War 49” apologized Tuesday after the show drew backlash for a mission that asked contestants to guess the causes of death of a fallen police officer and firefighter. In a statement, the “Fate War 49” team said that while a shaman contestant was performing a reading without knowing the deceased, “inappropriate language and descriptions” were used. The producers said they “sincerely apologize” to those who died in the line of duty, their bereaved families, colleagues and others who were distressed by the segment. They added that staff are listening to the families, apologizing for failing to consider their feelings in advance, and working to resolve the issue. The producers also said they will take greater care across production and strengthen internal review and production processes going forward. “Fate War 49” is a survival variety show in which 49 fortune-tellers carry out missions to test their fate. In Episode 2, released Feb. 11, a mission asked contestants to guess the cause of death of the late Senior Police Officer Lee Jae-hyeon, who died in 2004 while apprehending a suspect in a violent crime case. During the segment, one shaman said, “People commonly call getting stabbed a ‘kalbbang,’ don’t they? I can see being stabbed, too.” The National Police Officers’ Workplace Council, described as an alternative organization to the police union, protested in a statement, saying it was “deeply angry and devastated” by what it called the cast and producers’ “senseless behavior” in belittling a public servant’s sacrifice with a crude slang term and turning it into entertainment. In the same episode, some contestants also discussed possible causes — including fire, collapse and being crushed — in connection with the death of the late Fire Sergeant Kim Cheol-hong, who died in 2001 at a fire scene in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul. The family and a firefighters’ union also raised objections.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:54:15

KLPGA Winner Bae So-hyeon Signs Management Deal With BeNumberOne Golf marketing firm BeNumberOne said Feb. 24 it signed a management contract with Bae So-hyeon (Mediheal), a four-time winner on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Bae is known on the KLPGA Tour as a late-blooming player. She struggled through 2023 with a back injury but worked her way back and established herself as one of the tour’s long hitters. She won three times in 2024 and added one win last year. Her goal this year is two wins, including a major title. Ahead of the new season, Bae said, “I was preparing for the season with various possibilities in mind. Just starting the new season with BeNumberOne, which will support me strongly, gives me strength. With sponsors, family and fans cheering me on, I’ll push forward.” BeNumberOne also said it has signed KLPGA players Yang Hyo-ri (Very Good Tour) and Jo Eun-chae (Kyunghee Co.), and KPGA player Jeong Tae-yang (Kyunghee Co.). The company manages KPGA players Kim Hong-taek, Park Hyun-seo, Yeom Seo-hyun and Jeong Han-mil; Lee Seung-taek, who has entered the PGA Tour; and KLPGA players Kim Yun-gyo, Lee Se-hee and Lee Ji-young5. BeNumberOne CEO Choi Yong-seok said, “We will do our best so players can achieve their best results without inconvenience.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:51:00

Actor Lee Jong-hyuk’s Son Lee Jun-su Enters Chung-Ang University Actor Lee Jong-hyuk’s second son, Lee Jun-su, has entered Chung-Ang University. Lee posted photos on social media on the 24th from the “2026 academic year Chung-Ang University College of Arts freshman entrance ceremony,” along with an image of the campus. He previously was accepted through early admissions to several programs, including the acting major in the Department of Performing Arts at Seoul Institute of the Arts — Lee Jong-hyuk’s alma mater — as well as the theater (acting) major in Chung-Ang University’s School of Performing Arts and Film and the acting arts major in Sejong University’s College of Film and Arts, in both the first and second rounds. Lee chose Chung-Ang over Seoul Institute of the Arts. With that decision, all three in the family will have studied theater: Lee Jong-hyuk graduated from the theater department at Seoul Institute of the Arts, and his eldest son, Lee Tak-su, is studying theater at Dongguk University’s College of Arts. 2026-02-24 14:48:15