Lee Hae-in Places Eighth in Olympic Debut, Finishes in Top 10 in Women’s Figure Skating Lee Hae-in of Korea University finished in the top 10 in women’s singles figure skating in her first Olympics. Competing at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, Lee scored 74.15 in technical elements and 66.34 in program components for 140.49 in the free skate. With her short program score of 70.07, she totaled 210.56 to place eighth. She became the sixth South Korean to place in the Olympic top 10 in women’s singles, following Kim Yuna (gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver at the 2014 Sochi Games), Choi Da-bin (seventh at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games), You Young (fifth at the 2022 Beijing Games) and Kim Ye-lim (eighth at the 2022 Beijing Games). Lee set season bests in both the free skate and overall total. She surpassed the 132.06 free-skate score and 196.84 total she posted at the ISU Challenger Series Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in October. Her personal bests are 148.57 in the free skate and 225.47 overall, both set at the 2023 Team Trophy. After placing ninth in the short program with a season best, Lee skated 16th in the free. Performing to the opera “Carmen,” she landed a double Axel-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination cleanly, along with steady triple Salchow and triple loop jumps. Her flying camel spin earned Level 4, and her choreographic sequence was Level 1. In the second half, she completed a triple Lutz, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a triple flip. She closed with Level 4 marks on her flying change-foot combination spin, step sequence and change-foot combination spin. Shin Jia of Sewha High School, also making her Olympic debut, placed 11th with a free-skate score of 141.02 (75.05 TES, 65.97 PCS). Combined with her short program score of 65.66, she finished with 206.68. Shin bettered her previous official personal best in the free skate of 138.95 from the 2024 ISU World Junior Championships, but fell short of her official personal best total of 212.43. After finishing 14th in the short program on Feb. 18 following a jump error, Shin skated 11th of 24 in the free. Skating to “Liebestraum,” she opened with a clean double Axel, then landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and a triple Salchow. She wobbled on the landing of her triple loop and touched the boards but stayed on her feet. She received Level 3 on her change-foot combination spin, then stayed steady in the second half, which carries a 10% bonus. She completed a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a final triple Lutz. Despite a Level 2 on her flying camel spin, she finished with a Level 4 step sequence, a choreographic sequence and a Level 4 flying change-foot combination spin. The women’s singles gold medal went to American Alysa Liu with 226.79. After placing third in the short program, she moved into first with a free-skate score of 150.20. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto won silver with 224.90, and Japan’s Ami Nakai took bronze with 219.16.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:51:00

Seoul ready to push economic ties with New Delhi to new level - trade minister SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) -A deeper economic cooperation with India has become more important than ever for South Korea as the global trade environment undergoes rapid change, Seoul's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Thursday. Speaking at the Korea-India Economic Cooperation Conference at Lotte Hotel Seoul, Yeo described India as “a central country” in South Korea’s New Southern Policy and “a leader of the Global South.” He said there is significant room for growth in bilateral trade, noting that South Korea’s annual trade with 11 ASEAN countries — whose combined gross domestic product is similar to India’s — totals about $200 billion, while Korea-India trade currently stands at around $25 billion. The event, held under the theme “The Future of Korea-India Economic Cooperation for Shared Prosperity,” focused on future directions for bilateral cooperation. India, the world’s most populous country, is drawing attention as a next-generation manufacturing base and supply-chain hub, backed by a large domestic market and annual economic growth of 6 to 7 percent. The congress drew around 200 figues, including Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das and Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, along with government officials and representatives from companies and institutions from the two countries. The Indian envoy in an interview with AJP last month said New Delhi was in talks with Seoul to arrange a state visit by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to elevate strategic partnership between the two countries to encompass new-growth area. In a presentation session, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy said India is sustaining rapid growth based on its young and abundant population, financial stability and active industrial strategy. The institute called for stronger cooperation in advanced industries and supply chains to deepen bilateral ties. South Korean companies operating in India in areas such as advanced manufacturing, consumer goods and content shared their local experiences and business results. Indian government officials outlined the country’s investment environment, incentives and policies to promote shipbuilding and marine industries, pointing to new opportunities for cooperation. A panel discussion involving participants from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the POSCO Research Institute also explored ways to maximize synergies through strategic cooperation among government, industry and research. Panelists said South Korea and India should work together in areas where their strengths are complementary, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and space and aviation. Yeo said Seoul will expand partnerships with India in AI, digital technology, supply chains, green energy and manufacturing to meet the demands of a new trade era. He added that South Korea will work closely with New Delhi to swiftly conclude key pending issues, including negotiations to upgrade the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, to create the best possible environment for cooperation. 2026-02-20 07:48:32

South Korea’s Shin Jia sets personal-best free skate at Milan-Cortina Olympics; Lee Hae-in posts season best South Korea’s women’s singles figure skaters Shin Jia (Sehwa Girls’ High School) and Lee Hae-in (Korea University) delivered strong performances in their first Olympics. Shin scored 141.02 points in the free skate on Feb. 20 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, earning 75.05 in technical elements (TES) and 65.97 in program components (PCS). With her short program score of 65.66, she finished with 206.68 overall. Her free-skate score topped her previous official personal best of 138.95 set at the 2024 International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Championships. She fell just short of her official personal-best total of 212.43. After placing 14th in the short program on Feb. 18 following a jump error, Shin skated 11th among 24 competitors in the free. Performing to “Liebestraum,” she opened with a clean double Axel, then landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and a triple Salchow. She wobbled on the landing of a triple loop and touched the boards but stayed on her feet. She completed a change-foot combination spin at Level 3 to close the first half, then remained steady in the bonus second half. Shin landed a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a final triple Lutz. She received Level 2 on the flying camel spin but finished with a Level 4 step sequence, a choreo sequence and a Level 4 flying change-foot combination spin. Lee also turned in a composed free skate, scoring 140.49 with 74.15 TES and 66.34 PCS. Combined with her short program score of 70.07, she posted 210.56 overall. The results marked season bests for Lee in both the free skate and total score, surpassing the 132.06 free-skate score and 196.84 total she recorded at the ISU Challenger Series Denis Ten Memorial Challenge last October. Lee’s official personal best in the free skate is 148.57, set at the 2023 Team Trophy, and her personal-best total is 225.47. Lee, who was ninth after the short program with a season-best score, skated 16th in the free. Performing to the opera “Carmen,” she opened with a steady double Axel-triple toe loop combination and followed with a clean triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination. She also landed a triple Salchow and triple loop, then earned Level 4 on the flying camel spin and Level 1 on the choreo sequence. In the second half, Lee completed a triple Lutz, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a triple flip. She closed with Level 4 marks on the flying change-foot combination spin, step sequence and change-foot combination spin.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:06:00

U.S. wins Olympic women’s hockey gold, beats Canada 2-1 in overtime at Milan 2026 The United States beat rival Canada to win Olympic gold in women’s ice hockey. The Americans defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the final of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 20 (Korean time) at the Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy. The victory gave the United States its first Olympic title since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and its third overall. Canada, which had reached eight straight Olympic finals since the 1998 Nagano Games and won five of them, took silver this time. The United States entered the final 6-0 with 31 goals scored and one allowed, but conceded first. Canada struck 54 seconds into the second period on a short-handed counterattack, when Kristin O’Neill finished a pass from Laura Stacey for the opening goal. The Americans struggled to break through Canada’s defense until they pulled their goalie with 2:04 left in the third period. Captain and veteran Hilary Knight then deflected a teammate’s long-range shot to tie it. The game was decided in overtime. At 4:07, Megan Keller beat a defender and scored the winner, sealing the U.S. title in women’s ice hockey at the Milan Winter Games.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:03:00

Kim Da-eun, Lee So-young miss women’s halfpipe final in Milan-Cortina Olympic qualifying South Korea’s Kim Da-eun of Kyung Hee University and Lee So-young of Sangdong High School failed to reach the Olympic women’s halfpipe final in freestyle skiing. In qualifying at Livigno Snow Park in Italy, Kim scored 41.50 points to place 20th among 21 athletes. The event uses the better of two runs, with the top 12 advancing to the final. Kim posted 23.25 on her first run after a landing mistake midway through, then improved to 41.50 on her second but remained outside the cutoff. Kim finished 17th at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and again ended her schedule in qualifying. Lee, competing in her first Olympics, scored 26.75 on her first run and 29.25 on her second to finish 21st. China’s Gu Ailing, the 2022 Beijing gold medalist in the event, fell after getting caught on the pipe wall on her first run but rebounded with an 86.50 on her second to advance in fifth. Britain’s Zoe Atkin led qualifying with 91.50. The final is scheduled for 3:30 a.m. Korean time on the 22nd.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 05:57:00

KAI, Hanwha System Vie for South Korea’s Microsatellite SAR Program South Korea’s major defense companies are increasingly targeting space as a new growth area, and competition is intensifying for government contracts. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems are set to face off over a government microsatellite program. Industry officials said the government plans to select a prime contractor this year for a dual-use, civil-military microsatellite system development project. Budgeted at about 1.4 trillion won, the program aims to build a cluster-based surveillance system operating 40 microsatellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites simultaneously by 2030. A detailed request for proposals is expected around August. SAR, the program’s core technology, uses radar signals and processes tiny differences in return time to map terrain and observe the Earth’s surface. Because it relies on radar, it can operate day or night and in bad weather. The government plans to expand its SAR satellite fleet from the current five to more than eight times that number for direct use in civilian and military operations. With the prime contractor decision approaching, both companies are stepping up their bids. KAI is highlighting decades of space-industry experience dating to the 1990s and its track record building satellite platforms, and it has begun producing a prototype. Hanwha Systems, a later entrant, is betting on its SAR capabilities and says it is confident about winning the project. Both companies operate space centers capable of manufacturing, assembly and testing. A Hanwha Systems official said the Jeju Space Center is designed so work can be carried out in a single workflow from start to finish, enabling production of more than 100 small satellites a year along with rapid response and stable operations. Companies are moving into small satellites because of their growth potential. Unlike large satellites, which typically operate for more than 10 years, microsatellites have a shorter lifespan of two to three years, leading to faster replacement cycles that the industry views as more profitable. Efforts to build global competitiveness for exports are also continuing. KAI recently discussed cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment in space, satellites, communications and aviation at the 2026 World Defense Show. A KAI official said the company plans to advance satellite technology based on three decades of experience and to secure a “second growth engine” for defense exports by linking it with aircraft exports. The official added that KAI will pursue development of low-cost, multipurpose microsatellites and reusable launch vehicles to lead South Korea’s space industry.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 05:03:50

Hyundai Glovis Hits 7% Operating Margin Goal Early, Eyes Global Logistics Growth Hyundai Glovis is accelerating its push to become a global logistics company after reaching its 2030 target of a 7% operating profit margin ahead of schedule. The company is expanding vehicle shipments beyond Hyundai Motor and is also moving cargo tied to advanced industries such as defense, energy storage systems (ESS) and hydrogen. According to industry officials on Feb. 19, Hyundai Glovis posted 29.567 trillion won ($) in sales last year and 2.073 trillion won in operating profit, up 4.1% and 18.3% from a year earlier. Its operating margin came to about 7.1%, achieving a goal CEO Lee Kyoo-bok had set five years early. At a "CEO Investor Day" in June 2024, Lee outlined a plan to invest 9 trillion won by 2030 to reach 40 trillion won in sales and a 7% operating margin. All business lines grew: integrated logistics handling domestic and overseas transport (35%), the distribution unit covering CKD parts and used-car exports (47%), and ocean shipping (18%). A company official said Hyundai Glovis has helped clients cut logistics costs by leveraging routes built through Hyundai vehicle exports and by shortening lead times for auto-parts transport. The official added that proactive responses to free trade agreement risks and efforts to reduce costs at overseas plants helped win global customers. Hyundai Glovis has signed long-term ocean shipping contracts with automakers including Volkswagen, BMW, Ford and GM, and it also transports vehicles from Tesla and China’s BYD across Europe. It recently shipped defense products to Poland and other parts of Europe, including 124 K2 tanks and 60 K9 self-propelled howitzers. The company is also expanding into heavy and oversized breakbulk cargo that cannot be loaded into containers, such as power-generation equipment, trains, aircraft and mining machinery. It aims to lift non-affiliate revenue to 50% within four years. As of last year, cargo from affiliates accounted for 60.7% of volume, down 4.8 percentage points from the previous year. Hyundai Glovis plans to deploy four LNG carriers by 2027 to transport cargo for Middle Eastern shippers and to begin ocean-shipping projects involving high-speed trains, petrochemical plant equipment and ESS batteries. It also plans to start transporting ammonia and liquefied hydrogen around 2031. A company official said Hyundai Glovis aims to increase finished-vehicle ocean shipments from about 3.4 million units to 5 million and become the No. 1 car-carrier shipping company by 2030. The official said the company will build on its 147 logistics networks across 27 countries, freight-rate competitiveness and supply-chain flexibility to become a top-tier global player linking logistics, shipping and distribution. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 05:03:00

Cha Jun-hwan finishes fourth in Olympic men’s figure skating, won’t call it his last Games Cha Jun-hwan (Seoul City Hall) finished fourth in men’s singles at his third Olympics and said he is not ready to put a period on his career. Cha posted a total score of 273.92 points to place fourth in the men’s singles free skate at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, which ended at Milan Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 14 (Korea time). He missed the bronze by 0.98 points behind Japan’s Shun Sato (274.90). Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won gold with 291.58, and Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama took silver with 280.06. In a recent interview with Samsung Electronics after the competition, Cha said, “I had three events at this Olympics, and each one was a ‘decisive moment’ I couldn’t leave out.” He added, “We competed in the team event for the first time in eight years, and I think I achieved everything I set out to do in the individual event. I think it will be an Olympics I remember for a long time.” Cha placed 15th at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, then set a new personal best with fifth at the 2022 Beijing Games. He did not reach the podium in Milan, but his fourth-place finish marked South Korea’s best-ever result in Olympic men’s singles. He is the second South Korean men’s figure skater to compete in three consecutive Olympics, after Chung Sung-il (1988, 1992, 1994). “Going to three Olympics helped me grow my own dream,” Cha said. “Of course, there were moments when I had no choice but to break down. Each time, my family and my coaches helped me back up, so I didn’t have to give up on my dream.” He said he now feels responsibility as a senior member of the national team. “I want to think about the younger skaters and encourage them,” he said, adding that being a two-time Olympian gave him the strength to keep moving forward. Cha said injuries and setbacks during preparation left him thinking first of rest after the event. “I think I’ve never really had proper rest through three Olympics,” he said. “I want to give myself a break.” Cha also pushed back on talk that Milan was his final Olympics, leaving open the possibility of a fourth appearance. “Even before the Olympics started, people used the phrase ‘last dance,’ but I’ve never said that myself,” he said. He added that he could not predict what would come four years later even after Beijing. “I just went season by season, and I ended up in Milan,” he said. “Four years is a long time, so I can’t even imagine the 2030 Alps Olympics right now. I believe that if I keep living my life, I’ll find my ‘path.’” Asked to sum up the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics in one word, Cha answered “Piantao,” which he said is Spanish for “crazy.” He said it is a line he has long liked from the lyrics of his free-skate music, “Ballad for a Madman.” “It’s shouted three times in the song, and that feeling comes across as very real and honest,” he said. After completing his Olympic schedule, Cha is set to skate in the figure skating gala show on Feb. 22 as an invited athlete from the International Skating Union (ISU).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 05:00:38

South Korea’s Lee congratulates Won Yoon-jong on election as IOC athletes’ commission member President Lee Jae-myung sent congratulations to Won Yoon-jong, a bobsledder elected as a new International Olympic Committee athletes’ commission member. In a late-night social media post on the 19th, Lee welcomed the news from the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics site, writing that he was pleased to see a third South Korean chosen as an IOC athletes’ commission member. Won received 1,176 votes to lead 11 candidates, according to results announced on the 19th (Korean time) at the Milan athletes’ village delegation meeting hall (CDM). He won 1,176 of 4,786 valid ballots cast by 2,393 voters, meeting the election threshold awarded to the top two vote-getters. He becomes the third South Korean to serve on the commission, after Moon Dae-sung (taekwondo) and Yoo Seung-min (table tennis). In his message, Lee noted that Won won a silver medal in four-man bobsleigh at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and helped lift South Korean bobsleigh into the world’s top tier. Lee also said Won later served as an athletes’ representative with the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, consistently speaking up for athletes’ rights. Lee said finishing first in votes amid intense competition reflected Won’s leadership, trust and sincerity on the international stage, adding that the government would actively support his work as an IOC athletes’ commission member. Won is set to undergo nomination and approval procedures at an IOC session on the 22nd. He will be formally introduced as a new member at the Milan Winter Olympics closing ceremony the same day and will begin his official term on the 23rd. 2026-02-20 02:51:00

South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won takes 14th in Olympic 1500m ahead of mass start South Korean speedskater Jeong Jae-won used the men’s 1,500 meters as a tune-up ahead of his main event, the mass start. Jeong, 25, finished 14th in 1 minute, 45.80 seconds on Thursday (Korea time) at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. He had planned to skate only the mass start on Friday, but entered the 1,500 to sharpen his race feel and check the ice. Starting from the inside lane, Jeong went through 300 meters in 24.45 seconds and increased his speed in the second half to finish steadily. “It’s been a while since I raced the 1,500 on the international stage, so it felt a bit unfamiliar, but the time wasn’t bad,” Jeong said. “I’m satisfied because it feels like my preparation for the mass start is going well.” He added, “At this Olympics, I feel a strong sense of mission and responsibility,” and said he would prepare “with the determination to stand at the very top.” China’s Ning Zhongyan won gold with an Olympic-record 1:41.98. American Jordan Stolz, who had been aiming for three gold medals at these Games, took silver in 1:42.75, 0.77 seconds behind Ning. Dutch veteran Kjeld Nuis won bronze. Kim Min-seok, competing at these Olympics after switching nationality to Hungary, placed seventh in 1:45.13.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 02:30:00