KOSPI lands above another 5,500 milestone SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) —South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI towered over regional peers on Thursday, setting a fresh record above the 5,500 mark on strong foreign and institutional buying. The benchmark index rose 3.1 percent to close at 5,522.3, up 167.8 points on the session. Foreign investors bought a net 3.0013 trillion won ($2.08 billion), while institutions added 1.3668 trillion won. Retail investors sold 4.4474 trillion won, locking in gains after the recent rally. Large-cap technology shares led the advance. Samsung Electronics jumped 6.4 percent to 178,600 won after announcing shipments of its HBM4 memory chips, with performance said to exceed industry standards. Woori Technology rose 10.3 percent to 13,620 won, while POSCO DX gained 9.4 percent to 41,150 won amid renewed attention on automation and robotics themes ahead of the “AW 2026” smart factory and automation exhibition, which will feature major Chinese technology brands. Hyundai ADM Bio surged 30 percent to 5,680 won following research updates related to drug-delivery mechanisms in cancer treatment. Among decliners, Hyundai Motor fell 0.6 percent to 506,000 won, LG Electronics dropped 5.1 percent to 121,400 won after the previous session’s sharp gains, and Kakao edged down 0.2 percent to 58,800 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 3.5 percent to 816.3, up 27.5 points. On the secondary board, foreigners sold a net 105 billion won, while institutions and retail investors bought 69.1 billion won and 85.6 billion won, respectively. The Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar, closing at 1,441.4 per dollar, up 6.6 won, or 0.5 percent. The dollar index stood at 96.94, reflecting broader dollar softness. In the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.02 percent to 57,639.8 after gaining a cumulative 3,832.5 points between Feb. 6 and Feb. 10 ahead of the general election. China’s Shanghai Composite closed at 4,134.02, extending its advance, with the index up 68.4 points over the past four sessions since Feb. 9. 2026-02-12 17:36:54

ZEROBASEONE to Continue as 5-Member Group; Four Members to Pursue Solo Activities ZEROBASEONE, the group formed through Mnet’s audition show “Boys Planet,” will continue team activities as a five-member act. Agency WakeOne said Feb. 12 that members Sung Han Bin, Kim Ji Woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae Rae and Park Gun Wook “decided to begin a new season as ZEROBASEONE” based on mutual trust. WakeOne said the decision followed sufficient discussions between the members and their respective agencies. Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu Vin and Han Yu Jin, who are with YH Entertainment, will wrap up the group’s set project period and move into independent activities. The group will perform as nine members through a concert next month at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Olympic Park before the four go their separate ways. WakeOne said it will fully support the five-member lineup and continue communicating so all members can keep growing as partners. ZEROBASEONE debuted in 2023 as a nine-member project group and have logged six consecutive million-seller releases. The group were originally set for a 2 1/2-year run, with their activities scheduled to end in January next year, drawing attention to whether contracts would be extended. In December, all nine members agreed to extend activities for about two months, including a new release in February and a Seoul encore concert in March. Under the new plan, ZEROBASEONE will continue as five after the March concert. WakeOne said all nine members will still take the stage together for the previously announced “2026 ZEROBASEONE WORLD TOUR ENCORE” shows.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:33:26

Practice makes perfect ahead of Seollal SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Bowing to elders and tossing wooden sticks across a board game mat, children are rehearsing the rituals of Seollal before the holiday even begins. Across South Korea, traditional Lunar New Year experience programs are underway ahead of Seollal, offering young participants the chance to prelearn customs that once passed naturally from one generation to the next. With the nation’s biggest holiday set for next week, cultural centers and heritage venues in cities including Seoul are hosting hands-on sessions focused on etiquette, attire and play. Dressed in hanbok, Korea’s traditional clothing, children practice sebae — the formal New Year’s bow offered to elders. Instructors guide them through posture and phrasing, explaining that the gesture symbolizes respect and the wish for blessings in the year ahead. They also gather around boards to play yutnori, a folk game traditionally enjoyed during Seollal. Throwing the four wooden sticks and moving their markers across the board, participants experience the festive atmosphere that typically fills family homes during the holiday. Seollal, observed on the first day of the lunar calendar, marks the symbolic start of the year. Families reunite, perform ancestral rites, share traditional meals and exchange well-wishes for health and prosperity. For many children, these workshops serve as a quiet rehearsal — ensuring that when the real holiday arrives, the bow feels natural, the game familiar and the meaning understood. 2026-02-12 17:28:56

HYBE posts record 2025 revenue of 2.65 trillion won, eyes boost from BTS return HYBE posted its highest annual revenue since its founding, with sales up about 18% from a year earlier. The company said its “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy aimed at global markets and strong growth in concert revenue drove the expansion. Operating profit fell year over year as HYBE reflected costs tied to upfront investment for mid- to long-term growth and changes to its profit structure. On a consolidated basis, HYBE’s 2025 revenue totaled 2.6499 trillion won, led by performance results. HYBE held 279 global events last year — 250 concerts and 29 fan meetings — generating 763.9 billion won in performance revenue, up about 69% from the prior year. HYBE said the momentum helped it climb five spots to No. 4 worldwide in Billboard’s “Top Promoter” category in the “2025 Boxscore Year-End Report,” placing it among the “big four.” Of the four K-pop acts listed in Billboard’s “2025 Top Tours,” three — j-hope, Seventeen and Enhypen — were HYBE Music Group artists, the company said. Despite a broader adjustment in the album market, HYBE said it maintained its influence in 2025. On the annual Circle Chart, cumulative sales were about 19.6 million albums, with an estimated market share of about 30%. HYBE Music Group artists logged a combined 3.7 billion streams, and their share on the “Global Spotify 200” was 3%. Digital music accounted for about 37% of HYBE’s total recorded-music revenue in 2025. Weverse, HYBE’s global superfans platform, turned profitable for the year after restructuring its revenue model and improving operating efficiency. HYBE said results were supported by adding more artists, upgrading e-commerce operations and expanding digital businesses. The company expects further improvement this year as BTS resume group activities and as e-commerce and digital businesses grow. HYBE’s 2025 consolidated operating profit was 49.9 billion won, down about 73% from a year earlier. The decline reflected early-stage investment tied to new artist debuts and one-time costs from business restructuring. HYBE cited debuts by multiple artists, including Japan’s aoen, South Korea’s CORTIS and Latin act SANTOS BRAVOS, which concentrated initial costs. HYBE said aoen’s debut single “The Blue Sun_” topped Oricon’s daily chart, CORTIS became a million-seller in its first year, and SANTOS BRAVOS sold out a 10,000-seat debut concert, with 70,000 people watching online. HYBE also reflected one-time costs tied to operational efficiency efforts. In North America, it is reorganizing to reduce volatility from a management-centered structure and shift toward a label-centered IP business model. After a conservative review of asset values aligned with the new structure, HYBE recognized about 200 billion won in impairment losses in nonoperating profit and loss in the fourth quarter, including in its management business. The company said the loss is an accounting item with no cash outflow. HYBE said the move was intended to improve accounting transparency and predictability, and that given HYBE America’s strengthened fundamentals, the risk of additional large write-downs appears limited. HYBE expects the effects of these steps to translate into a meaningful rise in profitability starting this year. HYBE pointed to the global impact of its label-centered model through the example of KATSEYE. As of the fourth quarter of last year, KATSEYE surpassed 36 million monthly listeners on Spotify, HYBE said, the highest figure among girl groups worldwide. The title track “Gabriela” has charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for 28 consecutive weeks, and the group recently placed two songs in the top 30 at the same time — a first for a girl group since Destiny’s Child, HYBE said. Its first solo tour, “The Beautiful Chaos Tour,” sold out all dates, and per-capita spending on tour merchandise exceeded that of existing pop artists, the company said. HYBE said it plans to expand its influence in the global music market this year. BTS are set to release their fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” on March 20. The group’s first full-member album in about four years will be followed by HYBE’s largest world tour to date, the company said. A schedule has been confirmed for 82 shows in 34 cities worldwide — the largest ever for a single K-pop artist tour — with additional dates in Japan and the Middle East to be announced later. In South Korea, a new girl group is scheduled to debut this year. In North America, HYBE plans to launch a follow-up global girl group based on KATSEYE’s formula. It is also accelerating preparations for a local boy group project in collaboration with multi-platinum producer Ryan Tedder, a four-time Grammy Award winner. HYBE said it will also introduce new IP combining storytelling and music through the Alan’s Universe project, which has 100 million YouTube subscribers, and plans to run projects tailored to local culture in India. HYBE also unveiled a new three-year shareholder return plan. It said it will introduce a “minimum dividend” guaranteeing at least 500 won per share, which it described as a first for a K-content company. HYBE will also change its dividend benchmark from net profit to consolidated free cash flow to better reflect cash generation and reduce volatility from noncash gains and losses. Under the new standard, HYBE plans to use up to 30% of free cash flow as return resources from 2025 through 2027.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:27:46

K Bank Cuts IPO Price 20% for Third Listing Attempt K Bank is betting on a more conservative price in its third initial public offering attempt, lowering the offering price from earlier plans as it seeks to complete a listing. With the IPO priced cautiously and peer KakaoBank’s share price improving, attention is on whether K Bank can succeed this time. K Bank said in a regulatory filing Thursday that it set the final offering price at 8,300 won, the bottom of its indicated range. A total of 2,007 institutions took part in the book-building process, applying for about 6.55 billion shares, for a subscription ratio of about 199-to-1. Total orders were valued at about 58 trillion won. The price is about 20% lower than in its previous IPO attempt, reflecting market demand. K Bank set the price range at 8,300 won to 9,500 won, valuing the company more conservatively. The bank previously withdrew two listing attempts, citing weak demand and market volatility. For this third try, K Bank also sharply reduced the deal size. It cut the number of shares offered from 82 million to about 60 million, lowering the expected market capitalization from about 4 trillion won to around 3 trillion won. The move is aimed at reducing the burden on investors and improving the chances of a successful offering. Market conditions have also improved. KakaoBank shares, cited as a comparable company, have risen about 30% since K Bank filed its securities registration statement, closing the previous day at 28,050 won. Investor sentiment toward internet-only banks has also been recovering. With the price set, K Bank will move into the main offering process. It plans to take retail subscriptions on Feb. 20 and 23 and list on the Korea Exchange’s main board on March 5. Choi Woo Hyung, K Bank’s CEO, said, “I thank investors who sympathized with K Bank’s vision,” adding, “Even after listing, we will become a bank that grows together with both customers and shareholders.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:18:00

Southern Seoul bathed under Lotte Luminarie SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - The “2026 Lotte Luminarie: Wish Shines On” festival is underway at World Park Plaza of Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, bathing the surrounding area in the glow of approximately 270,000 lights. Held under the theme “Wish Shines On,” this year’s event centers on a 17-meter-high illuminated dome, accompanied by a newly installed cross-shaped tunnel measuring 63 meters wide and 25 meters long. The design expands on last year’s circular corridor, offering visitors a more layered and immersive visual experience. Four 16-meter-tall towers rise from each corner of the plaza, while the tunnel entrance has been shaped into a grand archway, enhancing the sense of arrival. Inspired by traditional Gothic architecture, the structures are intricately outlined with light, creating a cathedral-like atmosphere beneath the night sky. Visitors walk through a network of glowing corridors and open plazas, where shifting patterns of light transform the urban landscape into a temporary winter spectacle — part festival, part architectural installation. The Luminarie will run through March 8. 2026-02-12 17:11:17

Samsung, CJ, Naver and others ramp up Team Korea marketing for 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee’s official sponsors are rolling out marketing campaigns to back South Korea’s Olympic team, known as Team Korea, for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. According to the committee on Wednesday, Samsung Electronics, an International Olympic Committee partner, used the Galaxy S25 Ultra to shoot official profile photos of Team Korea athletes competing at the Games. The photo and video shoots highlighted each athlete and sport. Beer sponsor OB Beer’s Cass brand is supporting Team Korea through its “Our unforgettable story” campaign. Cass provided cheer gifts to athletes and is serving the Cass Fresh family as the official dinner beer at Korea House in Milan, while running an on-site booth for visitors and overseas fans. In South Korea, it is also promoting social media sharing of medal moments and running Olympics-linked promotions at major venues nationwide. Official partners are also active. CJ is the title sponsor of Korea House in Milan, introducing Korean culture to visitors, and is supplying food to a meal-support center operating at the Olympic site to help athletes maintain their condition with Korean dishes. Ahead of the Games, CJ held “Bibigo Day” events at the Taereung and Jincheon national training centers. Olive Young produced a travel “K-beauty kit” and provided it to all athletes who attended the team’s send-off ceremony. Naver, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics’ new-media broadcaster, is streaming all events on Naver Sports and Chzzk and is running a special Olympics page. The page posts photos and videos of all Team Korea athletes to help the public follow their stories and support them. Woori Financial Group is delivering support messages through TV ads, social media and outdoor advertising. Singer IU, the group’s advertising model, narrates a commercial titled “South Korea’s national team financial group,” showing people cheering for national team athletes in everyday settings. Eight affiliates are also running a customer-participation event during the Olympics to boost public interest in the team. Dunamu (Upbit) is airing a TV ad with its official model, figure skater Cha Jun-hwan, supporting all 71 Team Korea athletes. It also linked athlete support with winter-sports development through a bitcoin donation and is running an in-app Team Korea quiz event. Best Sleep, the official partner in the bed-and-mattress category, supplied mattresses, pillows and bedding to Team Korea’s accommodations in Milan to help athletes rest in an unfamiliar environment. It also held events providing bedding to athletes at the Jincheon, Pyeongchang and Taereung national training centers. SK Telecom introduced digital-based Team Korea support content, including V Coloring. Paris Baguette produced Team Korea support posters and photo cards and displayed them at stores nationwide. KOC President Ryu Seung-min said the campaigns are Olympic marketing activities carried out “in an official capacity” by companies that have signed sponsorship agreements with the committee. “Through this cooperation, we were able to responsibly deliver Team Korea’s challenge and the values of the Olympics to the public,” Ryu said. He added that the committee will continue working with sponsors to create a fair, healthy Olympic marketing environment and to support South Korea’s athletes so they can perform at their best on the international stage.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:00:36

Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan denies report alleging misuse of luxury cars Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan is facing allegations in South Korea over what has been described as a “supercar” dispute with a chauffeur-service company. Hwang’s side immediately denied the claims, but the controversy has continued to spread. Dispatch reported on Wednesday that Hwang’s side received 22 vehicles — including Lamborghinis and Ferraris — from a protocol-service company called Bahana (UCK), and allegedly made unreasonable demands during the arrangement. The report said Hwang left an approximately 800 million won Ferrari Purosangue in the middle of Yeongdong Bridge in May last year and walked away, and that he did not take responsibility despite more than 10 accidents. The report also said Hwang’s sister, Hwang Hee Jung — CEO of his agency, BtheHC — also received vehicles and services from Bahana. Bahana said it provided the services because it had been promised a management role, and argued the current legal dispute would not have happened if Hwang had fulfilled the obligations of the “principal” listed in the contract. As an example, Bahana cited a promotional clause, saying Hwang did not tag the company on the relevant social media channel and only added a thumbs-up at Bahana’s request. BtheHC rejected the report as false. The agency said it provided the outlet with materials to rebut the claims, but that “one-sided” coverage was published. It said it never entrusted Bahana with overall management, and accused the company of opening a social media account and using photos of Hwang using vehicles without permission for promotion, including cases of using his likeness without consent. BtheHC said it would take legal action over alleged fraud and deception, defamation by spreading false information, and violations of portrait and name rights. With both sides sharply divided and each signaling legal complaints, the dispute is expected to continue. The controversy comes as Hwang is also dealing with injury issues. He was substituted against Chelsea on Saturday with calf pain. Wolverhampton coach Rob Edwards said Tuesday, “With a calf injury, it will take a few weeks” for him to return, adding it would “probably” be weeks. Hwang previously injured his calf during national team duty in October last year and missed time. Calf injuries are widely seen as prone to recurrence, and Hwang has now reached age 30, prompting concerns about durability. Wolverhampton’s results have also been poor. The club drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in the English Premier League’s 26th round, extending its winless run to six matches. Wolverhampton have just nine points (one win, six draws, 19 losses) and sit last in the league. Burnley, in 19th, have 18 points (four wins, six draws, 16 losses). With injuries, the team’s struggles and the latest allegations, Hwang faces mounting pressure. The truth of the claims will be decided in court, but the dispute could still affect his performances as he tries to return and reestablish himself. 2026-02-12 16:48:00

To keep US troops, Seoul may have too look beyond NK in defense axis SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - The U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS), released last month one year into the Trump administration, delivers a message that is clear — take “primary responsibility” for own defense and expect “critical but limited” U.S. support. For South Korea, which has relied on the U.S. deterrence umbrella against North Korea for more than 70 years, the language feels unsettling. But beneath the rhetoric lies a deeper structural shift: Washington’s strategic focus is no longer centered primarily on Pyongyang. It is centered on Beijing. That shift may ultimately determine the future shape — and relevance — of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). Speaking at a recent forum in Washington, Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center said that under a second Trump administration, “we are likely to see some form of effort to reduce troop levels or scale back the U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula.” The 2026 NDS describes South Korea and Europe as “model allies.” Yet they are also the regions where Washington has most openly explored troop reductions — a paradox reflecting President Donald Trump’s transactional view of alliances. Trump has repeatedly argued that wealthy allies benefiting from U.S. security guarantees should bear greater financial burdens. During his first term, troop levels in South Korea became leverage in cost-sharing negotiations. Despite strong words, a sweeping withdrawal remains unlikely. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act prohibits reducing U.S. troop levels in South Korea below 28,500 without strict national security conditions and prior consultation with allies. Strategically, the peninsula remains one of Washington’s most valuable forward positions in Northeast Asia. “The U.S. currently lacks a better strategic location than the Korean Peninsula for deterring China and, to some extent, Russia,” said Koh Yu-hwan, professor at Dongguk University. Even if heavy Army units were trimmed — as some analysts suggest — air and naval assets could be strengthened, aligning with a broader U.S. shift toward more flexible and mobile force structures. In other words, the debate is not about departure. It is about mission. For decades, Seoul’s defense narrative has been built almost entirely around deterring North Korea. That framework was logical in an era when Pyongyang represented the primary threat and Washington’s Asia strategy was narrower in scope. But today, U.S. military planning is dominated by competition with China. In Pentagon documents and congressional hearings, Beijing — not Pyongyang — is identified as the pacing challenge. This creates a strategic question for Seoul: If USFK is viewed in Washington purely as a North Korea deterrent force, does it risk becoming less central to America’s long-term priorities? To remain indispensable, South Korea may need to broaden its defense axis — not by abandoning deterrence against the North, but by positioning itself more clearly within the wider Indo-Pacific security architecture. That means acknowledging that the Korean Peninsula is not only a frontline against North Korea, but also a critical geographic anchor in managing regional stability vis-à-vis China. The timing is significant. Seoul and Washington are working toward 2028 as the target year for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) to a South Korean commander. Under the envisioned structure, a South Korean four-star general would lead the future Combined Forces Command, with a U.S. general serving as deputy. Although OPCON transfer is formally separate from troop reduction debates, it could create political and strategic space for recalibrating USFK’s role. As Washington adjusts its global force posture — including modest recalibrations in Europe — the emphasis appears to be on efficiency and strategic alignment rather than large-scale retrenchment. For South Korea, that suggests the future of USFK will depend less on fixed troop numbers and more on mission relevance. 2026-02-12 16:42:28

Canada’s Piper Gilles, Paul Poirier win Olympic ice dance bronze after cancer battle Canadian ice dancer Piper Gilles, who faced a possible end to her career while being treated for ovarian cancer, reached the Olympic podium with her 15-year partner, Paul Poirier. According to AFP, after winning bronze in figure skating ice dance at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the pair said, “If you believe in yourself and chase your dreams, anything can happen.” Skating to the Van Gogh tribute song “Vincent” in the free dance at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, Gilles and Poirier finished third with 217.74 points. AFP reported the duo, wearing blue costumes reminiscent of Van Gogh’s “Irises,” drew loud cheers for a polished performance. Despite past world championship success, Gilles and Poirier had not previously won an Olympic medal. “When I was diagnosed (with ovarian cancer) three years ago, I couldn’t imagine a moment like this,” Gilles said. “I hope this medal can give hope to people going through difficult times.” France’s Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry won gold with 225.82 points. Americans Evan Bates and Madison Chock took silver with 224.39.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 16:39:00