North Korean leader vows stronger military role over next five years ahead of key party congress SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised the "victorious journey" of the country's military, state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim attended an event marking the 78th anniversary of the military's founding the previous day along with top Workers' Party officials and senior military brass. Kim said, "In looking back upon the victorious journey of our army over the past turbulent five years as it has always been since its founding, today's glory would never be conceivable separated from the enormous role our army has played." "Last year was a year especially filled with unheard-of dramatic events and distinguished feats that could be performed only by our army," he praised, apparently intended to highlight achievements before the key party congress, where he is expected to unveil the country's major military and economic policies and plans for the upcoming five years. He then touted the military's strength, saying the next five years will be "years when our army's outstanding role that no one else can perform will become further enhanced." The country's ninth key party gathering is expected to be held late this month. 2026-02-09 10:16:03

Audi Korea Opens New Audi Namcheon Showroom in Busan Audi Korea said Sunday that its official dealer, Iron Auto, has opened a new Audi Namcheon showroom in Namcheon-dong, Busan. The showroom has a total floor area of 498.6 square meters and can display up to seven vehicles. It includes customer consultation areas and a layout designed to let visitors experience the brand identity in a more comfortable, immersive setting. The Audi Namcheon showroom is located at 449 Suyeong-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan, and operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. To mark the opening, it will hold various events for one month. "It is meaningful to newly introduce the Namcheon showroom, which will further expand our touchpoints with customers in Busan’s southeastern region," said Steve Clotty, president of Audi Korea. Kim Min Gyu, CEO of Iron Auto, said the showroom will serve as "an important hub" for closer communication with customers in Busan. He said the dealer will deliver Audi’s premium value through tailored services that reflect local customers’ lifestyles and needs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 10:09:00

K-pop icon G-DRAGON draws 40,000 fans to first solo fan meeting in Seoul SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - G-DRAGON drew approximately 40,000 fans to the KSPO Dome in South Korea over a three-day run that wrapped up on February 8. The event, titled "2026 G-DRAGON 'FAM' MEETING ," marked the artist's first solo fan meeting since his debut and was designed to feel more like a dense 'family gathering' than a standard concert. The atmosphere inside the venue reflected G-DRAGON's effort to connect personally with a fanbase that now spans several generations. The crowd was a mix of teenagers, who have recently taken to calling him a 'president of elementary students,' and middle-aged fans who have followed him since BIGBANG's peak years. To facilitate this intimacy, the production utilized a 360-degree open stage and a seating layout designed to keep the artist in close proximity to the audience. The setlist and production leaned heavily into the artist's history while nodding to his current work. G-DRAGON opened the show by appearing in a massive crown structure to perform 'A Boy.' Later, he performed 'Who You?' while wearing a white shirt, jeans, and a red ball cap—a look that mirrored his styling from a 2013 television performance on 'Inkigayo.' He closed the nights with 'TAKE ME' and 'IBELONGIIU' from his latest album, 'Übermensch.' Beyond the music, the event was packed with detail intended to immerse fans in G-DRAGON's specific aesthetic. The area outside the dome was styled as a 'Daisy Garden,' and fans were served daisy-stamped walnut cookies before the show. During the performances, video transitions simulated an '88th-floor elevator' ride, and the finale saw confetti printed with his own handwriting scattered through the air alongside his signature fragrance. G-DRAGON spent much of the time talking directly to the 'FAM'—his term for the fandom. He answered impromptu questions, shared old photos, and performed several social media challenges, including 'Doma' and 'CHANEL.' A highlight for many was his take on the 'OVERDRIVE' challenge, which fans have nicknamed the 'whining challenge.' YouTuber Mimiminu, a self-described superfan, served as the MC for the three days. "I decided to hold this fan meeting to welcome new family members after my comeback," G-DRAGON told the crowd. "Out of regret for those who couldn't join the tour, I wanted to create a place that felt like a family gathering." He also touched on the future of his group, noting that BIGBANG is planning a 20th-anniversary comeback this year. "BIGBANG is making a comeback for our 20th anniversary this year. As both a member and a fan, I am looking forward to it, and I am sure all the members feel the same," he said. The artist is scheduled to take the fan meeting tour to Yokohama, Japan, from February 13 to 15, before heading to Bangkok, Thailand, for two dates starting February 21. 2026-02-09 10:01:10

South Korea Names 4 Hubs for 2026 Cultural Diversity City Program South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service said Monday they have selected four areas — South Jeolla Province, Busan, North Chungcheong Province and Ansan — as the final "2026 Cultural Diversity Hub Cities." The program aims to build urban communities where diverse cultural expression can coexist by linking each area's cultural heritage, contemporary arts and residents' everyday lives. It focuses on identifying local cultural contexts and creating an ecosystem to protect and promote them. The four hubs will begin full-scale activities from March through December, including research, creative workshops and citizen-participation programs. The Jeonnam Cultural Foundation, Busan Cultural Foundation, Chungbuk Cultural Foundation and Ansan Cultural Foundation will carry out the projects. The Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, the agency in charge of advancing cultural-diversity policy, will sign agreements with each foundation and support operations. Im Jin Taek, president of the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, said the initiative is a process of finding and connecting specific cultural assets embedded in daily life. He said it will help residents rediscover local culture, feel pride in their communities and build a practical foundation for diverse cultures to coexist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:54:00

Naver/Kurly steps up delivery race to win over Coupang customers SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - South Korea’s dominant internet platform, has rolled out same-day grocery delivery in partnership with fresh-food unicorn Market Kurly, stepping up efforts to capitalize on mounting reputational troubles at e-commerce leader Coupang. Under the expanded service, Naver and Kurly’s joint grocery platform, Kurly N Mart, began offering same-day delivery on Monday. Orders placed between 11 p.m. the previous day and 3 p.m. on the same day are now delivered before midnight. The option applies to both Kurly N Mart and Kurly’s main platform. Previously, Kurly N Mart focused on early-morning delivery, with orders placed by 11 p.m. arriving by 8 a.m. the following day. While that service remains in place, the addition of same-day delivery is expected to ease pressure around order cutoffs and encourage more frequent purchases. The new delivery window will initially operate in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with plans for nationwide expansion. Naver said Kurly N Mart, launched in September last year, has recorded average monthly transaction growth of more than 50 percent. January transaction volume surged more than sevenfold compared with September. Fresh produce transactions rose 82 percent over the same period, while meat sales climbed 74 percent. Ultra-fresh items such as eggs, milk and tofu posted particularly high repurchase rates. After five months of operation, top-selling products shifted from meal kits and ready-to-eat foods to a broader mix including produce, seafood and meat, reflecting growing demand for quality and freshness. Sales of fast-moving consumer goods such as toilet paper, detergent and toothbrushes also jumped more than fivefold, indicating that Kurly N Mart is increasingly used for routine grocery shopping. Repeat purchasing has strengthened as well. The repurchase rate reached 60 percent, roughly double the level recorded in October. Naver attributed the rise in customer loyalty to synergies with its membership program, including lower thresholds for free delivery and additional benefits. More than 90 percent of Kurly N Mart users are Naver Plus members, the company said. The number of “core regulars” who used the service at least 10 times over five months was about 70 times higher among members than non-members. Around 80 percent of transactions are generated through the Naver Plus Store app, underscoring the steady shift toward mobile-based grocery shopping. Naver’s expansion comes as rival platforms benefit from weakening confidence in Coupang following last year’s massive data breach. According to data from IGAWorks’ Mobile Index, new installations of Naver’s shopping app surged to 935,507 in January, up more than 147,000 from December and the highest level since June. Over the same period, Coupang’s app installs fell to 467,641, down nearly 60,000 month on month. Meanwhile, market tracker Wiseapp.Retail reported that Coupang’s monthly active users declined to 33 million in January, down about one million, or 3.2 percent, from December. The drop was nearly ten times larger than the previous month’s decrease. Industry analysts say the figures reflect eroding consumer trust following the November breach that affected almost all of Coupang’s more than 33 million users. 2026-02-09 09:50:42

PSG’s Lee Kang-in scores in second match back from injury for his second league goal Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in scored his second Ligue 1 goal of the season as PSG routed Marseille 5-0. PSG won the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 Round 21 home match at Parc des Princes in Paris on Sunday. Lee came on in the 68th minute for Bradley Barcola and needed six minutes to score. He took a pass from Senny Mayulu, slipped past a defender with a quick touch inside the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot that stayed low and beat the goalkeeper. It was Lee’s first goal in two matches since returning from a thigh injury suffered in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final on Jan. 18. In his return match against Strasbourg on Feb. 2, he delivered a sharp pass that set up the winning goal. Lee has two league goals and two assists this season, and three goals and three assists in all competitions. With the win, PSG extended its league winning streak to seven and moved back to the top of the table with 51 points (16 wins, three draws, two losses), edging Lens (49). 2026-02-09 09:48:00

Report: Nvidia's autonomus driving platform Alpamayo to reshape global ecosystem SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - South Korea's top automotive research body suggests that a new open-source platform from Nvidia could be the "breakthrough" needed for an industry currently paralyzed by ballooning costs and technical gridlock. According to a report released February 9 by the South Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), the Alpamayo platform aims to solve the "black box" problem of modern artificial intelligence by teaching cars to explain their driving decisions in natural language. The report, authored by senior researcher Kim Han-sol, notes that the dream of fully autonomous Level 4 vehicles has hit a wall. Major research firms now estimate that the global rollout of robotaxis may be delayed until 2029 or 2030, largely because the cost of developing and verifying these systems has become too high for any single company to handle. Furthermore, current "end-to-end" AI models—the kind favored by companies like Tesla—are often criticized because they cannot provide a clear reasoning process for their actions, making it difficult to satisfy safety regulators. Nvidia's solution, featured at CES 2026, relies on what the company calls "Physical AI". The Alpamayo platform is built on three main pillars: a 10-billion-parameter vision-language-action model called Alpamayo 1, a simulation environment known as AlpaSim, and a massive dataset collected from 2,500 cities across 25 countries. Unlike previous systems, Alpamayo 1 uses a "chain-of-thought" technique to process visual information into linguistic context, allowing the vehicle to generate a driving command and a logical explanation for that command simultaneously. The KATECH analysis highlights a unique hybrid architecture within the platform that balances AI intuition with rigid safety rules. While the Alpamayo 1 model handles most of the driving, a traditional rule-based system acts as a "Policy and Safety Evaluator" to monitor the AI in real time. If the AI encounters a situation where its probabilistic reasoning is uncertain, the rule-based system takes control as a safety guardrail. This transparency is expected to help automakers secure Level 3 or higher certifications more quickly, as regulators will finally have a way to audit the vehicle's decision-making process. For South Korean automakers and other global manufacturers, the move toward an open platform could shift the industry's power dynamics. Nvidia is offering the Alpamayo 1 model in a format that developers can modify to fit local regulations or specific hardware. This approach is intended to lower the barrier to entry for latecomers and reduce the fear of "platform lock-in" among established car brands. However, the report warns that while the technology is being offered for research and evaluation, any commercial deployment will still require separate licensing agreements. 2026-02-09 09:30:05

Hyundai Rotem to Exhibit at Saudi Defense Show WDS 2026 Hyundai Rotem said Sunday it will take part in the Saudi International Defense Exhibition, WDS 2026, as it steps up efforts to expand in the Middle East. The event, the region’s largest defense exhibition, is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” strategy to build a self-reliant defense industry, the company said. Hyundai Rotem said it will focus on promoting its ground weapons systems and technologies aimed at future battlefield needs. It plans to highlight mobile weapons systems, manned-unmanned teaming and hydrogen mobility technologies. At its exhibition hall, the company will display mock-ups of the K2 main battle tank, which it said has been well received in global markets, along with K2-based variants including an obstacle-clearing vehicle and an armored recovery vehicle. It will also show a 30-metric-ton wheeled armored vehicle developed for export, plus mock-ups of a command post vehicle and a medical evacuation vehicle based on its existing wheeled armored vehicle platform. Hyundai Rotem said it will debut a multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle, the HR-Sherpa, fitted with a counter-drone system. The company said the system uses radar to detect drones, establish defenses and support guard and surveillance missions. The HR-Sherpa is an unmanned platform designed to carry different equipment depending on the mission. The company said in-wheel motors are applied to all six wheels, a design that boosts propulsion and allows the vehicle to keep moving even if one wheel develops a problem. Also on display are a full-size reconnaissance drone and one-third-scale mock-ups equipped with a surface-to-air guided missile system and a surface-to-surface guided missile system. Hyundai Rotem said it will also show its hydrogen fuel cell-based unmanned mobility electrification platform, Black Veil, to overseas markets for the first time after debuting it last year at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, known as ADEX. “We plan to demonstrate the diverse operational capabilities of ground weapons systems based on advanced future technologies such as AI, unmanned systems and hydrogen, in line with the rapidly changing future battlefield environment,” a Hyundai Rotem official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:21:29

South Korea, Saudi Arabia agree to expand defense cooperation SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - South Korea has agreed to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security and defense, the Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back met his Saudi counterpart Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Riyadh over the weekend, where they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand biliteral cooperation. They said the MOU would establish a joint framework covering research and development, defense technology, and systems innovation, laying the groundwork for a forward-looking strategic partnership. Khalid said South Korea's technology and experience could help bolster Saudi Arabia's defense capabilities. Later in the day, Ahn attended a defense expo, stopping at booths run by South Korean defense companies to hear their views on arms exports. Now in its third year, the Saudi World Defense Show is one of the world's largest defense exhibitions. It kicked off on Sunday and runs through Thursday, with about 700 companies from 80 countries participating. 2026-02-09 09:21:09

Three Late Joseon-Era Woodblocks Returned to South Korea From U.S. The Korea Heritage Service and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said they received three woodblocks used to print collected works from the late Joseon period and the Japanese colonial era, donated by an American and a Korean American owner.  The donation ceremony was held on Feb. 8 (local time) at the Korean Empire legation in Washington.  The items are woodblocks for Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip, Songja Daejeon and Beonamjip. The foundation said Americans who worked in South Korea in the early 1970s bought them as souvenirs and took them to the United States.  The Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip woodblock, carved in 1917, was used to print the collected works of Kim Do Hwa (1825-1912), who served as a militia leader in the Andong area during the Eulmi Righteous Army uprising in 1895. The foundation said there were originally more than 1,000 related woodblocks. In 2015, 19 Confucian woodblocks were collectively inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register as “Korean Confucian Woodblocks.” In 2019, with support from Riot Games, the foundation bought one matching woodblock at a German auction and donated it to the Korea Studies Advancement Center; it has now received another of the same type.  The foundation said the woodblock had been purchased from an antique dealer in South Korea by Alan Gordon (1933-2011), an American who worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Korea mission in the early 1970s, and taken to the United States. After his death, his wife, Tamra Gordon, kept it and in 2025 inquired about donating it to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art; it was then transferred to the foundation’s U.S. office and returned through the donation.  The Songja Daejeon woodblock, carved in 1926, was used for a compilation of writings, a chronology and other materials related to Song Si Yeol (1607-1689), a Confucian scholar of the late Joseon period. The work was first published in 1787. The foundation said all the original woodblocks were destroyed by the Japanese military in 1907, and descendants and Confucian scholars recarved them in 1926. The 11,023 recarved woodblocks were designated a Daejeon city tangible cultural heritage in 1989. The foundation said Alan Gordon bought this woodblock from an antique dealer in South Korea and gave it to his younger sister; it was returned along with the Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip woodblock.  The Beonamjip woodblock, carved in 1824, was used to print the collected works of Chae Je Gong (1720-1799), a civil official who played a central role in state affairs during the reigns of King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo. Of 1,159 woodblocks, only 358 survive, the foundation said. Like the Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip woodblock, it was included in the 2015 UNESCO Memory of the World inscription.  The foundation said an American who worked in South Korea in the early 1970s bought the woodblock from an antique dealer, took it to the United States and gave it to the family of Kim Eun Hye, a Korean American. After the foundation’s U.S. office confirmed the background and proposed a donation, Kim agreed, and the woodblock was donated and returned with the others.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:21:00