South Korea’s MU:DS museum brand to debut in Europe at Milan Korea House South Korea’s national museum merchandise brand MU:DS is set to make its European debut.  The National Museum Foundation of Korea said Tuesday it will present MU:DS at Korea House in Italy from Feb. 5 to 22 during the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics.    Korea House, operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, will be set up at Villa Necchi Campiglio, a historic building in central Milan. The foundation said it plans to introduce visitors to K-culture through MU:DS, which reinterprets Korean cultural heritage with a modern sensibility.    MU:DS will appear under the global slogan, “MU:DS, K-Culture Unboxed - Reimagining Tradition, Redefining K-Culture.” For the event, the foundation selected 96 products across five themes: pensive bodhisattva, celadon, white porcelain, mother-of-pearl lacquerware and K-pop Demon Hunters.  It said items drawing on Korean motifs highlighted by the popularity of Netflix’s animated “K-pop Demon Hunters” — including a gat hat, magpie-and-tiger imagery and the Irwolobongdo screen — will be featured prominently.  The foundation called the appearance MU:DS’ first official entry into the European market. To mark it, 19 popular items will be sold on-site, including a “Pensive Bodhisattva” miniature from the “Mind” series, a magpie-and-tiger badge and key rings.    The foundation said it aims to use Korea House not only for sports diplomacy but also as a distribution platform showcasing Korean lifestyle products.  It said museum merchandise sales totaled 41.3 billion won last year. MU:DS also sold out within a week when it was introduced alongside an overseas traveling exhibition of items donated by the late Lee Kun-hee at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington.    Jeong Yong-seok, president of the National Museum Foundation of Korea, said, “It is meaningful to share the beauty of our cultural heritage at the Winter Olympics, a festival for people around the world.” He added, “This expansion into Europe will be an important turning point in confirming the global competitiveness of K-goods,” and said he hopes MU:DS becomes a national representative brand people worldwide want to own.    Separately, the foundation said it will support Naver’s group cheering event for the Winter Olympics for two days starting Feb. 15 by providing items including a “Denny Taegeukgi” key ring and a miniature bag inspired by a zoomorphic earthenware vessel.    Korea House will operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can enter by reserving through the official website or applying on-site.   2026-02-04 14:39:00

Songs and poems told by hands SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Poetries were read and choir songs sung, but not aloud at Modu Art Theater in Seodaemun, western Seoul on Feb. 3. At 2 p.m., the 6th Korean Sign Language Day commemorative ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, began not with applause, but with raised hands, flowing gestures and attentive silence. Each movement carried rhythm. Each pause held meaning. Here, language was not spoken — it was performed. Korean Sign Language Day, observed annually on Feb. 3, is a statutory anniversary designated to promote Korean Sign Language as the unique language of the deaf, with equal status to spoken Korean. Beyond recognition, the day serves as a reminder that communication takes many forms — and that all deserve respect. This year’s ceremony, held at Modu Art Theater in Seoul, was themed: “Today connected by language, tomorrow continued by culture!” The message resonated through every performance. On stage, performers translated emotions into space. Love, longing, humor and hope traveled through fingertips and wrists. Poems were not read, but shaped in the air. Songs were not sung, but drawn with palms and arms. The audience followed each story with their eyes, learning to listen without sound. For many participants, Korean Sign Language is more than a tool — it is a mother tongue, a bridge to identity, and a living archive of shared memory. Organizers emphasized that it is also a cultural asset belonging to society as a whole, not only to the deaf community. Between performances, moments of stillness lingered. A raised hand. A gentle nod. A collective breath. In those pauses, the essence of the day became clear. Language does not always arrive through ears. Sometimes, it reaches the heart through hands. 2026-02-04 14:28:04

BTS Comeback D-45: Seoul scrutinizes crowd safety and price gouging SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - As visitor numbers are expected to rise ahead of BTS’s comeback in March, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has begun reviewing comprehensive measures, including crowd safety management and a crackdown on price gouging. On Wednesday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon chaired a meeting at 10 a.m. to review key issues surrounding the BTS comeback event and discuss measures to ensure public safety and welcome global fans. During the meeting, officials reviewed event safety plans to ensure that both residents and international visitors can enjoy the city safely. Measures to minimize potential inconvenience for foreign tourists using accommodation facilities, curb price gouging at traditional markets, and expand entertainment offerings such as performances and exhibitions were also discussed. With large crowds expected at key locations such as Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul Plaza, comprehensive safety management measures will be implemented. These include strengthening reviews of safety plans through expert consultations and dividing the main event areas into smaller zones to prevent crowd-related risks. Event organizers will deploy sufficient safety personnel in line with expected crowd sizes, positioning them at venues and other areas around event sites where large crowds are anticipated. The city will also step up monitoring crowd movements. Using real-time urban data and CCTV systems from the city’s disaster and safety control center, officials will closely track crowd density. On-site conditions will be shared with event organizers and relevant agencies, including police, fire authorities and district offices—to enable immediate responses based on risk levels. On the day of the concert, the city will implement safety measures tailored to each stage of the event. Before and after the performance, crowd flows will be guided to prevent congestion and ensure smooth entry and exit, while additional steps will be taken during the show to avoid overcrowding in specific areas. Firefighters, emergency personnel and vehicles will be deployed, and emergency routes will be secured in preparation for potential incidents. Transportation measures will also be introduced, including the possibility of subway trains passing through nearby stations without stopping and bus route diversions due to road controls. Additional on-site safety steps include securing sufficient restroom facilities, suspending rentals of the city’s bike-sharing service and shared personal mobility devices to ensure pedestrian safety, and cracking down on illegal street vendors and illegal parking. Multilingual safety messages will also be displayed on stage screens and electronic boards at Seoul Plaza. To prevent harm to both foreign visitors and residents, the city will step up efforts to curb unfair business practices. Joint inspections with district offices will focus on compliance with accommodation price display rules and on cracking down on practices such as pressuring guests to cancel reservations. To stabilize accommodation prices, the city plans to work with online travel agencies through industry meetings and cooperate with related organizations, including the Korea Hotel Association and the Seoul Tourism Association. To help disperse demand, accommodation-dense areas outside Jongno and Jung districts will be promoted through the Visit Seoul website. The city will also conduct on-site inspections using undercover inspectors posing as customers to crack down on price gouging and other unfair trade practices. The city officials will also create a festive atmosphere that both domestic and international visitors can enjoy. Streets and public spaces across Seoul will be decorated to welcome global fans, alongside a range of tourism and hands-on experience programs. Around the time of the BTS performance, street performances, random dance festivals and other programs will be held at major locations such as Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul Plaza and Han River parks. It also plans to offer special experiential events for global fans and residents, including unique programs using the Han River bus. Mayor Oh Se-hoon said that holding BTS’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square, in the heart of Seoul, presents a prime opportunity to showcase the city’s appeal as a global cultural capital to the world. He added that the city will take a comprehensive approach—covering crowd safety, price gouging and entertainment offerings—to make Seoul a truly global tourism destination that people from around the world can enjoy. 2026-02-04 14:17:54

Korea Zinc to develop next-generation battery material for drones, robots SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Korea Zinc said on Wednesday it has signed partnerships with two materials companies to develop composite copper foil, a next-generation battery component used for lightweight, high-performance batteries for drones and humanoid robots. The partnered firms are Taesung and Neo Battery Materials Korea. Korea Zinc said the three firms will jointly develop advanced battery technologies using composite copper foil for small mobility applications. Composite copper foil, used as an anode current collector in batteries, incorporates a polymer core and requires less copper than conventional copper foil. The structure reduces weight while maintaining performance and offers cost and safety advantages, according to the company. However, commercialization still requires improvements in production yield and the establishment of a stable mass-production system. Under the agreement, the companies will cooperate across the full development chain, from materials engineering and manufacturing processes to feasibility studies and product demonstrations. Planned work includes verification of composite copper foil, process development for battery cells using the material, production of small prototype batteries, and testing prototype small mobility devices such as drones and robots powered by the new batteries. Korea Zinc said the partnership is expected to strengthen the companies’ competitiveness in the emerging composite copper foil market. Market research firm Wise Guy Reports forecasts the global market will grow to $10.18 billion by 2032 from $6.88 billion in 2023. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 14:02:28

LG Electronics showcases B2B solutions at North American, European trade shows SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - LG Electronics is participating in major business-to-business trade shows in North America and Europe this week, presenting heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and commercial display solutions as it seeks to expand its B2B operations. The South Korean electronics maker exhibited HVAC solutions ranging from unitary systems to AI data center cooling technology at AHR EXPO 2026, North America's largest air conditioning trade show, which concludes on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida. LG Electronics displayed core HVAC components including compressors, motors, fan motors and drives at the event. The company also presented what it calls an "all-in-one component solution" that combines key air conditioning parts optimized for residential and commercial buildings. Separately, LG Electronics is presenting commercial display products and software solutions at ISE 2026, Europe's largest display trade show running through Friday in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition includes the company's high-resolution "LG MAGNIT" signage, low-power "E-Paper" displays, and cloud-based software platforms such as LG ConnectedCare and LG SuperSign. LG Electronics' B2B revenue reached 24.1 trillion won ($18 billion) last year, accounting for more than 35 percent of total sales on a standalone basis. The company has set a target to increase the B2B share of revenue to 40 percent by 2030. The B2B business includes HVAC, automotive components and commercial displays. 2026-02-04 14:00:14

Hanwha Ocean posts 2025 operating profit of 1.1091 trillion won, up 366% Hanwha Ocean said its 2025 operating profit nearly quadrupled as revenue from commercial ships and naval vessels rose sharply. In an earnings filing on Tuesday, the company said 2025 revenue rose 18% from a year earlier to 12.6884 trillion won, while operating profit jumped 366% to 1.1091 trillion won. Hanwha Ocean cited higher sales of liquefied natural gas carriers and special-purpose vessels. It said a larger share of high-margin LNG carrier revenue, supported by more stable production, led growth in its commercial ship division. Revenue at its special ship division also edged up as production of the Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarines Nos. 1, 2 and 3 stayed on schedule, contributing to overall sales growth. The company said operating profit improved sharply on a shift toward more profitable products, productivity gains from production stabilization and continued cost-cutting efforts. Hanwha Ocean said it has won orders totaling US$10.05 billion so far, including 13 LNG carriers, 20 very large crude carriers and 17 container ships. It said orders increased from US$8.98 billion a year earlier despite a drop to below 70% in global newbuild orders for its main ship types, measured by the number of vessels, citing aggressive sales efforts and technological competitiveness. The company also gave an upbeat outlook for this year. A company official said revenue is expected to grow as high ship prices for LNG carriers and other vessels strengthen, and profitability should remain solid as higher-margin projects make up a larger share of sales. The official added that profitability is expected to improve further as production ramps up on the Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine No. 2 and the Ulsan-class Batch-III frigates Nos. 5 and 6, along with efforts to win major overseas projects. 2026-02-04 13:54:00

Hyundai Rotem to supply vehicles for light-rail lines in Edmonton, Canada SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyundai Rotem has won a contract to supply light-rail vehicles for all light-rail transit (LRT) lines operating in Edmonton, Canada. The company said on Wednesday it signed a 320 billion won ($240 million) agreement on Monday local time with the City of Edmonton in Alberta to supply high-floor LRT vehicles. The order covers 32 trainsets, each consisting of three cars, with a maximum operating speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The trains will operate on the Capital and Metro lines, which run north–south through downtown Edmonton and connect surrounding communities. The new fleet will replace aging vehicles currently in service, with designs emphasizing safety, accessibility and operational reliability in harsh winter conditions. The trains are engineered to operate in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and under heavy snowfall, while lightweight structures are intended to improve energy efficiency. A forward-collision warning system will also be installed to enhance safety for both passengers and pedestrians. Hyundai Rotem said the exterior design retains the visual identity of Edmonton’s existing fleet while introducing updated styling. Interior features include upgraded passenger information systems and wheelchair-accessible signage to improve convenience for riders with disabilities. With the latest contract, Hyundai Rotem will supply vehicles for all LRT lines in Edmonton. Separately, trams ordered from the company in 2021 are being deployed on the Valley West line, which connects downtown with western districts. Deliveries for that project began in August last year, the company said. Hyundai Rotem also highlighted its track record in Canada, including a 2005 contract to supply automated people-mover trains at Vancouver International Airport, where early delivery helped advance the project schedule by three months. Canadian authorities later recognized the company’s contribution to transportation readiness ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In 2018, Hyundai Rotem secured an additional order to supply more trains for the same airport line. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 13:49:28

Hyundai Rotem Wins $320 Million Edmonton Light-Rail Contract Hyundai Rotem said it will supply rail cars for all light-rail transit lines operating in Edmonton, Canada. The company said it signed a 320 billion won contract on Monday (local time) with the city government of Edmonton, Alberta, to provide high-floor light-rail vehicles. Light rail generally refers to smaller rail vehicles used to ease urban congestion, and includes trams. The order covers 32 trainsets, each made up of three cars, with a top operating speed of 80 kph. They will be deployed on the Capital and Metro lines, which run north-south through the city center and connect to outlying areas. Because the vehicles will replace an aging fleet, Hyundai Rotem said the design focuses on improving passenger safety and convenience. The trains are tailored for local winters, including temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and heavy snowfall, and include lightweight design features aimed at reducing energy use. A forward-collision warning system will be installed on the front of the vehicles to enhance safety for passengers and pedestrians. The company said the exterior uses strong color contrast and lighting to carry over the identity of existing vehicles while adding a more forward-looking design. Inside, it said, intuitive passenger information displays and wheelchair pictograms are intended to improve accessibility for riders with disabilities. Hyundai Rotem said the deal means it will supply vehicles for every LRT line in Edmonton. Trams the company won in 2021 are slated for the Valley West line, not the high-floor lines served by the new LRT vehicles, and are intended to improve travel between the city and surrounding western areas. Those trams have been delivered to the site in stages starting with the first trainset in early August last year. Hyundai Rotem also cited earlier work in Canada, including an automated people mover for Vancouver International Airport under a 2005 contract that it said was delivered early, helping move up the operating schedule by three months. The Canadian project agency later sent a letter of thanks and a plaque recognizing the company’s contribution to the successful hosting of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In 2018, Hyundai Rotem signed an additional contract to supply automated trains for the same line. The company said it will continue expanding its lineup for future global markets, including hydrogen-powered rail vehicles such as hydrogen locomotives. A Hyundai Rotem official said the company will draw on its experience delivering light-rail projects in South Korea — including the Gimpo LRT, Incheon Line 2 and the Ui-Sinseol LRT — and its cooperation with local agencies to help Edmonton residents use public transit safely and comfortably.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 13:36:00

National Theater Company to Restage ‘Sammaegyeong’ After Six Months The play “Sammaegyeong” is returning to the stage. The National Theater Company of Korea, led by CEO and artistic director Park Jeong Hui, said Tuesday that “Sammaegyeong,” based on an original work by Ham Se Deok and adapted and directed by Lee Cheol Hui, will open March 12 at Myeongdong Theater. The company, South Korea’s largest theater producer, premiered “Sammaegyeong” last year as part of its mission to develop “Korean classics.” The production reimagines a work long regarded as a landmark in Korean theater history with a contemporary sensibility. Actor Ji Chun Seong, who rose to prominence with the earlier original “Dongseung” (1991, directed by Park Won Geun), leads the cast; the premiere drew sold-out houses and strong reviews from audiences and critics, the company said. The company said it is bringing “Sammaegyeong” back as a model of South Korean original theater that keeps modern and contemporary Korean drama alive onstage. It also called the revival its first step in 2026, which it has designated as a starting year for discovering new repertory works and testing them with audiences. Audience events are also planned. On Feb. 19 and 20, the director and cast will meet theatergoers for a script-reading session. From March 28-30, the production will offer accessibility performances with Korean Sign Language interpretation, Korean subtitles, audio description, a stage-model touch tour and mobility support. Post-show talks are scheduled after the March 15 and 29 performances, with Lee and Ji among those set to attend. The run continues through April 5. The company will offer a 50% discount, titled “See it three times, fall into ‘Sammaegyeong,’” to patrons holding two paid tickets for the production. It will also offer a 30% discount, titled “This year, too, a performance ‘Sammaegyeong,’” to holders of paid tickets to any performances in 2025-2026, including musicals, dance and concerts; the discount applies even if the ticket is not for a National Theater Company production. Tickets are available through the National Theater Company and NOL Ticket websites. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 13:30:33

South Korea’s National Museum to Open Earlier, Add Pondside ‘Water-Gazing’ Steps "To fully implement a K-museum that leads the world, we will innovate the future viewing environment and visitor experience." Yu Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, said at a New Year news briefing on Feb. 3 that the museum has entered an era of 6.5 million visitors a year. He said the key was not treating it as a place that simply displays old artifacts, but as a complex cultural space where culture is shared. Under this year’s vision of “a museum for everyone,” the museum said it will redesign how people visit and how it operates, aiming to become a participatory cultural complex open to all. Starting March 16, it will move opening time up from 10 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Yu said visitors line up by 8:30 a.m., adding that he felt it was unreasonable for people to stand for an hour and a half. In August, the museum will expand outdoor amenities to reposition itself as a place where people want to stay. It plans to build “water-gazing steps,” a set of steps where visitors can rest while looking out over the pond, similar to rest areas found at major museums worldwide. Yu said the museum is “absolutely short” on cafes and restaurants, and that a glasshouse-style cafe will be added above the restaurant by the Mirror Pond. He said the museum also aims to revive the visitor route from the main entrance to the Mirror Pond. The museum said it will build a customer relationship management system by December to improve the visitor environment and operations and ease congestion. It also plans to develop online reservations and ticketing, on-site ticketing, contactless electronic ticket checks and mobile QR tickets, in preparation for paid admission. By 2029, it plans to expand and rebuild the children’s museum to about twice its current size. Yu said one of the museum’s biggest points of pride is that many young people visit. “Directors of foreign museums ask me to tell them the secret to attracting young people,” he said. “I think it’s because it’s fun, you can learn, and you can enjoy the museum even without going into the galleries.” The museum also outlined major exhibitions planned for 2026, combining public appeal and academic value. They include “Our Table” (July 1-Oct. 25), which looks at the origins and evolution of Korean food culture amid global interest in K-food; “Thai Art” (June 16-Sept. 6), the first Thailand art exhibition of its kind in South Korea; “War, Art and Life” (Nov. 27-’27.3.21.); and “Marie Antoinette Style” (Dec. 18-’27.3.31.). It also plans to upgrade how it runs permanent exhibitions. The “Daedongyeojido” display on the “Path of History” (2.12.) will be created as a symbolic space where the visitor route itself becomes a historical experience. Other plans include reopening the Korean Empire gallery in April and a special public showing of Dunhuang Buddhist sutras in October.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 13:30:00