Bonus polarization deepens as Lunar New Year exposes divide in Korean Inc. SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - As millions of South Korean breadwinners return home for the Lunar New Year, many do so with thinner envelopes and tighter wallets. This year’s Seollal holiday arrives amid an uncomfortable contrast: a red-hot stock market and record-breaking bonus payouts at a handful of corporate champions, even as a growing share of companies scale back seasonal bonuses. According to a survey by the Korea Enterprises Federation, 58.7 percent of companies paid Seollal bonuses this year, down 2.8 percentage points from 61.5 percent last year. The gap is particularly stark by company size. Among enterprises with more than 300 employees, 71.1 percent provided bonuses, compared with 57.3 percent of smaller firms. For workers at small and mid-sized businesses, the strain is palpable. The subdued holiday mood stands in sharp contrast to bonus windfalls at export powerhouses riding boom cycles in semiconductors and defense. Hanwha Ocean made headlines by granting a uniform 400 percent performance bonus based on monthly base salary to both in-house and subcontractor workers — a first for a major Korean shipbuilder. The decision reflects the shipbuilding sector’s resurgence and acknowledges that roughly 60 percent of production processes are handled by subcontractors. Previously, in-house employees received 150 percent bonuses in 2024, while partner workers received 75 percent. The equal payout this year was framed as an effort to strengthen labor-management harmony during a boom period. Kakao followed with bonuses of up to 9 percent of annual salary, slightly higher than last year’s 8 percent. The company posted record 2025 results, reporting 8.99 trillion won in revenue and 732 billion won in operating profit — a 48 percent increase — driven by growth of its KakaoTalk platform. Hanwha Aerospace offered bonuses of up to 700 percent of monthly base pay, varying by division, after three consecutive years of record profits. Its Land Systems division led with 725 percent, while other units exceeded 500 percent. The company reported 2025 revenue of 26.6 trillion won and operating profit of 3 trillion won. SK hynix Reshapes the Bonus Benchmark But it was SK hynix that reset expectations across corporate Korea. The chipmaker announced an unprecedented 2,964 percent performance bonus based on base salary under its excess profit-sharing system. For an employee earning 100 million won annually, that translates into roughly 148 million won in bonus pay alone. The payout follows a 2025 labor-management agreement allocating 10 percent of operating profit to performance sharing, removing the previous 1,000 percent cap. Eighty percent is paid upfront, with the remaining 20 percent distributed over two years. The move simplified a previously complex formula and linked bonuses directly to disclosed profits. With operating margins approaching 50 percent and 2025 revenue reaching 97.15 trillion won, SK hynix has emerged as Korea’s most profitable company — and its transparent profit-sharing model has intensified scrutiny elsewhere. The contrast has fueled unease at rival Samsung Electronics, long considered the gold standard for compensation. Samsung continues to base bonuses on Economic Value Added (EVA), a metric employees often criticize as opaque. Depreciation and capital cost adjustments can reduce payouts even in strong sales years, creating what some workers describe as a “black box.” Frustration has translated into organization. The Samsung Electronics branch of the Super-Large Company Union surpassed 63,000 members by late January 2026, up from 6,300 just four months earlier. Crossing the claimed majority threshold grants exclusive bargaining rights, setting the stage for potentially contentious wage negotiations. The widening compensation gap risks deepening structural imbalances across the labor market. While major exporters distribute record incentives, small and mid-sized enterprises struggle to compete. McKinsey survey data show 49 percent of Korean workers prioritize total compensation when choosing jobs. The average monthly salary at large firms stands at 5.93 million won — nearly double the 2.98 million won average at smaller companies. As talent gravitates toward high-paying conglomerates, smaller firms face what industry groups describe as a “recruitment black hole.” The Lunar New Year has traditionally been a time for shared prosperity and symbolic generosity. This year, however, bonus polarization underscores a broader economic divide — one that risks turning a season of reunion into a quiet reminder of inequality. 2026-02-13 15:57:36

BTS Comeback D-36: War with scalping begins, but victory may not be easy SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s ticket scalping market has expanded more than fortyfold over the past five years, drawing heightened scrutiny ahead of BTS’s highly anticipated comeback concert and domestic tour. “BTS The Comeback Live: ARIRANG,” scheduled for March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, will offer around 15,000 to 17,000 seats. General reservations open at 8 p.m. on February 23 through NOL Ticket. Of the total, 2,000 standing spots will be raffled to ARMY members who pre-ordered the group’s new album. The concert is free. But free events often attract even more aggressive scalping. At BTS’s 2022 Busan Expo concert, VIP tickets were resold for up to 4 million won. Illegal transactions spread through social media and private chat rooms, with scalpers using automated programs and account transfers to bypass ticketing controls. Regular tour shows are scheduled in Goyang on April 9, 11 and 12, and in Busan on June 12 and 13. Scalping Cases Surge According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, suspected online scalping cases surged from 6,237 in 2020 to 184,933 in 2024, reaching 259,334 as of August 2025. About 75 percent of cases in 2024 were linked to music concerts. In response, the country’s largest ticket resale platform will cap resale prices at 1 million won starting January 1, 2026, automatically blocking listings above that level. The amendments to the Public Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, passed late last month, ban all illegal ticket resales, allow authorities to confiscate profits, and impose fines of up to 50 times the resale amount. But they go into full effect late July. Previously, scalping was illegal only when macro software was used, leaving most individual resales on social media, online forums and private marketplaces largely unregulated. The revised law aims to close that loophole. Tax authorities have joined the crackdown. Last November, they launched their first large-scale investigation into high-volume scalpers targeting K-pop concerts and major sports events. The 17 individuals identified included teachers, public-sector employees and business owners. The total volume of tickets distributed through illegal channels was estimated at more than 20 billion won. Regardless of the law, the government plans to be strict against exploitative ticket sales of BTS concerts. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young warned Thursday of a strong government crackdown, saying illegal resales must not be allowed to spoil BTS’s return. The economic impact of BTS concerts extends well beyond ticket sales. Accommodation prices have surged during major tour periods, raising broader inflation concerns. According to a joint investigation by the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency, 135 accommodations in Busan were surveyed during the June concert period. The average nightly rate for the concert weekend of June 13–14 reached 433,999 won — 2.4 times higher than surrounding weeks. Motel rates averaged 325,801 won, up 3.3 times, while hotel rates averaged 631,546 won, a 2.9-fold increase. Pension rates rose more modestly to 296,437 won, about 1.2 times the usual level. At some properties, price hikes were far steeper. One hotel room normally priced at 100,000 won was listed for 750,000 won. Thirteen properties raised rates by more than five times, with some rooms jumping from the 300,000-won range to as high as 1.8 million won. Despite regulatory efforts, containing price inflation linked to major events remains difficult when demand reaches fever pitch. For many fans, however, cost is secondary. “Will I pay many times more to see BTS? You bet,” said one Seoul-based fan. 2026-02-13 15:52:18

Comedian Park So Young Announces Pregnancy on YouTube Comedian Park So Young has announced she is pregnant. On Thursday, Park posted a video to her YouTube channel, 'Jubu Dwaet So Young,' titled, "Everyone, I’m finally pregnant. A vlog revealing So Young’s pregnancy signs after a natural pregnancy, including a photo of the gestational sac." In the video, Park said, "As much as we prepared, a precious baby came to us," adding, "I’ll watch over our baby and do my best as the baby grows." Park previously shared her in vitro fertilization process on her channel, drawing congratulatory messages from subscribers. Comments included, "Congratulations," and "The results of all your hard work have finally arrived." Park married Moon Kyung Chan, a former baseball player who is five years younger, in 2024. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 15:36:00

Chip-led export price gains more than offset Korea's import inflation in Jan SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - South Korea's export prices picked up far faster than import prices in January on the back of strong semiconductor demand, more than offsetting import inflation caused by a weak currency, data showed Friday. According to the Bank of Korea, January export prices climbed 4.0 percent from December and 7.8 percent from a year earlier, accelerated from a 0.6 percent monthly gain and a 0.1 percent annual decline in December. Strong demand for chips and IT products more than offset the slight softening of the dollar. The won averaged 1,456.51 per dollar in January, compared with 1,467.4 in December. The export volume index jumped 28.3 percent from a year earlier, while the export value index surged 37.3 percent, more than tripling December’s growth pace and overwhelming gains in imports. Import volume and value indices increased 14.5 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. The electronics segment, including semiconductors, bolstered export prices, rising 12.4 percent from December and 34.2 percent from a year earlier. DRAM prices surged 31.6 percent from the previous month, while flash memory rose 9.9 percent. Compared with a year earlier, prices for both items more than doubled — up 102.7 percent for DRAM and 115.1 percent for NAND. Primary metal products, including copper, also supported the upward trend, rising 7.1 percent from December and 22.0 percent from a year earlier. Strong copper demand from semiconductor and power-grid sectors, combined with rallies in precious metals such as gold and silver, lifted prices. Silver ingots jumped 42.1 percent from December, while refined copper products rose 10.4 percent. Gold prices surged more than 80 percent between December and January to reach $5,000 per troy ounce, while silver climbed to a record above $120. Copper also gained about 5 percent to around $8,800 per ton. Import Prices Rise Moderately Import price gains remained relatively mild despite prolonged weakness in the won, reflecting softer international fuel prices and subdued domestic demand. Import prices edged up 0.4 percent from December and fell 1.2 percent from a year earlier. Copper ore recorded the sharpest increase, jumping 10.1 percent from the previous month, as demand expanded across AI-related industries, from semiconductors to power grids. Primary metal products led import price increases, posting a 6.3 percent monthly gain and an 18.5 percent annual rise. Refined precious metals rose 24.6 percent from December and surged 129.5 percent from a year earlier, driven by price spikes in non-ferrous metals used in semiconductors, including platinum and palladium. Trade Conditions Improve The net terms-of-trade index rose 8.9 percent from a year earlier, up from around 5 percent in December, and climbed 4.4 percent from the previous month. The income terms-of-trade index jumped 39.7 percent from a year earlier, reflecting sharply improved export earnings. Fuel Prices Decline, With Exceptions Export prices for coal and petroleum products fell 0.4 percent from December and dropped 13.1 percent from a year earlier, reflecting lower crude oil prices. Dubai crude fell to around $61 per barrel in December, and those cheaper imports were processed and exported in January. Gasoline export prices declined 3.7 percent from December. Retail gasoline prices in Seoul fell from 1,802 won per liter in December to 1,763 won in January. Diesel prices dropped 13.1 percent from a year earlier amid slowing demand for diesel vehicles and rising inventories. Bunker C oil prices slid 25.1 percent as global cargo volumes softened. Jet fuel prices rose 0.4 percent from December, supported by strong year-end travel demand and increased air cargo linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. On the import side, crude oil and bunker fuel prices fell 22.9 percent and 20.5 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. By contrast, liquefied petroleum gas prices rose 5.3 percent from December, as winter heating demand remained strong and Saudi Aramco raised its January contract prices by more than 6 percent per ton. 2026-02-13 14:53:08

FM meets USFK commander at Camp Humphreys SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Hyun visited Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on Friday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cho met with Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) earlier in the day. The visit was arranged after Brunson invited Cho during a luncheon last month that also included Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Defense Department's undersecretary of defense for policy, who was visiting South Korea at the time. Pundits speculate the two sides likely discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, covering various pending issues including possible changes in the role of USFK for the modernization of the bilateral alliance. 2026-02-13 14:46:03

CJ Olive Young unveils wellness pop-up at Seongsu flagship store SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - CJ Olive Young has launched a pop-up store dedicated to its new wellness curation platform at its flagship location in Seongsu-dong, a district that has cemented its status as Seoul’s primary retail testbed. The country’s top beauty and health retailer announced on Friday that it opened the "New Wellness Lounge" on the first floor of "Olive Young N Seongsu." The pop-up, which runs until March 9, is designed to introduce the lifestyle concepts proposed by its newly launched content platform, "Olive Better." The launch comes as Seongsu-dong continues to serve as a barometer for consumer trends in South Korea, with major retailers increasingly utilizing the district to pilot new branding strategies and engage with trend-conscious demographics. The "New Wellness Lounge" focuses on three core themes: "Eat Well," "Fit Well," and "Relax Well." Visitors can experience a curated wellness routine that includes healthy snacks, stretching guides, and aromatherapy zones. The space also features interactive elements such as a "check-in" event linked to social media, offering visitors a hands-on experience of the company's wellness proposition. "The lounge is meaningful as a space created together by Olive Young N Seongsu, a trend hub, and Olive Better, a wellness curation platform," an Olive Young official said. "We will continue to plan various contents to help customers discover their own wellness routines." In parallel with the Seongsu pop-up, CJ Olive Young is operating an "Olive Better Lucky Board" event near Hongik University Station in western Seoul until Feb. 18, offering gift cards and promotional products to engage a wider audience. 2026-02-13 14:43:39

Hyundai Motor Group pushes to bring AI, robotics and battery tech in-house Hyundai Motor Group are stepping up efforts to bring key future-mobility technologies — including artificial intelligence, robotics and batteries — in-house as competition intensifies and cross-industry partnerships accelerate. In a New Year’s message released Jan. 5, Chairman Euisun Chung said rapid shifts toward software-defined vehicles, AI and future mobility are creating major growth opportunities, but warned that companies that fail to internalize AI capabilities will struggle to survive. “The only way for Hyundai Motor Group to firmly establish itself as a global top-tier company in the future is to accept and absorb AI not as technology borrowed from outside, but as the lifeblood of the organization,” Chung said, underscoring the importance of building AI expertise internally. His remarks reflect the view that securing in-house AI capabilities is essential to deliver proprietary products and services that use AI. The mobility market has recently seen growing focus on robotics, including humanoid robots, and autonomous driving aimed at offering more convenient and flexible mobility experiences. As leading companies compete, talks on collaboration within and across industries have also become more active to create synergies. Against that backdrop, Hyundai Motor Group said it aims to expand value by strengthening internal capabilities rather than relying on outside technology. The company points to electric-vehicle battery technology as a leading example of successful internalization. Hyundai have continued to strengthen cooperation with global battery makers while building vehicle-centered battery expertise, rolling out EVs such as the Ioniq series. The group are also pushing to deepen battery R&D. In November, it held a topping-out ceremony for the “Future Mobility Battery Anseong Campus,” and is pursuing what it described as the group’s first large-scale battery-focused R&D hub, targeting completion by the end of this year. It said it is building a close cooperation framework between automakers and the battery industry in line with government electrification policies. Hyundai Motor Group said its electrification strategy depends on in-house capabilities to define performance and safety standards from a vehicle perspective and to integrate, develop and validate batteries based on real-world driving conditions. 2026-02-13 14:42:00

TrendForce: Nvidia to expand HBM4 supply chain to Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron by Q2 SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Nvidia Corp. is expected to diversify its High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) supply chain to include all three major memory chipmakers, as validation for the fourth-generation HBM4 chips enters the final stages ahead of the mass production of its next-generation "Rubin" GPU platform. According to a report by market researcher TrendForce on Friday, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron Technology are all projected to complete HBM4 certification within the second quarter of this year. This milestone is likely to reshape Nvidia’s supply structure into a three-company ecosystem. TrendForce assessed that Samsung Electronics is likely to be the first to secure certification, citing the company's product stability. The firm expects Samsung to begin phased mass production following the Q2 certification. SK hynix is projected to follow, maintaining its competitive edge in overall bit supply volume based on its established partnership with Nvidia. Micron is also forecast to complete verification within the quarter, albeit at a slightly slower pace than its competitors. "Demand for GPUs continues to rise as AI infrastructure expands, and HBM4 adoption is likely to accelerate once Rubin enters full-scale mass production," the report noted. The report highlighted that investment has accelerated since late 2025, led by North American cloud service providers (CSPs) competing for leadership in the AI agent market. This has driven a surge in demand for inference-focused AI, supporting a positive outlook for the commercial adoption of the Rubin platform. However, supply-side dynamics are shifting. TrendForce noted that commodity DRAM prices have jumped since the fourth quarter of 2025, narrowing the profitability gap between HBM and standard memory. Consequently, memory manufacturers are recalibrating their capacity allocation to balance revenue with customer requirements. The research firm warned that relying on a single supplier could constrain the initial production ramp-up of the Rubin platform. Given the complexity of HBM4 design and sustained growth in GPU demand, TrendForce concluded that Nvidia will likely require all three chipmakers to ensure supply stability. 2026-02-13 14:41:12

Chef Lim Seong-geun Says He Is Preparing to Open a Restaurant After DUI Controversy Chef Lim Seong-geun, who has faced controversy after details of multiple drunk-driving offenses became public, shared an update on his life.  Lim wrote on social media on Thursday, "I’ve been wondering how you’ve been," adding, "I’m currently spending my time preparing to open a restaurant, which is my main line of work." He said that once preparations are finished, he will be ready to welcome visitors "without 부담" and serve "a warm meal" and food he has made with care. He ended the post by wishing people a happy Lunar New Year holiday and good health. Lim has halted all broadcast activities after reports revealed four drunk-driving incidents, as well as convictions for driving without a license and assault causing injury. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 14:36:00

Seollal in motion: More opt to travel, but tradition lives on  SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - On a quiet winter morning, the scent of beef broth fills Korean homes. A carefully arranged table is set before elders. Children bow deeply, offering New Year’s greetings — “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo,” or “May you receive many blessings in the new year.” With a bowl of tteokguk, rice cake soup, another year of life officially begins. That is Seollal, Korea’s Lunar New Year. Observed on the first day of the lunar calendar, Seollal is one of the country’s most important traditional holidays. The official break typically runs for at least three days, during which families reunite to mark the beginning of the year. While often compared to Thanksgiving in the United States or Lunar New Year celebrations in China, Seollal is distinctive in its emphasis on ancestral rites performed within the home. On the morning of Seollal, many families hold charye, a memorial ritual honoring ancestors. Younger family members perform sebae, a formal bow to elders, who in return offer words of blessing and small cash gifts known as sebaetdon. These customs reinforce intergenerational respect and a sense of family continuity. At the center of the holiday meal is tteokguk. The white rice cake soup symbolizes renewal and purity, while its long, thin slices are traditionally associated with longevity. A common saying holds that one must eat tteokguk to “become a year older.” Although the clear-broth version is the most widely known, regional variations abound — from the oval-shaped rice cakes of Gaeseong-style soup to oyster-based versions in southeastern regions and dumpling-filled broths in Gangwon Province. After the rituals and meals, families often turn to traditional games. The most familiar is yutnori, a board game played by tossing four wooden sticks and moving tokens based on the result. Its simple rules allow children and grandparents alike to join in. In the past, Seollal also featured outdoor folk games such as jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking), kite flying, spinning tops, tuho (throwing arrows into a container), and neolttwigi (a seesaw-like jumping game). In today’s urban neighborhoods, many of these activities are more commonly seen at cultural festivals or school programs. A Nation on the Move Seollal is also marked by one of the largest annual movements of people in South Korea. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, about 27.8 million trips are projected during the 2026 holiday period. While this is lower than the 32.07 million recorded in 2025, the decline largely reflects a shorter break — four days this year compared with six last year. On a daily basis, travel intensity is expected to rise, averaging 8.34 million people per day, up from 7.63 million the previous year. Highway traffic is forecast to peak at 6.15 million vehicles on Seollal itself, as travel compresses into a narrower time window. The concentration highlights how the structure of the holiday calendar shapes nationwide mobility patterns. At the same time, the meaning of Seollal has evolved. A recent survey found that 31.4 percent of respondents plan to travel during the holiday, with most choosing domestic destinations. While visiting one’s hometown was once the central obligation of the season, leisure travel is increasingly becoming part of the celebration. Smaller family sizes, changing work patterns and shifting social expectations have also altered how households observe the holiday. Some families shorten visits, rotate gatherings, or replace formal rituals with simpler meals. Yet even as formats change, certain symbols endure. The deep bow. The shared meal. The steaming bowl of tteokguk on a winter morning. These remain constant. 2026-02-13 14:34:19