South Korea’s Shin Ji-a places fourth in women’s short program at Olympic team event South Korea’s women’s singles skater Shin Ji-a (Sehwa Girls’ High School) made a solid Olympic debut on Thursday in the figure skating team event. Shin finished fourth in the women’s short program at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, scoring 68.80 points (37.93 technical, 30.87 program components). Her result earned South Korea seven points in the segment, leaving the team seventh overall with 11 points. Earlier, Lim Hae-na and Kwon Ye (Gyeonggi Provincial Government) placed seventh in the rhythm dance with 70.55 points to collect four points. Ten countries are competing in the team event across men’s and women’s singles, pairs and ice dance. Points are awarded by placement in each segment (10 to 1), and the top five advance to the final round (free skating and free dance) to decide the medals. South Korea are competing in the Olympic team event for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Without a pairs team, South Korea are entering only men’s and women’s singles and ice dance, the only team in the field missing an event. Skating fourth, Shin performed her short program to “Nocturne.” She opened with a clean triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination for a base value of 10.10 and 1.10 in grade of execution. She landed a double Axel and earned level 4 on her flying camel spin. In the second half, where elements receive a 10% bonus, she completed a triple flip without a major error for 0.68 in GOE. She closed with a level 4 change-foot combination spin, a level 3 step sequence and a level 3 layback spin. Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won the segment with 78.88 points. Alysa Liu of the United States was second with 74.90, and Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann placed third with 71.62.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 23:45:00

WADA to Review Claims of Hyaluronic Acid Injections to Game Ski Jump Suit Measurements A controversy over alleged “penis enlargement injections” in ski jumping erupted a day before the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics open. The World Anti-Doping Agency said it will review the allegations. On Feb. 5 (local time), German outlet Bild, citing an anonymous source, reported claims that some ski jumpers inject hyaluronic acid into their genitals or put clay in their underwear before suit measurements to temporarily increase the recorded size. Ski jumping is a sport in which the suit can significantly affect results. Under the rules, suit size is set based on an athlete’s body measurements. Even a small increase in measured size can allow a slightly larger suit surface area, which can provide an aerodynamic advantage and increase distance. According to the scientific journal Frontiers, increasing suit size by 2 centimeters can extend jump distance by up to 5.8 meters. In a related BBC report, Sandro Pertile, race director at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, said, “In jump suits, even 1 centimeter matters. If the surface area of the suit increases by just 5%, you can fly farther.” Hyaluronic acid is not currently a banned substance. WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said he does not know whether such actions improve performance, but added that “if anything is actually revealed,” the agency will examine whether it raises a doping-related issue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 23:30:00

Lim Hae Na-Kwon Ye place seventh in Olympic team event rhythm dance, earn 4 points Lim Hae Na and Kwon Ye finished seventh in the ice dance rhythm dance in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Skating on Feb. 6 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, the South Korean duo scored 70.55 points, with 39.54 in technical elements and 31.01 in program components. They placed seventh among 10 teams and earned four ranking points. The team event is a nation-by-nation competition across four disciplines: men's and women's singles, pairs and ice dance. Points are awarded by placement in each segment (10 to 1), and the top five countries advance to the final (free skating and free dance) to decide the overall standings. South Korea are competing in the Olympic figure skating team event for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. With no pairs team, South Korea are entering only men's and women's singles and ice dance, making them the only team in the event missing a discipline. Skating fifth overall, Lim and Kwon performed their rhythm dance to "Men in Black." In the sequential twizzles, the first required element, they received Level 4 and Level 3. Their pattern dance type step sequence was Level 1, and their midline step sequence earned Level 2 for each skater. They completed a rotational lift at Level 4 and finished with a choreographic rhythm sequence at Level 1. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States won the segment with 91.06 points. France's Laurence Fournier and Guillaume Cizeron were second with 89.98, and Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson were third with 86.85.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 20:06:00

Forbes: Freestyle skier Eileen Gu tops Milan-Cortina Olympic athletes with US$23 million in annual earnings Freestyle skier Eileen Gu of China has been named the highest annual earner among star athletes expected to compete at the 2026 Milan·Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Forbes reported on Thursday (Korea time) that Gu made US$23 million over the past year, the most among athletes headed to the Games. Gu, born in California to an American father and a Chinese mother, graduated from Stanford University. After competing in the United States, she joined China's national team in 2019. She won two gold medals and one silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, becoming a household name in China. At the upcoming Olympics, she is aiming for a second straight title and three gold medals in big air, halfpipe and slopestyle. Forbes said only about $100,000 of her earnings came from prize money. Most of her income came from modeling and endorsements, largely with Chinese brands, the magazine reported. Gu has more than 2.1 million followers on social media, according to the report. Second on the list was NHL player Auston Matthews of the United States. Forbes said he is the only NHL player to top $20 million in its annual earnings rankings, adding that Nike and Uber Eats are among his main sponsors. Third was U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, whose annual earnings were estimated at $8 million. Vonn retired in 2019 and returned to competition in the 2024-2025 season. Forbes said she has worked with more than 12 brands, including Delta Air Lines, Land Rover and Rolex. Vonn, 42, will try to become the oldest alpine skiing medalist in Olympic history at the Games.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 19:45:00

Tokyo turns calm as vote day nears, while Asia broadly retreats  SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - The Tokyo bourse held firm on Friday amid a broad retreat across Asia, as foreign investors trimmed exposure following a U.S. technology-sector scare. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.8 percent to close at 54,253.7, as sentiment steadied ahead of a pivotal snap election this weekend. Japanese voters head to the polls on Sunday, with the outcome expected to shape economic and security policy in the world’s third-largest economy and a key U.S. ally in Asia. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the election to consolidate her grip on power, and opinion polls suggest her ruling bloc is on track to prevail, potentially reinforcing her stimulus-driven economic agenda. In contrast, South Korean stocks extended their recent pullback. The benchmark KOSPI fell 1.4 percent to 5,089.1, rebounding from an intraday low of 4,890 after earlier losses of more than 4 percent triggered a second sell-side sidecar this week. The index has shed more than 10 percent this week, marking the largest foreign-led profit-taking after monthlong rally. Investor flows were sharply divided. Foreign investors dumped 3.32 trillion won ($2.27 billion), while institutions bought 960.4 billion won. Retail investors stepped in with net purchases of 2.17 trillion won, helping to limit losses near session lows. Market weakness reflected renewed caution toward global risk assets, following overnight softness in overseas markets and lingering uncertainty over technology earnings and policy direction. Losses spread across major sectors, particularly automobiles, internet platforms and shipbuilding. Heavyweights declined on the main board. Samsung Electronics slipped 0.4 percent to 158,600 won, while SK hynix also fell 0.4 percent to 839,000 won. Hyundai Motor dropped 4.3 percent, NAVER retreated 3.1 percent, and Hanwha Ocean slid 3.7 percent, extending losses in shipbuilding shares. Amid the broad selloff, energy equipment and services stocks emerged as a rare pocket of strength, with the sector rising 5.4 percent, the best-performing industry of the session. Hanwha Solutions surged 15.4 percent to 42,000 won after announcing a financial cooperation agreement with Shinhan Bank to support solar development projects and expand its renewable energy value chain in North America. The move underscored sustained investor interest in energy-transition themes despite overall market weakness. Other gainers included Hurim Robot, up 3.1 percent, Celltrion, which rose 1.2 percent, and Hanmi Semiconductor, up 1.3 percent. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ underperformed, sliding 2.5 percent to 1,080.8. Foreign investors bought 66.0 billion won, while institutions sold 165.5 billion won. Retail investors added 148.2 billion won, pointing to selective dip-buying amid heightened volatility. In currency markets, the won was little changed at 1,468.8 per dollar. Precious metals moved in opposite directions, with domestic gold prices rising 1.36 percent to 228,796.40 won per gram, while silver slid 9.10 percent to $76.71 per troy ounce, reflecting continued liquidation pressure in parts of the commodities market. Elsewhere in Asia, markets were mixed. China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.3 percent to 4,065.6, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down about 1 percent in late trading, underscoring persistent regional caution. 2026-02-06 17:59:53

Shin Jinseo rallies to win as South Korea claims sixth straight Nongshim Cup title Breaking: Shin Jinseo, 9-dan, wins comeback victory; South Korea take sixth straight Nongshim Cup title* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 17:48:00

2026 F/W Seoul Fashion Week underway at DDP SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - The 2026 F/W Seoul Fashion Week opened at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 3. Running through Feb. 8, the fashion week features fashion shows by 15 brands, a trade show with 92 brands, the Seoul Fashion Forum, and citizen participation programs centered at DDP. Models and the general public freely showcase their fashion around DDP during the fashion week period. Many photographers from across the country also visit DDP to capture fashion during this time. 2026-02-06 17:44:09

Is dialogue in the offing as UN exempts North Korean aid from sanctions? SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has decided to exempt a slew of humanitarian aid projects to North Korea from sanctions, multiple diplomatic sources said on Friday. Some 17 such projects, which had been on hold at the UNSC's sanctions committee on North Korea for about a year, were granted exemptions in a unanimous decision on Thursday, which some analysts interpret as Washington extending an olive branch to Pyongyang. The projects, which sought extensions for their previously granted exemptions, include five led by South Korea, four by foreign institutions including U.S.-based private organizations and eight by international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. With the looming possibility of talks between Washington and Pyongyang, pundits are speculating that U.S. President Donald Trump may seek dialogue with North Korea, coinciding with his upcoming trip to China in April. The exemption comes after a senior South Korean government official reportedly told reporters in Washington the same day, "There will be some new progress in the offing within a few days." But it remains to be seen whether it will bring North Korea to the dialogue table, as the isolated country has been refusing any assistance not only from South Korea but also from international organizations. 2026-02-06 17:36:45

Seoul sells $3 bn in USD bonds, largest sovereign offering since global financial crisis SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - South Korea on Thursday sold $3 billion in U.S. dollar-denominated bonds in its largest single sovereign offering since the aftermath of global financial crisis, building up the ammunition to defend the local currency while the debt environment remains favorable. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Friday, the government issued $3 billion in foreign exchange stabilization bonds in two tranches: $1 billion in three-year notes and $2 billion in five-year bonds. The three-year papers were priced at 3.683 percent, or nine basis points above comparable U.S. Treasuries, while the five-year notes carried a yield of 3.915 percent, or 12 basis points over benchmark Treasuries. The deal marks the largest sovereign dollar bond issuance since April 2009, when Seoul raised $3 billion in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Foreign exchange stabilization bond issuance has historically increased during periods of won weakness. The latest offering reflects the government’s increasingly firm stance on defending the currency. As of Friday, the won closed at 1,469.5 per dollar, surpassing its monthly average, under pressure from a strong greenback and persistent foreign capital outflows. The issuance is also aimed at replenishing foreign currency reserves. South Korea spent a total of $4.75 billion between December 2025 and January 2026 to stabilize the won, an unusually aggressive intervention by global standards. Most major economies typically build reserves toward year-end to meet capital adequacy requirements under the Bank for International Settlements framework. Korea, however, was the only major economy to substantially draw down dollar reserves in December. Reserves Decline Despite Record Surplus The reserve trend has raised concerns among policymakers. The Bank of Korea said Friday that despite recording its largest-ever current account surplus in 2025, foreign exchange reserves fell by $4.44 billion over the year. The central bank also confirmed this week that it had renewed its foreign exchange swap arrangement with the National Pension Service, highlighting ongoing efforts to secure dollar liquidity. Officials said the bond sale was driven in part by growing risks from external shocks, particularly amid prolonged trade tensions with the United States. On Jan. 27, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff hike on South Korean automobiles, citing delays in related legislation. The measure took effect this week. The finance ministry said it had “preemptively expanded foreign exchange reserves, which serve as an external safety valve, amid heightened uncertainties such as tariffs,” signaling that trade risks were a key factor behind the issuance. Geopolitical uncertainties were also considered, including instability in Venezuela and Iran and the prolonged war in Ukraine, all of which continue to weigh on global markets. The narrow spreads achieved in the latest sale point to Korea’s improved credit standing. During the 2009 financial crisis, spreads on 10-year Korean sovereign bonds surged to more than 430 basis points. After the 1998 IMF bailout, they exceeded 350 basis points. By contrast, the current spread of around 10 basis points over U.S. Treasuries is comparable to that of top-rated advanced economies and major international institutions. “This demonstrates that the so-called ‘Korea discount’ is steadily disappearing in the global sovereign bond market,” the ministry said. Foreign investor demand for Korean debt has strengthened further ahead of Korea’s scheduled inclusion in the World Government Bond Index between April and November. 2026-02-06 17:27:46

Woori, BNK and iM post profit gains and boost shareholder returns Woori Financial Group said it posted near-record results as noninterest income rose, offsetting one-time costs. BNK Financial Group and iM Financial Group also reported improved earnings on more diversified revenue, and all three financial holding companies moved to strengthen shareholder-return policies. Woori said on Thursday it earned 3.1413 trillion won in net profit last year, up 1.8% from a year earlier, marking a second straight year above 3 trillion won. The company avoided a profit decline even after booking a 51.5 billion won provision tied to a fine related to alleged loan-to-value ratio collusion; excluding that, the result was effectively a record, it said. Noninterest income rose 25% from a year earlier, reflecting the launch of Woori Investment & Securities and the impact of acquiring Tongyang Life Insurance. BNK said it earned 815 billion won in net profit last year, up 11.9% from a year earlier and the highest since 2021. With interest-income growth slowing, net profit at nonbank units such as BNK Capital and BNK Investment & Securities rose about 30% from a year earlier, supporting the overall result. iM said its 2025 net profit attributable to controlling shareholders totaled 443.9 billion won, up 106.6% from a year earlier. Profit expanded as credit-loss costs at nonbank affiliates eased and profitability recovered at key subsidiaries including iM Securities. The stronger earnings were followed by bigger shareholder payouts. Woori set its cash dividend payout ratio at 31.8%, topping 30% for the first time, and said its effective shareholder return ratio reached 39.8% using tax-exempt dividend resources. Its common equity Tier 1 ratio improved 80 basis points from a year earlier to 12.9%. Woori also plans to expand share buybacks and cancellations this year to 200 billion won, up 33% from a year earlier. BNK decided on a cash dividend of 735 won per share and said it will also carry out share buybacks and cancellations. iM’s board approved a cash dividend of 700 won per common share, up 40% from a year earlier, putting its total shareholder return ratio at a record 38.8%. It also plans to buy back and cancel 40 billion won worth of shares in the first half of 2026. “The key point in this earnings season is that they proved their commitment to shareholder returns with numbers,” a financial industry official said. As value-up plans become more concrete, the official said, financial stocks that had long been undervalued may have a chance to be priced more fairly by the market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 17:27:43