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KOSPI opens 2026 on buoyant note, hits fresh milestone SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - South Korean stocks roared into 2026, extending last year’s standout rally, while most Asian markets opened the year on a subdued footing. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI jumped 2.3 percent to close at a fresh all-time high of 4,309.63, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ climbed 2.2 percent to 945.57. Investor sentiment was buoyed by record-high semiconductor exports. Shipments surged 22.2 percent from a year earlier in December to $17.34 billion, setting a new annual high and reinforcing optimism over Korea’s chip-led growth momentum. Shares of heavyweight chipmakers rallied sharply. Samsung Electronics jumped 7.2 percent to close at 128,500 won ($88.9), while SK hynix advanced 4 percent to 677,000 won, both hitting record highs. Hyundai Motor gained 0.7 percent to 298,500 won, while HD Hyundai Electric climbed 5.8 percent to 819,000 won. Celltrion surged 12 percent to end at 202,500 won after the biotech firm projected record fourth-quarter earnings for 2025. On Wednesday, when the market was closed, the company said consolidated fourth-quarter sales are expected to reach 1.2839 trillion won ($888 million), up 20.7 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit is projected to jump 140.4 percent to 472.2 billion won — both all-time quarterly highs. Kwon Hae-soon, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, said Celltrion is likely to deliver earnings that exceed market expectations “thanks to its improved product mix and enhanced cost control,” raising her target price to 250,000 won. Seo Geun-hee, an analyst at Samsung Securities, also lifted her target price to 230,000 won, citing a recovery in profitability driven by new product growth and strengthening market share in the United States. LG Energy Solution, the country’s third-largest company by market capitalization, slipped 2 percent to 361,000 won. Entertainment stocks rallied after news broke that BTS is set to make a full-group comeback on March 20, 2026. HYBE, the group’s agency, jumped 4.9 percent to 346,000 won. JYP Entertainment climbed 6.8 percent to 77,500 won, while YG Entertainment rose 1.4 percent to 70,400 won. Analysts said entertainment shares were also buoyed by growing expectations that China’s de facto restrictions on Korean cultural content could ease, as President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to visit China from Jan. 4 to 7 and meet President Xi Jinping on Jan. 5. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4 percent to close at 50,339.48, with losses concentrated among heavyweight stocks. Toyota Motor fell 0.2 percent to 3,356 yen ($21.4), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group edged down 0.1 percent to 2,493 yen, and SoftBank Group declined 1.9 percent to 4,400 yen. Sony Group slipped 0.1 percent to 4,024 yen, Hitachi dropped 0.6 percent to 4,902 yen, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group fell 1.6 percent to 5,041 yen. Fast Retailing, the sixth-largest stock by market capitalization, gained 1 percent to 56,940 yen, while Tokyo Electron, ranked seventh, rose 0.3 percent to 34,320 yen. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 3.72 points to close at 3,968.84. 2026-01-02 17:15:40 -
Squeezed by lunch inflation, Korean salaried workers find traditional meals increasingly pricey SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - With lunch inflation continuing to climb, the typical midday meal for South Korea’s salaried workers is quietly changing. Once a go-to comfort food, hot or cold noodle dishes are becoming noticeably more expensive, driven largely by rising import costs. Kalguksu — the traditional knife-cut noodle soup — has reached a fresh record high, reflecting the prolonged impact of a weak won and higher input prices. According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of a bowl of kalguksu in Seoul stood at 9,846 won ($6.82) as of November 2025, up 4.91 percent from a year earlier and edging closer to the psychologically important 10,000-won mark. Among major dining-out items tracked by the agency, kalguksu posted the second-largest annual price increase, trailing only gimbap. Other popular meals such as naengmyeon (cold noodles) and bibimbap also recorded notable price hikes. Overall, noodle prices have been rising by an average of about 5 percent annually since 2023, reflecting sustained cost pressure in the food sector. Analysts point to currency weakness as the main driver. Between November 2024 and November 2025, the average won-dollar exchange rate climbed 4.3 percent, from 1,395 won to 1,455 won per dollar. Over the same period, international wheat prices on the Chicago Board of Trade remained relatively stable, suggesting that exchange-rate effects — rather than global commodity spikes — are pushing up costs. South Korea depends on imports for nearly 98 percent of its wheat consumption, with domestic self-sufficiency hovering around just 2 percent. As a result, fluctuations in the currency are quickly passed on to food prices, especially for flour-based dishes. A walk through Seoul’s Jongno district on Friday showed that many restaurants now charge 10,000 won or more for a bowl of kalguksu, while eateries offering the dish for under 9,000 won have become increasingly hard to find. As traditional meals grow pricier, fast-food chains are moving quickly to position themselves as cheaper lunch alternatives. Major franchises now offer set menus priced between 6,000 won and 7,000 won — up to 40 percent cheaper than a typical bowl of kalguksu. Burger King, for example, has rolled out “two for 6,000 won” deals on Whopper Jr. sets. McDonald’s and Mom’s Touch, a domestic chicken-burger chain, also maintain lunch menus priced at around 6,300 won and 7,000 won, respectively. The shift toward burgers and fast food is also reflected in corporate earnings. Amid persistent meal-price inflation since 2024, McDonald’s Korea posted record annual revenue of 1.29 trillion won and returned to operating profit for the first time in eight years. Mom’s Touch likewise reported record results, with consolidated revenue of 417.9 billion won and operating profit of 73.4 billion won. Burger King Korea also delivered strong performance, logging 792.7 billion won in revenue and 38.4 billion won in operating profit, underscoring how value-oriented menus are reshaping lunchtime consumption patterns. As everyday meals grow more expensive, the humble lunch — once a small pleasure in the middle of the workday — is becoming another pressure point for Korea’s salaried workers, highlighting how currency weakness and food inflation are quietly reshaping daily life. 2026-01-02 17:15:27 -
Faker becomes first esports player decorated with highest athletic honor SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, has become the first esports player to receive the highest honor awarded to athletes who have made outstanding sporting achievements while promoting national reputation. The iconic player of multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends (LoL) was awarded the Blue Dragon Medal by President Lee Jae-myung at a New Year's event at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. Accepting the medal, Lee said, "I'm deeply honored to receive this medal. I could not have achieved this without the teammates who have journeyed with me." Previous recipients include football player Son Heung-min, figure skating star Kim Yu-na and baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho, making Faker the first esports player to receive the honor. Faker, who turned pro with his team T1 at the age of 17 in 2013, continues to be a pivotal figure in the sport, winning ten domestic LoL championships and claiming his sixth career trophy at the LoL World Championship, the sport's biggest event, in November last year. Known for his strict self-discipline, he enjoys immense popularity among fans, becoming a sought-after model for advertisers as well. 2026-01-02 17:05:40 -
PHOTOS:How Seoul turns cold days into playgrounds SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) -In Korea, where the four seasons are distinctly felt, outdoor leisure activities change with the weather — swimming pools in summer often transform into skating rinks or sledding grounds in winter. As colder days settle in, seasonal attractions such as sledding hills and snow playgrounds are once again drawing crowds across Seoul. District governments have opened a range of winter-themed facilities, including snow playgrounds and hands-on activity zones, offering residents of all ages a chance to enjoy the season without leaving the city. Seocho District has converted the Yangjaecheon swimming pool site into a family-friendly “Winter Snow Playground,” which has been operating since Dec. 20. Now in its third year, the venue repurposes a 6,400-square-meter former outdoor pool into an urban sledding park, providing children and parents with a safe and accessible winter recreation space. The playground features snow sledding slopes along with children’s play areas such as trampolines, inflatable bounce houses for young children, and a snow play zone. Visitors can also take part in experiential programs including ice fishing, mock fishing activities, and curling. Greenhouses, tents, and snack shops are available to provide rest and convenience for families. This year, an additional sledding slope for young children has been newly installed alongside the existing adult slope, improving accessibility for different age groups. Decorative installations themed around a “Yangjaecheon Arctic Village” have also been set up near the entrance and around the snow play area to add visual appeal. The Winter Snow Playground will operate through Feb. 22 next year. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, with closures on Mondays and on Lunar New Year’s Day. Admission fees are 6,000 won for Seocho District residents and 8,000 won for non-residents. Fees for certain programs, such as ice fishing, are announced on the Seocho District Office website. Winter skating rinks and snow play facilities set up across the city are offering citizens sparkling seasonal memories despite the cold weather. 2026-01-02 16:51:24 -
China's robotics supremacy set for full display at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - To underscore how far China has come in robotics, humanoid robots are now being sold like vacuum cleaners and televisions at a shopping mall in Beijing. That supremacy will be on full display at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. According to official CES data, Chinese companies account for 21 of the 38 exhibitors in the humanoid robotics category this year, making up more than half of all participants. The lineup includes established players such as Unitree Robotics as well as first-time exhibitors like AgiBot and Noetix Robotics, all seeking to expand their footprint in overseas markets. The scale of participation reflects China's rapid ascent in a field widely seen as the next frontier of advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. Analysts say the sheer number of Chinese exhibitors points to a coordinated national push to dominate the humanoid robotics market before it fully matures. China has filed 7,705 humanoid-related patents over the past five years, far exceeding the 1,561 recorded in the United States over the same period, according to a December report by Morgan Stanley. The lead extends beyond intellectual property into manufacturing capacity, where Chinese firms are moving aggressively toward mass production. AgiBot recently rolled out its 5,000th humanoid robot, while UBTech Robotics plans to scale output to 5,000 units in 2026 and 10,000 units in 2027. By comparison, Tesla is believed to have produced only several hundred units of its Optimus humanoid so far. Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company often described as one of China's "Six Little Dragons" of emerging technology, opened what it calls the world's first offline humanoid robot retail store on Dec. 31 at a JD Mall in Beijing. Customers can purchase its G1 humanoid robot for about 85,000 yuan ($12,149), or its Go2 quadruped robot starting at around 10,000 yuan, after interacting with the machines in person. Orders can be fulfilled through JD's logistics network for delivery or in-store pickup. The retail rollout highlights a broader shift in how robots are being positioned in China — not merely as industrial equipment, but as consumer products akin to smartphones or home appliances. Behind this push lies a broader state strategy. Beijing has made "embodied intelligence" a core pillar of its upcoming 15th five-year plan, viewing robotics as a way to offset labor shortages caused by rapid population aging and falling birth rates. Pilot programs are already under way to deploy robots in households, nursing facilities and community centers. Globally, the humanoid robotics race is being led primarily by companies in China and the United States. Key players include Tesla, Figure AI, Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics and Unitree Robotics. Boston Dynamics, acquired by Hyundai Motor Group in 2021 for $880 million, is technically a South Korean-owned company, though its research and engineering operations remain based in Massachusetts. South Korea will also showcase its ambitions at CES 2026. Hyundai Motor Group is set to debut the next-generation Atlas humanoid robot on stage, marking its transition from laboratory development to commercial demonstration. The automaker plans to pilot Atlas at its Metaplant America factory in Georgia. LG Electronics, meanwhile, will introduce its CLOiD home assistant robot, equipped with two articulated arms, seven degrees of freedom per arm and five-fingered hands designed to handle delicate household tasks. The United States will field its own group of humanoid robotics exhibitors at CES, though analysts note that many American firms remain focused on research, software development and pilot programs rather than mass manufacturing. China's advantage lies in its deep manufacturing ecosystem and cost competitiveness. Morgan Stanley estimates that building a supply chain for Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 without Chinese participation would cost nearly three times as much. The competitive stakes extend beyond the exhibition floor. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote on Jan. 5 highlighting "physical AI" and robotics, including more than 20 use cases involving robot training and digital twin technologies. Nvidia projects that embodied AI could eventually transform 10 million factories and 200,000 warehouses worldwide. In Washington, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has reportedly been meeting with robotics executives as part of discussions on a national strategy, with an executive order on robotics said to be under consideration. Running through Jan. 9, CES 2026 is expected to draw about 140,000 visitors from 160 countries. More than a technology showcase, the event is shaping up as a global barometer for which nations are best positioned to turn humanoid robots from experimental machines into everyday tools — and for now, China appears determined to lead that transition. 2026-01-02 16:15:53 -
Drug case involving Namyang Dairy heiress transferred to prosecutors SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - A case involving Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products was transferred to prosecutors over drug-related allegations on Friday. According to police in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Hwang, 37, who was arrested last week after fleeing abroad is currently being questioned. The recidivist is suspected of having used methamphetamine again with two acquaintances in southern Seoul in 2023. Hwang reportedly fled to Thailand shortly after learning that she was the target of a police investigation in December 2023 and is believed to have lived in Cambodia after entering the country illegally with an invalid passport. She recently indicated that she would turn herself in, prompting officers to travel to Phnom Penh on Christmas Eve to arrest her, but she is reportedly denying all the allegations. However, some paparazzi media have raised suspicions that she was involved in drug distribution or sex trafficking while on the run. Hwang, who previously drew public attention for her relationship with singer-turned-actor Park Yoo-chun, was convicted of using methamphetamine three times between May and September 2015 at her home in Seoul and elsewhere and received a suspended prison sentence in 2019. The following year, she was again convicted on drug-related charges and received a harsher sentence of 20 months in prison. 2026-01-02 16:14:30 -
BTS comeback set for March, greeted with both excitement and anxiety SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - It is official: K-pop supergroup BTS will resume full seven-member activities with the release of a new album on March 20, marking their first group comeback in nearly four years. The album will be the group’s first collective release since Proof, the 2022 anthology that preceded their announcement of a temporary hiatus to fulfill South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements. All seven members — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — completed their roughly two-year service in 2025 and personally shared the comeback news with fans. RM wrote that he had been “longing more than anyone” for the group’s return, while Jimin told fans, “This is the year we meet again.” The announcement immediately reignited global fan enthusiasm. BTS’s 2022 track “Run BTS” surged back onto the iTunes Top Songs charts in 61 countries following the news, underscoring the group’s enduring global pull even during their hiatus. BTS’s agency HYBE shares rose 4.9 percent on Friday to close at 346,000 won ($240). For fans, BTS’s return represents more than a music release — it is a cultural moment. “Their music helped me process feelings I didn’t have words for,” said Candace Epps-Robertson, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who turned to BTS’s lyrics while caring for her ailing mother. As a scholar of fan communities, she also described ARMY as “an army of librarians,” noting how fans meticulously archive performances, translations and research, creating a uniquely organized global cultural ecosystem. Korean music critic Lim Jin-mo said the comeback could mark “a revival of originality in K-pop.” “Fans often say ‘BTS-pop’ rather than K-pop,” he said. “They are the group whose fans most strongly long for a full-member return.” Debuting in 2013 under producer Bang Si-hyuk’s BigHit Entertainment, now HYBE, BTS reshaped the global trajectory of K-pop through self-written music and candid storytelling. They became the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200, addressed the United Nations, and received Korea’s Order of Cultural Merit for advancing national culture. Son Min-hyun, editor-in-chief of Korean pop music magazine IZM, described BTS as “the greatest conquerors of K-pop,” meaning the group that has done the most to expand the genre’s global reach. “The music market has changed considerably since their last comeback four years ago,” Son said. “After the global success of K-Pop Demon Hunters last year, audiences around the world understand K-pop much more clearly than before. That means BTS will now be expected to show even greater originality than they did with songs like ‘Butter’ or ‘Dynamite.’” Such expectations help explain why the group’s return has taken longer than many fans anticipated. During a Weverse livestream in early December, RM addressed questions about the group’s prolonged silence following their discharge. “Many people ask, ‘Why did you waste the second half of 2025?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do anything?’” he said. “I also wanted to do many things after being discharged, but there were circumstances I can’t talk about. I don’t have the right to explain everything.” SUGA was the last member to complete his service, finishing in June, following RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook earlier in the year. Jin, the eldest, was discharged in June 2024, and j-hope in October that year. The pressure of returning as a full group has weighed heavily on the members. RM spoke candidly about the emotional toll. “I want to perform right away, but preparing for it requires so much, and the pressure is huge,” he said. “Since last month, I haven’t been able to sleep. I even thought about whether I should get a prescription for sleeping pills.” He added that he had repeatedly questioned the group’s future. “I’ve wondered thousands of times whether it would be better for us to disband or go on hiatus,” he said. “But the reason we’re still together is because of the love between the members and the respect we have for our fans.” Fans, for their part, remain confident the wait will be worth it. “Since becoming a BTS fan, I’ve been studying Korean,” said Lina, an ARMY member from Antwerp, Belgium. “I think Korean is a beautiful language — it sounds musical, and Hangul looks like geometric art.” Monica, a 33-year-old fan from New York, said she was counting down to the comeback. “I’m super excited,” she told AJP. “It’s been such a long time. They were in the army for so long. I’m really looking forward to new music — and especially the tour. I haven’t seen them live since 2016.” She added, “I’m just grateful for all the good memories already. Whatever they have in store for ARMY next, I’m excited for it.” 2026-01-02 16:09:47 -
Samsung Heavy wins $520 million order for two LNG carriers SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Friday it has secured an order worth 721.1 billion won ($520 million) for two liquefied natural gas carriers. In a regulatory filing, the company said the contract was signed in December and that the vessels are scheduled for delivery in stages by September 2028. The name of the shipowner was not disclosed due to contractual confidentiality requirements, a common practice in shipbuilding deals involving commercial and strategic considerations. With the latest deal, Samsung Heavy said it booked total orders worth $7.9 billion for 43 vessels in 2025, surpassing its 2024 results of $7.3 billion for 36 ships. Orders last year included 11 LNG carriers, nine shuttle tankers, nine container ships, two ethane carriers, 11 crude oil carriers and a preliminary contract for offshore production facilities, the company said. As of the end of 2025, Samsung Heavy’s order backlog stood at 133 ships valued at $28.6 billion. A company official said Samsung Heavy exceeded the previous year’s order performance by prioritizing profitability and selectively accepting contracts, supported by a stable backlog, despite a volatile global business environment marked by U.S.-led trade tariff pressures. The official added that the company expects solid order momentum to continue this year, citing a recovery in demand for LNG carriers. 2026-01-02 15:30:03 -
Can Lee's visit to China 'open new chapter' in bilateral relations? SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Economic cooperation would be a key topic at President Lee Jae Myung's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week. During a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday, just days ahead of Lee's four-day trip to China starting Sunday, national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said the two leaders will have "in-depth discussions to strengthen bilateral relations and come up with practical steps to address 'livelihood and peace' issues facing both countries." The trip will be a South Korean leader's first state visit to China in nine years and comes about two months after Lee met with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in November, in what Cheong Wa Dae referred to as a reciprocal visit. Wi highlighted that it is "unprecedented" for the two leaders to meet each other within just two months, saying it could open a "new chapter" in bilateral relations. Lee is set to arrive in Beijing on Sunday and start his itinerary with a dinner with South Korean expats there. After attending a business forum the following day, he will hold a summit with Xi, which will include a welcoming ceremony and a banquet. "South Korea and China share the common goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Wi said, stressing that the summit would yield fruitful outcomes along with practical solutions. They are also expected to discuss various issues including China's veiled restrictions on South Korean films and dramas, and the installation of dubious structures on the submerged shelf of Ieodo in the West Sea, which overlaps with maritime zones of both South Korea and China. After a series of talks and other events including a meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Lee will then move to Shanghai on Tuesday to attend a forum for startup entrepreneurs from both countries to foster partnership and promote future cooperation. As the final leg of his trip, Lee will attend an event commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of independence fighter Kim Gu, who led the country's provisional government-in-exile in Shanghai, as well as the centennial of the provisional government's founding in 1919. 2026-01-02 15:29:07 -
China's silver export curb adds cost pressure on Korea' tech activities SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - China’s move to tighten controls on silver exports is set to add fresh cost pressure on South Korean industries heavily reliant on the precious metal, at a time when prices are already surging on strong demand from high-tech and clean-energy sectors. From Jan. 1, exporters in China must obtain government approval to ship silver overseas, after Beijing added the metal to its “2026 List of Goods Subject to Export Licensing Administration.” The measure places silver alongside tungsten, antimony and rare earth elements — materials China has increasingly treated as strategic assets in its economic and technological rivalry with the United States. China dominates the global silver supply chain, accounting for an estimated 60 to 70 percent of internationally traded refined silver. It also ranks second worldwide in silver reserves and mine output, trailing only Mexico, reinforcing its position as a pivotal player capable of influencing global supply conditions. The policy comes as silver has emerged as “the new gold,” buoyed by soaring demand tied to its wide industrial applications and its appeal as a hedge asset. Silver futures surged more than 150 percent in 2025, rising from around $20 per troy ounce at the start of the year to about $71 by the final trading session — the strongest gain among major commodities. The rally was driven by five consecutive years of global supply deficits and a weakening U.S. dollar, which boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Although prices briefly retreated from a late-December peak of $86 per ounce, China’s export curbs reignited market momentum. Silver prices jumped about 3 percent on Friday, approaching $73 per ounce as of 1:30 p.m. For South Korea, the trend poses a growing headwind. Silver is a critical input across the country’s high-tech manufacturing base, including electronics, semiconductors and advanced materials, as well as a key component of the domestic smelting industry. The metal plays an increasingly central role in the AI and digital era due to its superior electrical conductivity — the highest among major metals. It is used as a protective coating to prevent copper oxidation in printed circuit boards, and as electrodes in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), both of which are essential components in smartphones, data centers and AI servers. Beyond electronics, silver is indispensable in solar panels, where silver paste converts sunlight into electricity. It is also used, alongside platinum, as a catalyst in water electrolysis systems for hydrogen fuel production. As a result, rising silver prices directly translate into higher costs and weaker margins across a wide range of advanced industries. The burden is already showing up in trade data. According to the Bank of Korea, import prices for the “other precious metals” category — which includes silver — surged 66 percent year on year in November, exacerbated by both higher global prices and the weak won. Korea Zinc, one of the world’s largest non-ferrous metal producers, is particularly exposed. Silver accounts for more than 30 percent of the company’s total revenue, surpassing even zinc, its flagship product. With ore procurement costs climbing, analysts warn that profit margins could come under mounting pressure. Wall Street expects the rally to continue. Goldman Sachs has forecast silver prices could reach $100 per troy ounce in 2026, while Citigroup projects a potential peak of up to $110, underscoring the long-term supply tightness surrounding the metal. 2026-01-02 14:47:17