UPDATE: Korea's factory output strongest in four months in December, slows for full 2025 *Updated with additional information and market response SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s factory output grew at its fastest pace in four months in December, driven by chip-led exports and a sharp rebound in construction, though growth slowed for full-year 2025 amid prolonged weakness in building activity. Mining and manufacturing production rose 1.7 percent from the previous month, rebounding from two consecutive contractions and accelerating from a 0.8 pe January 30, 2026

'Buldak' boom powers Samyang to record revenue, profit SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korean noodle company Samyang Foods said it surpassed 2 trillion won in annual revenue for the first time since its founding, doubling sales in just two years on the back of strong overseas demand for its "Buldak" brand. In a regulatory filing on Friday, the company reported preliminary consolidated revenue of 2.35 trillion won for last year, up 36 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit jumped 52 percent to a record 523.9 bi January 30, 2026

After conquering beauty front, Olive Young expands to wellness with Gwanghwamun opening SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - Best known as South Korea’s dominant K-beauty retailer, Olive Young is opening a new chapter — one that extends beyond cosmetics and into everyday wellness. The company on Thursday unveiled to the media the first flagship store of its new wellness platform, Olive Better, in Gwanghwamun, one of Seoul’s busiest and most symbolic district name recently gaining renewed global fame. The area sits at the heart of the capital, home to govern January 29, 2026

LG Chem posts operating loss in Q4 but logs 35% profit jump for 2025 SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - South Korea's largest chemical company LG Chem swung to an operating loss in the fourth quarter as its petrochemical and battery materials divisions struggled, though full-year operating profit surged 35 percent on improved performance at its energy solutions subsidiary. The company reported a consolidated operating loss of 413.3 billion won ($289.7 million) for the October to December period, reversing from a 680 billion won profit in the prior quarter January 29, 2026

Korea's homegrown satellite to fly on NASA's Artemis 2 to study space radiation SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s homegrown CubeSat, K-RadCube, will fly aboard NASA’s Artemis 2 crewed moon mission to observe the space radiation environment, marking the first time a South Korean satellite will directly measure the high-energy radiation belts encountered by astronauts. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said on Thursday that the satellite will study Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts at multiple altitudes, generating data that c January 29, 2026

Hyundai Motor vows aggressive capex, share reward program; stock up 7% SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Company said Thursday it will spend 17.8 trillion won ($12.47 billion) throughout 2026—more than it earned last year—on new-growth areas including robotics, autonomous driving and hydrogen technology, front-loading nearly a quarter of its five-year investment plan into a single year. The South Korean automaker announced a 77.3 trillion won investment plan for 2026–2030 at its CEO Investor Day in New York last September. The 2 January 29, 2026

South Korea weighs ownership caps in crypto exchanges under new law SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) is again pushing to limit major shareholders’ stakes in cryptocurrency exchanges, arguing the platforms function as public infrastructure as they move into a fully regulated licensing system. The proposal has drawn attention over whether it will be reflected in the Digital Asset Basic Act being prepared by the ruling Democratic Party, as industry groups warn that forcing large shareholders to s January 29, 2026

Samsung hosts gala in Washington amid tariff threat from Trump SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) -Samsung Electronics Co. hosted a gala event on Jan. 28 at the Arts and Industries Building in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, to mark the successful run of Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared, the first U.S. exhibition of masterpieces from the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection. Main hosts were the Lee founding family, including Hong Ra-hee, Director Emerita of the January 29, 2026

Hyundai Motor bears nearly 40% hit in Q4 income and 20% for 2025 on US tariffs SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) -South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor suffered nearly a 40 percent drop in operating profit in the quarter ended December and about 20 percent for full-year 2025 due to higher tariffs under Donald Trump presidency in its largest export market despite record sales. According to its earnings release on Thursday, consolidated operating profit reached 1.7 trillion won ($1.2 billion), down 33.2 percent from the previous quarter and 40 percent from a January 29, 2026

Saudi Air Force commander visits KAI to discuss aerospace, defense cooperation SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said on Thursday that Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, and his delegation visited the company’s headquarters on Wednesday to discuss potential cooperation in aerospace and defense. KAI said the visit was part of strategic cooperation between the two countries’ air forces and aimed at exploring collaboration to modernize Saudi Arabia’s air power and strength January 29, 2026