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  BLACKPINK's Jennie opens first solo photo exhibition SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - BLACKPINK member Jennie is holding her first solo photo exhibition to commemorate her birthday. The exhibition "JENNIE PHOTO EXHIBITION J2NNI5" is running from the 16th to the 29th at YOUTHQUAKE in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The exhibition is particularly significant as Jennie directly participated in the project, capturing her own perspective and sensibility. Rather than showcasing her glamorous on-stage image, the exhibition highlights candid moments o January 23, 2026
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  Samsung heir to participate in multinational exercise in Thailand SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Lee Ji-ho, the son of Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, will participate in his first overseas combined exercise next month since being commissioned as an ensign in November last year. According to military sources on Friday, Lee junior is expected to be dispatched to Cobra Gold, the largest multinational combined exercise held annually in Thailand since 1982, hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This year's exercise, slated to be held f January 23, 2026
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  ROK army special forces conduct winter survival training SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - The ROK Army Special Warfare Command announced on Jan. 22 that it has been conducting winter survival training at training grounds in the Hwangbyeongsan area of Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, from January through February. The training runs for 11 nights and 12 days for each unit. January 23, 2026
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  Samsung Electro-Mechanics posts record revenue on AI, auto electronics demand SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - South Korea's Samsung Electro-Mechanics said Friday growth in artificial intelligence and automotive electronics helped it post the highest annual revenue in its history last year. In a regulatory filing, the company reported consolidated revenue of 11.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion) and operating profit of 913.3 billion won. Revenue rose 10 percent from a year earlier to a record high, while operating profit climbed 24 percent. Fourth-quarter revenu January 23, 2026
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  Overseas stock buying drives record FX trading in South Korea in 2025 SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - South Korean banks recorded a sharp rise in foreign exchange trading last year, with average daily volumes hitting a record high as overseas securities investment by residents surged and foreign investors stepped up purchases of South Korean assets. According to a Bank of Korea report released on Friday, average daily foreign exchange trading at domestic banks — including spot and derivatives transactions — totaled $80.71 billion in 2025, up January 23, 2026
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  German embassies in Seoul and Tokyo to host amateur League of Legends tournament SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - The Embassy of Germany in Seoul and the Embassy of Germany in Tokyo have announced a joint esports tournament, ".DE (Diplomacy Meets Esports)," scheduled to culminate in Tokyo this March. The event will gather amateur League of Legends teams from South Korea, Japan, and Germany to compete in a tri-nation format intended to blend competitive gaming with cultural diplomacy. The initiative follows recent major esports events in the host nations, wi January 23, 2026
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  PM tells US lawmakers Coupang probe 'not discriminatory' SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is currently in Washington, D.C., told U.S. lawmakers that South Korea is not discriminating against e-commerce giant Coupang in its investigation into a massive data leak late last year. His remarks came on Thursday as Kim began his five-day trip to the U.S., starting with a luncheon meeting with several U.S. House members including Young Kim, Ami Bera, Dave Min, Joe Wilson, John Moolenaar, Marilyn Strickland, Michael B January 23, 2026
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  Lotte Card raises $300 million overseas via asset-backed securities SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s Lotte Card said on Friday it has secured about 4.42 trillion won ($300 million) in overseas funding through the issuance of asset-backed securities. The credit card company, part of the Lotte Group conglomerate, said the funding was raised by issuing asset-backed securities (ABS) backed by credit card sales receivables. Societe Generale participated as an investor, and the securities have an average maturity of three years. Lotte Ca January 23, 2026
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  FX looms as Korea's top financial risk: BOK survey SEOUL, Jan 23 (AJP) - The Korean won has stabilized and edged higher against the U.S. dollar following explicit verbal intervention by authorities, but foreign exchange volatility remains the biggest financial risk facing South Korea, according to a new Bank of Korea (BOK) survey. Nearly seven in 10 financial experts flagged the exchange rate as a key source of risk, underscoring persistent unease despite recent market calm. According to the BOK survey of 75 professionals fro January 23, 2026
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  Homeplus confirms closures of additional stores amid liquidity strain SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s retail chain Homeplus has confirmed the closure of additional stores as the company undergoes court-led rehabilitation, raising fresh concerns about its financial condition. Industry sources said on Friday that Homeplus informed staff in an internal notice the previous day of plans to shut its Jamsil store in Seoul and its Sungui store in Incheon. A Homeplus official said the timing of the closures has yet to be set, adding tha January 23, 2026