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  Samsung's foldable lead holds as Apple's entry nears SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Selfies taken by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have served diplomatic and branding purposes alongside their social media role. During a state visit to Beijing, selfies were taken on a Xiaomi smartphone gifted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. More recently, photos during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Seoul were taken on a Samsung Electronics device. President Lee gifted Meloni a pink Galaxy Z Flip 7, matching the prime minis January 21, 2026
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  Polls show strong support in South Korea for new nuclear plants SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - A majority of South Koreans support building new nuclear power plants as electricity demand surges with the expansion of artificial intelligence, two public opinion polls showed, adding pressure on the government to reconsider its energy policy stance. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said on Wednesday it had conducted nationwide surveys last week on a new-reactor plan. The ministry commissioned Korea Gallup and Realmeter to su January 21, 2026
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  Korean transformer exports, stocks hit record highs on global AI power demand SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korea's gains from the accelerating global shift toward artificial intelligence are extending beyond semiconductors. Exports of ultra-high-voltage transformers surged to a record high last year, driven by aggressive investment in power infrastructure for data center expansion worldwide. Exports of transformers rated at 10,000 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) or higher reached $1.3 billion last year, according to the Korea International Trade Association. It January 21, 2026
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  Former PM sentenced to 23 years in prison over martial law involvement SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle in December 2024. In a nationwide televised trial, the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul handed down the sentence, ruling that the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law constituted an insurrection. The court said, ", as prime minister, had a duty to comply January 21, 2026
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  Nomura flags heavy US investment burden for Samsung Electronics, SK hynix SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and SK hynix may need to invest between 100 trillion won and 120 trillion won ($74–89 billion) in the United States from 2027 to 2030 to secure tariff exemptions, according to a new analysis by Nomura Securities. That would translate into annual investment of about 25 trillion won to 30 trillion won, or roughly a quarter of the two companies’ combined annual memory chip capital expenditure, estimated at 120 trillion won January 21, 2026
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  Modern interpretation of ancestral ritual dance wins award in New York SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - "One Dance," a contemporary interpretation of South Korea's royal ancestral ritual presented by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, won an award in New York on Tuesday. It won the New York Dance and Performance Awards, also known as the Bessie Awards, which annually honor outstanding achievements by independent dance artists. Choreographers Jung Hye-jin, Kim Seong-hun, and Kim Jae-deok, who collaborated on the modern adaptation of a January 21, 2026
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  Korean won rebounds after president signals KRW–USD range SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - The Korean won, which briefly revisited the perceived government defense line of 1,480 per dollar before markets opened Wednesday, rebounded sharply after President Lee Jae Myung publicly referred to a specific range for the exchange rate. During a televised New Year’s press conference, Lee addressed the won’s prolonged weakness, noting that the depreciation was not “a uniquely Korean phenomenon” but reflected broader geopoli January 21, 2026
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  Incheon signs MOU with U.S. Kessler Collection for I-CON City project in Cheongna SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Incheon City on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. hospitality company The Kessler Collection and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to jointly pursue a $1.4 billion culture and tourism complex in Cheongna International City. The agreement was signed at Incheon City Hall by Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Richard C. Kessler, chairman and founder of The Kessler Collection, and Kang Oh-soon, head of LH’s Regional Balanced Develop January 21, 2026
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  New catalyst design boosts hydrogen efficiency while cutting costs SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Researchers in South Korea have developed a new structure for catalysts that significantly reduces the amount of expensive precious metals required for hydrogen production and fuel cells. A team led by Professor Cho Eun-ae from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on January 21 that they have successfully created ultra-thin nanosheets that outperform traditional par January 21, 2026
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  Jeju Air bans in-flight use of portable battery packs SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air said on Wednesday it will ban the use of portable battery packs on board its aircraft starting Jan. 22, citing the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. The measure applies to all passengers on domestic and international flights and prohibits using portable battery packs to charge devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers during flights. Under existing transport ministry guidelines, charging portable batte January 21, 2026