• 
  SK hynix secures top vehicle safety certification for LPDDR5X memory SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - SK hynix said Monday it has obtained the highest functional safety certification for its LPDDR5X automotive memory, as demand grows for reliable semiconductors used in advanced driver-assistance and autonomous-driving systems. The South Korean chipmaker said its LPDDR5X DRAM has been certified at ASIL-D, the highest safety level under the ISO 26262 international automotive functional safety standard. ASIL-D applies to systems directly linked to passeng January 19, 2026
• 
  South Korea's Jin Air posts first annual loss in 3 years, hit by weak won SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air returned to the red last year for the first time in three years, pressured by a weak won and intensifying competition in the airline industry. The company said on Monday that its standalone revenue fell 5.5 percent from a year earlier to 1.38 trillion won ($1 billion), based on preliminary results. Profitability swung to a loss for the first time since 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted travel. J January 19, 2026
• 
  IMF flags structural FX fragility in Korea, citing shallow market and equity-heavy exposure SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange vulnerability has drawn renewed scrutiny from the International Monetary Fund, not because of short-term external debt — the trigger during the late-1990s liquidity crisis — but due to the country’s unusually large foreign equity exposure relative to the depth of its FX market. According to an IMF assessment released Sunday, South Korea’s foreign-exposed assets amount to roughly 25 times its ave January 19, 2026
• 
  INTERVIEW: Park Seo-joon: confident "Waiting for Gyeongo" will linger despite low ratings SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - For Park Seo-joon, returning to the romance genre after seven years with, "Waiting for Gyeong-do" was a project that demanded full embracement of character’s life. Following the timeline of protagonist "Lee Gyeong-do," who continues to live with the same feelings even after two relationships at the ages of twenty and twenty-eight, the narrative goes beyond a simple reunion melodrama. Instead, it asks how the emotion of love is January 19, 2026
• 
  With tariffs looming, Korea chipmakers run out of room to maneuver in the U.S. SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - To match the tariff concessions Taiwan has secured in the United States, South Korean chipmakers may be pressed to outline additional U.S. capacity expansion plans. Their options are however constrained as the foundry market faces oversupply risks while large-scale memory fabs pose significant economic and strategic hurdles. U.S. officials have adopted a more hardline tone in recent weeks, openly tying tariff relief to domestic semiconductor investment January 19, 2026
• 
  Korean won drifts toward 1,480 on global dollar strength SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) -The Korean won edged back toward 1,480 per U.S. dollar, a level widely viewed as a government defense line, amid broad dollar strength fueled by rising U.S. tensions with the European Union over Greenland and escalating risks linked to Iran and Venezuela. January 19, 2026
• 
  Plum blossoms defy winter as Daehan approaches Gangwon, January 18 (AJP) -Ahead of Daehan, the coldest period in the traditional Korean calendar, plum trees are already beginning to burst into bloom at Naksansa Temple on Korea’s east coast. Daehan, meaning “great cold,” is the 24th and final solar term, falling around Jan. 20 on the Gregorian calendar and marking the depths of winter in the lunar year. It is traditionally associated with biting winds, frozen ground and the harshest conditions of the season. January 19, 2026
• 
  Thousands brave winter swim at Haeundae beach SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - About 2,000 people braved chilly winter weather to plunge into the icy waters of Haeundae Beach in Busan on Sunday for the southern port city's annual swimming festival. Under this year's "colorful" theme for the Haeundae Polar Bear Festival (HPBF), the beach was filled with swimmers in vibrant colors. Before plunging into the water, participants painted themselves with colorful powder symbolizing hope, love, and happiness. They splashe January 19, 2026
• 
  Samsung, LG set for showdown in booming data center cooling market SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to compete head-to-head in North America as they seek a larger share of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) market, which is gaining momentum amid rapid growth in artificial intelligence infrastructure. With demand for home appliances slowing and competition from low-priced Chinese products intensifying, both South Korean companies are increasingly targeting data center heat-management soluti January 19, 2026
• 
  Korean Air beats Q4 expectations, positioned for post-merger liftoff SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Korean Air delivered stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, weathering a weak won that pushed up dollar-denominated fuel and aircraft lease costs, and easing concerns ahead of its planned full integration with Asiana Airlines next year. Operating profit came to 413.1 billion won ($280 million) in the October–December period, down 5.1 percent from a year earlier but comfortably above market expectations of around 360 billion won. Revenue rose 1 January 19, 2026