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  South Korean, Japanese leaders stress closer cooperation amid turbulent times SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation amid a rapidly shifting international environment as the two met for talks in Japan on Tuesday. During their summit in Nara, Takaichi's hometown and Japan's ancient capital during the early imperial era, the two leaders stressed the strategic importance of bilateral relations and agreed to pursue a forward-looking relationshi January 13, 2026
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  Trump's Taiwan chip 'big deal' reshapes foundry race, puts Korea in strategic bind SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - After extracting concessions from Japan and South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump is now pressing another semiconductor powerhouse — Taiwan — using trade leverage to pull advanced chip manufacturing onto U.S. soil. Under an emerging deal, Washington plans to cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 percent from 20 percent in exchange for a major expansion of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s U.S. manufacturing footprint, according January 13, 2026
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  Much robotics hoopla at CES 2026 — too many bodies, too few brains SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - At CES 2026, robots flew men off their feet with perfectly timed jabs, flipped through synchronized somersaults and danced with algorithmic confidence. Behind the curtain, those same robots swung wildly into empty air — punches landing nowhere, movements jittery, as if they'd had one cocktail too many before the bout. A human operator stood nearby, joystick hidden behind his back, fingers doing the real work. Welcome to CES 2026, where ph January 13, 2026
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  South Korea's Wemade brings new Mir game to China with localized features SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korean game developer Wemade has officially launched "Mir M," the latest title based on its long-running Mir franchise, in China. The game is available on Android, Apple’s iOS and PC platforms in China, the company said. Mir M is a modern reinterpretation of the world of “The Legend of Mir 2,” Wemade’s flagship title that gained widespread popularity in China in the early 2000s. The new release carries over January 13, 2026
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  Nearly 40% of South Koreans see public sector as corrupt, survey shows SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - About four in 10 South Koreans consider most public institutions to be corrupt, a recent survey reveals. The state-run Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission surveyed about 1,400 adults, 700 businesspeople, 630 experts, 400 foreigners and 1,400 civil servants last year and released its results on Tuesday. The two-round, large-scale survey conducted in June and October last year found that roughly 39.1 percent of respondents saw the public sector a January 13, 2026
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  Shared values for peace and prosperity - EU EU Commission President von der Leyen highlighted EU priorities in her State of the Union Address: making Europe strong and secure, boosting our competitive edge, fostering the green and digital transition. As the international scenario becomes ever more erratic, we shall strengthen international partnerships with like-minded democracies, like Korea. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is now into its fourth year. It constitutes a blatant breach of international January 13, 2026
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  Frozen commute in Seoul amid bus strike SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Buses across Seoul ground to a halt at 4 a.m. on Jan. 13 after labor and management failed to reach an agreement on wages and collective bargaining, triggering an indefinite strike and plunging the morning commute into chaos. With bus services fully suspended from the first scheduled departures, commuters crowded subway platforms, huddled at deserted bus stops and waited for hours for taxis that never came. Many learned of the strike only after stepping in January 13, 2026
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  Danielle surfaces — a reconciliatory gesture or prelude to counterattack? SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Danielle, a former member of NewJeans, made her first public appearance since being expelled and sued by her agency, offering little beyond emotional allegiance to her group and fans — and careful restraint. In a nine-minute livestream titled “Dear Bunnies,” Danielle addressed the group’s fan base in a teary but measured message, avoiding direct accusations or legal arguments despite the escalating dispute with ADOR. “I foug January 13, 2026
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  Binggrae to merge Haitai, tightening grip on South Korea's ice cream market SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Binggrae said Tuesday it will merge its wholly owned subsidiary, Haitai Ice Cream, into the parent company, a move aimed at improving efficiency and sharpening competitiveness in South Korea’s ice cream market. Binggrae's board has approved the merger plan, under which Binggrae will absorb Haitai Ice Cream, which it has owned outright since 2020. Binggrae plans to hold a final board vote on Feb. 12 and complete the merger on April 1. Since January 13, 2026
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  Samsung courts Gen Z with expanded Galaxy creator program SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has launched “Galaxy Crew 2026,” an expanded creator program designed to generate social-media content based on everyday use of its Galaxy devices. The company said Tuesday it held a launch event on Jan. 9, marking the start of roughly a year of planned activities. The program comprises 70 creators spanning 11 categories, including fitness, fashion, gaming, travel, photography, beauty, entertainment and video production. January 13, 2026