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  Lee arrives in Japan for summit with Japanese PM in her hometown SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Osaka, Japan for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Cheong Wa Dae said on Tuesday. For the summit later in the day, Lee moved further south to the nearby city of Nara, which is Takaichi's hometown and Japan's ancient capital during the early imperial era. Their talks, followed by a welcome reception and dinner, mark their second summit, after the two met in late October on the sidelines of t January 13, 2026
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  Home-grown KF-21 fighter jets successfully complete test flights SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korea has completed test flights of its home-grown KF-21 fighter jet, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Tuesday. The DAPA said the fighter jet successfully underwent about 1,600 tests over the past 42 months to verify its stability and performance without a single accident, with its final flight test conducted the previous day over waters off Sacheon in South Gyeongsang Province. The tests included aerial refueling to im January 13, 2026
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  NH chairman steps down from key posts as top executives resign amid management scandal SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The chief of South Korea's state-invested financial group NH stepped down from key posts following mass resignation of C-suite over corruption allegations. Kang Ho-dong, chairman of National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NH), on Tuesday announced his resignation from concurrent leadership positions at a major farming daily and a charitable foundation, following a government audit that uncovered widespread management malpractice. January 13, 2026
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  Kim Seon Ho, Go Youn Jung introduce Netflix rom-com 'Can This Love Be Translated?' SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The Hong sisters - Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran -, the popular writing duo behind fantasy hit series such as "Hotel Del Luna" are returning with a straight romantic comedy, teaming up with actors Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung for Netflix’s upcoming series “Can This Love Be Translated?” Anticipation is building over whether the series, which explores romance through the gap between language and emotion, will resonate with glo January 13, 2026
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  Japan's snap election prospects lift Nikkei, boosting Asian markets SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Asian stock markets opened higher on Tuesday, led by a surge in Japan's Nikkei 225 amid speculations of a snap election in Tokyo. The vote is expected to strengthen Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's expansionary fiscal policies, boosting investor sentiment across the region. The Japanese index jumped about 3.4 percent to around 53,720 in early morning trade, buoyed by gains in exporters and technology shares. The rally helped lift broader Asian mar January 13, 2026
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  Korea Zinc to form joint venture with US firm to produce rare earths SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Korea Zinc said Tuesday it has signed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Alta Resource Technologies to produce rare earths. The partnership focuses on recycling and refining end-of-life permanent magnets into high-purity rare-earth oxides, materials used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems, Korea Zinc said in a press release. Under the agreement, the two companies will establish a joint venture in the United States and build January 13, 2026
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  Chinese copycat of Olive Young raises concerns over South Korean brands' reputation SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - As retail giant CJ's health and beauty chain has become a popular destination for foreign tourists visiting Seoul, a copycat brand has emerged in China, raising concerns about potential damage to the reputation of South Korean beauty products. According to industry watchers on Tuesday, a beauty store called "Only Young," reminiscent of Olive Young, has opened in Changsha, the vibrant capital of China's Hunan Province, and has been January 13, 2026
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  South Korea joins US-led talks on critical minerals SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, Koo Yun-cheol, joined counterparts in Washington on Monday for talks aimed at strengthening cooperation on critical minerals, the ministry said Tuesday. Participants at the meeting of finance ministers agreed on the need for swift action to address risks in the supply of minerals essential to advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defense industries. U.S. officials urged countries to m January 13, 2026
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  SK hynix expands AI chip capacity with new $14 billion plant in Cheongju SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - SK hynix will invest about 19 trillion won ($14 billion) to build a new advanced semiconductor packaging plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in a move to meet surging global demand for high-bandwidth memory. The South Korean chipmaker said Tuesday that the investment will bolster its next-generation memory competitiveness, particularly in HBM, a critical component for AI data centers, while aligning with the government’s push for more b January 13, 2026
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  Esports gears up for biggest year with major global events SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The booming esports industry is poised for its biggest year yet, fueled by its recognition as an official discipline at major global sporting events and international tournaments. Major events are scheduled throughout the year including the quadrennial Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan in September, the annual Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July and the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, also in Riyadh, in November. The upcoming Asian Ga January 13, 2026