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  Lee encourages Oceans Ministry staff with hearty meals SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung has sent pizza to encourage staff at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries which was relocated to the southern port city of Busan recently, the ministry said on Wednesday. The relocation from the administrative city of Sejong, which was finalized last month, was part of Lee's campaign pledges during last year's presidential election, aimed at taking the lead in the era of Arctic shipping routes while fostering new growth engi January 7, 2026
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  South Korea's Taihan wins power grid contract in California SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s electricity equipment maker Taihan said on Wednesday that its U.S. subsidiary, T.E.USA, has secured a contract worth about 100 billion won ($77 million) to supply equipment for a 230-kilovolt extra-high-voltage power transmission project in the United States. The project involves construction of a new 230-kV transmission line in the Riverside area of Southern California and is aimed at meeting rising electricity demand while ensuring January 7, 2026
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  South Korea seeks major economic leap through innovation-led growth SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea will accelerate a shift toward an “ultra-innovation economy” to lift its potential growth rate, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday, describing this year as the starting point for a major economic leap. Speaking at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly, Koo said the ministry will deploy active macroeconomic policies, including measures to boost overall demand and to help reviv January 7, 2026
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  Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial feature set for release later this month SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial debut feature is set to be released later this month. "Rectangle, Triangle," slated to hit local theaters on Jan. 21, tells the story of a family gathering meant to be pleasant but instead brings long-simmering conflicts to the surface. Beneath its comic setup, the film lays bare the emotional rifts that have built up under the name of family, leaving a lasting impression. The 46-minute film starring Jin Sun January 7, 2026
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  Korean shipbuilders ride eco-friendly, LNG vessels to stronger earnings outlook SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s three major shipbuilders are expected to post profits for a second consecutive year, with momentum likely to carry into 2026 as demand for high-value, eco-friendly vessels remains strong, analysts said. Expectations have also risen that orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and special-purpose ships could flow to Korean yards as the South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative known as MASGA moves into full operatio January 7, 2026
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  CES 2026: From delivery robots to driverless taxi - inside Hyundai showroom LAS VEGAS, January 07 (AJP) -Step into Hyundai Motor Group’s CES showroom and robotics is already at work. A humanoid robot sorts objects with precision, a four-legged machine patrols and inspects equipment autonomously, while compact mobility robots labeled MobED Pick and Place and MobED Delivery glide across the floor carrying cargo. Nearby, a fully driverless Ioniq 5 robotaxi prepares for commercial service — all operating as part of an artificial-intelligen January 7, 2026
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  A big delegation, thin deliverables from Korean state visit to China SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung arrived in China this week with one of the largest economic delegations Seoul has dispatched in years. What he returned with, critics say, was less clear. Accompanied by roughly 200 business leaders — including Lee Jae-yong, Chung Euisun and Koo Kwang-mo — Lee’s four-day state visit marked South Korea’s first presidential trip to China in eight years and the first major business delegation since 2019. The m January 6, 2026
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  Army's Nonsan training camp welcomes first recruits of 2026 SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Korea's biggest Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, officially commenced its 2026 operations on Monday with the year’s first enlistment ceremony. Approximately 1,760 new recruits took part in the proceedings, joined by thousands of family members and friends. As the primary gateway for military service, the Nonsan facility handles approximately 60 percent of all Army enlistees. Following this inaugural intake, the cent January 6, 2026
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  Hot Stock: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gains over 6% on LNG carrier order SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Shares of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries surged more than 6 percent on Tuesday after its parent secured a major LNG carrier order, reinforcing expectations for a strong orderbook this year. The stock closed up 6.2 percent at 545,000 won, after climbing as high as 550,000 won during intraday trading. Buying interest intensified following news that HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) had landed a 1.5 trillion won ($1.02 billion) contract t January 6, 2026
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  Samsung taps K-pop star RIIZE to showcase "everyday AI" at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is highlighting how artificial intelligence is being integrated into everyday life at CES 2026 through a collaboration with six-member K-pop group RIIZE. RIIZE attended a series of events held by Samsung during the show, including its flagship “The First Look” program, as global brand ambassadors, experiencing new products and services and sharing the experience with global audiences. The group has previously worked with January 6, 2026