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  OPINION: Another year of Russian aggression against Ukraine SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Today, the world marks the fourth year since the start of Russia's large-sca February 24, 2026
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  KOSPI extends rally despite global headwinds and profit-taking SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Korean stocks extended their upward momentum Tuesday despite a choppy start, shrugging off overnight losses on Wall Street driven by tariff uncertainty and rising Middle East tensions. Seoul’s benchmark KOSPI advanced 1.42 percent to a fresh all-time high of 5,929.14 as of 11:15 a.m., while the KOSPI 200 gained 1.66 percent to 880.21. Overnight in the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7 percent, the Nasdaq dropped 1.1 perc February 24, 2026
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  Korea's consumer confidence strongest in 3 mo Feb on buoyant stocks and exports SEOUL, Feb. 24 (AJP) — South Korea’s consumer confidence rose to its strongest level in three months in February, buoyed by a robust stock market and resilient exports, central bank data showed Tuesday. According to the Bank of Korea, the composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) stood at 112.1 in February, up from 110.8 in January and 109.8 in December. A reading above 100 indicates that optimism outweighs pessimism compared with the long-term average. The inde February 24, 2026
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  Moviegoers review-bomb 15th-century royal tomb following blockbuster historical film hit SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A digital revolt has targeted the royal tomb of King Sejo after the release of the film King's Warden, directed by Jang Hang-jun, sparked public anger over the 15th-century monarch's rise to power. Since the movie opened on February 4, the UNESCO World Heritage site, known as Gwangneung, has been review-bombed with one-star ratings on major South Korean map applications. King's Warden reached the 6 million mark on Monday, just 20 days after i February 24, 2026
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  Coupang expresses regret amid US House probe SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Coupang has expressed "regret" that a dispute over alleged unfair treatment in South Korea prompted a U.S. House investigation. In a statement on Monday, "We regret the circumstances in Congressional deposition, and we remain committed to seeking a constructive resolution," said Robert Porter, Coupang's chief global affairs officer. "More broadly, Coupang hopes to be able to serve as February 24, 2026
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  'The King's Warden' takes box office by storm with 6 million viewers SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" has attracted over 600 million viewers since its release earlier this month. The period film surpassed 6 million in cumulative ticket sales as of Monday, three weeks after its release on Feb. 4, the film's distributor Showbox said on Tuesday. It reached the milestone faster than the 2005 hit period film "The King and the Clown," which took 29 days, raising expectations that &qu February 24, 2026
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  Kbank draws $7.3 bn in pre-IPO deposits ahead of planned KOSPI debut SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Kbank, South Korea’s first internet-only lender, has attracted more than $7 billion in pre-initial public offering deposits as it prepares to become the first major IPO of 2026 on the KOSPI, the world’s best-performing equity market this year. The bank wrapped up a three-day pre-IPO offering to retail investors on Monday, posting a subscription competition ratio of 136 to 1. About 9.85 trillion won ($7.3 billion) in deposits were raised, wi February 24, 2026
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  Brazilian president pitches supply chain ties to S. Korean conglomerate heads SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Anchoring his first state visit to South Korea in two decades, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with the leaders of the country's largest conglomerates on Monday to secure supply chain partnerships in advanced industries like artificial intelligence and clean energy. The private gathering in Seoul followed a summit earlier in the day between Lula and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential Blue House. During the morn February 24, 2026
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  OPINION: With US tariff ruling, trade war enters new phase SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Two months into the new year, uncertainty continues to mount, unsettling businesses and consumers alike. What matters as much as what changes is what holds steady — yet unexpected shocks keep emerging and how governments and companies respond will determine what lies ahead. A new variable has hit global trade. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that U.S. President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs and fentanyl-related tariffs imposed under the Intern February 24, 2026
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  Celltrion unveils dual-track obesity drug strategy with quad-action injectable and oral pill SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Celltrion announced it is pursuing a two-pronged approach to the fast-growing obesity treatment market, developing both a first-in-class quadruple-action injectable and a multi-target oral drug designed to challenge dominant players in the space. The injectable candidate reported Tuesday, CT-G32, targets four biological pathways simultaneously, moving beyond the dual- and triple-action GLP-1-based therapies that currently dominate the market. Celltrion February 24, 2026