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  Seoul's all-out defense of the won takes heavy toll on FX reserves Dec SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign-exchange reserves fell by nearly $3 billion in December, marking the largest monthly decline among major reserve-holding economies and underscoring the cost of aggressive market intervention to defend the won. According to data released Tuesday by the Bank of Korea, the country’s FX reserves stood at $428.05 billion at end-December 2025, down $2.6 billion from the previous month. While the headline figure remains substant January 6, 2026
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  KOSPI blasts through 4,500, stealing the spotlight in a solid Asian session SEOUL, Jan. 6 (AJP) — Asian markets were broadly in the green on Tuesday, but one market didn’t just rise — it showed off. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI smashed through the long-watched 4,500 level, capping a blistering start to the year that has already rewritten the index’s record book. The rally has been fast, loud and unapologetic: more than 13 percent in under two weeks, with 4,300 and 4,400 barely registering as speed bumps. Retail investors, January 6, 2026
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  Lee heads to Shanghai after meeting with Chinese Premier SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to China, on Tuesday met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed hope that the talks would mark a turning point for a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations. During his meeting with Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, Lee shared that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed the previous day to develop a "strategic cooperative partnership" that contributes to people's livelihood January 6, 2026
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  K-content gets a permanent address in Incheon — now comes the harder part: keeping it interesting SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Imagine never having to fight ticket scalpers again for a G-Dragon concert. No frantic refreshing. No VIP seats resold at 6.8 million won. Just… a year-round GD performance you can drop in on, any weekend you like. That, at least, is the fantasy behind Incheon's ambitious bet on what officials are calling "K-Con Land" — a sprawling cultural complex designed to give K-pop, K-drama and digital content something they've never rea January 6, 2026
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  Safe-haven demand keeps gold in focus as market volatility grows SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Investor interest in gold has carried into the new year after international prices nearly doubled last year, with securities firms expecting the uptrend to extend through 2026 as geopolitical risks and demand for safe-haven assets support prices. According to the Korea Exchange on Tuesday, gold prices, after retreating late last year, have risen for three consecutive sessions since the start of the year. International prices also moved toward record January 6, 2026
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  Fresh cold spell grips Seoul SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - A fresh cold spell returned to Seoul on Tuesday, with a morning low of -6 degrees Celsius, much colder than the previous day's -1 degrees. The mercury barely rose, with daytime temperatures climbing to just 4 degrees as frigid conditions persisted throughout the day. Other cities across the country also faced frigid temperatures, with Chuncheon at -10 degrees, Cheongju at -8 degrees, Daejeon at -7 degrees, and the southern port city of Busan at -2 d January 6, 2026
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  Lee shares selfie with Xi SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung shared a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping on social media on Mondy night, suggesting their talks were held in a friendly atmosphere. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after their 90-minute summit, Lee said he took the selfie using a Xiaomi smartphone that Xi had given him, when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in No January 6, 2026
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  AI chip demand to lift Korea's exports in 2026, but autos face headwinds SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Semiconductors, which powered South Korea’s exports last year amid expanding artificial intelligence demand, are expected to remain the main growth driver in 2026 as the chip upcycle continues, while auto exports could lose momentum, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Tuesday. South Korea’s annual exports totaled $709.7 billion last year, surpassing $700 billion for the first time. The milestone came seven years after January 6, 2026
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  Chinese president calls upon Seoul to jointly uphold postwar peace order and stability BEIJING, January 05 (CGTN) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on China and South Korea to work together to safeguard the post–World War II international order and maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia during talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Speaking during the meeting with Lee on a state visit to China, Xi highlighted the shared historical legacy of the two countries, noting their respective sacrifices and resistance against Japanese mil January 6, 2026
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  Why is Kim Jong-un's daughter making frequent public appearances? SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - Frequent public appearances of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae are believed to be intended to project a "prominent family" image rather than groom her as the next leader for a hereditary transfer of power, the Unification Ministry here speculated on Tuesday. As many pundits closely watch Kim's activities for clues in the reclusive country, where even small details can matter, a ministry official said, "We cannot sing January 6, 2026