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  Lee, Xi push economic cooperation as summit sidesteps regional flashpoints SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Monday to deepen economic and technology cooperation and frame 2026 as a “year of full restoration” in bilateral ties, even as the summit conspicuously avoided addressing several sensitive security and geopolitical issues looming over the region. Meeting for about 90 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Lee called the talks the first state-level diplomati January 5, 2026
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  OPINION: Intervention in Venezuela may be unjust unjust but what about inaction? U.S. intervention in Venezuela has triggered swift criticism framed as a violation of international law. Civic groups, some governments and parts of the international community argue that forcibly removing a sitting president of a sovereign state sets a dangerous precedent that risks eroding the global order. These concerns deserve serious consideration, because legal norms exist precisely to restrain the use of force. But if the debate ends there, it avoids a more difficult q January 5, 2026
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  New S. Korean regional carrier SUM Air's first aircraft arrives at Gimpo SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - SUM Air, a new South Korean regional carrier, said its first new-build aircraft has arrived at Gimpo International Airport after completing a multi-leg ferry flight from France. The inaugural aircraft of SUM Air, a Regional Air Mobility (RAM) operator, departed Toulouse on Jan. 1 and landed at Gimpo International Airport on Jan. 4, according to the company. The aircraft was formally handed over on Dec. 29 following the completion of leasing procedures wi January 5, 2026
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  Seoul's National Folk Museum draws record number of foreign visitors SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Over a million foreign tourists visited the National Folk Museum in central Seoul last year. According to tallies compiled by the museum and released on Monday, out of 2.28 million total visitors, about 1.35 million were foreigners, the highest among museums in South Korea. Overall admissions rose about 58.3 percent from 1.44 million in 2024, while foreign visitors increased by 103 percent. The country's largest museum showcases everyday life and cult January 5, 2026
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  Asian markets surge to record highs as CES week kicks off SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Asian equity markets rallied in a synchronized surge on Monday as investor focus shifted to major technology players ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas. Benchmarks in Seoul and Taipei led the advance, with both markets scaling fresh record highs. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI jumped 3.43 percent to close at 4,457.52, marking its sharpest daily gain this year and pushing the index to the doorstep of the 4,500 level after s January 5, 2026
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  HOT STOCK: Hopes of China K-pop ban easing fizzle, sending shares lower SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) -South Korea’s K-pop sector retreated Monday as high expectations for an easing of China’s long-standing de facto ban on Korean entertainment though the momentum of President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Beijing fizzled out. Shares that had rallied on optimism over renewed access to the Chinese market reversed sharply. HYBE fell 2.5 percent, JYP Entertainment slid 6.2 percent, and YG Entertainment dropped 7.5 percent. SM Entertainment p January 5, 2026
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  PHOTOS:Brushstrokes of heritage: A mother-daughter duo redefine tradition in Bukchon SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Tucked away in the winding alleys of Gahoe-dong, the Bukchon Hanok Office serves as a serene sanctuary from the city's modern pulse. In late 2025, this traditional space — operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government — offered more than just a glimpse of historic architecture; it became the stage for a deeply personal convergence of art and lineage. The exhibition, titled "Yeon: A Mother-Daughter Story Connected by Brush," br January 5, 2026
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  Korea–China Summit: Seoul bets on diplomatic reset, pundits doubt breakthrough SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Expectations remain muted over tangible outcomes from the Korea–China summit in Beijing, as experts warn that the first state visit by a South Korean leader in nearly nine years is more likely to deliver symbolic reassurance than substantive policy breakthroughs. President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to exchange what many analysts describe as “ceremonial cordiality” at a time when Beijing has moved closer to Nort January 5, 2026
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  Incheon's third sea bridge opens with world's highest bridge observatory SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Incheon's Third Sea Bridge, connecting Yeongjong Island—home to Incheon International Airport—to the mainland, opened at 2 p.m. on January 5. The new crossing is expected to cut travel time from Gangnam in southern Seoul to the airport to about 45 minutes. The 4.68-kilometer-long, 30-meter-wide bridge features six lanes for traffic, plus 3.5-4-meter-wide bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways on both sides. Linking Jungsan-dong in Jung-gu January 5, 2026
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  [CES 2026] Global tech giants, startups converge in Las Vegas SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - CES 2026, the world’s premier consumer electronics and information technology exhibition, is set to open its doors in Las Vegas from Jan. 6 to 9. An annual fixture of the global tech calendar, CES serves as the primary stage for the technology industry to debut latest trends and signal future strategic directions. This year’s event is expected to host approximately 4,500 companies from across the globe. South Korea will maintain a significa January 5, 2026