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  Seoul shivers through freezing start to new year SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Biting cold continues to linger, with morning lows in Seoul and other metropolitan areas plunging to -12 degrees Celsius on Friday. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the freezing temperatures brought plenty of incidents including burst pipes, although no cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia were reported. As the cold wave advisory issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration on New Year's Eve remained in place, the city govern January 2, 2026
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  Taiwan, Singapore surge on chip boom while Korea lags at 1% amid regulatory drag SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) -Taiwan and Singapore posted markedly stronger economic growth in 2025, powered by the global semiconductor boom, while South Korea lagged far behind despite being one of the world’s leading chip producers, highlighting the growing role of regulatory and policy conditions in shaping economic performance. Taiwan’s economy is projected to have expanded by 7.37 percent last year, according to last estimate by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accoun January 2, 2026
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  Kim Jong-un's daughter makes first public visit to family mausoleum SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ushered in the new year with a visit to the mausoleum where the embalmed bodies of his grandfather and regime founder Kim Il-sung, and his father Kim Jong-il lie in state, state media reported on Friday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), he "paid New Year greetings to the great leaders" at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous day, accompanied by senior officials and top mili January 2, 2026
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  Hyundai Motor Group to showcase AI robotics strategy at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group plans to present robotics-centered visions for future mobility at CES 2026, highlighting a broader industry shift from vehicles toward robots and artificial intelligence, industry officials said Friday. Hyundai Motor Group will attend CES 2026, which opens next week in Las Vegas, where it will outline its core strategy for AI-driven robotics. A key highlight will be the first live demonstration of Atlas, the humanoid robot develop January 2, 2026
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  Tesla price cuts set to spur EV competition in South Korea SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Tesla’s decision to cut prices on key electric-vehicle models in South Korea is expected to intensify competition in the country’s EV market, as expanded government subsidies and the growing presence of imported brands put pressure on domestic automakers. The U.S. firm has discounted the Model 3 Performance all-wheel-drive version by up to 9 million won ($760), lowering its price below 60 million won, the threshold for eligibility for South January 2, 2026
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  OPINION | Korea's AI ambition falters where it matters most: data security South Korea speaks confidently of becoming an “AI powerhouse,” yet the foundation of that ambition — data governance — remains dangerously fragile. The reported leak of 33.7 million Coupang user records is not just another corporate security lapse. It exposes a deeper structural failure in how the country understands, designs and governs data itself. Each time a major breach occurs, authorities respond with familiar language: tougher oversight, stricter January 2, 2026
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  [AI Analysis] Economy outweighs politics in South Korea, New Year polls show SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -New Year polls show economic anxiety outweighs political concerns as livelihoods come under strain in South Korea. Across multiple polls released at the turn of the year, voters expressed more anxiety than optimism — not in the form of crisis fear, but as a growing sense of fatigue from prolonged cost pressures and stalled improvement in daily life. Roughly 45–50 percent of respondents said the economy would worsen this year, while only t January 1, 2026
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  South Korea welcomes first babies of 2026 amid signs of fragile fertility recovery SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - South Korea marked the start of the Year of the Red Horse with the birth of its first newborns at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, as two baby girls were delivered simultaneously at a maternity hospital in Seoul. According to CHA University Gangnam Medical Center, the two girls were born at exactly 12:00 a.m. to mothers aged 37, both in stable condition. One baby, weighing 2.88 kilograms, was delivered by cesarean section, while the other January 1, 2026
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  Samsung Display rolls out 360Hz QD-OLED with new pixel structure as high-end monitor competition intensifies SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - Samsung Display has begun mass supply of a 34-inch QD-OLED monitor panel featuring a newly designed “V-Stripe” pixel structure, as panel makers race to differentiate performance in the premium gaming and productivity market. The company said it started shipping the panels in December to seven global manufacturers, including ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte. The model supports a 21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio, a 360Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 1, January 1, 2026
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  Half of Koreans expect economy to worsen in 2026, inflation tops concern: poll SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -About half of South Koreans believe economic conditions will deteriorate in 2026, with inflation emerging as the most urgent concern, even as many remain optimistic that the stock market’s rally can extend further, a survey showed Thursday. A poll conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Energy Economy News found that 46.4 percent of respondents expect the economy next year to be “worse than now,” compared with 33.8 percent who believe conditi January 1, 2026