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  Memories linger as truth remains elusive a year after Muan airport crash SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - An 18-year-old boy left a note for his mother, promising that he had finally grown up in his final year of high school — and apologizing that he could not tell her in person. His message is one of hundreds now posted along a hallway at Muan International Airport, where families continue to mourn those lost in South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster. Nearly a year has passed since Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800 arriving from Bangkok, s December 29, 2025
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  Independent prosecutors wrap up probe into wife of impeached former president SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors have concluded their investigation into a slew of allegations involving Kim Keon Hee, the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol. In a press briefing in Seoul on Monday, Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, who led the six-month investigation, said that around 76 suspects were indicted over dozens of alleged offenses. He said the investigation, which began in early July, has uncovered multiple allegations involving Kim, who is accu December 29, 2025
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  Samsung to highlight regional startups as it expands C-Lab presence at CES 2026 SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will expand its startup program footprint at next year’s CES by bringing 15 C-Lab startups — including the largest number of regional teams to date — to the global tech show, signaling the company’s continued shift toward broader ecosystem-building rather than in-house product promotion. The companies will showcase AI, robotics and digital-health technologies inside Eureka Park at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas December 29, 2025
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  South Korea races toward a cashless society, leaving many elderly behind SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - In South Korea, wallets are fast becoming relics, as most people now pay with a swipe of their phones. Cash use has fallen sharply over the past decade, reflecting the country's rapid embrace of digital payments — a shift that is transforming daily life but also exposing a growing divide between the digitally fluent and those being left behind. This year, individuals spent an average of 324,000 won ($226) a month in cash, less than half the 808,0 December 29, 2025
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  In AI power game, China has the edge — at least for now, as U.S. makes energy a top priority Editor’s Note AI is no longer defined solely by algorithms. As large-scale deployment accelerates, data centers and power infrastructure have become decisive constraints. AJP examines how energy capacity is reshaping the U.S.–China AI rivalry — and what lessons South Korea must draw as time tightens in the global race. SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - AI is no longer constrained mainly by algorithms or chips. As data centers scale to industrial size, electricity has eme December 29, 2025
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  Woori Financial Group Chairman Lim Jong-ryong tapped for second term SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Woori Financial Group’s executive candidate recommendation committee has nominated incumbent Chairman Lim Jong-ryong as the group’s next chairman. Committee Chair Lee Kang-haeng said at a media briefing on Monday that Lim was credited with completing the group’s full-service financial portfolio by entering the securities business and acquiring an insurance company during his tenure. Lee said Lim also strengthened Woori’s fina December 29, 2025
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  Silver prices hit fresh all-time high SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Global silver prices rose above US$80 an ounce, reaching an all-time high. According to data released by Bloomberg on Monday, spot silver briefly jumped to $84 an ounce, setting a new record, and was trading around $80.1 in the afternoon. Silver, a precious metal with strong industrial demand in semiconductors and solar power, has surged this year as supply constraints coincided with expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts. Silver has surged about 180 December 29, 2025
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  South Korea tops $700 billion in annual exports for first time SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - South Korea has become the sixth country in the world to surpass US$700 billion in annual exports, achieving the milestone for the first time. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, preliminary data show that this year's cumulative exports reached $700 billion as of Monday. The export-dependent country first exceeded $100 billion in annual exports in 1995, then surpassed $200 billion in 2004, $300 billion in 2006, $400 billion in 2 December 29, 2025
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  Job security demands shadow S. Korean president's return to Blue House SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - As South Korean President Lee Jae Myung officially commenced duties at Cheong Wa Dae, the celebratory atmosphere was met with immediate domestic pressure as non-regular presidential staff launched a labor protest through the heart of the capital. On Monday morning, members of the Seoul Regional Public Services Branch — a chapter under the powerful Korean Confederation of Trade Unions — convened at Gwanghwamun Square to demand permanent job se December 29, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Seoul Illustration Fair highlights growing 'character culture' SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s premier celebration of visual storytelling, the Seoul Illustration Fair, concluded its 11th-anniversary edition on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands to the COEX convention center in Gangnam. The four-day event, which ran from Dec. 25 to 28, featured over 900 artists and more than 1,000 booths. This year’s iteration saw a significant global presence, with approximately 50 international teams joining a diverse roster of domestic c December 29, 2025