• 
  Home robots take center stage as Korea leads physical AI push at CES 2026 SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Robots that cook, clean and care — and appliances that think before users speak — will define South Korea's showcase at CES 2026, where Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group roll out a new generation of "physical AI" spanning smart homes, humanoid robots and intelligent mobility. The world's largest consumer electronics show opens Jan. 6 in Las Vegas under the theme "Innovators Show Up," drawing December 29, 2025
• 
  Personal information of 30,000 Korean Air employees leaked SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Personal information of around 30,000 Korean Air employees has been leaked, the country's flagship carrier said on Monday, raising security concerns after a spate of massive data breaches across various industries recently. The leak occurred when KC&D, the airline's supplier for in-flight meals and onboard sales, was hit by a hacking attack. According to Korean Air, the leaked data includes employees' names and bank account numbers. Kore December 29, 2025
• 
  Korea's national pension fund eyes 20% annual gain, assets seen at 1,473 trillion won SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s national pension is expected to post a record annual return of about 20 percent this year, lifting its assets to an estimated 1,473 trillion won, the government said on Monday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said preliminary December figures show the fund’s annual return is projected at around 20 percent, surpassing last year’s 15 percent gain and marking the highest level since the national pension system was introd December 29, 2025
• 
  Hyundai Motor marks 40 years in US as tariffs, EV rivals test growth strategy SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor will mark its 40th anniversary in the United States next year as it confronts a convergence of challenges, including a remaining 15 percent tariff, intensifying competition from Tesla and Chinese electric-vehicle makers, the expiration of subsidies and a rapidly evolving race in software-defined vehicles such as autonomous driving. Attention is focused on whether Hyundai Motor Group can navigate these pressures under the leadership of Cha December 29, 2025
• 
  South Korea, US complete all joint drills postponed from last summer SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - The military has carried out all 22 joint field training with the U.S. that were rescheduled after being postponed in August, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Monday. Those drills were among about 40 exercises that are part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, aimed at maintaining a combined defense posture, including combined tactical airborne training, rescue operations, equipment maintenance, and live-fire drills. According to December 29, 2025
• 
  Coupang's $1.2 bn compensation plan suspected as marketing, not atonement SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) -Already in the hot seat for what many see as a dismissive attitude toward consumers and regulators, Coupang has drawn fresh public backlash in South Korea with its $1.2 billion compensation plan widely seen as marketing tactic to retain customers rather than offering genuine redress. The e-commerce giant said Monday it would distribute 1.685 trillion won worth of purchase vouchers to 33.7 million current, former and withdrawn users whose personal informat December 29, 2025
• 
  NewJeans full comeback ruled out after Danielle's exit SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - ADOR confirmed Monday that K-pop girl group NewJeans members Minji and Hanni will resume activities under the agency, while Danielle has been notified of the termination of her exclusive contract, to finalize a four-member return for the K-pop sensation. According to the agency, “Hanni recently visited Korea with her family and had extensive talks with ADOR, during which she had time to review the events leading up to the dispute.” Following December 29, 2025
• 
  Asian markets diverge as investors navigate ex-dividend effects SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Major Asian equity markets moved in different directions in the final week of December, as investors digested ex-dividend adjustments alongside shifting policy and sector-specific signals. South Korea’s stock market extended its rally despite the ex-dividend cutoff, while Japan slipped under selling pressure tied to dividend adjustments and inflation concerns. The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.45 percent to 4,190 as of 10 a.m. Monday, posting a second December 29, 2025
• 
  President Lee Jae-myung's first commute to Blue House SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung arrived at the Blue House main building for the first time on Dec. 29, holding a morning tea time with aides and marking the beginning of the Blue House era. President Lee's commute to the Blue House comes about seven months after his inauguration and about three years and seven months after the Yoon Suk-yeol administration moved the presidential office to Yongsan in May 2022. At 12 a.m. on this day, the Phoenix Flag, symb December 29, 2025
• 
  Lee begins work at Cheong Wa Dae as presidential office moves back SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung worked his first day at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday as the presidential office moved back to the sprawling presidential compound in central Seoul. The relocation comes about 1,330 days after the office moved to Yongsan in May 2022 with the inauguration of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year. Lee arrived there at about 9 a.m., greeted by supporters who gathered outsid December 29, 2025