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  Bank deposits, bond prices ebb as money chases red-hot stocks in Korea SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Bank deposits and bond prices fell sharply in January as funds rotated rapidly into equities and money market funds (MMFs), signaling heightened risk appetite amid a blistering stock market rally, central bank data showed Wednesday. According to the Bank of Korea’s January financial market report, bank deposits shrank by 50.8 trillion won ($35 billion) last month, reversing a 7.7 trillion won increase in December. Demand deposits alone dropped 49.7 t February 11, 2026
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  South Korea, Netherlands hold inaugural 2+2 ministerial meeting in Seoul SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea and the Netherlands held a meeting attended by high-ranking foreign and trade officials from both countries in Seoul on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with their Dutch counterparts David van Weel and Aukje de Vries for the inaugural 2+2 ministerial dialogue. Pointing to a shift in the geopolitical environment with the spread of protectionism, they discussed ways to deepen cooperation across a wide r February 11, 2026
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  Busy hands racing the holiday clock SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) -Busy hands race against time as South Korea’s delivery network shifts into peak mode ahead of the Lunar New Year. As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches (Feb. 14–18, including the weekend), sorting centers across the country grow increasingly crowded. The season is one of the busiest of the year, as Koreans exchange gifts and packages as tokens of good wishes. The Korea Postal Service has entered an emergency response system for the holid February 11, 2026
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  Seoul offers cautious compromise on medical student expansion, satisfies no one SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea has proposed adding 668 medical students between 2027 and 2031, limiting the increase to 32 medical schools outside the capital region in a bid to ease doctor shortages without triggering backlash like the 2020 walkout. The cautious approach, however, has drawn criticism from across the spectrum, with both doctors and civic groups arguing that it avoids addressing structural problems in the healthcare system. According to an outline released February 11, 2026
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  Injury-stricken Hwang Hee-chan adds to South Korea's woes ahead of World Cup SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Striker Hwang Hee-chan has been sidelined for several weeks due to a calf injury, according to his club Wolverhampton Wanderers. "Channy is out and it'll be a few weeks. It's his calf. We'll rescan again a couple of weeks and see where he's at," manager Rob Edwards told reporters on Tuesday, days ahead of their away match against Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. Hwang started the club's home match ag February 11, 2026
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  Samsung Heavy secures $351 million container ship deal SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said Wednesday it has secured an order worth 468.6 billion won ($351 million) from an Africa-based shipping company to build two container ships. In a regulatory filing, the company said the vessels are scheduled for delivery by May 2028. With the latest contract, Samsung Heavy’s total orders for the year have reached $1.2 billion across seven vessels, equivalent to about 9 percent of its annual order target of $13.9 b February 11, 2026
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  Samsung to unveil Galaxy S26 at unpacked event in San Francisco on Feb. 25 SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will unveil its flagship Galaxy S26 smartphone series later this month, with the launch event set to take place in San Francisco. The company will hold its “Galaxy Unpacked 2026” event at 10 a.m. local time on Feb. 25, corresponding to 3 a.m. on Feb. 26 in South Korea. Samsung is expected to highlight enhanced artificial intelligence features. A 17-second invitation video released by the company shows a Galaxy AI-them February 11, 2026
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  Korean shares outperform Asian peers, while Tokyo pauses SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) – South Korean shares gained upward traction as institutions renewed buying after a correction last week, outperforming China-related markets weighed down by latest data renewing stagflation concerns. China’s consumer inflation rose less than expected in January while the deflation in producer prices persisted, in a sign of continued deflationary pressure in the absence of stronger stimulus. The consumer price index rose 0.2% in January fr February 11, 2026
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  Impeached president to face verdict in main martial law case next week SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's verdict on charges related to his botched martial law debacle will be delivered next week during a nationally televised trial. The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday allowed live media coverage of Yoon's trial, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 19. Yoon, who was already sentenced to five years in prison last month on one of several charges related to the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law in 2024, will have an February 11, 2026
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  HJ Shipbuilding wins $260 million order for two container ships SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding has secured a 353.2 billion won ($260 million) contract from a European shipowner to build two eco-friendly container ships with a capacity of 10,100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The order marks the first time the company will construct container ships exceeding 10,000 TEU at its main Yeongdo shipyard in Busan. The vessels will incorporate a newly developed hull form and fuel-efficient design aimed at reducin February 11, 2026