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  Defense officials from Seoul and Beijing meet for first working-level talks in four years SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - Defense officials from South Korea and China held working-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, their first such meeting in about four years. According to the Ministry of Defense, the South Korean delegation led by Lee Gwang-seok, in charge of the ministry's international policy met with his Chinese counterpart Guo Hongtao. First launched in 1995, the meeting was held for the first time since the last one, which was via Zoom in June 2022. The two si February 5, 2026
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  Freefall may be looming in Seoul as short selling mounts SEOUL, Feb. 05 (AJP) - “What goes up must come down,” the saying goes — and after a prolonged roller-coaster ride, Korean stocks plunged Thursday as heavy institutional selling triggered a sharp reversal. The immediate cue came from a retreat in U.S. technology shares. But the pullback was hardly unexpected, given the rapid buildup in short-selling positions and growing signs of speculative excess. Both the KOSPI and the secondary KOSDAQ tumbled nearly 4 perce February 5, 2026
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  Asian stocks mostly down on US losses, Korean markets take a header SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) -Korean stocks rode a volatile roller coaster downward Thursday on heavy foreign selling on global tech shares. The benchmark KOSPI tumbled 3.9 percent to close at 5,163.6, marking a steep pullback from recent record highs. The KOSPI 200 slid 4.2 percent to 757, reflecting broad-based losses among large-cap stocks, particularly in semiconductors and export-oriented names. Selling pressure was led by overseas and institutional investors. On the main boa February 5, 2026
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  BTS comeback D-44: More than a show when Seoul pours its heart into the king's return SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - A royal comeback. A literal red carpet for the monarchs of K-pop. A “concert of the century.” These are some of the phrases circulating ahead of BTS’s long-awaited return in March — a national-scale production that brings together state support, cultural symbolism, and the global reach of Netflix. The show, already being hailed as the cultural event of the year, is shaping up as a culmination of South Korea’s most powerfu February 5, 2026
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  Snow-themed festival underway in Taebaek SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - A snow-themed festival is currently underway in Taebaek in the mountainous region of Gangwon Province. The annual festival, now in its 33rd year, kicked off on Jan. 31 and will run through this weekend. Against the stunning backdrop of snow-blanketed Mt. Taebaeksan, visitors can marvel at large-scale snow sculptures and engage in a variety of interactive winter programs. It would the perfect destination for anyone not quite ready to say goodbye to winte February 5, 2026
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  Frigid weather to linger despite spring's arrival SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - A cold wave advisory was issued for Seoul and surrounding metropolitan areas on Thursday. The advisory, issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration, takes effect at 9 p.m., as freezing temperatures are expected overnight. After a brief spell of balmy weather just a day after Ipchun, the official start of spring by the lunar calendar, Seoul is expected to see morning lows plunge to -12 degrees Celsius on Friday, with the fresh cold snap lingering February 5, 2026
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  Korea Employers Federation calls AI key to economic recovery SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - A leading South Korean business group on Thursday called artificial intelligence a critical tool for reviving the economy and urged companies to accelerate innovation alongside labor-market reforms. The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) is hosting the two-day Korea CEO Forum in central Seoul from Feb. 5–6, bringing together executives from major companies to discuss how AI is reshaping industries and workplaces. In opening remarks, KEF Chairman S February 5, 2026
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  South Korea to chair multinational initiative on critical minerals through June SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - South Korea will chair a multinational initiative aimed at strengthening "diversified, resilient and secure critical minerals supply chains" through the first half of this year, the U.S. Department of State said on Wednesday. Announcing the creation of FORGE, short for the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as the "successor to the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)" at a U.S.-led mini February 5, 2026
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  South Korea's Booyoung Group pays 3.6 billion won in birth incentives in 2025 SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - South Korea's Booyoung Group paid 3.6 billion won ($2.46 million) in birth incentives last year to employees who had children, as part of a program offering 100 million won for each newborn. The company said payments were made for 36 children born to employees last year. Total payouts rose about 29 percent from 2.8 billion won a year earlier. Booyoung said that cases involving multiple births have increased since the program began in 2024. February 5, 2026
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  Police seek arrest warrant for ex-DP lawmaker SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - Police on Thursday filed arrest warrants for Kang Sun-woo, a former lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), and Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city official, over alleged bribery and breach of trust. The move comes about a month after the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency launched their investigation into the case. Kang is accused of receiving 100 million Korean won (US$68,500) from Kyung in return for the DP's candidate nominations for the 2022 lo February 5, 2026