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  KOSPI and Samsung Elec tower over Asian bourses SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Korean stocks continued to dominate regional markets on Wednesday, extending their record-setting streak and reinforcing South Korea’s growing influence in Asian equities. Samsung Electronics powered the rally, becoming the first Korean company to surpass 1,000 trillion won ($688 billion) in market capitalization based solely on common shares. The milestone cemented the chipmaking giant’s role as the anchor behind the KOSPI’s push into February 4, 2026
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  Seoul's FX battle costs $4 bn over the last two months SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korea has deployed nearly every tool in its policy playbook to defend the won, which authorities say has weakened “excessively” beyond its fundamentals — a view shared even by the U.S. Treasury secretary. Measures have ranged from pressuring public and private institutions to sell dollar holdings to offering tax incentives aimed at drawing capital back home. Yet despite these efforts, the national coffers have paid a heavy price. February 4, 2026
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  Knock, knock, spring is here SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) -“May every household be filled with joy and good fortune throughout the year.” On a quiet Tuesday morning, as winter loosened its final grip, the words of blessing were once again pinned to wooden gates at Namsangol Hanok Village in central Seoul. To mark Ipchun — the first seasonal division of spring — a demonstration of the traditional posting of ipchuncheop unfolded at the village’s main gate. A family born in 1990, th February 4, 2026
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  South Korea eyes top-10 finish at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - South Korea aims for a top 10 finish with at least three gold medals at this year's Winter Olympics which kick off in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan later this week. At the previous Olympics in Beijing four years ago, the country finished 14th, winning two gold, five silver, and two bronze medals. Its most recent top-10 finish came at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where it placed seventh overall with five gold, eight silver, and four bronze medals. Th February 4, 2026
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  Korean tire makers weather US tariff headwinds, turn focus to high-end segment SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korean tire manufacturers reported higher sales last year despite the impact of U.S. tariffs on auto parts, supported by solid replacement-tire demand and price increases. Hankook Tire & Technology said Wednesday its tire business recorded sales of 10.32 trillion won ($7.7 billion) last year, up 9.6 percent from a year earlier and surpassing the 10 trillion won mark for the first time. Operating profit, however, fell 4.4 percent to 1.68 trill February 4, 2026
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  Seoul, Washington likely to set 2028 target for wartime command handover SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. are expected to set 2028 as the target year for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) at their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington this October, reflecting growing confidence in Seoul’s ability to lead combined defense operations. According to government sources on Wednesday, the allies are considering 2028 as the most realistic timeline, aiming to complete the handover during the respective February 4, 2026
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  South Korea's KakaoBank posts record profit in 2025, eyes overseas expansion SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korean internet-only lender KakaoBank reported record annual earnings on Wednesday with pledges to pursue overseas expansion and mergers and acquisitions to secure future growth. In a regulatory filing, KakaoBank said net profit last year rose 9.1 percent to a record 480.3 billion won ($360 million), compared with 440.1 billion won a year earlier. The bank said declining market interest rates weighed on interest income, but noninterest income pos February 4, 2026
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  Lee honors war veterans, others with Lunar New Year gifts SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung has extended Lunar New Year greetings through gifts to war veterans, the underprivileged, and other vulnerable groups, with the country's biggest holiday just around the corner, Cheong Wa Dae said on Wednesday. The gift package contains a bowl-and-spoon set and ingredients for hearty meals consisting of grains, vegetables, and other local staples selected from across the country, as part of efforts to promote regional develop February 4, 2026
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  Price war at home as K-beauty expands overseas SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - The quality of K-beauty is no longer in question. With low entry barriers and easy access to standardized ingredients and manufacturing, producing cosmetics has become relatively simple. What now separates winners from losers is speed, packaging, branding and, increasingly, price. As Korean beauty brands continue to expand their global footprint — especially in the United States — competition at home is intensifying around affordability. Whil February 4, 2026
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  Hanwha Ocean's 2025 profit nearly quadruples on LNG carrier, naval ship demand SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean's operating profit nearly quadrupled in 2025 from a year earlier, driven by strong sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and special-purpose vessels. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the South Korean shipbuilder reported revenue of 12.69 trillion won ($9.5 billion) for 2025, up 18 percent from the previous year, while operating profit surged 366 percent to 1.11 trillion won. The company attributed the earnings improvemen February 4, 2026