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  Korean big-box retailers shrink under decade-old regulations SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest hypermarket chains are steadily losing ground as long-standing regulatory constraints undermine their competitiveness while e-commerce and less-regulated rivals expand, industry data show. The total number of outlets operated by major chains — including E-Mart, Lotte Mart and Homeplus — fell 7.5 percent to 392 this year from 424 in 2017. E-Mart reduced its store count from 159 to 157, Lotte Mart from 123 to December 8, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Yeongjong tidal flats busy with oyster harvesting SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - December 8, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Strolling through Jeju's Yakcheonsa temple SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Yakcheonsa Temple gets its name from a spring that flows from spring to fall and a pond with medicinal water that runs year-round. The temple boasts the largest dharma hall in East Asia. Currently, it is beloved for its extensive temple grounds walks and temple stay programs. December 8, 2025
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  Rise in vaping keeps smoking rate from declining further, survey finds SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - Although conventional cigarette smoking has decreasing, the rising use of e-cigarettes means that overall tobacco consumption is not declining as much as it could be, a new survey suggests. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency surveyed 230,000 adults between May and July and released its findings on Monday. According to the survey, the smoking rate for traditional cigarettes dropped to 17.9 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous December 8, 2025
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  As U.S. and China drop denuclearization language, Seoul downplays shift SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - The United States and China have both subtly or explicitly backed away from the long-held principle of "complete denuclearization" of North Korea, yet Seoul appears largely unconcerned — a stance that is raising alarms among security watchers. Analysts say the shift is not abrupt but rather an unmistakable acknowledgment of a transformed strategic landscape. North Korea is now a constitutionally protected nuclear-armed state; the Unite December 8, 2025
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  Half of Korea's AI startups fail within three years, report shows SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Nearly half of South Korean artificial intelligence startups fail to survive beyond three years, underscoring structural weaknesses in funding and commercialization, according to a report released on Monday by the Korea Industrial Technology Association. The association said the three-year survival rate of AI startups stood at 56.2 percent as of the end of 2023, well below the 72.7 percent survival rate of general AI companies and the 68.8 perc December 8, 2025
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  Comedienne Park Na-rae suspends activities amid mounting allegations SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - A slew of allegations from verbal abuse and tantrums to illegal medical practices that emerged last week has led comedienne Park Na-rae to suspend all activities. In a message posted on social media on Monday, Park said, "I have decided to stop all activities until everything is resolved," adding, "I cannot continue to burden my colleagues on the programs ." In response, the shows and programs she had regul December 8, 2025
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  Korean big techs toughen data-protection systems, Coupang faces lawsuits in U.S. and at home SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Major South Korean digital-tech companies are scrambling to revisit their data-protection posture and reinforce security protocols after Coupang's colossal data breach put the personal information of more than 30 million shoppers at risk, triggering tougher regulatory scrutiny and a wave of litigations. The incident has laid bare the vulnerability of Koreans' private data in a society where virtually every aspect of daily life — banking, shop December 8, 2025
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  Hana Financial expands India network with new Mumbai, Devanahalli branches SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Hana Financial Group said Monday it has opened new branches in Devanahalli and Mumbai in India. The branches opened on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, completing the group's “One India” network, which already includes operations in Chennai and Gurugram, launched in 2015 and 2019, respectively. India’s young population, large domestic market and rapid digital transformation have helped sustain annual economic growth of six to seven percent December 8, 2025
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  Starlink's entry into S. Korea triggers push for independent satellite networks SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - SpaceX’s Starlink has formally entered the South Korean market, prompting domestic space and defense companies to reassess strategy amid growing concerns over dependence on foreign low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks for communications and military operations. Industry sources said Monday that Hanwha Systems, a major South Korean space and defense contractor, is reviewing its satellite communications plans as Starlink’s commercial roll December 8, 2025