• 
  Blunt FX language fuels speculation, but steadies the won — for now SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Alongside South Korea’s blistering equity rally, the foreign-exchange market has emerged as the economy’s most sensitive fault line, dominating monetary policy briefings and even the president’s New Year’s press conference. From U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s remark that the won’s level is “not in line with Korea’s strong economic fundamentals,” to Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong’ January 22, 2026
• 
  Stocks at record highs, growth at 1%: Korea's market–economy divide widens SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) -Korean stock market pushed deeper into uncharted territory Thursday, with the KOSPI briefly climbing over the 5,000 mark before closing just below the milestone, a historic high unfolding even as economic growth remains stuck near 1 percent, highlighting a widening gap between buoyant asset prices and a fragile real economy. The growth outlook marks the weakest performance since the economy contracted 0.7 percent in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 p January 22, 2026
• 
  Gwangyang wildfire fully contained after 13-hour operation SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Authorities have contained a major wildfire in Gwangyang, South Jeollanam Province, that triggered Level 1 emergency response measures due to rapid spread driven by strong winds. The blaze, which broke out at 3:31 PM on the 21st in the hills of Mukbaek-ri, Okgok-myeon, Gwangyang, reached 100 percent containment as of 10:00 AM today, 13 hours and 37 minutes after ignition. Forest authorities activated nighttime firefighting operations at sunset, deployi January 22, 2026
• 
  BTS's V holds photo book exhibition SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - BTS member V is holding an exhibition to commemorate the release of his photo book from Jan. 20 to Feb. 1 at Frieze Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul. The exhibition, titled "V TYPE 非: ON-SITE IN SEOUL," features three-dimensional displays of photos from the book along with previously unreleased photos and videos available only at the venue. Meanwhile, V and BTS are set to make a comeback on March 20 with their fifth full-length album "ARIRANG." January 22, 2026
• 
  Prosecutors appeal ex-president's sentence in martial law-related case SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's case over charges of alleged obstruction of law enforcement will go to an appeals court after Yoon and prosecutors decided to appeal the first ruling. Independent prosecutors said they reached the decision on Thursday, days after Yoon immediately appealed last week's verdict. In the first ruling delivered last Friday, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing investigators and other officials wh January 22, 2026
• 
  In wintry Korea, grandma's vest turn practical warmth into style  SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) — What was once dismissed as a purely functional item worn by Korean grandmothers has quietly become a global fashion statement. “Grandmacore” — a trend rooted in nostalgia, domestic hobbies like knitting and baking, and unapologetically cozy silhouettes — has caught on with fashion-forward MZ women worldwide. At the center of this movement is an unlikely hero: the flowery, quilted vest South Korean grandmas wear to stay warm January 22, 2026
• 
  KOSPI flirts with 5,000 landmark despite grim GDP SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has touched the 5,000 mark for the first time in its history to cause euphoria on Thursday when the country reported a grim economic data, showing the gross domestic product contracting 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter. The KOSPI closed 0.9 percent up at 4,952.53 after rising as high as 5,019.54. The main index has cracked a new four-digit momentum in just two months since passing the 4,000 mark. January 22, 2026
• 
  Peru designates April 1 as 'Korea Friendship Day' during parliamentary visit to Seoul SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - A delegation of Peruvian lawmakers visited Seoul last week to strengthen diplomatic ties, presenting a newly approved law that designates April 1 as "Korea Friendship Day" to recognize the contributions of the South Korean community to Peru. Congressman Víctor Seferino Flores Ruiz, president of the Peru–Korea Parliamentary Friendship League, and Congresswoman Silvia María Monteza Facho led the official visit from January 11 January 22, 2026
• 
  CJ vice chair among Forbes list of world's influential women over 50 SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Miky Lee, vice chair of South Korea’s CJ Group, has been named to Forbes’ “50 Over 50 Global 2026” list, becoming the only South Korean included this year. Forbes cited Lee’s role in helping propel Korean films and content onto the global stage, highlighting her long-standing influence on the international expansion of K-content. In its profile of Lee, Forbes described her as a central figure behind South Korea’s ris January 22, 2026
• 
  Simple structural change in drug molecules offers new path for Alzheimer's treatment SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Researchers in South Korea have discovered that simply rearranging the structure of a potential drug molecule without changing its ingredients can significantly alter its effectiveness against Alzheimer's disease. A team led by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on Wednesday that this strategy allows a single compound to simultaneously tackle multiple causes of dementia, offering a potential breakthrough for a dis January 22, 2026