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  New catalyst design boosts hydrogen efficiency while cutting costs SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Researchers in South Korea have developed a new structure for catalysts that significantly reduces the amount of expensive precious metals required for hydrogen production and fuel cells. A team led by Professor Cho Eun-ae from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on January 21 that they have successfully created ultra-thin nanosheets that outperform traditional par January 21, 2026
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  Jeju Air bans in-flight use of portable battery packs SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air said on Wednesday it will ban the use of portable battery packs on board its aircraft starting Jan. 22, citing the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. The measure applies to all passengers on domestic and international flights and prohibits using portable battery packs to charge devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers during flights. Under existing transport ministry guidelines, charging portable batte January 21, 2026
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  Com2uS baseball games top 1 trillion won in cumulative revenue SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korean game developer Com2uS said on Wednesday that cumulative revenue from its baseball game titles has exceeded 1 trillion won ($750 million). The company attributed the milestone to the expansion of its lineup of officially licensed baseball titles tied to major leagues including the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and Major League Baseball (MLB), beginning with the 2015 launch of Com2uS Pro Baseball 3D. Com2uS cited steady growth in user January 21, 2026
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  Hanwha Ocean wins $550 million orders for 2 LNG carriers SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean has secured new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier orders, adding to a solid start to the year as the South Korean shipbuilder focuses on high-value vessels. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the company said it signed shipbuilding contracts for two LNG carriers with a total value of 738.3 billion won ($550 million). The vessels will be delivered sequentially, though no timetable was disclosed. Including the latest contracts, Hanwha Oc January 21, 2026
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  KOSPI recovers early losses, buoyed by surge in foreign buying SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks reversed early losses Wednesday morning, buoyed by strong foreign buying and a sharp rebound in the won, even as global markets remained cautious amid lingering trade uncertainty from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff pressures. As of 10:40 a.m., just a few hours into the day's trading, the benchmark KOSPI was up 0.43 percent at 4,907.1, rebounding from an earlier 0.6 percent decline. The KOSPI 200 rose 0.9 percent to 715.3, s January 21, 2026
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  Lee reaffirms conciliatory stance toward North Korea SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday reaffirmed his conciliatory approach toward North Korea to help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In a televised press conference marking the new year at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Lee pledged to "move forward without wavering toward a future of peaceful coexistence and shared growth," adding that peace-backed stable growth could enable the economy to "take another leap." He added that January 21, 2026
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  Hyundai Mobis to develop 5G telematics system for autonomous, software-defined vehicles SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Hyundai Mobis said Wednesday it is developing an integrated 5G wireless telematics system aimed at next-generation connected vehicles, as automakers worldwide race to upgrade in-car communication technologies. The South Korean auto parts supplier plans to complete development of its multi-function telematics control unit by the first half of this year. The technology enables high-definition map services, remote autonomous driving control and ultra-HD stream January 21, 2026
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  Vietnam's U-23 title bid halted by China in semi-finals SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Vietnam's bid to replicate its historic 2018 run under South Korean leadership ended in the semi-finals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup on Wednesday, following a 3-0 defeat to China. The loss at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City denies head coach Kim Sang-sik a shot at the title in his first major tournament. Kim had been tasked with reviving a program defined by his compatriot and predecessor, Park Hang-seo, widely revered as a national hero in Vietnam January 21, 2026
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  Editorial: When East meets West, song and silicon speak first SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - When President Lee Jae Myung welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Seoul, the meeting followed the familiar choreography of modern summitry. There were discussions of supply chains, advanced industries, and strategic cooperation. Yet beneath the formal language of diplomacy, the encounter revealed something more enduring: a convergence of technology, culture, and temperament between two nations that stand at opposite ends of Eurasia. At the ce January 21, 2026
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  New South Korean rom-com makes strong debut on Netflix's global chart SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Netflix's new South Korean series has cracked the top 10 on the global streaming giant's chart this week. According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum, "Can This Love Be Translated?" garnered 4 million in cumulative views, in less than a week after its release last Friday, securing the No. 2 spot among non-English shows, just behind crime thriller "Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web." The romantic comedy starring Kim Seon- January 21, 2026