Latest

  • BOK likely to sit tight on rates through H1 amid FX and housing volatility
    BOK likely to sit tight on rates through H1 amid FX and housing volatility SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged in the early months of 2026, as policy room remains constrained by persistent currency weakness, elevated housing prices and uncertainty over the durability of growth driven by an unprecedented chip boom. The central bank will hold its first rate-setting meeting of the year on Jan. 15, launching its annual cycle of eight policy reviews. Since reducing the number of monetary January 9, 2026
  • Asian equities end first full week of 2026 strong as Korean defense stocks surge
    Asian equities end first full week of 2026 strong as Korean defense stocks surge SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - Asian equities finished strong on Friday, with South Korean stocks extending gains as defense shares surged on expectations of increased military spending following remarks by Donald Trump. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 0.8 percent to close at 4,586.3, supported by sharp rallies in defense-related stocks. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also finished higher, gaining 0.4 percent to 947.9. Defense stocks led the market after Trump outlined plans to significan January 9, 2026
  • Over 150,000 KT subscribers switch to other mobile carriers
    Over 150,000 KT subscribers switch to other mobile carriers SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - More than 150,000 subscribers of telecom company KT have switched to different mobile service providers, industry sources said on Friday. The massive exodus comes after the country's second-largest mobile carrier began waiving early termination fees following a major data breach detected in September last year. Of some 154,851 users who left KT from Dec. 31 to early this week, 15,701 or 64.7 percent switched to SK Telecom. Another 5,027 joined LG Uplu January 9, 2026
  • S. Koreas airline passengers hit record high last year on strong short-haul demand
    S. Korea's airline passengers hit record high last year on strong short-haul demand SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - The number of airline passengers traveling through South Korea's airports reached an all-time high last year, boosted by a surge in short-haul international routes, particularly to Japan and China. According to aviation statistics released Friday by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Civil Aviation Association, the combined number of domestic and international air passengers totaled 124.79 million last year, up 3.9 percent January 9, 2026
  • In AI-driven infrastructure, the scale of memory demand is unfathomable
    In AI-driven infrastructure, the scale of memory demand is unfathomable SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - The memory cycle shaping today’s intelligence-driven computing is being defined less by consumer gadgets than by infrastructure — a shift underscored by the latest performance of industry leader Samsung Electronics. The South Korean tech giant reported operating profit of 20.0 trillion won ($14 billion) for the October–December quarter, more than tripling from a year earlier and marking its strongest three-month result on record. Revenue January 9, 2026
  • Korean skaters prepare for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
    Korean skaters prepare for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - January 9, 2026
  • South Korea targets 2% growth, betting on boosted private consumption
    South Korea targets 2% growth, betting on boosted private consumption SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - South Korea's economy is forecast to grow 2 percent this year, on the back of rising consumer spending and a recovery in construction investment following a prolonged slump, the government projected at a televised meeting of economic officials at the government complex in central Seoul on Friday It also pledged to make this year the starting point for an "economic leap" and to draw up a master plan for spurring growth and narrowing economic gap January 9, 2026
  • CES 2026 : Boston Dynamics Atlas wins CNETs top robot honor at CES 2026
    CES 2026 : Boston Dynamics' Atlas wins CNET's top robot honor at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday that Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by its robotics company Boston Dynamics, won CNET’s Best Robot award in the Best of CES 2026 honors. Atlas is central to Hyundai Motor Group’s AI robotics strategy unveiled in Las Vegas. The next-generation, electric Atlas development model, shown for the first time at CES 2026, was designed for high efficiency in real manufacturing settings, with autonomous learning and fl January 9, 2026
  • Hot Stock: Hanwha Systems almost hits the ceiling on Trump-era military ambitions
    Hot Stock: Hanwha Systems almost hits the ceiling on Trump-era military ambitions SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - Shares of Hanwha Systems surged close to the daily trading ceiling on Friday, fueled by expectations of a sharp increase in U.S. military spending. The stock jumped as much as 24.7 percent to 75,200 won ($51.7) intraday before paring gains to 74,200 won by 2:30 p.m., far outperforming the benchmark KOSPI, which was up less than 0.5 percent. The rally followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who vowed to raise the U.S. defense budget by more than January 9, 2026
  • After a string of EV contract losses, LG Energy Solution reports Q4 loss
    After a string of EV contract losses, LG Energy Solution reports Q4 loss SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - LG Energy Solution, having endured multiple headwinds including a labor raid at its U.S. plant and the cancellation of major battery supply contracts, swung to an operating loss in the fourth quarter, even as full-year profit more than doubled on strong data-center-driven demand for energy storage systems. In preliminary earnings released Friday, the South Korean battery maker reported full-year operating profit of 1.35 trillion won ($1.0 bi January 9, 2026