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  North Korea keeps mum on leader's birthday SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - North Korea's state media made no mention of leader Kim Jong-un's birthday, believed to fall on Thursday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said there has been "no coverage at all by the country's state-run news agencies, and no related activity has been identified." Instead, North Korean media have focused on preparations for the Workers' Party's upcoming key congress, expected to take place early this year, with the of January 8, 2026
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  Shinsegae Casa completes acquisition of Jaju, targets 500 bln won in revenue this year SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Shinsegae Casa said on Wednesday it has completed the acquisition of the operating business of lifestyle brand Jaju, finalizing the transaction on Dec. 31 as it moves to broaden its portfolio beyond furniture. The company said the deal will help expand its business scope from home interiors to everyday lifestyle categories such as household goods and fashion, reducing earnings volatility tied to housing cycles and construction market conditions. Shinse January 8, 2026
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  PHOTOS:Evergreen in Seoul, even in icy winter SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - While Arctic-level cold grips Seoul, the greenhouse at Seoul Botanic Park in Magok remains lush, green and humidly warm. Beneath the glass dome, temperatures stay steady, and dense foliage retains its vivid color, offering a striking contrast to the wintry landscape outside. Located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul Botanic Park stands next to Magoknaru Station, where Subway Line 9 and the Airport Railroad intersect. The surrounding Magok dis January 8, 2026
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  Samsung Electronics record Q4 may be just the start of red-hot streak SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ record fourth-quarter results may mark the start of a two-digit, billion-dollar earnings run, as AI infrastructure — from data centers to humanoid robots — drives memory prices into uncharted territory. In preliminary earnings guidance released Thursday, the South Korean tech giant said operating profit for the October–December period reached 20 trillion won ($14 billion), more than tripling from a year earlier January 8, 2026
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  Alleged ringleader behind South Korean Student's brutal death nabbed in Thailand SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - A key suspect in the brutal torture and killing of a South Korean college student in Cambodia last summer has been nabbed in Thailand, government authorities here said on Thursday. The Justice Ministry said a 42-year-old Chinese, the alleged mastermind of a Cambodia-based scam ring, was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand, the previous day, following a joint investigation with the National Police Agency and the National Intelligence Service. Between May and J January 8, 2026
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  South Korea's K Bank targets 85 trillion won assets by 2030 SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Choi Woo-hyung, CEO of South Korea's digital lender K Bank, said on Thursday the bank aims to become a “comprehensive digital finance platform” by 2030, targeting 26 million customers and 85 trillion won ($59 billion) in assets. Choi unveiled the mid- to long-term growth strategy at the bank’s 10th anniversary event. For this year, K Bank set a goal of reaching 18 million customers, supported by three growth pillars: platform- January 8, 2026
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  K-food finds lasting appeal in China through social media, localization SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Walking through university districts and busy shopping streets in major Chinese cities, signs for Korean-style food are increasingly hard to miss. Advertisements for “Korean-style lunch boxes,” “Korean fried chicken” and rabokki — ramyeon cooked with tteokbokki rice cakes — line storefronts catering to young consumers. Convenience stores prominently stock Shin Ramyun and Buldak Bokkeum Myun with Chinese-language label January 8, 2026
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  KOSPI continues to test new heights SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI touched fresh milestone of 4,600 won to gallop toward much-anticipated 5,000 on Wednesday. The KOSPI opened 19.60 points, or 0.43 percent, lower at 4,531.46. The buying spree sent the Korean won higher at 1,449.40 versus the U.S dollar. Retailers joined in full force to pick up foreign selling. January 8, 2026
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  PHOTOS: South Korea greets 2026 with the first sunrise SEOUL, January 1 (AJP) — The Year of Byeongo (the Year of the Red Horse) has begun, marking the start of 2026. On the first day of the new year, most regions across the country are expecting clear skies and weather, which makes watching the sunrise more enjoyable. However, the morning temperature in Seoul is forecast to plunge to minus 11 degrees Celsius, bringing frigid weather. January 8, 2026
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  KOSPI opens higher, briefly surpasses 4,600 mark SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) – The South Korean stock market opened higher on Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI surpassing the 4,600 mark for the first time, as major chipmakers extended gains and retail investors poured into large-cap shares. About an hour after the market opened, the KOSPI soared 1.4 percent from the previous session to 4,615.70, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.1 percent to 946.46. Investors showed a clear divergence in early trade as retail investors January 8, 2026