Latest
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K-content gets a permanent address in Incheon — now comes the harder part: keeping it interesting
SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Imagine never having to fight ticket scalpers again for a G-Dragon concert. No frantic refreshing. No VIP seats resold at 6.8 million won. Just… a year-round GD performance you can drop in on, any weekend you like. That, at least, is the fantasy behind Incheon's ambitious bet on what officials are calling "K-Con Land" — a sprawling cultural complex designed to give K-pop, K-drama and digital content something they've never rea
January 6, 2026
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Safe-haven demand keeps gold in focus as market volatility grows
SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Investor interest in gold has carried into the new year after international prices nearly doubled last year, with securities firms expecting the uptrend to extend through 2026 as geopolitical risks and demand for safe-haven assets support prices. According to the Korea Exchange on Tuesday, gold prices, after retreating late last year, have risen for three consecutive sessions since the start of the year. International prices also moved toward record
January 6, 2026
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Fresh cold spell grips Seoul
SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - A fresh cold spell returned to Seoul on Tuesday, with a morning low of -6 degrees Celsius, much colder than the previous day's -1 degrees. The mercury barely rose, with daytime temperatures climbing to just 4 degrees as frigid conditions persisted throughout the day. Other cities across the country also faced frigid temperatures, with Chuncheon at -10 degrees, Cheongju at -8 degrees, Daejeon at -7 degrees, and the southern port city of Busan at -2 d
January 6, 2026
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Lee shares selfie with Xi
SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung shared a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping on social media on Mondy night, suggesting their talks were held in a friendly atmosphere. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after their 90-minute summit, Lee said he took the selfie using a Xiaomi smartphone that Xi had given him, when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in No
January 6, 2026
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AI chip demand to lift Korea's exports in 2026, but autos face headwinds
SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Semiconductors, which powered South Korea’s exports last year amid expanding artificial intelligence demand, are expected to remain the main growth driver in 2026 as the chip upcycle continues, while auto exports could lose momentum, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Tuesday. South Korea’s annual exports totaled $709.7 billion last year, surpassing $700 billion for the first time. The milestone came seven years after
January 6, 2026
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Chinese president calls upon Seoul to jointly uphold postwar peace order and stability
BEIJING, January 05 (CGTN) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on China and South Korea to work together to safeguard the post–World War II international order and maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia during talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Speaking during the meeting with Lee on a state visit to China, Xi highlighted the shared historical legacy of the two countries, noting their respective sacrifices and resistance against Japanese mil
January 6, 2026
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Why is Kim Jong-un's daughter making frequent public appearances?
SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - Frequent public appearances of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae are believed to be intended to project a "prominent family" image rather than groom her as the next leader for a hereditary transfer of power, the Unification Ministry here speculated on Tuesday. As many pundits closely watch Kim's activities for clues in the reclusive country, where even small details can matter, a ministry official said, "We cannot sing
January 6, 2026
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CES 2026: Same day, different podiums: Nvidia and AMD faceoff in AI supercomputing
LAS VEGAS — Born in the same Taiwanese city and distantly related by blood, Jensen Huang and Lisa Su took to podiums just hours apart on the same day—at different hotels along the Las Vegas Strip—and delivered rival visions for the future of artificial intelligence computing. The parallel appearances ahead of CES 2026 turned Las Vegas into a split-stage arena, with Nvidia presenting at the Fontainebleau Hotel’s BleuLive Theater and AMD countering from the V
January 6, 2026
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How a Samsung project helped save Korea's provisional government in Shanghai
SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - When South Korean President Lee Jae Myung steps into a modest brick building in Shanghai on Wednesday during his state visit to China, he will be entering a carefully restored fragment of Korean history — one preserved not by a government initiative, but by an idea that began decades ago inside a corporate office at Samsung C&T. Restoration of the site — once home to Korea’s provisional government during Japan’s colonial ru
January 6, 2026
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Lee seeks Chinese legislature's support in strengthening relations
SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung started his third day in China by holding talks with Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, on Tuesday. Lee met with Zhao earlier in the morning, a day after his 90-minute summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and called for support in strengthening bilateral relations. Sharing what the two discussed, Lee said they agreed to "maturely develop a strategic cooperative partnershi
January 6, 2026