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  Korean president reaffirms one-China policy ahead of summit in Beijing SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed Seoul’s respect for the “one-China” policy on Taiwan in an interview with China Central Television ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring his administration’s intent to stabilize and recalibrate relations with Beijing. “The healthy development of South Korea–China relations depends on full respect for each other’s core interests,” L January 3, 2026
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  A deadly cab crash near Jonggak station in Seoul kills 1, injures 9, 4 of them foreigners SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) -A taxi sped onto a sidewalk near Jonggak Station in central Seoul on Friday evening, striking pedestrians and two vehicles to leave one dead and nine injured, officials said. The crash happened about 6:05 p.m. on a road in front of Jonggak Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, according to the Jongno Fire Station and other authorities. The taxi hit people in a crosswalk and then collided with two vehicles, they said. Nine people, including four foreigners January 3, 2026
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  Samsung Electronics to kick off earnings season with bumper Q4, signaling AI-driven boom SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will kick off the tech sector’s preliminary fourth-quarter earnings season next week, offering an early gauge of the scale of surging demand for memory chips amid aggressive stockpiling driven by the global AI boom. Market consensus compiled by FnGuide shows the South Korean tech giant is expected to post operating profit of about 15.5 trillion won (about $10.7 billion) for the quarter ended December, more than doubling the 6.49 January 2, 2026
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  Former Bigbang member to release solo album SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - T.O.P, a former member of now-almost-defunct K-pop boy band Bigbang is expected to release a new album later this year. The rapper hinted at the release of his solo album in a post on social media with a message "A new album is on the way. Once released, it will be his first solo album since 2013. The disgraced star received a two-year suspended sentence in 2017 for smoking marijuana with a young starlet at his home in Seoul the previous year. But January 2, 2026
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  KOSPI opens 2026 on buoyant note, hits fresh milestone SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - South Korean stocks roared into 2026, extending last year’s standout rally, while most Asian markets opened the year on a subdued footing. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI jumped 2.3 percent to close at a fresh all-time high of 4,309.63, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ climbed 2.2 percent to 945.57. Investor sentiment was buoyed by record-high semiconductor exports. Shipments surged 22.2 percent from a year earlier in December to $17.34 billion, setting a January 2, 2026
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  Squeezed by lunch inflation, Korean salaried workers find traditional meals increasingly pricey SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - With lunch inflation continuing to climb, the typical midday meal for South Korea’s salaried workers is quietly changing. Once a go-to comfort food, hot or cold noodle dishes are becoming noticeably more expensive, driven largely by rising import costs. Kalguksu — the traditional knife-cut noodle soup — has reached a fresh record high, reflecting the prolonged impact of a weak won and higher input prices. According to data from the Ko January 2, 2026
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  Faker becomes first esports player decorated with highest athletic honor SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, has become the first esports player to receive the highest honor awarded to athletes who have made outstanding sporting achievements while promoting national reputation. The iconic player of multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends (LoL) was awarded the Blue Dragon Medal by President Lee Jae-myung at a New Year's event at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. Accepting the medal, Lee said, "I'm deeply h January 2, 2026
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  PHOTOS:How Seoul turns cold days into playgrounds SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) -In Korea, where the four seasons are distinctly felt, outdoor leisure activities change with the weather — swimming pools in summer often transform into skating rinks or sledding grounds in winter. As colder days settle in, seasonal attractions such as sledding hills and snow playgrounds are once again drawing crowds across Seoul. District governments have opened a range of winter-themed facilities, including snow playgrounds and hands-on activity zone January 2, 2026
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  China's robotics supremacy set for full display at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - To underscore how far China has come in robotics, humanoid robots are now being sold like vacuum cleaners and televisions at a shopping mall in Beijing. That supremacy will be on full display at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. According to official CES data, Chinese companies account for 21 of the 38 exhibitors in the humanoid robotics category this year, making up more than half of all participants. The lineup includes established players such as Unitree Robotics a January 2, 2026
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  Drug case involving Namyang Dairy heiress transferred to prosecutors SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - A case involving Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products was transferred to prosecutors over drug-related allegations on Friday. According to police in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Hwang, 37, who was arrested last week after fleeing abroad is currently being questioned. The recidivist is suspected of having used methamphetamine again with two acquaintances in southern Seoul in 2023. Hwang reportedly fled to Thailand shortly January 2, 2026