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  NewJeans full comeback ruled out after Danielle's exit SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - ADOR confirmed Monday that K-pop girl group NewJeans members Minji and Hanni will resume activities under the agency, while Danielle has been notified of the termination of her exclusive contract, to finalize a four-member return for the K-pop sensation. According to the agency, “Hanni recently visited Korea with her family and had extensive talks with ADOR, during which she had time to review the events leading up to the dispute.” Following December 29, 2025
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  Asian markets diverge as investors navigate ex-dividend effects SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Major Asian equity markets moved in different directions in the final week of December, as investors digested ex-dividend adjustments alongside shifting policy and sector-specific signals. South Korea’s stock market extended its rally despite the ex-dividend cutoff, while Japan slipped under selling pressure tied to dividend adjustments and inflation concerns. The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.45 percent to 4,190 as of 10 a.m. Monday, posting a second December 29, 2025
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  President Lee Jae-myung's first commute to Blue House SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung arrived at the Blue House main building for the first time on Dec. 29, holding a morning tea time with aides and marking the beginning of the Blue House era. President Lee's commute to the Blue House comes about seven months after his inauguration and about three years and seven months after the Yoon Suk-yeol administration moved the presidential office to Yongsan in May 2022. At 12 a.m. on this day, the Phoenix Flag, symb December 29, 2025
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  Lee begins work at Cheong Wa Dae as presidential office moves back SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung worked his first day at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday as the presidential office moved back to the sprawling presidential compound in central Seoul. The relocation comes about 1,330 days after the office moved to Yongsan in May 2022 with the inauguration of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year. Lee arrived there at about 9 a.m., greeted by supporters who gathered outsid December 29, 2025
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  KAIST team develops one-second powder to stop battlefield bleeding SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a powder-based hemostatic agent that can stop heavy bleeding within approximately one second of contact. The technology is designed to improve the survival rates of soldiers in combat environments where excessive blood loss is the leading cause of death. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 29 that a joint research team led December 29, 2025
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  Budget minister nominee defines Korea under near-term perfect storm SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) -Lee Hye-hoon, a former three-term opposition lawmaker and economist tapped as the inaugural Minister of Planning and Budget, on Monday described the South Korean economy under a near-term "perfect storm", requiring a fundamental rethink of government spending priorities are set. “We need an approach that finds and eliminates unnecessary spending, while investing boldly in people’s livelihoods and growth,” Lee said a December 29, 2025
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  Celltrion wins FDA nod for phase 1 trial of bispecific antibody cancer drug SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Celltrion said Monday it has secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin a phase 1 clinical trial of CT-P72/ABP-102, a bispecific antibody drug designed to treat HER2-expressing solid tumors. The drug, co-developed with U.S.-based Abpro, employs a T-cell engager mechanism that links immune cells directly to cancer cells expressing the HER2 protein. Celltrion plans to begin dosing patients next year following preparatory procedures, ac December 29, 2025
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  Coupang offers compensation to 33.7 million users over data breach SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Coupang will compensate its users over a massive data breach, the e-commerce giant said on Monday. Starting mid-January, the U.S.-listed company will distribute 1.68 trillion Korean won (US$1.17 billion) in compensation, providing 50,000 won in purchase vouchers per person to paid Wow subscribers, regular users, and former customers who have closed their accounts. The voucher package, set to be distributed on Jan. 15, includes 5,000 won each for Coupang December 29, 2025
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  Trading in dollar-pegged stablecoins surges as won weakens SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - As the Korean won weakens against the greenback, trading in dollar-pegged stablecoins has surged, with volumes growing 2.4-fold over the past three months. Rising demand for dollars for overseas investment has boosted trading in stablecoins that can serve as a dollar substitute. According to data from the Bank of Korea, stablecoin trading rebounded sharply after hitting a low in June. Monthly trading value for dollar stablecoins (USDT, USDC and USDS) ac December 29, 2025
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  North Korea conducts test of long-range cruise missiles SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - North Korea test-fired long-range cruise missiles toward the West Sea, state media said on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), they flew along a preset route "for 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds" before striking their targets. The launch, which was conducted the previous day with the country's leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, was part of drills aimed at checking the strategic weapons system December 29, 2025