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  Former Samsung researchers indicted over chip technology leak to China SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean prosecutors said on Tuesday they have indicted five former employees of Samsung Electronics for leaking core semiconductor technology to a Chinese memory chipmaker. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said five people were detained and charged with violating South Korea’s Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act and Industrial Technology Protection Act. Five others, including engineers at China's Ch December 23, 2025
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  Retrial of SK chief's divorce case set for early next month SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - The first hearing for a retrial of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won's divorce lawsuit will be held next month, after the Supreme Court of Korea sent back the high-profile case to a lower court in October. The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9 at the Seoul High Court, where it will recalculate the marital assets of Chey and his estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong, to assess the amount of property to be divided. The top court earlier found flaws in the lower cou December 23, 2025
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  Korea's first private rocket crashes after liftoff, Innospace shares nosedive SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) -South Korean space startup Innospace said Tuesday that its Hanbit-Nano rocket lifted off normally from Brazil but crashed about 30 seconds later after an in-flight anomaly, ending the country’s first attempt by a private firm to place customer satellites into orbit. The two-stage Hanbit-Nano vehicle launched at 10:13 p.m. Monday local time (10:13 a.m. Tuesday in Korea) from Alcantara Space Center, the company said. The first-stage engine ignited a December 23, 2025
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  TRAVEL: Mt. Maisan's twin horse-ear peaks offer geological wonders JINAN, December 23 (AJP) - Famous for its unique geological and rocky formations, Mt. Maisan in southwestern South Korea has two distinctive twin peaks that resemble a horse's ears, from which the mountain got its name. The higher peak, called Ammaibong, reaches 687 meters, while the slightly lower Sutmaibong stands at 679.9 meters. Located in Jinan, North Jeolla Province, only Ammaibong is open to hikers. What makes the mountain especially striking is its cluster of stone f December 23, 2025
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  South Korea's Shinhan Card reports leak of data on 190,000 merchants Shinhan Card headquarters in Seoul/ Courtesy of Shinhan Card SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Shinhan Card said on Tuesday information on about 190,000 merchants, including store owners’ mobile phone numbers, was leaked in an incident caused by an employee rather than a cyberattack. According to financial industry sources, Shinhan Card confirmed the data leak through an internal investigation and reported the case to the country's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). December 23, 2025
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  LIG Nex1 to develop core technologies for Korea's combat unmanned surface vessel SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean defense company LIG Nex1 has begun developing core technologies for a combat unmanned surface vessel (USV), in a move aimed at advancing the Navy’s manned-unmanned combined maritime combat capability. LIG Nex1 said on Tuesday it signed an agreement on Dec. 19 with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) to develop an integrated control system and an autonomous mission system for a combat USV under a packaged weapon-sys December 23, 2025
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  Korea's bio-health exports eye bumper year in 2026 on global growth Editor's Note: This is the fourth installment in AJP's 2026 outlook series on South Korea's key industries. SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s bio-health industry — spanning pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics — is set for a record year in 2026, with total exports expected to surpass the $30 billion mark, powered by the country’s strength in contract manufacturing and the global expansion of K-beauty. According to the Korea Hea December 23, 2025
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  Bank of Korea flags growing investor preference for overseas stocks SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors have been taking profits when local share prices rise while continuing to buy overseas stocks, a shift the central bank linked to differences in long-term return expectations. In its Financial Stability Report released on Tuesday, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said that from July to October — when both South Korean and U.S. equity markets were rising — individual investors were net sellers of 23 trillion won in dom December 23, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Seoul's iconic ice rink offers affordable winter fun The Seoul Plaza Ice Rink, Dec. 19, 2025/ AJP Yoo Na-hyun SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) – The outdoor ice rink at Seoul Plaza officially opened its doors to the public last week, marking the return of one of the city’s most beloved winter traditions. The rink is scheduled to operate for a total of 52 days, welcoming skaters through February 8. According to city officials, the facility is open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday through Friday. On Saturdays and public holidays, op December 23, 2025
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  US nuclear-powered submarine docks in Busan to replenish supplies SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - The USS Greenville arrived on Tuesday in South Korea's southern port city of Busan to replenish supplies and provide rest for crew members. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Greeneville, named after Greeneville, Tennessee, will engage in activities to strengthen cooperation between the two allies, according to the South Korean Navy. The submarine, which is 110 meters long and 10 meters wide, is equipped with Tomahawk cruise mi December 23, 2025