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  Korean sets record 20-day exports Dec, chips make up a third of total exports SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) -South Korea posted a record for first 20-day monthly exports in December, driven by a 42-percent jump in chip shipments that now account for nearly a third of total exports, customs-cleared preliminary data showed Monday. According to the Korea Customs Service, exports for Dec. 1–20 climbed 6.8 percent from a year earlier to US$43.03 billion, marking a fresh record for the first 20-day period. Average daily exports, adjusted for working days, December 22, 2025
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  Santa rally reaches Asia, led by chip stocks SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Asian markets opened the week on signs of a “Santa Claus rally,” as a key overhang — Japan’s long-anticipated rate hike — was cleared last week, reviving risk appetite across the region. Chip stocks led the advance after strong earnings from Micron Technology and fresh optimism around high-bandwidth memory (HBM), reinforcing the global AI-driven semiconductor rally. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI was up 1.97 percent at 4,0 December 22, 2025
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  Lee praises badminton star An Se-young's historic win SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung praised South Korean players for their achievements at the BWF World Tour Finals, which wrapped up over the weekend. Shortly after badminton ace An Se-young's victory late Sunday night, Lee wrote on Facebook that the national anthem was played three times in Hangzhou, China, saying he was "very proud" of her and other players and calling 2025 "the year of South Korean badminton." The world No. 1 in women& December 22, 2025
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  Hyosung Heavy wins European power equipment orders worth $170 million SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyosung Heavy Industries has secured a series of new orders for extra-high-voltage power equipment across Europe. The company said on Monday it won contracts worth more than 230 billion won ($170 million) this month in key European markets including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain, citing rising investment in power grids as countries accelerate energy transitions. In the United Kingdom, Hyosung Heavy Industries recently signed December 22, 2025
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  South Korea's NCSoft pivots to casual games with two acquisitions SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - South Korean game developer NCSoft said on Monday it is stepping up its push into the global mobile casual game market, announcing two acquisitions to seek new growth beyond its traditional focus on massively multiplayer online role-playing games. NCSoft, led by co-chief executive officers Kim Taek-jin and Park Byung-moo, said it will acquire global mobile casual game developer Lihuhu Games and South Korean studio Springcomes as part of a portfolio diver December 22, 2025
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  DP to push controversial bill for special tribunal on martial law case SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is expected to push through a bill for a special tribunal to handle insurrection cases related to disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle last year. The DP is set to submit the controversial bill to the plenary session of the National Assembly this week, despite concerns that it may be unconstitutional and could undermine judicial independence and fairness. Amid criticism, the DP earlier made r December 22, 2025
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  KAIST researchers develop AI to automate plastic manufacturing and train new workers SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Professor Yoo Seung-hwa and his research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed an artificial intelligence system that can automatically manage factory machines and guide workers. The technology was created to help factories maintain production quality as experienced experts retire and more foreign workers enter the workforce, potentially creating language barriers on the factory floor. Most plastic items us December 22, 2025
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  Samsung Biologics acquires GSK biopharmaceutical plant in U.S. for $280 million SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics said Monday it has signed an agreement with GSK plc to acquire a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, marking the South Korean contract drugmaker's first production foothold in the United States. The deal, valued at about $280 million, will see Samsung Biologics America, a U.S. subsidiary, take over the 60,000-liter drug substance plant formerly operated by Human Genome Sciences. The asset transfer is expec December 22, 2025
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  Estonia taps Hanwha Aerospace's Chunmoo rocket system in $320 mil. arms deal SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace has signed a contract worth about 440 billion won ($320 million) to supply its Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system to Estonia, the company said on Monday. Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will deliver six Chunmoo launcher systems along with three types of guided missiles with ranges of 80 kilometers, 160 kilometers and 290 kilometers. The company said it plans to pursue localization in Estonia, including partial local produ December 22, 2025
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  Korean Inc. braces for tougher 2026 on FX risk and import-driven inflation: FKI SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) -More than half of South Korea's big companies predict a tough year ahead, citing challenging foreign-exchange conditions and sluggish domestic demand weighed down by inflationary pressure. According to a survey on corporate management conditions for 2026 by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), 52 percent of respondents forecast difficult management conditions next year, including 18 percent who expect the environment to be “very challengin December 22, 2025