U.S. TSMC deal signals more deal-making for Seoul and pledges from chipmakers SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - In the tariff deal Seoul and Washington signed last October, South Korea was promised it would not be treated less favorably than Taiwan. But Taiwan’s newly secured tariff exemptions tied to expanded U.S. investment are now forcing Seoul and Korean chipmakers back to the negotiating table with fresh offers. Taiwan’s tariff outcome has been closely watched in Seoul, given the scale of its semiconductor trade with the United States. In last year& January 16, 2026

Few babies, big business: Baby Fair at COEX SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) -South Korea has one of the world’s lowest birth rates, but when it comes to babies, the country remains serious. The 2026 Momsholic Baby Fair, one of Korea’s largest exhibitions dedicated to pregnancy, childbirth and childcare, opened Thursday at COEX Hall A in southern Seoul. The fair runs through Jan. 18, bringing together about 500 booths operated by some 200 companies from Korea and overseas. Despite shrinking family sizes, the exhibitio January 16, 2026

KOSPI stretches rally to 11 sessions, with gains now eclipsing past cycles SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended their historic advance on Friday, pushing the KOSPI up for an 11th consecutive session and underscoring a rally that has grown not only longer, but materially stronger than previous market upswings. The benchmark index rose 0.9 percent to close at 4,840.7, marking a 13.8 percent gain since Jan.2 as the market continued to notch new highs with near-daily regularity entering the new year. The KOSDAQ added 0.4 percent to 954.6, w January 16, 2026

From kimchi to cola, everyday eating fuels Korea's chronic disease spike SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - From kimchi to cola, everyday eating fuels Korea's chronic disease spike South Korea exports some of the world’s most carefully engineered products: K-pop choreographed to the millisecond, cars built for global roads, smartphones that set industry standards. Yet when it comes to everyday health, the country is quietly losing control — not in hospitals, but at the dining table. Despite its global image as a land of fresh vegetables and January 16, 2026

Lee to hold New Year's press conference next week SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will hold his first press conference of the new year next week, presidential secretary for public relations Lee Kyu-yeon said on Friday. According to the secretary, the president will outline his plans for what he has called a "great transformation," aimed at achieving a major leap forward for the country. The conference, scheduled for 10 a.m. at Cheong Wa Dae next Wednesday is expected to last about 90 minutes, with January 16, 2026

East Asian rate decoupling: A tale of four economies SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - East Asia is no longer a monolith but a disparate economic powerhouse that accounts for roughly a quarter of global GDP and a third of world trade. For years, the combined output of its leading quartet—China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan—has surpassed that of the euro zone, underpinned by an export engine that remains the envy of the West. Beneath this shared headline strength, however, a deep monetary divergence is taking hold. Nowhere is th January 16, 2026

Kazakhstan pushes Alatau Smart City and logistics in Seoul talks SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - The Kazakh ambassador to South Korea has met with a leading lawmaker to discuss cooperation on logistics and the Alatau Smart City project. The Embassy of Kazakhstan said Thursday that Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov met with Maeng Sung-Kyu, the chair of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, in Seoul on January 14. The talks focused on transport and logistics, which Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has identified January 16, 2026

Korean memory makers share boom year with employees in cash and stock rewards SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) -South Korea’s two largest memory chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are rolling out handsome cash and stock rewards for their employees amid red-hot earnings and extended stock rally. Samsung Electronics said its Device Solutions (DS) division, which oversees the company’s semiconductor operations, has set its excess profit incentive (OPI) at 47 percent of annual salary, according to an internal notice circulated this week. The rat January 16, 2026

Ex-president gets 5 years in prison in first verdict on martial law-related charges SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday over one of several charges related to his botched martial law debacle. The Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul handed down the sentence over charges that Yoon obstructed law enforcement by blocking investigators and other officials who attempted to detain him following his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. It was Yoon's first sentenc January 16, 2026

Daewoo E&C to build AI data centers in southwestern counties SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Daewoo Engineering & Construction announced a plan Friday to build artificial intelligence data centers with a combined power capacity of 500 megawatts in South Jeolla Province. The company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipal governments of South Jeolla Province, Jangseong County, Gangjin County and a consortium of public and private partners, to develop AI data centers in the region. Under the agreement, the partners January 16, 2026