Korea grand sale kicks off SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - The Korea Grand Sale, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, opened on December 17 and will run for 67 days until February 22, 2026. An opening ceremony was held in Myeongdong on December 17, featuring various performances to celebrate the launch. The festival is Korea's flagship promotional event targeting foreign tourists, combining shopping, culture, and tourism. Nationwide discounts and special o December 19, 2025

PHOTOS: Narye, the grand royal year-end ritual SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - The National Gugak Center will stage its year-end performance Narye from December 18 to 21 at the Yeakdang Theater in Seocho District, Seoul. Narye is a traditional ritual that dates back to the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. Held on the final night of the lunar year, it was performed in royal courts, government offices, and private homes to drive away lingering misfortune and malevolent spirits, while praying for peace and prosperity in the comi December 19, 2025

PHOTOS: Japan's imperial court at the heart of Seoul SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) -Inside the exhibition hall, order and formality define the presentation of Japanese court culture. Through the Long Ages of Time: Japanese Court Culture, currently on view at the National Palace Museum of Korea, traces the formation and development of Japan’s court traditions across historical periods. The exhibition was organized to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Palace Museum of Korea and the 60th anniversary December 19, 2025

KAI secures Surion helicopter contracts worth 71 billion won SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Friday it has signed separate contracts to supply one Surion multipurpose helicopter each to the Korea Coast Guard and the Korea National Park Service. The Coast Guard contract is valued at 38.5 billion won, while the National Park Service deal totals 32.8 billion won, KAI said. Each contract covers one helicopter along with spare parts, ground support equipment and training for pilots and maintenance personnel. December 19, 2025

Nine-year-old boy becomes South Korea's youngest professional go player SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - A nine-year-old boy has become South Korea's youngest professional go or baduk player ever, the mind sport's governing body said on Friday. According to the Korea Baduk Association, Yoo Ha-jun earned professional status after passing the final qualification round the previous day, along with another young boy Pyo Hyun-woo who is 12 years old. The two stood out among about 55 under-12 apprentices to become South Korea's youngest professional G December 19, 2025

Korean digital platforms under threat and underprepared SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Global content platform TikTok announced more than $2 billion in annual safety investments on Thursday — a stark contrast to South Korea's major digital platforms, which are struggling to fend off both cyberattacks and real-world security threats. TikTok said the platform, which surpassed 1 billion monthly active users globally in 2021, continues to expand its reach, with more than 100 million videos uploaded each day. According to TikTok' December 19, 2025

Lee Jae Myung warns against collateral-heavy lending, seeks structural banking reforms SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday renewed his criticism of what he described as the banking sector’s reliance on “easy” interest income, urging regulators to embed stronger consumer protections and tighter oversight into law. Speaking at a policy briefing of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) at the Government Complex Seoul, Lee asked whether financial institutions effectively avoid losses even when loan delinquencies occur b December 19, 2025

How Korea's "young-40s" are redefining the premium phone market SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Koreans in their 40s have long been seen as digitally fluent, image-conscious and economically confident — hip moms and dads who keep pace with trends and AI tools alike. Lately, however, they have come under a new kind of mockery: for trying too hard to look young. At the center of the joke — and the shift — is the smartphone. More specifically, the iPhone, increasingly embraced as a symbol of youthfulness. What began as online &ld December 19, 2025

Gov't urges Mexico to minimize impact of looming tariff hikes SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Park Jung-sung on Friday met with Mexican Ambassador to Seoul Carlos Peñafiel Soto to discuss trade-related issues ahead of planned tariff hikes next month. Their talks came after Park consulted with relevant industry officials last week to assess the expected impact of the tariff hikes on imports of automobiles, textiles, and other goods passed by Mexico's congress earlier this month, and come up December 19, 2025

Korean markets price in Japan's rate hike to 30-year high, yen carry risk weighs SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Japan’s widely expected rate hike to 0.75 percent — the highest level in 30 years — delivered a mild upset to Korean markets, pressuring bond prices and the currency while lifting equities as investors positioned for a stronger yen environment. Although still low by global standards — compared with Korea’s 2.50 percent policy rate and the U.S. federal funds rate midpoint of about 3.6 percent — the Bank of Japan’ December 19, 2025