More young people move to Seoul SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - More young people have moved to Seoul from other cities and provinces, an analysis of census data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday reveals. Since 2019, the number of people in their 20s and 30s moving into Seoul has exceeded those moving out, except in 2021. Following this trend, the number of people leaving Seoul fell to 473,000 in 2024, down from 751,000 in 2001. Among Seoulites, those relocating within the city declined, whi January 22, 2026

South Korea enforces world's first comprehensive AI law as industry braces for compliance SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea on Thursday became the first country to enforce a comprehensive artificial intelligence law, a landmark move that establishes sweeping transparency and safety obligations while industry players scramble to navigate its sprawling requirements. The Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trustworthiness, or the AI Basic Act, which took effect a year after its promulgation, governs everythin January 22, 2026

Walmart sends senior delegation to Seoul to expand shelf presence of K-beauty as U.S. demand rises SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - As Korean beauty products climb U.S. sales rankings, retail giant Walmart is moving to expand their shelf presence, dispatching senior buying executives to Seoul to scout new K-beauty brands. According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on Thursday, a twelve-member Walmart buying delegation — including six vice presidents and senior purchasing executives — visited Seoul this week to hold one-on-one business consultations wi January 22, 2026

KOSPI hits historic 5,000-point milestone, following Trump's tariff relief SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI crossed the historic milestone of 5,000 points, just minutes after the day's trading began on Thursday. The milestone, which came for the first time since the country's stock market began trading some 70 years ago, was followed by gains on the Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not proceed with previously threatened tariffs on European countries, easing global trade uncertainty. The rally January 22, 2026

Record number of South Koreans reaped handsome profits from overseas stocks SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Koreans who reported taxes on profits from overseas stock investments topped 500,000 for the first time, tax data reveals. According to data submitted by the National Tax Service to Park Sung-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and released on Thursday, some 523,709 people filed tax returns on profits earned in 2024, up from 207,231 a year earlier. Those who invest in overseas stock markets and sell them for profits are required January 22, 2026

Editorial: AI Basic Act takes effect, and regulation is not an end but means South Korea’s Artificial Intelligence Basic Act on Thursday went into force. The Act merits attention not simply as the activation of another technology law, but as a civilizational marker. It reflects how a democratic, export-driven society chooses to situate artificial intelligence within the moral, legal and economic order of the twenty-first century. Artificial intelligence has already moved beyond the realm of innovation and into the architecture of everyday life. It n January 22, 2026

AI that can shop and pay on its own successfully tested in South Korea SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korean IT services firm LG CNS has completed what it says is the country’s first demonstration of an automatic payment system in which artificial intelligence not only chooses what to buy but also pays for it, using a blockchain-based digital currency platform overseen by the central bank. The test, conducted with the Bank of Korea, linked so-called “agentic AI” — software designed to act autonomously once given a goal &mdash January 22, 2026

Korean metals company LS MnM posts record revenue in 2025 SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korean metals company LS MnM posted record results last year, with revenue approaching 15 trillion won, supported by higher metal prices and the dollar's strength. In a regulatory filing released via parent company LS Corp., Thursday, LS MnM reported revenue of 14.94 trillion won in 2025, up 23.3 percent from a year earlier. Net profit rose 39.9 percent to 106.7 billion won. The company said profitability improved even as fees for refinin January 22, 2026

KOSPI touches landmark 5,000 mark SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI in its 46-year history has touched the 5,000 mark Thursday from strong retail push. The four-digit milestone was reached just two months after the index broke above 4,000, reflecting accelerating momentum fueled by strong domestic participation. After pausing briefly following a 12-day uninterrupted rally, the KOSPI rebounded as easing geopolitical tensions — triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s w January 22, 2026

AI storage demand lifts South Korea's FADU with record contracts SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Data center semiconductor firm FADU said on Thursday it has secured a 47 billion won ($35 million) order for finished solid-state drive (SSD) products from Taiwan-based Macnica Galaxy, marking the largest single contract in the company’s history. In a regulatory filing, FADU said the deal revises a previously disclosed 21.5 billion won contract announced on Nov. 5, reflecting a larger supply volume and higher SSD prices. The company said the January 22, 2026