Asian stocks quiet on '25 final day, Korean chip shares rally on inventory squeeze SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - Asian equity markets spent the final trading day of 2025 on a largely subdued note, with South Korea standing out as memory-chip stocks surged to new highs amid signs of tightening supply. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI inched up 2.10 points to 4,222.66 as of 10:10 a.m., while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ fell 0.9 percent to 924.70. The broader index was little changed overall, but heavyweight semiconductor shares extended their rally. Samsung Electronics rose December 30, 2025

South Korea's An Mu submarine completes long-range Guam mission without any failure SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The South Korean Navy said on Tuesday that its An Mu submarine has completed a roughly 7,000-kilometer round-trip blue-water deployment and overseas training mission without a single equipment failure. The 3,000-ton An Mu, part of the KSS-III program, returned to Jinhae Naval Port after taking part in the South Korea–U.S. combined anti-submarine exercise “2025 Silent Shark.” The Navy held a welcome ceremony on Tuesday, hosted by Rea December 30, 2025

KAIST researchers wake up sleeping immune cells to attack cancer SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - Scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a way to turn a patient's own "sleeping" immune cells into cancer-killing machines. Instead of expensive and complicated laboratory processes, the new treatment works by injecting a special medicine directly into a tumor to reprogram cells from the inside. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 30 that a research December 30, 2025

North Korean leader inspects factory producing multiple rocket launchers SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged officials to "bring about a revolution" in upgrading an artillery weapons system while inspecting a munitions factory that produces multiple rocket launchers, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, accompanied by a slew of military brass and key officials, visited the factory last Sunday and inspected the "production of weapons and combat e December 30, 2025

Fractured NewJeans as Danielle and ADOR head toward legal standoff SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The future of NewJeans as a full five-member act has been thrown into doubt after agency ADOR unilaterally notified member Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract, raising concerns that the group could remain divided amid ongoing uncertainty over another member's return. With Danielle effectively ruled out of future activities under ADOR and Minji's status still undecided, prospects for NewJeans resuming activities as a complete lineu December 30, 2025

South Korean business sentiment improves for second month, but services outlook slips SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korean companies reported improved business conditions for a second consecutive month in December, supported by year-end seasonal factors, the central bank said on Tuesday. However, sentiment for the coming month weakened sharply in the nonmanufacturing sector as the seasonal boost is expected to fade. According to the Bank of Korea’s December business survey and Economic Sentiment Index, the all-industry Corporate Business Sentime December 30, 2025

DP floor leader resigns amid snowballing bribery allegations SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - Kim Byung-ki, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), resigned from his post on Tuesday amid various bribery allegations and other misconduct. "Being at the center of snowballing allegations every day, I have become an obstacle to the party and the Lee Jae-myung administration, so I have decided to step down," he said. "I'm deeply sorry and apologize to the people," he said, adding, "My actions fell far short o December 30, 2025

Naver's new AI model ranks second among Korean models in global benchmark SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - Korea's largest internet company Naver's new high-performance reasoning AI model has been listed on a global AI evaluation index for the first time, ranking second among domestic models. Naver Cloud's HyperCLOVA X SEED Think (32B) reasoning model scored 44 points Tuesday on the Intelligence Index compiled by Artificial Analysis (AA), a global AI performance evaluation organization. The language models are tested by AA through 10 evaluation d December 30, 2025

UPDATE: Korea's factory output rebounds on chips, domestic front remains slack *Updated with additional information and market response SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s factory output rebounded in November after two consecutive monthly contractions, supported by a sharp pickup in semiconductor production and increased facility investment linked to AI-driven chip demand, government data showed Tuesday. Mining and manufacturing output rose 0.6 percent from the previous month, reversing declines of 4.2 percent in October and 1.0 percent in Sept December 30, 2025

DP, PPP at odds over probe into Unification Church-related allegations SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) remain at odds over the scope of a proposed probe by independent prosecutors into bribery allegations involving the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies. Their talks were further bogged down by the DP's demand to include suspicions involving another dubious religious sect Shincheonji, despite the party's initial opposition to the probe. DP leader Jung December 30, 2025