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

SK Signet to raise 30 billion won to expand global EV charger business

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - EV charger maker SK Signet said on Friday its board had approved a third-party share sale worth about 30 billion won, with parent company SK Inc. set to participate in the offering. The company said the proceeds will be used to expand production infrastructure to support global growth and to strengthen product competitiveness. SK Signet plans to gradually increase capacity and improve operating efficiency centered on its production base in Texas, whil

December 19, 2025

Samsung unveils Exynos 2600 chip, expected to power Galaxy S26 series

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Friday unveiled its Exynos 2600 mobile application processor, a chip widely expected to power the company’s next flagship Galaxy smartphone lineup, set for release early next year. According to Samsung Electronics’ website, the Exynos 2600 was designed by Samsung’s System LSI Business and manufactured by Samsung Foundry, both part of the company’s Device Solutions (DS) division. The chip is produced usin

December 19, 2025

Safety measures to be heightened in Seoul's crowded areas during holiday weeks

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - A set of safety measures for crowded areas will be enforced during the holiday season, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Friday. Security and patrols will be beefed up at about a dozen locations including Seoul's major shopping and entertainment districts of Myeong-dong, Seongsu-dong, Itaewon, and areas near Hongik University, as they are expected to be crowded around Christmas and New Year's Eve. The city government said with it will fo

December 19, 2025

South Korea to support Egypt's customs system upgrade

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - The Korea Customs Service (KCS) said Friday Commissioner Lee Myung-gu has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ahmed Amawy Robin, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, to advance the customs system in Egypt. The agreement, concluded in Cairo, is part of South Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) efforts to modernize customs operations in partner countries. The KCS said it will support automation of Egypt’s express cargo logi

December 19, 2025

Retail investors struggle overseas as brokerages reap record fees

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Nearly half of South Korean retail investors trading overseas stocks are losing money, with average profits per account falling sharply from a year earlier, the country’s financial watchdog said on Friday. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said that as of the end of August, 49.3 percent of individual investors’ overseas stock trading accounts were in loss-making territory. Average profit per account dropped to about 5

December 19, 2025

Korea ramps up inbound marketing to boost regional tourism

SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - As countries intensify competition for foreign visitors, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has turned to a comprehensive inbound marketing strategy as its key solution. Moving beyond conventional promotion, the approach offers end-to-end support — from product development and overseas distribution to global network linkage — with the aim of bringing regional tourism content onto the global stage. According to the KTO's October inboun

December 19, 2025