First verdict in impeached ex-president's martial law case set for next month SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who faces several charges related to his botched martial law debacle, will receive his first verdict next month. The Seoul Central District Court said on Tuesday it intends to deliver its ruling on January 16 on whether Yoon obstructed the law enforcement by blocking investigators and other officials who attempted to detain him in relation to the debacle. The court cited a law requiring the first ruling to be mad December 16, 2025

Sejong University MBA program targets finance professionals with no-code AI curriculum SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Sejong University's Graduate School of Business is recruiting students for its AI Finance MBA program starting in spring 2026, offering a curriculum designed for working professionals to analyze financial big data without coding skills. The program uses prompt engineering and no-code data analysis tools to make financial data accessible to non-specialists, according to Lee Soo-joon, a professor leading the AI Finance MBA track at Sejong University December 16, 2025

South Korea eyes independent Mars landing by 2045 SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s space agency said on Tuesday it plans to pursue a dual-track strategy to achieve a Mars landing by 2045, combining international cooperation in the near term with the long-term goal of deploying a lander developed entirely with domestic technology. Unveiling its Mars exploration roadmap at a press conference in Seoul, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said it would initially collaborate with SpaceX by using the U.S. company’s December 16, 2025

Why Korea's MZs are drifting away from iPhone SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - The conventional wisdom that iPhone users rarely switch ecosystems is beginning to fray in South Korea, where a small but notable share of Millennials and Gen Z (MZ) consumers are migrating to Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, driven less by price than by everyday usability. Net switching among users in their 20s has reached 11.3 percentage points in favor of Galaxy, according to Counterpoint Research, challenging Apple’s long-held grip on young Korea December 16, 2025

Incheon airport chief pushes back on president's call for cash-smuggling probe SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - The head of South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation said on Tuesday that a full investigation into allegations of cash smuggling using books would be virtually impossible, pushing back against an order issued by President Lee Jae Myung. Lee Hak-jae, chief executive of the airport operator, told a press conference in Incheon that searching for $100 bills concealed inside books would be unworkable in practice. “Conducting a December 16, 2025

Another turbulent year looms for Korea's petrochemical industry in 2026 Editor's Note: AJP is running a series on the 2026 outlook for South Korea's key industries, based on forecasts compiled by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The first installment examines petrochemicals. SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea's battered petrochemical industry, already deep into streamlining and restructuring, is bracing for another difficult year in 2026, with conditions expected to remain cloudy and rain-soaked, according to an industr December 16, 2025

South Korea's Wemade to launch 'Mir M' role-playing game in China SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korean game developer Wemade said Tuesday it will officially launch its multiplayer online role-playing game Mir M in China next month, aiming to regain traction in the world’s largest gaming market. In China, the title will be released as Mir M: Twilight Double Dragons, a modern adaptation of Wemade’s long-running hit Legend of Mir 2. Legend of Mir 2 once dominated China’s online gaming market, capturing a 65 percent market December 16, 2025

South Korea, US hold consultative talks to coordinate North Korea policy SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Officials from South Korea and the U.S. on Tuesday held talks to coordinate policies toward North Korea. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consultative meeting among relevant ministries and agencies, led by Jeong Yeon-doo, head of the ministry's office of diplomatic strategy, was held in Seoul, with acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim in attendance. Defense and security officials from both countries also attended, discu December 16, 2025

Top security adviser heads to Washington to discuss implementation of bilateral agreements SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lak on Tuesday left for Washington for working-level talks with U.S. officials this week. His trip comes after South Korea and the U.S. released a comprehensive joint fact sheet last month detailing agreements on bilateral trade and security. Wi is also expected to discuss measures for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Just before his departure from Incheon International Airport, Wi said, "I will disc December 16, 2025

Korea's M2 growth quickens to 8.7% in Oct; BOK rejects FX link SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -South Korea’s broad money supply (M2) has remained in the 8-percent growth range since August and accelerated further to 8.7 percent in October, the Bank of Korea said Tuesday, while pushing back against claims that the liquidity increase is driving the won’s weakness. According to the central bank’s monetary aggregates report, the average M2 balance stood at 4,471.6 trillion won in October, up 0.9 percent from the previous month and 8.7 percent fr December 16, 2025