• 
  OPINION: The collapse of a narrative - Bithumb's "ghost coin" episode Winter has returned to crypto. But this is not merely a period of falling prices. It is also a period of thinning confidence. In recent feature, The Economist observed that the latest “crypto winter” feels colder than previous downturns not because the numbers are worse, but because the story has weakened. Bitcoin, once framed as a symbol of decentralization and defiance, now stands in an ambiguous position. Its outsider image has faded, yet it has not fully February 13, 2026
• 
  Hyundai's Palisade, Kia's EV9 win Canadian vehicle of the year awards SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Two South Korean vehicles have receive top awards at this year's Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, which wraps up its weeklong run this weekend. According to Hyundai Motor Group, the Palisade was named the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, while affiliate Kia's EV9 won the Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year award, presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). "Our expert jurors scored the Pal February 13, 2026
• 
  Winter Olympics '26: Asia shines on snow and ice with teen snowboarder's gold SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) -Asian athletes continued to command attention on the eighth day of competition at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, highlighted by South Korean snowboarder Choi Ga-on’s landmark gold medal and podium finishes by skaters from China and Japan. Choi delivered the defining moment of the day in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final. After qualifying in sixth place, she rose to the occasion with a decisive final r February 13, 2026
• 
  Renault Korea's new hybrid SUV receives 5,000 pre-orders in about a month SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Renault Korea said on Friday that orders for its new crossover sport utility vehicle have exceeded 5,000 units since pre-orders began last month. According to the France-based automaker, the midsize hybrid Filante, which combines features of a sedan and an SUV, boasts 250 horsepower and artificial intelligence (AI)-based connectivity services. It comes with a price tag of about 43.32 million Korean won (about US$30,000) after tax incentives for eco-fr February 13, 2026
• 
  Teen skater comes from behind to win bronze in men's short-track speed skating SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - With this year's Winter Olympics now halfway through in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, short-track speed skater Rim Jong-un won bronze in the men's 1,000 meters on Thursday. Lim, the only South Korean skater to reach the final, came from behind to finish third with a time of 1:24.61. With top contenders like Jens van't Wout of the Netherlands, Sun Long of China and William Dandjinou of Canada leading early, Lim slipped to last among the February 13, 2026
• 
  Korea's science ministry drops titles to loosen bureaucratic culture SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - What’s in a title? In South Korea, quite a lot — enough to make headlines. Last month, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) replaced nameplates for more than 900 employees, removing official titles and leaving only first names followed by the universal honorific suffix “-nim.” The change cost about 10 million won ($6,900). The move was ordered by Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, an AI engineer-turned policymaker who also serves as a de February 13, 2026
• 
  North Korea urges South Korea to prevent recurrence of drone incursions SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - North Korea on Friday urged South Korea to take measures to prevent a "recurrence" of what Pyongyang says was a drone incursion into its airspace. "I give advance warning that reoccurrence of such provocation as violating the inalienable sovereignty of the will surely provoke a terrible response," said Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the reclusive country's leader Kim Jong-un, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency February 13, 2026
• 
  Olympics Stars: Protégé to pioneer: Choi Gaon's night of courage in Italy SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) -By any measure, it was a night that reshaped Korean snow sports. On a cold, wind-swept slope in northern Italy, 17-year-old Choi Gaon rose from pain, doubt and near withdrawal to seize Olympic gold — not just any gold, but South Korea’s first ever in a snow event — at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. She did it the hard way. The only way that truly lasts. After a frightening crash in her opening run and another failed attempt that February 13, 2026
• 
  Semiconductor-themed expo underway in southern Seoul with nearly 2,500 booths SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Nearly 2,500 booths are displaying various semiconductor materials and related equipment at an expo which kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul earlier this week. Organized by the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the three-day expo, dubbed SEMICON Korea runs until Friday, providing an opportunity to share the latest technologies and market trends. This year's expo is the largest ever, bringing about 550 domestic and globa February 12, 2026
• 
  My Friend Seoul gallery opens at City Hall SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Seoul's City Hall underground space, which underwent renovation last year, has completed its full transformation and reopened as a space showcasing Seoul's charm and identity to the world. Seoul city opened the Seoul Gallery, a complex cultural space where visitors can explore the city's competitiveness, future vision, and major policies, on Feb. 5.The Seoul Gallery features a city promotion exhibition hall utilizing cutting-edge media techno February 12, 2026