SHINee's Key leaves TV shows amid alleged improper medical treatment controversy

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - K-pop boy band SHINee member Key belatedly admitted to receiving improper medical treatment and issued an apology, announcing his departure from all the shows he had been appearing on. According to a statement released by his agency, SM Entertainment on Wednesday, Key had received treatment at a hospital in Gangnam, southern Seoul after being referred by a circle of his acquaintances and believed the hospital's practitioner, known by her last name Le

December 17, 2025

Hanwha to develop radar for South Korea's next-generation missile shield

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems said it has secured a contract worth about $135 million to develop a multifunction radar for South Korea’s next-generation Cheongung-III missile defense system. The contract is part of the M-SAM Block-III program, led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and will run through June 2030, the company said on Wednesday. The project represents the first full-scale development of the Cheongung-III system since the upgrade of C

December 17, 2025

Korea set to test digital ADHD treatment amid overuse of concentration pills

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often taken lightly in Korea, particularly when strong school grades compensate for disruptive or reckless behavior — and, in some cases, when parents quietly encourage medication use ahead of college preparation. The neglect, delayed diagnosis and lingering aversion to child psychiatry frequently lead to long-term difficulties for patients. For many, treatment begins late and remains narrowly focuse

December 17, 2025

South Korea's Doosan Enerbility wins new US gas turbine order for data center

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Doosan Enerbility said on Wednesday it has signed a contract to supply three large gas turbines to a major U.S. technology company. Under the deal, Doosan Enerbility will supply three 380-megawatt gas turbines for use at the customer’s data center, with one unit scheduled for delivery in 2027 and the remaining two in 2028. The company did not disclose the name of the customer or the contract value. The latest agreement follows an earlier deal

December 17, 2025

South Korea sees steady rise in fathers taking parental leave

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The number of fathers taking parental leave in South Korea surpassed 60,000 for the first time last year, accounting for 30 percent of all parental leave takers. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Wednesday, the number of parental leave takers reached 206,226 in 2024, up four percent from the previous year, with some 29.2 percent being fathers. The number of fathers taking parental leave has steadily increased from 32

December 17, 2025

Propaganda leaflets floated to North Korea months before martial law fiasco, Defense Ministry reveals

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea floated propaganda leaflets into North Korea at least 23 times under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. According to the ministry's recent internal investigation, the leaflet drops, halted in July 2017 under Yoon's predecessor, resumed from February to November last year after a decision was made at a security meeting in October 2023, attended by then-Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, then-Un

December 17, 2025

KAIST develops AI training method that learns human preferences with less data

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a new artificial intelligence training method that allows AI systems to learn human preferences more accurately using far less data, even in noisy or uncertain conditions. KAIST said on December 17 that a research team led by Kim Jun-mo has created a reinforcement learning framework called Teacher Value-based Knowledge Distillation, or TVKD. The approach improves how AI

December 17, 2025

Korea's shipbuilders to extend order growth streak in 2026

Editor's Note: This is the second installment in AJP's 2026 outlook series on South Korea's key industries, based on forecasts by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea's shipbuilding industry is expected to extend its growth streak into 2026 after posting record shipments in 2025, although slowing global orders and intensifying competition from Chinese yards are emerging headwinds, according to forecasts compiled by

December 17, 2025

Samsung's tri-fold phone sells out again despite hefty price tag

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ ultra-premium Galaxy Z Tri-Fold smartphone has sold out again within minutes, reflecting strong demand for the company’s latest foldable innovation despite its price exceeding 3.59 million won ($2,450). Samsung said a second batch of the Galaxy Z Tri-Fold sold out in about two minutes after going on sale at 10 a.m. on its official website and at major retail outlets nationwide. The first batch, released on Dec. 12, sold

December 17, 2025

Samsung seen emerging winner in premium smartphones as memory costs surge

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Soaring memory prices — spilling over from DRAM into NAND flash that powers smartphones — are forcing device makers to respond with specification downgrades or price hikes. Samsung Electronics, however, with its full-cycle smartphone capabilities spanning memory, application processors, displays and handsets, may hold the strongest edge, particularly in the premium segment. Memory prices are projected to climb sharply again in the first quart

December 17, 2025