Researchers use laser light to sharpen radio telescope images of black holes SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - A joint research team led by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a technology to significantly improve the resolution of radio telescopes using laser optics. By applying an "optical frequency comb" directly to telescope receivers, the researchers aim to capture sharper images of black holes and enhance precision in deep space exploration. KAIST announced on January 15 that the team, led by Professor Kim J January 16, 2026

Seoul court upholds fine on Kakao over data leak SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) -A Seoul court on Wednesday upheld a record 15.1 billion won ($11.2 million) fine imposed on Kakao for failing to properly safeguard users’ personal information, rejecting the tech giant’s legal challenge to the penalty. The Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 14, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Sang-deok, ruled against Kakao in a lawsuit seeking to overturn a corrective order and fine issued by the Personal Information Pro January 16, 2026

Lotte chair calls for quality-growth pivot as petrochemicals and retail falter SEOUL, January 16 (AJP)-Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin on Thursday called for a decisive shift toward “quality growth” centered on profitability and efficiency, as the South Korean conglomerate’s flagship petrochemicals and retail businesses both posted weak performance last year, underscoring mounting pressure on the group’s traditional growth engines. The message came at Lotte’s first Value Creation Meeting (VCM) since a sweeping leadersh January 16, 2026

Seoul market hits new high despite rate pause as regional peers falter SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Korean stocks surged to fresh highs on Thursday, extending a 10-session winning streak, even as most other Asian markets finished mixed amid cautious regional sentiment. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI jumped 1.58 percent to close at 4,797.6, edging closer to the symbolic 5,000-point mark. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained 1.0 percent to 951.2. The rally was led by heavyweight technology and auto shares. Samsung Electronics climbed 2.6 percent to 143,900 won, January 15, 2026

Memory chips take center stage in AI-driven semiconductor boom SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global semiconductor market, propelling memory chips, once considered a cyclical commodity, to the forefront of the industry's future growth engine. Amid a heated race for data centers to build AI servers and inference systems, demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), server-grade DRAM, and storage has surged, creating what analysts describe as a rare "triple supercycle" in th January 15, 2026

Pictures from Nara SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -Drumbeats, temple corridors and carefully choreographed cultural gestures took center stage during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s brief two-day visit to Nara Prefecture, a trip that emphasized symbolism and atmosphere over contentious diplomatic files. Lee visited Nara at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, wrapping up his fifth overseas trip since taking office and his second summit with the Japanese leader before depa January 15, 2026

South Korean defense ETFs surge as geopolitical tensions mount SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -Growing geopolitical risks from Ukraine to Venezuela and Iran have lifted South Korean defense-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to the top of the country’s stock market rankings this year, outpacing even the red-hot semiconductor sector. According to ETFCheck data as of Tuesday, leveraged defense ETFs dominated the performance leaderboard. The PLUS K-Defense Leverage and KODEX K-Defense TOP10 Leverage surged 61.2 percent and 60.9 percent, respe January 15, 2026

Korea's new regional airline targets islands and emergency medical transport SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - South Korea's new regional airline SUM Air, which aims to become a major transport link between regional areas and islands, unveiled its first brand-new aircraft at Gimpo International Airport on Thursday. The carrier plans to connect underserved islands and provide essential medical transport services, positioning itself as the only airline capable of serving various island airports. As a Regional Air Mobility (RAM) operator led by CEO Choi Yong-du January 15, 2026

Korea moves fast on Grok as global deepfake backlash grows SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) — South Korea has taken its first regulatory steps targeting xAI’s chatbot Grok, as governments worldwide step up scrutiny of generative AI tools over deepfake abuse and illegal content. The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) on Wednesday sent an official notice to X requesting stronger safety measures for Grok, including tighter controls on harmful content and stricter restrictions on minors’ access. The commission also January 15, 2026

As China exports its surplus, Korea, Germany and Japan pay the industrial price SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -China logged a record $1.19 trillion trade surplus in 2025, underscoring the resilience of its export engine despite renewed U.S. tariff pressure — and sharpening competitive strain on other manufacturing economies from South Korea to Germany and Japan. According to China’s General Administration of Customs, the surplus expanded by roughly 20 percent from 2024, even as exports to the United States fell by about 20 percent following tou January 15, 2026