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  NPS' big bet on US tech stocks pay off, with '25 gains near $30 bn SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) booked nearly $29.4 billion in valuation gains from its U.S. stock portfolio last year from its aggressive bet on Big Tech and artificial intelligence-driven growth despite rising concerns over market froth. The fund - one of the largest institutional players in the world - in its latest 13F filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reported that it held stakes in 561 U.S.-listed companies February 11, 2026
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  South Korea's HMM posts sharp earnings drop on falling freight rates SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - HMM, South Korea’s largest shipping firm, reported a sharp decline in operating profit for 2025, falling nearly 60 percent from a year earlier as weaker freight rates and excess vessel supply weighed on its earnings. In a regulatory filing Wednesday, the company reported consolidated operating profit of 1.46 trillion won ($1.1 billion), down 58.4 percent from the previous year. Revenue declined 6.9 percent to 10.89 trillion won, while net profit February 11, 2026
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  E-Mart posts sharp profit rebound in 2025 on cost cuts, pricing power SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest retailer E-Mart reported a sharp improvement in profitability last year despite inflationary pressures and sluggish consumer spending. In a regulatory filing Wednesday, the company said consolidated revenue for 2025 slipped 0.2 percent from a year earlier to 28.97 trillion won ($21.7 billion), while operating profit surged 584.8 percent to 322.5 billion won. E-Mart attributed the turnaround largely to cost savings February 11, 2026
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  Lee to meet DP, PPP leaders over luncheon SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to sit down for talks with the leaders of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) later this week. In a press briefing on Wednesday, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters that Lee is scheduled to hold a meeting with DP leader Jung Chung-rae and PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday to "seek bipartisan cooperation on state affairs and discuss w February 11, 2026
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  Bank deposits, bond prices ebb as money chases red-hot stocks in Korea SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Bank deposits and bond prices fell sharply in January as funds rotated rapidly into equities and money market funds (MMFs), signaling heightened risk appetite amid a blistering stock market rally, central bank data showed Wednesday. According to the Bank of Korea’s January financial market report, bank deposits shrank by 50.8 trillion won ($35 billion) last month, reversing a 7.7 trillion won increase in December. Demand deposits alone dropped 49.7 t February 11, 2026
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  South Korea, Netherlands hold inaugural 2+2 ministerial meeting in Seoul SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea and the Netherlands held a meeting attended by high-ranking foreign and trade officials from both countries in Seoul on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with their Dutch counterparts David van Weel and Aukje de Vries for the inaugural 2+2 ministerial dialogue. Pointing to a shift in the geopolitical environment with the spread of protectionism, they discussed ways to deepen cooperation across a wide r February 11, 2026
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  Busy hands racing the holiday clock SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) -Busy hands race against time as South Korea’s delivery network shifts into peak mode ahead of the Lunar New Year. As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches (Feb. 14–18, including the weekend), sorting centers across the country grow increasingly crowded. The season is one of the busiest of the year, as Koreans exchange gifts and packages as tokens of good wishes. The Korea Postal Service has entered an emergency response system for the holid February 11, 2026
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  Seoul offers cautious compromise on medical student expansion, satisfies no one SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea has proposed adding 668 medical students between 2027 and 2031, limiting the increase to 32 medical schools outside the capital region in a bid to ease doctor shortages without triggering backlash like the 2020 walkout. The cautious approach, however, has drawn criticism from across the spectrum, with both doctors and civic groups arguing that it avoids addressing structural problems in the healthcare system. According to an outline released February 11, 2026
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  Injury-stricken Hwang Hee-chan adds to South Korea's woes ahead of World Cup SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Striker Hwang Hee-chan has been sidelined for several weeks due to a calf injury, according to his club Wolverhampton Wanderers. "Channy is out and it'll be a few weeks. It's his calf. We'll rescan again a couple of weeks and see where he's at," manager Rob Edwards told reporters on Tuesday, days ahead of their away match against Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. Hwang started the club's home match ag February 11, 2026
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  Samsung Heavy secures $351 million container ship deal SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said Wednesday it has secured an order worth 468.6 billion won ($351 million) from an Africa-based shipping company to build two container ships. In a regulatory filing, the company said the vessels are scheduled for delivery by May 2028. With the latest contract, Samsung Heavy’s total orders for the year have reached $1.2 billion across seven vessels, equivalent to about 9 percent of its annual order target of $13.9 b February 11, 2026