Ex-military intelligence chief sentenced to two years in prison over martial law involvement

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Noh Sang-won, former chief of South Korea's military intelligence unit, was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday for privacy violations and other charges related to disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle last year. The Seoul Central District Court found Noh guilty of gathering personnel information as well as accepting bribes. He was also fined 24.9 million Korean won (US$17,000). It was the first verdict

December 15, 2025

Korean memory giants ready for 2026 peak as HBM boom spills into commodity DRAM

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - As Big Tech accelerates the next phase of AI infrastructure — with Google challenging Nvidia through in-house chip design and foundation models like Gemini scaling rapidly — the repercussions are becoming systemic for South Korea’s memory industry. Investment banks now project that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix could together generate close to 200 trillion won in operating profit in 2026, an income pool equivalent to roughly 27 percent

December 15, 2025

K-Content in 2025: The year animation won — but largely without Korea

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Animation was the biggest winner in Korea's film and streaming market in 2025 — a year otherwise marked by stagnation — but much of that success bypassed Korean creators. Japanese R-rated animated films dominated domestic box offices, while local streaming releases struggled to gain traction against international blockbusters such as "KPop Demon Hunters." Industry observers warn that if Netflix's reported pursuit of Warner

December 15, 2025

FM offers condolences to victims of shooting rampage in Sydney

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed condolences to the victims and their families of a shooting rampage in Sydney, Australia over the weekend. "I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach," Cho wrote on X on Monday, adding, "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, and the people of Australia." Cho stressed that terrorism is an "inhumane, anti-civilization cr

December 15, 2025

Lee, Laotian president agree to strengthen bilateral partnership

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung met with visiting Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith in Seoul on Monday. During their summit at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, the two leaders agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive partnership, as the two countries mark 30 years of diplomatic relations. "Trade and investment have grown remarkably since 1995, with bilateral trade increasing 20-fold," Lee said, adding that mu

December 15, 2025

Samsung Heavy secures key certification for 'floating nuclear reactor' design

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Monday it has received preliminary certification for its floating nuclear power platform equipped with small modular reactors, marking a key step in its push into the emerging maritime nuclear energy market. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for Samsung Heavy’s Floating Small Modular Reactor (FSMR) design, which incorporates two SMART 100 reactors developed by the Korea Atom

December 15, 2025

CJ Olive Young tops Korea's most-wanted employers list, survey shows

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - CJ Olive Young has emerged as South Korea’s most sought-after employer in 2025, overtaking technology heavyweights SK hynix and Naver, according to a survey released by local recruitment platform Catch on Saturday. The survey, which polled 3,079 job seekers and employees nationwide, found that 20 percent of respondents selected CJ Olive Young as the company they most want to join. The beauty retailer climbed two spots from last year’s third p

December 15, 2025

Game developer Netmarble appoints new head for Japanese unit

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - South Korean game developer Netmarble appointed Kim Do-hyung as CEO of its Japanese subsidiary, Netmarble Japan, as it seeks to accelerate growth and diversify revenue in one of its key overseas markets. Kim is a veteran of the Japanese intellectual property (IP) sector, with experience dating back to the early 1990s in introducing Japanese game and manga IPs to South Korea. He has been involved in developing online games such as SD Gundam Capsule Figh

December 15, 2025

Korean Air chief donates 100 million won to athletes ahead of Winter Olympics

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Hanjin Group chairman and Korean Air president Cho Won-tae on Monday donated 100 Korean million (about US$70,000) to support athletes preparing for the upcoming Winter Olympics in northern Italy in February next year. Cho, who currently serves as Vice President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, toured key facilities at a national team training center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, encouraging athletes including short-track speed skat

December 15, 2025

GM Korea dismisses exit speculation, pledges $300 million investment for 2026

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - General Motors (GM) Korea on Monday moved to quell persistent speculation about a market withdrawal, unveiling a sweeping 2026 business strategy that underscores its commitment to both exports and domestic sales. GM Korea held its "GM Korea 2026 Business Strategy Conference" at the Cheongna Proving Ground in Incheon, where executives highlighted the country's pivotal role in the Detroit automaker's global supply chain. The company said it

December 15, 2025