OPINION: Why Beijing cannot tolerate Tokyo's remark related to Taiwan Strait Recent comments by Japanese leaders linking a Taiwan Strait contingency to Japan’s “survival crisis” have triggered a strong response from China. During recent conversations, many South Korean acquaintances asked why Beijing reacted so forcefully. China considers a firm response not only necessary, but also legitimate — and I hope this commentary clarifies Beijing’s position for Korean readers. First, Japan is interfering in China’s internal a December 12, 2025

Kakao Healthcare steps up digital healthcare push with distribution deal with US firm SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Kakao Healthcare said Friday it has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Dexcom, giving the South Korean digital health platform sole distribution rights for Dexcom's continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products in South Korea. Dexcom is a U.S.-based medical technology company specializing in CGM systems for people with diabetes. Under the deal, the two companies will expand real-time blood glucose management services using Dexcom’s C December 12, 2025

South Korean crypto fraudster sentenced to 15 years in prison SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Crypto fraudster Kwon Do-hyeong, also known as Do Kwon, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on fraud charges by a U.S. federal court in New York on Thursday. The so-called "Cryptocrash King" was behind the spectacular collapse of the TerraUSD and Luna cyber that wiped out more than US$40 billion in losses to investors in the U.S. and around the world. "This was a fraud on an epic, generational scale. In the history of federal prosecutions December 12, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group to supply 224 hydrogen buses to Guangzhou SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group said Friday that its Chinese fuel-cell unit, HTWO Guangzhou, has won a contract to supply hydrogen-powered city buses to Guangzhou State-owned Bus Group, marking the largest single hydrogen bus procurement project in China to date. Under the project, HTWO Guangzhou will supply 224 buses to the Guangzhou operator. Hyundai said the order represents a significant milestone in its efforts to expand its hydrogen mobility footprint in Chi December 12, 2025

KakaoBank's collaboration with Indonesia's Superbank gains momentum with 'Lucky Card' rollout SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - KakaoBank is deepening its partnership with Indonesian digital lender Superbank, its first overseas equity investment, as the South Korean internet-only bank steps up efforts to expand abroad. KakaoBank said on Friday it advised Superbank on the launch of a new financial product, following a financial consulting agreement signed between the two companies in November last year. Under the deal, KakaoBank has been sharing its mobile banking expertise an December 12, 2025

Subway workers in Seoul call off strike after last-minute agreement SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Unionized subway workers in Seoul on Friday called off their planned full-scale strike after reaching a last-minute deal with management, averting major disruptions to the morning rush hour. Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 through 8, said it reached an agreement early in the morning after overnight marathon negotiations. The workers had earlier threatened to strike from the first trains of the day unless their demands for higher wages, the December 12, 2025

Celltrion secures major U.S. formulary deal for biosimilar Avtozma SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Friday it has secured formulary inclusion for its autoimmune disease treatment Avtozma with Synergie Medication Collective, a major pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) formed by several Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in the United States. The intravenous formulation of Avtozma, a biosimilar of Roche's tocilizumab, has been listed as a preferred drug across all public and private insurance formulari December 12, 2025

Foreign investors turn net sellers of Korean stocks in November SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Foreign investors sold more than 13 trillion won ($9.7 billion) worth of South Korean equities in November, turning net sellers for the first time in six months, while resuming net purchases of local bonds. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Friday, offshore investors recorded net equity sales of 13.4 trillion won. They offloaded 13.5 trillion won on the Kospi but were modest net buyers on the Kosdaq, purchasing 118 billion won. December 12, 2025

Weaker won sends Korea's import prices up to a 19-mo high SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) -South Korea’s import prices climbed in November despite a sharp pullback in global fuel costs, as the won’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar outweighed relief from cheaper energy, Bank of Korea data showed Friday. The import price index rose 2.6 percent on month and 2.2 percent on year to 141.82, accelerating from October’s 138.19 and posting the steepest monthly increase since April last year. The gains came even as Dubai crud December 12, 2025

OPINION: The compass for Seoul's FX policy now points to Tokyo The Federal Reserve has cut its rate target range again this week, but the news barely rippled across Korean markets. The dollar strengthened, Korean stocks softened and yields inched upward — hardly the reaction one expects after a major policy decision from Washington. That muted response reflected an important shift in global finance: the Fed may still set the rhythm, but it no longer commands the stage. Markets registered the U.S. rate cut and immediately turned their ga December 11, 2025