Actor Ahn Hyo-seop to appear on US talk show SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Actor Ahn Hyo-seop will ring in the new year with an appearance on a popular U.S. talk show. He is set to appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Jan. 12, riding the wave of popularity from Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters," in which he lent his voice. The 100-minute K-pop-themed anime became one of Netflix's most popular films, accumulating 500 million views worldwide within ab December 31, 2025

Japan tops most popular international routes as China sees sharp rise in passengers SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Japan-bound flights emerged as the most popular international routes this year, while passenger traffic on China routes posted the strongest growth, according to travel data released by South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet. Based on an analysis of customer usage data for its 2025 travel trends, Eastar Jet said on Wednesday that it carried approximately 5.6 million passengers this year, up 23 percent from the previous year, bringing its cumulative passe December 31, 2025

Policymakers scramble to rescue Korea's fast-sinking film industry SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Moviegoing is quickly going out of fashion in South Korea, with the only films able to stay in theaters for more than a month being foreign, fandom-driven animation franchises this year. As audiences remain glued to YouTube and Netflix, visits to cinemas have dwindled, prompting the government and film policymakers to roll out a series of measures to rescue a struggling industry. “The biggest challenge is that audiences now draw a very clear line December 31, 2025

Stock boom, currency bust: Korea's uneven market rally may spill into 2026 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Roaring stock prices and a tumbling currency defined South Korea’s financial markets in 2025 — a divergence that may persist well into next year. The benchmark KOSPI closed the year Tuesday at 4,214.17, up 75.6 percent from a year earlier, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ jumped 37 percent to 925.47. Both far outperformed regional peers, powered by surging demand for semiconductors, shipbuilding and defense-related stocks. Chipmakers were the u December 31, 2025

PHOTOS: Seoul's DDP prepares for high-octane New Year countdown with media art SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul’s landmark cultural hub, is currently serving as a massive digital canvas for the “Seoul Light: Winter” media art festival. The event, which illuminates the iconic silver curves of the Zaha Hadid-designed structure, is part of the city’s broader “Seoul Winter Festa” celebrations. Running for 14 days from Dec. 18 through Dec. 31, the exhibition uses the building’s 222-me December 31, 2025

South Korean crypto exchange Korbit fined over anti-money laundering breaches SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has fined cryptocurrency exchange Korbit 2.73 billion won ($2 million) for violations of anti-money laundering (AML) obligations, issuing an institutional warning against the company. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said on Wednesday a comprehensive FIU inspection found Korbit had breached legal requirements, including prohibitions on transactions with unreported virtual asset service provider December 31, 2025

Minor earthquake detected in Goheung SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - A 2.0-maginitue earthquake struck Goheung in southwestern South Korea on Wednesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the quake occurred at around 3:30 p.m., about 14 kilometers northeast of Goheung, South Jeolla Province. The epicenter was located at 34.70 degrees north latitude and 127.37 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 14 kilometers. The KMA stated that some residents in the affected area felt weak tremors, but there have December 31, 2025

Look to license plates for clues to Pyongyang's shifting pecking order SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - That North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un favors symbolism is hardly surprising. But his latest gesture suggests a particular flair for political semiotics. Kim has reportedly replaced the license plate on his state limousine — a Russian-made Aurus Senat gifted by President Vladimir Putin — with one bearing the number “7·27 0001.” The first three digits mark July 27, 1953, the date of the Korean War armistice. The r December 31, 2025

IU donates 200 million won to charities SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Singer and actress IU has donated 200 million won (about US$ $139,000) to charities, sharing holiday joy with the underprivileged. According to her management agency EDAM Entertainment, IU made the donation to several charities, which will be distributed to support single mothers facing economic hardship and social prejudice, children and youth in poverty, individuals with hearing disabilities, and the elderly at risk of going hungry during the cold winter December 31, 2025

Lee to lead large entourage for his trip to China SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will be accompanied by a group of financial leaders on his trip to China next week for a summit with President Xi Jinping. Among his entourage is Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong, who will join Lee during his state visit to China from Jan. 4 to 7, according to industry sources on Tuesday. With the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) organizing the entourage, Jin, who chairs the business lobby's financi December 31, 2025