KAIST researchers develop brain-like AI chip perceiving and thinking instantly SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a next-generation artificial intelligence semiconductor that integrates sensing, computing, and memory into a single chip. By mimicking the structure of the human eye and brain, the technology allows devices to perceive and process information instantly without the power loss or delays found in traditional computers. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology ( December 31, 2025

Farewell, volatile 2025. Welcome, year of the Fire Horse SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea passed through a year of sharp political rupture, marked by martial law and impeachment, yet it did not remain suspended in crisis. Gradually, the pulse of society returned. The economy gathered speed from near stillness, and the KOSPI rose with uncommon force, its 76 percent surge reflecting both the promise of artificial intelligence and shifting winds in the global order. Beneath the recovery, divisions linger and the young continue to shoulder un December 31, 2025

Celltrion forecasts record quarterly revenue, operating profit for Q4 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Celltrion said Wednesday that it expects to post record-breaking fourth-quarter results, projecting revenue of 1.28 trillion won ($889 million) and operating profit of 472.2 billion won for the October-December period. The South Korean biopharmaceutical giant's forecast marks a 20.7 percent year-on-year surge in revenue and a 140.4 percent jump in operating profit, with operating margin reaching 36.8 percent. Should the projections hold, Celltrion&# December 31, 2025

Samsung Electronics begins manufacturing operations in Kazakhstan SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has officially launched the production of televisions and washing machines in Kazakhstan, marking the South Korean tech giant's first manufacturing presence in the Central Asian nation. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in South Korea said Wednesday that the new production lines are operating at the Silk Road Electronics plant in Saran, a city in the Karaganda Region. The facility currently employs more than 1,100 people. The project i December 31, 2025

Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki in critical condition after collapsing at home SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki was rushed to a hospital in Seoul after his health suddenly deteriorated, his agency said on Wednesday. According to his management agency Artist Company, he was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest after collapsing at home from choking on food the previous day. He is reportedly in critical condition. Making his debut in 1957 with director Kim Ki-young's "Twilight Train," he has appeared in more than 150 fi December 31, 2025

New year to bring box-office hope for domestic films SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - As the Year of the Snake draws to a close, a slew of domestic films stands ready to usher in the new year, after Hollywood blockbusters dominated the year-end box office. With no single standout hit seen among domestic films, "Zootopia 2," Disney's sequel to the 2016 hit animated film, and "Fire and Ash," the third installment in director James Cameron's epic "Avatar" franchise, have dominated the holiday season, drawi December 31, 2025

Korea's inflation holds near 2% target in 2025, but everyday prices stay close to 3% SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s headline inflation remained broadly anchored near the central bank’s target in 2025, easing to a five-year low of 2.1 percent for the full year, even as households continued to face elevated price pressures in daily expenses hovering near 3 percent — a gap likely to widen further amid persistent weakness in the won. The consumer price index rose 2.3 percent in December from a year earlier, slowing slightly from the 2.4 per December 31, 2025

KAIST nuclear engineering professor named head of Korean Nuclear Society SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Choi Sung-min, a professor of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), will assume office as new president the prestigious Korean Nuclear Society, effective Jan. 1. Choi earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from Seoul National University, before completing a master’s degree and a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technolo December 31, 2025

MASGA shipbuilding push lifts outlook for Korean yards SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is expected to gain momentum next year as a bilateral initiative with the United States aimed at revitalizing American shipbuilding moves toward full implementation, industry officials said on Wednesday. The project, dubbed MASGA, short for “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again,” is designed to support Washington’s efforts to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity. South Korean yards are wid December 31, 2025

Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act faces delay amid dispute over stablecoin rules SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) -South Korea’s government is preparing a Digital Asset Basic Act that would introduce stronger investor protections, including no-fault liability for damages and safeguards to prevent losses stemming from stablecoin issuers’ failures, but the legislation is stalemated by disagreements over stablecoin guidelines. According to financial authorities and National Assembly officials on Tuesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is drafting the December 31, 2025