• 
  China removes one of dubious structures in West Sea SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - China has completed the removal of a structure installed along the West Sea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said on Tuesday. The completion comes about a week after Beijing began removing it last Tuesday, as a follow-up measure after President Lee Jae Myung discussed the matter during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing early last month. But it was just one of a couple of steel structures on the submerged shelf of Ieodo in the February 3, 2026
• 
  Vietnam to accept Korean language test for university admissions SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Vietnam will begin accepting scores from the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) for university admissions starting this year, becoming the latest nation to formally recognize the language amid surging worldwide interest driven by employment opportunities and cultural exports. The Southeast Asian nation becomes the second country to adopt TOPIK results for higher education enrollment after Hong Kong in 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Education said February 3, 2026
• 
  Satellite images suggest North Korean troops rehearse military parade SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - Hundreds of North Korean soldiers were seen "practicing marching formations" in Pyongyang, in what appeared to be preparations for a military parade, according to 38 North, a website formerly run by Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Based on an analysis of Planet Labs' commercial satellite images showing "formations of the hammer, sickle, and brush symbol" of the isolated country's Wo February 3, 2026
• 
  Korean millionaire exodus doubles on mounting tax burden SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -South Korea saw the number of millionaires leaving the country double to 2,400 in 2025 from a year earlier, making it the world’s fourth-largest source of wealthy outflows, claimed a business lobby group to reiterate call for an overhaul of the notoriously-high inheritance tax payment system. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) released a study Tuesday projecting that inheritance tax revenue would surge from 9.6 trillion won ($6.63 bill February 3, 2026
• 
  Upbit operator probed over unlisted share trading practices SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Dunamu, operator of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, is under investigation by the country’s antitrust regulator over suspected unfair practices in the unlisted-share trading market. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Tuesday it recently conducted an on-site inspection at Dunamu’s headquarters in Seoul to examine allegations that the company restricted trading of its own shares to a single platform while denying si February 3, 2026
• 
  The birth of humanoid robots (3): the calculus of steel and flesh Editor's Note: This is the third installment in AJP's series on humanoid robotics, examining the anatomy, technologies and economic logic behind one of the most hyped industries of the decade. SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Humanoid robots are designed for work that is tedious, costly or dangerous for humans. To meet that purpose, their architecture does not merely imitate the human body — it often stretches beyond it, with joints capable of rotating 360 degrees to exceed February 3, 2026
• 
  Hyundai Mobis forms four-way alliance with European firms for holographic windshield display SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Hyundai Mobis said Tuesday it has forged a "Quad Alliance" with three European technology leaders to commercialize holographic windshield displays by 2029, marking a significant push into next-generation automotive display technology. The South Korean auto parts maker has joined forces with German optics giant Zeiss, German adhesive specialist Tesa, and France's Saint-Gobain Sekurit, Europe's largest automotive glass manufacturer, to brin February 3, 2026
• 
  Asian markets recover as Warsh shock fades, KOSPI surges above 5,100 SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -Asian markets recovered Tuesday, led by the Korean market erasing much of the previous session’s steep losses after a brief bout of panic triggered by the nomination of hawkish monetary policy advocate Kevin Warsh as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair. The benchmark KOSPI surged 4.16 percent to move back above the 5,100 level, after briefly dipping below the 5,000 mark on Monday's slide of 5.26 percent . As of 10 a.m., the index was up 206.07 p February 3, 2026
• 
  North Korean leader highlights 'rural revolution' during on-site inspection SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the modernization of rural areas, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim visited a dairy farm in North Pyongan Province for its grand opening the previous day and emphasized his development drive for the "rural revolution." He was quoted as saying that the country's rural areas are "undergoing changes one after another to present a ne February 3, 2026
• 
  BTS Comeback D-46: Gwanghwamun comeback show to be livestreamed on Netflix SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - BTS' long-awaited full-member comeback stage at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 will be livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, the platform's first live event broadcast globally from South Korea. Netflix and HYBE announced that “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” will be streamed exclusively on Netflix at 8 p.m. on March 21. The concert will take place at Gwanghwamun Square, one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks, in conjuncti February 3, 2026