• 
  The president has not been joking — and Korea is now part of the global sugar tax debate SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -The president has not been joking. What first sounded like a provocative aside has evolved into a serious public health proposition, as President Lee Jae Myung pushes South Korea into a widening global debate over whether taxation should be used to curb excessive sugar consumption and its long-term health costs. South Koreans are hardly restrained when it comes to dessert. The recent craze for dujjonku — a sugar-drenched, crunchy cookie inspired by February 2, 2026
• 
  Winter's last stand, caught on a wave SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -With just two days left until Ipchun, the traditional marker of spring, winter is refusing a quiet exit. Along the coast, biting winds rake the shoreline and whip the sea into whitecaps, turning the water steel-blue and restless. The cold sharpens everything — the air, the waves, the resolve of those who come to watch and those who come to dive in. Some stand bundled at the water’s edge, hands in pockets, eyes fixed on the surf as it crashes February 2, 2026
• 
  From aisle to android: robots go on sale at E-mart in Korea SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -Shopping carts aren’t the only things rolling through E-mart anymore. South Korea’s largest retailer has become the first in the country to sell humanoid robots as off-the-shelf products, signaling a moment when robots move from showroom curiosities to items consumers can actually take home. At Electromart Yeongdeungpo in western Seoul, E-mart has opened a robot demonstration zone showcasing 14 different robot models, all available for purc February 2, 2026
• 
  Trump's Warsh pick triggers panic in Korean markets for strong USD bias SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Korean markets saw panicky selling on Monday following Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, with equities and the won sliding sharply on concerns that his policy framework could reinforce dollar strength and drain global liquidity. Whether Warsh would ultimately comply with Trump’s long-standing calls for lower borrowing costs remains uncertain. Investors, however, moved quickly to price in a February 2, 2026
• 
  Asian equities tumble as Fed leadership shift triggers selloff SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Asian equities tumbled on Monday, with South Korean markets suffering steep losses as global risk appetite deteriorated amid renewed uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy, prompting investors to dump risk assets across the region. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 5.26 percent to close at 4,949.67, the index’s sharpest single-day decline since April 7, 2025. The index opened sharply lower and extended losses through the session as foreign February 2, 2026
• 
  Authorities warn of spread of livestock disease as Lunar New Year migration looms SEOUL, February 2 (AJP) - South Korea is on alert for the potential spread of livestock diseases ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when many people travel nationwide to their ancestral hometowns. Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong on Monday convened a meeting at the government complex in Sejong to discuss stricter quarantine measures aimed at preventing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. Quarantine officials said th February 2, 2026
• 
  Why Korean rockets are finding buyers on Russia's European doorstep SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Norway’s decision to select South Korea’s Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) for its Long Range Precision Fire System (LRPFS) program reflects a broader recalibration under way among European and NATO militaries bordering Russia — one shaped less by brand loyalty than by timelines, industrial resilience and operational flexibility. The contract, signed by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency with Hanwha Aerospace, covers 16 Chu February 2, 2026
• 
  Grammys 2026: tantalizingly within reach — and quietly setting the stage for BTS' return SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - The door finally opened wider for K-pop at the Grammy Awards, but not quite wide enough to let it walk through with a haul of trophies. At the 68th ceremony, K-pop-linked artists and works appeared across multiple nominations, signaling growing institutional comfort with the genre. Yet when the night ended, the Grammys remained — as they have long been — tantalizingly within reach. The most symbolic breakthrough came not from a perf February 2, 2026
• 
  Krafton bridges PUBG universe with Korean traditional crafts SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Krafton unveiled Monday a collection merging its flagship battle royale IP "PUBG: Battlegrounds" with traditional Korean craftsmanship through a state-led cultural initiative. The project, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and managed by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, aims to reimagine traditional assets within modern industries. Design studio Superposition reinterpreted the game's iconic "Blue Zone" February 2, 2026
• 
  Hyundai Motor Group drops buyback option for Russian plant SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group has decided not to exercise an option to repurchase its former manufacturing plant in Russia, effectively confirming its exit from the Russian market. It will only maintain support services for existing customers, according to industry sources on Monday. The group allowed the buyback option for the St. Petersburg facility to expire at the end of last month, choosing not to reacquire the plant. Hyundai Motor Group sold its enti February 2, 2026