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  Chinese steel prices hit 8-week low, weighing on South Korean mills SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - China’s steel prices have fallen to an eight-week low, heightening concerns that South Korea’s steel industry could face mounting pressure amid new European carbon rules and rising domestic electricity costs. Rebar futures slipped below 3,060 yuan ($425) per ton on Monday, their lowest level in two months, according to Trading Economics. The decline comes as Chinese steelmakers scale back production ahead of the extended holiday shutdown, w February 11, 2026
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  OPINION: Stock market is roaring, and now for the economy South Korea’s stock market is roaring ahead. After the Kospi’s long rally, the Kosdaq has regained momentum, settling above 1,000 for the first time in 25 years. Once dismissed as a speculative sideshow, the junior market is now part of what investors are calling a new era of “Kospi 5,000, Kosdaq 1,000.” Yet the real economy is moving in the opposite direction. Production has weakened, investment has fallen and domestic demand remains slu February 11, 2026
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  Cheering event for South Korean athletes at Winter Olympics in Italy Gyeonggi, February 10 (AJP) - With this year's Winter Olympics underway in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milan, an event cheering on South Korean athletes competing at the quadrennial sporting event was held at a ski resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday. Participants dressed in various winter sports uniforms waved the national flag and cheered for the South Korean national team, creating an energetic atmosphere on the slopes. The event, hosted by Konjiam Resort to en February 10, 2026
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  Stocks are hot, but apartments are hotter in South Korea SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Stocks are hot in South Korea, but Seoul apartments remain hotter, as data shows profits from record market surge are increasingly being redirected into property purchases. Between July and December last year—after the government unveiled a package of housing market curbs in June—2.09 trillion won ($14.4 billion) was withdrawn from stocks and bonds to finance home purchases, according to data obtained from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure February 10, 2026
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  Korea's Gentle Monster marks 15 years, grows into global eyewear brand SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster marked its 15th anniversary this month, underscoring its rise from a local label into a global fashion name as Korean brands gain traction overseas. The company currently operates 84 stores worldwide, including in New York, London, Paris and Milan, and has staged 33 collaborations with fashion houses and artists ranging from Fendi and Moncler to Maison Margiela and Tilda Swinton, according to the company. Gent February 10, 2026
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  Coupang's data breach far worse than initially reported, probe finds SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - About 33.67 million users were affected by e-commerce giant Coupang's massive data leak late last year, a joint probe revealed on Tuesday. The probe, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT along with private agencies, found that about 33.67 million users' names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and other details were exposed. Since users could save other people's information such as family members' details on their accounts for orders, the m February 10, 2026
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  South Korea to send submarine to Canadian waters ahead of $41bn bid decision SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea will deploy a submarine to Canadian waters in June for its first-ever joint naval exercise with Canada, a high-profile move that coincides with Ottawa’s selection process for a $41 billion next-generation submarine program. According to military sources on Tuesday, the deployment will mark the first time a South Korean submarine operates in Canadian waters. The vessel is scheduled to depart in March and cross the Pacific ahead of the dril February 10, 2026
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  South Korea's GS Group posts strong 4Q profit, but full-year earnings slip SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s GS Group reported stronger fourth-quarter earnings on improved refining margins, although full-year profit declined as weakness in petrochemicals and power generation weighed on results. In a regulatory filing on Monday, GS said fourth-quarter revenue rose 1.4 percent from a year earlier to 6.49 trillion won, while operating profit jumped 23.3 percent to 767.2 billion won. For full-year 2025, however, revenue slipped 0.3 percent February 10, 2026
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  BTS Comeback D-39: The secret behind sellout in BTS tours  SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - The lightning sellout at the latest ticket opening for BTS’ two shows at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become a familiar pattern across the global ticket window for the group’s first full seven-member world tour in nearly four years. Both nights vanished within 30 minutes, filling a venue that holds roughly 62,000 people per concert almost instantly. Over two evenings, close to 120,000 fans are expected to pass through the gate February 10, 2026
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  Asian markets advance on Japan-led risk rally; Korean stocks mixed SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Asian markets rose Tuesday after Japan’s postelection surge extended into a second session, setting the tone for regional trading as South Korean stocks lagged the rally. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.3 percent to close at 57,650.5, marking a second straight record. The benchmark has risen more than 6 percent in the two days since the election, as investors welcomed policy continuity and prospects for aggressive fiscal support. Elsewhere, Ch February 10, 2026