Hanwha Systems plans to develop Korea's first homegrown satellite semiconductor

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems has launched development of what it says will be South Korea’s first satellite semiconductor built entirely with domestic technology, marking a major step toward self-reliance in defense-oriented space systems. The company said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute to co-develop “transceiver space semiconductor technology for (ultra) small-satellite multi-channel beamfor

December 3, 2025

Lee hails citizens' courage on first anniversary of martial law debacle

SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday consoled and praised South Korean people, highlighting the country's resilient democracy, one year after disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle. In his nationwide address at the presidential office in Seoul, he praised the people, saying, "I am convinced that South Koreans, who overcame an unprecedented democratic crisis in world history through peaceful means, are fully deserving of

December 3, 2025

Samsung's double-folding smartphone raises stakes in global foldable phone race

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy Z TriFold, the company’s first smartphone capable of folding twice, marking its most ambitious entry yet in the fast-evolving foldables segment. The device was officially launched at a media event in Seoul on Tuesday, after being previewed at the APEC CEO Summit in October. “The Galaxy Z TriFold represents the evolution of our smartphone design and engineering capabilities since o

December 3, 2025

Korea fast-tracks special laws to rescue steel and petrochemical sectors

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s steel and petrochemical industries are coming under renewed strain amid a global economic slowdown and intensifying competition from China, prompting the government to move quickly on targeted legislation to stabilize two of the country’s most critical industrial pillars. Following the recent passage of the K-Steel Act, the Petrochemical Industry Competitiveness and Support Act is also expected to clear the National Assemb

December 3, 2025

South Korea should remember Dec. 3 as Democracy Memorial Day

"A year has passed since the insurrection, yet darkness still lingers," said the ruling party leader, reflecting on the chaos following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law. This statement underscores the ongoing turmoil in society. Since last December, this column has frequently criticized the martial law, mentioning terms like 'impeachment,' 'presidential election,' 'special prosecutor,' and 'People Power Party.' Even when

December 3, 2025

South Korea's FX reserves rise for sixth month to $430.7 billion

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves climbed for a sixth straight month in November, rising by $1.84 billion to $430.66 billion — the highest level since August 2022 — the Bank of Korea (BOK) said on Wednesday. The steady increase follows a five-year low of $404.6 billion recorded in May. The central bank said the latest gain was driven by higher investment returns and an uptick in foreign-currency deposits held by domestic fina

December 3, 2025

Court rejects arrest warrant for PPP's former floor leader

SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - A court denied an arrest warrant for Choo Kyung-ho, the former floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) early Wednesday morning. The Seoul Central District Court rejected the warrant sought by prosecutors over his alleged involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle in December last year, citing considerable legal disputes surrounding the charges. Choo has been accused of interfering with parliam

December 3, 2025

South Korean brokerages post higher profit in Q3

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korean securities firms posted a combined net profit of 2.49 trillion won in the third quarter, up 37.6 percent from a year earlier but down 12.6 percent from the previous quarter, preliminary data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) showed on Wednesday. The sector’s average return on equity rose to 2.6 percent from 2.1 percent a year earlier, supported by a rebound in stock markets that lifted commission income. However, higher

December 3, 2025

Kookmin University professor named among world's top 2 percent food science researchers

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - Kookmin University said in a recent announcement that Jang Yoon-ji, who teaches in the university's Department of Food and Nutrition, has been listed among the 2025 Top 2% Scientists compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. The listing evaluates citation indicators and research impact to identify leading scholars across global fields, and the university noted that Jang's inclusion highlights her influence in food safety and food science researc

December 2, 2025

Cold wave advisory issued in Seoul with sub-zero temperatures expected

SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - A cold wave advisory was issued for all 21 districts of Seoul and surrounding areas on Tuesday, just before a new cold snap hit the capital in the evening. Such an advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to drop by more than 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, or at least 3 degrees below the seasonal average, or when the morning low is forecast to remain at or below -12 degrees for two or more consecutive days. Morning temperatu

December 2, 2025