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  KOSPI defies Trumpian tantrums to scale record high SEOUL, January 27 (AJP)-Korean Exchange staff beam before an electronic board at the main bourse in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Monday, as the benchmark KOSPI flashes past the 5,000 mark on a closing basis for the first time. The index ended the session at a historic 5,084.85, jumping 135.26 points, or 2.73 percent, from the previous trading day, shrugging off renewed tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also advanced, gaining 18.18 points, or 1.71 p January 27, 2026
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  South Korean athletes in final tune-up for next month's Winter Olympics in Italy SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - With this year's Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan just weeks away, South Korean athletes are gearing up for the quadrennial sporting event on ice and snow with final preparations. South Korea will field 71 athletes in snowboarding, bobsleigh, speed skating, short-track skating, and figure skating. The upcoming Olympics will kick off on Feb. 6 and run until Feb. 22, bringing together around 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries to co January 27, 2026
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  Lunar New Year's preparation slightly eases from last year SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - The cost of preparing an ancestral table at traditional markets ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday has been surveyed at 296,500 won(about 205 dollars), slightly lower than last year. According to a survey conducted by Korea Price Information (KPI), a specialized price research agency, on Jan. 25, the cost for a four-person family declined 1.98% year-on-year at traditional markets. Large discount stores also saw a 0.64% drop to 406,880 won(about 282 dolla January 26, 2026
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  Hongcheon ice fishing festival ends with a splash SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) -The arctic cold snap did not spoil the fun at the 2026 Hongcheon Kkongkkong Ice Fishing Festival, which drew about 270,000 visitors to the Hongcheon River area and injected fresh vitality into the local economy. Despite the severe weather, food stalls and sales of local agricultural products reached record highs. The festival earned positive reviews for enhancing its quality as Hongcheon’s signature winter tourism attraction by combining a wide range January 26, 2026
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  In icy Seoul, the Han River slows to a hush SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) -Under the grip of Arctic air, sections of Seoul’s great waterway have begun to harden — ice floes drifting in silence, icicles clinging to embankments where the river meets the city. What is usually a moving ribbon of steel-gray water now carries the weight of winter, visible and unmistakable. A severe cold wave continues to blanket South Korea as northerly winds sweep down the peninsula, driving temperatures sharply lower and pushing wind January 26, 2026
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  Jeju beckons spring with Ipchun festival SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) -Ipchun — the first of the 24 solar terms and the quiet and unseeming threshold of spring — is nearing. Before buds appear or fields turn green, the change arrives as ritual, rhythm and light. From Feb. 2 through Ipchun Day on Feb. 4, Jeju will host the Tamna Kingdom Ipchun Gut, a ceremonial opening of spring rooted in the island’s ancient agricultural memory. The event will unfold at Gwandukjeong Pavilion and the Jeju Mok Government Offic January 26, 2026
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  Italy makes final preparations for Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - With about two weeks remaining until the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, South Korea’s national team has pledged a strong showing at the Games. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee held a send-off ceremony for the national delegation on Wednesday at Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The Games will feature around 5,000 athletes from more than 90 national Olympic committees (NOCs), competing across eight sports and 16 dis January 23, 2026
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  BLACKPINK's Jennie opens first solo photo exhibition SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - BLACKPINK member Jennie is holding her first solo photo exhibition to commemorate her birthday. The exhibition "JENNIE PHOTO EXHIBITION J2NNI5" is running from the 16th to the 29th at YOUTHQUAKE in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The exhibition is particularly significant as Jennie directly participated in the project, capturing her own perspective and sensibility. Rather than showcasing her glamorous on-stage image, the exhibition highlights candid moments o January 23, 2026
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  ROK army special forces conduct winter survival training SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - The ROK Army Special Warfare Command announced on Jan. 22 that it has been conducting winter survival training at training grounds in the Hwangbyeongsan area of Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, from January through February. The training runs for 11 nights and 12 days for each unit. January 23, 2026
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  Gwangyang wildfire fully contained after 13-hour operation SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Authorities have contained a major wildfire in Gwangyang, South Jeollanam Province, that triggered Level 1 emergency response measures due to rapid spread driven by strong winds. The blaze, which broke out at 3:31 PM on the 21st in the hills of Mukbaek-ri, Okgok-myeon, Gwangyang, reached 100 percent containment as of 10:00 AM today, 13 hours and 37 minutes after ignition. Forest authorities activated nighttime firefighting operations at sunset, deployi January 22, 2026