This article is by Lee Jian and read by an artificial voice.

"Comedy requires a shared sense of empathy. More than sadness, laughter demands a deeper, more precise form of connection."
That understanding, by musical director Shim Seol-in, shaped the ongoing production of "Beetlejuice," which, for the first time, brought a comic talent onto its writing team.
"I honestly thought they were joking at first," comedian Lee Chang-ho told reporters Friday in Jongno District, central Seoul.
Lee debuted as a comedian in 2014 and is best known for his parody of drag queen Lola from the musical "Kinky Boots," which surpassed 10 million views after its release in July 2024.

"I've only ever pretended to be a musical actor," Lee said. "So getting to work on an actual musical felt incredibly special. To be honest, I even wanted to go on stage myself — if only I could sing and dance better!"
"Beetlejuice" is adapted from the 1988 film of the same name directed by Tim Burton. After debuting on Broadway in April 2019, the show gained a reputation as a dark comedy that tackles death, grief and the fear of being forgotten.
The story centers on Lydia Deetz, a sharp-witted teenager fascinated by the afterlife, who encounters Beetlejuice, a crude, chaotic demon desperate to return to the world of the living. When a recently deceased couple begins haunting their own home, Beetlejuice manipulates Lydia into helping him escape the underworld.
Neither the original American production nor Korea's first staging of Beetlejuice in 2021 formally carved out space for localized comedy. The 2021 run in Seoul, though it drew attention as the show's first international production, had audience feedback that often cited its humor as underwhelming.

The strategy paid off. Korean-specific jokes — referencing skincare routines and recent headlines — draw steady laughter across the 150-minute performance.
Calling "Beetlejuice" one of the most rewarding projects he worked on in 2025, Lee said the title character's nature gave him more creative freedom than he had expected.
"Beetlejuice is a ten-billion-year-old ghost," Lee said. "He doesn't understand social boundaries. He doesn't know what's appropriate or inappropriate. That gave me a lot of room to experiment."

"We had extensive discussions with the American creative team about every change," Shim said. "Sometimes Lee would even act out the revised jokes in front of them.
"At first, it was hard to break through those barriers. But once [the original creatives and the Korean team] saw the show, I think we all genuinely understood the importance of having those discussions."
One element, however, was nonnegotiable: the "Tim Burton-ness" of Beetlejuice.
"At its core, the show poses simple questions about life and death," Shim said. "It suggests — lightly, playfully — that life might still be worth trying one more time. That attitude, expressed through Tim Burton's sensibility, remains strongly intact in the Korean show."
"Beetlejuice" runs through March 22 at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul.

This article is by Michael Lee and read by an artificial voice.

[EXPLAINER]
When the Seoul Central District Court delivers the first of several verdicts in cases involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol next week, it will pass judgment on one of the most consequential episodes in modern South Korean political history: his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.
Yoon, who was removed from office by the Constitutional Court five months afterward, currently faces seven separate criminal trials related to his actions while in office. The concurrent cases represent the most extensive judicial scrutiny of a former president's conduct since South Korea became a democracy in 1987.
Prosecutors accuse Yoon not only of abusing the powers of his office, but of trying to use the machinery of the executive branch — the military, the police and the Presidential Security Service (PSS) — for political ends that threatened the constitutional order.
Of the seven cases, four were brought by a special counsel appointed to investigate the martial law crisis and its aftermath. Three others were filed by the regular prosecution service and involve separate allegations of abuse of power and political interference during Yoon's presidency. Although the cases differ in scope and seriousness, courts are now moving forward on several of them at the same time.
Two cases stand out. The most serious accuses Yoon of leading an insurrection through his attempt to impose martial law. The other focuses on allegations that he obstructed investigators and interfered with the execution of arrest warrants. The remaining cases — including trials involving alleged perjury, drone operations in North Korea and unrelated abuse-of-power charges — are proceeding more slowly on parallel tracks.
Together, prosecutors argue, the cases show that the former president attempted to use the powers of his office to undermine democracy itself.

Who is in charge of prosecuting Yoon?
Unlike most criminal cases, which are handled by the state prosecution service, most cases involving Yoon are handled by a special counsel team, an investigative mechanism in South Korea reserved for politically sensitive cases. Efforts to establish a special counsel team were repeatedly blocked by Yoon's deputies during his prolonged impeachment. The requisite legislation was enacted only after President Lee Jae Myung was elected in June last year.
The law granted the special counsel broad powers, including the authority to investigate senior officials, to apply directly to courts for arrest and search warrants, and to file indictments without approval from the prosecutor general. Its mandate covered not only Yoon's declaration of martial law, but also related conduct before and after it, such as alleged obstruction of investigators, destruction of evidence and interference with Cabinet deliberations.
Cho Eun-suk, a veteran prosecutor who was appointed special counsel in June, began his work after Yoon had already been indicted on insurrection charges. Rather than reopening that case, Cho's office took over its prosecution while also pursuing new inquiries into Yoon's conduct before and after his impeachment.
That approach led to a second indictment in July on obstruction and abuse-of-power charges. By keeping those allegations separate from the insurrection case, the special counsel created the multiple-track structure that now defines Yoon's criminal proceedings. The obstruction case, narrower and less complex, moved more quickly and is now the first of Yoon's cases expected to reach judgment.
The special counsel's charging decisions also affected how courts handled other defendants. Because senior military and police officials were indicted under a shared theory of responsibility, judges ordered that the insurrection-related cases be merged for trial. That decision placed Yoon at the center of a single proceeding examining the full chain of command behind the martial law attempt.
A...

This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice.

In recent years, Korea has become an increasingly popular choice for overseas patients seeking cosmetic and other medical treatments thanks to its advanced techniques and widely available medical services.
What many find confusing, however, is where to begin that journey: which clinic to choose, which surgeon to approach for a procedure or even how to book an appointment — particularly in a country with roughly 1,200 plastic surgery clinics.
That's when medical tourism agencies come in. From flight arrangements to clinic bookings and post-procedure care, these agencies make sure patients receive the treatments they want, and even more, often within a tight schedule.
"For our company, even shopping or light sightseeing are standard for surgery patients," said Eugenia Hwang, a general manager at a medical tourism agency Docfinderkorea. The agency even assists with much smaller tasks, including food delivery during a patient's stay in Korea. "Sometimes, this means finding halal meals, suitable options for vegetarians or vegans or simply foods that feel familiar and comforting during recovery."

The industry's rapid growth has even resulted in the coining of the term "medical tourism," referring to foreign travelers coming to Korea for beauty and other treatments and has been on the government agenda for years as a means to spur growth in tourism sector.
Many K-beauty followers come on tightly scheduled trips, opting for bundled packages that compress multiple procedures into just a few days — from treatments that take only minutes, such as Botox injections or skin boosters, to more involved operations like eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty.
During these short-term visits, it is often agency managers, as well as consultants and translators, who ensure the experience runs smoothly.

K-beauty's invisible brokers
Korean patients usually book directly with clinics, hopping from one to another in search of the right surgeon at a reasonable price. Many international visitors, however, first turn to medical tourism agencies, easily searchable online.

Medical tourism agencies help foreign patients plan and manage medical treatment abroad and are run by government-backed centers, such as the Medical Korea Info Center or private companies.
As of 2024, there were 1,195 plastic surgery clinics in Korea, up 20.6 percent from 991 in 2019, according to data by Rep. Kim Mi-ae from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The number of dermatology clinics also rose by 11.8 percent over the same period.

For most overseas patients using the agencies, the process begins online.
Initial contact typically takes place through messaging platforms or email, where online consultations allow agency managers to identify patient's concerns, help in finding suitable clinics for desired procedures and gather recommendations and pricing quotes.
Once a patient decides to move forward, the manager schedules consultations and surgeries, explains recovery timelines and helps with travel preparation, including hotel bookings and visa-related guidance.
"They are not living in Korea, so they need to plan to their whole journey," said Maiya Kogay, who has spent seven years working across K-beauty industry both at agencies and clinics. "That's why the online consultation is an important part."
When the patient arrives in Korea, "the role becomes much more hands-on," said Hwang.
Managers typically meet patients at the airport and, from that point on, become inseparable companions, accompanying them to every clinic visit. "During consultations, the manager ensures that both the doctor and the patient fully understand each other, particularly when discussing expectations, limitations and surgical plans."
Support continues after surgery, with managers soothing post-op worries, delivering care kits and medications and escorting patients to every follow-up visit. "This level of support can be especiall...

This article is by Park Eun-jee and read by an artificial voice.

Apple is eyeing a release of its first foldable smartphone in September, according to a source familiar with the matter, as the world's largest smartphone maker moves to enter the market for the relatively new form factor, which is currently dominated by Samsung Electronics.
In line with Apple's alleged schedule, Samsung Display, a panel maker 84.8 percent owned by its namesake, will begin the production of Apple-bound foldable panels — as the sole vendor — in May.
"The baseline schedule is set for September, but there's still a chance it could be pushed back," said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. "Around 9 million panels are expected to be supplied for the folding model in the initial batch."
Both Apple and Samsung Display declined to comment.

The anticipation comes as the Korean panel maker unveiled an advanced organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display with a markedly less noticeable crease than on previous models ahead of the CES trade show on Jan. 5, addressing one of the most persistent issues with foldable technology.
While Samsung Display did not confirm if the new panel is intended for the upcoming Apple foldable and Galaxy Z Fold 8, it did release a statement on the panel's new features, noting that "the next-generation foldable panel features a noticeably shallower crease compared to previous models, significantly reducing the visual degradation caused by light reflection or shadowing along the fold."
At the heart of the improvement is a laser-drilled metal plate that will go underneath the panel to disperse stress when the device is folded — ultimately making the crease less eye-catching.
"The design appears to incorporate ultrathin glass layers on the top and bottom of the panel, as well as a metal plate on the bottom, to help improve the crease," the source added.
Market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC) expected Apple to take around 20 percent of shares in the foldable market.
"But the real game-changer for the category comes at year-end when Apple enters the foldable space, projected to capture over 22 percent unit share and a staggering 34 percent of the foldables market value in its first year, thanks to an expected average price point of $2,400," said Nabila Popal, a senior research director at IDC in a report from December 2025.
Samsung is the undisputed leader in the foldable market, with 64 percent of shares in terms of shipment as of the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest data available from Counterpoint Research, followed by Huawei with 10 percent.

Cho Won-kyeong
The author is a professor of economics at Sejong University.
The year 2025 was a revealing one in regard to global asset markets. Gold and Bitcoin, once grouped together as "alternative assets," have clearly diverged paths. While gold has continued to set record highs, Bitcoin remains the subject of sharply divided views on its trajectory for 2026.

This difference is not simply a result of price movements. It reflects the questions that we must ask about capitalism itself. Gold's rise is not driven by a narrow return to safe haven preferences. Global liquidity has expanded, fiscal deficits have become structural rather than cyclic and financial sanctions and geopolitical tensions are now part of the everyday landscape. In such an environment, central banks and governments are less concerned with yield than with monetary sovereignty and trust.
Gold stands out because it is not based on anyone's promise. It cannot be excluded from settlement systems through political decisions or financial sanctions. That is why demand for gold does not easily weaken even as prices rise. It functions more like insurance. Few people cancel an insurance policy simply because the premium has increased.
Silver presents a different profile. It often moves alongside gold but has a distinct identity as an industrial asset. The global push toward energy transition and the expansion of AI infrastructure are structurally increasing demand for silver. At the same time, its price is far more sensitive to the business cycle and shifts in technology outlooks. Silver frequently appears cheap, but that perception can be misleading if its dual nature is misunderstood.
Bitcoin, once described as "digital gold," currently sits far from the traditional definition of a safe haven asset. In a high interest rate environment, it is largely treated as a risk asset. It does not figure into central bank reserve strategies and is increasingly viewed as sharing the fate of technology stocks rather than that of monetary hedges. For Bitcoin to regain broader strength, the market's underlying focus would need to move away from returns and toward a more fundamental concern: whether the existing monetary system itself can continue to be trusted.
In this sense, the three assets are responding to different signals: Gold reflects anxiety about a dollar-centered monetary order; silver mirrors the direction of industrial transformation; and Bitcoin poses a challenge to the credibility of the current currency system.
Reading these divergent movements together offers a clearer picture of where modern capitalism stands today and what kinds of uncertainties are shaping investor behavior at this moment.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

Kim Won-bae
The author is an editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo.
Calls to relocate semiconductor fabs slated for the Yongin semiconductor cluster to Saemangeum in North Jeolla Province mark a departure from conventional regional lobbying for industrial projects. These demands seek to politically overturn a national strategic industry already approved and under construction by invoking access to renewable energy. Asking companies to move fabs that have already broken ground in Yongin is unrealistic and would impose enormous national opportunity costs. The semiconductor industry is not a matter of simply moving buildings. It depends on dense ecosystems of skilled workers, supplier networks and research infrastructure.

The controversy escalated ahead of local elections after some North Jeolla politicians raised the idea and Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan publicly echoed concerns about whether factories should move to regions with more power capacity. Attempting to use central government authority to relocate operating or soon-to-be-operating fabs to areas that have yet to meet basic location requirements is anachronistic and inappropriate. Advocates cite the principle of local production and local consumption of energy, yet it is unclear whether Saemangeum actually meets that standard better than existing sites.
According to the government's Power Statistics Information System, South Chungcheong Province generated the most electricity in 2024 at 103,618 gigawatt-hours, largely due to its concentration of thermal power plants. In terms of self-sufficiency, North Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and South Chungcheong all exceeded 200 percent, producing more than twice their own consumption and exporting the surplus. North Jeolla produced 15,878 gigawatt-hours, about 15 percent of South Chungcheong's output, with a self-sufficiency rate of 73 percent. While plans exist to build an RE100 industrial complex in Saemangeum, renewable sources with limited generation hours cannot reliably supply the massive and continuous power demand of semiconductor fabs.
If this logic were applied consistently, regions with higher existing output or self-sufficiency could demand that fabs be moved to their jurisdictions once they add renewable capacity. Such arguments would never end. Political pressure that distorts corporate location decisions ultimately harms the industry and the national economy.
At the same time, the current model in which the Seoul metropolitan area functions as a black hole absorbing provincial power and resources is not sustainable. Regional grievances are clear. Electricity is largely produced outside the capital area, yet power-intensive factories are concentrated around Seoul. While tax revenues collected in the capital are redistributed through grants and subsidies, that mechanism alone can no longer justify persistent concentration.
The solution is equally clear. Instead of pressing the central government to force relocations, regions must compete to create sites companies cannot ignore. Stable electricity supply is necessary but insufficient. Abundant industrial water and livable environments that allow skilled workers to settle, including housing, education and health care, must also be in place.
Japan's Kyushu region offers a useful comparison. Through long-term coordination between local governments and companies, it built infrastructure, talent pipelines and supply chains to become a semiconductor hub. Investments by firms such as Sony and Taiwan's TSMC flowed to Kyushu not because it was rural but because it was competitive.

The same applies to Texas in the United States. In 2024, Texas ranked first in U.S. natural gas production, with gas accounting for 44 percent of power generation. Wind made up 24 percent and solar 10 percent, while nuclear and coal provided additional stability. Combined with aggressive state tax incentives and work force programs linked to universities, this energy mix ...

Oh Se-jung
The author is a professor emeritus of physics and astronomy and a former president of Seoul National University.
Just over three years have passed since OpenAI released ChatGPT in late November 2022, yet AI is already reshaping daily life and industrial workplaces. Tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot and Google's Gemini now excel at tasks such as document summarization and information retrieval and are widely used in schools and companies.

Universities are struggling to respond as students increasingly rely on AI for essay assignments and even examinations. AI is also beginning to transform the labor market. Law firms are cutting back on hiring junior lawyers who once specialized in researching past cases. As AI systems become capable of writing computer code, many IT companies are reducing recruitment or laying off programmers. In the United States, even graduates from top universities with computer science degrees are reportedly facing difficulties finding jobs.

What makes this challenge more serious is the speed of change. Major U.S. technology firms are investing enormous sums in AI development, effectively staking their corporate futures on it, while Chinese companies are rapidly joining the race. Competition between the United States and China has intensified as both sides believe leadership in AI will determine the fate of companies and nations alike. Against this backdrop, predictions that artificial general intelligence, or AGI, could emerge within the next decade are gaining traction.
Even today's AI systems, which remain limited to specific domains, are already exerting a significant social impact. If AGI were to appear, the scale of change would be difficult to imagine. It is not clear whether human society could adapt. This may well be a turning point in human civilization. At such a critical moment, even a brief lapse could alter a nation's trajectory. Korea has responded by making its goal of becoming one of the world's top three AI powers a key national priority.
Policies pursued under this banner include expanding AI computing infrastructure, developing sovereign AI systems, fostering AI-related industries and training AI specialists. All of these measures are necessary. Yet they share a fundamental limitation: they are supply-side policies. As noted earlier, AI is a technology that affects society as a whole, not only those who develop or deploy it. Every citizen will feel its impact.
The World Economic Forum, which champions an AI-driven Fourth Industrial Revolution, has predicted that two-thirds of children entering elementary school today will work in jobs that do not yet exist. If society is set to change this profoundly, preparation cannot be limited to a small group of AI professionals. All citizens must be equipped to navigate the AI era, and education is the only way to build that capacity.
Can Korea's education system meet this challenge? The greatest obstacle is that it remains trapped in the "catch-up" model of the industrialization era. Memorization still dominates most classrooms. The multiple-choice format of the College Scholastic Ability Test stifles creativity rather than nurturing it. Compounding the problem, education policy moves at a glacial pace. The national curriculum that was revised in 2015 was not fully implemented until 2020, and it took another three years before it was fully reflected in the college entrance exam. Discussions about introducing descriptive questions to foster creative thinking have dragged on for more than a decade and remain unresolved.

Measured against the pace of AI development, five or 10 years is an eternity. Yet that is how long educational reform routinely takes in Korea. This mismatch is untenable.
To adapt to AI technology advancing at near light speed, education must become more agile. The first question should be what schools ought to teach in the AI era. Just as there is little reason to emphasize mental arithmetic in an age of...

Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan has acknowledged the flaws of the nuclear phaseout policy pursued under the Moon Jae-in administration and recognized the need for nuclear power. It is a rare moment of self-reflection from the Lee Jae Myung government's top energy policymaker, who had previously been a leading advocate of denuclearization during the Moon government.
Speaking at the Second Policy Forum on a Desirable Energy Mix on Wednesday, Kim said Korea must operate its power system stably because it hosts key industries such as semiconductors. While he said he would like to rely entirely on renewable energy if possible, he acknowledged that it is not easy given the reality of ensuring a stable power supply. He also noted that Korea's short east-west span limits the amount of sunlight available for solar power generation, adding that he had only recently come to recognize the seriousness of this constraint.
Kim further said it was awkward that Korea refrained from building nuclear plants at home while exporting nuclear technology abroad during the Moon administration. His remarks amounted to an admission that new nuclear power plants are necessary.
Kim had once been one of the ruling camp's most prominent advocates of a nuclear phaseout, declaring that denuclearization was an irreversible global trend. However, after becoming the minister in charge of energy policy, he appears to have confronted the reality that nuclear power is indispensable for meeting the surging electricity demand of the AI era and for compensating for the intermittency of renewable energy.
As an environmentalist, Kim may also have concluded that clinging to the nuclear phaseout debate would make the more urgent goal of carbon reduction unattainable. At the first forum, he said it was regrettable that five years were lost under the Moon government amid prolonged disputes over nuclear power, during which coal could not be phased out more quickly.
Though belated, this shift in perception is welcome. The challenge is translating recognition into action. The central issue of the current forum is whether to build two new nuclear reactors. These reactors were already included in the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties early last year.
The ministry has reopened the issue for public discussion and plans to finalize the decision in the 12th plan, scheduled for the second half of this year.
While prospects for new nuclear construction have improved, the timeline remains unhurried. With the government pledging to shut down coal-fired power plants by 2040 to address the climate crisis, nuclear power remains the only realistic alternative. As the global race for AI leadership intensifies, countries are fiercely competing to secure affordable and reliable energy.
The United States and Europe are expanding nuclear capacity and even Japan, despite the Fukushima disaster, has resumed reactor operations. There is neither reason nor time to delay a project that has already been agreed upon. Having taken a forward-looking stance, the government should promptly finalize its plans and reduce the uncertainty facing the industry.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

Samsung Electronics' estimated operating profit more than tripled to 20 trillion won ($14 billion) for the September-December 2025 period compared to the year before, beating even heightened market expectations amid a semiconductor supercycle driven by the AI boom.
The estimate blew past the market consensus of 18.5 trillion won provided by market tracker FnGuide, marking a whopping 208.17 percent surge from the same quarter a year earlier. Projected revenue provided by the chipmaker stood at 93 trillion won, also surpassing the market forecast of 91.47 trillion won and an increase of 22.71 percent on year.
Detailed figures per business division were not given during the preliminary guidance. The company is scheduled to release full earnings later this month.
Analysts expect the chip segment to post a record operating profit of more than 16 trillion won, the highest quarterly result in the unit's history. The previous peak was 13.65 trillion won in the third quarter of 2018 during the last chip upcycle.

A golden age for memory semiconductors... and foundries?
By division, memory's operating profit is expected to come to 17.7 trillion won, with 15.5 trillion won from dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and 2.2 trillion won from NAND flash chips, driven by memory price increases from supply shortages, according to an SK Securities report. However, the report forecast chip manufacturing and chip design divisions, combined, to log 1.1 trillion won in operating loss.
Supply constraints are not limited to high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI accelerators. As global chipmakers prioritize HBM production, supplies of conventional DRAM and NAND chips are also tightening, benefiting Samsung across its broader memory portfolio.
"Major server customers are planning for faster server build-outs to meet surging token demand, prioritizing supply chain stability over pricing," Daishin Securities analyst Ryu Hyung-keun said. "As a result, server DRAM prices in the first quarter of 2026 are projected to rise 40 to 50 percent quarter-on-quarter."
Analysts note that memory manufacturers are becoming more cautious in capacity planning amid the AI boom, increasing the risk of supply shortages as demand shifts from predictable consumer electronics to hyperscale AI data centers capable of driving sudden demand spikes.
"With supply prepared cautiously and AI-driven demand rising in stepwise bursts, the industry is increasingly exposed to severe shortages in 2026 and 2027," Meritz Securities analyst Kim Sun-woo said. "Chip price momentum is expected to persist throughout the year, reinforced by the seasonality of conventional demand, with memory makers' share prices likely to move in tandem."
Although Samsung's foundry business is still projected to post losses for now, industry observers expect it to swing back to black later this year following new deals with U.S. Big Tech companies, including Qualcomm.

Qualcomm is reportedly in talks with Samsung over the contract manufacturing of two-nanometer chips for mobile processors, according to an exclusive report by the Korea Economic Daily. The report cited recent comments from Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon at CES 2026. If confirmed, the deal would mark Qualcomm's return to Samsung as a key customer after five years, following its shift to TSMC in 2022 due to Samsung's manufacturing challenges.
Jun Young-hyun, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and head of its chip business, said the foundry division is "at the threshold of its next leap forward" in his New Year's address on Jan. 2, following a major $16.5 billion deal with Tesla signed in July 2025.

Shares skyrocket
Investment firms have unanimously maintained buy ratings on the stock. Daishin Securities set the highest six-month target price at 180,000 won, matching targets from Korea Investment & Securities and KB Securities. DB Securities set a target of 174,000 won, while Eu...

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

Samsung Electronics' estimated operating profit more than tripled to 20 trillion won ($14 billion) for the September-December 2025 period compared to the year before, beating even heightened market expectations amid a semiconductor supercycle driven by the AI boom.
The estimate blew past the market consensus of 18.5 trillion won provided by market tracker FnGuide, marking a whopping 208.17 percent surge from the same quarter a year earlier. Projected revenue provided by the chipmaker stood at 93 trillion won, also surpassing the market forecast of 91.47 trillion won and an increase of 22.71 percent on year.
Detailed figures per business division were not given during the preliminary guidance. The company is scheduled to release full earnings later this month.
Analysts expect the chip segment to post a record operating profit of more than 16 trillion won, the highest quarterly result in the unit's history. The previous peak was 13.65 trillion won in the third quarter of 2018 during the last chip upcycle.

A golden age for memory semiconductors... and foundries?
By division, memory's operating profit is expected to come to 17.7 trillion won, with 15.5 trillion won from dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and 2.2 trillion won from NAND flash chips, driven by memory price increases from supply shortages, according to an SK Securities report. However, the report forecast chip manufacturing and chip design divisions, combined, to log 1.1 trillion won in operating loss.
Supply constraints are not limited to high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI accelerators. As global chipmakers prioritize HBM production, supplies of conventional DRAM and NAND chips are also tightening, benefiting Samsung across its broader memory portfolio.
"Major server customers are planning for faster server build-outs to meet surging token demand, prioritizing supply chain stability over pricing," Daishin Securities analyst Ryu Hyung-keun said. "As a result, server DRAM prices in the first quarter of 2026 are projected to rise 40 to 50 percent quarter-on-quarter."
Analysts note that memory manufacturers are becoming more cautious in capacity planning amid the AI boom, increasing the risk of supply shortages as demand shifts from predictable consumer electronics to hyperscale AI data centers capable of driving sudden demand spikes.
"With supply prepared cautiously and AI-driven demand rising in stepwise bursts, the industry is increasingly exposed to severe shortages in 2026 and 2027," Meritz Securities analyst Kim Sun-woo said. "Chip price momentum is expected to persist throughout the year, reinforced by the seasonality of conventional demand, with memory makers' share prices likely to move in tandem."
Although Samsung's foundry business is still projected to post losses for now, industry observers expect it to swing back to black later this year following new deals with U.S. Big Tech companies, including Qualcomm.

Qualcomm is reportedly in talks with Samsung over the contract manufacturing of two-nanometer chips for mobile processors, according to an exclusive report by the Korea Economic Daily. The report cited recent comments from Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon at CES 2026. If confirmed, the deal would mark Qualcomm's return to Samsung as a key customer after five years, following its shift to TSMC in 2022 due to Samsung's manufacturing challenges.
Jun Young-hyun, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and head of its chip business, said the foundry division is "at the threshold of its next leap forward" in his New Year's address on Jan. 2, following a major $16.5 billion deal with Tesla signed in July 2025.

Shares skyrocket
Investment firms have unanimously maintained buy ratings on the stock. Daishin Securities set the highest six-month target price at 180,000 won, matching targets from Korea Investment & Securities and KB Securities. DB Securities set a target of 174,000 won, while Eu...

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

[INTERVIEW]
LAS VEGAS — Zachary Jackowski, head of humanoid development at Boston Dynamics, highlighted the technological edge of their robots over Chinese counterparts that focus on flashy "kung fu" moves, dismissing such displays as lacking practical and economic value.
His remarks directly rebut market skepticism over the delayed launch of its Atlas humanoid compared to Chinese rivals amid a surge of robot unveilings by Chinese front-runners such as Unitree Robotics and UBTech Robotics at this year's CES in Las Vegas.
Boston Dynamics, which is 90 percent owned by Hyundai Motor Group, unveiled Atlas for the first time at CES 2026 and announced plans to deploy it at a Hyundai factory in 2028.
"When you think about value, it's one thing to have a robot that can walk around or do kung fu moves. It's an entirely different thing to have a robot capable of complex manipulation tasks that actually bring value to customers," Jackowski said.
"That's where Boston Dynamics is already leading, and we will continue to double down on bringing the most value with the highest capabilities in real applications for humanoids," he added. "We're very focused on leading the market not only in robot performance but also on delivering a robot that provides the most value to customers.
Oh Se-uk, head of the Robotics Business Innovation Group at Hyundai Mobis, agreed with Jackowski, pinpointing the lack of technical prowess of Chinese firms.
"Chinese companies focus more on imitating human behavior," Oh said. "Boston Dynamics is designed to outperform humans on actual production lines. That gap is what you need to understand."
Hyundai Mobis, a parts affiliate of Hyundai, has been selected as the major supplier of actuators for Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot production, making it one of the biggest beneficiaries of Hyundai's expanded robot strategies. Actuators, which turn energy into physical force, account for about 50 to 60 percent of a robot's cost.
Hyundai Motor is planning a U.S. factory with an annual capacity of 30,000 units, targeting mass production by 2028.
"We believe our experience developing core automotive parts gives us a competitive edge since many components are similar to those used in robots," Oh said.
"The electric power steering we currently mass-produce has a similar structure. We are developing ultracompact, high-density actuators for robots based on that technology, including motors and reducers," he added. "We are also hiring specialists because Boston Dynamics' products require high-performance, high-spec parts."
Oh hinted that Mobis could enter the gripper market after actuators.
"We also consider sensors such as batteries, radar and LiDAR — which we already secure for autonomous driving — as core components for robots," Oh said.
Prototype production of the actuators is scheduled for midyear at Hyundai Mobis's R&D center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi. Mass production is expected to focus near Boston Dynamics' factory, likely in Georgia, where Hyundai has a massive EV plant.

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

LAS VEGAS — At this year's CES, Chinese electronics makers wowed visitors with massive booths and oversized products — yet some exhibits featured designs strikingly similar to Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
At the TCL booth in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center — a spot historically secured by Samsung for years — the company showcased its "NXT HOME" concept, displaying a range of TVs including the A300 series. This time, TCL removed the "NXT FRAME" name from its products after losing a lawsuit against Samsung.

Samsung originally launched The Frame concept in 2017, debuting a TV designed to double as a gallery for artwork or personal photos, even when it is powered off.
TCL launched a similar concept, the "NXT FRAME," at IFA 2024, Europe's largest electronics show.
Samsung sued TCL, accusing the Chinese manufacturer of copying its design and concept. In February last year, TCL's German subsidiary lost the case, with a German court ruling that "NXT FRAME" violated Samsung's trademark.
Hisense also styled its booth around its "Canvas TV" and "Deco TV" lines, featuring models enhanced with interior design elements.
Among the displays was a portable screen named "FollowMe," which bore a strong resemblance in design and color to LG Electronics' megahit "StanbyME."

Chinese brand Dreame, best known for its robot vacuum cleaners, unveiled a pet-focused air purifier, the Dreame Purcatch Air Purifier FP10, highlighting its ability to efficiently capture pet hair and dander while hygienically disposing of dust via a sealed antibacterial dust box.
The device's design, however, closely mirrored LG's PuriCare AeroCat Tower, with both units incorporating a seating platform atop the purifier. LG's product was first unveiled a year ago at CES 2025.

The oddly familiar products notwithstanding, the presence of Chinese companies at CES 2026 — and their innovations — was impossible to ignore.
TCL showcased a 163-inch Micro LED TV, surpassing Samsung's 130-inch Micro RGB TV — also revealed at the show — by 33 inches.
It also showcased its SQD Mini LED, branded the "Super Quantum Dot," positioned to compete with Samsung's premium Neo QNED line.
Hisense introduced a 116-inch RGB Mini LED TV, promoted as the world's longest RGB Mini LED TV, alongside a 150-inch laser TV displayed in a dedicated space.

This article is by Ko Suk-hyun, Lee Su-jeong and read by an artificial voice.

Korean shipbuilders regained a 20 percent share of the global shipbuilding market in 2025, with the nation's shipyards now focusing on liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and naval ships to sustain profitability this year, even as the global ship market continues to shrink.
Global ship orders in 2025 totaled 76.78 million compensated gross tons (CGT) — equivalent to 3,235 vessels — down 27 percent from the previous year, based on data released Wednesday by British maritime industry tracker Clarkson Research. Of that, Korea accounted for 21 percent, or 11.6 million CGT across 247 vessels, placing second after China, which took 61 percent, or 35.37 million CGT from 1,421 vessels.
Korea's market share had dropped to 17 percent in 2024 but rebounded to the 20 percent range last year, driven by an 8 percent increase in order volume. China's orders, by contrast, declined 35 percent over the same period.
The global shipbuilding outlook, however, continues to worsen, while Chinese shipbuilders are escalating their price-based competition. The Export-Import Bank of Korea's Overseas Economic Research Institute expects global ship orders to fall 14.6 percent by volume and 15.2 percent by value this year.
"As new ship prices show a gradual decline, shipowners are increasingly taking a wait-and-see approach," said Yang Jong-seo, a visiting professor of naval architecture and ocean engineering at Seoul National University.
Korean shipbuilders are turning to high-value and specialized vessels such as LNG carriers and naval ships to compete. While China now dominates the container ship and bulk carrier markets, Korea retains a technological edge in LNG shipbuilding.

The so-called Big Three — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries — are expected to secure $46.7 billion in new orders this year, a 28.65 percent increase from the $36.3 billion recorded in 2025, according to shipbuilding and securities industry forecasts.
HD Hyundai, which includes KSOE, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho, has set a 2026 order target of $23.31 billion — up 29.14 percent from the $18.05 billion it achieved last year. While Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries have not disclosed their goals, Daol Investment & Securities estimates $12.3 billion for Hanwha Ocean and $11.1 billion for Samsung Heavy Industries. Financial data firm FnGuide projects the combined operating profit of the three shipbuilders at 7.62 trillion won ($5.26 billion).
Additional momentum is coming from the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again project, or MASGA, a Korea-U.S. initiative to rebuild American shipbuilding. The U.S. legislative ban on the construction or sourcing of U.S. military vessels and components from overseas may also be eased.
"If the [legal ban] is amended, it could pave the way for Korean shipbuilders to supply blocks and bare hulls to the United States," said Choi Kwang-sik, a researcher at Daol Investment & Securities. "That would be a key opportunity for HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean. While Samsung Heavy Industries does not have a portfolio in warships, it is expected to benefit from its partnership [with U.S.-based shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO and Korean engineering firm DSEC] to bid for the U.S. Navy's next-generation logistics support ship program, the NGLS."

Korean shipbuilders have also started the new year with fresh wins. KSOE signed a 1.5 trillion won contract with a North American shipping company to build four LNG carriers. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries secured a contract to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the 41,000-ton U.S. Navy cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez.
"LNG carrier orders have risen since the second half of last year due to the emergence of new gas fields," Yang said. "Korean shipbuilders will continue to compete in high-value ship orders. And while they already have about ...

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

LAS VEGAS — An aching lower back, a chronically stiff neck — does a trip to a clinic or hospital have to be the only answer? What if care could be easily delivered from the comfort of your own home?
Ceragem may have an answer at CES 2026, where it is showcasing a broad portfolio of products from circulation-enhancing chairs designed to improve blood flow to a "brain booth" that analyzes children's stress levels and boosts concentration.
Ceragem does not see itself as a luxury furniture or interior design company, but as one rooted fundamentally in medical technology — at least, that is how Ceragem CEO Lee Kyung-soo defines the company's core distinction from Korean electronics giants such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
"Our starting point is medical devices. Even when it comes to beauty devices, we ask ourselves how we can deliver treatments at a dermatology-clinic level," Lee said in an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at CES 2026 on Jan. 7.
"What kind of wallpaper should go into a child's room? What materials make a home healthier for children? Ceragem exists to answer those questions."

Ceragem's booth at CES was divided into three zones, each tailored to different age groups: teenagers and young adults, middle-aged consumers and seniors in their '70s and '80s. Every tour began in a zone where visitors can measure their stress levels, depression markers and other mental health signals, along with blood pressure, blood glucose and body composition.
The zone designed for teenagers features an AI-powered bed that learns a child's sleep patterns, study hours, and emotional state to understand the rhythm of their day, allowing focus, rest and recovery to flow more naturally.
During periods that require deep concentration, the "Brain Booth with AI Coach" transforms into a personalized learning space. By analyzing brain waves and biometric signals, it calibrates study and focus time based on fatigue and attention levels, while automatically controlling lighting, sound and oxygen levels to sustain immersion.

For middle-aged users, Ceragem introduced the "Home Therapy Booth," which allows users to enjoy a sauna-like experience at home, equipped with an internal display for content consumption and an optional opaque mode for privacy.
The "Balance AI Shower System," reminiscent of a shower filter, was also displayed, with a front-mounted 3-D scanning sensor that optimizes water temperature, while fingerprint recognition loads individual user profiles, enabling family members to personalize their shower experience.
For senior users, the "Master V9" provides a thermal massage calibrated to body temperature, designed to help alleviate symptoms associated with herniated discs.
The "Home Medicare Bed," featuring motion-bed functionality, analyzes users' health conditions through embedded sensors as they lie on it. An aroma diffuser integrated into the headboard promotes deeper, more restful sleep.
Looking five years ahead, Ceragem aims to move beyond providing wellness-focused interiors to delivering entire wellness residential spaces. As a step toward that goal, the company is preparing to open a nursing care facility in northern Seoul.
"Our ultimate goal is to offer silver towns or short-term residential spaces under names such as Ceragem Wellstown or Wellstay," Lee said. "Ceragem will be a brand like Starbucks or McDonald's, while simultaneously becoming a data-driven company like Baedal Minjok."
Lee also hinted that he is targeting an initial public offering (IPO) in 2028, with plans to pursue pre-IPO investment beginning this year.
Ceragem currently operates around 2,500 stores globally. Of those, 1,200 are in China, each serving an average of 1,500 customers.
It is also looking to expand into Europe. It is set to participate in the Milan furniture fair with its circulation chair, a seated device designed to improve blood circulation and relieve mus...

This article is by Shin Ha-nee and read by an artificial voice.

At the intersection of the new and the familiar — where Y2K retro nostalgia meets the AI surge — sits singer Chuu's first full-length album "XO, My Cyberlove." The milestone is also the point at which her tumultuous journey, now nearing a decade, gives way to a new one.
As Chuu enters her 10th year in the industry, the 26-year old says the timing feels right to fully show who she is as an artist with a full-length album, an increasingly rare format in the K-pop industry, where many artists instead opt for EPs or singles.

"This felt like the right timing," said Chuu during a roundtable interview on Wednesday in southern Seoul, the day of the latest album's release. "Not because I saw it as the destination of my story, but as a new starting point for stories I wish to tell, which have now become clearer."
Chuu, whose real name is Kim Ji-woo, debuted as a member of girl group Loona in 2017, but left the group in 2022 amid a legal dispute with BlockBerry Entertainment over the validity of her exclusive contract and unfair profit distribution. She ultimately won her case in 2024.
Chuu launched her solo career under ATRP in 2023 with her first EP "Howl."
Her first full-length album "XO, My Cyberlove," comes about eight months after her third EP, "Only cry in the rain" (2025), and consists of nine songs: the title track, along with B-sides "Canary," "Cocktail Dress," "Limoncello," "Teeny Tiny Heart," "Love Potion," "Heart Tea Bag," "Hide & Seek" and "Loving You!"

The title track, "XO, My Cyberlove," leans into a dreamy pop sound with its lyrics centered on the "emotional resonance between a human and an AI connected through a virtual messenger," according to ATRP.
"Cyber love" was a 1990s buzzword in Korea, referring to online dating, which was a novel phenomenon at the time. The music video, which portrays Chuu as an AI personification falling in love with a human, also amplifies the song's nostalgic, dreamy atmosphere through retro-inspired visuals.
"In today's highly digital-driven era, expressions of love take the form of text messages, emojis and photos sent to each other," Chuu said. "I wanted that to be the core premise of the song's storytelling."

Yet the song and its music video feel less like a commentary about human-machine dynamics or the digital age and more like an exploration of the idea of affection and yearning — the deeply human desire to love and be loved — which also serves as a central theme that runs throughout the album.
"Diverse forms of love, depicted in many different perspectives, appear throughout the album," Chuu said, adding that her goal was to have her genuine emotions resonate with listeners through the music.
"I believe love is not something that can be forced — it's something that exists among us in daily lives, floating in the air," she said. "The power of love, for me, lies in noticing it in small, everyday details and embracing it as a driving force going forward."

Admitting that the idea of being in the 10th year of her career still feels awkward and unreal, Chuu said that she hopes to become a singer who continues to improve and ultimately establishes a distinct musical identity of her own.
"Someday, I want to become a singer who can fill an entire concert only with songs, and someone audiences can trust and look forward to seeing."

This article is by Lee Jian and read by an artificial voice.

"No going shirtless."
Displayed on a sign, the warning is aimed at runners in Yeouido Park in western Seoul — one of the many public outdoor spaces where running crews and solo joggers have come to dominate the paths in recent years.
Running didn't used to be this big in Korea. But over the past few years, it has ballooned into a mainstream lifestyle. Industry experts estimate that about 10 million people, roughly one in every five Koreans, now run regularly.
Seoul, in particular, is a great city to run in, with dozens of long, mostly uninterrupted riverside paths along the Han River and routes around major landmarks and parks that keep runners largely away from traffic. People in flashy shoes and polyester clothes are now a familiar part of Seoul's landscape, striding along scenic riverside paths, tracing palace walls and filling neighborhood parks.
The boom, however, has also sparked a wave of complaints from those who say public spaces are being treated like private training grounds, citing revealing outfits, shouted chants and other inconsiderate behavior. As increasingly hostile signs pop up around the city, can Seoul stay runner-friendly?

Running took off as a mainstream sport in Korea with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which shut down sports facilities and made team activities seem riskier to participate in. Running surged as the rare workout that was cheap, solo-friendly and outdoors. As the pandemic waned, the practical workaround turned into a culture as social media filled with after-work "running crew" meetups and post-run selfies.
The domestic running market was valued at about 4 trillion won ($2.77 billion) in 2024, according to the most recent data from Euromonitor International. It is up from roughly 2.77 trillion won in 2021 and 3.41 trillion won in 2023. The running shoe market alone is now widely described as an over 1 trillion won category, as sneaker consumption shifts from lifestyle fashion to performance and function.
But along with the wellness frenzy has arisen unexpected cultural pushback.
"I don't want to see shirtless runners during my walks. It is unpleasant," read a Naver community post in October. "They shout at me to move to make way for like a group of eight runners," read another post. Others argue that the problem is taken too seriously. "People are too critical," read a comment on the same community thread.
As the issue continued to mount for a year, local governments began to take action to promote a set of guidelines for runners in public spaces.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government launched a campaign in September, promoting "etiquette" for outdoor runners, including running in single file and the use of headphones instead of speakers and "neat" clothing.
Running shirtless is not illegal in Korea, though it was punishable by law under the Act on the Punishment of Minor Offenses, until the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled it unconstitutional in 2016.
Individual districts have also taken action to advocate similar runner guidelines. Major paths for runners around the city are now lined with new signs — some rather bluntly — reminding runners to be more mindful of the regular pedestrians in the city.
The Seocho District Office in southern Seoul restricts runners in groups bigger than five people at Banpo Sports Complex. Songpa District, also in southern Seoul, advises that runners run in groups of fewer than three at the Seokchon Lake Park. Jongno District in central Seoul also set up large signs by the pedestrian way along the Gyeongbok Palace's outer walls, reminding runners to be quiet and keep to a single line.
Seoul city claims that it is not its intention to make the city hostile to runners, but rather to "create an atmosphere where all Seoul citizens can enjoy themselves," said an official from the city's sports tourism desk, "and we will continue to support the mindful behavior of the runners."

This article is by Han Chan-woo, Lee Ah-mi and read by an artificial voice.

A job posting on the e-commerce app Karrot offering 30,000 won ($20) to wait in line drew 30 applicants on Dec. 26 last year.
It was a precursor to what followed days later.
On the night of New Year's Eve, long lines stretched outside bars, restaurants and arcades in the Hongdae area in western Seoul, even as a cold snap drove temperatures to minus 8 degrees Celsius (17 degrees Fahrenheit).
A person surnamed Park stood among the crowds after working as a professional queuer for more than five years.
"Requests to wait in line for high-end hotel restaurants and bars have increased a lot recently," Park said. "I earn 4 million to 5 million won a month on average. During the Covid-19 period, some people made up to 8 million won, so some treat it as their main job."
Posts seeking queuers have appeared outside Seoul as well. A user on Karrot in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, wrote, "I'm looking for someone to stand in line at a bar in Sangnam-dong for 50,000 won on Jan. 1."

Other posts listed different reasons. One said the writer wanted to enter a venue the moment midnight struck. Another said the writer did not want to waste time with their partner.
Queuing jobs once centered on limited-edition luxury goods. The work now extends to restaurants, bars and bakeries as crowds return to nightlife districts.
The market has grown since the late 2010s and demand rose further during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, with some workers treating queuing as specialized part-time work.
Recent spikes in demand have followed the popularity of specific shops and desserts. Customers have flocked to Sungsimdang, a well-known bakery in Daejeon, and to cafes that sell a trendy dessert such as the Dubai chewy cookie.

Most of these jobs pay around the minimum hourly wage of 10,320 won. Some listings include extra pay depending on the time, location and weather.
"Outdoor waiting pays more, and rates during peak seasons like the end of the year and New Year's rise by about 50 percent," said the owner of a queuing service business.
Experts said the rise of platforms that facilitate such arrangements and shifting consumer attitudes drove the sharp increase in people who willingly pay for someone to stand in line.
"Consumers once accepted inconvenience as part of shopping, but many now treat time and effort as transaction costs and pay extra to reduce them," said Choi Chul, a professor of consumer economics at Sookmyung Women's University.
Others said the shift also reflects how online platforms make it easier to turn that demand into paid services.
"Internet and platform growth make it easy to connect people offering even small services with those who need them," said Lee Eun-hee, a professor of consumer studies at Inha University. "Services driven by more specific demand, such as paying someone to wait in line for a bar, will keep emerging."
The trend has also drawn criticism.
"Standing in line for someone else does not break current law, but it can draw ethical criticism because people use money to secure limited goods and services," Kwak Jun-ho, an attorney at the law firm Chung, said.
Other lawyers said the practice can also raise legal issues.
"There is no regulation for organized queuing businesses," Chun Jung-min, an attorney at the law firm Daeryun, said. "Some stores explicitly ban it, and if someone refuses to leave after a store orders them out, the situation could lead to a legal dispute."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

[NEWS ANALYSIS]
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, which oversees the management and development of semiconductor facility projects, drew a clear line on the location dispute surrounding the chip cluster in Yongin, saying the project will move forward as planned.
A mega-sized land plot in Yongin, Gyeonggi, billed as a site for the world's largest chip complex, has become the center of political strife, after Climate Minister Kim Sung-whan raised the need to reconsider the location selection due to the area's lack of electricity supply.
"The proposal is not under consideration, and no review is planned," an Industry Ministry official in charge of the semiconductor project told the Korea JoongAng Daily.
"Most supply agreements — for electricity, industrial water and other utilities — have already been concluded," the official added. "It is true that detailed power-supply plans beyond 2039 have not yet been finalized. But arrangements for the earlier phases are firmly in place, and we are working to make sure the project proceeds on schedule and without disruption."
Led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the project's sheer scale is unprecedented. It spans 11.44 million square meters (123 million square feet) of land and has attracted investment pledges of 360 trillion won ($248 billion) from Samsung Electronics and 600 trillion won from SK hynix so far, envisioned as a cornerstone of the country's future semiconductor supply chain.
Kim said that supplying sufficient power to the Yongin semiconductor industrial complex "will not be easy" during a radio interview on Dec. 26, 2025. Behind the scenes, the ministry is already knee-deep in a dilemma over the issue, as it works to persuade the energy-abundant southern regions to accept the new grid and transmission projects required to supply power to the Yongin cluster.

"If Samsung Electronics and SK hynix move into Yongin, the total amount of electricity the two companies would require is equivalent to the output of about 15 nuclear reactors — around 15 gigawatts," Kim said.
"That raises the question of whether the cluster truly needs to be located there, or whether, even at this stage, it should be relocated to other regions with greater electricity capacity. There is a growing sense that the country must rethink its approach: instead of feeling compelled to supply power wherever businesses happen to be built, we should be encouraging companies to base their production activities in areas where electricity is more abundant."

Korea's historic chip project tainted by political wrangling
Speculation over relocation intensified after President Lee Jae Myung used his New Year's address to outline plans for a "southern semiconductor belt," part of a broader strategy to spur rural growth and reduce the country's reliance on capital-focused infrastructure.
"From a semiconductor belt in the energy-rich southern region to AI demonstration cities and renewable energy clusters, we will design a structure in which the growth of advanced industries is directly linked to regional development," Lee said.
The remarks have largely been interpreted as a push to create new semiconductor complexes in Yeongnam and Honam, integrating AI and renewable-energy industries into a southern high-tech hub. Lee, however, did not specify whether the proposal would shift the Yongin cluster southward or establish separate facilities there.

Several lawmakers have criticized the relocation debate online, warning that politicians are framing the issue in terms of regional populism ahead of Korea's local elections in June. They note that rural regions, though relatively rich in energy resources, face serious disadvantages: a limited talent pool and the absence of the dense supplier ecosystem required for semiconductor manufacturing.
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, took to Facebook to rebut the proposal. Lee Jun-seok represents ...

This article is by Lee Jian and read by an artificial voice.

Office worker Kim Yoon-jin has run four marathons since 2023. But each year, she becomes less sure if this is the best after-hours hobby.
"I love running, but lately, it feels kind of fraught with stress," she said.
The number of registered marathon races in Korea has skyrocketed in recent years, from 19 in 2020 to 254 in 2024, a more than 13-fold increase, according to the Korean National Police Agency data. In 2025, 498 running events, including quirky running events like Disney- and superhero-themed races, were registered on the local runners' platform Online Marathon.
The seemingly positive running boom, however, is being trailed by a wave of social blowback. With more races taking over roads and parks, frustrations are rising on all sides — from residents disrupted by closures to runners facing crowding, higher fees and uneven safety management — putting the sport's core identity to the test: Can running remain an easy, low-barrier pastime?

The tension is most evident in Seoul, where running already struggles with weekend traffic and protest roadblocks. The number of civilian complaints tied to marathons reported to the Seoul government office, including jammed roads, unavailable public transportation, noise and loitering, rose from 15 in 2021 to 350 just from January through September of 2025.
"The bus had to skip my usual stop because of the road closures from a marathon," reads a post on local search portal Naver in April. "Even the pedestrian walkways were partially closed, and I ended up being late to my part-time job."
Some problems go far beyond mere inconvenience, like the 25-year-old male who died in November after being hit by a truck while running a marathon in Incheon, a major city located about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) west-southwest of Seoul.
Over the past five years, 179 marathon-related accidents were reported to the Korean National Police Agency, with the annual total rising steadily and reaching an all-time high of 72 last year.

But improvements have been slow as governmental action remains perfunctory.
Under Korea's National Sports Promotion Act, the event organizer is responsible for establishing a safety management plan and conducting safety inspections for sports events with 1,000 or more participants. The average number of participants in major marathons ranges from 3,500 to 25,000.
Unlike rallies or demonstrations, marathons are treated as cultural events and are therefore not subject to police reporting requirements. Police officials say they try to minimize disruption by encouraging races to take place on weekend mornings, when traffic is lighter, and by implementing phased traffic controls by section.
Ultimately, it is local governments that approve permits, rent out public spaces and collect venue fees from private events. Seoul has reportedly collected about 1.5 billion won ($1 million) over the past five years from renting venues to private marathon organizers.

There is currently no cap to the maximum number of marathons that can be held in the city, as long as a venue can be legally secured. But the city government, in a statement, argued that it reviews the marathons' safety management plans before approving venue use, and assigns staff to be on-site on the day of the event to "reduce inconvenience to citizens and ensure safe event operations."
"As complaints have been received over citizen inconvenience amid a recent increase in marathon events, the city is currently exploring reasonable improvement measures to develop ways to ensure safe event operations while reducing inconvenience to residents," said an official from the city's Tourism and Sports Bureau.
During a November press conference, Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated: "Traffic control is also under the purview of the National Police Agency, but we will coordinate closely," stressing that organizers should be encouraged to design courses that allow for detours — and that t...

Moon Hong-kyu
The author is a principal researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.
Only a few days have passed since I opened a new calendar. The days yet to come are still wound tight, like a spring. Numbers burst open each date as if a cuckoo were leaping from a clock to announce the day. Everyone knows that a day is the time it takes the Earth to rotate once with respect to the sun, and a year is the time it takes to complete one orbit. The problem begins after that.

Multiply 365 days by 24 hours and it should come out neatly to 8,760 hours. Yet, like coffee grounds stuck to the bottom of a cup, there remains an extra 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.2 seconds in a year around the sun. That is why Feb. 29 is added and removed every four years.
Perhaps my eyesight has worsened again. I squint, glasses perched on the tip of my nose, trying to make out the tiny lunar calendar numbers. A lunar month, from full moon to full moon or from new moon to new moon, averages 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.9 seconds. Once again, there is leftover change in a year, about 13 hours.
The moon travels along an elliptical orbit, sometimes pulling away to a distance that is three or four times Earth's diameter farther than at its closest approach. As a result, each lunar month can vary by about seven hours from year to year. A supermoon is simply a full moon seen when the moon is closer to Earth.
What if a day, a month and a year fit together as precisely as interlocking gears, fixed at 24 hours, 30 days and 360 days, with the moon gliding elegantly along a perfect circle? Because of those remainders and that elliptical path, someone had to scrutinize the motions of the sun, moon and stars, grappling with calculations. Astronomy began that way.
Late last year, an overseas researcher visited the institute to present studies of exoplanets observed with the James Webb Space Telescope. The research captured signals of dimming light when so-called super-Earths and mini-Neptunes, with masses ranging from 1.2 to 9.6 times that of Earth, passed in front of their host stars.
Those worlds are heated to extremes, from temperatures comparable to grilling fish to conditions near molten lava. The likelihood of life there appears slim. Their years last anywhere from a day and a half to just 17 days as they skim close to their stars. Many are likely tidally locked, with their rotation period matching their orbital period so that a day and a year are the same.
In places where clocks and calendars coincide, life, too, might be correspondingly simple.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.