Semiconductor Rally Fuels Investor FOMO as Brokerages Raise Targets for Samsung and SK Hynix South Korea’s stock market has opened the year with strong momentum led by semiconductor giants, prompting brokerages to sharply raise their price targets for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix amid growing expectations of a memory industry upcycle. According to the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics closed Monday up 7.47% at 138,100 won, hitting an intraday 52-week high of 138,600 won

South Jeolla Builds Comprehensive Support System to Help Foreign Residents Settle Long-Term South Jeolla Province has strengthened its on-the-ground support for foreign residents through the Jeonnam Immigration and Foreign Residents Integrated Support Center, offering coordinated assistance that spans visas, employment, housing, healthcare, and daily life. Operating from its main center in Yeongam and an eastern branch in Yeosu, the center supports foreign residents across 22

Hyundai Motor Group has revealed its next-generation humanoid robot Atlas at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, marking a major expansion beyond automobiles into AI-powered robotics. At its CES 2026 Media Day on January 5 (local time), Hyundai presented its robotics strategy under the theme “AI Robotics: From the Lab to Life.” The company stated that its goal is not merely to replace dangerous labor, but to develop robots that can safely collaborate with humans in real working environmen

North Korea announced that it conducted a hypersonic missile launch drill on Monday, with leader Kim Jong Un personally observing the exercise, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the missile was launched from Pyongyang’s Ryokpho District toward the northeast and struck designated targets approximately 1,000 kilometers away in the East Sea. The test was described as part of an operational evaluation of the country’s strategic deterren

Starting in 2026, South Korea has increased the maximum monthly health insurance contributions for high-income salaried workers, including top corporate executives and business owners, as part of an annual adjustment tied to average wage growth. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on January 5, the revised regulation on monthly health insurance contribution limits has officially taken effect, raising both the upper and lower contribution thresholds. Under the new

Foreign nationals are purchasing residential properties in Seoul at a rapidly accelerating pace, with ownership transfers rising by more than ten percent in just one year, according to official registry data. The trend is increasingly concentrated in prime districts such as Gangnam and neighborhoods along the Han River, highlighting growing foreign demand in the city’s most expensive housing markets. Data released by the Supreme Court’s real estate registry system show that f

As South Korea prepares for a record-breaking year in inbound tourism, a clear shift is emerging in where foreign visitors choose to travel. According to Yanolja Research, the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea in 2026 is projected to reach 20.36 million, an 8.7% increase year-on-year, surpassing pre-pandemic highs. Industry observers note that the total could rise further, potentially exceeding 21 million, if inbound travel from China continues to recover. Beyon

Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang, drew sharp attention during a National Assembly hearing last week after repeatedly raising his voice, interrupting lawmakers, and displaying visible irritation while testifying on allegations involving data breaches, unfair trade practices, and labor conditions. Rogers appeared as a witness at the parliamentary hearing titled *“Investigation into Coupang’s Security Breach, Personal Data Leak, Unfair Trade Practices, and Labor Environment

A taxi driver in his late seventies has been arrested following a fatal multi-vehicle crash near Jonggak Station in central Seoul that left one pedestrian dead and thirteen others injured, police said on Friday. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the driver was taken into emergency custody early Friday on suspicion of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents resulting in death and injury. The accident occurred at around

A deadly fire that killed dozens of people at a ski resort bar in Switzerland on New Year’s Day is believed to have been triggered by party fireworks attached to a champagne bottle, according to survivor accounts. British media reported that the fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana resort area in Switzerland’s Valais canton. Survivors told investigators that a bartender had lit a decorative firework placed in a champagne bottle, and sparks quickly spread to the ceilin

Sales of traditional Korean cultural merchandise reached a record high last year, fueled by growing interest from foreign visitors amid the global popularity of Korean culture. According to the Korea Heritage Service Foundation, annual online and offline sales of its cultural product brand “K-Heritage” exceeded 161 billion won on a preliminary basis in 2025, marking the highest figure ever recorded for the brand. This represented a sharp increase compared with the previous ye

Jeju Island maintained annual tourist numbers above thirteen million for a fourth consecutive year, supported largely by a sharp increase in foreign visitors, according to data released by the Jeju Tourism Association. As of December 31, the cumulative number of visitors to Jeju last year was estimated at approximately 13.85 million, a slight increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Annual visitor totals have remained above thirteen million since 2022, despite s

Despite a historic bull market, retail investors recorded their largest-ever net selling last year, while foreign investors emerged as the biggest winners in terms of returns. According to data released by the Korea Exchange on Wednesday, individual investors posted net sales of 26.36 trillion won in the KOSPI market last year, marking the highest annual net selling figure on record. The previous record was set in 2012, when retail investors sold 15.55 trillion won worth of s

The employment rate of university and graduate school graduates declined back into the sixty percent range last year amid an economic downturn, while the employment rate of international students rose sharply, surpassing thirty percent. According to the Ministry of Education, the National Data Policy Agency, and the Korean Educational Development Institute, the employment status of 634,904 graduates from higher education institutions nationwide—who completed their studies in

The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) announced on December 29 the launch of “Korail Pass Plus,” an integrated transportation pass designed exclusively for foreign visitors. Korail Pass Plus combines the existing Korail Pass—an unlimited rail travel pass for foreign travelers that allows unrestricted use of all Korail-operated trains, including KTX, for a fixed period—with a prepaid public transportation card that can be used on subways and buses. Foreign travelers can purc

A tragic accident occurred at a private pool villa in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, where a 9-year-old boy lost his life after his arm became trapped in a swimming pool drain, police said on Sunday. According to police and fire authorities, the child was found unconscious at around 8:35 p.m. on Saturday at a kids-friendly pool villa located in Jojong-myeon, Gapyeong County. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while tra

Coupang has unveiled a large-scale customer compensation plan worth ₩1.685 trillion in response to a recent personal data breach, stating that the measure is intended to restore consumer trust. According to the company’s announcement on December 29, the compensation will be provided to approximately 33.7 million users, including current Wow members, regular customers, and even former users who have withdrawn their accounts. All eligible recipients were notified of the data

A 47-year-old man in Italy died after choking on food during a Christmas Eve family gathering, highlighting that fatal choking incidents can occur even among otherwise healthy adults. According to Italian media outlets including ANSA and La Stampa, the incident took place in Settimo Torinese, in the Piedmont region, during a midday Christmas Eve meal. The victim, identified as Giovanni Lopez, was dining with family members at his parents’ home when he suddenly collapsed whi

China has tightened its grip on overseas capital held by domestic companies, ordering firms that raised money abroad through initial public offerings to bring those funds back home. The move is expected to ripple through global currency markets and has sparked concern among foreign companies operating in China, including South Korean firms. According to Reuters, the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange issued a new directive on December 26

As of November 2025, the number of foreign nationals registered to stay in South Korea for more than 90 days surpassed 1.6 million, marking the highest level ever recorded. According to data from the Korea Immigration Service, the number of long-term registered foreigners increased by 8 percent compared to the previous year. This growth rate significantly exceeded the overall increase in the total number of foreign nationals staying in the country, which rose by 3.2 percent