Exploring Astra and AGI Entrepreneurship Is OpenAI's Astra (GPT-6) an example of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? Can AGI innovate business and elevate the economy to a new level? What exactly is AGI, and how does it compare to human intelligence?Human intelligence defines and solves problems simultaneously. AGI addresses given problems independently, finding solutions without prior knowledge in unfamiliar environments, though it currently operates only in digital contexts. It lacks the understanding of the physical world, limiti September 17, 2026

Siemens Expands AI Ecosystem in South Korea's Semiconductor, Shipbuilding, and Bio Industries Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving from merely assisting engineers to making decisions about the movement of production equipment, a development referred to as 'Physical AI.' Siemens is broadening the application of AI in manufacturing by integrating digital twins, industrial AI, and automation technologies. The company is expanding its collaborations with domestic firms in key industries such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, and biotechnology.In an interview with Aju Economy on September September 17, 2026

Are We Ready to Face the Era of Humanoid Robots? The shockwaves from China's mass production of humanoid robots are being felt worldwide.Two years ago, a video of a humanoid robot stumbling and falling after taking a few steps went viral on YouTube, drawing laughter and ridicule. However, the second Humanoid Robot Olympics held in Beijing in August 2026 changed that perception. The Tian Gong Ultra completed a 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds, faster than Usain Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds. The previous year's winning time for the same event was September 17, 2026

POSCO Faces Internal and External Challenges Amid Labor Disputes POSCO is currently facing turmoil both internally and externally. The prolonged labor dispute over wages and collective agreements has been exacerbated by ongoing internal discord within the union. As global steel market conditions worsen and competition from low-cost Chinese products increases, the need for a united response from both management and labor has never been more critical, yet the conflict shows little sign of resolution.The internal discord within the union has intensified recently September 17, 2026

Fed Raises Interest Rate by 0.25% Amid Inflation Concerns In a move anticipated by Wall Street, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh announced a 0.25 percentage point increase in the benchmark interest rate on September 16. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted unanimously to raise the rate from the current range of 3.5% to 3.75% to a new range of 3.75% to 4%. This marks the first rate hike since July 2023 during the Biden administration.The decision to raise rates was widely expected, with Yahoo Finance reporting that traders had predicted the f September 17, 2026

South Korea and Tajikistan Establish Comprehensive Partnership, Expand Cooperation in Railways and Key Minerals The South Korean government has elevated its relationship with Tajikistan to a "comprehensive partnership," agreeing to expand mutual cooperation in railways, key minerals, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital sectors. The two countries signed 17 cooperation documents, including agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering railways, industry, energy, customs, intellectual property, and public safety during a summit.On September 16, President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with T September 17, 2026

South Korea Expands Economic Cooperation with Five Central Asian Nations President Lee Jae-myung has expanded economic cooperation in key minerals and energy supply chains, as well as infrastructure projects, through a summit with five Central Asian nations. The government established a foundation for South Korean companies to enter the Central Asian market by signing a total of 74 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during the summit.By promoting tailored bilateral economic cooperation, the summit addressed cross-border challenges such as logistics, t September 17, 2026

South Korea and Kyrgyzstan Strengthen Economic Cooperation South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on September 16 to discuss expanding economic cooperation between the two countries in areas such as urban and infrastructure development, critical minerals, and digital transformation.During the summit, the two nations signed 18 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering customs agreements, trade and investment, smart grids, employment, disaster response, and cultural exchanges.This meeting aimed to tr September 17, 2026

South Korea's Upcoming Energy Investment Expected to Benefit LS Cable As South Korea prepares to announce a significant energy investment in the United States, the cable industry is emerging as a key beneficiary, particularly with Gaon Cable, the only domestic cable manufacturer with a power cable production facility in the U.S. The company is well-positioned to respond directly to the expanding local power infrastructure investments.According to industry sources on September 16, the government is actively pursuing investment projects in the U.S., which prominentl September 16, 2026

North Korea Sends Up to 100,000 Workers Abroad, Including to Russian Drone Factory North Korea has dispatched over 100,000 workers abroad, generating up to $800 million annually despite United Nations sanctions. Reports indicate that North Korean laborers have been sent to a military drone manufacturing facility in Russia.The Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), led by South Korea, the United States, and Japan, released a report on September 16 detailing North Korea's violations and evasion of UN Security Council resolutions through overseas labor. The MSMT, which i September 16, 2026