Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Shinhan Investment posts 288.4 billion won Q1 net profit on stock market boom
    Shinhan Investment posts 288.4 billion won Q1 net profit on stock market boom Brokerages have begun reporting first-quarter results, and Shinhan Investment was among the first, posting a sharp jump in profit as a stock market rally lifted trading activity. Other securities firms are also expected to report strong gains. Shinhan Investment said Thursday its first-quarter net profit rose 167.4% from a year earlier to 288.4 billion won. Operating profit climbed 228.5% to 386.4 billion won. Operating revenue increased 90.2% to 701.5 billion won, while operating expenses rose 25.4% to 315.1 billion won, highlighting improved profitability. By revenue source, fee income totaled 407.4 billion won, the largest share. Brokerage commissions accounted for 293.5 billion won, followed by financial product fees of 28.3 billion won and investment banking fees of 42.6 billion won. Product management income came to 162.3 billion won, and net interest income was 131.7 billion won. Profitability indicators also improved, with return on assets at 1.97% and return on equity at 20.00%. The company attributed the gains to higher trading value amid the market upswing. “Along with an increase in stock brokerage commissions, profit and loss from product management improved,” a Shinhan Investment official said, adding that results strengthened broadly across business lines including brokerage, investment banking and financial products. 2026-04-23 15:12:06
  • Matchmaking firm Duo slapped with fines for massive data breach
    Matchmaking firm Duo slapped with fines for massive data breach SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - Matchmaking firm Duo was slapped with heavy fines over a massive data leak affecting nearly 430,000 users, a state-run privacy watchdog said on Thursday. The Personal Information Protection Commission imposed about 1.2 billion won (US$810,000) in penalties and fines on the company after a Duo employee's computer was hacked in January last year, exposing sensitive personal information of some 427,464 paid members. The leaked information included names, contact details, resident registration numbers, and passwords, along with personal data such as height, weight, and marriage history. The commission ordered Duo to take immediate steps to correct its lax database management and illegal practices after investigators found that it lacked even basic security measures such as systems to block access after repeated login attempts, making it easy for hackers to gain access to its database. It also used an outdated encryption method that was vulnerable to cyberattacks. The probe also revealed violations in how the company gathered and stored personal data, as it routinely collected sensitive personal information such as resident registration numbers and failed to destroy about 300,000 records of its former members that had been kept beyond the five-year retention period, increasing the scale of the breach. The commission added Duo took 72 hours to report the breach without a valid reason, despite recognizing the leak. "We humbly accept the commission's decision and will do our best to prevent a recurrence and further harm," said a Duo staffer. 2026-04-23 15:11:03
  • Teacher Says AI Platform Turned Static Slides Into Student-Led Classroom Discussion
    Teacher Says AI Platform Turned Static Slides Into Student-Led Classroom Discussion South Korea introduced a requirement in the 2022 revised national curriculum for 34 class sessions of information education in elementary schools. But specific teaching methods and materials are still largely left to teachers. Oh Yuna, a teacher at Hongneung Elementary School in Seoul, said she has been filling that gap with a platform called Sooup AI ("Lesson AI") from startup Redbrick. Oh, who has received a minister of education commendation for work in strengthening teachers’ digital capabilities, said she has seen clear changes in how classes run. She spoke about those changes in an interview. ■ From static slides to discussion… "It takes one click" "Lesson AI" lets teachers upload existing PPT or PDF materials. The system analyzes them and automatically converts them into student-participation activities such as quizzes, discussion prompts and question-based tasks. Oh said it reduces preparation time and also helps teachers adjust lessons on the spot. "Most materials teachers have are PPTs or PDFs, and Lesson AI creates activity materials for students based on those lesson plans," she said. "Because the AI automatically builds activities like quizzes or discussions, the burden of making new materials drops a lot." During class, she said, it can function like an assistant. "When I’m teaching and want to reinforce a concept, Lesson AI generates that content right away," Oh said. "Being able to expand existing materials instantly is very useful." She also cited its ability to analyze individual learning data and provide immediate feedback, especially in subjects where student gaps are wide. Oh said the most visible change has been student participation. "A child who usually wouldn’t write an opinion in a textbook will actively type their thoughts in a discussion using digital devices," she said. "It seems speaking and expressing yourself in writing work differently for kids." She added that what matters is not just who speaks up, but "how much they are actually thinking." Using Lesson AI, she said, teachers can check multiple students’ thought processes in real time, drawing out a different kind of cognitive engagement than in traditional classes. She said students’ reactions have been positive, with comments like, "Let’s do this again," after class. "You can see kids trying to participate more actively through the tool," she said. Oh said the technology has also changed how teachers use their time. "Before, I had to spend a lot of time analyzing the curriculum and preparing materials, but now the AI takes over part of that process," she said. "That lets me use the time I gain to understand children’s characteristics and the classroom atmosphere more deeply." She said students, too, are beginning to set their own learning direction as real-time data helps them see their level more objectively. Addressing concerns from some parents about overreliance on devices, Oh said use is limited. "We don’t use devices for the entire class, only at necessary moments," she said. "Because activities are balanced — research, organizing opinions and presenting — situations where kids get overly absorbed in devices actually decrease." ■ Data resets each school year… "A condition for real personalized education" Oh said there are still limits in public education. "In AI education, accumulating data is very important, but right now the structure doesn’t carry data over when students move up a grade," she said. "It’s not easy because of privacy or system issues, but data has to accumulate for true personalized education to be possible." She said the most important factor is still teachers’ ability to design lessons. "No matter how many tools there are, if you don’t have the ability to use them for the children in your class, it’s hard to sustain," Oh said. "This is an opportunity to look back at the classroom and place technology appropriately where it’s needed."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:10:34
  • Hong Kong Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Fever Case This Year
    Hong Kong Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Fever Case This Year Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection said on April 21 it had confirmed the city’s first locally acquired dengue fever case this year and will work with relevant government departments on measures to prevent further infections. The patient is a 21-year-old man. He developed fever, headache, muscle pain and a rash on April 12 and sought diagnosis and treatment on April 16 at a public hospital in Tai Po, in the New Territories. A blood test returned a positive result for the dengue virus, and his condition was reported as stable. Investigators said the man lives in a housing estate in Tai Po and had been working on a road construction project on Lantau Island. He reported no travel outside Hong Kong during the incubation period from March 29 to April 9 and said he was bitten by mosquitoes near the work site. Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes including the Aedes aegypti. The health protection center said rising temperatures and humidity make it easier for mosquitoes to breed and urged residents to take steps to prevent mosquito infestations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:09:51
  • Korea SMEs Agency to Hire 102 in First Half, Using Blind Recruitment
    Korea SMEs Agency to Hire 102 in First Half, Using Blind Recruitment Korea SMEs Agency to hire 102 in first half, using blind recruitment The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency said April 23 it will hire 102 people in the first half of 2026, including full-time employees and youth interns. The full-time intake totals 60 positions: 42 in administration and 18 in technical roles. For equity hiring, 12 positions will be filled through a limited competition for veterans. Five candidates with professional licenses, including lawyers and certified public accountants, will be selected through a separate process. The selection process includes document screening, a written test — the National Competency Standards-based basic skills exam and a major-knowledge test — followed by first- and second-round interviews. Final hires are scheduled to start work in July. The agency said the recruitment will be conducted as NCS-based “blind hiring,” with no restrictions on education, hometown or age. It said it plans to expand equity hiring for veterans and people with disabilities and continue recruiting regional talent in line with the government’s balanced regional growth policy. Chairman Kang Seok-jin said he hopes “many talented people with strong capabilities and a spirit of challenge” will apply and grow alongside small and venture businesses, which he called the backbone of the economy. TIPA named an “excellent” public data provider for seventh straight year The Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs said April 23 it was named an “excellent institution” for the seventh consecutive year in the Interior and Safety Ministry’s “2025 Public Data Provision Operations Assessment.” The assessment covers 685 organizations nationwide — including central government agencies, local governments and public institutions — and evaluates three areas: data opening and use, quality, and management systems. TIPA said it received high marks for establishing a data quality management system that supports artificial intelligence use and for providing user-centered public data services. TIPA President Kim Young-shin said the agency is working to proactively open high-demand, high-value public data in step with policy changes in the AI era and to make it easier for the public to use data. Kyungdong Navien launches “Navien Air Crew” supporters with chef Edward Lee Kyungdong Navien said April 23 it held a launch ceremony for its “Navien Air Crew” at Atelier 8 Studio. The company described Navien Air Crew as its official brand supporters group, tasked through December with content-creation missions and participation in offline events to promote the value of clean indoor air. The launch event brought together 24 members selected from applicants in a process with a 22-to-1 competition ratio. The program included brand and product introductions, an explanation of Kyungdong Navien’s integrated air quality management solution, activity guidelines and recreation. All participants received welcome gifts — including a boiler backpack, T-shirt, apron and key ring — and took part in a lucky draw for additional prizes. Chef Edward Lee, the company’s advertising model, attended and held a cooking show. The company said it collected stories in advance from the group about moments when they felt they needed “a breath of fresh air,” selected four, and set aside time for conversation with Lee. He then cooked and presented a fusion Korean dish he developed — a bulgogi cheeseburger with wedge fries — as food to lift the mood. A company official said the group’s activities will help convey the importance of integrated air quality management and promote the value of comfortable air in daily life. JobKorea issues AX hiring report, citing growth in outbound recruiting JobKorea said April 23 it published an “AX Hiring Report” for corporate human resources managers. The report covers how AI is being used in hiring and how it is perceived, along with strategic directions tied to changes in the 2026 hiring environment. JobKorea said it was produced based on the company’s own corporate survey and an analysis of hiring data. JobKorea said it sees this year’s hiring environment shaped by two trends: expanded always-on recruiting and continued budget constraints. It said hiring timelines have grown longer while resources remain limited, pushing companies to seek more efficient ways to secure talent. The company also pointed to the spread of “outbound recruiting,” in which employers approach job seekers first with offers. Based on JobKorea platform data, it said this approach rose 44% over the past three years. It said the shift is changing hiring operations so AI handles repetitive tasks while recruiters focus on judging fit and persuading candidates. A JobKorea official said that as outbound recruiting expands, AI use is “not a choice but a necessity” because companies must search for and manage more candidates with limited resources, adding that support is needed so recruiters can reduce repetitive work and focus on key decisions and communication.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:06:25
  • KT Board Drops Advance Approval Requirement for Restructuring
    KT Board Drops Advance Approval Requirement for Restructuring KT said Thursday its board revised parts of its board rules at an April regular meeting held shortly after the shareholders meeting, moving to tighten corporate governance. The key change removes a provision requiring the board’s advance approval for organizational restructuring. The revision aims to streamline decision-making on personnel and restructuring. Previously, the CEO had to obtain prior board approval to appoint or dismiss division head-level executives or to carry out a reorganization. That requirement was deleted. The board also eased the restructuring requirement from “advance reporting” to “reporting,” a move KT said would speed management decisions. The board also codified how it will respond when an outside director is suspected of violating company rules. Until a judicial ruling is finalized, the director would be restricted from attending board and committee meetings and from participating in deliberations, and would be advised not to exercise voting rights. KT said the changes are intended to strengthen the CEO’s accountability while allowing the board to focus more on its core role of checks and oversight. Board Chairman Kim Yong-heon said the revisions are meant to improve the rationality and transparency of board operations and clarify the roles of the CEO and the board. “We will continue improving the system in line with the launch of a new CEO leadership,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:03:02
  • Gender Equality Ministry Seeks Local Governments for Public Sanitary Pad Pilot
    Gender Equality Ministry Seeks Local Governments for Public Sanitary Pad Pilot The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Wednesday it is accepting applications through May 21 from about 10 basic local governments to run a pilot program providing free “public sanitary pads” for use when needed. The pilot, to be operated this year, is designed to ensure that anyone can access sanitary pads at the moment they are needed, reflecting that the products are essential items used repeatedly over long periods. The ministry will hold a briefing for local governments on April 30 and accept applications through May 21. It plans to select participating localities in early June, considering factors such as population and regional characteristics, and to launch the program in phases starting in July. Under the plan, sanitary pad dispensers will be installed at major public facilities, including community centers, public libraries, cultural centers, welfare centers, public health centers, family centers and youth centers, for free use when needed. Pads stocked in the dispensers will be products that meet Ministry of Food and Drug Safety standards. In high-traffic locations, the ministry plans to install machines that can hold larger quantities and automatically tally usage to support efficient operations and a stable supply. Minister Won Min-kyung said the pilot will “strengthen women’s health rights and create an environment where anyone can freely use sanitary pads in emergencies,” adding that the ministry will work with local governments to implement the program without disruption.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:02:31
  • Google Joins OpenAI and Anthropic in Enterprise AI Push, Signaling Platform Battle
    Google Joins OpenAI and Anthropic in Enterprise AI Push, Signaling Platform Battle Google has joined OpenAI and Anthropic in a push into the enterprise artificial intelligence market, as competition shifts from standalone models to agent-based platforms that tie together cloud services, data and automated tools. According to industry officials on the 23rd, Google used its annual tech conference, Google Cloud Next 2026 in Las Vegas, to declare the start of an “agentic enterprise” era. The company also said it will consolidate its AI products under the name “Gemini Enterprise.” Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Gemini Enterprise has evolved into an end-to-end system for the agentic era and “will connect enterprise data and people, all applications and agents.” He added that Google Cloud will provide “an integrated stack” to support large-scale operations and maximize efficiency, and said the company aims to lead the new AI era. The move is widely seen as a response to OpenAI and Anthropic rapidly expanding their presence in business-to-business markets. Choi Byeong-ho, a research professor at Korea University’s Human-Inspired AI Research Institute, said Anthropic and OpenAI have quickly built monetization models in the enterprise market, pushing the center of AI competition toward B2B. He said Google is now moving beyond foundation-model competition to prove results in the enterprise market. The enterprise AI market is being reshaped around “agents” that automate work, rather than simple model adoption. A survey by venture capital firm Menlo Ventures found the enterprise AI market surged from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $37 billion, and now accounts for 6% of the global software-as-a-service market. By market share, Anthropic led with 32%, followed by OpenAI at 25% and Google at 20%, the survey said. With the B2B market still in an early stage, multiple players are competing within narrow margins. Industry officials expect Google’s entry to accelerate a broader platform contest that combines cloud, data and agents, rather than a race focused only on models. As AI agents increasingly make automated decisions based on corporate data, debate is also expected to grow over security and accountability. Critics warn that if AI linked to internal systems makes errors, responsibility could become unclear. Choi said AI agents are tightly connected to corporate data, security frameworks and existing systems, ultimately forcing companies to overhaul internal governance and work processes. He added that “consulting-style” business models — going beyond software sales to help solve problems on site — are likely to expand, and said big tech companies including OpenAI and Anthropic are strengthening customized deployments and operational support for major clients.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:58:49
  • Hang Ten, Hang Ten Teens Launch ‘Hang Ten Cool Day’ Summer Sale With Expanded Online, In-Store Deals
    Hang Ten, Hang Ten Teens Launch ‘Hang Ten Cool Day’ Summer Sale With Expanded Online, In-Store Deals Branded Lifestyle Korea, which operates the casual brands Hang Ten and Hang Ten Teens, is running its first-half seasonal promotion, “Hang Ten Cool Day.” The promotion begins online on April 23, with offline stores rolling it out sequentially starting April 24. It is designed as an integrated campaign spanning both online and in-store channels. A summer-focused discount applies to all items, offering a 1+1 deal equivalent to 50% off. Product assortments and how the promotion is run may vary by channel. The fashion industry has been expanding large seasonal-transition sales and strategies that link online and offline purchasing. Ahead of summer, demand has been rising for basics such as T-shirts and shorts. Hang Ten, a casual brand rooted in surf culture, emphasizes comfort and practicality and is purchased by a wide range of age groups. For this event, it strengthened its short-sleeve T-shirt lineup, including styles with shirring details and graphic-focused designs. Layered-style short-sleeve T-shirts, which can be used across a range of outfits, have also seen steady demand on fashion platforms, the company said. Hang Ten Teens is built around products aimed primarily at teenagers. It is highlighting warm-weather items intended for everyday wear, including Bermuda denim pants and seersucker shirts. Additional benefits are offered for online shoppers, including coupon packs for members, extra discounts on select items, and a fixed-amount discount coupon for first-time buyers. The company is also running an event that provides a mobile gift certificate to customers who write a review after purchase. The brand said it assembled the promotion around basic items frequently worn in summer. Details are available on the official online mall and at stores nationwide.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:58:19
  • Hormuz Strait Tensions Rise Despite Extended Ceasefire as Iran, U.S. Clash at Sea
    Hormuz Strait Tensions Rise Despite Extended Ceasefire as Iran, U.S. Clash at Sea President Donald Trump’s decision to extend a ceasefire has, for now, averted a broader clash with Iran, but military tensions around the Strait of Hormuz appear to be rising. On April 22 local time, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it detained two container ships — the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas — in Iranian waters to inspect cargo and related documents. The IRGC said the ships tried to leave the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian military permission. The IRGC alleged the MSC Francesca may have links to Israel and said both vessels repeatedly violated regulations and manipulated their automatic identification system, or AIS. Mehr News Agency separately reported that another container ship, the Euphoria, was also seized by the IRGC Navy while transiting the strait. The United States has also increased pressure at sea. Reuters, citing shipping and security sources, reported that U.S. forces in recent days blocked the movement of at least three Iranian-flagged tankers near waters off India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka and ordered them to change course. Confusion has persisted over the ceasefire extension. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said she was aware of media reports citing anonymous sources that mentioned a three- to five-day deadline. “That is not true. The president did not set a deadline for himself,” she said. Leavitt said there is “clearly a lot of division” inside Iran, calling it a fight between pragmatists and hard-liners, and said the president wants a unified response from Tehran. She added that while the ceasefire is holding on “military and physical strikes” as the U.S. waits for that response, “Operation Grand Rage” is continuing, as is a maritime blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports. Fox News also reported that Trump, in an interview with the network, said there was “no time pressure” and that a three- to five-day deadline was not true. Iran’s leadership maintained a hard line. President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that the Islamic Republic has always welcomed dialogue and agreements and will continue to do so, but said “malicious distrust, blockades and threats” are the main obstacles to real negotiations. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads Iran’s delegation for end-of-war talks, wrote on X that a full ceasefire is meaningful only if the maritime blockade and what he called holding the global economy hostage end, and if “Zionist forces” stop military provocations on all fronts. “As long as such blatant ceasefire violations continue, reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible,” he wrote, adding that “they” failed to achieve their goals through military attacks and will not succeed through pressure and threats either.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:57:35