Journalist
Lee Hugh
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South Korea to launch Asia-Pacific's first AI Basic Law on Jan. 22 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea will become one of the first countries in Asia-Pacific to enforce comprehensive artificial intelligence legislation on Jan. 22, but unlike the European Union's stringent compliance regime, Seoul is opting for a business-friendly approach with at least a one-year grace period before imposing penalties. The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Wednesday that the government will provide consulting services and financial support to help companies voluntarily comply with the new obligations rather than imposing immediate fines, a stark contrast to the EU AI Act which began enforcing bans on certain AI systems from February 2025. The law, officially titled the Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust, marks a shift from non-binding guidelines to a legally enforceable framework. It establishes grounds for research and development support, training data infrastructure, and workforce development while mandating transparency and safety measures. Under the new regulation, generative AI providers must attach watermarks or identification labels to AI-generated content to combat deepfakes and misinformation. Operators of "high-impacting AI" systems that could significantly affect lives, safety, or fundamental rights will face heightened risk management requirements. Separately, the ministry announced that major platform operators including Naver, Kakao, and Netflix will be required to strengthen customer service systems from Feb. 12, 2026. These companies must provide multi-channel support including AI chatbots and automated response systems, with real-time human agent connections when needed. The government also unveiled plans to launch the K-STAR visa program from January to attract top science and technology talent from overseas. Foreign students in science and engineering fields who receive university presidential recommendations will be eligible to apply for residency or permanent resident status regardless of employment status. South Korea's measured approach mirrors Japan, which enacted its AI Promotion Act in May 2025 with no explicit penalties, relying instead on voluntary compliance and reputational incentives. The United States remains without comprehensive federal AI legislation, with U.S. President Donald Trump signing an executive order in December seeking to preempt state-level regulations while calling for a "minimally burdensome" national standard. China has quietly removed plans for a comprehensive AI law from its 2025 legislative agenda, opting instead for a phased approach that prioritizes pilot programs, technical standards, and targeted rules over early codification. Beijing is relying on existing statutes and sector-specific measures to manage AI-related risks while keeping compliance costs low, though observers note this leaves firms navigating fragmented frameworks and overlapping obligations. 2025-12-31 14:53:39 -
Cold snap grips Seoul on New Year's Eve SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - A cold wave advisory was issued for Seoul and surrounding areas on Wednesday as sub-zero temperatures gripped the capital on New Year's Eve. Such an advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to drop by more than 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, or at least 3 degrees below the seasonal average, or when the morning low is forecast to remain at or below -12 degrees for two or more consecutive days. As the bitter cold snap is expected to linger through the weekend, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to maintain 24-hour monitoring in collaboration with local districts and agencies, while ensuring shelters and emergency facilities are well-equipped. The city is also stepping up safety measures for major year-end events and other activities at popular scenic spots, where crowds are expected to gather to watch the first sunrise of the coming year. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also ordered officials to implement preventive measures and closely monitor vulnerable people including the elderly. 2025-12-31 14:45:15 -
Hanwha Systems wins $30 mln deal to supply combat systems to Philippine Navy SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems said on Wednesday it has signed a contract worth about 40 billion won ($30 million) to supply additional combat management systems (CMS) and tactical data links (TDL) for two next-generation frigates of the Philippine Navy. The deal covers CMS and TDL equipment for two 3,200-ton-class frigates, the company said. A CMS, often described as a warship’s “brain,” integrates data from onboard sensors to detect and assess threats in real time and to command weapons systems during combat operations. A TDL enables naval units to share tactical information in real time, enhancing interoperability and operational effectiveness. A Hanwha Systems official said interoperability with existing naval platforms is critical in modern naval warfare, expressing confidence in continued exports of the company’s combat systems to the Philippines. The company is seeking to expand exports to regions including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the United States and South America, with the goal of becoming a leading “K-defense” provider of maritime solutions. Hanwha Systems has previously exported its CMS to the Philippine Navy in several phases: for two 2,600-ton frigates in 2017; a performance upgrade for three 3,000-ton frigates in 2019; two 3,100-ton patrol vessels in 2022; and six 2,400-ton offshore patrol vessels in 2023. The CMS and TDL systems will be customized to the Philippines’ complex maritime operating environment, which spans more than 7,600 islands, the company said. 2025-12-31 14:38:19 -
South Korea's Daebang, Woomi, Jungheung builders face probe for unfair internal dealings SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said on Wednesday it had uncovered four cases of unfair internal transactions involving large business groups this year, imposing a combined 93.5 billion won ($70 million) in fines and referring three companies to the prosecution. Corrective orders and fines were issued against Daebang Construction, Jungheung Construction, Woomi Construction and CJ Group, while the three builders were reported to prosecutors, according to the Fair Trade Commission. The commission said it identified violations of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, including unfair support among affiliates and the provision of undue benefits to them. Woomi Construction received the largest penalty, 48.3 billion won, followed by Daebang Construction with 20.5 billion won, Jungheung Construction with 18 billion won, and CJ Group with 6.5 billion won. In Woomi’s case, the company, while acting as the main developer on several apartment projects, selected five affiliates with limited construction experience as non-lead contractors and allocated them substantial work volumes. The practice was found to have significantly undermined fair competition in the housing construction market. Daebang Construction and two subsidiaries were found to have resold large parcels of public housing land they had been allocated to another affiliate, Daebang Industrial Development, and its five subsidiaries, effectively transferring development project rights within the group. Jungheung Construction was penalized for providing credit guarantees to support funding for housing and industrial projects run by family-controlled affiliates. The commission said the support enabled those affiliates to raise funds, including through asset-backed and other securitized loans. 2025-12-31 14:19:18 -
Cooking show returns to top spot as most-watched non-English series on Netflix SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - The second season of Netflix's hit South Korean series "Culinary Class Wars" has remained at the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive week since its release earlier this month. According to the global streaming giant's ranking website Tudum, the series garnered 4.7 million views last week, the highest among non-English TV shows overall. The previous season also claimed the top spot for three consecutive weeks when it was released in September last year. With the first three out of 13 episodes released on Dec. 16, the survival show features an intense culinary battle between lesser-known chefs, referred to as "Black Spoons," and celebrity chefs known as "White Spoons." 2025-12-31 14:07:05 -
Doosan Enerbility secures 575 billion won deal to build offshore wind farm SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea's Doosan Enerbility has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the 104-megawatt Yeonggwang Yawol offshore wind farm in South Korea. The project involves installing 13 offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 8 megawatts, off Nakwol-myeon in Yeonggwang-gun, South Jeolla Province. Doosan Enerbility said the contract is valued at 575 billion won ($430 million) and covers the full EPC scope, including the supply of turbines. The company said Wednesday this marks its first commercial contract for its 8-megawatt offshore wind turbine, the DS205-8MW, which it independently developed in 2022 using domestic technology. The turbine has obtained international certification from UL, according to the company, and was designed to perform efficiently under South Korea’s relatively lower wind-speed conditions compared with Europe. Under the agreement, Doosan Enerbility will supply the turbines, while providing key equipment and oversee installation and construction. Following completion, the company will also provide long-term maintenance services to ensure stable operations. Construction of the offshore wind farm is scheduled to be completed in March 2029, Doosan Enerbility said. Lee Hyun-ho, head of Doosan Enerbility’s Plant EPC Business Group, said the deal is significant as it combines the first deployment of the company’s 8-megawatt turbine with full EPC responsibilities for a large-scale offshore wind project. “Based on proven technology, we aim to contribute to revitalizing South Korea’s offshore wind ecosystem,” Lee said. 2025-12-31 13:54:07 -
KAIST researchers develop brain-like AI chip perceiving and thinking instantly SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a next-generation artificial intelligence semiconductor that integrates sensing, computing, and memory into a single chip. By mimicking the structure of the human eye and brain, the technology allows devices to perceive and process information instantly without the power loss or delays found in traditional computers. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 31, Wednesday, that a research team led by Professor Chon Sang-hun from the School of Electrical Engineering presented six papers at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEEE IEDM 2025) in San Francisco. The team work on integrated vision sensors was selected as a "Highlight Paper," and their research on highly reliable memory received the "Top Ranked Student Paper" award. Standard AI systems function like a relay race: a camera sensor takes a picture, converts it into numbers, moves those numbers to memory for storage, and then sends them to a processor to be calculated. This constant moving of data back and forth uses a lot of electricity and creates a "lag" in response time. The KAIST team solved this by creating a "full-stack" AI chip where the sensor and the brain-like processing circuits are physically stacked on top of each other in very thin layers. This "in-sensor" technology allows the chip to "see and think" at the same time. Instead of sending raw data elsewhere, the sensor itself performs the calculations. This mimics how the human nervous system processes basic visual features before the information even reaches the deep brain. By eliminating the need to move data between different chips, the system uses significantly less power and reacts much faster, making it ideal for real-time use in mobile devices, drones, and robots. In addition to the sensing technology, the team improved the storage part of the AI chip. They developed a new type of memory called "Next-Generation NAND Flash" that uses a special material to store data more reliably while using lower voltage. This ensures that the AI can store vast amounts of information safely for a long time without draining the battery. Professor Chon Sang-hun stated that this research proves that sensors, computation, and storage—which used to be designed separately—can be combined into one single system and material. He noted that this platform will be expanded for use in "edge AI," which refers to smart devices that need to process complex information locally and instantly without relying on a central server. The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. It was conducted in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, Kyungpook National University, and Hanyang University. (Paper information) Journal: IEEE IEDM 2025 Title: Monolithically Integrated Photodiode–Spiking Circuit for Neuromorphic Vision with In-Sensor Feature Extraction DOI: https://iedm25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=255 Title: A Highly Reliable Ferroelectric NAND Cell with Ultra-thin IGZO Charge Trap Layer; Trap Profile Engineering for Endurance and Retention Improvement DOI: https://iedm25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=124 2025-12-31 13:46:54 -
Farewell, volatile 2025. Welcome, year of the Fire Horse SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea passed through a year of sharp political rupture, marked by martial law and impeachment, yet it did not remain suspended in crisis. Gradually, the pulse of society returned. The economy gathered speed from near stillness, and the KOSPI rose with uncommon force, its 76 percent surge reflecting both the promise of artificial intelligence and shifting winds in the global order. Beneath the recovery, divisions linger and the young continue to shoulder uncertainty. Still, as the Year of the Fire Horse approaches — a symbol of strong motion, resolve and renewal — there is a quiet hope that 2026 will carry brighter energy, steadier ground, and a deeper sense of confidence for the people. 2025-12-31 13:39:48 -
Celltrion forecasts record quarterly revenue, operating profit for Q4 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Celltrion said Wednesday that it expects to post record-breaking fourth-quarter results, projecting revenue of 1.28 trillion won ($889 million) and operating profit of 472.2 billion won for the October-December period. The South Korean biopharmaceutical giant's forecast marks a 20.7 percent year-on-year surge in revenue and a 140.4 percent jump in operating profit, with operating margin reaching 36.8 percent. Should the projections hold, Celltrion's full-year revenue would climb 15.7 percent to 4.12 trillion won, while annual operating profit would more than double to 1.17 trillion won — breaching the 4 trillion won and 1 trillion won thresholds for the first time in the company's history. The robust performance stems from the rapid global uptake of newer biosimilar products including Remsima SC, Yuflyma, and Vegzelma, which are expected to post double-digit growth rates and account for more than 60 percent of quarterly sales. Celltrion also disclosed that its fourth-quarter cost of goods sold ratio dropped to 36.1 percent from 39 percent in the previous quarter, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is projected to hit a record 538.9 billion won. The company said it will complete the acquisition of Eli Lilly's biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Branchburg, New Jersey by year-end and will begin contract manufacturing operations and U.S.-bound production next year. "From 2026, we will focus on substantive growth centered on high-margin product lines," said a Celltrion spokesperson. The company added that it applied conservative assumptions to the forecast, citing market volatility ahead of final earnings confirmation. 2025-12-31 13:37:36 -
Samsung Electronics begins manufacturing operations in Kazakhstan SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has officially launched the production of televisions and washing machines in Kazakhstan, marking the South Korean tech giant's first manufacturing presence in the Central Asian nation. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in South Korea said Wednesday that the new production lines are operating at the Silk Road Electronics plant in Saran, a city in the Karaganda Region. The facility currently employs more than 1,100 people. The project is a joint initiative involving the Kazakh government, private investors, and industry partners designed to expand the country's domestic machine-building capabilities. According to the embassy, the plant has an annual production capacity of 150,000 televisions and 200,000 washing machines. It is currently producing washing machines that support the SmartThings ecosystem, as well as Crystal UHD 4K, FHD, and HD television models. Since mass production began earlier this year, the facility has turned out more than 42,000 units. These include models featuring artificial intelligence technology and user interfaces localized in the Kazakh language. Officials plan to add QLED TV series to the production lines in the future. The plant has also started manufacturing 2026 model-year televisions, which the embassy noted meets Samsung's international production standards. 2025-12-31 13:35:25