Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Samsung to showcase unified AI vision in standalone CES 2026 exhibit
    Samsung to showcase unified AI vision in standalone CES 2026 exhibit SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - For the first time in its CES history, Samsung Electronics will operate a fully standalone exhibition space, breaking away from its long-established practice of presenting its products in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall. The move underscores Samsung’s push to position itself as a leader in connected AI ecosystems ahead of next year’s show. Samsung has secured a 4,628-square-meter venue at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, separate from the main CES grounds. The company said the location will allow it to present an “AI living platform” — a curated environment linking TVs, appliances, mobile devices and services through unified software and artificial intelligence. Unlike previous years, Samsung will structure the space around thematic experiences rather than product-by-product displays. The standalone format will consolidate demonstrations, technical briefings, partner meetings and a newly introduced “Samsung Tech Forum,” featuring panels on AI, devices, services and design between Jan. 5–6. A Samsung official said the decision to leave the LVCC was deliberate. “We previously showcased most of our systems in the Central Hall, but this year we wanted a larger, more private space,” the official said. “By operating a dedicated hall, visitors — whether consumers or business partners — can move seamlessly from product displays to announcement events and technology forums in one place.” Samsung said the shift reflects the need to demonstrate its AI capabilities across its entire device portfolio rather than as isolated features. The standalone venue is also intended to minimize congestion and offer guided, structured sessions. Ahead of the official CES opening, the company will host “The First Look,” an event used to preview new hardware and technologies. It will also hold two media briefings outlining its AI strategy and product roadmap. “Our goal at CES 2026 is to show how AI can blend into everyday routines through tightly connected hardware–software experiences,” said a representative. 2025-12-26 14:41:00
  • Homeless left outdoors in Seouls deep freeze
    Homeless left outdoors in Seoul's deep freeze SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A bitter cold settled over Seoul as temperatures fell below zero, pushing the wind chill near minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Beneath Seoul Station, some homeless people lay on the floor wrapped in cardboard and thin sleeping bags, sheltering under fluorescent lights that never go out. Outside, they huddle inside fragile tents as Arctic air cuts through. The city issued its first freeze warning of the winter and activated round-the-clock monitoring, as forecasters said the cold wave would persist through the weekend. As trains came and went above ground, winter tightened its hold — quiet, relentless, and unevenly felt. 2025-12-26 14:04:50
  • PHOTOS: Seoul art show opens in Coex
    PHOTOS: Seoul art show opens in Coex SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The 2025 Seoul Art Show, an exhibition offering a comprehensive look at the latest trends in contemporary art, opened December 24 at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and runs through December 28. Now in its 14th year, the Seoul Art Show is held annually during the Christmas season and has become a fixture of the city's year-end cultural calendar. The event serves as a barometer for the Korean art market and a primary point of contact between the public and the arts. Reflecting this role, large crowds visited the venue on the December 24 opening day and on Christmas Day, December 25. The exhibition features approximately 150 domestic and international galleries alongside several curated special programs. A special exhibition highlighting the diversity and innovation of Korean art includes works by Kim Whan-ki, Lee Jung-seob, Nam June Paik, Chun Kyung-ja, Kim Ku-lim, and Lee Ufan. Previously unreleased works by Lee Jung-seob are among the pieces on display. A second special exhibition, "60 Years of Korea-Japan Art Exchange," focuses on how artistic dialogue has fostered cultural sensitivity and reduced prejudice by offering insights into the history, tradition, and modern society of both nations. This year's show includes works by Korean artists Lee Ufan, Lee Kun-yong, Lee Jong-sang, Lee Seung-taek, and Lee Il-ho, as well as Japanese artists Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, and Kenji Takashi. "We will ensure that leading domestic and international galleries and renowned artists participate in this show to establish it as a center of the international art market," said Kim Jong-geun, co-director of the Seoul Art Show. "We intend to play a pivotal role in the growth of the Korean art market." 2025-12-26 13:53:10
  • Special counsel seeks 10-year jail term for ex-President Yoon over martial law case
    Special counsel seeks 10-year jail term for ex-President Yoon over martial law case SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A special counsel team on Friday asked a Seoul court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 10 years in prison on charges including obstruction of justice and abuse of power related to his short-lived martial-law declaration in December last year. It is the first request for sentencing on the disgraced president whose term was cut short in the wake of his Dec. 3 martial-law stunt. During the final hearing of Yoon’s obstruction-of-justice trial at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 35, the prosecution team argued the former president had abused state power to block investigators, infringed on Cabinet members’ constitutional rights and attempted to conceal evidence after the lifting of martial law. The special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, sought five years in prison for allegedly obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant; three years for infringing on Cabinet members’ deliberation and voting rights, spreading false information to foreign journalists and destroying evidence linked to a secure phone; and two years for drafting a martial law proclamation after the decree had already been lifted. “This case involves a serious crime in which state institutions were effectively privatized to conceal and justify unlawful acts,” Assistant Special Counsel Park Eok-su said during closing arguments. He added that Yoon showed no remorse and instead attempted to justify his conduct, even describing efforts to detain him as “childish." Prosecutors argued that South Korea, as a democratic republic, operates on the principle that all power derives from the people, and that Yoon violated constitutional checks on presidential authority. They said his actions damaged the country’s legal order and betrayed voters who elected him, stressing the need for a heavy sentence to prevent the recurrence of abuses of power by future leaders. On the charge of obstructing arrest, the team emphasized that it was unprecedented for a president to allegedly mobilize Presidential Security Service personnel as “private soldiers” to block the execution of a warrant. The requested five-year sentence exceeds the standard sentencing guideline of one to four years for such offenses. The court has said it is likely to deliver a verdict on Jan. 16, two days before Yoon’s detention period expires. His lawyers had requested that sentencing be postponed until the conclusion of his separate insurrection trial. The article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 13:16:22
  • Asian stocks rise following record close for S&P 500
    Asian stocks rise following record close for S&P 500 SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, following a rally on Wall Street after U.S. economic data showed stronger-than-expected third-quarter growth earlier in the week. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 0.6 percent to 4,132.65 as of 10:14 a.m., and the KOSDAQ gained 0.2 percent to 916.70. The regional advance followed a Wednesday close in which the S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent to an all-time high of 6,932.05. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.6 percent to 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.2 percent to 23,613.31. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, third-quarter GDP grew at an annualized rate of 4.3 percent, surpassing the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 3.2 percent. Samsung Electronics led the gains in Seoul, jumping 3.4 percent to 114,900 won. The stock reached an intraday high of 115,100 won, breaking its previous record of 112,500 won set on Tuesday. SK hynix gained 2 percent to 600,000 won. The semiconductor sector was supported by a 3.8 percent rise in Micron Technology to a record high. Additionally, Nomura Securities raised its target price for Samsung Electronics to 160,000 won on Friday. "The memory supercycle is likely to last at least until 2027," Nomura stated. Performance among other large-cap stocks was mixed. Hanwha Aerospace rose 1.3 percent to 889,000 won, but LG Energy Solution fell 1.5 percent to 384,500 won. Other decliners included HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which dropped 1 percent, and Doosan Enerbility, which fell 1.5 percent. KB Financial Group and Naver slipped 1.2 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. The entertainment sector saw a broad decline, with Hybe falling 2.5 percent, SM Entertainment dropping 2.6 percent, and JYP Entertainment losing 1.5 percent. In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,449.9 won per dollar and moved to 1,442.9 won by 11 a.m. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 percent to 50,849.62. All of Japan’s 10 largest companies by market capitalization gained, with SoftBank Group jumping 2.5 percent and Fast Retailing advancing 2.3 percent. Toyota Motor rose 0.4 percent, while tech firms Advantest and Tokyo Electron gained 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Chinese markets were little changed, with the Shanghai Composite Index edging up 0.1 percent to 3,964.91 and the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rising 0.2 percent to 25,818.93. 2025-12-26 12:49:57
  • Cold wave grips South Korea
    Cold wave grips South Korea SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Bitter Artic air gripped South Korea Friday, sending temperatures in Seoul and elsewhere well below freezing and triggering widespread weather alerts. The mercury fell to as low as minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit) as of 5 a.m. and will stay subzero for most of the day. 2025-12-26 11:26:53
  • Seoul to decide whether to lift ban on North Korean state media access
    Seoul to decide whether to lift ban on North Korean state media access The South Korean government is weighing whether to allow public access to North Korea's state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun and, more broadly, to ease restrictions on North Korean websites, as part of a policy review led by the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The issue will be discussed at a Cabinet-level meeting on Friday involving officials from the NIS, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Korea Communications Commission. Under current law, most North Korean publications are classified as "special materials" under Article 7 of the National Security Act of 1970. The designation bans public access to materials deemed to promote or praise North Korea's political system or deny South Korea's democratic order. According to Democratic Party lawmaker Youn Kun-young, a member of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, the NIS has notified lawmakers that it is reviewing whether to reclassify Rodong Sinmun at the request of the Ministry of Unification. The move follows remarks by President Lee Jae Myung during a recent government briefing by the unification ministry last week, in which he said South Koreans should not be treated as incapable of distinguishing propaganda from facts. He argued that the public should be trusted to exercise judgment rather than be shielded through blanket restrictions. In a report to the National Assembly, the NIS said it is "positively considering expanding access to North Korean websites" in order to strengthen the public's right to know and promote inter-Korean exchange. The agency also said it plans to cooperate with two bills currently under review by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that would establish a legal framework for the management and use of North Korean materials. At present, nearly 90 percent of all North Korean publications are classified as "special materials," making them inaccessible to the general public. Access is granted only with special approval from the Ministry of Unification and is limited to supervised viewing on designated computers at the Unification Education Institute. Ordinary users attempting to visit North Korean websites typically encounter a notice stating that the content is blocked as illegal or harmful. As part of the policy shift, the NIS has also decided to abolish its existing internal guidelines on North Korean materials and transfer authority over their management to the Ministry of Unification, signaling a broader institutional realignment in how such content is regulated. 2025-12-26 10:32:48
  • Samsung moves to develop in-house GPU for next-generation AI devices
    Samsung moves to develop in-house GPU for next-generation AI devices SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics plans to introduce its first fully in-house graphics processing unit (GPU) as part of a new Exynos application processor scheduled for release in 2027, marking a major step in the company’s efforts to strengthen control over on-device AI performance. According to industry sources on Thursday, Samsung’s System LSI division is developing a proprietary GPU architecture to be integrated into the tentatively named Exynos 2800. This would shift Samsung away from its long-running reliance on partner technologies such as AMD’s graphics architecture, which the company currently uses in its Exynos 2600 chip. The push reflects the growing centrality of GPUs in the AI era. GPUs handle parallel processing for graphics, video, gaming and neural-network operations, and serve as auxiliary accelerators to on-device NPUs. Optimizing GPU behavior for Samsung’s own software and hardware is seen as increasingly critical as devices adopt more advanced generative-AI features. Industry officials say the company’s U.S. semiconductor research organizations — including Samsung Austin Research Center and the Advanced Computing Lab — have recruited senior GPU engineers in recent years in preparation for full in-house development. Samsung has also sought to strengthen its design capabilities to compete with global GPU leaders such as Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Apple and Qualcomm. By internalizing GPU technology, Samsung aims to extend its AI ecosystem beyond smartphones to emerging form factors such as smart glasses, autonomous-vehicle infotainment systems and humanoid robotics. The in-house GPU is also expected to support the company’s longer-term ambitions in ASIC development, where customized chips are designed for external clients. A successful rollout would represent a milestone for Samsung’s System LSI business, bringing the unit closer to competing as a top-tier fabless player in advanced AI silicon design. 2025-12-26 10:29:25
  • BTS Jimin extends record with 120th week atop Spotify South Korea artist chart
    BTS Jimin extends record with 120th week atop Spotify South Korea artist chart SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Jimin of BTS has set a new record on Spotify South Korea's weekly artist chart, marking his 120th week at number one. According to data released by the streaming platform for the week of December 18, the singer remains at the top of the "Weekly Top Artists" chart. He is the first and only artist to reach the 120-week milestone since the chart's inception. The singer's run at the top is also reflected in the daily rankings. As of December 22, Jimin has held the number one spot on the "Daily Top Artists" chart in South Korea for 823 days. His solo catalog continues to see high engagement on the platform. "Who," the lead single from his second solo album "MUSE," has now spent 69 weeks at number one on the "Weekly Top Songs" chart in South Korea. This extends its record as the longest-running number one in the history of the domestic chart. His previous lead single, "Like Crazy" from the album "FACE," holds the second-highest record with 40 weeks at the top. As of December 22, "Who" has maintained the number one position on the "Daily Top Songs" chart for 485 consecutive days. The track is currently the most-streamed song on the Spotify South Korea chart, with more than 87 million filtered streams. Jimin has reached the top of the daily singles chart with five different songs, including "Set Me Free Pt.2," "Angel Pt.1," and the English version of "Like Crazy." Collectively, these tracks have earned him 789 days at number one on the "Daily Top Songs" chart. This total is more than five times the 152 days recorded by his group, BTS, which holds the second-highest number of days at the top of the South Korean daily song chart. 2025-12-26 09:13:07
  • KAIST researchers discover security flaw in architecture used by Google Gemini
    KAIST researchers discover security flaw in architecture used by Google Gemini SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Researchers have identified a critical security vulnerability in the "Mixture-of-Experts" architecture used by major artificial intelligence models such as Google Gemini. The study reveals that a single "malicious expert" hidden within an AI's internal structure can bypass safety filters, increasing the rate of harmful responses from zero to 80 percent. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 26 that a joint research team led by Professor Shin Seung-won and Professor Son Sooel has identified this new threat. Their research received the Distinguished Paper Award at the Annual Computer Security Applications Conference 2025 (ACSAC), a prestigious global forum for information security. Modern large language models often use a system called Mixture-of-Experts to save computing power. Instead of one giant AI handling every request, the system acts like a manager that routes specific questions to a group of smaller, specialized "experts." This allows the AI to be faster and more efficient by only activating the experts needed for a specific task. The KAIST team demonstrated that this efficiency creates a dangerous loophole. Because many AI developers use "open-source" parts shared by others, an attacker can distribute a single maliciously trained expert model. If this "bad" expert is integrated into a larger AI, it can take over whenever certain topics are mentioned. The researchers found that even if only one expert among many is compromised, it can force the entire AI to produce dangerous or restricted content. This attack is particularly difficult to detect because it does not slow down the AI or break its general logic. The model continues to function normally for most tasks, but when the specific "poisoned" expert is called upon, the success rate of the attack jumps from 0 percent to as high as 80 percent. This means an AI that appears safe during standard testing could still be manipulated into generating harmful outputs. "We have confirmed that the Mixture-of-Experts structure, which is spreading rapidly for its efficiency, can become a new security threat," Professor Shin Seung-won and Professor Son Sooel said in a joint statement. They emphasized that as the industry moves toward shared AI development, verifying the origin and safety of individual expert models is now essential for public safety. The award-winning research was presented on December 12 at ACSAC 2025 in Hawaii. The team included Kim Jae-han, Song Min-gyu, and Na Seung-ho. The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA), and the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP). 2025-12-26 08:36:41