Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Korean AI models score poorly in college exam math vs global rivals: study SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) -South Korea's homegrown artificial intelligence language models significantly underperformed compared with leading international counterparts in solving college entrance exam–level math problems, according to a study by a research team led by Professor Kim Jong-rak at Sogang University. The study tested five major Korean-language AI models against five global models, including ChatGPT, using math and essay questions drawn from university entrance examinations. Results showed a wide performance gap between domestic and international systems. Among the Korean models, only Upstage’s Solar Pro-2 scored above 20 points, achieving 58 points. Other domestic models clustered in the 20-point range, with NCSoft’s lightweight Llama Barco 8B Instruct scoring just 2 points. By contrast, international models recorded scores ranging from 76 to 92 points. The evaluation consisted of 50 questions per model: 20 high-difficulty math problems covering common mathematics, probability and statistics, calculus, and geometry, as well as 30 essay-style questions sourced from South Korean, Indian and Japanese university entrance exams. The Korean models tested were Upstage’s Solar Pro-2, LG AI Research’s Exaone 4.0.1, Naver’s HCX-007, SK Telecom’s A.X 4.0 (72B), and NCSoft’s Llama Barco 8B Instruct. International models included GPT-5.1, Gemini 3 Pro Preview, Claude Opus 4.5, Grok 4.1 Fast, and DeepSeek V3.2. Even when allowed to use Python-based tools to enhance computational accuracy, Korean models continued to struggle. In a separate evaluation using 100 custom-designed questions, international models scored between 82.8 and 90 points, while Korean models ranged from 7.1 to 53.3 points. When models were given up to three attempts to solve each problem, Grok achieved a perfect score, while other international models reached 90 points. Among Korean systems, Solar Pro-2 scored 70 points and Exaone reached 60 points. HCX-007, A.X 4.0, and Llama Barco 8B Instruct scored 40, 30 and 20 points, respectively. “We conducted this test in response to growing questions about how domestic AI models perform on entrance exam–level problems,” Professor Kim said. “The results show clearly that Korean models are still significantly behind global frontrunners, particularly in complex reasoning and mathematics.” The findings add to concerns within South Korea’s AI industry over gaps in advanced reasoning capabilities, despite strong investment and rapid model development in recent years. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 10:19:14 -
South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding secures first US Navy MRO contract SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding has signed its first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract with the U.S. Navy, marking its entry into the shipbuilding cooperation project between South Korea and the United States, the company said on Monday. The contract covers mid-level maintenance of the USNS Amelia Earhart, a 40,000-ton dry cargo and ammunition ship operated under the U.S. Navy’s Naval Supply Systems Command and Military Sealift Command. Commissioned in 2008, the USNS Amelia Earhart supports U.S. Navy operations by delivering up to 6,000 tons of ammunition, food and cargo, as well as about 2,400 tons of fuel. The vessel, named after pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart, is 210 meters long and 32 meters wide, with a top speed of 20 knots. HJ Shipbuilding said it will begin maintenance work at its Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan in January and aims to redeliver the ship to the U.S. Navy by the end of March. The company described the contract as a key step toward entering the U.S. Navy’s MRO market, which has high entry barriers but offers strong long-term returns. The MASGA project, along with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Regional Sustainment Framework policy, is strengthening defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and boosting expectations within South Korea’s defense industry, analysts say. HJ Shipbuilding has been preparing to enter overseas MRO markets since 2024, building on its experience as South Korea’s first marine defense contractor since 1974. Earlier this year, the company applied for a Master Ship Repair Agreement licence and underwent a site inspection in September to assess its facilities for U.S. Navy maintenance work. “This contract recognizes our maintenance capabilities and technical expertise on the global stage,” Chief Executive Yoo Sang-chul said. “We will meet the U.S. Navy’s delivery schedules and quality standards, and build long-term trust based on our 50 years of experience.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 10:04:08 -
South Korea's LS Cable considers Virginia site for rare earth magnet factory SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - South Korea's LS Cable said Monday it is considering building a rare earth permanent magnet factory in the United States. The company is currently reviewing Chesapeake, Virginia, as a potential site for the investment and is in talks with state authorities. Rare earth permanent magnets are critical components in advanced industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems such as fighter jets. China accounts for about 85 percent of global production, while manufacturing capacity in the United States remains limited, making supply chain diversification a growing priority. The proposed factory would likely be located near LS Cable’s submarine cable plant currently under construction in the United States, according to the company. The facility would aim to supply major automotive and electronics manufacturers. “If realized, this project would expand our business from cables into strategic materials and strengthen our position in the global mobility supply chain,” an LS Cable spokesman said. LS Cable is seeking to build an integrated value chain covering rare earth oxide procurement, metalization and magnet production. Through its subsidiary LS Eco Energy, the company is securing supplies of refined rare earth oxides from Vietnam and Australia, it said. The company is also considering producing high-grade copper materials in the United States. With existing supply ties to automakers such as General Motors and Hyundai Motor, LS Cable said the addition of rare earth magnet production could enhance its competitiveness in key mobility-related materials. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 09:53:45 -
Police raid Unification Church over bribery allegations SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Police on Monday raided about a dozen locations of the powerful Unification Church, also known as the Moonies over allegations of bribing political figures. The raid began at around 8:50 a.m., when a special investigation team from the National Police Agency carried out a search and seizure at the sprawling residence of the church's leader Han Hak-ja in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province and 10 other facilities in Seoul. The raid came after Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo resigned last week amid allegations that he accepted bribes from the church. The church is suspected of bribing a slew of lawmakers from both the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to allegedly secure various favors including its long-pursued dream of constructing an underwater tunnel between South Korea and Japan. 2025-12-15 09:50:48 -
OPINION: How to harness AI in education Consider this. AI can automate tasks but it cannot replace relationships. AI can generate content but it cannot provide judgment. AI has knowledge but teachers have lived experience. AI amplifies teachers but it does not replace them. That said, AI should not be feared but leveraged. Education now has a responsibility to equip teachers and students with the skills, tools, and ethical guidelines required for meaningful learning and responsible innovation in an AI-powered world. I recently presented at the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Education Committee Meeting, which convened at Dulwich College Seoul with various stakeholders present to examine how AI is reshaping learning, teaching, and workforce preparation. Following are the key points including the why around reflecting AI in curricula, reasons AI will not replace teachers, and biases we need to be aware of when applying it to learning. Equipping teachers to leverage AI AI is a driver of education’s evolution — a more complex version of what happened when the digital calculator came along. To make sure it is helping rather than hindering the honing of critical thinking skills, we need to make sure students are being taught and assessed appropriately. For example, curricula should keep AI under a critical lens and not lean heavily on tasks that can be handled by AI alone. Students may want to learn using AI and improve their own AI and data literacy. This is understandable given there is rising demand for graduates with these skills. Consider that 78% of global organizations used AI in 2024, up from 55% the year before, according to Stanford University’s 2025 AI Index Report. It is reminiscent of the early days of the Internet where we saw explosive growth in a short period of time. The first order of things is to ensure teachers understand and are familiar with AI and its various tools. The Stanford report states less than half of pre-K through Grade 12 computer science teachers in the U.S. feel equipped to teach AI — even though over 80% believe it should be included in foundational computer science education. Empowering teachers to leverage AI is essential because it enhances their capacity to personalize learning, streamline workload, and create richer, more responsive educational experiences. Without the skills and confidence to use AI effectively, schools risk widening the gap between what technology makes possible and what students actually receive in the classroom. Second, guidelines matter. AI governance is essential so that learning integrity and student privacy are protected. Responsible AI evaluation is not yet normative in schools, and it is imperative that they become familiar with and implement AI policies, including following rapidly evolving government regulations. Today’s AI landscape in education mirrors the search-engine boom of the 1990s, with companies rapidly developing features and exploring different directions at remarkable speed. At present, the market is crowded with competing products, but no single platform has emerged as the definitive leader. It remains to be seen whether a decade from now we will look back and identify one dominant player, much as we now recognize Google’s rise to the top. Being aware of AI biases Awareness of bias in AI is crucial because these systems can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or produce unequal outcomes if their data or design is flawed. Ensuring that teachers and students understand this empowers them to use AI critically and responsibly, protecting fairness and trust in the learning environment. Simple requests in generative AI exemplify this problem of bias. Try for yourself to see the result when you ask to “create an image of a CEO” - most likely “a middle-aged white man in a suit” will come up. Even models trained to be unbiased still show implicit bias, including based on gender or racial inequality. There is also an American bias. A major underlying reason is skewed investment. The U.S. dominates spending on AI. The Stanford report shows that, as of last year, U.S. private AI investment reached $109.1 billion — nearly 12 times China’s $9.3 billion and 24 times the U.K.’s $4.5 billion. For comparison, South Korea's level stood at $1.3 billion in 2024, although the government has since taken steps to encourage a much higher rate of AI adoption. Aside from bias, we also see a real threat of a deepening digital divide. Back in 2019, the Brookings Institution found that there was no evidence of computer science education in 146 out of 217 countries. While that number has now halved, more advanced IT programs will have had the opportunity to move even further ahead with AI. It is essential that this imbalance is addressed to prevent what I am calling the AI Empowerment Divide, where only some communities gain the skills and opportunities needed to benefit from the next generation of technology. Some of these issues can only be solved at the level of nations and governments. Still, hopefully others can join me in taking steps to embrace the opportunities of AI in education, and make sure teachers and students where we work are ready for a world in which AI is already part of the infrastructure. *The author is the Director of Technology at Dulwich College Seoul 2025-12-15 09:36:18 -
Independent prosecutors set to wrap up six-month probe into martial law debacle SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors are set to brief on the findings of their investigation on Monday into disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 martial law debacle last year. Wrapping up their six-month-long probe led by prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, they will explain the details of the investigation that led to charges against 27 individuals including Yoon. Of the 12 arrest warrants requested, five were issued. Prosecutors have also sought an extension of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's detention, which expires on Christmas next week, with a decision slated for later this week. Cho's team secured Yoon's arrest within three weeks of starting their investigation on charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to the debacle, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min was also indicted on similar charges. However, arrest warrants for several other officials including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, were denied. Cho believes Yoon planned his martial law gambit in late 2022 to conceal controversies involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee, who faces multiple allegations including accepting bribes, involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, and a slew of other charges. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 09:27:17 -
OPINION: Rethinking economic security in age of AI SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - In early December, Reuters reported that private capital would help launch the “Invest America Program,” a cornerstone policy of President Trump’s second term. Michael Dell and his wife pledged $6.25 billion to activate what are known as Trump Accounts, an initiative embedded in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July. Under the program, every American child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive $1,000 in seed money at birth. The funds, locked away until age 18, will be invested in index funds tracking the S&P 500. The idea is ambitious: to integrate every American child into the stock market from the moment of birth, reviving an old political ideal of an “Ownership Society” for a new technological era. That experiment is unfolding as artificial intelligence and robotics accelerate far faster than many economists once anticipated. Automation, long associated with factory floors and logistics centers, is now reshaping professional and office work as well. Advanced AI systems are increasingly capable of performing tasks once reserved for analysts, designers and administrators, reducing the centrality of labor itself. Earlier forecasts assumed a gradual erosion of jobs, allowing labor markets and social systems time to adapt. Instead, the pace of technological change is compressing that timeline. As labor income weakens, the foundations of income distribution, taxation and social security are coming under strain. Traditional policy responses focused on job creation are proving insufficient, suggesting that deeper structural redesign may be unavoidable. It is in this context that the "Ownership Society" has reemerged as a potential alternative. Rather than relying solely on wages, the concept seeks to enable citizens to sustain themselves through capital income. Unlike basic income programs, which prioritize consumption, an Ownership Society emphasizes asset accumulation and long-term opportunity. There are several ways such a transition could take shape. One approach would provide basic asset accounts at birth or early adulthood, seeded with public funds and invested for education, housing or retirement. Another would establish a national A.I. and robotics dividend fund, distributing a share of excess profits generated by technological advances. A third would expand fund-based retirement systems to cover platform workers and nontraditional forms of employment, while a fourth would reform national pension systems to ensure long-term sustainability through lifetime income models. The central challenge, however, is funding. Directly taxing the profits of technology companies may sound radical, but variations of this idea are already taking hold. Digital taxes, data usage fees and platform regulations are being institutionalized by the OECD and the European Union. For countries like South Korea, where rapid aging coincides with a manufacturing-heavy economy, the impact of AI and robotics may be especially acute. Redirecting a portion of technology-driven profits toward social safety nets and asset-building could offer a path to sustainable growth. A more conservative approach would encourage private participation through philanthropy, ESG investing, joint public-private funds and tax incentives. After all, data — the raw material of the A.I. economy — is a public resource generated by citizens themselves. The technology industry rests on social foundations, and sharing its gains with the broader public raises questions not only of fairness, but of long-term viability. As labor income declines, an Ownership Society offers one vision for maintaining economic stability and social cohesion. If public policy fails to keep pace with the transformations unleashed by A.I. and robotics, inequality and instability may deepen. But with the right framework, the same forces could be turned into shared opportunity. The future economy may rely less on wages and more on ownership, dividends and capital income. In that world, the state’s role would not be to guarantee jobs, but to open the door to assets. The debate over an Ownership Society, once theoretical, is becoming increasingly urgent in the age of intelligent machines. About the author -Ph.D. in Economics from Sungkyunkwan University -Former President of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs -Former President of the Korean Economic Association -Former President of the Korean Fiscal Policy Association * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 08:58:37 -
Seoul holds emergency meeting as KRW set to end at its record low average SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) -South Korea’s fiscal, monetary and financial authorities convened an emergency meeting on Sunday as the Korean won continued to weaken against major currencies, defying a broad retreat in the U.S. dollar. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and attended by Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon, Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong, Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin, and Presidential Chief Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Joon-kyung. Reflecting heightened concern over foreign-exchange volatility, the meeting also included Lee Seu-ran, vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which oversees the National Pension Service — a major player in FX market — as well as Park Dong-il, director general at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. The emergency talks followed renewed weakness in the won after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Dec. 10 to a range of 3.50–3.75 percent, narrowing the interest-rate gap between South Korea and the United States from 1.50 percentage points to 1.25 percentage points. Despite the rate cut — which typically supports the won by easing interest-rate differentials — the currency failed to hold gains. The won-dollar exchange rate briefly fell before rebounding toward the 1,470-won level. The dollar closed at 1,473.7 won last Friday and touched 1,479.9 won in after-hours trading, its highest level since April’s presidential impeachment turmoil. Data from the Bank of Korea’s Economic Statistics System show that the average exchange rate based on weekly closing prices reached 1,460.44 won last month, the highest monthly average since March 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, when it averaged 1,488.87 won. So far this month, the two-week average has climbed further to 1,470.4 won. The exchange rate has not fallen below 1,450 won even intraday since Nov. 7, underscoring the won’s persistent weakness. The won has been the sole underperformer among major currencies this month. While the Korean currency has fallen 0.69 percent against the dollar, other major currencies have strengthened, including the Australian dollar (+1.56%), Canadian dollar (+1.50%), euro (+1.20%), British pound (+0.94%), and Japanese yen (+0.17%). The dollar index fell to 98.404 on Dec. 12 from 100.251 on Nov. 20, returning to mid-October levels, when the won was trading around 1,420 per dollar. If current trends persist, South Korea’s annual average exchange rate is projected to reach a record high. The year-to-date average stands at 1,420.0 won, already exceeding the 1998 average of 1,394.97 won, marking the weakest annual level on record. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-14 19:12:23 -
Samsung, Hyundai, LG and SK chart AI-driven growth strategies for 2026 SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - South Korea's four largest conglomerates are racing to finalize their 2025 business strategies, with artificial intelligence emerging as the linchpin of their growth plans amid persistent economic uncertainty. Samsung Electronics will convene its biannual global strategy meeting on Dec. 16, bringing together senior executives and overseas subsidiary heads to chart next year's direction. The company, pursuing a transformation into an "AI-driven company," will focus on bolstering AI semiconductor competitiveness and stabilizing mass production of its 2-nanometer foundry process. The memory division will discuss customer-tailored strategies centered on sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, HBM4, while the consumer electronics unit will concentrate on enhancing AI features across smartphones, televisions and home appliances. Hyundai Motor Group plans to counter potential U.S. tariffs through supply chain diversification while expanding its hybrid lineup to more than 18 models by 2030. The automaker is also pushing to launch robotaxi services in major U.S. cities next year. LG Group held its executive meeting on Dec. 10, where Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and about 40 chief executives discussed strategies to nurture growth engines in AI, biotechnology and clean technology. LG Electronics will hold a company-wide management meeting on Dec. 19 under newly appointed CEO Lyu Jae-cheol. SK Group held its annual CEO seminar in early November, with Chairman Chey Tae-won urging executives to strengthen competitiveness and seize leadership in the AI race. SK hynix has established regional AI research centers, while SK Innovation created an AI transformation unit reporting directly to the CEO. 2025-12-14 14:52:46 -
Korean seaweed rides high as U.S. tariff exemption adds fuel to export boom SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - South Korea's seaweed exports are on track to shatter records this year, and a newly announced U.S. tariff exemption is set to accelerate the momentum for the country's beloved K-gim. A White House fact sheet released last month listed seasoned seaweed as the sole seafood product to receive duty-free treatment, effectively slashing the previous 15 percent levy to zero, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Sunday. The exemption took effect on Nov. 13 based on customs clearance dates. Dried seaweed, however, remains subject to the 15 percent reciprocal tariff alongside other seafood items. Still, data reveals that seasoned seaweed accounts for more than 90 percent of the country's seaweed exports to the United States, the tariff to have minimal impact. The ministry said it would negotiate with Washington to secure duty-free status for dried seaweed and tuna fillets as well. The exemption comes as Korean seaweed continues to gain traction among American consumers. Exports to the U.S. reached $228 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 15.9 percent from a year earlier, despite the imposition of reciprocal tariffs earlier this year. November shipments alone surged 25.2 percent on-year to $24.5 million, outpacing the cumulative growth rate for the January to November period. The U.S. accounts for more than 20 percent of South Korea's total seaweed exports. South Korea's global seaweed exports totaled $1.04 billion in the first 11 months, marking a 13.3 percent increase from the same period last year. This marks the first time annual shipments have surpassed the $1 billion threshold. Last year, exports narrowly missed the milestone at $997 million. The ministry forecasts full-year exports to exceed $1.1 billion for the first time in 2025. 2025-12-14 13:36:26