Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • North Korea stresses strong ties in commemorative letter to Laos on 50th anniversary
    North Korea stresses strong ties in commemorative letter to Laos on 50th anniversary SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory letter to Laos on the 50th anniversary of its national founding, emphasizing the longstanding ties between the two countries. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim expressed confidence in the continued development of friendly cooperation between the two countries in his letter to Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith. A floral tribute was also delivered through the North Korean ambassador to Laos. In October, Sisoulith visited North Korea for the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party, where he held talks with Kim. The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed optimism about the future of their traditional friendship. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui also held follow-up talks with her Lao counterpart Thongsavanh Phomvihane to discuss areas of mutual support. While maintaining ties with its traditional allies like China and Russia, North Korea has been expanding its diplomatic relations with other socialist countries such as Laos and Viet Nam. Analysts believe the move aims to reduce diplomatic isolation and challenge international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programs in pursuit of recognition as a nuclear-armed state. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-02 14:33:26
  • Korean auto parts firms follow global automakers to pull back from China
    Korean auto parts firms follow global automakers to pull back from China SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - South Korean auto parts suppliers are taking steps to restructure their supply chains as global automakers scale back operations in China. The rapid shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) in the Chinese market and rising export costs triggered by tariffs are pushing companies to seek new manufacturing bases. According to industry officials, wheel-bearing producer A Corp. earlier this year relocated part of its Jiangsu, China, plant to Gyeongju in southeastern South Korea. Wheel bearings — critical components for EVs and increasingly for humanoid robots — are viewed as essential to next-generation mobility technologies. A Corp., which entered China in 2003, has supplied major global brands including Hyundai, Kia, GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and BYD. But orders plunged after the 2017 THAAD dispute and the rapid electrification of China’s auto market, prompting the company to sell half of its factories. “Orders from Hyundai, Kia and other global automakers have dropped sharply, and we’re now operating only two production lines,” an A Corp. official said. “Local Chinese suppliers have also become far more competitive.” Facing similar pressures, Korean components makers weighing downsizing or exiting China are increasingly targeting emerging markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Mexico. Key Hyundai suppliers — including Seoyon E-Hwa, Sungwoo Hitech and Daewon Industrial — are already shifting operations abroad. “As Hyundai struggles to keep pace with China’s electrification, its suppliers have lost competitiveness,” a parts industry insider said. “The move toward EVs, autonomous driving and smart vehicles is eroding the advantage Korean firms built around internal combustion engine technologies.” The withdrawal of global automakers from China is adding to the urgency. General Motors has instructed suppliers to reduce dependence on Chinese parts and materials, with some told to eliminate them entirely by 2027. Tesla is also aiming to remove Chinese components from U.S. production by the same year, urging suppliers to relocate to Vietnam or Mexico. Lim Yoon-ho, a researcher at the Korea International Trade Association, said the transition may open opportunities for Korean firms. “Despite China’s booming EV market, Korean suppliers have had limited participation,” he said. “Relocating production bases amid intensifying trade disputes could create new openings. Suppliers should explore new supply chains, move into future vehicle components and consider joint ventures or contract manufacturing.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-02 14:14:46
  • CJ CheilJedang strikes retail partnership with Thailands largest store operator
    CJ CheilJedang strikes retail partnership with Thailand's largest store operator SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang has signed a supply agreement with Thailand’s largest retailer, CP Extra. CP Extra operates more than 2,700 outlets under its Makro wholesale chain and Lotus supermarkets, providing CJ CheilJedang with broad access to Thailand’s mainstream retail channels. The partnership will target increased sales of Bibigo fried noodles, kimchi, dumplings, K-street foods and Korean-style sauces. Makro will handle bulk and B2B-oriented products, with the two companies planning joint marketing campaigns and promotional initiatives. CP Extra said it intends to leverage the growing brand recognition of Bibigo to reinforce its K-food category across both Makro and Lotus stores. The companies are also exploring opportunities to extend the collaboration to Malaysia, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian markets where CP Group has operations. “Southeast Asia, with its 690 million population and strong economic potential, is a key market for K-food expansion,” a CJ CheilJedang official said. “Thailand, with its high affinity for K-culture, serves as a strategic gateway to the region.” CJ CheilJedang’s overseas food revenue rose 77 percent from 3.15 trillion won in 2019 to 5.58 trillion won last year. In the first three quarters of this year, overseas sales reached 4.31 trillion won, representing more than half of total food revenue. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-02 13:50:11
  • Asian markets open mixed
    Asian markets open mixed SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - Asian markets opened mixed on Tuesday, with South Korea's benchmark KOSPI up 1 percent at 3,960.75 and the junior KOSDAQ down 0.8 percent at 915.37. Shares of Samsung Electronics rose 0.8 percent to 101,600 won (US$69), and SK hynix gained 2.7 percent to 552,500 won. Among the top 10 companies in terms of market capitalization, all were trading higher except for LG Energy Solution, which edged down 0.2 percent to 412,000 won. Automakers led the gains. Hyundai Motor jumped 4.4 percent to 267,500 won, and Kia added 2.7 percent to 115,300 won. Major U.S. stock indexes closed lower as comments from the Bank of Japan signaling a possible rate hike sparked concerns, weighing on equities. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9 percent to 47,289.33, the S&P 500 slipped 0.5 percent to 6,812.63, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.4 percent to 23,275.92. Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.4 percent to 49,513.34. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.3 percent to 3,902.83 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.7 percent to 26,220.88. 2025-12-02 12:06:25
  • PHOTOS: Following the tracks, following the taste (Gwangju) – 1 –
    PHOTOS: Following the tracks, following the taste (Gwangju) – 1 – SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - For centuries, this region has been known for its food. With fertile fields and access to clean coastal waters, it offered ingredients from both land and sea, and its generous use of fermented seasonings created dishes with depth and warmth. This is Jeolla Province, the southern end of the Korean Peninsula. Yongsan Station in the morning still carried the last of the night’s energy. Passing through commuters and stepping onto the KTX platform, the city felt as fast as ever, but the moment the train pulled away and the first fields replaced the gray skyline, the pace shifted. It felt as if the train was lowering itself into a slower time — not rushing forward, but easing into a different rhythm. The plan for the day was simple: get off at a station and, within walking distance, eat what locals have eaten for decades. No complicated routes, no long transfers — just a slow walk into someone else’s everyday life. Stepping out of Gwangju Songjeong Station, the first impression was quietness. Even right outside the station, the street was calm, and the alley leading to 1913 Songjeong Market was emptier than expected. It felt like a place where time had slowed as the years changed and the city around it shrank and shifted. Coming straight from the noise of Seoul, the contrast felt almost unreal — as if one train ride had moved time, not distance. – Bibim-guksu, vegetable pajeon, and the old taste of “sugar noodles” – Inside the market, old signs and small shops lined the narrow path, and soft music drifted out from somewhere deeper inside. The first meal was bibim-guksu. Handmade noodles had a firm, springy texture, and the tangy dressing pulled the flavors together cleanly. Freshly made vegetable pajeon was soft in the middle, and with the noodles it felt balanced rather than heavy. The walls filled with TV still-cuts and visitors’ notes made the simple dishes feel like part of the market’s long memory. Then came sugar noodles — something rarely seen now but once a common snack for market vendors and field hands in the 1960s and 1970s. Cold broth, plain noodles, and a sprinkle of sugar. Just sweetness and chill — nothing more. In years when even sugar was scarce, saccharin was used instead. The simplicity carried a kind of quiet nostalgia that felt tied to the place more than to the bowl. – A full Jeolla-style table with tteokgalbi – A short walk from the market led to an alley filled with the smell of charcoal. Here, tteokgalbi is served with a tableful of side dishes that feel closer to a home meal than a restaurant setting. A large bowl of pork backbone soup arrived first, alongside greens, aged kimchi, and pickled vegetables. It was a kind of generosity hard to replicate in the city. The tteokgalbi itself was thick, with a smoky bite that filled the mouth. Despite being minced, it still had the feel of chewing into whole meat, and the sauce struck a familiar sweet-savory balance. Wrapped in lettuce it felt clean, and over rice it turned into a different kind of richness. A small yukhoe bibimbap on the side was also satisfying — sweet pear, seasoned meat, and gochujang blending easily. The light broth in between made the meal steady and unhurried. – A Jeolla trip completed in one bite of sangchu twigim – For the final taste, the camera and the steps returned to the market: sangchu-twigim. A local favorite, and a bit unusual to outsiders. Various vegetables — sweet potato, squid, perilla shoots, seasonal roots — are fried and wrapped in fresh lettuce with soy or a peppered dipping sauce. One bite holds multiple textures at once, and the lettuce keeps the flavors bright. Sitting at the small table and taking a bite, the day already felt full — even though only a few hours had passed since stepping off the train. Walking back toward the station, the quietness returned. The market breathed slowly, in its own time. There was no rush, no noise, and in that space, the meaning of old food and local pace felt clearer than before. The day showed that a trip does not need distance to feel deep. A station, a market, and the flavors held inside their history — that was enough for a slow walk across an older time. 2025-12-02 07:16:35
  • Made-in-Korea brands epitomise the rise of Asias integrated value chain
    Made-in-Korea brands epitomise the rise of Asia's integrated value chain SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - A Samsung Galaxy phone can no longer be described as “made in Korea” in any literal sense. Battery materials mined in Indonesia, memory chips manufactured in Korea, components sourced from Japan and final assembly in Vietnam or India all feed into a device that takes weeks to complete and crosses multiple borders before reaching a consumer. The smartphone illustrates how Samsung Electronics has secured its position at the premium end of the global market. Rather than relying on domestic production, the company has stitched together a regional value chain that balances cost pressures with technological quality — and reflects the increasingly interdependent nature of Asian manufacturing. Korean companies, once squeezed by the swift ascent of China’s state-backed industries, have instead leaned into the strengths of neighboring economies. The result is not a retreat of Korean competitiveness but its reinvention through a wider Asian production system. One smartphone, many countries: the reality of “Made by Asia” In an era of geopolitical contest, the notion of a single “country of origin” has become increasingly anachronistic. It also explains why trade restrictions aimed at one country generate outsized uncertainty for global producers. A high-end Korean smartphone today is a composite of the region’s industrial capacities. The application processor is developed through advanced foundries in Korea and Taiwan; memory is produced in Korean cleanrooms; Indonesia supplies key battery minerals; displays are engineered using Korean technology but assembled overseas; and the final product is put together largely in Vietnam and India. Samsung now manufactures roughly 80 per cent of its smartphones outside Korea, with Vietnam as its largest base and India expanding rapidly as a second hub. According to Kyung-hyun Koo, a researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), this overseas production structure has long been central to Korea’s industrial success. “This is not a recent phenomenon but has been the core success formula of Korea’s key industries since the 2000s,” Koo said. “Korean firms have expanded production networks to overseas locations where low-cost manufacturing is possible, while focusing domestically on higher value-added processes. Given Korea’s limited resources and production capacity, building production partnerships abroad and making efficient use of global networks has been an inevitable and important strategy — and one that remains essential going forward.” He added that heavy concentration in a single production base inevitably carries risks. “It is difficult to quantify precisely, but if production in Vietnam were to be completely disrupted, the impact would be very significant,” Koo said. “From that perspective, excessive reliance on one country carries inherent risks, which is why continuously expanding and diversifying production networks is so important.” No longer “Made in Korea”: TVs follow a similar trajectory Korea’s television industry underscores the same shift. Samsung and LG continue to dominate the upper tier of the global market, yet few of their high-end sets are produced onshore. Core display panel production has moved offshore, while assembly lines are concentrated in Vietnam, Mexico and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Koo said this should be understood as a structural reorganization rather than industrial decline. “Without such a shift, it would be difficult to maintain price competitiveness,” he said. “The real challenge lies in how Korea continues to secure higher value-added processes domestically. The idea that everything must be produced in Korea belongs to the past, and building and effectively utilizing overseas production networks will remain a long-term task for Korean industries.” Korea and Japan: from industrial rivals to research partners Perhaps the sharpest illustration of Asia’s evolving industrial architecture lies in the changing relationship between Korea and Japan. The two were once fierce competitors in semiconductors and displays. Today, their supply chains are increasingly intertwined. Japanese strengths in foundational materials and specialized components now complement Korea’s expertise in mass production, system integration and chip design. Recent government-backed initiatives have accelerated joint work in next-generation semiconductors, AI-related technologies and advanced materials — areas both countries view as critical for maintaining technological relevance. ASEAN and India: from low-cost bases to strategic pillars Southeast Asia has moved well beyond its reputation as a low-cost manufacturing zone. Vietnam alone accounts for an estimated 14 per cent of Korea’s total exports, thanks largely to Samsung’s vast operations. Indonesia, meanwhile, has become a crucial supplier of nickel and other battery minerals vital to Korea’s EV and energy-storage ambitions. India is emerging as both an alternative production base to China and a major consumer market. Korean companies that once looked primarily to Nasdaq are now weighing Indian IPOs, while expanding their local footprints to tap long-term demographic and digital growth. Koo noted that ASEAN countries are also seeking to move beyond low value-added production. “ASEAN economies are themselves recognizing the limits of remaining in low value-added manufacturing and are aiming to upgrade,” he said. “There are areas where the needs of both sides align, even as challenges related to workforce skills and industrial infrastructure remain.” On India, he added, “many major Korean companies now view India as one of their most promising export markets going forward,” Koo said. “Given its large population and stage of industrial development, it is a market Korea cannot afford to overlook, even though challenges remain.” Asia as a coherent production bloc, not fragmented economies With the US and China erecting new barriers across trade and technology, Korea’s competitiveness increasingly depends on the strength of its regional partnerships. What is emerging is not a set of isolated players but an integrated Asian production bloc — one in which supply chains, investment flows and technological capabilities reinforce one another. “Made in Korea” has become less a territorial label than a shorthand for an industrial ecosystem rooted in Asia’s collective strength. “As Asia’s overall economic value increases, the roles played by different parts of the region are also expected to grow,” Koo said. “What matters most going forward is a strategic approach in which each country identifies areas of comparative advantage, focuses its investments accordingly and builds long-term partnerships rather than seeking quick gains.” 2025-12-01 20:16:06
  • K-pop may have to lose the K as it sits as a genre, not a category
    K-pop may have to lose the "K" as it sits as a genre, not a category SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - K-pop has broken a historic barrier at the Grammy Awards — one of the highest measures of global music recognition — entering a "Big Four" category for the first time. Since the Grammys began in 1959, no Korean artist had ever been nominated in any of the major categories. That changed when the Recording Academy announced its 68th Grammy nominees in early November, naming BLACKPINK's Rosé, the OST "Golden" from Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," and global girl group KATSEYE — jointly launched by HYBE and Geffen Records — in major categories, which are Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist. For years, the Grammys have been seen as conservative, prioritizing musical craftsmanship over commercial popularity. BTS attended as presenters in 2019 and earned multiple nominations over three consecutive years, but never broke into the Big Four. Now, attention turns to next February's awards, where the industry is watching to see whether K-pop converts nominations into its first major-category win. K-wave thrives in the social media age According to the 2024 National Image Survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea's global favorability has risen steadily for six years — from 71.1 percent in 2018 to 79 percent in 2024. Among sectors such as sports, education, human rights, healthcare, and science, culture and entertainment emerged as the most influential contributor, rising from 35.3 percent in 2018 to 43.9 percent in 2024. The pandemic further accelerated the trend. With digital media consumption soaring, 89.3 percent of respondents said they first encountered Korea through YouTube, and 60.8 percent through Netflix — confirming streaming as the primary gateway to Korean pop culture. K-idol training sets a global standard for star-making KATSEYE was formed through the global audition program "The Debut: Dream Academy," which selected six multinational members from more than 120,000 applicants via evaluations and fan voting. The group trained under what is now widely recognized as the K-pop system — a long-term, intensive regimen that includes daily vocal and dance training, performance rehearsals, and moral education. "We have long wanted to develop diverse global talent based on the methodology of K-pop and build global groups in the K-pop style," HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk said. The audition program was not only a debut project; it was a test of whether Korea’s star-making system could be exported intact. In the United States, talent is discovered, not groomed. The idea of multi-year training and development (T&D) — shaping multidimensional artists before debut — is still unfamiliar. Korean agencies build performers step by step — crafting group concepts, curating artistic direction, and supporting long-term branding. A crucial part of the system is extensive vocal coaching across multiple genres, equipping trainees to deliver synchronized choreography. The trainee system, which can last from six months to ten years, is built to cultivate potential rather than select only fully formed performers. To ensure a stable debut, agencies provide mental and emotional support programs, including language education for foreign trainees, life coaching, and professional counseling. Even in global audition formats, companies maintain private trainee pools that undergo monthly evaluations — a high-pressure system that explains the scale of the recent fallout between NewJeans and HYBE. At the end of the day, music drives the momentum The breakout success of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" encapsulates how K-pop expands globally. The film follows fictional girl group Huntrix, who use their songs to protect their fans from supernatural threats. Its OST tracks — including "Your Idol" by the group's rival Saja Boys and "Golden" by Huntrix — climbed Billboard's global charts soon after the film's June release. Cover videos and challenge trends spread rapidly across social platforms, creating a loop in which music fuels content, and content boosts music streams. A recent study by Korea University's College of Media and Communication — based on keyword analytics from the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation — found that the two most frequently mentioned terms in online discussions were "song" and "Korea." Many viewers described replaying scenes while looping the soundtrack, responding strongly to the film's musical peaks. The inclusion of Korean lyrics in the OST was particularly striking, with global listeners singing along phonetically. Professor Baek Hyun-mi, the author of the study, noted that the recent wave of success brings not only pride but also unresolved questions. "This success leaves us with more than just a sense of pride," Baek said. "Within global platforms, the question of who truly owns this culture remains unanswered. The creative origins lie in Korea, but it is still unclear who ultimately controls the outcomes and reaps the benefits." Industry power shift: Toward a new 'Big 4' "K-pop is entering the early stage of mainstream globalization," said pop culture critic Ha Jae-keun. K-pop's industrial scale is now reshaping the global music hierarchy. HYBE's market value has climbed to fourth worldwide, edging closer to Warner Music Group and challenging the decades-old dominance of the "Big Three" — Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group. Music Business Worldwide founder Tim Ingham recently predicted that Warner's revenue may gradually converge with HYBE's, signaling a structural shift in global music capitalism. Between 2020 and 2024, HYBE recorded a 29 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) — far outpacing Sony (18.3 percent), Universal (12.5 percent), and Warner (9.5 percent). "Along with BTS's full-group comeback next year, we see this moment as pivotal for strengthening both our market reach and long-term growth potential," a senior HYBE official said. Critic Kim Hern-sik notes that K-pop must now secure its position as a genre, not just a cultural category. "It should establish itself the way Britpop once did. Today, young people around the world see K-pop as a space where they can feel agency, dream, and achieve something. For many, it is the only arena where that possibility feels real — and that is why its power is so strong." 2025-12-01 20:15:32
  • South Koreans attempt catchup in AI race between U.S.–China with early-adoption strategy
    South Koreans attempt catchup in AI race between U.S.–China with early-adoption strategy SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - South Koreans are the world’s second largest paid users of ChatGPT after Americans and six out of ten young employees daily incorporate AI assistance for their tasks, which explains why AI frontier players Nvidia and OpenAI value Korea as a crucial market despite its humble standing between superpowers U.S. and China. Despite its IT advances and heavy R&D spending ratio against GDP, South Korea has not a single domestically developed model to boast, apart from the memory mounting on U.S.-designed chips. As with earlier innovations, Korea makes an early adopter of AI, but not a breakout innovator. The adoption gap A Bank of Korea survey from May and June found that 63.5 percent of Korean workers had experimented with generative AI, while 51.8 percent deployed it in their professional tasks. In contrast, a Federal Reserve survey reported only about 28 percent of American workers using AI at work in 2024, with the figure climbing to about 55 percent by August 2025. The penetration rate in China is around 36.5 percent. The country counted 515 million generative AI users as of June 2025, with the user base doubling within six months, according to a report from the China Internet Network Information Center. Usage patterns reveal similar intensity in Korea. Workers integrating AI into their jobs dedicate five to seven hours weekly — roughly 12 to 17 percent of a typical work week. Daily engagement shows an even wider gap: 78.5 percent of Korean AI users log at least one hour per day, a rate 2.5 times higher than the 31.8 percent recorded in the United States. Korean use of ChatGPT reached 60 percent three years after the generative AI commercial debut, which is exceptionally fast when considering internet usage in Korea stopped at 7.8 percent three years after introduction in the 1990s. "China and U.S. are well ahead in R&D but in usage and awareness, South Korea is at the top," said Kwon Jae-jin, professor of Industrial Management Engineering at Induk University and CEO of private institution Korea AI Edu Center. The model race: U.S. dominance, Chinese challengers ChatGPT dominates 67.8 percent of the generative AI app market in Korea and Google's Gemini 19.5 percent, although the latter's share may change given the hyped reception of the 3.0 update. OpenAI reports Korea holds second place worldwide for paid ChatGPT subscriptions after the U.S. The U.S. currently dominates the AI narrative — OpenAI with the ChatGPT series, Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and Meta's Llama. China is fast rising. DeepSeek, a startup backed by quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer, stunned the industry in January 2025 when its R1 reasoning model matched the performance of OpenAI's offerings at a fraction of the cost — reportedly $5.6 million for training. Moonshot AI's Kimi represents another Chinese success story. The Beijing-based startup's chatbot surpassed 15 million users in China by late 2024, and its Kimi K2 model, released in July 2025 with one trillion parameters, achieved state-of-the-art performance in coding benchmarks while being open-sourced under a modified MIT license. By late 2024, Kimi ranked among the top three most-used AI assistants in China. Established tech players also are eagerly fielding their candidates — Alibaba's Qwen, Baidu's Ernie, and ByteDance's Doubao each command significant domestic user bases. Korea's sovereign AI gap Seoul has been making strides in the catch-up game under the ambitious goal to join the top three powerhouses in AI, although lacking a star player. Last August, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT designated five consortia to spearhead sovereign AI development. The ministry selected Naver Cloud, SK Telecom, LG AI Research, NC AI, and startup Upstage from a pool of 15 candidates, committing roughly $390 million in public funding through 2027. The government's total pledge reaches 530 billion won — about $383 million — with 450 billion won targeting GPU infrastructure. Yet none of these domestic initiatives have achieved the global reach or performance benchmarks set by ChatGPT and similar platforms. The sheer difference in spending matters as the economics of scale define the AI race. For Kwon Min-gu, a 27-year-old Korean freelancer juggling nine AI services supporting his workflow — from Gemini and ChatGPT for research to Midjourney for image generation — only two originated domestically. "The performance and accessibility differences remain vast," he said. Hardware strengths, software gaps Korea has some leverage over hardware. Samsung and SK hynix jointly represent roughly 70 percent of global DRAM manufacturing and nearly 80 percent of global revenue in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) that powers AI accelerators. During the first quarter of 2025, SK hynix held 70 percent of worldwide HBM market share, with its HBM3E chips generating over half of all HBM revenue. Korea currently ranks third globally in GPU infrastructure holdings, positioned behind only the United States and China, according to Ha Jung-woo, presidential chief of staff for AI Future Planning. Under an agreement with Nvidia, 260,000 GPUs will reach South Korea by 2030, with 50,000 units allocated to government facilities and the remaining 210,000 divided among Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver. But hardware prowess alone cannot secure leadership. U.S.-based Nvidia commands nearly 80 percent of GPU markets. Korea relies on key imports to produce chips and batteries to run data centers. The vast electricity capacity required in power-short Korea is another matter. U.S. big techs can afford to solve the energy issue. Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy to restart Three Mile Island's Unit 1 reactor, which will supply 835 megawatts exclusively to its data centers by 2028. Amazon committed about 1.9 gigawatts, Google partnered with Kairos Power to deploy 500 megawatts, and Meta followed with a 20-year agreement for 1.1 gigawatts. China’s approach is entirely government-led. The East Data, West Compute initiative funnels data center construction into eight western provinces where renewable energy is abundant and land is cheap. The project aims to power new data centers with 80 percent green energy by 2025 — a dramatic shift from the current 70 percent coal reliance in eastern coastal regions. Government response The momentum behind Korea's AI push reflects an administration betting heavily on technological transformation. President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office in June, has positioned AI as central to his economic agenda. In his budget pitch at the National Assembly in November, Lee called the spending plan "Korea's first budget for the AI era," allocating 10.1 trillion won for AI — more than triple this year’s level. The administration has also secured international backing. In September, Lee met with Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, in New York. The two signed a memorandum of understanding to develop hyperscale AI data centers powered by renewable energy. Fink pledged to help make Korea the "AI capital of Asia" by drawing global investment into the country's AI infrastructure. At the APEC summit in Gyeongju last month, Lee outlined Korea's AI governance framework to world leaders. "We are building an AI highway and are about to implement the Basic Act on AI, which will balance industrial development with responsible use of artificial intelligence," he said. The talent question Korea’s long-term viability in AI competitiveness hinges on its ability to secure and retain talent. The 2024 Global AI Index from Tortoise Media placed South Korea sixth among 83 nations in overall AI competitiveness — yet the country dropped to 13th place in talent metrics. To address the gap, the Education Ministry unveiled its inaugural national AI talent blueprint this November, committing 1.4 trillion won to develop expertise from elementary school through postgraduate research. One initiative creates a fast-track program enabling exceptional students to earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in 5.5 years, rather than the typical eight-plus. "But to say our people are using the full potential of AI, that would be a different story," said Kwon Jae-jin. "Around six or seven out of ten users use AI as search engines, so many are unfamiliar with basic prompting concepts." A lack of shared understanding of why AI is needed — or broader consensus around AI applications — may prove an obstacle. "Ever since the first AI models' launch, humans have focused on learning about AI," Kwon said. "Now, we believe AI will try to understand humans. Learning what AI does and how it functions will be crucial in the next era soon to come." 2025-12-01 20:15:19
  • PHOTOS: South Korea enters winter season
    PHOTOS: South Korea enters winter season SEOUL, December 1 (AJP) – South Korea is entering the full winter season, with cold northern air sweeping across the country. Seoul’s morning low stood at 3.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, a drop of 6 degrees from the previous day. Signs of winter have begun to appear across the capital as well. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said a stronger surge of cold air from the north will bring a pronounced cold wave from the middle of the week, with brisk winds further lowering the wind chill. On Wednesday (Dec. 3), rain or snow is forecast for the Chungcheong and Jeolla regions, while Jeju Island is expected to see rain from Wednesday through Thursday morning. Temperatures will bottom out around midweek before gradually returning to near-seasonal levels. 2025-12-01 18:23:48
  • LG Electronics named best TV brand in Europe
    LG Electronics named best TV brand in Europe SEOUL, December 01 (AJP) - LG Electronics said on Monday it was selected as best TV brand at the Euroconsumers Awards 2025, an honor determined by expert testing and consumer satisfaction surveys across Europe. The awards are jointly hosted by consumer media outlets from Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Brazil, all members of ICRT, an alliance of 37 consumer organizations including U.S.-based Consumer Reports and UK-based Which?. This marks the first year the seven-year-old awards selected winners by product category. LG scored highly in expert product tests conducted in labs and in consumer satisfaction and reliability surveys conducted across Europe, including the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary beyond the five host countries. The recognition is attributed to LG's OLED TV, which the company first commercialized in 2013. Cumulative OLED TV sales in Europe surpassed 10 million units this year, doubling at twice the previous pace after reaching five million units in 2021. European consumers favor high-quality content and value OLED TV's infinite contrast ratio and color reproduction. The thin design without backlighting appeals as an interior element in Europe's living room-centered culture. The TV's fast response time and high refresh rate provide optimal viewing for sports broadcasts popular in Europe. In North America, LG OLED TV swept Consumer Reports' rankings across all screen size categories where OLED TVs are available, including over 70 inches, 65 inches, 55-60 inches, 46-52 inches and 39-43 inches. "This is recognition of strong leadership in Europe, a representative premium TV market," said Lee Chun-kook, executive vice president and head of LG Electronics Europe. "We will deliver the best viewing experience to customers worldwide with self-emissive high-quality picture and thin, simple design of LG OLED TV." 2025-12-01 18:05:36