Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Foreigners dump over $30 bn KOSPI shares and turn net bond sellers in March
    Foreigners dump over $30 bn KOSPI shares and turn net bond sellers in March SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) -Foreign investors staged a record monthly sell-off in South Korean equities in March amid risk aversion and concerns over the energy-dependent economy from the outbreak of the conflicts in the Gulf and de-facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Financial Supervisory Service on Thursday, foreigners net sold 43.5 trillion won ($31.8 billion) worth of locally listed shares last month, more than doubling from February’s 19.6 trillion won outflow. The exodus was concentrated in the benchmark KOSPI which was making record-breaking rally until the war outbreak. Foreign nationals 43.9 trillion won on the main bourse, while posting a modest 384 billion won net buy in the KOSDAQ. By end-March, foreign holdings of Korean equities fell to 1,576.2 trillion won, down 449.4 trillion won from a month earlier, with their ownership share slipping to 30.7 percent of total market capitalization. The sell-off was broad-based across regions. Europe led the outflows with 26.4 trillion won, followed by the Americas at 9.8 trillion won and Asia at 5.6 trillion won, while the Middle East was the only region to post a net purchase. At the country level, the United Kingdom and the United States accounted for the bulk of selling, while Qatar and the Cayman Islands were among the few net buyers. In fixed income, foreign investors turned net sellers for the first time in five months, withdrawing 10.9 trillion won overall. They purchased 5.4 trillion won worth of bonds but redeemed 16.4 trillion won at maturity, resulting in a net outflow, fanning the bond yields to rise to levels of the rapid tightening cycle in the U.S. Foreign holdings of listed bonds stood at 323.8 trillion won, or 11.6 percent of outstanding balances, at end-March. 2026-04-16 07:50:25
  • Remembering Sewol classmates, the silence still speaks 12 years later
    Remembering Sewol classmates, the silence still speaks 12 years later SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) -Desks remain as they were—names etched in pencil, jackets draped over chairs, notebooks opened mid-sentence. Time, here, does not move forward. It pauses, deliberately, asking each visitor to look closer. There are shoes that never made it home, ID cards that still carry smiling faces, and letters that were never meant to be final. Each object resists abstraction. This is not a number, not a headline, but 250 students and 11 teachers whose ordinary morning never found its way back. Visitors walk slowly. Some bow their heads. Others reach out, not to touch, but to feel the distance between then and now. The yellow ribbons—faded but persistent—tie grief to responsibility. The Memorial Classroom is not only about remembrance. It is an insistence. That safety is not an afterthought. That systems must answer for failure. That survival is not left to chance, nor to courage alone. The lesson is quiet, but it does not soften. Nothing here asks to be forgotten. 2026-04-16 07:26:35
  • KOSPI recovers above 6,000 for first time since Trumps war in Iran
    KOSPI recovers above 6,000 for first time since Trump's war in Iran SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,091.39 on Wednesday, up 2.07 percent from a day earlier, regaining the 6,000 mark for the first time in about 30 trading sessions. The index had last closed above that threshold on Feb. 27, when it was at 6,244.13, just a day before the U.S. and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran, throwing the already volatile Middle East region into deeper conflict. The gain was driven by foreign investors, who bought about 550 billion won ($370 million), while the junior KOSDAQ also ended higher, rising 2.72 percent to 1,152.43. Large-cap stocks mostly closed higher. Among chip-related stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 2.18 percent to close at 211,000 won, and SK hynix gained 2.99 percent to 1,136,000 won. The two accounted for about 40.9 percent of the KOSPI's total market capitalization, up from 39.9 percent at the previous peak, with their combined market value surging by about 227 trillion won since April 7, just before the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Their dominance is expected to intensify further, supported by a semiconductor supercycle. Both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are on track to post record-high operating profits this year, with some forecasts suggesting they could rank among the world's top three in operating profit next year. A similar trend is seen globally, with Taiwan's TSMC accounting for over 40 percent of the country's stock market. Other sectors also posted solid gains. In the auto sector, Hyundai Motor climbed 3.36 percent to 508,000 won, while Kia added 1.54 percent to 151,500 won. Battery and energy shares were largely higher, with LG Energy Solution up 2.00 percent at 408,000 won and SK Inc. rising 3.91 percent to 665,000 won, while Hanwha Aerospace slipped 0.92 percent to 1,509,000 won. Among biopharmaceutical stocks, Samsung Biologics gained 4.30 percent to 1,602,000 won and Doosan Enerbility rose 4.51 percent to 104,200 won. Financial sectors also closed higher, with KB Financial Group up 1.48 percent at 158,200 won, Samsung Life Insurance rising 4.88 percent to 258,000 won, and Shinhan Financial Group gaining 1.53 percent to 99,800 won. Major KOSDAQ stocks also ended broadly higher. Among biopharmaceutical and healthcare shares, Alteogen surged 5.67 percent to close at 373,000 won, and Samchundang Pharm jumped 6.73 percent to 555,000 won. ABL Bio rose 5.07 percent to 163,800 won, HLB climbed 8.77 percent to 68,200 won, and LigaChem Biosciences advanced 6.63 percent to 193,000 won. In other sectors, Ecopro gained 2.57 percent to 147,900 won, and Ecopro BM added 2.38 percent to 202,500 won. Rainbow Robotics edged up 1.33 percent to 611,000 won, while Koh Young Technology rose 9.74 percent to 104,800 won and Rino Industrial increased 1.08 percent to 112,800 won. The dollar initially retreated on foreign stock buying, trading at 1,471.80 won in the morning trading, before paring losses to 1,474.20 won in the afternoon, compared with the previous close of 1,481.20. Elsewhere, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.44 percent to 58,134.24, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 0.37 percent to 25,967.30, China's Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.015 percent to 4,027.21. 2026-04-15 18:03:08
  • BOK nominee Shin faces intense scrutiny over foreign assets, family issues
    BOK nominee Shin faces intense scrutiny over foreign assets, family issues SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) — The nominee to head the Bank of Korea (BOK) came under intense scrutiny Wednesday as opposition lawmakers questioned his foreign-denominated wealth and family-related issues, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Finance and Economy Committee focused on nominee Shin Hyun-song’s asset structure, noting that the central bank chief is tasked with stabilizing the Korean won and the housing market. According to his disclosure, more than 90 percent of Shin’s 4.6 billion won ($3.1 million) in financial assets are held in foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, British pounds and Swiss francs. Opposition lawmakers argued that such a portfolio could allow him to benefit from a weaker won, minimizing losses during depreciation while gaining when major currencies strengthen. “Approximately 93 percent of the nominee’s 4.6 billion won in financial assets are in foreign currencies,” said Rep. Park Dae-chul of the People Power Party, questioning whether it is appropriate to appoint a central bank governor whose assets could gain from currency weakness. “People are saying it is like letting a cat guard the fish,” added Rep. Park Sung-hoon. The scrutiny comes as the Korean won remains under pressure. The average exchange rate for April stood at 1,493.42 per dollar, among the highest on record, although it showed signs of stabilizing at 1,474.2 on Wednesday. The Bank of Korea has also spent more than $7 billion in foreign exchange reserves since late last year, with the country’s global ranking in reserves slipping from ninth to 12th as of February. Shin, previously described as a “pragmatic hawk” for advocating preemptive tightening following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has recently assessed the current exchange rate and reserve levels as stable—adding to concerns over consistency and potential conflicts. Lawmakers also raised questions over his real estate holdings. Shin owns an apartment in Seoul’s Gangnam district and a studio in Jongno, with a combined value exceeding 3.3 billion won. He reportedly allowed his mother to continue living rent-free in the Gangnam apartment after purchasing it from her, prompting allegations of possible tax avoidance through family transactions. The issue has gained further traction amid President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks criticizing multi-homeownership among public officials. Additional controversy surrounds Shin’s academic transfer during military service and his daughter’s citizenship status. Lawmakers alleged that his daughter, who acquired British citizenship, continued to use a Korean passport for decades without proper reporting. “Using a Korean passport for convenience while bypassing residency and immigration laws is ‘cherry-picking’ and deceptive,” said Rep. Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party. Shin has yet to submit related documents addressing these concerns. Civic groups and experts also weighed in, arguing that a portfolio benefiting from currency depreciation represents a textbook conflict of interest for a central bank chief. “It is natural for the public to distrust a nominee whose portfolio benefits as the real economy falters,” an opposition official said. 2026-04-15 18:01:17
  • Samsung Electronics faces April walkout as bonus dispute escalates
    Samsung Electronics faces April walkout as bonus dispute escalates SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is heading toward a partial walkout next week, with its largest labor union pushing ahead with industrial action over a profit-linked bonus system despite stalled negotiations. The union plans a rally and walkout on April 23, with a full-scale strike scheduled from May 21 if talks fail to produce a compromise. “We are open to negotiations if management puts the 15 percent operating profit payout and the removal of the bonus cap on the table,” a union official said. The official added that a cleanroom walkout will proceed if management continues to offer one-off compensation instead of institutionalizing a bonus framework. At the center of the dispute is the union’s demand that 15 percent of operating profit be allocated to employee bonuses and that the current cap be scrapped. Based on the company’s record first-quarter operating profit of 57.2 trillion won, the proposed formula would translate into a bonus pool of up to 45 trillion won ($32 billion). That would be roughly four times last year’s dividend payout of 11.1 trillion won and exceed the company’s planned annual research and development spending of 37.7 trillion won, raising concerns among management and investors. The union, however, said the demand is aimed at creating a transparent and sustainable compensation system rather than securing a one-time payout. “Our core demand is to establish a system that union members can accept in the long term, rather than just asking for more money because the company is making good money,” another union official said. Samsung has warned that linking a large portion of operating profit to bonuses could constrain future investment in a capital-intensive and cyclical semiconductor industry. A company official also flagged potential risks to client confidence if production is disrupted. “In the long run, it is a tremendous loss for our company if it causes anxiety to clients or if clients show movements to change contract conditions,” the official said. The controversy is further amplified by the contrasting situation at SK Hynix. Having abolished its bonus cap last year and agreeing to distribute 10 percent of its operating profit, SK Hynix employees are projected to receive significantly larger payouts. Driven by the artificial intelligence boom and robust High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) sales, securities firms estimate that SK Hynix’s upcoming bonuses could average around 700 million won per employee. The union walkout is set to coincide with SK Hynix’s earnings release on April 23, which is widely expected to reflect similarly strong performance. 2026-04-15 17:57:14
  • S. Korea claims North Korean economy on recovery
    S. Korea claims North Korean economy on recovery SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Wednesday that North Korea’s economy is entering a gradual recovery phase in line with closer ties and trade activities with Russia and China. The ministry cited deepening “alliance-level” ties between Pyongyang and Moscow — including cooperation in advanced weapons and technology — alongside increased exchange with China, as key drivers supporting the country’s economic stabilization. The assessment was included in a report submitted to the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee as part of a new 2026–2030 inter-Korean relations plan that signals a shift in Seoul’s policy and departure from the former and impeached president President Yoon Suk Yeol. The new pivot under the Lee Jae Myung administration focused on peaceful coexistence, economic cooperation, and a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, while rejecting absorption-based unification and hostile actions. The report delivers a pointed critique of Yoon’s North Korea policy, which offered large-scale economic aid in exchange for denuclearization, as impractical for requiring Pyongyang to act first. The Unification Ministry said past hardline policy increased security instability, weakened the foundation for inter-Korean cooperation, and entrenched confrontational dynamics. It added that detailed annual implementation plans will be developed under the new framework. 2026-04-15 17:56:05
  • Korea FDA Visits Functional Cosmetics R&D Site; Firms Report on Disinfectant, OTC Misuse, Patent Transfer
    Korea FDA Visits Functional Cosmetics R&D Site; Firms Report on Disinfectant, OTC Misuse, Patent Transfer MFDS visits functional cosmetics R&D site to speed product rollout Kang Seok-yeon, head of the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, visited the central research institute of cosmetics contract manufacturer Cosmecca Korea and held a meeting with industry representatives, the institute said Tuesday. The visit reviewed development and quality-research facilities for functional cosmetics, including new formulations, and examined recent technology applications and product development trends. Officials also heard concerns about technical hurdles and the need for regulatory improvements. The meeting included the Korea Cosmetic Association and industry officials, who discussed regulatory support to help functional cosmetics reach the market faster. Key topics included support for launches to strengthen global competitiveness, improvements to the functional cosmetics review system, and expanded support based on regulatory science. Kang Seok-yeon said, "We will strengthen regulatory support so functional cosmetics can be developed and launched quickly by reflecting feedback from the field." Chong Kun Dang's 'Bio Spike Guard' shows 24-hour antibacterial effect in real-world study Chong Kun Dang said Tuesday that study results confirming the sustained disinfecting effect of its environmental disinfectant wipes, Bio Spike Guard, were published in Infection & Chemotherapy, an international journal of the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases. Bio Spike Guard combines didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and organosilane (Si-QAC). The company said it provides immediate disinfection and forms a protective layer on surfaces that helps kill microbes. The study involved five hospitals — The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Konkuk University Medical Center and Gachon University Gil Medical Center — and was conducted as a controlled study in real clinical settings. Researchers compared the product with existing disinfection methods at about 160 sites, including dry areas such as bed rails and nurse stations and wet areas such as sinks and toilet lids. The study found Bio Spike Guard maintained a statistically meaningful reduction in microorganisms from baseline at 1 hour, 6 hours and 24 hours after disinfection. The effect was especially notable in wet areas, where the reduction in microorganisms was greater than in the control group in the 1-hour comparison. GC Green Cross Cool Dream says it is helping prevent teen misuse of OTC drugs GC Green Cross said Tuesday it supported efforts through its Cool Dream brand to prevent adolescents from misusing over-the-counter medicines and to promote a culture of medication counseling. Cool Dream is a sleep aid containing diphenhydramine. The company said it has ranked No. 1 in market share for seven consecutive years, citing fast effects while minimizing concerns about tolerance and dependence. It is a soft capsule made using a patented NeoSol process designed to maximize absorption. The company said it joined public discussion on teen misuse of diphenhydramine, sharing views on prevention steps at a roundtable attended by pharmacists, parents and drugmakers. It also distributed medication guidance leaflets and provided information on the characteristics and side effects of major drugs, saying the materials were designed for use in pharmacies. Samhwa Dang Pharmaceutical to directly acquire S-PASS patent rights; completion expected within days Samhwa Dang Pharmaceutical said Tuesday it will transfer and acquire patent rights to its S-PASS platform technology, an oral formulation conversion technology applied to oral semaglutide, liraglutide and insulin, among others. The company said it previously listed Taiwan-based Summit Biotech as the patent applicant to avoid pushback from global originator drugmakers. Under a comprehensive R&D services contract signed in 2018, Samhwa Dang Pharmaceutical covered R&D costs and all rights, including intellectual property, belonged to Samhwa Dang Pharmaceutical, it said. The company said controversy has recently emerged over patent ownership. CEO Jeon In-seok said at a news conference on April 6, presenting U.S. FDA submission documents, that S-PASS is a patented technology held by the company. Samhwa Dang Pharmaceutical said it will also change the applicant for its ongoing international patent application under the PCT to its own name. The patent assignment agreement between the two companies was signed Monday. An application to change the PCT applicant has been filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration, and only administrative procedures remain, it said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-15 17:48:20
  • Latin Forum maps US ambitions to become self-sustaining technate as regional order shifts
    Latin Forum maps US' ambitions to become self-sustaining 'technate' as regional order shifts SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - The January storming of Venezuela by United States naval forces and the subsequent apprehension of Nicolas Maduro was not merely a regime-toppling maneuver to secure the world's largest crude reserves. It marked the definitive end of Washington's reliance on global oil markets and the birth of an energy-independent, self-sustaining continental fortress. Speaking at this year's Latin Forum on Wednesday, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Professor Emeritus Kim Won-ho, from the Graduate School of International and Area Studies, framed the attack not as traditional American foreign policy, but as the installation of a radical new governance model. After addressing an audience of diplomats and scholars through a keynote speech, he told AJP his belief that "President Trump is laying a foundation to turn the United States into a self-sufficient 'Technate'." To understand the gravity of this pivot requires an examination of the 1930s and 1940s. Technocracy proposes that modern industrial society is too complex to be managed by elected politicians or the unpredictable fluctuations of price-based economics. Instead, the movement advocated for a system governed by engineers and technical experts who distribute resources based strictly on energy calculations. The ultimate objective was the creation of a "Technate," a singular, geographically self-sufficient bloc spanning North America where political borders dissolve into a streamlined resource engine. The execution of this blueprint is driven by the bitter lessons of Trump's first term. Kim noted in his keynote that during the first term, the president was often "thwarted by the professional bureaucratic class," which he characterized as the "deep state." This internal resistance from career officials effectively stalled the administration's most ambitious structural changes. Returning to power, Trump has shifted to a systemized inner circle. Kim explained that by "wielding Schedule F to purge the career diplomats and civil servants," the administration is removing the "institutional brakes" that once held it back. This process is designed to create what Kim described as a "frictionless domestic machine" capable of executing grand strategy without internal dissent. The historical DNA of this vision entered the administration through Elon Musk. Kim detailed the lineage of Musk’s maternal grandfather, Joshua-Norman Haldeman, who was a "prominent leader in the Canadian branch of the technocracy movement in the 1940s." While the billionaire spectacularly departed the administration in mid-2025 following a bitter public feud with Trump, his ideological blueprint remains deeply embedded in Washington's trajectory. Kim argued that the former advisor viewed the consolidation of North American resources as a "necessary terrestrial prerequisite" for expanding this administrative model beyond Earth, citing the mogul's stated vision that "he will establish technocracy on Mars." Economic siege targets Havana as Rubio anchors regional policy While the administration demonstrated a willingness to use military force to secure Venezuelan energy assets, Kim argued that Washington's approach to Cuba relies on a "strictly non-kinetic set of levers." This localized strategy is driven largely by Marco Rubio. The secretary of state, as Kim pointed out, has used his personal history as a descendant of Cuban immigrants to the U.S. to oversee a "campaign of intense economic and political pressure" specifically tailored to the communist regime of the island. Kim explained the logic behind this strategic divergence: "Because Cuba lacks the massive crude reserves that made Venezuela a technical priority, the strategy shifts from military seizure to systematic strangulation". By cutting off financial lifelines and isolating the government, the administration intends to "collapse the regime from within." According to Kim, this calculated approach ensures that Havana can eventually be "integrated into the new continental bloc" without diverting the military resources required to manage the newly secured energy supply chain in the south. The influence of the secretary ensures this regional framework is designed to outlast current diplomatic cycles. Speaking to AJP on the sidelines of the event, the scholar emphasized the long-term trajectory of this policy: "It is not certain whether the Republicans would secure the next presidency or not, but if the Republicans do, then Trump's steps to change the U.S. into a self-sustaining technate are likely to be carried on by his predecessor." The forum, which drew a gallery of some 100 diplomats and scholars to the region northwest of Seoul, was jointly hosted by the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean and the Korea Foundation. 2026-04-15 17:46:24
  • DKZ to End Group Activities After About Seven Years, Shift to Solo Work in June
    DKZ to End Group Activities After About Seven Years, Shift to Solo Work in June 그룹 DKZ가 약 7년간의 팀 활동에 마침표를 찍는다. 멤버 재찬은 팀 활동 종료 소식을 전하며 팬들에게 감사의 뜻을 전했다. Dongyo Entertainment said on the 15th that after discussions with the members, the group agreed to wrap up DKZ’s activities after its scheduled commitments through May 31, 2026. The agency thanked the members “for their precious effort and time,” and also expressed gratitude to the fandom, known as Dongari, for accompanying the group on its journey. Jaechan also addressed fans directly. “From my debut on April 24, 2019, to today in 2026, so much has happened, and it was a series of happy days beyond what I can put into words,” he said. “Thanks to Ari, I think I was able to feel so many emotions — crying and laughing, enjoying and being happy.” He said he came forward because he felt he needed to share “the end of the journey” from debuting as Dongkiz to becoming DKZ. “Because I was with DKZ, I could become who I am now,” he said, adding that he learned and grew while meeting fans who were “the most precious and reliable” presence for him. Explaining the decision, Jaechan said it still did not feel real that the name DKZ — which he said described his entire life from his late teens to age 26 — would no longer be attached to him. He said the members spent time thinking deeply about the direction each wanted to pursue and their dreams, and concluded that supporting one another while walking separate paths was the more meaningful choice. After group activities end, the five members will pursue individual work. The agency said the members plan to meet fans through solo activities starting in June. It said Jaechan and Juwon have completed contract renewals and will continue working in various fields, while Sehyeon, Mingyu and Giseok will also move forward as artists under the agency. The company said it would continue to fully support all five members and asked for continued encouragement. Jaechan also renewed his exclusive contract and is expected to continue working with Dongyo Entertainment through 2028. “I’ve been promised full support for my overall entertainment activities, so I would be truly grateful if you continue to join me on my journey and be a great source of strength,” he said. “The name DKZ will remain a precious time I will never forget,” he added. “Ari, thank you always, and I love you.” DKZ debuted in 2019 as “Dongkiz.” The group continued activities through a name change and lineup changes, and in 2022 reorganized into a five-member group with the addition of new members.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-15 17:40:01
  • AI enters Korean legislature, but humans remain in charge
    AI enters Korean legislature, but humans remain in charge SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - The National Assembly of South Korea said Tuesday it has launched an AI-powered legislative support platform in collaboration with Samsung SDS, an ICT company affiliated with Samsung Group. The system — a generative AI tailored for legislative use — integrates internal legislative records with external public and academic data to support document search, analysis, and drafting. About 5,000 users, including lawmakers and their aides, are expected to use the platform. The first phase of the project has been completed, with subsequent phases set to expand data coverage, enhance AI functions, and eventually open the platform to the public. While the move is expected to improve efficiency in legislative work, experts caution that AI should remain a support tool, emphasizing that decision-making must ultimately remain a human responsibility, as AI cannot fully account for real-world context. “You cannot explain every context to AI,” said Kang Chang-mook, a professor of electrical engineering at Hanyang University. “Decisions still need to be made by humans.” The platform offers three main functions. It answers policy-related questions, drafts documents, and summarizes meeting records. It also allows users to search across internal and external sources using natural language. In addition, it analyzes existing laws and provisions to suggest similar legislation. The system has been developed in phases, with only the first stage completed so far. The project’s first phase focused on building the National Assembly’s big data infrastructure, according to an official at Samsung SDS. This included converting previously scattered data into AI-readable formats, introducing a legislature-specific language model, establishing data governance, and developing AI-powered search tools. “The next phase will focus on improving the platform by adding more data, enhancing the usefulness of AI services for legislative work, and strengthening data management and maintenance,” he said. In the third phase, he said, the project may expand to include a dedicated AI platform for public use, along with more advanced data structuring and upgraded generative AI capabilities, including agentic AI — a type of AI focused on autonomous systems that can make decisions and perform tasks without human intervention. Despite rapid adoption, structural challenges remain. According to the Korea-based Software Policy & Research Institute, as of 2024, 85.9 percent of central government agencies, all local governments, and 85.5 percent of quasi-governmental institutions in Korea had adopted AI. However, 91.1 percent of administrative staff still use document formats such as HWP and PDF, which are difficult for AI to process. Most public data also remain unstructured, limiting their use for AI training. Data preprocessing alone can account for up to 70 percent of AI adoption costs. Samsung SDS said the platform generates responses based on verified sources such as meeting records and reports to ensure reliability. It added that the system operates on the National Assembly’s internal servers rather than external cloud systems, strengthening data security. South Korea is not alone in adopting AI for legislative work. In the United States, the Senate has approved expanded use of tools including ChatGPT Enterprise, Google Workspace with Gemini, and Copilot Chat. In Brussels, the European Parliament uses AI for translation, summarization, and speech-to-text services, reflecting its multilingual environment. Japan is also expanding adoption, with its Digital Agency planning a pilot program for around 180,000 government officials. However, experts say institutional safeguards will be crucial as AI becomes more embedded in legislative processes, particularly regarding data bias and accountability. They also point to practical limitations, noting that AI may struggle to fully interpret complex legal language and policy context. Concerns have also been raised over data quality, the risk of errors in AI-generated outputs, and unclear lines of responsibility when such outputs are used in policymaking. 2026-04-15 17:33:46