Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • TV personality Park Kyung-lim donates 200 million won to support children in need
    TV personality Park Kyung-lim donates 200 million won to support children in need SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Versatile TV personality Park Kyung-lim has donated 200 million Korean won (or about US$136,000) to support children from underprivileged families, a charity agency run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Tuesday. The donation came just a few months after she invited around 1,000 children and young people to her musical "Again Dream High," supporting them in pursuing their dreams and fostering their career development. At that time, she expressed her willingness to help them, saying, "Many helped me when I had nothing but passion. Now I want to help someone achieve his or her dreams." Park's philanthropic efforts and generous donations are nothing new, as she has participated in various campaigns and activities as a promotional ambassador for charity organization Save the Children since 2006, donating multiple times through different charities to support young children in need and those who suffer from rare diseases. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 10:59:26
  • OPINION: Debates over raising retirement age emerge as South Korea becomes super-aged society
    OPINION: Debates over raising retirement age emerge as South Korea becomes super-aged society SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - With South Korea now officially a "super-aged society," concerns are mounting over how to secure stable income for its rapidly growing elderly population. This has reignited discussions about further raising the retirement age, a decade after it was last set at 60 in 2013. Proposals to raise the retirement age to 65 have sparked mixed reactions, exposing generational and social divides over how and when such changes should take effect. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) aims to pass a bill this year to gradually raise the retirement age from 60 to 65, sparking heated debate as labor unions call for a unified implementation while employers voice concerns over rising labor costs. Major labor unions want the extension without wage cuts, as it is intended to help secure stable income for skilled senior workers. Employers, on the other hand, fear that raising the retirement age could increase labor costs and reduce employment opportunities for younger workers. With more older employees remaining in the workforce, companies may cut back on new hires to manage costs, which could disadvantage young job seekers. Statistical data reflect these concerns. The proportion of workers in their 20s among new hires has declined from 51.4 percent in the first quarter of 2022 to 46.9 percent during the same period this year, remaining below 50 percent for eight straight quarters. Employment for those aged 15 to 29, which peaked with an increase of 119,000 in 2022, fell by 144,000 last year. Small businesses, whose labor costs account for 18.1 percent of total sales, compared with 9.4 percent for large companies, face a heavier financial burden. Extending the retirement age without adequate preparation could generate friction among generations, labor unions, and employers. Such a change is more than a numerical adjustment, requiring careful consideration of multiple factors including business conditions, hiring capacity, wage structures, and opportunities for younger workers. Amid the country's ultra-low birthrates and aging population, delaying retirement is becoming increasingly inevitable. However, policies implemented hastily could lead to unintended consequences. It is crucial to reconcile the differing views of labor and management and build broad social consensus. With the labor market rapidly evolving in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), various forms of employment including remote work, part-time or reduced-hour work, and other flexible arrangements should be considered. Rather than fixating on setting the retirement age at 65, what matters is providing work opportunities for those who wish to continue working to maintain a steady income after retirement. The government, labor, and management should work together to ensure that extending the retirement age neither curtails opportunities for young workers nor burdens small businesses. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 10:20:10
  • CJ CheilJedangs 3Q dips nearly 27% on cost spike related to raw materials and FX
    CJ CheilJedang's 3Q dips nearly 27% on cost spike related to raw materials and FX SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - South Korea's food giant CJ CheilJedang on Tuesday reported double-digit fall in its third-quarter earnings as the global popularity of K-food was outweighed by money-losing bio and feed operations. According to its disclosure, its operating profit plunged 25.6 percent on year to 203 billion won on revenue of 4.5 trillion won ($3.08 billion) for the quarter ended September. Including CJ Logistics, consolidated revenue inched up 0.3 percent on year to 7.43 trillion won, while operating profit still dropped 15.9 percent to 346.5 billion won. The drag was attributed to the Bio division and the Feed & Care (livestock and animal feed) business. The Bio unit posted revenue of 979 billion won, down 8 percent on year, while operating profit tumbled 72 percent to 22 billion won. The company cited intensified competition in high-value amino acids such as tryptophan and arginine, which drove down margins and pressured overall market conditions. Feed & Care revenue fell 2 percent to 569 billion won, while operating profit slumped 63 percent to 12 billion won, weighed down by declining livestock prices in Vietnam, one of its key sourcing markets. The core food remained resilient on robust overseas demand, but its bottom line was hurt by ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions that hurt food inputs like soybeans. The unit generated revenue of 2.98 trillion won, up slightly from a year earlier, while operating profit rose 4 percent to 168.5 billion won. CJ CheilJedang said reduced holiday gift-set sales were offset by stronger sales of Global Strategy Products (GSP) such as mandu dumplings and instant rice. The company added that soaring soybean prices in North America, sharp foreign exchange fluctuations, and increased promotional spending in Europe pushed up costs, but domestic processed-food sales helped cushion profitability. Revenue rose across all major overseas markets — the Americas, Japan, China, Oceania, and Europe — with Europe, a relatively new market for the company, delivering a robust 13 percent on-year increase. In contrast, domestic revenue slipped 3 percent due to weaker Chuseok gift-set sales. CJ Logistics helped offset some of the group’s earnings weakness. The subsidiary reported revenue of 3.67 trillion won, up 3 percent on year, while operating profit rose 4 percent to 148 billion won, supported by expanding domestic parcel volumes and increased orders from third-party logistics (3PL) clients. CJ CheilJedang was trading at 227,000 won as of 9:40 a.m., down 1.3 percent, as the outlook on trade environment remains foggy. CJ CheilJedang estimated modest top-line growth but projects its operating margin to decline from 5.6 percent in the third quarter to around 3 percent due to costs related to surging soybean prices in North America. It was buoyant about expansion across Asia and Oceania and plans to keep up the European momentum by implementing region-specific strategies. 2025-11-11 10:17:27
  • Celltrion completes regulatory approvals for acquisition of Eli Lilly plant in US
    Celltrion completes regulatory approvals for acquisition of Eli Lilly plant in US SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said on Tuesday that it had finalized the acquisition of Eli Lilly’s production facility in Branchburg, New Jersey. The deal, which recently cleared all regulatory hurdles in the United States and Ireland, positions Celltrion to expand its presence in the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. The company said it expects to close the transaction by the end of the year. Regulatory approval in the United States came through the Federal Trade Commission’s pre-merger notification process under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, which assesses potential impacts on competition. Ireland’s approval was granted on Oct. 31, given the company’s significant business operations there. The Branchburg plant — covering about 148,800 square meters — will become Celltrion’s first major manufacturing site in the United States. The company plans to invest more than 700 billion won, or roughly $520 million, to expand the facility by an additional 36,400 square meters, ultimately bringing its capacity to about one and a half times that of Celltrion’s second plant in Songdo, South Korea. “The completion of all merger reviews for the U.S. facility acquisition lays the groundwork for accelerating our global market expansion,” Celltrion said in a statement. “We aim to strengthen our production and supply competitiveness while creating value for shareholders.” The company intends to use the Branchburg site as both a production hub and a platform for contract manufacturing. Celltrion expects the facility to generate revenue immediately after the deal closes, thanks to an existing supply agreement with Lilly. It also plans to pursue new manufacturing contracts, anticipating steady growth in demand for biologics and biosimilars. The move could help Celltrion mitigate tariff risks, diversify its production bases and reduce its reliance on facilities in South Korea, where most of its biologic manufacturing is currently concentrated. Founded in 2002, Celltrion has grown rapidly on the strength of its biosimilar portfolio — lower-cost versions of biologic drugs — and has sought to expand its presence in the U.S. and Europe. The acquisition of the Branchburg plant gives the company a stronger foothold in a market increasingly focused on securing local supply chains for critical pharmaceuticals, Celltrion officials said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 10:12:48
  • OPINION: Behind EV boom lies growing pile of battery waste
    OPINION: Behind EV boom lies growing pile of battery waste The global shift to electric vehicles has hit a temporary slowdown. Sales have cooled, incentives are waning, and skeptics are asking whether the EV boom has peaked. Yet the slowdown is likely to last only a few years. The market will recover as costs fall and technology improves. What deserves far more attention, however, is what happens after the battery runs out. Batteries make up roughly 40 percent of an electric vehicle’s cost. They are the beating heart of the EV revolution — and its biggest environmental challenge. While nations race to improve battery performance, the recycling and disposal of used batteries remain dangerously behind. If governments and manufacturers fail to prepare, the world could soon face a wave of hazardous battery waste. A quiet but consequential competition is now unfolding between two dominant battery technologies: lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, led by China, and nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) lithium-ion batteries, favored in South Korea and Japan. LFP batteries are cheaper and increasingly popular, but they hold little value at the end of their life. Only about 15 percent of their materials can be recovered through recycling, compared with as much as 95 percent for NCM batteries. In China, where more than 80 percent of EVs use LFP batteries, reports suggest that many used batteries end up buried — a practice that threatens soil and groundwater contamination. South Korea, known for its stringent environmental standards, risks falling into a similar trap if it does not act decisively. Burying used batteries is not an option for a country as densely populated and land-scarce as South Korea. Yet recycling remains expensive, and government policy has not kept pace with the industry’s growth. South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment — recently reorganized to oversee green industries — has been urged to introduce an extended producer responsibility system, requiring manufacturers to take charge of collecting and recycling spent batteries. But progress has been slow. This is more than a waste management issue; it is an industrial and environmental test of leadership. Countries that develop cost-effective recycling systems will not only prevent pollution but also secure access to critical minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt — resources that are increasingly vital and politically fraught. South Korea, home to some of the world’s most advanced battery makers, has an opportunity to lead. A strong policy framework could turn battery recycling from a looming liability into a new pillar of green growth. The question is whether policymakers will move fast enough before the first wave of used batteries becomes an environmental burden. The EV revolution was never only about cleaner cars. It was about building a cleaner economy. If the world hopes to realize that vision, the next great innovation must happen not in the lab or on the road — but in the recycling plant. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 09:46:03
  • OPINION: South Koreas 260,000 GPUs and vision for AI hub
    OPINION: South Korea's 260,000 GPUs and vision for AI hub As artificial intelligence becomes the engine of global competition, nations are racing to secure not only the technology but also the computing power that makes it possible. South Korea’s recent partnership with NVIDIA — acquiring 260,000 of the latest AI graphics processing units — is more than a technical upgrade. It is a statement of intent that the country aims to be a serious player in the new digital order. The deal has quadrupled South Korea's national AI computing capacity, boosting its GPU count from roughly 65,000 to more than 300,000. That is no small feat at a time when even global tech giants are struggling to source high-end chips. In the geopolitical economy of artificial intelligence, where GPUs are the new oil, South Korea has just secured a significant reserve. The implications are profound. For years, the country’s researchers and startups have faced a bottleneck — not a lack of talent or ambition, but of access to large-scale computing infrastructure. Now, with this expanded capacity, South Korea can train its own foundation models rather than relying on foreign systems. It is a crucial step toward technological sovereignty in an era when data and algorithms define national power. This progress is anchored by the National AI Research Center, established last year with support from the government and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation. The consortium brings together the nation’s top universities — KAIST, POSTECH, Korea University and Yonsei University — and links them with international partners in the United States, Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates. That kind of collaboration is exactly what’s needed to turn computing power into meaningful innovation. But what makes this move especially significant is its emphasis on openness. The government is not building a closed fortress of technology. Instead, it is opening public AI cloud resources to startups, researchers and small enterprises. That approach reflects a belief that creativity does not reside only in big corporations — and that innovation thrives when access barriers fall. South Korea’s leadership of this year’s APEC forum has also given it a platform to push for global cooperation in AI. At the meeting, Seoul called for joint efforts to expand access to computing infrastructure and nurture AI talent across economies. This is an important recognition that the benefits of AI must be shared — that intelligence, like information, should not become another fault line of inequality. Still, ambition alone is not enough. Building a truly global AI hub will require sustained investment, trust in open ecosystems, and safeguards to ensure ethical and responsible use. The challenge is to balance competitiveness with inclusivity — to lead without dominating, to innovate without excluding. South Korea’s latest achievement is a reminder that in the age of AI, nations can chart their own course. By combining technological investment with openness and cooperation, the country is showing what responsible ambition can look like. If the future of AI is to be shared, not siloed, it will be built by those who understand that intelligence grows strongest when it is connected. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 08:58:46
  • Koreas National Dance Company Double Bill blends the worlds of discipline and freedom
    Korea's National Dance Company "Double Bill" blends the worlds of discipline and freedom SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - What looks like total chaos — fourteen dancers leaping, crawling, and tossing one another in midair amid tightly arranged metal tables — is, in fact, a work of meticulous control. A single misstep could mean a ruined sequence or even a serious injury. Discipline is the axis of American choreographer William Forsythe’s “One Flat Thing, Reproduced.” The tables impose strict rules: confined space, exact timing, predetermined pathways. The dancers must sense one another with the precision of orchestra players, never missing a cue. “Choreography,” Forsythe once said, “is not the same as dance. It is the architecture of the desire to dance.” That philosophy surfaced in every moment — a balance of control and risk, rule and release. Within its rigidity, the work radiated beauty, revealing how the body seeks freedom even inside the tightest constraints. It showed how far movement can reach within limits, how precision and trust can generate their own kind of emotion. When the lights rose again, the stage transformed for Kim Sungyong’s “Crawl,” a work built around the opposite idea: freedom. Open space replaced the rows of tables. Rolling and flexing bodies moved with a breath-like rhythm, expanding and contracting as if discovering the stage anew. Created through Kim’s collaborative method, Process Init, the piece emerged not from instruction but from improvisation. “Sometimes the process felt like walking backward,” Kim said. “But through those pauses and restarts, the work found its own direction.” He fed the dancers simple cues — “heat,” “patience,” “silence” — allowing movement to grow from sensation rather than steps. The result felt spontaneous yet interconnected, a choreography that wrote itself in real time. Audience member Lee Hae-rin, 27, captured the contrast. “Forsythe’s piece felt like every second mattered — like watching precision under pressure. But Crawl was completely different. It felt fluid.” Together, the two works delivered a message that dance does not need to be explained through theory. It can simply display what the body can do — how rules strengthen it, how freedom exposes emotion — leaving room for each viewer’s own interpretation. According to the National Dance Company, about 1,600 people attended the two-day run, a strong turnout for the National Theater. “The contrast between the two pieces was what audiences talked about most,” an official said. “Forsythe is a name you usually see in history books, and this was the first time ‘One Flat Thing, Reproduced’ was performed by Korean dancers — that alone made it special.” For the National Dance Company of Korea, the program was more than a pairing of two works. It demonstrated how discipline and freedom — seemingly opposite forces — can meet onstage and speak the same language. 2025-11-10 19:17:00
  • Roses nod by Grammys fails to persuade investors of her Korean label YG
    Rose's nod by Grammys fails to persuade investors of her Korean label YG SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - BLACKPINK member Rose is leading a wave of female K-pop artists heading into the 2026 Grammy Awards — an unprecedented moment for Korean pop music — but the historic nominations has so far failed to lift investor sentiment toward her label. Shares of YG Entertainment tumbled more than 7 percent to 66,650 won ($46) on Monday, the first trading day after the Recording Academy shortlisted Rose’s “APT.” featuring Bruno Mars for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Despite the headline-making nominations, IBK Investment & Securities cut its target price on YG to 100,000 won from 120,000 won, citing weakness in third-quarter earnings. Operating profit surged 272 percent on year to 31.1 billion won ($21 million), but still fell short of the market consensus of 34 billion won. The brokerage trimmed its 2025 and 2026 operating profit estimates by 17 percent and 12 percent, respectively, while maintaining a buy rating. YG Entertainment shares have been sliding sharply in recent weeks after peaking at 109,800 won ($75) on August 21. The rally earlier in the summer was fueled by the breakout success of the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters — whose production roster included YG-linked creators — and optimism over a potential easing of Beijing’s unofficial ban on K-pop. Released on June 20, K-Pop Demon Hunters became an unexpected global hit and set new viewership records. Its original soundtrack, led by the single “Golden,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11, marking a major milestone for K-pop. The track was produced by The Black Label’s Teddy and 24, alongside U.S. collaborator Lijae. The OST album, distributed by Republic Records, is officially classified under the K-pop genre on the label’s website. Other producers at The Black Label — 24, Kush, and Vince — contributed additional songs including “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol.” Investor sentiment toward YG also strengthened in early July when BLACKPINK made a full-group comeback for the first time in 22 months. The quartet opened their “Deadline” world tour with two shows at Goyang Stadium on July 5–6, drawing a total of 78,000 attendees. By late August, the group had sold out major venues in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona and London, with only the Asian leg remaining. YG did not debut any new acts this year, but its affiliate label The Black Label enjoyed momentum with its rookie group All Day Project. The group debuted on June 23, rose to No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100 chart within three days, and entered the Billboard Global 200 eight days after debut. Despite these successes, YG’s momentum weakened amid questions over its long-term management strategy and concerns about the cooling of the short-term K-pop hype cycle. Founded in 1998 by former Seo Taiji and Boys member Yang Hyun-suk, YG is one of Korea’s “big four” entertainment companies and home to BIGBANG, BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER. The company also holds a 14.55 percent stake in The Black Label, which manages rising groups MEOVV, izna and All Day Project. Analysts say YG’s outlook remains dependent on its flagship artists and the possibility of China easing restrictions on Korean entertainment. “BLACKPINK continues to anchor profitability, while BABYMONSTER and BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary comeback could support growth next year,” said Kim Hyun-yong at Hyundai Motor Securities. The brokerage expects BABYMONSTER to launch large-scale tours in the West and Japan, while BIGBANG is confirmed to headline Coachella in April 2026. Hana Securities analyst Lee Kihoon said the K-pop sector could see record earnings next year if both BIGBANG and BTS resume full-group activities. “If that happens, it would mark an unprecedented performance year for the entire industry,” he said. Yang Hyun-suk remains YG’s largest shareholder with a 19.3 percent stake, followed by Naver at 8.9 percent, the National Pension Service at 7.2 percent, and China’s Tencent at 4.3 percent. Despite Monday’s sharp decline, NH Investment’s Lee Hwa-jung maintained that YG’s fundamentals remain intact, predicting that structural growth and overseas reopening will support a recovery. 2025-11-10 17:36:43
  • Asian stocks rise across the board; KOSPI rebounds sharply
    Asian stocks rise across the board; KOSPI rebounds sharply SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - Asian stocks rose across the board on Monday, relieved by the developments in the United States as Washington appeared to move closer to ending the longest-ever federal government shutdown. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI led regional gains, climbing 3.02 percent to 4,073.24 as the market warmed up the government’s plan to lower the separate tax rate on dividend income from 35 percent to 25 percent. Institutional investors drove the rebound, buying a net 1.3 trillion won ($895 million). Retail investors sold 1.16 trillion won to take profits, while foreign investors, who had supported early trading, reversed course late in the session and sold a net 155 billion won. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix both finished higher, with Samsung up 2.76 percent to 100,600 won and SK hynix rising 4.48 percent to 606,000 won. Hyundai Motor added 2.46 percent to 270,500 won. Financial stocks also gained on expectations that a resolution to the U.S. shutdown could revive prospects of Federal Reserve rate cuts. KB Financial rose 4.28 percent to 129,000 won, while Shinhan Financial increased 1.81 percent to 78,800 won. Among battery makers, Samsung SDI advanced 2.94 percent to 315,000 won, while LG Energy Solution inched up 0.43 percent to 465,500 won. Transformer-related shares extended their strong run. HD Hyundai Electric climbed 4.77 percent to 857,000 won, and Hyosung Heavy Industries gained 3.02 percent to 2,254,000 won. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.33 percent to 50,946, supported by the upbeat global backdrop. Semiconductor material supplier Denka, which produces spherical silica and acetylene black, jumped 7.48 percent to 2,435.5 yen ($15.81). Automakers saw mixed trading. Honda slid 4.67 percent to 1,511 yen due to production disruptions following Nexperia’s suspension of automotive chip exports, while Nissan rose 2.11 percent to 359 yen on signs of recovering domestic vehicle sales. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.53 percent to 4,018, and Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 0.79 percent to 27,869.91. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up 1.5 percent at 26,658 as of 4:16 p.m., led by retail stocks rather than the tech names that fueled previous rallies. Pop Mart, maker of the “Labubu” figurines, rose 8.6 percent to 222 Hong Kong dollars ($28.6). 2025-11-10 17:33:56
  • AI-leveraged cheating in elite university test on AI calls for new class formula in Korea
    AI-leveraged cheating in elite university test on AI calls for new class formula in Korea SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - ChatGPT has invaded university classrooms and come to test the ethical integrity of students in Korea, as shown by a large-scale exam cheating scandal at elite Yonsei University in Seoul. The case may be only the tip of the iceberg, with 70 percent of Korean universities still lacking any rules or guidelines on AI use. The issue surfaced when a professor teaching the third-year course "Natural Language Processing (NLP) and ChatGPT" at Yonsei's Sinchon campus revealed that "multiple instances of academic dishonesty have been discovered." The professor urged students to voluntarily come forward to avoid punishment beyond receiving zero points for the midterm, warning that dishonesty could result in disciplinary suspension. The course, with roughly 600 students enrolled, was conducted entirely online. The midterm in mid-October consisted of multiple-choice questions through an online platform. Students were instructed to record their screens, hands, and faces during the exam, but many allegedly changed their camera angles or opened extra browser windows to covertly access AI tools. Within the student community, speculation grew that more than half of the class may have cheated. On Everytime, a popular university community app, an anonymous poll of enrolled students found that 190 out of 359 respondents — about 53 percent — admitted to using unauthorized tools during the test. "It's ironic that a cheating scandal broke out in a course on AI," said Yoo Eun-seo, 22, a theology major at Yonsei. "It's regrettable that students used AI during a restricted exam, but universities should start designing learning systems that integrate AI rather than banning it. Coexistence with AI is inevitable." Another student, Cho Je-yi, 21, said she was "shocked" that cheating occurred even with video monitoring. "It seems this wasn't the first time students gained grades through dishonest means," she said. "When more than half your classmates use AI, not using it starts to feel like a disadvantage. Ethical standards clearly need to be redefined." Cho also noted that distinguishing human-written and AI-generated text has become increasingly difficult. "Tools like Copykiller now have a 'GPT-Killer' function to detect AI content, but many students get flagged unfairly. I've had my own work marked as 'AI-like.' The criteria are vague, and since it's practically impossible to tell the difference, banning AI outright is unrealistic." Three years after generative AI became mainstream, many universities still lack a coherent strategy. A survey by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) found that 71.1 percent of 131 universities nationwide have no official guidelines on generative AI. By contrast, a 2024 study by Wang, Dang, Wu, and Mac — cited in a KCUE report — found that among the top 100 U.S. universities, 67.4 percent have issued guidelines for faculty regarding AI use, but just 17.8 percent have established rules for students. Only 14.7 percent have institution-wide policies. Several education systems abroad have moved aggressively. The New York City Department of Education banned access to ChatGPT across public schools in early 2024, and Seattle schools also imposed restrictions. The University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and Sciences Po in France have prohibited the use of ChatGPT in coursework. Universities in Australia have redesigned exams to prevent students from relying on AI-generated answers. Park Han-woo, professor of media and communication at Yeungnam University and chair of the Korea organizing committee for Internet Research 15 (IR15), said the online format of the exam made it highly likely for students to rely on AI tools. "The issue is not that students used AI," he said. "We need to talk about responsible and ethical use of AI, because banning it altogether isn't realistic." Park said Korean universities must develop new teaching and evaluation models suited for the AI era. 2025-11-10 17:33:34