Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Samchundang Pharm CEO says results will address doubts after $100 million U.S. deal "We will prove it through management and results." Jeon In-seok, CEO of Samchundang Pharm, said at a news briefing Monday at the company’s Seoul headquarters that he would restore trust by delivering business results amid controversy over a recent technology export agreement. The company disclosed March 30 that it had signed a $100 million (about 1.5 trillion won) technology export deal with a U.S. partner for an oral diabetes and obesity treatment. Market doubts spread over the profit-sharing structure and contract terms, and the controversy intensified after Jeon’s plan to sell a 2.5 trillion won stake in a block deal became public. Samchundang Pharm said it scrapped the block deal plan Monday morning and pushed back against suspicions. Jeon said, "We decided to eliminate the block deal itself, which became the basis for the rumors," adding, "I judged that protecting the company’s value and shareholder trust comes before my personal tax issues." Attention has shifted to whether the company’s technology and business case can be verified. At the briefing, the company focused on its platform technology, S-PASS, which it says converts injectable drugs into oral formulations. Samchundang Pharm said the technology delivers efficacy equivalent to the original product while avoiding existing formulation patents. Jeon said, "Malicious rumors about S-PASS are not true," adding that materials submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration include the drug mechanism, stability data and the applied technology. "You cannot proceed through regulatory procedures with false technology or data," he said. The company said it uses an S-PASS-based substance (SNAC Free) to avoid formulation patents without existing excipients and to improve cost competitiveness. It said the biopolymer used instead of SNAC costs about one-tenth as much, and that it has secured competitiveness at what it called a global low of about $20 per gram.The company said it is developing oral semaglutide (Rybelsus and Wegovy oral generics) based on the technology and has signed an exclusive supply agreement with its U.S. partner. Addressing the structure under which it receives 90% of sales revenue, Jeon said it is possible because Samchundang Pharm develops and produces products with its own technology and supplies them to global markets. He described it not as a technology transfer deal but as a revenue-sharing supply agreement in which the partner sells the product and pays sales proceeds over 10 to 15 years. On milestones, he said the core of the contract is not one-time milestone payments but revenue generated from long-term product supply. Responding to criticism of its R&D capabilities, Jeon said the company has used a "strategically distributed innovation" structure from the start, with each team focused only on its project to minimize information leaks. Jeon apologized, saying communication with shareholders had been insufficient, and said the company would rebuild trust by proving global results in the second half of the year with numbers and outcomes. According to the Korea Exchange, Samchundang Pharm shares surged intraday to as high as 706,000 won but gave up gains to close down 4.63% at 618,000 won from the previous session. The stock has jumped 400% this year, overtaking EcoPro to rank No. 1 by market capitalization on the KOSDAQ and earning the nickname "imperial stock" for trading above 1 million won, but a recent sharp decline has jolted the market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 18:15:00 -
Main cast of 'The Devil Wears Prada' sequel to visit Seoul ahead of release SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - Hollywood stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway are set to visit Seoul this week, just weeks ahead of the release of a sequel to their 2006 hit "The Devil Wears Prada." According to the film's distributor, the two stars are scheduled to meet fans here at a red carpet event in Yeongdeungpo on Wednesday and also take part in other promotional activities. They are also set to appear on cable channel tvN's show "You Quiz on the Block." The long-awaited sequel, slated for release here on April 29, reunites the original cast in new roles, as they face new challenges and evolving careers in the fashion industry. 2026-04-06 17:52:24 -
Chinese AI role in Iran war flags lessons for Seoul SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) — The war in the Gulf is underscoring a critical lesson for South Korea, which faces its own security risks on the Korean Peninsula: the growing role of Chinese AI and satellite technologies in tracking and exposing military movements. Chinese firms are increasingly using publicly available data — including commercial satellite imagery, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals — and applying AI to integrate and analyze them to track military activity. By combining multiple datasets, these systems can infer troop movements, carrier routes and force deployments without relying on classified intelligence. China-based geospatial analytics firm MizarVision has released analyses tracking U.S. carrier strike group movements and troop deployments in the Iran conflict, highlighting how AI is evolving beyond data processing into a tool capable of reconstructing military intelligence. China is also accelerating efforts to integrate domestically developed AI models into military systems, including autonomous drones, simulation platforms and battlefield automation. The U.S. House Select Committee on China has described such applications as an “imminent threat,” while U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is aware of the developments and is taking steps to respond. While Seoul aims to rank among the world’s top three AI powers, analysts say it still trails the United States and China, with constraints in skilled labor and private investment limiting its ability to respond to AI-driven security risks. The implications extend beyond technology competition, pointing to structural shifts in the security environment. Lee Shin-wha, a professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Korea University, said advances in AI and data are rapidly blurring the boundary between the economy and national security. “Security is no longer defined solely by military power,” she said. “It is evolving into a new domain that integrates data, AI and cyber capabilities, placing South Korea in a more exposed position between China and North Korea.” She warned that long-standing asymmetric capabilities developed by China and North Korea in cyber domains are now expanding through the use of commercial technologies and data. Lee also raised concerns over data security, saying potential data flows and leakages in key industries such as semiconductors and advanced manufacturing should be treated as national security issues, calling for stronger legal and institutional safeguards. As information approaches real-time availability, she said, warfare is likely to shift further into information and cognitive domains, warning that failure to secure information superiority could leave countries at a strategic disadvantage. Kang Jun-young, a professor at the Graduate School of International and Area Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said the use of commercial resources for military purposes has already become unavoidable. He added that governments should strengthen legal frameworks and clearly define policy responses to address the issue at the national level. Lee also stressed the need for a broader security strategy that extends beyond traditional military power to include cyber and cognitive domains, requiring coordination across government and closer collaboration between technical experts and policymakers. She noted that key institutions such as the National Intelligence Service already treat cyber capabilities as a core pillar, but said further efforts are needed to strengthen expertise and institutional capacity. Lee also pointed to the growing role of asymmetric technologies such as drones, noting that lessons from the Russia–Ukraine war demonstrate how they can reshape the battlefield. She warned that advances in AI and data technologies have “opened a Pandora’s box,” calling for an integrated national strategy that aligns technological development with security policy. Concerns are also rising over how these trends could apply to the Korean Peninsula. Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party said “China is helping Iran by analyzing commercial satellite data to disclose U.S. aircraft deployments and carrier movements,” warning that similar exposure could occur in Korea. He said key facilities — including Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, as well as Gyeryongdae and Cheongju Air Base — could be vulnerable to detection through high-resolution satellite imagery and data analysis. Yu urged the government to treat the issue as an immediate security concern, calling for measures such as hardened aircraft shelters and stronger monitoring of Chinese commercial satellite activity. 2026-04-06 17:51:26 -
BOK to stay on hold this week, but faces looming inflation test SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) — There is little doubt the Bank of Korea will hold its base rate at 2.5 percent at Thursday’s rate-setting meeting, but how long the pause lasts will be closely watched as Gulf-driven import inflation builds the case for at least one hike down the line. The post-meeting narrative is also unlikely to surprise, as this will be the last meeting under Governor Rhee Chang-yong before his four-year term ends on April 20. Markets are instead looking ahead to the May 28 meeting, to be chaired by incoming governor Shin Hyun-song, a U.K.-educated former Bank for International Settlements economist, when the central bank is expected to update its growth and inflation outlook to reflect the war’s impact. Government bond yields, which have risen 60 to 70 basis points this year, have eased from recent highs on expectations that Gulf tensions may stabilize. The three-year government bond yield on Monday fell 1.6 basis points to 3.451 percent, retreating from a recent peak of 3.617 percent. The 10-year yield dropped 2.2 basis points to 3.725 percent, also down from 3.915 percent. “The BOK is expected to keep the base rate unchanged at the April meeting,” said Baek Yoon-min, a senior research fellow at Kyobo Securities. “We expect the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to ease or conclude within the second quarter.” Baek pointed to elevated U.S. inflation ahead of the November midterm elections as a key variable. Average gasoline prices have risen above $4 per gallon, the highest since August 2022. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, headline inflation in early April accelerated to 3.7 percent from 3.25 percent in March. Baek said U.S. inflation may paradoxically ease pressure on South Korea to tighten policy. Yoon Yeo-sam, a researcher at Meritz Securities, also expects the BOK to remain on hold for now, citing weak domestic conditions. “In 2022, core domestic indicators were robust. Now, the situation is different,” Yoon said. Economists expect rate hikes later in the year as import price pressures feed through. Consumer prices in Korea rose 2.2 percent in March from a year earlier, accelerating from 2.0 percent in the previous two months. While still within the BOK’s target range, the composition signals rising pressure. Energy has re-emerged as the dominant driver, compounded by a structurally weaker won, with the full impact only beginning to filter through. The won has extended its slide, weakening a further 6 percent this year amid capital outflows. The dollar has also sharply eased from recent peak of 1,530 won to 1,500 won Monday, but still remains at the levels of March 2009 during the global financial crisis, Petroleum prices surged 9.9 percent, contributing 0.39 percentage point to headline inflation. Diesel jumped 17 percent and gasoline 8 percent, marking the strongest energy impulse since the early phase of the Ukraine war. March likely captures only the initial shock. The key transmission channels — oil, the dollar and the exchange rate — have yet to fully feed into domestic prices. Despite his near-term hold view, Baek warned the impact of oil on inflation could be “longer and stickier” than expected, with spillovers into petrochemicals such as plastics and asphalt. He added that Shin’s appointment raises the likelihood of a shift toward tighter policy, noting the incoming governor’s preference for preemptive rate hikes. Cho Yong-gu, a research fellow at Shinyoung Securities, expects consumer inflation to approach 3 percent between May and August, with gradual tightening potentially beginning as early as July. "The central bank lacks the tools to stabilize prices quickly without a rate hike," Cho added. Some academics argue that tightening may be needed to address broader imbalances. “Given the quadruple high phenomenon of exchange rates, prices, housing costs, and interest rates, a modest rate hike is advisable,” said Kim Jung-sik, a professor emeritus at Yonsei University. “The benefits of absorbing excess liquidity to stabilize these four factors outweigh the costs.” As of Monday, the upper bound for mixed-rate mortgage loans at major banks has exceeded 7 percent. The M2 money supply rose 5.8 percent year-on-year in January, continuing to outpace the OECD average of 3 to 4 percent. 2026-04-06 17:46:38 -
JW Pharmaceutical: Hemlibra Study Shows Lower Bleeding Risk in Children With Hemophilia A JW Pharmaceutical said on 6 that a study published in the international journal TH Open found children and adolescents with hemophilia A who received Hemlibra (emicizumab) maintained a low risk of bleeding even while taking part in a range of physical activities. Hemlibra is a novel drug designed to mimic the function of clotting factor VIII, which is lacking in people with hemophilia. The company said it is the only hemophilia A treatment that can be used in both patients who have developed antibodies that make standard factor VIII products ineffective and those who have not. It is given by subcutaneous injection, with preventive effects lasting up to once every four weeks. The study was conducted at 50 medical institutions in Japan over about 97 weeks. Researchers analyzed physical activity, bleeding, safety and changes in quality of life after patients switched to Hemlibra prophylaxis. Before Hemlibra, patients experienced an average of 1.5 to 2.0 bleeding episodes over the most recent 12 or 24 weeks. After switching treatment, the median annualized bleeding rate was 0.53. During the study, researchers recorded 172 physical activities: 44 high-risk, 70 moderate-risk and 42 low-risk. One traumatic bleed related to physical activity was reported, and no significant link was found between activity intensity and bleeding. Quality-of-life measures also improved. In caregiver surveys, 43.8% reported their child was more active, and 56.3% reported less anxiety about bleeding. On safety, no intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or thromboembolism — concerns in infants and toddlers — were reported.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 17:42:00 -
3 Audience Members Injured After Safety Barrier Collapses at Super Junior Concert, SM Says Three audience members were injured at a Super Junior concert after a safety barrier in the seating area collapsed, SM Entertainment said. SM said on the 6th that the incident happened the previous day during Super Junior’s 20th anniversary world tour concert, “Super Show 10,” at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Songpa district. The barrier gave way during the encore, and three people fell and were hurt. “The injured were immediately taken to a hospital for necessary tests and treatment,” SM said. Medical staff advised that they need about two weeks of rest and treatment for sprains and bruises, the company said. SM apologized to those affected and their families, saying it would support treatment and “do our best” until the injured fully recover. The company said it “deeply feels the heavy responsibility” as the concert organizer and would strengthen facility safety checks and crowd safety management to prevent a recurrence.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 17:39:15 -
Girls' Generation members shine in all-white suits SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - Yoon-a and Hyo-yeon, members of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation, showed off their glamorous looks at a promotional event for a cosmetics brand in central Seoul on Monday. The two girls flaunted their stunning beauty in all-white suits while promoting Sulwhasoo's premium skincare products, which combine traditional herbal ingredients. In particular, Yoon-a, who has branched out into acting with appearances in various films and dramas, also released her single in December last year, demonstrating her versatile talents. 2026-04-06 17:22:53 -
Newspaper Survival in the AI Era: Rebuild Tech DNA and Trust, Speakers Say "To improve the quality of journalism, news organizations must reclaim their identity as technology companies." Kim Wi-geun, chief research officer at Publish, made the remarks at a seminar at the Korea Press Center titled ‘70 Years of Newspapers: A Record of History, a Vision for the Future,’ saying journalism is a product of combining news and technology. The event was organized by three media groups — the Korea Newspaper Association, the Korea Newspaper Broadcasting Editors Association and the Journalists Association of Korea — to reassess newspapers’ social role and chart a path for newspaper journalism amid rapid changes in the media environment, including the spread of generative artificial intelligence. In a presentation titled ‘A Blueprint for Newspaper Journalism,’ Kim said technology used by news portals that dominate distribution can sharply swing a news outlet’s audience and revenue, adding that AI will now drive those shifts. Kim repeatedly stressed that media companies are “clearly technology companies” and urged them to restore that identity. Before the internet became widespread, he said, print newspapers were leading technology firms in areas such as typesetting and printing formats, while broadcasters led in video and transmission technology. He said news organizations lost their “technology DNA” as web technology spread, and argued that regaining it is essential to raising journalistic quality. As a future strategy, Kim proposed establishing an identity as a “data company.” In the AI era, he said, the role of news content as digital data will grow beyond its value as a copyrighted work. He also called for efforts to boost trust, pursue technological innovation including cooperation on developing sovereign AI, strengthen gatekeeping, establish media ethics and prevent reporters from leaving newsrooms. If reporters’ planning and questioning skills do not surpass those of the public, he said, news organizations will lose competitiveness. He predicted demand will rise for high-quality journalism that verifies facts and pursues truth. A separate speaker urged the newspaper industry to adapt more flexibly to social change. Lee Min-gyu, a professor in Chung-Ang University’s Department of Media Communication, cited the case of 18 newspapers publishing extra editions for BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback performance, saying newspapers need to move beyond rigid, politics-and-economy-centered hard news and pay more attention to culture and lifestyle content audiences want. Lee also pointed to editorial cartoons, which he said compress a newspaper’s interpretive function into a single image, and argued newspapers have a role in an environment where information overload and AI hallucinations increase the risk of distortion. He said newspapers should help lead public opinion and keep society on the right path. AI should be used as a tool, he said, but editing must remain a human task. He also urged news outlets to reduce dependence on platforms and strengthen relationships with readers. Lee said a newspaper’s competitiveness lies not in the number of stories but in the density of trust, adding that earning trust from readers and society is more important than ever. He said the industry should jointly push for public-interest safeguards in algorithms, legal guarantees of algorithmic transparency and clear labeling standards for AI-generated news. Examples of how news organizations are responding to the AI era were also presented. Kyunghyang Shinmun said its YouTube channel, ‘Kyunghyang TV,’ launched in January 2024, has grown quickly as political analysis and in-depth interviews gained popularity. The outlet plans to invest in a dedicated video studio to strengthen content quality and production capacity. Maeil Business Newspaper said it has built several AI services, including a news agent, a stock agent and AI news explainers. The news agent targets MZ-generation users who find current affairs articles difficult, providing summaries of related past articles, developments, similar cases and outlooks. Yoo Young-hoon, deputy head of Maeil’s AX AI Data Department, said AI services cost more than expected and called for continued investment along with ways to generate revenue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 17:04:16 -
Seoul in a bind as Tehran imposes selective screening for Hormuz access SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) - Iran is allowing a trickle of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under a selective access regime, with ships linked to "friendly" nations securing passage while South Korean tankers remain stranded, exposing Seoul's limited leverage in the deepening energy crisis. At least 15 ships transited the chokepoint over the past 24 hours with prior authorization from Tehran, a fraction of normal traffic, underscoring tight controls imposed after the outbreak of war. Recent crossings have included vessels tied to Japan, France and Oman, as well as Malaysia-linked tankers carrying Iraqi crude, suggesting nationality, ownership structure and diplomatic ties are increasingly determining access. By contrast, 26 South Korean vessels carrying 173 crew members remain stuck in the Gulf, with operators opting to wait rather than risk passage without clear security guarantees. Iran has framed the restrictions as targeted, saying the waterway is "closed only to enemies," while continuing to permit limited transit for countries maintaining workable ties with Tehran. The result is a de facto tiered system in one of the world's most critical energy corridors, which normally handles about one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows. The disparity has fueled criticism in Seoul that rivals are moving faster — and more flexibly — to secure passage. Japanese-linked vessels that cleared the strait were tied to entities in Oman and India, while a French container ship also transited, highlighting how indirect affiliations may be key to navigating Iran's rules. Seoul, however, has largely stuck to a multilateral approach, emphasizing coordination with allies and adherence to international norms rather than bilateral engagement with Tehran. "Conditions differ by ship and country," the foreign ministry said, adding that safety remains the top priority. "We maintain that freedom of navigation and safety for all vessels, including ours, must be promptly guaranteed in accordance with international norms, and we are communicating and cooperating with relevant countries to that end." That caution is now colliding with mounting political pressure, with lawmakers calling for more proactive diplomacy — including identifying vessels with potential ties to neutral or Iran-friendly countries to secure exemptions. The partial blockade — triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February — has at times slashed traffic through Hormuz by more than 90 percent, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and raising the risk of prolonged disruption. For South Korea, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports, the immediate question is no longer whether the strait will reopen — but how, and through whom, its supplies will get through. "The situation in the Middle East is extremely volatile, changing day by day. Neither Korea nor Japan can ignore the United States' position," said Rep. Kim Young-bae of the ruling Democratic Party. Another DP lawmaker, Yoon Hu-deok, defended the government's approach. "Even Japan has not achieved results through direct government negotiations with Iran… We must protect the lives of our citizens, the crew, and their property." The opposition took a sharper tone. "Our government has not been proactive enough on the issue of Hormuz transit," said Rep. Kim Gunn of the opposition People Power Party. "When the UK, France, and Japan issued a joint statement, we did not join promptly. Korea should be leading, not following." He added that Seoul should identify vessels with ties to countries such as Oman or Iran and pursue joint negotiations, noting that "so far, we have not seen concrete, proactive efforts from the government." The coming days may prove decisive, as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is critical for the Korean economy. With the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee expected to convene next week, pressure is building for Seoul to craft a clearer strategy — one that can navigate Iran's selective access regime and the broader geopolitical fault lines shaping one of the world's most vital shipping lanes if tensions persist. 2026-04-06 17:02:35 -
Prosecutors seek 10-year prison sentence for ex-president in appeals trial SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - Prosecutors sought a 10-year prison sentence for disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing law enforcement during an appeals trial in Seoul on Monday. It is one of the cases related to his botched declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, separate from his main charges of insurrection and abuse of power, for which he was sentenced to life in prison in February. In the first ruling delivered last January, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing investigators and other officials who tried to detain him for questioning over his short-lived, late-night debacle. Prosecutors, who had also sought the same 10-year term in the first trial, argued that the lower court misread some facts, dismissed certain charges against Yoon, and handed down a sentence that was too lenient. With both sides filing appeals shortly after the first ruling, Yoon who has repeatedly claimed the declaration was a "mere warning" without any procedural violations, is expected to be sentenced again sometime in the first half of this year. 2026-04-06 17:00:36