Photographer condemns 'Rooftop Koreans' meme by Trump Jr. as offensive, unauthorized SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - A Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist is speaking out against Donald Trump Jr. for the unauthorized use of his photo from the 1992 Los Angeles riots — a move critics say distorts history and inflames racial tensions. Hyungwon Kang, a former photo editor for the Los Angeles Times, said Trump Jr. posted one of his most recognizable photographs on social media without his permission with the caption, “Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!” In a direct comment on Trump Jr.'s post, Kang wrote, "That's my picture that you are using without my permission. You're using the photo out of context." "Please take it down," Kang said. Kang, currently staying in Korea, told AJP that he is consulting with lawyers in the U.S. about possible legal action over the misuse of his copyrighted image, saying he finds it extremely offensive to see his photograph used out of context, without permission. “Using my 1992 news photo to portray current immigration protests as unlawful, and to fuel racial tension, is a gross misrepresentation and runs contrary to American values," he said. Kang's photo, taken during the 1992 riots, shows a Korean-American man on a rooftop loading a firearm — a stark image of the self-defense efforts by Korean-American business owners during a period when law enforcement largely withdrew from Koreatown. The image has since become a symbol of resilience in the Korean-American community, but its repurposing by Trump Jr. has drawn widespread criticism. On June 9, Trump Jr. shared this image on his X (formerly Twitter) account in response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles against aggressive immigration enforcement. The Korean community in Los Angeles also condemned Trump Jr.’s post. “As the son of an incumbent U.S. president and an influencer with 15 million followers, his actions could have serious repercussions during this tense period,” the organization said in a statement. “We strongly urge that the trauma of the Korean-American community not be exploited for any purpose.” 2025-06-10 11:42:57

Doosan Enerbility signs $650 million deal to build gas-fired power plant in Vietnam SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - South Korean energy company Doosan Enerbility has secured a contract valued at approximately 900 billion Korean won, or $650 million, to build a major gas-fired power plant in southern Vietnam, in partnership with the state-owned Petrovietnam. The agreement, signed on June 6 in Hanoi, marks one of the largest foreign energy infrastructure deals in Vietnam this year. The project involves construction of a combined cycle gas turbine power plant, located roughly 180 kilometers southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. With a planned generation capacity of 1,155 megawatts, the facility is expected to come online in 2028 and play a critical role in bolstering electricity supply across southern Vietnam, particularly in the industrial hub of Can Tho. Doosan will lead the project in a consortium with Vietnam-based engineering firm PECC2, taking charge of equipment supply, construction, and integrated commissioning. The deal is Doosan Enerbility’s fifth overseas gas turbine contract in 2025, bringing its total value of international projects this year to approximately 4.3 trillion won, or $3.1 billion. Earlier contracts include a peaking power unit in Qatar signed in February, and three major projects in Saudi Arabia inked in March. “Our track record in Vietnam’s power sector has been a key factor in securing this contract,” said Lee Hyun-ho, head of Doosan’s Plant EPC Business Group. “With Vietnam targeting 37.4 gigawatts of gas-fired generation capacity by 2030, we are committed to further expanding our presence in this fast-growing market.” 2025-06-10 10:33:43

South Korean manufacturers accelerate shift to smart factories SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - As industries worldwide undergo sweeping technological and structural shifts, manufacturers are redefining production at its core. Nowhere is this transformation more pronounced than in South Korea, where industrial heavyweights, such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG, are rapidly embracing the smart factory — an integrated, data-driven model reshaping global manufacturing norms. From intelligent communications to AI-driven production lines, the South Korean manufacturers are reshaping their operations to meet the demands of an era defined by automation, data, and resilience. Unlike traditional factories, smart factories represent fully digitized, adaptive environments powered by artificial intelligence, edge computing, and next-generation wireless infrastructure. Machines embedded with AI can now detect anomalies, self-correct in real time, and optimize performance without human intervention. Digital twin technology simulates entire production environments, eliminating the need for costly trial-and-error approaches. Computer vision systems conduct instant quality inspections, while collaborative robots, or “cobots,” assist with complex or repetitive tasks. These systems are stitched together through private 5G networks and edge computing platforms, enabling ultra-low latency communication across machines, sensors, and control systems. Industry experts say these innovations are not just about efficiency — they are responses to mounting global pressures: aging workforces, energy price volatility, disrupted supply chains, and intensifying global competition. By enabling more autonomous and adaptive production systems, smart manufacturing offers a pathway to resilience and long-term sustainability. According to Precedence Research, the global smart factory market is projected to more than double, growing from $155.6 billion in 2024 to $386.4 billion by 2034. South Korea’s largest industrial firms are moving quickly to position themselves at the center of this transformation. Hyundai Motor and Samsung Electronics are collaborating to implement Private 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) networks in their manufacturing hubs, including Hyundai’s Ulsan complex and its Metaplant in Georgia, United States. The system enables seamless, interference-free communication for over 200 autonomous mobile robots and a growing number of automated guided vehicles and inspection units. RedCap’s use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X35 5G chipset and Samsung’s customized 5G infrastructure reduces power consumption and latency, offering advantages over traditional Wi-Fi networks. Hyundai has also embedded the technology into its diagnostic scanning systems to transmit inspection data in real time. Samsung’s platform supports AI-optimized network operations, and the companies report no communication-related downtime since implementation. HD Hyundai has followed suit, investing 200 billion won to convert its Ulsan Campus into a fully integrated smart factory. The new 234,710-square-meter site merges two separate plants and features AI-driven inspection systems and welding robots. The upgrades have boosted production capacity from 9,600 to 15,000 units annually, improved productivity by 20 percent, and cut production times by 35 percent. LG Electronics, meanwhile, is scaling smart manufacturing through an AI-centric, data-heavy strategy. Its platform processes 770 terabytes of production data across global operations, enabling predictive maintenance, automated defect detection, and faster decision-making. Digital twin simulations allow full-scale factory modeling before physical deployment, significantly reducing costs and risk. At LG’s Smart Park in Changwon, automation levels have reached 65 percent, increasing productivity by 22 percent and reducing defects by 30 percent. Its Tennessee plant in the U.S. achieved similar gains, with energy efficiency rising by 30 percent. Both sites have earned recognition as “Lighthouse Factories” from the World Economic Forum. In 2024, LG launched a dedicated smart factory unit that now supports clients ranging from electronics firms to cosmetics producers. The unit is projected to generate 1 trillion won in orders by 2030. Rather than offering off-the-shelf products, LG provides tailored end-to-end solutions. “This is a once-in-a-generation transformation,” said Cho Joo-wan, LG’s chief executive, noting that the initiative prioritizes not only speed and scale, but adaptability, sustainability, and long-term client integration. 2025-06-09 14:50:54

Naver bets on 'sovereign AI' with launch of Silicon Valley venture arm SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest internet company Naver introduced its new investment arm, Naver Ventures, at a networking event on June 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto. The announcement marks a renewed push by the company to assert itself in the evolving artificial intelligence landscape — not by chasing the biggest players, but by charting a path rooted in specificity, sovereignty, and strategic restraint. The initiative was unveiled by Lee Hae-jin, Naver’s founder and newly reinstated chairman, who addressed a crowd of more than 200 Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors. The event, aptly named Next Chapter, was Lee’s first major public appearance since Line Corp.’s 2016 IPO. “There have been many waves over the 25 years since Naver was founded, but artificial intelligence feels like a wave on the level of the internet and mobile,” Lee said, framing the recent AI surge — catalyzed by breakthroughs like ChatGPT — as a once-in-a-generation shift. While conceding that Naver lags behind U.S. and Chinese tech giants in scale and core AI research, Lee was unapologetic about the company’s differentiated strategy. Rather than vying for dominance in general-purpose AI, Naver will concentrate on domain-specific applications where it can exploit proprietary data — particularly in commerce. “There’s a chance in specific domains,” he said. “Search started out as an algorithm battle, but in the end, it became about differentiation. I think AI will follow a similar trajectory.” That philosophy is already reflected in Naver’s ecosystem. Through a string of strategic acquisitions and partnerships — including Smart Store in Korea, Line and Yahoo in Japan, Wallapop in Spain, and Poshmark in the United States — Naver has been assembling a data-rich portfolio designed to fuel commerce-centric AI tools. “When we invested in Poshmark, people may have wondered why Naver entered the secondhand market,” Lee said. “But it was to secure commerce data.” At the heart of this next phase is Naver Ventures, which will be led by Kim Nam-sun, head of Naver’s Strategic Investment Division. Its first investment: Twelve Labs, a Silicon Valley startup founded in 2021 that specializes in video intelligence. Known for building multimodal AI systems like Pegasus and Marengo — which can identify and retrieve scenes from video using natural language queries — Twelve Labs has drawn backing from investors such as NVIDIA, Snowflake, and Databricks. Naver now joins them, following earlier support from SK Telecom. The move is emblematic of Naver’s broader ambition: embedding itself more deeply in the U.S. tech scene, while developing AI that reflects local values, languages, and control structures. Lee’s message went beyond market positioning. He offered a cultural and philosophical counterpoint to what he sees as the increasing homogenization of global technology platforms. “Starbucks is a good company that offers consistent drinks everywhere in the world,” he said. “But if Starbucks were the only place selling coffee globally, that would be a bit sad. Each country should have its own tea houses. In the same way, Naver will continue to provide diversity in AI, just as we have in search.” Lee invoked Naver’s origin story — as a Korean-language search engine built when Western tools failed to surface relevant local content — to argue for “sovereign AI,” an approach that emphasizes local ownership of data and infrastructure. “One search engine providing all results to the world can be dangerous,” he said. “Korea is different because people can compare Google and Naver. That kind of diversity must be preserved.” 2025-06-09 09:36:21

S. Korea finalizes $17 billion Czech nuclear deal SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - The state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has finalized a landmark agreement to construct two next-generation nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic — marking the country’s first overseas nuclear project in 16 years. The agreement, signed June 4, paves the way for the construction of two reactors at the Dukovany site in southern Czechia. Valued at approximately 26 trillion won (around $17 billion), the deal is South Korea’s first major nuclear export since its 2009 contract to build the Barakah plant in the United Arab Emirates, and its first such project in Europe. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the deal’s completion shortly after the Czech Supreme Administrative Court lifted a lower court’s injunction that had temporarily blocked the signing. “The government has concluded the final contract with KHNP,” Fiala said, formally welcoming South Korea into the European nuclear sector. In May, France’s state-owned energy company EDF filed a last-minute injunction seeking to delay the contract’s finalization, citing procedural concerns. A Czech district court granted the motion, forcing a 24-hour postponement of the planned signing — even as South Korea’s Industry Minister, Ahn Duk-geun, had already arrived in Prague. KHNP and Czech utility CEZ, the parent of Dukovany operator EDU II, swiftly appealed. The Supreme Administrative Court overturned the injunction on June 4, enabling both parties to finalize the previously prepared electronic contract. While EDF’s broader legal challenge — including a separate complaint lodged with the European Commission over alleged violations of foreign subsidy regulations — remains pending, the KHNP agreement is now legally binding. The Dukovany project is central to the Czech Republic’s long-term energy strategy, which aims to boost energy security and phase out coal. The government plans to construct as many as four new nuclear units by 2050. The current deal covers Dukovany Units 5 and 6, with an option to extend the partnership to two additional reactors at the Temelín site, subject to future approvals. Described by Czech officials as the largest energy infrastructure project in the country’s modern history, the deal follows nine months of negotiations and over 200 bilateral meetings. KHNP will lead a full EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) effort, with support from a Korean industrial consortium dubbed “Team Korea” — comprising Korea Electric Power Technology, Doosan Enerbility, Daewoo E&C, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel, and KEPCO Plant Service & Engineering. The project’s execution phase will begin with a kickoff meeting between KHNP and EDU II. KHNP has already begun establishing an on-site office and deploying internal systems to manage permitting, documentation, and scheduling. The company also plans to host briefings for Korean subcontractors later this year, outlining standards and procurement procedures. Construction of Dukovany Unit 5 is expected to begin in 2029, pending final regulatory approvals. Hwang Joo-ho, president and CEO of KHNP, hailed the agreement as “a testament to the technological excellence and global confidence in Korean nuclear capability.” He said the company intends to leverage this momentum to broaden South Korea’s nuclear export portfolio while promoting safe, low-carbon energy solutions. 2025-06-05 14:22:04

Samsung to unveil new foldable smartphone next month SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics plans to unveil the latest iteration of its foldable smartphone line, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, in early July. The forthcoming model is being positioned on par with its flagship Galaxy S Ultra series. Samsung says the device will feature upgraded hardware, advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, and a refined user experience — hallmarks traditionally reserved for its most premium offerings. In a blog post, Samsung provided a first look at the device through a teaser video showing the Z Fold’s glowing silhouette. The clip emphasized the phone’s dual-screen design and portability, signaling Samsung’s intention to blend cutting-edge form with everyday function. "Users want a bigger screen, better cameras, stronger performance, more diverse connections and creative tools in one hand," the company wrote. "We present an ‘Ultra experience’ that newly defines daily interactions." Among the expected features are a larger 8.2-inch internal display and a 6.5-inch cover screen, modest increases over the previous generation. The Z Fold 7 is also projected to be Samsung’s slimmest foldable to date, with an unfolded thickness between 3.9 and 4.54 millimeters — down from 5.6 mm on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The device will ship with Android 16 and include upgrades to both build quality and software performance. Samsung said it has further optimized the foldable format using AI to enhance tasks such as messaging, web browsing, and mobile gaming. The global launch is scheduled for Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked event in New York City, the company’s first major product unveiling in the city since 2022. At that time, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4. 2025-06-05 08:57:00

Korea eyes LMR batteries for EVs to bridge gap between range, affordability SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s battery manufacturers are fast-tracking efforts to commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries, a next-generation chemistry that industry leaders see as a crucial middle ground between cost-efficiency and performance in electric vehicle (EV) technology. The push marks a strategic pivot for an industry long dominated by two competing battery types: nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries, prized for their high energy density but saddled with soaring material costs, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, favored for affordability and safety yet constrained by lower energy output. For years, South Korean companies such as LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI have focused on high-nickel NCM and its aluminum-infused variant, NCMA, which supply premium EVs with extended range and rapid charging capabilities. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers — led by CATL and BYD — have consolidated their lead in LFP technology, which now powers a significant portion of global EV fleets. But as automakers face price volatility in raw materials and seek more diversified, geopolitically stable supply chains, Korean firms are charting a third path. The LMR battery, which incorporates high levels of manganese — up to 65 percent — while minimizing or eliminating cobalt and significantly reducing nickel content, is emerging as a promising candidate. "LMR technology allows us to maintain competitive energy performance while sharply lowering dependence on high-cost materials like cobalt," said an executive at LG Energy Solution, which holds more than 200 patents related to the chemistry. Energy density has long defined battery competitiveness. LFP batteries, while safe and inexpensive, generally offer about 160 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), limiting their appeal in range-sensitive vehicle segments. High-nickel NCM and NCMA cells can exceed 250 Wh/kg but come at a material premium, often relying on cobalt sourced from politically sensitive regions. LMR batteries aim to occupy the middle ground, offering energy densities of roughly 210–220 Wh/kg — enough to support long-range EVs — while slashing reliance on cobalt entirely and reducing nickel content to around 35 percent, compared to the 85 percent in many current NCMA cells. The concept is not new. Researchers first explored LMR chemistries in the 1990s, but early designs were plagued by technical hurdles: voltage fade, cathode degradation, and shortened cycle life. Recent advances in particle engineering, doping agents, and protective coatings have revived commercial interest. General Motors, which has collaborated with LG Energy Solution through its Ultium Cells joint venture in the United States, has tested LMR battery prototypes across 1.4 million miles of simulated driving. The company says the results show cycle life on par with today’s high-performance batteries. GM plans to adopt prismatic cell formats for its LMR packs, a shift that could streamline battery architecture and reduce component count by up to 50 percent. LG Energy Solution is targeting 2028 for mass production, with early deployment expected in large-format vehicles such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ — both projected to achieve more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) of range on a single charge. Other Korean players are moving in parallel. POSCO Future M has completed pilot-scale production of LMR cathode materials at its Sejong R&D facility and aims to begin full commercial output by the end of 2025. The company plans to offer a product line tailored for both entry-level and premium EV platforms. As global automakers recalibrate in response to tightening emissions rules, fluctuating commodity markets, and growing demand for energy security, South Korea’s battery industry appears to be embracing a dual-track strategy: maintaining high-nickel NCMA for luxury and high-performance segments, while positioning LMR as a flexible, lower-cost alternative that may help democratize long-range EVs. If successful, the effort could challenge China’s dominance in affordable battery technologies — and reshape the global EV battery landscape. 2025-06-02 14:33:38

Samsung in talks to integrate Perplexity AI in Galaxy S26: report SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is in discussions to integrate technology from Perplexity AI into its next generation of smartphones, potentially marking a significant departure from the firm's long-standing reliance on Google’s artificial intelligence services. The proposed deal, first reported by Bloomberg, would see Samsung embedding Perplexity’s AI assistant and search tools in its upcoming Galaxy S26 series, expected to launch in the first half of 2026. The partnership under discussion goes beyond a simple software pre-installation. Samsung and the California-based startup are exploring broader integration, including embedding Perplexity’s AI-powered search capabilities into Samsung’s default web browser and incorporating its core technologies into Bixby, Samsung’s proprietary voice assistant. Such a move would amount to a significant reengineering of Samsung’s AI architecture and signal a notable pivot toward a more independent AI ecosystem — one less reliant on Google, whose services have long underpinned the Android platform on Samsung devices. For Samsung, aligning with an emerging AI player mirrors Apple’s recent strategy of diversifying its artificial intelligence partnerships, as major smartphone manufacturers seek to assert greater control over their AI roadmaps. For Perplexity, the collaboration offers a pathway to expand its reach to hundreds of millions of mobile users globally. 2025-06-02 14:28:19

Concert offers chance to explore Latin American music traditions SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - A concert in southern Seoul earlier this week offered an opportunity to explore the transatlantic evolution of Baroque music, while also engaging with early Latin American music. Last Wednesday's concert at Banpo Simsan Art Hall, part of a music festival hosted by the Seocho Cultural Foundation, along with Musica Ex Machina, a creative ensemble dedicated to rare early classical music, examined how Baroque music evolved into a distinct hybrid form through exchanges between Spain and Latin America during the colonial era, featuring instruments and works from both regions dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Led by Chilean musician Cristian Gutiérrez, the concert brought together performers from South Korea, Europe, and Latin America. The repertoire reflected a blend of European musical traditions and local influences with selections ranging from Spanish court music to Peruvian Baroque folk styles. Highlights included Pavana del Rey from 16th-century Spain, Canarios by Gaspar Sanz, and Si quieres dar Marica by José Marín. They also performed pieces from Peruvian manuscript Codex Trujillo including the Tonada "El Congo." Producer Yoon Hyeong-jun of Musica Ex Machina emphasized that what defines the ensemble is not just its musical selections, but also its dedication to authentic performance. "Early music doesn't just mean playing old music — it means playing it the old way," he said, explaining the ensemble's use of traditional instruments and historically grounded techniques." Yoon described Baroque music as "the first global cultural movement," shaped by 16th-century voyages that brought Spanish missionaries and sailors into contact with Indigenous and African communities. He stressed that Latin American Baroque was the result of both cultural absorption and transmission. "They didn't just bring culture - they also absorbed it," he said. "This is not just heritage - it's the product of historical fusion." Yoon's path into music was unconventional. Raised in a rural town outside Daejeon, he taught himself classical guitar in middle school and initially enrolled at Korea Maritime & Ocean University, unaware that music could be a formal career. After dropping out of school, he began pursuing music professionally and now leads Musica Ex Machina, one of the country's most innovative ensembles specializing in early music. That unlikely path shaped his deep respect for authenticity, which he sees not just as technique but as a way to "revive forgotten sounds" and make them resonate with today's listeners. While Yoon provided a South Korean perspective on the ensemble's mission, Cristian Gutiérrez offered a complementary view rooted in Latin American Baroque. "Early music doesn't exist in South Korea as a living culture. What we do is reintroduce forgotten sonic languages and explore how they speak today," he said. He explained that Latin American Baroque developed through mutual influence. "It's not just what European culture brought to America - it's also what they took. In the end, it's a mixture that became part of our identity." Expressing his admiration for South Korean musicians, Gutiérrez said, "They sound like South Americans," he said. "They are really, really great professional musicians. I'm so happy and proud to play with them." When asked what music had taught him, he answered, "Perseverance. We live in a time when everything is fast, but music teaches you to work day after day, over years. Only then can you understand what you've mastered." 2025-05-30 13:27:05

HYBE sells SM Entertainment stake to China's Tencent Music SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - HYBE, South Korea’s largest entertainment company behind BTS, has sold its entire stake in rival agency SM Entertainment to China's Tencent Music Entertainment. In a regulatory filing, Tuesday, HYBE said it would offload its 9.38 percent stake — totaling about 2.2 million shares — to Tencent Music, a subsidiary of China’s internet giant Tencent. The shares were sold at 110,000 won apiece, bringing the total transaction to approximately 243.3 billion won (about $180 million). The transaction positions Tencent Music as SM Entertainment’s second-largest shareholder, behind Kakao and its affiliate Kakao Entertainment, which together control a 41.5 percent stake in the company. HYBE had acquired its stake in SM in early 2023 during a high-profile battle for management control — a power struggle that eventually ended with Kakao taking the lead. In a statement, HYBE framed the sale as part of a broader strategic realignment, saying it aims to divest non-core assets and reinvest proceeds into “future growth initiatives.” Industry analysts view the deal as a significant move by Tencent to deepen its presence in South Korea’s K-pop industry. “Tencent’s growing footprint is hard to ignore,” said Lee Ki-hoon, an analyst at Hana Securities. “This investment raises expectations for SM, especially if restrictions on Korean pop culture in China begin to ease.” Tencent Music has been active in Korea through distribution partnerships with major agencies, including HYBE and Cube Entertainment. Its broader corporate ecosystem also holds minority stakes in YG Entertainment (4.3 percent) and Kakao Entertainment (4.61 percent), reinforcing its role as a major external stakeholder in the Korean entertainment industry. The acquisition of SM shares offers Tencent a deeper stake in one of K-pop’s most influential players. Known for cultivating first-generation acts such as H.O.T. and pioneering the Korean Wave in China, SM Entertainment remains a key source of intellectual property, artist management, and production capabilities. For HYBE, the sale represents a full exit from SM, closing the chapter on a costly and contentious corporate rivalry. HYBE is estimated to have invested approximately 555 billion won in SM and has reportedly recouped about 560 billion won through this and previous share disposals. The deal also comes amid broader questions about Chinese investment in South Korea’s cultural sector. While political tensions have, at times, limited K-pop’s access to Chinese audiences, some analysts believe the tide may be shifting. A renewed SM-Tencent alignment could position both companies to benefit from any loosening of cultural restrictions in the Chinese market. 2025-05-28 11:16:09