Journalist
Candice Kim, Lim Jaeho
candicekim1121@ajupress.com, ajupresswogh@ajupress.com
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Viral K-beauty powered by rich foundation palette for every skin tone SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - “You guys have no idea how happy I am right now — it’s literally perfect. I can finally use their cushion foundation,” said @MissDarcei, a beauty influencer with more than 800,000 YouTube followers. Her excitement reflects a growing wave of international consumers who say Korean cushion foundations now work just as well on darker skin tones as they do on lighter ones. The secret behind the viral rise of K-beauty lies in its fast-expanding shade ranges, with some brands now offering up to 40 different tones designed to match a global, multiracial consumer base. TIRTIR and Clio may not be the best-known legacy beauty houses in Korea, but they have emerged as major forces on social media by redefining what a Korean base shade can be. TIRTIR became the first Korean brand to surpass 30 shades in a single line when it released 40 foundation tones in August 2024. The move targeted deeper and darker skin tones across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Since launch, global cumulative sales have topped 13 million units, and more than 70 percent of the company’s total revenue now comes from foundation. Its Mask Fit Cushion has repeatedly dominated Sephora U.S. and Amazon’s base-makeup rankings, achieving a surge of more than 55,000 percent in overseas sales within months. A company comment will be added. Clio followed in January 2024 by expanding its Kill Cover foundation range to 20 shades, introducing newly developed darker tones to appeal to a broader spectrum of global consumers. The company strengthened its presence on TikTok and Amazon while accelerating entry into U.S. and U.K. retail channels. Clio recorded 430.5 billion won in revenue in 2024, up 25.7 percent from the previous year. Overseas sales rose 22 percent in the first half to 84 billion won, while domestic revenue increased 17 percent to 101.5 billion won. The momentum from these shade expansions has also reshaped Korea’s manufacturing base. Major OEM and ODM producers including Cosmax and Kolmar Korea have intensified pigment-development research to meet demand for darker shades and customized tones, reflecting global trends in multi-ethnic cosmetic science. “Korean cushion foundations are known for their outstanding quality. When I visited Korea in 2019, I planned on buying one but was disappointed because the shades were far too pale for my skin,” said Jenny Kim, a 30-year-old from Utah. “Now that the brands have expanded their shade range, I can finally use them.” Influencers such as Miss Darcei and Suellen Gomes, prominent among Black and Latinx audiences, have praised Korean brands for finally offering tones that match their skin. Hashtags including #TIRTIR and #Kbeautydiversity have gone viral across TikTok and YouTube as deeper-shade users share surprised reactions and before-and-after videos. The rise of inclusive Korean foundations did not happen overnight. K-beauty’s double-digit market share in the United States and Europe reflects years of experimentation, reformulation, and persistence by Korean brands determined to meet the expectations of global consumers. “The widening shade spectrum of Korean beauty brands appears to be having a significant impact on exports,” said an official at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. While Western giants such as Fenty Beauty and MAC still lead with 50 to 60 shades respectively, Korean brands are narrowing the gap with surprising speed. TIRTIR now offers 40 shades globally, followed by Clio’s 20, while brands such as Hera and Laka provide fewer than ten. The shift marks a major philosophical transition in K-beauty: a move away from exporting a single, bright-skin ideal toward embracing a more universal, consumer-driven approach that recognizes skin tone diversity as a core part of global beauty culture. 2025-11-04 18:02:44 -
Kazakhstan goes all-in on AI in bid to emerge as regional leader ASTANA, November 03 (AJP) - Soviet-era government buildings in Kazakhstan’s capital now hum with modern servers and fiber-optic cables as the Central Asian nation pushes to reposition itself as the region’s leading digital economy. The country of 20 million has already emerged as a GovTech leader, ranking 24th globally in the UN’s e-Government Development Index and 10th in online services. It is now doubling down with an expansive AI strategy built on supercomputing infrastructure, hyperscale datacenters and an unusual pitch to global investors: partnership without geopolitical complications. “We’re not just building infrastructure. We’re building a national AI platform that gives every government agency access to the same tools, from large language models to 120 government databases,” Dmitriy Mun, Vice Minister of AI and Digital Development, told AJP in an exclusive interview. Kazakhstan’s digital overhaul has been decades in the making. Mun noted that the country has more than 25 years of experience in GovTech, beginning with physical service centers, then digitization, then mobile platforms. By the time COVID hit, the foundation was in place for a major shift toward digital public services. A key breakthrough came with the Smart Bridge platform, a marketplace for government APIs that allows private banks and companies to tap directly into state databases. Its people can access government services through private banking apps, with cashless payments accounting for 85 percent of transactions. The eGov mobile app has 11 million users — 96 percent of the adult population — accessing more than 1,000 services without visiting an office. Kazakhstan launched its National AI Platform in December 2024. The platform has signed 43 use cases across government, with 10 already implemented and a roadmap for 50 AI agents. An AI assistant called eGov AI has handled more than 800,000 user requests in four months. Another agent, e-Otinish AI, processes 160,000 of the country’s 4 million annual citizen appeals across 15 agencies. Qazaq Law answers legal questions with 86 percent accuracy, and a reengineering assistant helps civil servants identify regulatory changes needed to streamline procedures. The Smart Data Ukimet platform aggregates data from over 120 state databases, powering the Digital Family Card, which tracks 6 million families and delivers 4 million proactive public services automatically. Kazakhstan’s AI ambitions depend heavily on access to compute. The country operates a supercomputer built on 63 NVIDIA H200 GPUs under the ALEM.AI initiative. Securing the hardware required extended conversations with the United States beginning in 2023, Mun said, given Kazakhstan’s proximity to China and Russia. The country initially considered working with Groq but pivoted when the startup moved to an API-only model. A second NVIDIA-based system with 62 GPUs now serves Samruk-Kazyna, the state holding company, and a third supercomputer is planned for universities. Kazakhstan treats high-grade compute as a strategic asset, offering tax exemptions and preferential customs treatment. Mun said the resource-rich country's biggest constraint is not capital but talent. “We really need new talents who understand both AI and the processes in their field. I need experts in AI in oil, AI in logistics. I need to mix knowledge with AI.” Kazakhstan plans to train one million people in AI over the next three to four years. Nineteen universities are establishing AI faculties that combine technology with sector-specific majors, with students paired with industry partners. Primary schools are also introducing AI curricula. Datacenter capacity is expanding rapidly. Kazakhstan plans to build 200 megawatts of capacity with $1.5 billion in investment between 2025 and 2030, with more than four projects already underway. Special Economic Zones offer zero VAT, corporate tax exemptions and customs-duty waivers to attract hyperscale operators. The cloud services market has grown to $110 million as of late 2024. South Korea has emerged as a key partner in Kazakhstan’s digital push. Officials say the two countries already have five years of experience in data management cooperation, with ongoing projects ranging from speech detection tools to the Maui City smart-city initiative. Mun said he hopes to strengthen partnerships in datacenter construction, smart-city pilots in Astana and Almaty, and joint education programs. “What I would like to learn more about is smart cities in Korea — flying taxis, air taxis,” he said. Asked which sectors stand to gain the fastest from AI adoption, Mun cited agriculture, oil, mining and logistics. Samruk-Kazyna has already developed an AI agent roadmap across these areas. “We are in the top ten in the OECD online services index. We have the most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia. We have strong AI talent — Higgsfield AI, a Kazakh startup, recently became a unicorn. We have special economic zones with tax benefits,” he said. “Kazakhstan offers opportunity and stability. We are strategically located between Europe, China and South Asia. Major hyperscale projects are underway.” The scale of activity reflects that ambition: hyperscale datacenters under construction, AI agents processing millions of citizen queries, universities rolling out AI programs and the government treating compute capacity as a national strategic priority. Whether Kazakhstan successfully establishes itself as Central Asia’s digital hub remains uncertain, but with $1.5 billion committed to datacenter infrastructure and NVIDIA-powered supercomputers already in operation, the country is placing a determined bet on AI-driven transformation. 2025-11-03 17:24:42 -
Kazakhstan eyes Korean investment for AI-driven smart city, industrial growth ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 01 (AJP) - Kazakhstan is courting South Korean investment for its next phase of industrial and digital transformation, including an AI-centered smart city project and new transport initiatives, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov said Thursday. Speaking at a briefing held at The Hilton Hotel ahead of the Kazakhstan Global Investment Round (KGIR) in Astana, Kuantyrov said the two countries share common goals in digitalization and artificial intelligence, and that a new project — the city of Alatau — will anchor future cooperation. “One of the largest projects specifically targeting South Korea is the new city of Alatau — it’s more than just a city, it’s a special economic zone,” Kuantyrov said. “It will be an artificial-intelligence-centered city, fully digitalized, and we expect significant Korean investment to flow there,” he added. The Alatau project near Almaty is envisioned as a “smart zone” built from the ground up, following a Seoul business forum led by Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister earlier this year. Kuantyrov also highlighted Kia Corporation’s plant in Kostanay, which produces about 90,000 vehicles annually, calling it one of South Korea’s most significant overseas investments. He noted that South Korea ranks among Kazakhstan’s top five investors, alongside the Netherlands and the United States, and mentioned the country’s ethnic Korean community, which migrated to Central Asia in the 1930s and now serves as a “natural bridge” between the two economies. Madiyar Sultanbek, deputy chairman of Kazakh Invest, said cooperation with Korean companies is expanding into advanced mobility and infrastructure, including urban air mobility and magnetic-levitation railway projects connecting Almaty and Konaev. “We have a long history with Korean investors — from Lotte’s Rakhat chocolate factory to LG, Hyundai, and Samsung — and we’re now entering a new phase in areas like maglev and smart mobility,” he said. He added that Kazakhstan maintains several official investment partnerships in South Korea, with a dedicated representative based in Seoul. The government aims to attract technology-driven investment while doubling exports and raising the share of processed goods to 70 percent of total exports. Officials at the briefing also pointed to Kazakhstan’s growing interest in AI applications across industry and governance, noting examples such as AI-assisted locomotives that improve energy efficiency and digital tools used in government decision-making. “AI will reshape how we manage both the public and private sectors,” Kuantyrov said. “It’s not about replacing people but improving efficiency and creating new industries.” As Kazakhstan positions itself as Central Asia’s financial and logistics hub — accounting for nearly half of all foreign investment in the region — officials said the next wave of cooperation with South Korea would focus on green mobility, smart infrastructure, and AI innovation. 2025-11-01 10:27:36 -
K-fashion joins APEC sponsorship as young labels expand global reach SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Breaking into the global mainstream has long been a challenge for Korean fashion labels. Yet the rise of social media—coupled with the global influence of K-pop stars and K-dramas—has propelled a new wave of brands such as Matin Kim and platforms like Musinsa to the forefront of the international fashion scene, celebrated for their blend of style, affordability, and authenticity. Matin Kim, which this month made its debut on Amazon following successful offline launches in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, has been invited as an official merchandise partner for this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. It marks the first time a fashion label has joined heavyweight corporate names such as Samsung Electronics as an APEC sponsor—symbolizing K-fashion’s elevation from niche trend to cultural emblem. “Matin Kim’s inclusion as an APEC corporate partner proves that K-fashion is no longer just a trend—it’s a new cultural code,” said brand operator HAGO HAUS in a statement. Founded in 2015 by then 23-year-old blogger-turned-designer Kim Dain, Matin Kim began as a blog shop reselling clothes from Seoul’s Dongdaemun market with less than 30,000 won in capital. By harnessing real-time online feedback, the brand pivoted to original design production in 2016 and incorporated as a company in 2018. It quickly went viral among Gen Z consumers for its minimalist, wearable designs. A 2021 investment from fashion venture firm HAGO LNF allowed Matin Kim to systemize production and distribution, expanding into premium retail spaces such as The Hyundai and online through Musinsa, while also collaborating with Levi’s and Asics. Annual revenue surged from 5 billion won in 2019 to over 100 billion won by 2024. Musinsa, the e-commerce platform that discovered and incubated emerging Korean labels including Matin Kim, has itself evolved into a global gateway for K-fashion. Cross-border transactions in Japan jumped more than 120 percent this year, with growing demand also from the United States and Southeast Asia. The platform now hosts more than 400 domestic designer brands and ships to over 200 countries. Still, whether K-fashion can match the resilience of established designer houses or withstand the volatility of fast-fashion consumers remains uncertain. Most Korean brands operate on limited production cycles and rely heavily on domestic logistics, making it difficult to compete with European luxury groups on scale or pricing. Ultimately, Matin Kim’s APEC debut and Musinsa’s overseas momentum will test whether K-fashion can translate cultural buzz into sustained economic influence and build long-term global retail and production networks. 2025-10-27 17:22:03 -
SK hynix, Samsung cash in on supercycle with stocks in record-setting rally SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Korea’s memory titans Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are reaping record windfalls from a red-hot chip market driven by the transition to higher-performance memory that underpins the digital and automation era — yet both remain cautious about expanding production for fear of another abrupt downturn. Investors show little concern for now, pushing both stocks to fresh highs. The combined market capitalization of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix topped 1,000 trillion won ($700 billion) for the first time on Friday. Samsung’s market value reached 584.2 trillion won (plus 64 trillion won in preferred shares), while SK hynix climbed to 370.9 trillion won in morning trading. The demand surge is straining supplies not only of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — essential for AI servers, data centers, and GPUs — but also of mass-market DRAM used in PCs, laptops, and smartphones, as chipmakers redirect wafer capacity toward HBM and other high-margin products. Spot prices for mainstream DDR4 8Gb DRAM jumped to $7.30 this week, up 265 percent from April and the highest since October 2018, according to DRAMeXchange. UBS expects contract prices to rise 10–17 percent in the fourth quarter, while TrendForce projects an 8–13 percent gain in standard DRAM, widening to 13–18 percent when HBM products are included. Unlike past inventory-driven booms, ongoing supply crunch is structural. SK hynix has devoted most of its advanced process capacity to HBM production for Nvidia and other AI chipmakers, while Samsung continues to ramp up 2-nanometer HBM output to improve yields. Because HBM stacks multiple chips vertically, wafer throughput is less than half that of traditional DRAM, tightening legacy supply. While many investors see the sustained HBM shortage as fueling the next memory supercycle, some analysts warn the picture is more nuanced. “HBM supply has actually caught up with demand, and prices are softening,” said Song Myoung-seob, analyst at iM Securities. “What’s tight is conventional DRAM — production has been shifted to HBM, and server makers are rushing to stock up inventory ahead of possible tariff changes.” Song estimates global memory demand will expand 19.5 percent this year, outpacing an estimated 18.2 percent increase in supply. He added that Micron faces setbacks in server-grade DDR5, further constraining availability. Analysts say the DRAM-HBM cycle could extend into the first half of 2026 if AI server build-outs and enterprise upgrades persist. But others caution that rapid fab expansions in Korea, the United States, and Taiwan could spark a correction if demand falters. Either way, Samsung and SK hynix face the delicate task of balancing short-term windfalls with longer-term capacity discipline in a market moving faster than ever. 2025-10-24 15:47:52 -
AI to become staple in Korean homes, KES 2025 suggests with latest innovations SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a fixture in Korean households — helping the elderly and pets at home alone, while taking charge of chores from washing clothes to preparing meals — according to the latest innovations unveiled at this year’s Korea Electronics Show (KES 2025). From refrigerators and TVs to air conditioners and cleaning robots, Korea's household appliance brands Samsung and LG Electronics demonstrated that AI has become the foundation of product design rather than an optional feature. The shift signals how Korean manufacturers are positioning themselves ahead of CES 2025 — not through radical new hardware, but through everyday devices that can sense, decide, and respond autonomously. Samsung focused on what it called “family and pet care AI.” A company official said the next wave of consumer electronics is designed to support aging households and enable remote caregiving. Once granted access, smartphones and home appliances can be linked to monitor elderly parents living alone. If no activity is detected for a prolonged period, the AI system automatically sends alerts to designated caregivers and enables remote status checks. For pet owners, Samsung showcased a robot vacuum with a built-in camera that allows users to monitor their pets in real time. Integrated into the SmartThings platform, the device can even play sounds or music that a pet prefers. “The goal is not simply cleaning automation,” the official said, “but providing emotional reassurance and daily care through AI and sensors when owners are away from home.” LG Electronics took a similar approach with its line of “proactive AI appliances.” These include washing machines that learn usage patterns, refrigerators that recommend restocking, and an AI home robot capable of mapping interior spaces and recognizing tone of voice. Both companies stressed that AI functions will soon be shared across smartphones, home appliances, and other devices under a unified ecosystem. With more than 550 companies and 1,300 booths, KES 2025 served less as a stage for experimental prototypes and more as a preview of how Korea intends to compete in the AI hardware era. While U.S. and Chinese tech giants race to develop foundation models and software ecosystems, Korean firms are betting the real contest will unfold in chips, sensors, and consumer devices — the everyday touchpoints where AI is actually used. Overseas visitors said the event offered a direct glimpse into the future of home AI. “I came from California to see where Korean home appliances and lifestyle trends are heading, and it was worth it — you can understand the direction of the industry in one place,” said Karen Smith, 35. 2025-10-23 18:13:56 -
LocknLock concludes global conference in Bangkok SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korean household goods company LocknLock held its annual global conference in Bangkok from Oct. 19 to 21, bringing together business partners from 24 countries. The conference at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel featured presentations on the company's 2026 vision and product plans, LocknLock said in a statement. Partners from Thailand's CP Group, Taiwan's C&J Forest, and Middle Eastern distributor Misbah presented sales and marketing strategies. Chief Executive Young-Sang Yi outlined the company's global expansion strategy during the event. Participants also visited a newly opened LocknLock store at Makro, a retail chain operated by CP Group. LocknLock has been hosting the conference since 2010 in various countries including Germany, Vietnam and China. The company manufactures food storage containers, beverageware, cookware and small appliances. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with CP Axtra, Thailand's largest retail group, in 2025 and partnered with Malaysian multi-level marketing company COSWAY. It also established a branch in India this year. LocknLock plans to expand into Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States region in 2026 while strengthening online sales channels in the United States, the company said. 2025-10-22 15:53:35 -
Next round in Samsung vs. Apple: Galaxy XR joins mixed-reality race SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics unveiled its first mixed-reality headset, the Galaxy XR, on Wednesday in South Korea and the United States, entering the spatial computing race as a more affordable alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro and a sleeker model than Meta’s Quest. Powered by Qualcomm chipset and Google’s Android XR platform as well as Gemini AI assistant, the Galaxy XR is priced at 2.69 million won ($1,800), about half the cost of the Apple Vision Pro launched earlier this year at $3,499, and roughly four times the price of Meta’s Quest 3 at $499. Samsung aims to position the device as an accessible yet high-spec option built on its strengths in chip, display, and ecosystem integration. The headset features dual 4K-level screens, eye- and hand-tracking sensors, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It supports multimodal AI input through voice, gaze, and gestures, powered by Google’s Gemini AI embedded into the device. Weighing 545 grams, it is slightly lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro at around 600 grams but heavier than Meta’s Quest 3. Samsung said it worked with Google to ensure native support for YouTube XR, Google Maps, Photos, and Play Store apps adapted for spatial use, and plans to release developer kits by the end of the year. Unlike Apple, which relies on its own silicon and software stack, Samsung partnered with Google and Qualcomm to build the Galaxy XR. Industry analysts say this approach could help speed up app availability but may limit Samsung’s control over the user experience and long-term software updates. “We have been working together at every layer—hardware, software, and how the product comes to market—as one team building a new platform and a new product,” said Juston Payne, director of XR management at Google. Apple’s Vision Pro uses dual 4K micro-OLED displays and its in-house M2 and R1 chips to process spatial video, hand tracking, and eye input, and supports more than 2,000 optimized apps as of September 2025. Meta’s Quest 3, while less powerful, leads global shipments with more than 20 million cumulative unit sales, thanks to its large gaming ecosystem and lower price point. According to industry tracker IDC, about 12 million headsets are expected to ship worldwide in 2025, with Meta holding over 50 percent of the market, followed by Apple at around 15 percent. Samsung has not disclosed shipment targets for the Galaxy XR. Analysts say the key test for Samsung will be whether it can extend XR applications beyond gaming and entertainment. The company has signed an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries to use XR for shipbuilding and engineering training and has conducted pilot programs in medical education. Demand for Apple’s Vision Pro remains largely confined to the United States and China, while Meta dominates the mass market but earns little profit from hardware sales. Samsung, by contrast, is targeting professional training, design collaboration, and industrial simulation as potential growth areas. The Galaxy XR will begin shipping in early 2026. Whether Samsung can challenge Apple’s dominance at the high end and build a profitable XR ecosystem will depend on app availability, battery performance, and whether consumers see headsets as daily-use devices rather than novelties. The initial response is lukewarm. “People already own phones, tablets, and laptops. I’m not sure it’s worth spending that much money on another device just yet,” said Kim Yeon-ji, 34. Another prospective buyer, Lee Jong-min, 35, said, “I’ve always wanted to try XR, and I’m curious about it. I plan to try it as soon as it becomes available.” 2025-10-22 15:44:37 -
Samsung fields stronger in-house chip-powered Galaxy to counter AI iPhone hype SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is equipping half of its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup with its upgraded in-house processor, the Exynos 2600, to counter rising expectations for Apple’s AI-powered iPhone 17 series and to showcase renewed confidence in its AI chipset design and manufacturing capabilities. The tech giant said the new Exynos delivers more than six times the neural processing power of Apple’s latest A-series chip. The move marks the first time in four years that Samsung is mounting its own application processor on its flagship Galaxy S series, a sign of confidence in both hardware design and software integration. The decision comes as Apple’s tight hardware-software ecosystem and expanding AI investments have lifted its shares to record highs this year. Samsung has long split its premium phones between its Exynos and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors by region. However, earlier overheating and performance issues led the company to exclude Exynos from its Ultra models after 2021. Under the new strategy, Galaxy S26 units sold in Korea and Europe will use the latest Exynos chip, while models shipped to the United States, Japan, and other markets will continue to rely on Snapdragon. The reinstatement reflects Samsung’s confidence in resolving the long-standing issues surrounding its application processor — the “brain” of a smartphone — while also improving profitability. The company spent nearly 10 billion dollars on external AP purchases last year, and analysts note that bringing production back in-house could strengthen margins and ecosystem control. Daishin Securities analyst Ryu Hyung-geun said the Exynos 2600, designed for the Galaxy S26, is Samsung’s first 2-nanometer mobile processor and has shown stronger early-stage performance than its 3-nanometer predecessor. “If the performance was really a problem, Samsung would have no reason to choose it,” countered Kim Yongdae, professor of electrical engineering at KAIST. Samsung’s mobile division, known as MX, reported revenue of 29.2 trillion won and operating profit of 3.1 trillion won in the second quarter of 2025, down from 36 trillion won and 4.1 trillion won in the previous quarter, which had been boosted by Galaxy S25 sales. Third-quarter revenue is projected at around 33 to 34 trillion won, with profit near 3 trillion won, supported by solid demand for the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and higher-end AI-enabled smartphones. Samsung commanded about 19.7 percent of the global top-tier smartphone market in the second quarter, shipping 58 million units — up 7.9 percent from a year earlier — while Apple accounted for roughly 15.7 percent with 46.4 million iPhones, a 1.5 percent increase. In the third quarter, Samsung retained a narrow lead with a 19 percent market share versus Apple’s 18 percent. Sales of Samsung’s flagship devices also improved. The Galaxy S25 series sold about 22.7 million units in the first six months after launch, up 12 percent from 20.8 million for the Galaxy S24 during the same period a year earlier. Domestic sales in Korea surpassed 3 million units, two months faster than the S24. Consumers largely await in suspicion. “The Exynos has always been seen as weaker than Snapdragon, and now they’re putting it even in the Ultra model — that makes no sense,” said Kevin Park, a 33-year-old Galaxy user in Seoul. Built with Samsung’s latest nanometer process, the Exynos 2600 integrates a next-generation neural processing unit for running language models, live translation, and image generation directly on-device without a network connection. Apple is expected to introduce similar AI capabilities through its A18 chip in the iPhone 17 lineup next year. Analysts say on-device AI has become a key differentiator in the smartphone industry, as privacy concerns and cloud costs drive companies to process more data locally. Still, they caution that Samsung must prove its ability to manage heat, battery efficiency, and performance parity with Snapdragon-based models to avoid a repeat of past criticism in Europe and Asia. Globally, tech companies are pursuing chip sovereignty to guard against supply disruptions. Apple designs its A- and M-series chips, Google uses its Tensor processors, and Huawei has revived its Kirin lineup despite U.S. sanctions. Governments in South Korea, China, and the United States are all promoting semiconductor self-reliance, reinforcing the trend. Samsung has yet to disclose shipment targets for Exynos-powered Galaxy S26 devices. Suppliers say production will begin in November, with an official launch expected in early 2025. Whether the shift boosts profitability or revives old controversies will depend on how consumers judge its AI capabilities against Apple’s next-generation iPhones. 2025-10-21 17:54:47 -
Korea's winter street snacks evolve from local comforts to global favorites SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korean street food gyeran-ppang — literally “egg bread” — has joined the ranks of the French baguette and Montreal bagel on CNN’s list of “50 of the World’s Best Breads,” underscoring how globalized and inventive Korean street food has become. “There’s buried treasure within every loaf of gyeran-ppang,” CNN wrote. “Individually sized wheat breads with a whole egg baked inside are among Seoul’s favorite choices for a hot breakfast or a belly-warming snack on a cold winter day.” The network quoted bread historian William Rubel, who noted that bread is “basically what your culture says it is.” Eggs are a relative newcomer among Korea’s long-cherished “buried treasures” in flour-based winter snacks. The fish-shaped bungeo-ppang, traditionally filled with red bean paste, has expanded far beyond food carts to convenience-store shelves, now offered with custard or cream fillings and earning global fame through social media. At Seoul’s Gwangjang and Namdaemun markets, vendors still pour batter into iron molds and hand over steaming cakes wrapped in thin paper. Yet the menus continue to evolve — now featuring truffle gyeran-ppang, mozzarella-filled hotteok, and matcha-cream kkwabaegi (twisted doughnuts). “Kkwabaegi is fantastic — it’s like a Korean churro mixed with a bit of funnel cake,” said Alec Miller, 25, from Detroit, while savoring the treat after waiting in line. Hotteok, literally sell like “hot cakes” to tourists exploring Korea’s winter streets. The evolution of Korean street snacks goes beyond ingredients. Major convenience-store chains like CU and GS25 now sell boxed bungeo-ppang, microwaveable mini hotteok, and piping-hot hoppang (steamed buns) at checkout counters each winter. These buns — stuffed with red bean, pizza, kimchi, or vegetable fillings — have become a beloved seasonal indulgence. “When the weather gets cold, my friends and I head straight to convenience stores for winter treats, especially steamed buns,” said Seoul resident Hyezi Lee, 30. “The red bean ones are the classic, but these days, the pizza flavor is another favorite.” Some nostalgic treats, however, are harder to find. Ppeongtwigi, a puffed rice snack once announced by its signature “ppeong!” explosion in traditional markets, now lives on mainly through retro-themed cafés and television dramas. “We have a saying in Korea — it’s inhuman to ignore the smell of Delimajoo, a custard-filled, corn-shaped dessert,” said Lee Ji-hyun, 32. “I can never pass it by when I smell it in the subway.” “Before coming to Korea, foreigners often check a ‘list of things to do,’ and most of it involves eating,” said Pharaba Hacker from Los Angeles. “From savory dishes to desserts, everything is mind-blowing — Korea’s food culture is so unique and full of surprises.” 2025-10-20 17:05:39