Journalist
Candice Kim, Lim Jaeho
candicekim1121@ajupress.com, ajupresswogh@ajupress.com
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GS Retail launches AI-assisted feature to help customers shop for alcoholic beverages SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - GS Retail, the operator of convenience store chain GS25, has launched a new feature that allows customers to identify wines and other alcoholic beverages simply by photographing them without the need to scan QR codes or barcodes. Since last week, the artificial intelligence-assisted feature is available on its mobile app Wooridongne's Wine25Plus. It can recognize and provide information on approximately 10,000 types of alcoholic beverages such as wines and whiskey as well as traditional Korean liquors, Japanese rice wine (sake) and Chinese baijiu. Customers just need to take photos of products and upload them to access detailed information and real-time reviews, making shopping easier, especially for those who find it difficult to distinguish between brands and varieties in liquor stores. GS Retail said its Wine25Plus online store currently handles an average of 9,000 alcohol-related searches daily, demonstrating strong demand for the feature. A GS Retail spokesperson told AJP on Friday, "We went through rigorous testing to enhance searches and improve accuracy ahead of the feature's launch," adding that even foreigners can use the service after downloading the app and completing some verification procedures. Users who order products through the app can also pick them up at their nearest GS25 convenience stores nationwide. "I believe the latest feature makes shopping even more convenient for customers," said Seo Dong-woo, head of GS Retail's Platform DX division, adding that the company plans to continue expanding AI-powered services. 2025-07-04 17:35:24 -
Chinese tech giant Tencent unveils massive investment plans to boost cloud business in South Korea SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - Chinese tech giant Tencent aims to boost investment and hiring to expand its presence here, as it considers South Korea a key strategic market. During an interview in central Seoul earlier this week, general manager Nicky Fang of Tencent Cloud, a cloud computing service arm, unveiled the company's ambitious plans to further accelerate its business here, with a focus on gaming, e-commerce, and entertainment. In particular, it seeks to leverage its expertise in the entertainment industry including online video streaming to compete with global archrivals and other competitors. Since making an inroad into South Korea in 2018, Tencent Cloud currently operates two availability zones (AZs) in Seoul, in addition to offering exabyte-level storage across 56 availability zones in 21 regions globally. Fang particularly emphasized the company's "irreplaceable strength" in the entertainment industry, citing its WeChat messaging platform with over 1.4 billion users and its strong presence in the gaming sector, which sets it apart from other cloud-service competitors. South Korea's cloud business market has been dominated by the big three global players, with Amazon Web Services holding a lion's share of 60.2 percent, followed by Microsoft Azure at 24 percent and Google Cloud at 19.9 percent, according to a 2023 survey by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Specific figures for Tencent Cloud's market presence in South Korea are not readily available due to its recent entry here. Tencent Cloud's latest expansion plans come after another Chinese giant, Alibaba Cloud, opened its second data center in Seoul last month, about three years after its first one in 2022. Welcoming what could be a heated competition with Alibaba Cloud, Fang said, "Alibaba Cloud's addition of another data center in South Korea proves that our strategy of prioritizing the South Korean market was correct." He vowed the company aims to achieve double-digit annual growth but declined to provide details on sales revenues. 2025-07-04 17:00:35 -
Empyrion Digital opens first new Gangnam data center in over a decade SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - Singapore-based Empyrion Digital officially opened its KR1 Gangnam Data Centre on Wednesday, marking the first new data center development in Seoul's Gangnam district in more than 10 years. The 29.4 megawatt IT load facility, located in Seocho District, spans 30,714 square meters and represents the company's second operational asset in Asia following its 2021 acquisition of SG1 Dodid in Singapore. Singapore Ambassador to South Korea H.E. Eric Teo, Seocho District Vice Mayor Jung Young-jun, and other business leaders attended the opening ceremony. The facility is designed to support hyperscaler and enterprise customers requiring high-density infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cloud computing applications, with each rack capable of handling up to 140 kilowatts of AI workloads. "KR1 GDC is launched at a time when demand for high-quality, power-secured facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area far exceeds supply," said Mark Fong, chief executive of Empyrion Digital. "With South Korea advancing its goal to become a global AI powerhouse, KR1 GDC reflects Empyrion Digital's foresight and execution in addressing this infrastructure gap." The data center features advanced cooling technologies and green design principles, with a Power Usage Effectiveness rating of 1.3. The facility includes seven data halls across floors two through eight, with ceiling heights of seven meters for floors one through six and eight meters for floors seven and eight. The building can provision up to 40 megawatts of power, with 25.4 megawatts available for IT devices. Chief Strategy Officer Choi Yong-seok explained the strategic location choice, saying “our data center is located in the region where network connectivity is ensured in its maximum” and noted the facility is positioned just 500 meters from the Gyeongbu Expressway, which connects Seoul to the southern port city of Busan. Empyrion Digital is a portfolio company of Seraya Partners, an Asia-focused infrastructure fund managing 1.8 billion dollars in assets. The company received operational certification last Friday and is strategically positioned near major network connectivity points, including Sejong and Gasan, with direct access to national backbone networks via the nearby Yangjae-daero corridor. 2025-07-04 11:13:46 -
French AI firm Dataiku courts Korean enterprises SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - Dataiku, a French artificial intelligence platform company, unveiled its strategy to support South Korean businesses in adopting AI and accelerating digital transformation, during a press briefing in Seoul on Thursday. The company emphasized its growing partnerships with major Korean firms such as LG Chem and Nepes, highlighting its integrated platform’s flexibility and enterprise-grade security. The firm's co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Clément Sténac and Vice President of Platform Strategy Jed Dougherty outlined the firm's AI capabilities. “Our goal is to help organizations scale AI safely, transparently, and across all departments,” Sténac said. “AI is the core technology of the next industrial revolution, and we’re here to ensure that Korean companies can lead it.” Dataiku said its platform enables organizations to integrate AI across both multi-cloud and on-premises environments while preserving existing IT infrastructure. Dataiku’s presence in Korea is part of its broader global expansion. The company, which began in Paris and is now headquartered in New York, serves more than 700 customers worldwide — including over 220 Fortune 500 companies — through 13 international offices, the firm said. 2025-07-03 16:56:54 -
Korean power equipment makers expand in Europe SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - South Korean manufacturers of power infrastructure equipment are accelerating their push into European markets, seizing on surging demand for data center power systems and aging grid replacement across the continent. The expansion comes amid growing European concerns over energy security and infrastructure resilience. A series of recent power disruptions — including major blackouts in Spain and Portugal in April — coupled with intensifying summer heat waves have underscored vulnerabilities in Europe’s aging electrical networks. On June 29, HD Hyundai Electric signed a supply agreement with Bulk Infrastructure, a Norwegian data and telecommunications company. The agreement grants Hyundai Electric preferred bidding rights on high-voltage transformers and circuit breakers for Bulk’s future data center projects. The deal builds on an earlier contract signed in June 2024 to deliver two 400-kilovolt ultra-high voltage transformers for a Norwegian data center project scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026, Hyundai Electric officials said Thursday. Hyundai Electric has also ramped up its role in Europe’s broader grid modernization efforts, which are being driven by the continent’s accelerating transition to renewable energy. In May, the company won a contract to supply four 400kV transformers to SP Energy Networks in Scotland, followed by a 40 billion won (approximately $29 million) deal in June to provide equipment to Denmark’s state-owned utility, Energinet. Both contracts support infrastructure upgrades needed to accommodate rising solar and wind power generation. Hyosung Heavy Industries, another major South Korean player, is also expanding its European footprint. In May, the company signed an 85 billion won contract with Scottish Power to supply ultra-high voltage transformers designed to transmit electricity from wind farms in rural Scotland to population centers. Hyosung became the first South Korean firm to supply transformers to German transmission operators in the first quarter of this year, following earlier contract wins in France, Germany, Norway and Spain. 2025-07-03 16:49:35 -
Shilla Duty Free, Paradise City partner to attract foreign tourists SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - Shilla Duty Free has joined forces with Paradise City, a major integrated resort and casino complex, to launch a collaborative marketing campaign aimed at boosting foreign tourist traffic, the companies announced Wednesday. The agreement outlines a strategic partnership that will combine the two companies’ strengths in duty-free retail and hospitality to enhance services for international visitors. As part of the arrangement, Shilla Duty Free will offer exclusive promotions tied to Paradise City experiences, while Paradise City will provide access to Shilla Duty Free benefits for foreign tourists visiting its resort. The initiative includes a series of perks for Paradise Casino members, who will be eligible for upgraded Shilla Duty Free memberships, prepaid cards redeemable in stores, and discount vouchers. Depending on casino membership status, benefits will extend up to Shilla’s highest-tier “black” membership. 2025-07-02 16:30:47 -
Musinsa to sell fashion, beauty products targeting young consumers at GS25 stores SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korean fashion platform Musinsa is expanding its collaboration with GS25, one of the country’s largest convenience store chains, introducing a new lineup of summer apparel and debuting its first beauty products at retail locations nationwide, the company announced Wednesday. The partnership extension includes five new items from the Musinsa Standard Express collection — the company’s casual sub-label tailored for retail distribution — and marks the launch of Little Whizzy, a new beauty line under Musinsa’s youth-focused cosmetics brand Whizzy. Musinsa said it will roll out two new Cool Standard T-shirts, along with three styles of summer shorts — nylon banding, basketball sweat, and boxer-fit — designed to emphasize comfort and breathability during Korea’s hot season. The latest collection will be available at 5,000 GS25 stores beginning in July, expanding from the 3,000 locations that carried the initial March release. Purchasers will also be eligible to receive randomly issued discount coupons, some offering up to 90 percent off. The collaboration is now moving beyond fashion with the debut of Little Whizzy, a compact beauty line priced at 3,000 won (approximately $2.15) per item. The launch includes seven lip and eyeshadow products, such as “Bouncy Gloss” tints designed for vivid color and high shine, and pocket-sized two-tone eyeshadow duos intended for everyday portability — a feature designed to resonate with younger, on-the-go consumers. Musinsa, best known for its online streetwear and fashion marketplace, has been increasingly exploring offline and cross-sector strategies to engage younger audiences. 2025-07-02 16:24:36 -
Inflation hits five-month high in South Korea as food prices climb SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer inflation edged higher in June, returning to the 2 percent range after a brief dip, as rising food and seafood prices fueled by warming ocean temperatures drove costs upward, government data showed Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.2 percent year-on-year, up from 1.9 percent in May, according to Statistics Korea. The index reached 116.31, based on 2020 prices set at 100 — the fastest rate of inflation since January. Processed food prices led the acceleration, jumping 4.6 percent from a year earlier, the highest since November 2023. The category alone contributed 0.39 percentage points to headline inflation. Among the standouts: bread rose 6.4 percent, coffee surged 12.4 percent, and ham and bacon were up 8.1 percent. Instant noodles — the subject of political scrutiny after recent presidential comments — climbed 6.9 percent, the steepest rise since September last year. Seafood prices also spiked, rising 7.4 percent year-on-year, the sharpest increase since March 2023. Mackerel soared 16.1 percent, croaker rose 10.6 percent, and squid gained 6.3 percent — trends attributed in part to changing ocean conditions driven by climate change. The Ministry of Economy and Finance reiterated its commitment to managing price pressures, pointing to heightened weather-related risks and volatile international energy markets. Officials said they would continue discount programs for agricultural and fishery goods and maintain tariff quotas on key food imports. As part of a broader 46 billion won price stabilization package announced last month, the government has expanded summer cabbage reserves from 23,000 tons to 36,000 tons and will introduce new quota tariffs covering 10,000 tons of mackerel between July and December. 2025-07-02 14:24:54 -
President Lee names key Cabinet picks, tapping bureaucratic, political veterans SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Sunday unveiled a slate of high-profile cabinet nominees, selecting experienced bureaucrats and longtime political allies to lead his administration through a pivotal early phase. The appointments include key posts overseeing the economy, judicial reform, education, and national safety. Koo Yun-cheol, a veteran technocrat and former chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, was tapped as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. Koo is expected to play a central role in steering the administration’s economic strategy. Lee also nominated five-term Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho, a longtime confidant, as Minister of Justice. Jeong is slated to lead the administration’s efforts on judicial and prosecutorial reform, one of Lee’s central campaign pledges. Another five-term Democratic Party veteran, lawmaker Yun Ho-jung, was named Minister of the Interior and Safety. Yun, who served as chief strategist for Lee’s presidential campaign, will oversee the government’s broad restructuring of the nation’s investigative agencies, including the police. The nominations reflect Lee’s reliance on trusted political allies and career officials with deep administrative experience. Jeong, in particular, is seen as one of Lee’s closest associates, having supported him since his initial presidential bid in 2017. Despite representing the conservative-leaning northern Gyeonggi constituencies of Dongducheon, Yangju, and Yeoncheon, Jeong has secured five consecutive terms, signaling strong local support and bipartisan credibility. He also served as chair of the talent recruitment committee for Lee’s campaign, helping shape the framework for the new cabinet and presidential office appointments. Yun, who represents Guri in Gyeonggi Province, similarly brings longstanding loyalty to the administration, having directed Lee’s campaign operations throughout the race. For education minister and deputy prime minister, Lee nominated Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University. She is expected to helm efforts to modernize South Korea’s education system amid demographic decline and rising concerns over academic inequality. Kim Jung-kwan, president of Doosan Enerbility, was named Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. Jeong Eun-kyeong, the former commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, was nominated as Minister of Health and Welfare. Jeong gained national recognition during the Moon Jae-in administration for her leading role in South Korea’s COVID-19 response. As part of the announcement, former prosecutor Bong Wook was appointed as the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, and Jeon Seong-hwan was appointed as senior secretary to the president for public engagement and social cohesion. 2025-06-29 16:26:56 -
Loan cap in South Korea risks deepening housing inequality SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - A sweeping new lending regulation which took effect Friday is shaking South Korea’s housing market, drawing mixed reactions from economists and homebuyers alike. The rule, which caps home mortgage loans at 600 million won (approximately $430,000), is intended to curb speculative buying and stabilize soaring home prices in Seoul. But critics warn it could further squeeze middle-class buyers out of the market. Under the new regulation, even high-income households that qualify for the maximum loan would still need at least 860 million won in cash to purchase an average apartment in Seoul, where prices now hover around 1.46 billion won. The measure effectively limits access to the city’s real estate market to wealthier individuals with significant liquidity. The policy is expected to affect more than 1.27 million households — roughly 74 percent of Seoul’s 1.71 million apartment units — according to government data. Until now, buyers in high-priced districts such as Gangnam and Seocho, where average apartment prices exceed 3 billion won, were allowed to borrow up to 50 percent of a property's value. That translated to loans of 1.5 billion won or more. Going forward, however, financing will be capped at just 600 million won, requiring buyers to bring upwards of 2.5 billion won in cash to secure a property. Analysts say the rule is likely to entrench existing inequality in the market, limiting entry to high-income professionals and so-called “cash-rich” buyers. “We’re seeing the emergence of a housing market that caters almost exclusively to the wealthy,” said one housing policy researcher in Seoul. “This could deepen socioeconomic divisions.” At the same time, there are growing concerns about a potential “exodus” of demand from central Seoul to outlying districts, including the greater Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, where housing is more affordable. While the regulation may suppress demand in the short term, some economists warn of a balloon effect, as buyers shift their focus to lower- and mid-priced areas in search of alternatives. In the immediate term, a slowdown in transactions across the capital region appears inevitable. The new policy also ties loan issuance to actual occupancy, further narrowing the pool of eligible buyers to end-users rather than investors or multiple-home owners. Some in the industry are sounding alarms about potential workarounds and unintended consequences. “There’s a high likelihood of people turning to secondary lenders or even illegal channels,” said a realtor in Seoul’s Banpo-dong. “As the rules tighten, so do the methods to evade them.” 2025-06-29 14:06:38