AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Shin Hye-an
  • AI startup Upstage acquires multi-platform company to diversify business
    AI startup Upstage acquires multi-platform company to diversify business SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence (AI)-related unicorn Upstage has acquired multi-platform company Timely, it said on Tuesday. The acquisition follows Upstage's earlier acquisition of AXZ, the operator of web portal Daum, as the startup seeks to secure generative AI capabilities and expand its reach across industries. Timely is a generative AI-powered solutions company that operates TimelyAI, formerly TimelyGPT, a platform that allows users to build AI agents for work without coding. The platform offers various solutions used by local governments, public agencies, and educational institutions by integrating AI functions needed for business tasks including generating images and videos and converting documents using various large language models. Upstage said it plans to expand its AI agent business by integrating its in-house large language model Solar into TimelyAI. It added that its earlier AXZ acquisition broadened channels for distributing its own AI models, and that Timely will help accelerate its AI ecosystem strategy by connecting more users. "The competition in the AI industry will be decided by how quickly and deeply models are deployed in real workplaces to get the job done," Upstage CEO Kim Sung-hoon said at a signing ceremony for the acquisition at its office in southern Seoul. He also expects that Timely's proven know-how, combined with Upstage's technology, will enable not only developers but anyone to implement customized work automation with AI. "With the collaboration of Upstage and Timely, the breadth and depth of real-world AI use in South Korea will take a leap forward," said Timely's CEO Kim Dae-hwan. "We will lead an era of easy-to-use AI agents so anyone can access all the AI they need in one place." 2026-06-09 10:25:27
  • LG CNS Signs Contract with Anthropic for Claude Implementation
    LG CNS Signs Contract with Anthropic for 'Claude' Implementation LG CNS is embarking on an artificial intelligence (AI) transformation with the introduction of Anthropic's 'Claude'. On June 9, LG CNS announced that it has signed a contract with Anthropic for the implementation of 'Claude Enterprise'. This initiative aims to drive innovation in AI transformation (AX) for domestic companies. Notably, this contract is structured as a comprehensive agreement applicable to all affiliates of the LG Group, with LG CNS planning to accelerate AX at the group level. Claude is a corporate AI model gaining traction in the global market, known for its advanced reasoning capabilities, robust security, and ability to handle lengthy documents. LG CNS has evaluated it as a model that supports AX by focusing on enhancing work efficiency through AI agents integrated with internal systems, coding, and collaboration. Through this contract, LG CNS will make Claude accessible to all employees. The company also plans to actively promote AI-driven productivity innovations across various tasks, supporting the entire process of implementing and utilizing Claude for both LG Group companies and external firms as it expands its AX business. In 2023, LG CNS made an equity investment in Anthropic through LG Technology Ventures. The partnership has continued with efforts to provide Claude in a form optimized for domestic corporate clients. Moving forward, LG CNS aims to deepen its collaboration with Anthropic to continuously enhance AX services tailored to corporate environments. Currently, LG CNS is applying various generative AI technologies internally, refining its customized AI utilization framework. In February, the company introduced enterprise services in collaboration with OpenAI and established a reseller partner agreement to support the domestic supply and operation of 'ChatGPT Enterprise'. A reseller partner is an official collaborator authorized to sell AI services in the market. Additionally, LG CNS is strengthening its multi-AI system by implementing various AIs based on the purpose and usage environment, including the recent contract for Claude. Kim Tae-hoon, Vice President of LG CNS's AI Cloud Business Division, stated, "Collaboration with Anthropic marks a significant opportunity to launch an AX innovation model optimized for the domestic corporate environment. We will actively support the AX transformation of domestic corporate clients by combining LG CNS's AX capabilities with Anthropic's AI technology." Choi Gi-young, head of Anthropic's Korea branch, expressed, "Through our collaboration with LG CNS, we expect domestic corporate clients to apply safer and more reliable AI in their actual work environments. We will actively cooperate to establish Claude as an AI platform that supports corporate productivity and innovation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 10:15:00
  • ITCEN Global Launches Open Innovation Program to Discover Global AI and Web3 Startups
    ITCEN Global Launches Open Innovation Program to Discover Global AI and Web3 Startups ITCEN Global is set to engage in strategic investments and collaborations with promising domestic startups based on its key subsidiaries, aiming to accelerate its entry into the global market. On June 9, ITCEN Global announced the launch of its open innovation program, "2026 ITCEN Open Innovation," which seeks to discover and nurture promising startups in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3. The program is co-hosted with the Draper Startup House Korea Center, a global accelerator network led by Silicon Valley venture investor Tim Draper. This initiative involves five core subsidiaries of ITCEN Group: ITCEN N Tech, ITCEN CTS, ITCEN Cloit, ITCEN PNS, and Credder. ITCEN Global plans to organically connect the business capabilities and infrastructure of its subsidiaries to collaborate on joint ventures with selected startups. It will also serve as a control tower to drive global expansion. Recently, ITCEN Group has been restructuring its business portfolio, moving away from a focus on system integration (SI) to developing its own solutions and services based on AI and Software as a Service (SaaS). By leveraging the innovative technology screening capabilities of Draper Startup House, ITCEN aims to quickly integrate external technologies into its operations and enhance its technological competitiveness in the global market. The final selection will include around ten startups, which will receive tailored investment reviews from ITCEN Global, along with opportunities for club deal investments through Draper Startup House. Additionally, they will benefit from a customized acceleration program designed to help them establish a foothold in the global market, as well as step-by-step proof of concept (PoC) projects with ITCEN Group subsidiaries to validate practical business opportunities. With this program, ITCEN Global aims to enhance its open innovation framework and accelerate the growth of the domestic startup ecosystem while building a global new business portfolio. An ITCEN Global representative stated, "ITCEN Global is the central axis driving the group's global expansion, providing a platform for domestic startups to leap onto the global stage in partnership with Draper Startup House's venture network. We will focus on creating technological and business synergies that resonate in the global market, beyond mere financial support, to deliver tangible results." Meanwhile, ITCEN Global has also been working with the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center to discover startups in next-generation technology fields such as AI, SaaS, and Web3. The TIPS public discovery program, "2026 Unicorn Bridge with ITCEN," received applications from 222 companies, an increase of about 18% compared to the previous year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 09:42:00
  • AhnLab Partners with Police to Enhance Malicious App Analysis to Combat Phishing Crimes
    AhnLab Partners with Police to Enhance Malicious App Analysis to Combat Phishing Crimes AhnLab announced on June 9 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Police Agency on June 8 to enhance responses to phishing crimes through advanced analysis of malicious apps. The signing ceremony took place at the Police Agency's Integrated Response Team for Telecommunications and Financial Fraud in Jongno, Seoul, with AhnLab CEO Kang Seok-kyun and Oh Chang-bae, head of the Police Agency's Integrated Response Team, among other officials in attendance. As malicious apps continue to be exploited as key tools in various cyber crimes, including voice phishing, AhnLab and the Police Agency plan to collaborate by linking relevant information and analytical capabilities to respond to crimes and prevent damage. AhnLab will analyze information on malicious apps collected by the Police Agency during investigations and identify key threat information, such as the command and control (C2) servers used by attackers, which will then be shared with the Police Agency. The Police will use this information to track the activities and infrastructure of attackers, enhancing their efforts to respond to and prevent phishing crimes. Additionally, AhnLab will integrate this malicious app information and analysis results into its free mobile security solution, V3 Mobile Security, to strengthen its protective capabilities against the latest threats. This will enable users to detect and block malicious apps used in phishing crimes more quickly and accurately, helping to prevent potential damage. Oh Chang-bae, head of the Police Agency's Integrated Response Team, stated, "As voice phishing methods continue to evolve through malicious apps, we expect AhnLab's threat analysis capabilities and response expertise to be of practical help in preventing phishing crimes. We will actively share resources and expertise between our two organizations to ensure public protection through close cooperation." AhnLab CEO Kang Seok-kyun remarked, "We will contribute to responding to and preventing phishing crimes based on our collaboration with the Police Agency, and we will work to enhance the overall level of cyber safety in society." In addition to this collaboration with the Police Agency on responding to public safety crimes, AhnLab is also continuing its efforts to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure in the public safety sector. In March, AhnLab signed an MOU with AI tech company Ellice Group for 'AI Data Center and Next-Generation Network Security Collaboration,' aiming to establish safe AI-based security standards for public institutions and private enterprises.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 09:24:00
  • Upstage Acquires AI Agent Platform Timely to Expand B2B Business
    Upstage Acquires AI Agent Platform 'Timely' to Expand B2B Business Upstage announced on June 9 that it has acquired Timely, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) multi-platform company. This acquisition follows Upstage's earlier purchase of AXZ, the operator of the portal Daum, as part of its strategy to expand its business scope in the business-to-business (B2B) sector by securing generative AI capabilities. The signing ceremony took place at Upstage's office in Gangnam, attended by the CEOs and key executives from both companies. Timely is a provider of integrated generative AI solutions. It operates the TimelyAI platform (formerly TimelyGPT), which allows users to build AI agents necessary for their work without any coding. Timely offers a range of AI functionalities based on various large language models (LLMs), including prompt generation, image and video creation, and document conversion. Its services are currently utilized by local governments and public and educational institutions, including the Seoul city waste management AI service 'SeoulAI Chat.' With this acquisition, Upstage plans to significantly expand its AI agent business using TimelyAI, which is equipped with Upstage's own LLM, 'Solar.' Previously, Upstage expanded its distribution channels for its own AI models through the acquisition of AXZ. By integrating Timely into its existing channels, Upstage aims to accelerate the spread of its AI ecosystem, connecting B2B industries with public, educational, and general users. Kim Sung-hoon, CEO of Upstage, stated, "The competition in the AI industry will hinge on how quickly and effectively models are deployed in real-world settings." He expressed optimism that the combination of Timely's deployment expertise, validated in public and educational sectors, and Upstage's technological capabilities would enable not only developers but anyone to implement customized work automation using AI. Timely aims to create a comprehensive AI workspace featuring real-time meeting transcription based on voice commands, document structure-based draft generation, and integration with internal systems. Upstage is expected to leverage the document processing capabilities of its Solar model in conjunction with Timely's workspace features to enter the B2B work automation market. Kim Dae-hwan, CEO of Timely, remarked, "The merger of Upstage and Timely will elevate the practical use and depth of the domestic AI industry to a new level. We aim to lead the era of easily accessible AI agents, allowing everyone to use all the AI they need in one place." Kim Sung-hoon added, "Through this merger, we will enhance the tangible effectiveness of AI for various general users, including businesses and institutions, and elevate the national AI competitiveness to a new height."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 09:06:00
  • Nexspace Hosts MapleStory Vibe Camp to Enable Game Development Without Coding
    Nexspace Hosts 'MapleStory Vibe Camp' to Enable Game Development Without Coding Nexspace, a blockchain subsidiary of Nexon, is hosting the 'MapleStory Vibe Camp' until June 29, allowing anyone to create games. As AI technology lowers the barriers to game development, the initiative aims to blur the lines between players and creators while fostering the Vibe Camp and MSU Space ecosystem. Participants will utilize official resources from the MapleStory universe and AI development tools. The Vibe Camp is conducted in collaboration with Verse8, an AI-based game development platform. It takes place in a dedicated area called the 'MapleStory Universe (MSU) Space.' Verse8 is working with domestic game companies to create an environment where the general public can develop blockchain games. At the Vibe Camp, participants can create and launch games using official assets from the MapleStory universe, including characters, monsters, items, and backgrounds, simply by entering natural language prompts. Nexspace has made it accessible for anyone who enjoys MapleStory, not just developers. This Vibe Camp marks the first official event for 'MSU 2.0,' launched by Nexspace to celebrate the first anniversary of the MapleStory universe service. Nexspace encourages participation by stating on the Vibe Camp website, "Whatever you create, the MapleStory IP is ready in the form of skills, characters, animations, world systems, and sounds. Just bring your ideas, not coding skills." According to Nexspace, the MapleStory universe has recorded over 150 million on-chain transactions to date, generating approximately 49.1 million NXPC (around $31 million) in ecosystem revenue. With MSU 2.0, Nexspace is building a platform ecosystem that organically connects IP-based creation, distribution, and monetization. To achieve this, it is integrating on-chain licensing and settlement infrastructure, AI-based production tools, and community participation structures into a single framework to lower the barriers to IP-based creation. The total prize pool is set at $60,000 (approximately 90 million won). Winners will receive NXPC tokens equivalent to the dollar amount at the time of distribution. NXPC is the native token of the MapleStory universe. Nexspace plans to offer benefits to outstanding projects that participate in the MapleStory universe ecosystem in the future. Hwang Sun-young, CEO of Nexspace, stated, "Over the past year, the MapleStory universe has proven that a large-scale game economy can operate successfully in an on-chain environment. Our next goal is to support more users in participating in the ecosystem-building process." Kevin Lee, CEO of Verse8, remarked, "For a long time, creating using major game IPs was largely restricted to professional studios and official partners. With MSU Space and AI technology, more creators can now easily utilize the MapleStory IP and quickly turn their ideas into reality."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 18:42:00
  • Naver and NVIDIA Formalize Global AI and Robotics Alliance
    Naver and NVIDIA Formalize Global AI and Robotics Alliance Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, announced a formal partnership with Naver to establish a global AI factory, focusing on three key areas: building frontier AI models, collaborating on AI cloud infrastructure, and developing a robotics-based future business environment. According to the IT industry on June 8, Huang visited Naver's headquarters in Seongnam at 3:45 PM, where he met with Lee Hae-jin, Chairman of Naver's Board, and CEO Choi Soo-yeon. The lobby of Naver 1784 was filled with employees eager to see Huang. Before his arrival, Lee and Choi waved to the gathered staff. The atmosphere heightened as the announcement of the agreement to jointly build a gigawatt-scale global AI factory was made. Upon Huang's arrival, Lee welcomed him with a hug. Following the greeting, Huang and Lee discussed future collaboration, including the establishment of the global AI factory. Huang stated, "The reason NVIDIA collaborates with many companies in Korea is that there are many excellent firms here. Naver's capabilities in software are remarkable. I believe Naver's software, cloud, and AI technologies are outstanding. In fact, NVIDIA and Naver jointly developed Korea's first AI model, which we are proud to say is world-class technology." In addition to the global AI factory project, NVIDIA and Naver will collaborate on building an open frontier AI model based on the Nemotron framework. They plan to develop robotic systems over the next decade to create a robotics-based future business environment. Huang remarked, "I saw a robot delivering iced coffee upstairs. In the future, a robot will come when called and deliver coffee. This is the vision of future businesses." He emphasized, "Dreams are becoming reality." Lee highlighted Naver's unique position in the AI factory landscape, stating, "We were the first company to introduce NVIDIA's GPUs to build a SuperPOD and have invested early in this area. Naver already operates its own data center. In the current market, Naver is the only company capable of meeting rising demand." He added, "A gigawatt-scale data center is enormous, and this is a significant opportunity for Naver. No other company has the experience and technology to undertake such a project." Huang also discussed the goals of the Nemotron alliance, stating, "The purpose of Nemotron is to expand the reach of AI and support areas that closed models cannot address. NVIDIA will combine its expertise in AI model development and frontier AI advancement with Naver to build top-tier frontier models. Naver will optimize and enhance these models for its cloud, robotics, and services." Recently, Naver became the first domestic company to join the 'NVIDIA Nemotron Alliance,' which includes 12 global AI firms such as MistralAI and Purplecity. Naver is accelerating the enhancement of 'HyperCLOVA X' by combining its own data and accumulated learning data with the joint technological development outcomes of Nemotron. Huang noted, "Korea is world-class in various fields, including manufacturing, heavy industry, electronics, and software. I want to emphasize that such a country is rare in the world. Naver is an excellent partner in AI and robotics. Together with Naver, NVIDIA will lead the world in AI and robotics partnerships." The collaboration with Naver aligns with NVIDIA's goal of expanding its AI infrastructure ecosystem across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Emphasizing sovereign AI, NVIDIA's direction aligns with Naver's capabilities in AI infrastructure. This alliance will enable Naver to build an AI data center four times the size of the current largest data center in the country, propelling it to a global scale. Naver will initially use its hyperscale data center in Sejong as a base to implement a phased roadmap for building gigawatt-scale infrastructure. The plan starts with 55 megawatts (MW) in the first half of next year, followed by 100 MW in the same year, and expanding to 200 MW by 2028 to meet global demand. Huang appeared on Naver's streaming platform 'Chijijik,' stating, "NVIDIA and Naver have collaborated based on a long-standing friendship. Naver is Korea's first cloud and AI company, and our partnership has been a treasured asset for me over the years." Meanwhile, Huang mentioned that during his visit to Korea, he was given the name 'K-Jensen' at an event held at Seoul National University.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 18:15:00
  • NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Visits Naver Headquarters, Emphasizes GPU Benefits
    NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Visits Naver Headquarters, Emphasizes GPU Benefits Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, visited Naver's 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, South Korea, on June 8, stating, "The more GPUs you have, the more you can work and the happier you can be." According to the IT industry, Huang arrived at the Naver headquarters at 3:45 PM, where he met with Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin and CEO Choi Soo-yeon. Upon arriving in the lobby, he warmly embraced Lee, marking their second meeting during Huang's visit, following their first encounter on June 5. Naver prepared a webtoon featuring Huang and Lee as characters, asking them to fill in the dialogue for the final scene. A Naver representative explained, "The short comic you are seeing is created by the authors of one of Naver Webtoon’s flagship works, 'Legendary Territory Designer.' The protagonist of today’s story is a young person with the honest dream of wanting to achieve both work and happiness. By chance, he meets two mentors, Lee Hae-jin and Jensen Huang, to seek their advice." Huang remarked, "It’s very difficult to create (the dialogue)," but he contributed the line, "The more GPUs you have, the more you can work and the happier you can be." Lee added his line, saying, "Happiness is like pork belly, and work is like perilla leaves. Wrap them together and enjoy them at once." He noted, "I recently had a gathering over pork belly, so that memory is still fresh. I believe there is a good way to have both work and happiness without separating them." Huang agreed, stating, "I concur. Both of us are working hard and are very happy."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 16:27:00
  • Navers 1784 Building Emerges as AI Infrastructure Hub, Attracting Global Leaders
    Naver's '1784' Building Emerges as AI Infrastructure Hub, Attracting Global Leaders Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is scheduled to visit Naver's '1784' building on the afternoon of June 8. This meeting marks his second engagement with Naver during his visit to South Korea, following a meeting with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo on the evening of June 5. The Naver '1784' building serves as a space where the company's robotics, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and cloud technologies are implemented in a real work environment. It has been utilized by global leaders and foreign dignitaries to assess Naver's AI infrastructure capabilities. Notably, it has been a focal point for discussions on smart city and digital twin collaborations in the Middle East from 2022 to 2023, and this year it is expanding its role to encompass AI semiconductor, data center, and cloud collaborations. According to the IT industry on June 8, Jensen Huang and Naver's Board Chairman Lee Hae-jin are expected to discuss the roadmap for a global AI factory business and detailed plans for joint market entry at the Naver '1784' building. Through this collaboration, Naver aims to integrate its cloud operations and data center expertise with NVIDIA's GPU and AI infrastructure technologies to target the business-to-business (B2B) AI infrastructure market. The '1784' building is designed as a robot-friendly facility, incorporating robotics, AI, cloud, and 5G specialized network technologies into its operations. Naver is using the building as a reference and testbed for smart buildings. In practice, autonomous robots like 'Rookie,' a robot-only elevator called 'Roboport,' and robotic arms like 'Ambidex' are operational in the work environment. This year, the '1784' building has also expanded its role to discussions on AI semiconductors, data centers, and cloud collaborations. In March, AMD CEO Lisa Su visited '1784' as her first schedule in South Korea, where she met with Naver CEO Choi Soo-young. Naver and AMD signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand the AI ecosystem and collaborate on next-generation infrastructure. With Jensen Huang's visit, '1784' is emerging as a venue for global AI infrastructure collaboration discussions. Previously, '1784' was used as a venue for high-ranking officials from the Middle East to observe Naver's digital twin and smart city technologies. In November 2022, the visit of Majed Al Hogail, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, marked the beginning of cooperation between Naver and Saudi Arabia. The following October, Naver secured a project to build a digital twin platform for five cities, including Riyadh, from the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. The capabilities demonstrated at '1784' in robotics, AI, cloud, and digital twin technologies have translated into actual overseas projects. In 2023, a high-level delegation from the Sharjah royal family in the United Arab Emirates, along with Abdullah bin Touk Al Mari, UAE Minister of Economy, and officials from the Dubai Future Foundation, visited the '1784' building to explore Naver's robotics, digital twin, and AI technologies and discuss potential cooperation in smart city and digital infrastructure. Visits from international organizations and foreign government officials have continued. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), visited '1784' during her trip to South Korea in 2023 to explore possibilities for digital transformation and technological cooperation. High-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of State, Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information, and the Austrian Parliament have also visited '1784.' The ability to observe Naver's robotics, AI, and cloud technologies in one location has been a key reason for these visits. Naver stated, "The '1784' building is not just an office but a space for demonstrating robot services and smart building technologies in a real work environment. The data generated by over 3,000 users daily serves as the foundation for technological advancement. The technologies and solutions validated at '1784' are being expanded into collaborations with Japan's NTT Group and global smart city projects in Saudi Arabia and beyond."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 13:42:00
  • NCSoft Unveils Guild Wars 3 at Summer Game Fest, Targeting North America
    NCSoft Unveils 'Guild Wars 3' at Summer Game Fest, Targeting North America NCSoft revealed 'Guild Wars 3' at the 2026 Summer Game Fest (SGF). The official sequel to the 'Guild Wars' series is being developed as a PC and console title, with plans to launch beta testing in North America next fall. 'Guild Wars' is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) series developed by ArenaNet, NCSoft's North American studio. 'Guild Wars 3' is the first official numbered sequel since the release of 'Guild Wars 2' in 2012, and it marks the first time the series will be available on console platforms. The game will be available globally on PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5. The beta test is scheduled for the second half of next year, and Korean will be one of the supported languages. Colin Johanson, studio head at ArenaNet and director of 'Guild Wars 3', stated, "'Guild Wars 3' will be a turning point not only for the 'Guild Wars' series but also for the MMORPG genre. Our goal is to provide a new gaming experience through a realistic, immersive, and innovative online world, creating a space where we can craft new stories together with the player community." This year at SGF, NCSoft also showcased 'Aion 2', aiming to penetrate the global market, particularly in North America. 'Aion 2' is set to launch globally in September.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:51:00