AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Jinkyu, Myung
  • Korean AI company Upstage unveils Japan-focused LLM Shin Pro
    Korean AI company Upstage unveils Japan-focused LLM 'Shin Pro' SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - South Korean artificial intelligence company Upstage announced Thursday the launch of “Shin Pro,” a large language model (LLM) designed specifically for the Japanese market and developed in partnership with Tokyo-based AI firm Karakuri. Built on Upstage’s proprietary Solar model, Shin Pro is a 31-billion-parameter system fine-tuned for Japanese language nuances and cultural context. The model is optimized for on-premise deployment, offering companies enhanced data security and cost efficiency by allowing them to run AI applications within their own infrastructure. Shin Pro has already drawn attention for its performance, topping the Weights & Biases Nezumi Leaderboard, a key benchmark for Japanese-language LLMs. It achieved the highest score among models with 31 billion parameters or fewer. Notably, Shin Pro is the only model developed and trained in Japan to rank among the top performers on the leaderboard — a space otherwise dominated by models from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and DeepSeek. Its emphasis on local deployment and data privacy aligns with Japan’s growing preference for on-premise AI solutions over cloud-based alternatives from U.S. and Chinese providers. “This achievement shows that Upstage’s technology can compete head-to-head with globally trained AI models in Japan,” said Hiroyuki Matsushita, head of Upstage Japan. “With Shin Pro, we aim to help Japanese companies adopt AI that reflects their industry needs, security requirements, and cultural context.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-23 16:31:54
  • Singapores VENA Group pledges $20 billion investment in Koreas green energy, AI sectors
    Singapore's VENA Group pledges $20 billion investment in Korea's green energy, AI sectors SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Singapore-based renewable energy company VENA Group plans to invest $20 billion in South Korea to advance projects in renewable energy and artificial intelligence data centers, officials here said Thursday. The announcement came after the company delivered a letter of intent at a ceremony held at the National Assembly in Seoul, attended by Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Vice Minister of Science and ICT Ryu Jae-myung, Democratic Party lawmaker Cha Ji-ho, presidential secretary of national AI policy Kim Woo-chang, and VENA Group Chairman Nitin Apte. The investment pledge builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in September during President Lee Jae Myung’s meeting with BlackRock Chairman Larry Fink at the United Nations General Assembly. That agreement sought to position South Korea as the “AI capital of Asia” by attracting global investors to its energy and technology sectors. Environment Minister Kim hailed the announcement as “a tangible result of the president’s diplomatic and investment efforts,” adding that the partnership would help accelerate South Korea’s renewable energy transition and bolster its AI infrastructure competitiveness. The Ministry of Environment said it plans to channel part of the investment into offshore wind power projects and develop an “energy highway” linking wind farms, national power grids, and AI data centers. Vice Minister Ryu said the government would continue to encourage sustainable development through international partnerships. “This initiative reflects our vision to make South Korea a leading AI and green energy hub in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-23 16:19:30
  • South Korean Air Force to work with science ministry to develop quantum-based weapons
    South Korean Air Force to work with science ministry to develop quantum-based weapons SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - The Ministry of Science and ICT and the South Korean Air Force signed an agreement Monday to collaborate on developing next-generation weapon systems powered by quantum technology. The signing took place at the KINTEX convention center in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul. Quantum technologies — long touted for their potential to revolutionize both civilian and military systems — could enable GPS-independent navigation, stealth detection, and even the disruption of encrypted communications. Under the agreement, the ministry will provide the Air Force with technical consulting and infrastructure support, while the Air Force plans to incorporate quantum applications into future weapons development requirements. “This agreement will promote the development of advanced weapon systems using quantum technology, strengthening national defense and achieving technological independence,” said Ryu Je-myung, the second vice minister of science. “It is also expected to enhance the competitiveness of K-defense.” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Son Seok-rak added that the military would “actively cooperate with the science ministry to secure innovative technologies such as quantum radar and hybrid combat systems.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-20 14:03:39
  • CJ ENM, Warner Bros. Discovery join hands for K-content production
    CJ ENM, Warner Bros. Discovery join hands for K-content production SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - South Korea's CJ ENM and Warner Bros. Discovery announced a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the global presence of Korean entertainment, Thursday, underscoring the growing influence of K-content on international audiences. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly plan and produce original Korean programming while expanding distribution through Warner Bros. Discovery’s global platforms. The collaboration includes the launch of a dedicated TVING brand section on HBO Max in 17 Asia-Pacific regions, marking TVING’s first entry into the overseas streaming market. The rollout will begin with select content in November, followed by a full launch early next year. The section will feature TVING’s most popular dramas and variety shows, designed to attract both existing fans of Korean entertainment and new audiences across the region. “This partnership aligns perfectly with HBO Max’s strategy to showcase unique premium content,” JB Perrette, president and CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a press release. “We are excited to work with CJ ENM, a leader in the K-content genre.” The two companies also plan to co-invest in global production projects, which will be distributed internationally through HBO Max. Lee Mi-kyung, vice chair of CJ Group, said the collaboration would “further elevate the global standing of K-content,” while David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, described it as “a milestone in bringing locally inspired stories to worldwide audiences.” Yoon Sang-hyun, CEO of CJ ENM, said the company would continue to expand its strategic partnerships in key global markets to ensure the sustainable growth of Korean culture. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-16 10:21:30
  • KT, Palantir CEOs meet in Seoul to deepen AI partnership
    KT, Palantir CEOs meet in Seoul to deepen AI partnership SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - South Korean telecom company KT said Tuesday its chief executive, Kim Young-seop, met with Alex Karp, the CEO of U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies, in Seoul to discuss ways to expand the use of Palantir’s artificial intelligence platforms across South Korean industries. The meeting, held at KT’s headquarters in Gwanghwamun, centered on how to implement Palantir’s technology for local businesses in sectors ranging from finance to manufacturing and public services. Karp’s visit coincided with KT’s AX Leader Summit, an AI-focused forum that brought together senior executives from major Korean companies, including Woo Ki-hong of Korean Air, Kim Yong-beom of Meritz Financial Group, Koo Ja-kyun of LS Electric, and Lee Joo-tae of POSCO Holdings. KT is currently piloting Palantir’s AI platform in its cloud-based systems to evaluate their effectiveness in analyzing complex corporate data and supporting management decisions. The company said it has gained consulting and technical know-how through these trials and plans to package them into integrated AI services for Korean clients, particularly in sectors where data security is critical. “Our collaboration with Palantir will become a model for AI-driven innovation across South Korea’s key industries,” Kim said. “We aim to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency through responsible AI use.” Karp described the partnership as “a significant step forward in secure cloud-based data utilization and industry-specific innovation,” according to KT. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-14 15:50:32
  • South Koreas chip exports hit all-time high in September
    South Korea's chip exports hit all-time high in September SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) -South Korea’s semiconductor exports soared to a record high in September, propelling the country’s overall ICT exports to their strongest level ever. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, ICT exports rose 14 percent on year to $25.43 billion, while imports climbed 10.4 percent to $13.78 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $11.65 billion. Semiconductors accounted for the bulk of outbound shipments, totaling $16.62 billion, up 22 percent from a year earlier, driven by solid demand for high-end memory chips such as DDR5 and high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Exports of telecommunications equipment jumped 38.3 percent to $220 million, fueled by brisk demand for 5G network gear in India. Display exports also edged up 1.3 percent to $1.92 billion, supported by wider adoption of OLED panels in IT devices and stronger sales of smartphones, TVs, and laptops. By contrast, mobile-phone and computer exports fell 10.7 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively, to $1.49 billion and $1.47 billion. Shipments expanded across most markets except the tariff-strong United States. Exports to Taiwan surged 53.5 percent to $4.29 billion, to the European Union rose 22.8 percent to $1.3 billion, and to India jumped 35 percent to $500 million. Exports to China and Vietnam increased 1.1 percent and 20.8 percent, respectively, while those to Japan gained 13 percent to $390 million. Shipments to the United States, however, slipped 4 percent to $2.91 billion. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-14 13:50:28
  • Homegrown multi-purpose satellite shipped to South America ahead of launch in November
    Homegrown multi-purpose satellite shipped to South America ahead of launch in November SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - A multi-purpose satellite, dubbed "Arirang 7," has been shipped to South America, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said on Tuesday. The satellite, equipped with an ultra-high-resolution electro-optical camera, left the KASA in Daejeon on a freight aircraft bound for the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The homegrown satellite, expected to arrive there on Thursday, is being transported in a specially designed, vibration-free container that protects it from temperature and humidity fluctuations. Upon arrival, the satellite will be integrated with French commercial launch service provider Arianespace's "Vega-C" for a launch planned in late November, after undergoing final checks and preparations. Once launched, the satellite will begin observing the Earth and transmitting high-resolution images and other data, which are expected to be available by early next year. "We will be able to obtain higher-resolution images in a more timely manner, which is expected to be of great help for both the public and private sectors in responding to various natural disasters as well as conducting environmental research," said Kim Jin-hee, a head of KASA's satellite division. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-23 14:19:51