AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Jinkyu, Myung
  • IBS Identifies Collagen Barrier Mechanism in Stroke, Proposes Drug Candidate
    IBS Identifies Collagen Barrier Mechanism in Stroke, Proposes Drug Candidate South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science said it has identified what it called a root mechanism of brain damage in stroke and outlined a potential treatment approach, showing that blocking a “hydrogen peroxide–collagen production pathway” could suppress neuronal death. The research team led by IBS Center Director Lee Changjoon, working with Eulji University, said on April 28 that it found a mechanism in which rising hydrogen peroxide during stroke activates astrocytes, and type I collagen produced in the process triggers the death of nerve cells. Astrocytes typically help protect the brain and, during stroke, are known to form a glial barrier around damaged tissue to limit the spread of lesions. The team said it confirmed that this barrier can instead contribute to neuronal death, challenging the prevailing view. Based on the mechanism, the researchers developed a drug candidate, KDS12025, designed to both remove hydrogen peroxide and inhibit collagen production. In a mouse stroke model, the team said, the drug sharply reduced glial barrier formation and neuronal death, and impaired motor function returned to normal levels within a week. The team also reported effects even when the drug was given two days after onset, suggesting the possibility of extending the “golden time” window often cited as a limitation in stroke treatment. Similar results were reported in a primate model. Three days after KDS12025 was administered, lesion size decreased, and within a week, function returned in a hand that had been paralyzed, the researchers said. In a fruit-grasping test, the treated group succeeded in all 10 attempts, while the untreated group struggled because of motor impairment. The team said the primate findings support the potential for clinical application because of primates’ biological similarity to humans. Lee Boyoung, an IBS research fellow, said the team identified at the molecular level a collagen-synthesis mechanism in astrocytes driven by reactive oxygen species. “It will provide an important clue not only for stroke but also for research on degenerative brain diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease,” Lee said. Yoo Seungjun, a professor at Eulji University, said that demonstrating efficacy in a primate model could help speed the transition to clinical stages. Lee Changjoon said the team succeeded in identifying a root cause and proposing a treatment strategy through a “one-stop research system” integrating basic research, drug development and preclinical work. The findings were published online April 28 in the international journal Cell Metabolism.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 18:25:30
  • Broadcast Media and Communications Commission Conditionally Renews 17 Radio Licenses; Allows Commercial Ads on tbs Traffic FM
    Broadcast Media and Communications Commission Conditionally Renews 17 Radio Licenses; Allows Commercial Ads on tbs Traffic FM South Korea’s Broadcast Media and Communications Commission voted to grant conditional renewals to radio stations that fell short of the required score in license reviews, while also easing some rules to support management turnarounds. At its fifth plenary meeting of 2026, held April 29 at the Government Complex in Gwacheon, the commission approved three-year conditional renewals for 17 stations operated by three entities: 14 stations run by the Korean Broadcasting System, two stations run by MBC Gyeongnam Co., and Seoul’s media foundation tbs Traffic FM. The stations had scored below 650 points in earlier renewal evaluations, triggering a hearing process. The commission held hearings on April 22 to review causes of deficiencies and improvement plans before making the final decision. As renewal conditions, the commission ordered operator-specific corrective tasks, including expanded production and investment to strengthen public responsibility and local service, and steps to secure public interest functions. It said failure to meet the conditions could lead to cancellation of the renewals. For KBS’ 14 stations, the commission required tailored improvement plans for each station, including increased production and investment. For MBC Gyeongnam’s Jinju and Changwon Second FM stations, it required improvement plans and performance reports covering broadcast evaluations, disaster broadcasting, and production and investment. tbs Traffic FM was required to carry out a management normalization plan, improve its internal review system to strengthen fairness in broadcasting, and ensure transparency in the operation of donations. The commission also decided to allow commercial advertising on tbs Traffic FM, citing worsened finances since tbs was removed from Seoul’s list of funded institutions in 2024 and the need to diversify revenue raised during the hearing process. It said it could reconsider the advertising allowance if management conditions change, including any expansion of public support, to prevent harm to public interest and independence. Commission Chairman Kim Jong-cheol said the decision aimed to strengthen broadcasters’ public responsibilities while allowing flexibility to respond to changes in the business environment. He said the commission will continue to check compliance and take strict action under relevant laws if conditions are not met.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 18:15:37
  • Science Ministry Checks Deployment of Homegrown AI Chips as Commercial Use Expands
    Science Ministry Checks Deployment of Homegrown AI Chips as Commercial Use Expands South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has begun on-site checks at major AI companies as it moves to speed adoption of Korean-made neural processing units, or NPUs. The ministry said it visited SK Telecom’s Incheon data center and LG AI Research on the 29th to review how domestic AI semiconductors are being used in real services and to hear feedback from companies. The visit was arranged to assess the rollout of Korean-made NPUs. At SK Telecom’s Incheon data center, Lee Do-gyu, director general for ICT Policy at the ministry, toured the site with Park Byeong-gwan, head of SKT’s core platform, and Park Seong-hyeon, CEO of Rebellions. Servers installed there use Rebellions’ data center NPUs, ATOM and ATOM MAX. Park said SKT is applying servers based on ATOM and ATOM MAX to A.Dot’s phone-call summary service and to X Caliber, a companion-animal video diagnostic support service. He said the company plans to keep expanding commercial services based on ATOM MAX. SKT said A.Dot’s call-summary service, built on its in-house large language model A.Dot X (A.X), handles up to 50 million API calls a day. At LG AI Research, the ministry was briefed on AI service development that combines the institute’s in-house large language model EXAONE with FuriosaAI’s NPU, Renegade (RNGD). Renegade is a Korean-made AI chip that uses high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, and is designed to deliver the data-processing performance needed to run large AI models. The ministry described it as a case of building an “AI full stack” by pairing a domestic LLM with a domestic semiconductor. Lee said the ministry confirmed on the ground that Korean-made AI semiconductors are being applied to real services. He said the government will continue policy support so AI chips that have entered full-scale mass production can spread quickly in the market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 16:37:43
  • Korea’s ICT R&D Spending Jumps 13.8% to 64.6 Trillion Won, Driven by Private Sector
    Korea’s ICT R&D Spending Jumps 13.8% to 64.6 Trillion Won, Driven by Private Sector Korean information and communications technology (ICT) companies sharply increased research and development spending last year, led by semiconductors and artificial intelligence, government data showed. The gains, however, were concentrated in private funding while government and public support remained flat. According to the “2024 ICT Corporate R&D Statistics” released Tuesday by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), ICT R&D investment in 2024 totaled 64.6 trillion won, up 13.8% (7.8 trillion won) from a year earlier. It was the largest increase in six years and accounted for 60.6% of total industrial R&D spending of 106.7 trillion won. Private and foreign funding reached 62.4 trillion won, or 96.6% of the total, driving the rise. Government and public funding totaled 2.2 trillion won, or 3.4%, showing little change. By sector, ICT and broadcasting equipment makers—centered on semiconductors—spent 59.5 trillion won, or 92.1% of the total. Software development and production companies invested 4.2 trillion won, or 6.4%. By company size, large firms invested 53.5 trillion won, up 16.3% from the previous year, leading overall growth. Small and midsize companies spent 2.5 trillion won, up 11.9%, while venture companies posted a 0.3% decline in growth rate. By research stage, 45.2 trillion won (70%) went to development research, followed by applied research at 10.9 trillion won (16.8%) and basic research at 8.5 trillion won (13.2%). Basic research rose 19%, outpacing applied research growth of 16.1%. ICT R&D staffing also increased. The sector employed 225,900 R&D workers, up 5,200 (2.4%) from a year earlier, representing 48.0% of total industrial R&D personnel. Equipment makers accounted for 161,000 workers (71.2%), while software development and production employed 57,000 (25.1%). The ministry said the software field generates relatively high employment compared with investment levels. The share of advanced-degree researchers continued to rise. Master’s and doctoral researchers totaled 71,000 (33.2%), narrowing the gap with bachelor’s degree holders at 133,000 (62.2%). Female researchers numbered 36,000 (17.1%), continuing a steady increase since 2020. Park Tae-wan, director general for ICT Industry Policy at the ministry, said, “It is a meaningful result that private-sector-led ICT R&D investment expanded despite domestic and external uncertainties.” He added, “We will reflect this in future investment planning and budget allocation to strengthen synergy between the government and the private sector.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 12:04:19
  • South Korea Expands Research Funding Flexibility, Eases R&D Rules
    South Korea Expands Research Funding Flexibility, Eases R&D Rules The Ministry of Science and ICT said it is moving to significantly expand researchers’ discretion in using grant funds and to streamline what it called unnecessary administrative rules, aiming to let scientists focus more on research and less on paperwork. The ministry said a revision to the enforcement decree of the National Research and Development Innovation Act was approved at a Cabinet meeting on the 28th. The revision is a follow-up to the “R&D ecosystem innovation plan to lead the future through science and technology” announced in November 2025, which called for easing administrative regulations and improving conditions for researchers. To broaden flexibility for individual researchers, the decree creates a new direct-cost budget category called “research innovation expenses.” Under the new category, researchers may spend funds more freely — without subdividing items — for costs needed to carry out projects, including research materials, business travel and meeting expenses. The ministry said the category may be used up to 10% of direct costs, capped at 50 million won, and documentation requirements will be minimized to reduce administrative burdens. The system will apply to selected programs starting in June 2026 and will be fully implemented in 2027. The ministry also said it will shift how institutions use indirect costs to a “negative regulation” approach. Previously, indirect costs could be spent only on listed items; under the change, institutions may broadly spend on research-related costs except for items explicitly prohibited. The ministry said this will allow more flexible responses to new needs such as fees for artificial intelligence services. This change will take effect immediately upon promulgation. The decree does not fully liberalize indirect-cost spending. It specifies certain items as prohibited to maintain minimum controls. Commonly barred uses include payments a university-industry cooperation foundation makes to a university without consideration for carrying out an R&D project; costs such as damages and penalties; and expenses unrelated to research. For personnel support funds, prohibited items include additional pay for researchers or support staff already receiving salaries, as well as scholarships such as merit-based graduate awards or teaching assistant scholarships. For research support funds, prohibited items include costs that function as rewards for winning R&D contracts, as well as construction and building remodeling expenses. The ministry said it also revised smaller rules that had caused inconvenience in the field. It abolished a requirement for prior approval before using meeting expenses, and it will simplify supporting documents required for spending on research materials. Park In-gyu, head of the ministry’s Science and Technology Innovation Office, said, “We are continuously improving the system so researchers can focus on research without administrative burdens,” adding, “We will actively identify regulations that hinder research immersion and continue additional improvements.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 15:17:04
  • USTR Steps Up Pressure on South Korea Over Network Fees, Data Access and AI Concerns
    USTR Steps Up Pressure on South Korea Over Network Fees, Data Access and AI Concerns The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has publicly criticized South Korea’s network usage fee policy, raising pressure in digital trade. Industry officials and experts in South Korea warn the dispute could expand beyond telecom policy into demands for broader data access, a key resource in the AI era. According to the industry on April 28, the USTR posted on X on April 27 (local time) that “no country in the world imposes network usage fees for traffic transmission by its internet service providers (ISPs). Korea is the only exception.” The post escalated what had previously been raised mainly in reports, framing South Korea’s policy as a major non-tariff trade barrier. The issue emerged in earnest in the 2023 National Trade Estimate (NTE) report. In 2024, it broadened into wider digital regulation and became a trade issue, and in 2025 it was cited as a core non-tariff barrier. In 2026, the USTR has widened its focus further, also raising concerns that U.S. cloud service providers (CSPs) were excluded from AI infrastructure projects. The United States argues the policy imposes discriminatory costs on foreign companies and restricts market access. South Korea’s telecom industry counters that the structure is unfair because global platforms that generate massive traffic do not share the cost of network investment. Ahn Jeong-sang, an adjunct professor of communication at Chung-Ang University, said network usage fees reflect a basic cost-sharing principle given rising data use and potential network overload. He said a system in which big tech “effectively uses networks for free” and then uses its financial strength to expand dominance in AI technology could weigh on the growth of South Korea’s AI industry. Some also caution that trade pressure could lead to demands for broader data opening. Because data is central to AI model training and industrial competitiveness, expanded access could weaken the competitive edge of domestic companies, they say. Bong Kang-ho, a researcher at the Software Policy & Research Institute, said sharing data with big tech can improve connectivity with global services. But he warned that opening data could weaken domestic AI firms’ competitive advantage based on proprietary data and reduce differentiating factors in South Korea’s AI industry. The European Union previously considered introducing network usage fees but effectively withdrew the idea after concluding it was not feasible. Still, disputes over cost-sharing between telecom companies and big tech have continued. In January, the EU moved to pursue a system under the “Digital Networks Act (DNA)” in which regulators would mediate. Experts said South Korea needs an institutional response, not just a policy debate. Kim Yong-hee, a professor of business administration at Sun Moon University, said South Korea was not sufficiently prepared for the era of global services and has struggled to respond effectively to USTR pressure. He said the National Assembly should hear from stakeholders and elevate practical improvement measures as an agenda item. Ahn said a phased approach is needed: prioritize voluntary negotiations between companies, but apply limited regulation only if no agreement is reached within a set period or if one side refuses unilaterally. 2026-04-28 14:48:06
  • NIA Exports Seoul Station 5G Open RAN Testbed Technology to U.S. Hospital in $21 Million Deal
    NIA Exports Seoul Station 5G Open RAN Testbed Technology to U.S. Hospital in $21 Million Deal The National Information Society Agency, or NIA, said April 28 it has exported the “Seoul Station 5G specialized network Open RAN demonstration network,” built under a Ministry of Science and ICT competitive project, to a large hospital in Alabama. The project was carried out in 2025 by GNTEL. It combined LG Electronics’ software-based virtualized radio access network base station (vRAN) with Open RAN radio units (O-RU) from three manufacturers: Gigalane, Wave Electronics and Samji Electronics. NIA said the system, made entirely with Korean equipment, achieved performance comparable to or better than global vendors and proved its capabilities through global certification (OTIC). The exported equipment is scheduled to be deployed starting in August to build 5G specialized-network communications infrastructure at the Alabama hospital. NIA said the export volume is significantly larger than the Seoul Station test site, with vRAN about seven times higher and small and midsize companies’ Open RAN radio units about 30 times higher. The export value is about 2.1 billion won, exceeding the government funding invested in the Seoul Station Open RAN project. “This export is a major achievement that proves the technological strength of Korean wireless network equipment in the global market,” NIA President Kim Hyeong-cheol said. “We will continue to provide full support to help our companies expand their global reach.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 08:28:03
  • Korea Telecoms Agree to Add Basic QoS to Low-Cost Plans, Split on Price Cuts
    Korea Telecoms Agree to Add Basic QoS to Low-Cost Plans, Split on Price Cuts South Korea’s Science and ICT Ministry and the country’s three mobile carriers have agreed to apply a “data safety option” based on quality-of-service, or QoS, as a standard feature on low-cost plans as they negotiate measures aimed at lowering wireless bills.  According to the telecom industry on the 27th, SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus accepted the government proposal to make QoS standard on cheaper plans as part of the ministry’s push to roll out unified LTE and 5G rate plans. The carriers were said to have little disagreement over how the unified plans would be structured, but they maintained that keeping current data allowances while cutting monthly fees by more than 10,000 won would be difficult.  The centerpiece of the overhaul is to apply QoS by default to all plans in the 20,000- to 30,000-won range so users can maintain a minimum level of data service. Under the QoS option, customers who use up their included data can continue to use unlimited data at speeds of 400 kilobits per second.  Carriers, however, are resisting proposals to lower prices while keeping data allowances unchanged. The government is said to be seeking about a 10,000-won cut per subscriber as it merges current 5G plans in the 50,000-won range with LTE plans in the 40,000-won range into unified offerings. The three carriers argue that, given network cost structures, cutting prices without reducing data would significantly damage profitability.  An industry official said all three carriers agreed with the government’s view that low-cost users should be able to access QoS without paying extra, but added that a roughly 10,000-won cut per person would be hard to accept. “Most 5G subscribers are on plans in the 50,000-won range, and offering the same data usage at prices in the 40,000-won range would be too big a loss,” the official said.  Analysts in the securities industry estimate that if the government’s price-cut plan goes ahead, the carriers’ combined operating profit could fall by 6% to 8%. They also warned that if disputes over network usage fees with global content providers such as Google are not resolved, the carriers would have limited room to offset the revenue decline. With carriers bearing most network investment costs, prolonged pressure on profitability could also affect their capacity to invest, they said.  The ministry estimates the overhaul would benefit about 7.17 million people and reduce annual telecom spending by 322.1 billion won. Industry observers said the actual impact could vary depending on the size of any price cuts and how they are applied.  A ministry official said the timing of the unified plans has not been finalized. “Additional talks are under way on several plans, and we are working to wrap things up in the first half,” the official said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 00:03:21
  • Science Minister Bae Says DeepMind Partnership to Focus on AI Hub, Science Center, Safety
    Science Minister Bae Says DeepMind Partnership to Focus on AI Hub, Science Center, Safety The Ministry of Science and ICT said its cooperation with Google DeepMind will move forward on three tracks: building a global AI hub, linking with the National Science AI Research Center, and conducting research on artificial intelligence safety. The ministry said Monday it signed a memorandum of understanding with DeepMind outlining the cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister and Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said a closed-door meeting also covered how the two sides would divide roles going forward. Bae said the government and industry plan to prepare follow-up discussions with DeepMind focused on the bio and medical sector, including securing data, improving model performance and setting strategies for broader adoption. The following is a Q&A with Bae. - What were the key areas discussed in the closed-door meeting? "Discussions centered on three tracks: cooperation on a global AI hub, linkage with the National Science AI Research Center, and AI safety research. Since DeepMind has strong interest in 'solving scientific problems' and 'AI safety,' we agreed to strengthen cooperation in those areas. We are still at an early stage after signing the MOU, and the specific division of roles will be finalized through further talks. The government and industry will prepare plans focused on the bio and medical sector — including securing data, advancing model performance and strategies for wider use — and continue discussions with DeepMind." - What did you mean by mentioning 'Mythos' in your remarks? "It was to stress the importance of an independent foundation model. Without our own model, it is difficult to secure competitiveness in security and cyber safety. There are areas where we can cooperate with DeepMind, but there are also areas we clearly need to build ourselves." - Is there potential for cooperation between domestic companies' models and DeepMind? "Rather than cooperation between individual models, we focused on the broader direction of 'AI-based scientific research' and 'AI safety.' We also shared that independent model development is underway in Korea." - Have the participating universities been decided for Google's AI campus? "Google has only announced an investment in an AI campus in Korea, and the participating universities have not been decided. However, we agreed on the need to expand people-to-people exchanges and discussed steps such as forming a working group." - What was discussed about building AI guardrails? "We agreed on the need for guardrails, in the sense that humans must be able to control AI even as it develops on its own. We also shared the view that guidelines and a regulatory framework are needed so all users — not just certain groups — can use AI safely."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:28:25
  • South Korea, Google DeepMind Expand K-Moonshot AI Partnership, Plan Gangnam AI Hub
    South Korea, Google DeepMind Expand K-Moonshot AI Partnership, Plan Gangnam AI Hub South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT said it will expand cooperation with Google DeepMind as it pushes the “K-Moonshot” project, a national strategy to apply artificial intelligence across research and development to tackle major science and technology challenges. The ministry said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Google DeepMind on April 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Seoul. The agreement focuses on joint AI research, talent development and the spread of responsible AI. The hotel is the site of the 2016 match in which AlphaGo defeated top South Korean Go player Lee Sedol, an event widely seen as a milestone for modern AI. Bae Kyung-hoon, deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, said AlphaFold’s results have helped drive innovation in medicine and biotechnology. “The science field can definitely create innovation with AI,” he said. Bae added that AI has already penetrated areas including science and security, and said the government will work to ensure more people can use AI. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said the AlphaGo-Lee match “was a signal flare that marked the beginning of modern AI.” He said the era of artificial general intelligence has moved up by five years and that the scale and speed of progress will be 10 times that of past industrial revolutions. Hassabis said South Korea has a strong position “as an AI powerhouse, from semiconductors,” and said he would expand partnerships during his visit with Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Hyundai Motor, and LG Electronics. The visit is his first to South Korea in 10 years since the 2016 match, according to the article. Hassabis co-founded Google DeepMind and has been a leading researcher in applying AI to scientific work. DeepMind developed AlphaFold, an AI system for predicting protein structures. Hassabis said he shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry with John Jumper and David Baker for AlphaFold-related research. The ministry said it will use the MOU to build broader cooperation across technology, infrastructure and researcher exchanges. Hassabis said the partnership will rest on three pillars — model research, talent development and safety cooperation — and said DeepMind will share models with leading research institutions to advance scientific progress. The ministry said the cooperation will be linked to the K-Moonshot project. Under the plan, the ministry aims to double research productivity by 2030 and, by 2035, achieve 12 national missions across eight areas including advanced biotechnology, future energy, space, quantum, semiconductors and humanoids. On talent development, the ministry said it will seek internship opportunities so South Korean AI talent can experience DeepMind’s research environment. DeepMind also plans to overhaul the Google Startup Campus in Seoul’s Gangnam district into an AI-focused collaboration base. The campus will serve as an “AI for Science” hub tied to K-Moonshot, supporting researcher exchanges and joint research. Programs are to include joint projects with domestic researchers and startups, as well as hackathons and technical workshops. The two sides said they will pursue AI-based joint research in areas including life sciences and weather and climate. They also plan to expand researcher exchanges centered on the National Science AI Research Center, which is scheduled to launch in May. Other cooperation tasks include developing and validating AI models and tools, using scientific data, and building a bio-innovation research base. They also said they will cooperate on AI safety and governance, including joint research on frameworks and safeguards to secure model safety. The ministry and DeepMind said they will work with AI safety research institutes to develop testing methodologies and standards. 2026-04-27 16:51:40