SK chief meets Viet Nam's communist party chief to discuss energy cooperation SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has met with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, to discuss strengthening cooperation in the energy sector and fostering bilateral ties. Chey, who also serves as the chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met with Lam in Hanoi on Friday, according to a report by Viet Nam’s state-run news agency VNA. “SK Group possesses world-class capabilities in the energy sector, and we seek to contribute to Viet Nam’s sustainable economic growth through enhanced collaboration,” Chey said. In response, Lam expressed appreciation for SK Group’s achievements and Chey’s commitment to Viet Nam. “We highly value SK Group’s contributions and deeply appreciate Chairman Chey’s dedication,” he said. Lam further noted that relations between the two countries are progressing well across all sectors and acknowledged the key role Korean companies, including SK Group, play in Viet Nam’s development through investments and business activities. SK Group has been engaged in the Southeast Asian country’s renewable energy and resource circulation sectors. Since 2020, SK Innovation & E&S has been operating a 131MW solar power facility in the southern Ninh Thuan region and has also completed and is operating an offshore wind power plant. SK Earthon, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, is helping search for oil and gas in a specific area off the coast of Viet Nam called Block 15-2/17, with the potential to extract natural resources from the ocean. The meeting, held at the Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, was also joined by Choo Hyeong-wook, CEO of SK Innovation & E&S, Park Won-cheol, CEO of SKC, Kim Jong-hwa, CEO of SK Energy, and Myeong Seong, CEO of SK Earthon. 2025-02-16 12:17:17

BLACKPINK's Jisoo revs up with new solo album SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - Jisoo, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, is releasing her solo mini album on Friday, according to her agency Blisoo. The album "AMORTAGE" marks her first solo album in nearly two years since her single "ME" in March 2023. To convey the album's themes of love and breakups, the word was coined by combining "amor," the Spanish word for love, with "montage," a cinematic technique of juxtaposing different scenes. The album features four tracks: two Korean songs, "earthquake" and "TEARS," and two English songs, "Your Love" and "Hugs & Kisses." The title track, "earthquake," portrays the excitement of new love and intense emotions for a beloved one. "Tears" conveys the attempt to hide the sadness of a breakup behind a bright façade. Jisoo is also meeting fans at an event to promote the album at a theater in southern Seoul before embarking on a tour to seven Asian cities including Bangkok, Manila, and Tokyo. Meanwhile, Jisoo is branching out into her career as an actress, recently starring in streaming platform Coupang Play's zombie comedy series "Newtopia," which was released earlier this month. 2025-02-14 11:14:04

INTERVIEW: AI translation startup aims for further growth with global expansion SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence-assisted services and products, crowdsourced translation startup Flitto is riding the wave of new technologies and eying for further expansion. As part of this effort, it plans to establish its U.S. subsidiary next year. Having already built a strong competitive edge, with over 70 percent of its revenue coming from the U.S. market, the firm aims to further solidify its presence by enhancing its offerings for global customers. Flitto also seeks to attract more investment from the market to enhance its corporate value. "Last year's strong performance was made possible by the dedication of Flitto's employees worldwide in achieving the corporate goal of becoming profitable," said CEO Simon Lee. "We will strive to strengthen our fundamentals and enhance shareholder value while positioning Flitto as a global leader in AI-powered translation services," he vowed. According to its preliminary earnings report released on Thursday, Flitto recorded its highest-ever revenue of 20.3 billion won (US$13.9 million) in 2024, with a net profit of 800 million won. The firm achieved its goal of posting an operating profit for the first time since its establishment. The success was driven by increased demand for AI translation services, strategic business partnerships, and continuous efforts to improve language processing capabilities. Flitto recently showcased its AI-assisted simultaneous translation service at a four-day event in Las Vegas last month, offering real-time translations of speeches by industry leaders such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, and Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian. The event demonstrated Flitto's ability to provide seamless multilingual communication, garnering impressive attention from potential clients and investors. Huang's keynote session had 3,000 concurrent viewers and 78,000 total views, using Flitto's translation program. The solution supports 38 different languages including Arabic and Hindi, and is accessible across various devices including mobile phones, tablet PCs, and laptops. In addition to its U.S. expansion, Flitto is also considering expanding its translation services for languages with limited availability, particularly in Africa, where global demand for AI-driven translation is growing rapidly. The company sees great potential in supporting minority languages that lack sufficient digital data, presenting both technological and business opportunities. "Minority languages still lack sufficient data, but their scarcity makes them highly valuable," said Lee in an exclusive interview with AJP earlier this week. "As AI technology advances, accumulating translation data for underrepresented languages could unlock vast business opportunities." Nevertheless, Lee pointed out that human interpreters are still essential, despite remarkable progress in AI translation. "Just as skilled journalists who make effective use of AI can deliver even better news coverage, human interpreters will remain indispensable," he said. "Interpreting is not merely about word-for-word translation, as it involves adapting language to specific social and cultural backgrounds, which AI may not fully grasp. To convey texts and meanings accurately and effectively, an interpreter must have a profound understanding of both languages and relevant sociocultural contexts. For instance, a gaming interpreter must be someone who truly understands the field," he explained. Lee's interest in languages grew from his international upbringing, having attended schools in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, North America, and Europe due to his father's overseas assignments. After graduating from Daewon Foreign Language High School and Korea University here, he worked at SK Telecom, focusing on global partnerships. To address the challenge of acquiring linguistic data, Flitto is seeking various methods including partnerships with media outlets, collaboration with educational institutions, and direct purchases. "The cost of acquiring data varies by region, often reflecting local living standards," Lee added. "With a strategic investment in language datasets, Flitto could gain a competitive edge in the AI translation industry." As part of its long-term strategy, Flitto is also investing in research and development to enhance its AI algorithms, with the goal of improving accuracy and efficiency in translations across a broader range of languages. The firm believes that integrating AI with human expertise will allow it to provide high-quality translation services tailored to specific industries including professional sectors such as healthcare, legal, and finance. By expanding its footprint in key markets and strengthening its technology, Flitto plans to position itself as a global leader in AI-powered language solutions. 2025-02-13 12:30:00

LocknLock showcases innovative products at trade fair in Germany SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Utensil maker LocknLock showcased its key products at Ambiente, a weeklong trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, which kicked off last Friday. The world's largest fair for consumer goods annually attracts participants from 176 countries, serving as a global stage for emerging industry trends. LocknLock's booth featured its latest trendy products including airtight containers, fridge organizers, lunchboxes, and drinkware such as tumblers and coffee mugs. It also unveiled a new logo inspired by its airtight containers' "click" sound. Visitors had the opportunity to participate in hands-on demonstrations of LocknLock's products, learning how to neatly organize fridges with specialized containers and personalize tumblers through decoration. Founded in 1978, LocknLock is a global kitchenware company, with its products exported to over 120 countries. In 1998, it introduced a new airtight container with a four-sided locking system, where the lid is secured with locks on all four sides to ensure a tight seal. The company is also recognized for its stylish products in beverageware, cookware, and small home appliances. "Through this year's Ambiente exhibition, we proudly showcased our innovative products, from airtight containers to beverageware," said Young Kim, vice president of LocknLock's global business division. "Riding on this momentum, we will continue to expand our presence in global markets with our superior lifestyle products, further strengthening our position as a leading global houseware company." 2025-02-12 10:45:36

VISUALS: Exquisite jewels on display at exhibition in Seoul SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - An exhibition showcasing more than 200 sparkling jewelry pieces including accessories and other charms is currently underway at the Lotte Museum of Art in southern Seoul, drawing hordes of visitors since late last year. The months-long exhibition, dubbed "The Art of Jewellery," runs until March 16 at the contemporary art museum on the seventh floor of the 123-story Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, the tallest building in the country. Highlights among some 208 pieces from Japanese collector Kazumi Arikawa include a cross crafted by Italian gem-engraver Valerio Belli and a pair of earrings once owned by Queen Victoria of the U.K. in the 19th century. In particular, the exhibition hall's dark ambiance allows visitors to fully appreciate the intricate and brilliant beauty of the precious gems and their natural luminescence. A piece of jewelry displayed at the Lotte Museum of Art. AJP Kim Joo-heon A piece of jewelry displayed at the Lotte Museum of Art. AJP Kim Joo-heon The jewelry pieces from the Württemberg royal family of Germany consisting of a tiara, necklace, earrings, brooch, and bracelet are displayed at the Lotte Museum of Art. A bracelet Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom gifted to Queen Stephanie of Portugal. Courtesy of the Lotte Museum of Art The exhibition hall of "The Art of Jewellery." Courtesy of the Lotte Museum of Art 2025-02-11 16:25:13

Opinion: Kazakhstan's economic policy direction for 2024 and prospects for Korea-Kazakhstan economic cooperation SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - What is the general perception of Kazakhstan among Koreans? Many might think of it as a "landlocked country in Central Asia" or "a country where many Koreans live." The fact that only about 40,000 South Koreans visited Kazakhstan in 2024 suggests that the country remains relatively unfamiliar to most Koreans. However, the cooperative relationship between Korea and Kazakhstan, particularly in the economic sector, has rapidly grown, driven by the complementary industrial structures of both nations. When diplomatic relations were established in 1992, bilateral trade was just $11 million, but by the 33rd anniversary in 2024, it had surged to approximately $3.1 billion – a 280-fold increase. As of 2024, cumulative South Korean investments in Kazakhstan reached about $10.5 billion, primarily in mining, finance, construction, and real estate. Recently, investments have expanded into the manufacturing sector. Thanks to this trend, Kazakhstan has become Korea's largest trading and investment partner among the five Central Asian countries. Key highlights from Kazakhstan’s economic strategy What lies ahead for economic cooperation between Korea and Kazakhstan? The answer can be gleaned from the outcomes of the expanded high-level economic meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on January 28, 2024. The Kazakh government is actively pursuing the development of its manufacturing sector and the diversification of its industries, aiming to modernize an economy that heavily relies on oil, gas, and other resources, which account for 20 percent of its GDP and 50 percent of its fiscal revenue. The ultimate goal is to position Kazakhstan among the world's top 30 economies by 2050. Kazakhstan will also continue to leverage its natural advantages, such as abundant mineral resources—including 17 types of rare earth elements, silver, copper, uranium, and zinc, with an estimated total value of $46 trillion according to the World Bank. Additionally, Kazakhstan’s strategic geographic position as a hub connecting Asia and Europe offers significant potential for growth. By the end of September 2023, Kazakhstan had attracted $12.7 billion in foreign investments, and the government is expected to intensify its efforts to attract investments across various industries this year. Several key points from the expanded high-level meeting chaired by President Tokayev are particularly noteworthy for the business community as well as policy-makers of Korea: Focus on Manufacturing: With the manufacturing sector achieving nearly 6 percent growth last year, the Kazakh government is expected to continue prioritizing and strengthening policies that support various manufacturing industries. Advancement of the Energy Sector: As part of its carbon neutrality goals, Kazakhstan plans to modernize outdated thermal power plants and expand nuclear energy development. Digital Transformation and AI: The continuous innovation of logistics and transportation systems through digital transformation and the application of artificial intelligence will remain a central economic objective for Kazakhstan. Future of Korea-Kazakhstan economic cooperation During the Korea-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Seoul in November 2024, Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul requested support from Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to ensure continued participation of Korean companies in Kazakhstan’s energy, plant construction, supply chain, and automobile manufacturing sectors. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Nurtleu pledged his support and interest in facilitating smooth business operations for Korean firms. Both sides also agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation beyond traditional sectors like energy and infrastructure to include areas with huge potential, such as science and technology, digital innovation, and environmental protection. They committed to working closely on establishing a Kazakhstan Institute of Science and Technology modeled after KAIST and launching projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A particularly notable development is the plan to build Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant near Lake Balkhash in the Almaty region. Following a national referendum in October 2023, where over 70 percent of voters supported the project, President Tokayev reportedly instructed the Minister of Energy on February 1, 2024, to accelerate the construction of the nuclear power plant and to conduct feasibility studies for a second facility. Since Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has been selected as one of the four preliminary contractors for Kazakhstan's nuclear power plant project, there is growing anticipation that the strategic partnership between Korea and Kazakhstan will extend into the nuclear energy sector. A growing bond between brother nations In November 2023, a book titled “Brother Nation Kazakhstan,” was published in Korea, highlighting the many commonalities between the two countries and emphasizing their potential to become true partners in the digital age. This year, Korea is set to host the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit, for which a visit of President Tokayev to Korea is anticipated. On these diplomatic occasions, it is hoped that the economic development goals outlined by President Tokayev earlier this year will contribute meaningfully to strengthening Korea-Kazakhstan economic cooperation as well. 2025-02-10 18:08:31

Chinese cruise passengers to Jeju surge more than sixfold SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Cruise travelers to South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju surged more than sixfold last year. According to a report released by the Jeju Tourism Organization on Monday, the number of cruise passengers to the island in 2024 reached 640,183, a 6.4-fold increase from 100,109 in 2023. The agency attributed the dramatic increase to the resumption of Chinese group tours on cruise ships in March 2023, following the end of COVID-19 restrictions. The number of port calls at Jeju nearly quadrupled, with 279 visits in 2023 compared to just 70 the previous year. The number of large cruise ships of 10,000 tons or more stopping at Gangjeong near a naval base in Seogwipo on the island reached 143, while smaller pleasure ships under 10,000 tons docked 136 times at the island's main port. Some 441,069 passengers stopped off at Gangjeong, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the total arrivals. Cruise tourism on the island peaked with 1.2 million passengers in 2016, but sharply declined the following year amid a spat with Beijing over the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here. The situation was further exacerbated by the ensuing coronavirus pandemic, leading to years of downturn. The island is now forecasting over 800,000 foreign cruise passengers this year. In 2016, over eight million Chinese tourists visited the country, and they remain the biggest spenders here, mostly splurging on cosmetics and K-pop-related merchandise. 2025-02-10 16:01:50

Second season of 'Squid Game' wins gong at Critics' Choice Awards in US SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" has won Best Foreign Language Series for its second season at this year's U.S. Critics' Choice Awards held last week. After being delayed twice due to massive wildfires in Los Angeles along the coast of Southern California, the awards ceremony was held in Santa Monica last Friday. Considered one of the major awards shows in North America, alongside the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the prestigious annual awards recognize achievements in filmmaking and television programs based on evaluations from more than 600 media critics and entertainment journalists from the U.S. and Canada. The dystopian thriller won the gong for the second time, after its first season took home the same honor in 2022. Released in December last year, the second season continues its impressive run following the explosive success of the first series on Netflix, becoming the streaming giant's third most popular series of all time within a couple of weeks, trailing behind its first season and the first season of the American mystery series "Wednesday." Its third season is already garnering high expectations, as it is scheduled for release in June. The first season of "Squid Game" shattered multiple Netflix records, amassing 1.65 billion viewing hours within its first 28 days of release in September 2021. It topped the platform's charts in 94 countries and held the top spot for a record-breaking 106 consecutive days, with total viewing hours now surpassing 2.3 billion. Meanwhile, filmmaker Sean Baker's comedy "Anora" won the Best Picture prize, making it a strong contender for an Oscar at the Academy Awards to be held next month. 2025-02-10 15:11:59

Number of North Korean defectors slightly increases despite tighter border controls A group of North Korean defectors arrive in Seoul, in this file photo from April 2016. Courtesy of the Ministry of Unification SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - The number of North Korean defectors here reached 236 last year, up 20.4 percent from the previous year. The uptick was partly due to those who had been stranded in third countries during the coronavirus pandemic finally making their way to the South. According to the Ministry of Unification on Tuesday, some 26 of them were men, while the rest were women. As of the end of last year, a total of 34,314 North Koreans had defected to South Korea since records began. Women accounted for over 70 percent of them with nearly 25,000. The ministry attributed this to the tendency that men appear to be more bound by the North Korean regime's tightly controlled society than women. The ministry said many of these defectors in recent years had spent extended periods in third countries, often passing through Southeast Asia before reaching Seoul. It added that strict border controls with China during the pandemic made their journey challenging, delaying their eventual arrival in South Korea. Only three defectors directly crossed the border from North Korea into South Korea last year: one drifted into South Korean waters near Gyodong Island, near Incheon another crossed the border on foot in Goseong, Gangwon Province, and a third defected by boat in the West Sea. "Since the pandemic, border controls have tightened, and even travel within China has become extremely difficult," a ministry official said. "In the past, defectors could pay brokers to facilitate their escape, but that is no longer a viable option. Crossing the North Korea-China border to defect has now become extremely difficult." Meanwhile, the number of North Koreans escaping to the South has steadily declined over the past decade, after a peak of 2,914 in 2009. About 2,706 defectors newly settled here the following year, but the number has since nearly halved, falling to 1,047 in 2019. 2025-02-07 14:36:43

Former special ops commander testifies Yoon ordered arrest of lawmakers SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - Another witness involved in President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 martial law debacle last December testified on Thursday that Yoon had ordered him to arrest lawmakers from the National Assembly on that fateful night. Former Army Special Warfare Command (SWC) commander Kwak Jong-geun made the statement during a hearing for Yoon's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul. When asked whether the lawmakers were the targets of Yoon's order, Kwak confirmed that they were. He further elaborated that when Yoon gave the order to "enter and drag out the people inside," he assumed the target was the lawmakers, as there were no others like martial law troops in the National Assembly's main hall. Earlier in the day, Colonel Kim Hyun-tae, head of the 707th Special Mission Group involved in the martial law attempt also testified he was instructed to block the National Assembly. "The mission I was given was to block and secure the National Assembly. I instructed the personnel to block the parliamentary building," Kim said. Their testimonies align with those of National Intelligence Service deputy director Hong Jang-won, who appeared at a previous hearing earlier this week and gave similar testimony, saying that he was ordered to round up lawmakers. Yoon has refuted these allegations, explaining that his instructions were aimed at capturing "spies." Former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun also claimed that the order to "drag out" was directed at "agents," not lawmakers. 2025-02-06 17:13:12