Journalist

Yoon Juhye
  • Seoul may send charter or military planes to bring home Koreans from Middle East
    Seoul may send charter or military planes to bring home Koreans from Middle East SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) -Seoul is mulling to send chartered planes and military transport aircraft to bring home South Korean nationals stranded across the Middle East as commercial flights remain disrupted by the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, government officials said Wednesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina said the government is reviewing multiple options, including dispatching aircraft and additional rapid-response teams, to assist citizens attempting to leave the region. “The government is considering deploying chartered planes and military transport aircraft, as well as dispatching additional joint rapid-response teams,” Kim said during a joint briefing after an interagency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to assess the evolving Middle East situation. Authorities are continuing to track the status of South Korean nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates and other countries while coordinating with relevant ministries to secure safe and swift returns. About 17,000 South Koreans are estimated to be stranded across roughly 10 Middle Eastern countries affected by the conflict, according to the foreign ministry. The figure excludes short-term travelers. Officials warned that the crisis could prolong or escalate and assured to prioritize the safety of nationals. Earlier this week, around 140 South Koreans and their foreign family members were evacuated from Iran, Israel and Bahrain and relocated to neighboring countries. On Tuesday, 24 South Koreans in Iran were moved to Turkmenistan, while 66 in Israel were evacuated to Egypt. “The foreign ministry will mobilize all available resources and assets to ensure that no South Korean nationals are harmed amid the situation in the Middle East,” Kim said. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok instructed ministries to draw up detailed contingency plans to address the widening fallout from the conflict, including ensuring the safety of Korean citizens and closely monitoring financial and currency markets. He also urged officials to respond proactively to difficulties faced by Korean companies operating in the region. The foreign ministry later held a separate meeting with embassy officials from 14 countries across the Middle East and surrounding areas, including Iran, Israel, Turkmenistan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, to discuss ways to facilitate departures, particularly for short-term travelers, as airline operations remain unstable. Meanwhile, travel agencies have begun arranging alternative routes for stranded tourists. About 40 customers of Hana Tour departed Dubai on Wednesday morning and arrived in Taipei the same day, where they will stay overnight before returning to Incheon on a Korean Air flight Thursday. Of roughly 540 customers from Hana Tour and Mode Tour currently in the Middle East, about 240 are in Dubai. Travel firms are coordinating with airlines to secure additional connecting flights from Thursday, while monitoring whether scheduled direct flights from Dubai to Incheon resume without disruption. Industry officials said Cairo’s airport remains fully operational, allowing travelers evacuated there to return home through rerouted commercial flights. 2026-03-05 07:27:50
  • Culture minister vows crackdown on BTS concert scalping; says Netflix stream was agency’s call
    Culture minister vows crackdown on BTS concert scalping; says Netflix stream was agency’s call Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said March 4 that the government would step up efforts to prevent ticket scalping and price gouging tied to BTS’ planned “Gwanghwamun comeback” concert. Speaking at a full meeting of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Choi responded to questions from Rep. Lee Gi-heon of the Democratic Party. Lee said hotel rooms near Gwanghwamun that had cost 250,000 won were being raised to 800,000 won, and that some operators were canceling existing reservations and reselling rooms at sharply higher prices. “Scalping is also an emergency,” he said. The BTS Gwanghwamun comeback concert is free, but scalpers have been selling access through practices such as transferring IDs and wristbands. Choi said authorities were “actively monitoring and cracking down,” but acknowledged limits. “We will work aggressively during the remaining period so there are no unfortunate incidents,” he said. Lawmakers also criticized Netflix’s exclusive live broadcast of the concert. Rep. Lim Oh-kyeong of the Democratic Party said it was contradictory to stress fostering domestic streaming platforms while a major national event’s rights went to a foreign company. Choi said the decision was made by the group’s agency after weighing various factors, and that it was difficult for the government to intervene. He added that domestic platforms appeared to face limitations in carrying the broadcast, and said he was concerned the ministry’s views were not more fully reflected. Separately, lawmakers urged stronger action against so-called “one-click publishing,” in which generative AI is used to produce thousands of e-books in a short time. Under the current legal deposit system, there are no standards to identify AI publications, no labeling requirement and no separate management framework. The ministry established a “Culture AI Policy Division” last March to oversee AI-related work. Rep. Kim Jae-won of the Rebuilding Korea Future Party said the government should define the institutional status of AI-generated works and create a comprehensive plan covering eligibility for public support programs and measures to address market distortion and overproduction. Choi said books “churned out by AI” should be excluded from legal deposit, and said the ministry was strengthening monitoring and pursuing institutional changes to create a legal basis. He said a comprehensive plan was needed so AI could be used to support growth in culture and the arts, and that the new dedicated unit would lead the work. In another exchange, lawmakers called on government officials to join efforts after President Lee Jae-myung put up for sale a home he had lived in for 29 years as part of a push to normalize the real estate market. Rep. Min Hyung-bae of the Democratic Party said Choi and his spouse owned an apartment in Anyang and a multi-family home in Pyeongchang, and that Choi’s mother and children held commercial and single-family properties. Min also said nine of the heads of 16 agencies under the ministry owned two or more properties, and urged a ministry-level review. Choi said all of the properties he owns are primary residences, adding that the ministry was reviewing the issue and that he agreed with the intent.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 11:51:18
  • Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young says talks underway to protect Olympic viewing rights
    Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young says talks underway to protect Olympic viewing rights Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said Tuesday that his ministry is discussing institutional measures with the Korea Communications and Media Commission amid controversy over the public being deprived of access to watch the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Choi made the remarks during a briefing to the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, responding to questions from Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Kye-won. Cho warned that disputes over Olympic broadcast rights could restrict the public’s ability to watch. He said the Milan Olympics opening ceremony drew just a 1.8% rating, calling it a bleak result and attributing it to the absence of terrestrial broadcasting. Cho added that JTBC has secured exclusive rights to broadcast the Olympics from 2026 to 2032 and the World Cup through 2030. With a single channel holding the rights, he said, the public lost chances to cheer, citing cases in which athlete Choi Ga-on’s effort was reduced to a single line of on-screen text. Some countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, regulate major international sports events such as the Olympics to prevent pay-TV broadcasters from monopolizing rights and to protect public access. Choi said JTBC’s coverage falls under the commission’s rules on universal access, but acknowledged there were limits to nationwide viewing. “This has made us keenly aware of the seriousness,” he said, adding that discussions are underway with the Korea Communications and Media Commission on institutional safeguards. Lawmakers also raised concerns that Hallyu-related tourism is concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. Of the top 10 concerts by ticket sales in 2024, nine were held in the capital region, with the exception of Psy’s “Summer Swag” show in Busan. The imbalance has fueled calls to develop mid- to large-scale multipurpose arenas outside the capital region. Choi said the ministry is preparing to launch feasibility studies for such arenas outside the Seoul area to speed up the expansion of regional performance infrastructure. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 10:54:17
  • Lee Kun-hee Collection Tour Heads to Chicago With 2,000 Years of Korean Art
    Lee Kun-hee Collection Tour Heads to Chicago With 2,000 Years of Korean Art The Lee Kun-hee Collection’s overseas tour is continuing, with Chicago set as the next stop after the first exhibition in Washington. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the National Museum of Korea said on the 4th that the tour’s second exhibition, “Korean National Treasures: 2,000 Years of Art,” will be held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Opening on the 7th, the show brings together 257 objects from 140 cultural properties spanning traditional and modern Korean art. Highlights include seven national treasures and 15 “treasures” from the National Museum of Korea, as well as 13 major works of modern and contemporary art from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, including pieces by Kim Whanki, Park Su-geun and Chang Ucchin. The international tour of works donated by the late Lee Kun-hee began in November last year with the special exhibition “Korea’s Treasures: Collecting, Cherishing, Sharing” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. The museum said the show drew about 80,000 visitors, its largest attendance for a special exhibition in the past five years. The tour now moves to Chicago, where it will run from March 7 to July 5 at the Art Institute of Chicago, described by the organizers as one of the most influential museums in the United States. The institute is housed in a building constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, which the article notes was a significant venue where Joseon presented an exhibition to introduce its history and culture to the international community after the 1882 Korea-U.S. treaty. The Art Institute expanded in 2009 with the Modern Wing designed by architect Renzo Piano. Organizers said this exhibition will be the first Asian art special exhibition held in the Modern Wing’s first-floor special exhibition galleries. The exhibition includes many nationally designated cultural properties. Among 22 representative works from the National Museum of Korea are Jeong Seon’s “Inwang Jesaekdo,” Kim Hong-do’s “Chuseongbudo,” a white porcelain bowl inscribed with “Cheon·ji·hyeon·hwang,” a gilt-bronze Buddha from the Three Kingdoms period, the Goryeo-era “Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara” painting, and the early Joseon text “Seokbosangjeol.” From the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Lee Kun-hee Collection, the show presents 13 modern and contemporary masterpieces reflecting Korea’s turbulent 20th-century history. In addition to Kim Whanki’s “Sanhullim 19-II-73#307” (1973) and Baek Nam-sun’s “Paradise” (1936), shown in the first tour stop, 11 newly selected works will be added. Among them are Lee Jung-seop’s “Bull” (1950s) and “Family and First Snow” (1950s), Park Su-geun’s “Woman Pounding Grain” (1957), and Chang Ucchin’s “Ferryboat” (1951). Also included are Kim Eun-ho’s “Ganseong” (1927), Park Rae-hyun’s “Flute” (1956), Lee Jong-woo’s “Portrait of a Friend” (1926), Lee Ungno’s “Crowd” (1988), and Kim Ki-chang’s “War Horses” (1955). The works, once privately held, became public assets after Lee’s family donated them to the nation in 2021. Organizers said the title “Korean National Treasures” is intended not only to refer to officially designated national treasures but also to convey the idea of “the nation’s treasures” shared by the public. After the Chicago run ends July 5, the exhibition will move to the British Museum in London, where it is scheduled to be held from Oct. 1 to 2027-01-31. 2026-03-04 09:25:14
  • New Books: ‘Rome in the Baroque’ and Two More Titles
    New Books: ‘Rome in the Baroque’ and Two More Titles Rome in the Baroque: A City That Opens Your Eyes to Beauty=By Jeong Jin-guk, Datjip. Art critic and photographer Jeong Jin-guk writes that after suffering repeated losses during the COVID-19 pandemic — family, friends and acquaintances — he traveled to Rome. The book pairs photographs he took across the city with humanities-based reflections that came to him on site, aiming to share the essence of Baroque art with friends who could not make the trip. Jeong argues that 17th-century Baroque art shaped the Rome seen today, describing churches in the historic center as “giant museums” where architecture and art are inseparable. He writes that Baroque works foregrounding the Virgin Mary as a compassionate mother became a refuge that encompassed the worlds of masters including Bernini, Caravaggio and Borromini, and that churches touched by their hands evolved beyond religious facilities into living spaces for art. He also frames Baroque as a “visual art” strategy by the Catholic Church to win back popular support in response to the Reformation. In that context, he rereads Rome’s churches, galleries and museums, inviting readers to consider art and faith, life and the cycles of nature amid masterpieces and saints’ legends. “Churches redeveloped in this period decided their facades to fit road conditions. The sacred axis of stubbornly aligning direction had no meaning, and they prioritized roads that made it easier for worshippers to come and go. Elders took the view, ‘What could be more sacred and important than following a path that is good for believers to repent and pray!’ It was a rational yet flexible judgment typical of Romans. They did not believe in ancient geomancy, but they also did not openly dismiss superstition, mindful of public sentiment. For these reasons, the rear and front of churches often changed to match new roads, side-aisle doors were turned into main entrances, or facades were redesigned.” (p. 273) The Invisible Hands Behind the Korean Wave=By Kwon Ho-jin and others, Sawu. The book collects voices of the “invisible hands” that have supported the Korean Wave behind idol stars and hit content. Its 12 co-authors are figures who have worked over the past 30 years in fields including content exports and production, policy design, tourism and academic research. They focus on how the Korean Wave was planned and delivered, then translated and adjusted to local languages and cultures, and they describe how it seeped into fans’ daily lives around the world. The authors also examine the structure of Hallyu as it expanded into industry, tourism and business, viewing it as a layered social, historical and political landscape — what they call a “scene.” “Changing ‘single-director’ arts institutions — where the government appointed the head and the head ran the organization alone — into ‘committees’ was also meant to block government interference and give cultural and arts experts independence and autonomy. Today we take bodies like the Korean Film Council or the Arts Council Korea for granted, but it was not that long ago they were the Korean Motion Picture Promotion Corp. and the Korea Culture and Arts Foundation. When I was a working-level official in the Culture Ministry’s arts bureau, I handled the work of converting the foundation into the Arts Council. I went to the National Assembly several times with an amendment to the Culture and Arts Promotion Act. Back then, I said countless times, ‘Support, but do not interfere.’” (p. 57) Create 3 Million Won in Monthly Dividends in 3 Years With 10 Million Won=By Insaeng-eop, Gyeongiro-um. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the author writes, he narrowly kept his job amid layoffs and began worrying, “If I get fired tomorrow, how will I make a living?” Confronted with the limits of side jobs and juggling multiple gigs, he started looking for ways to make “money work for itself,” focusing on U.S. dividend ETFs and covered-call ETFs. The book says it can create tangible cash flow in a short period without a large investment, and lays out portfolio construction and management based on the author’s chosen mix of dividend ETFs, BDCs and covered-call ETFs. It also explains ETF structures and types, basic mechanics, tax issues and risk factors to help readers design their own portfolios. “One advantage of ETFs is that you can see very transparently where your money is and how it is invested. Most ETFs disclose their holdings and weights on a daily basis. For example, if you hold an S&P 500 ETF, you can immediately check what percentage is in Apple, what percentage is in Microsoft, and how much is allocated to sectors like health care or financials.” (p. 38) * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 15:48:23
  • Museums Near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun to Close for BTS ‘Comeback Live’ Crowd
    Museums Near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun to Close for BTS ‘Comeback Live’ Crowd Major museums around Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square will temporarily close on March 21, when “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” is set to be held at 8 p.m. at the square, as officials brace for heavy crowds. Industry officials said on the 27th that the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History decided to close that day, and the National Folk Museum of Korea has joined the shutdown. The museums said the closures are necessary to protect visitors as large crowds are expected. Up to 260,000 people are projected to gather in the Gwanghwamun area on the day of the BTS event. Other nearby museums are also considering temporary closures, officials said. The Korea Heritage Service is discussing with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and police whether to temporarily close the National Palace Museum of Korea and suspend operations at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Deoksugung Palace. “We plan to make a final decision on closures and palace shutdowns sometime next week,” a Korea Heritage Service official said, adding that the agency will hold a final meeting with related institutions to confirm details, including the scope. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is also adjusting its schedule. The musical “Anna Karenina,” the play “Wasp,” and the dance performance “Double Bill Bliss and Jackie,” which had been scheduled for that day, will not be staged. The center said it is in talks about rescheduling “Park Shin-yang’s Exhibition Show: The Fourth Wall.” Opening some Sejong Center spaces to BTS fans is also under discussion. “We are reviewing multiple options, and nothing has been finalized,” a Sejong Center official said. Police are also preparing safety measures. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has asked Seoul Metro to consider having trains pass through three subway stations — Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung and City Hall — without stopping as a precaution against overcrowding. Traffic controls will also be imposed on Sejong-daero, which will be used as the performance venue, and on nearby roads including Saemunan-ro, Jongno, Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro. The police agency said it will provide advance notice through electronic road signs once control hours are set.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 08:16:31
  • Monk Seonjae Demonstrates Pine Nut Noodles, Calling Food ‘Medicine’
    Monk Seonjae Demonstrates Pine Nut Noodles, Calling Food ‘Medicine’ Biting into a round dumpling, a crisp cucumber aroma spread across the palate, bringing a fresh lift after a winter of heavy air and fine dust. A hands-on event where participants made and tasted Monk Seonjae’s pine nut noodles — praised by chef Ahn Sung-jae on Netflix’s variety show “Culinary Class Wars” — was held Feb. 26 at the Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Center in Seoul’s Jongno district. Hosted by the Korean Buddhist Cultural Heritage Foundation, the event featured Seonjae, known for popularizing temple cuisine, demonstrating how to make “Seungso” pine nut noodles. She toasted pine nuts in a pan, finely chopped them and blended them with water to make the broth. She kneaded flour dough with blanched zucchini and spinach, then pulled thin noodles. She also ground cucumber, mixed it with starch and shaped small, round dumplings. Thinly sliced cucumber and Korean melon, lightly salted, were added as garnish. “Seungso” (僧笑) refers to a dish tasty enough to make a monk smile. The noodles highlighted the ingredients’ natural color and fragrance, with pine nuts complemented by the clean scent of cucumber and Korean melon for a mild, refreshing finish. Journalists attending the session split into four teams of four to five people and followed Seonjae’s recipe, pulling noodles and shaping dumplings by hand. Seonjae repeatedly emphasized that “food is medicine,” saying the hardest part of cooking is deciding who will eat it. “You have to make food that fits that person — food that becomes medicine,” she said. “The scriptures say all food is medicine. People usually call seasonings ‘flavoring,’ but in Buddhism it’s the idea of adding taste and medicine. It’s not food that only tastes good; it should suit the person’s palate and be good for the body.” She said thinking, taste and the body are connected. “Your taste changes when your thinking changes,” she said. “When your taste changes, your body changes. To avoid wasting food, you have to think of it as precious.” Seonjae said visitors who want to eat her cooking must come one to two hours before mealtime. “You have to make the food together,” she said. “You need to know what went into it to understand its value.” She also urged ingredients that align with Buddhism’s view of life. “You can only become healthy by eating ingredients that respect nature’s life — not ones that pollute the soil, water and air,” she said, adding that many people are unfamiliar with ingredients such as bang-a and perilla. “Bang-a makes soybean paste stew sweet and delicious. We need to teach children these things.” Seonjae stressed learning “what is ours” first. “If our children don’t know how to ferment sauces or make kimchi, our culture will disappear,” she said. “Then even our DNA will have to change. We must protect our culture.” The Jogye Order said it plans to intensify efforts to promote temple cuisine. Ilhwa, head of the Korean Buddhist Cultural Heritage Foundation, said at the event that it was meaningful that temple food has recently drawn attention through media as an important cultural phenomenon. The foundation will keep working with countries including France and the United Kingdom to globalize temple cuisine, Ilhwa said. 2026-02-26 16:33:00
  • Kang Sue-jin to step down as Korea National Ballet director after 12-year tenure
    Kang Sue-jin to step down as Korea National Ballet director after 12-year tenure Kang Sue-jin, the Korea National Ballet’s seventh director and artistic director, will step down April 4, ending a 12-year term that began with her appointment in 2014. The company said Feb. 26 that after leaving the post, Kang is expected to be hired as a professor at Seoul Cyber University. In a statement released that day, Kang said the past 12 years were “another passionate and happy time” in her life. “I feel nothing but gratitude to the dancers and audiences who trusted and supported me through every moment with the Korea National Ballet,” she said. “Now I am wrapping up my role and turning my steps toward places our society needs.” She added that she hopes her experience can serve as “a small light” for young people pursuing their dreams in underserved regions, and said she will focus on mentoring future generations and giving back for the support she has received as an artist. During her tenure, Kang worked to strengthen the company’s artistic identity, systematize its creation-based foundation and expand its international standing, the company said. It maintained classical ballet traditions while also developing contemporary works and introducing overseas repertoire to build a balanced program. In 2025, the company staged choreographer John Neumeier’s full-length drama ballet “The Camellia Lady” for the first time in Asia, the company said, calling it a milestone for the domestic ballet scene. The production, which requires substantial resources, was cited as evidence the company can handle international-level repertoire. The company also said Kang focused on strengthening its organizational base, gradually increasing the number of company dancers. It expanded the long-stable quota of regular positions by 28.75% — including planned additions in 2026 — to improve job stability. Soon after her 2014 appointment, Kang also renamed the supporters’ group “KNB Society” and reorganized its operating system to institutionalize private sponsorship, the company said. Supporter membership grew from 40 in 2014 to about 100 in 2025, nearly a 2.5-fold increase. Sponsorship revenue rose from about 50 million won in 2014 to about 430 million won in 2025, nearly a tenfold increase, it said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 14:06:20
  • Draft Manuscripts of Park Ji-won’s ‘Yeolha Ilgi’ Named Korean National Treasure
    Draft Manuscripts of Park Ji-won’s ‘Yeolha Ilgi’ Named Korean National Treasure The Korea Heritage Service said on the 26th it designated a set of draft manuscripts of “Yeolha Ilgi,” a travel account written by Park Ji-won after returning from Qing China in the late Joseon period, as a state-designated cultural heritage treasure. The “Draft Manuscripts of Park Ji-won’s Yeolha Ilgi,” held by Dankook University’s Seok Juseon Memorial Museum, preserves material from the earliest stage of the work’s production. Park (1737-1805) compiled the account after visiting Beijing and other areas, including Rehe. The agency said the manuscripts include an early original text — a book made from the author’s handwritten manuscript — produced after Park’s return from Qing. It said the many copied versions of “Yeolha Ilgi” preserved in Korea and abroad are considered to have been organized on the basis of this original, including the table of contents, order and text. The museum holds 10 types in 20 volumes of draft materials, but the agency said not all are believed to be Park’s own handwritten originals. The collection shows revisions and additions made by his descendants and literary associates. From the 10 types in 20 volumes, the agency designated four types in eight volumes as treasures as Park’s handwritten originals: two volumes of Yeonhaeng Eumcheong (Geon and Gon), which include Western learning-related terms and new content not found in the standard edition; one volume that includes Yeonhaeng Eumcheongrok 4 and Yeonhaeng Eumcheonggi 3, which the agency said reflects the earliest form of the original; four volumes titled Yeolha Ilgi Won, Hyeong, I and Jeong, an original text with a preface and paragraphs; and one volume of Yeolha Piseorok, which contains many passages not included in the standard edition. The agency said the draft set allows researchers to examine both the work’s original form and the process of revision and adaptation by Park and later hands. It said the manuscripts merit treasure status given the work’s influence as a leading Silhak text of the late Joseon period. The Korea Heritage Service also said it designated three other items as treasures: “Amitabha Buddha Preaching,” a Buddhist painting at Hyeondeungsa Temple in Gapyeong; a seated stone Vairocana Buddha at the former Jingusa Temple site in Imsil; and a seated stone triad of Sakyamuni Buddha with associated reliquary items at Sinheungsa Temple in Yangsan.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 13:54:18
  • South Korea issues copyright fair-use guide for generative AI training, including web crawling
    South Korea issues copyright fair-use guide for generative AI training, including web crawling Generative artificial intelligence developers and copyright holders in South Korea now have a new government guide on when copyrighted works may be used fairly to train AI models.  The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Copyright Commission said Thursday they will publish a guide titled “Copyright Law Fair Use Guide for Generative AI Training on Works” (the “fair use guide”). It will be available from 11 a.m. on the commission’s website.  The guide explains four factors considered when judging fair use in the context of generative AI training, including the purpose and character of the use and the type and use of the work. It also says AI training is not automatically excluded from fair use even when done for commercial purposes or through web crawling — the automated collection, sorting and storage of website content — and that decisions require an overall assessment of the factors.  To help readers understand the concept, the guide presents hypothetical examples of situations where fair use could be recognized and where it would be difficult to recognize. The ministry and the commission stressed the examples are not authoritative interpretations, and that courts will determine fair use based on specific facts. Even similar situations could lead to different rulings.  The ministry and the commission said they began preparing the guide after forming a special subcommittee under an AI-copyright system improvement consultative body in September last year. They conducted a survey of AI developers and rights holders from Oct. 13 to Nov. 2, held interagency consultations for about three months starting in November, and released a draft at a public briefing on Dec. 4. They said they reviewed and reflected feedback and expert discussions gathered during the comment process.  The government said it will strengthen policy support so rights holders and the AI industry can better anticipate and respond to copyright issues that may arise as generative AI spreads and training data use expands.  At a meeting held Thursday morning at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, and National AI Strategy Committee Vice Chair Lim Moon-young agreed to work together on institutional improvements and support programs aimed at coexistence between the AI and cultural industries.  The culture ministry said it plans to build a foundation for providing and distributing rights information so users can verify accurate copyright rights-management information and, when needed, sign licensing agreements. The goal is to reduce transaction costs involved in identifying rights holders for training data.  The science ministry said it will link a copyright rights-information system with private data marketplaces through an integrated AI training data supply system. It also plans to promote transactions in works used as training data, including applying research and development tax credits to the cost of purchasing AI training data.  The culture ministry also said it will strengthen the basis for expanding the use of public works as AI training data. It added new categories “Type 0” and “AI Type” to the Public Nuri free-use license marking standards and said it will work with relevant ministries to broaden application of the new categories to public works managed by each ministry and agency.  Choi said the guide will be updated to reflect new court decisions and technological developments. “We will continue to do our best so that protecting creators’ rights and the lawful use of works by AI models can remain in balance,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 11:03:22