Journalist

Kim Hee-su, Han Jun-gu
  • Korean classrooms are thinning fast and remain isolated from AI transition 
    Korean classrooms are thinning fast and remain isolated from AI transition  SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Fewer than 300,000 children will enter first grade across South Korea when the school year begins in March — the smallest cohort on record. The number is set to fall further as the country's ultra-low birthrate continues to hollow out the school-age population. These eight-year-olds are starting school at a moment when artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping work, production and decision-making across society. Yet serious doubts remain over whether South Korea's education system is prepared to equip them for an AI-driven future — amid a shortage of trained teachers, weak curriculum guidance and limited classroom exposure to AI-related learning. Dropping below 300,000 first-graders is rare among OECD countries. The demographic shock is already reshaping schools: classes are being merged, and campuses are closing, particularly in rural areas where student numbers have collapsed. South Korea's total fertility rate rebounded slightly last year to around 0.8 — its first increase in four years — but remains the lowest in the OECD, far below the group's 2023 average of 1.43. According to the Ministry of Education's latest projections for 2026–2031, the number of first-graders nationwide will fall to 298,178. The milestone was originally forecast for 2027, but updated population registry and enrollment data pushed it forward by a year. In Seoul, education guidelines flag schools with fewer than three classes per grade or fewer than 18 students per class for potential teacher reductions. Daecheong Elementary School in Ilwon-dong, Gangnam — which has just 75 students in total — proposed a merger with nearby Yeonghee Elementary last November, but shelved the plan after parent opposition. In 2025, Daecheong had a single first-grade class with just eight students. AI fills labor gaps — but where do children go? As robots and AI systems increasingly replace younger workers, artificial intelligence is no longer viewed in South Korea merely as a technology, but as a structural response to demographic decline. Education, however, is lagging far behind that shift. Efforts to raise AI literacy and close skills gaps remain rudimentary. While AI capabilities are advancing at breakneck speed, school textbooks still reflect the 2022 curriculum revision, instructional hours devoted to information and AI education remain limited, and trained teachers are in short supply. Under the revised national curriculum in 2022, instructional time for information subjects in primary and secondary schools was roughly doubled. Even so, it remains low by international standards. In elementary schools, information education totals just 34 hours — 0.58 percent of the 5,892 hours taught over six years — and is embedded within practical arts classes rather than taught as a standalone subject. Middle school students receive 68 hours over three years, about 2 percent of total instruction time. In high school, AI-related courses are electives, meaning many students may graduate without ever taking one. By comparison, students in the UK receive about 374 hours of information-related instruction, compared with 405 hours in Japan and 212 hours in Beijing. Reflecting this gap, a survey by the Korea Youth Policy Institute found that teenagers rated their experience with AI education at just over 2 out of 4, indicating limited exposure. "South Korea is trying to build its own AI ecosystem right now, but when it comes to education, I see almost no strategic approach," said An Sun-hoi, a professor at the Graduate School of Education at Joongbu University. "Education is the area where democracy functions the least," An said. "Policies tend to favor educators as a group, while the demands of industry, parents and national strategy are barely reflected." As birth cohorts shrink, the stakes are rising, he warned. "We now have to raise a very small pool of human resources into the core talent that will lead the country." He added that greater authority in student evaluation has not translated into clear improvements in learning outcomes. Teaching fewer children — more deeply Global institutions are calling for a fundamental shift in how societies prepare workers for AI. The World Economic Forum has outlined four possible futures for AI and labor, arguing that a "copilot economy" — where humans and AI work together — is more likely than mass job displacement. McKinsey has likewise emphasized that AI and robotics will increase the value of uniquely human skills such as judgment, communication, coordination and creativity. Both stress that the future will depend not on a small elite of AI developers, but on a broad workforce capable of understanding and collaborating with AI systems. "If South Korea continues with its current education system, we risk creating a society where people are subordinated to AI rather than empowered by it," An said. "Critical and creative thinking cannot exist without a solid foundation in knowledge and concepts." Dr. Nancy Le Nezet, a high school principal at Seoul Foreign School, also emphasized education over restriction. "Adults need to keep pace with technological developments so they can understand how their children use AI and social media," she said. "Taking an interest in their world is the best way to protect them — and also a way for adults to keep learning." Experts increasingly argue that instead of shrinking classrooms and cutting staff in line with falling student numbers, South Korea should seize this moment to redesign public education — allocating more teachers, time and resources to each child. The imbalance is already visible. In Gyeonggi Province, average class sizes in 2025 stood at 21.7 students in elementary schools and 25 in middle schools, both above the national average. Nearly a quarter of classes are overcrowded, forcing schools to rely heavily on temporary teachers. Meanwhile, rural regions are seeing a rapid rise in schools with fewer than 100 students, where staffing shortages make it difficult to offer a full curriculum. 2026-01-13 17:56:02
  • Korean Air–Asiana union nears; what does it mean for Asiana passengers?
    Korean Air–Asiana union nears; what does it mean for Asiana passengers? SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - The long-awaited merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is finally approaching completion. But for millions of Asiana passengers, one question matters more than regulatory approvals or aircraft numbers: What happens to my miles, status and benefits? As Asiana is absorbed into Korea's larger flag carrier, its brand, loyalty program and global alliance will all disappear. While the combined airline promises greater scale and efficiency, many frequent flyers fear they may lose hard-earned advantages along the way. Miles: the biggest unresolved issue The most sensitive issue remains mileage integration, now widely seen as the final hurdle to full merger approval. In September last year, Korean Air proposed converting flight-earned miles at a 1:1 ratio, while credit-card miles would be converted at 1:0.82. Consumer groups objected immediately, arguing that the two airlines' mileage programs are not equal in value. Industry estimates put the value of a Korean Air mile at about 21–23 won ($0.02), compared with 17–19 won for an Asiana mile. The gap reflects stricter qualification rules at Korean Air, where elite status requires far more flying. Asiana flyers currently reach Gold status at 20,000 miles, while Korean Air's entry-level elite tier, Morning Calm, requires 50,000 miles. That difference has allowed many travelers to earn a higher status more easily on Asiana. Why elite flyers are worried Under the merger, the two loyalty systems will eventually be combined. That raises fears on both sides: Asiana customers worry their miles and status will be downgraded, while Korean Air elites fear their hard-earned privileges will be diluted if the elite pool suddenly expands. One frequent flyer summed it up online: "If lounge access and upgrades don't expand with the number of elite members, benefits will lose their meaning." To address criticism, Korean Air revised its plan, proposing to keep the two mileage programs separate for 10 years, with no conversion during that period. After a decade, all miles would move under Korean Air's Skypass program. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) rejected that proposal in December, asking for stronger guarantees on award-seat availability and mileage upgrades — a decision that has pushed final integration further into the future. Alliance change: fewer global perks Another major change is Asiana's exit from Star Alliance in October. The airline will move to SkyTeam, Korean Air's alliance, because airlines cannot belong to two alliances at once. For many Asiana frequent flyers, this is a clear loss. Star Alliance has 25 member airlines, compared with SkyTeam's 19, and offers broader global coverage and lounge access. Korean Air says SkyTeam is sufficient for major routes and that customers will gain better access to its direct flights. Business travelers, however, say the shift reduces flexibility rather than improving it. One brand survives — and it's not Asiana The merger also ends Asiana Airlines as a standalone brand. Korean Air has made clear it will operate the combined carrier under its own name. Last year, it unveiled a refreshed logo and aircraft design, replacing "KOREAN AIR" with a simplified "KOREAN." For Asiana customers, the message is clear: this is not a merger of equals. The physical transition will also take time. Korean Air must repaint 238 aircraft, including 68 from Asiana, by 2027. Each repaint can take up to 15 days and cost nearly 1 billion won, raising questions about cost and disruption during the transition. Bigger airline, lingering doubts Legally, the deal is almost done. Korean Air completed the acquisition on Dec. 11, 2024, after securing approvals in 14 jurisdictions. Once fully integrated, the airline will rank among the world's top ten, with more than 230 aircraft, service to 120 cities and annual revenue exceeding 23 trillion won. At Incheon Airport, it will control about 37 percent of slots, with Asiana moving to Terminal 2 in mid-January 2026 for smoother transfers. Yet analysts say scale alone won't determine success. "If customers feel their loyalty was simply erased, the merger's long-term value will suffer," one industry official said. The question is no longer whether the merger will happen — but whether Korean Air can keep the trust of Asiana’s passengers once it does. 2026-01-12 16:26:34
  • S. Koreas airline passengers hit record high last year on strong short-haul demand
    S. Korea's airline passengers hit record high last year on strong short-haul demand SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - The number of airline passengers traveling through South Korea's airports reached an all-time high last year, boosted by a surge in short-haul international routes, particularly to Japan and China. According to aviation statistics released Friday by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Civil Aviation Association, the combined number of domestic and international air passengers totaled 124.79 million last year, up 3.9 percent from 120.06 million a year earlier. The figure surpassed the previous record set in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when passenger traffic stood at 122.36 million, by about 1.2 percent. Domestic air travel declined 2.8 percent on the year to 30.25 million passengers, while international traffic rose 6.3 percent to a record 94.55 million, offsetting the domestic downturn. By region, Japan-bound routes carried 27.31 million passengers, an 8.6 percent increase from the previous year and a sharp 44.8 percent jump compared with 2019 levels. Analysts attribute the rise to the prolonged weak yen and an expansion of routes, including services to smaller regional cities. Passenger numbers on China routes climbed 22 percent to 16.8 million, recovering to 91.2 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound was supported by China's visa-free entry policy for South Korean travelers, the resumption of visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists to South Korea from late September, and aggressive low-fare strategies by Chinese airlines. As traffic concentrated on Japan and China, routes to other Asian destinations, including Southeast Asia, edged down 0.5 percent year on year to 34.82 million passengers, or 95.6 percent of 2019 levels. Transpacific routes to the Americas recorded 6.82 million passengers, up 4.7 percent, while European routes carried 4.85 million, a 5.5 percent increase. International passenger numbers rose overall across the industry, but airline performance varied widely. Among low-cost carriers, Jeju Air saw the steepest decline, with passenger numbers falling 9 percent to 7.78 million. Air Busan carried 4.16 million passengers, down 7.4 percent, while Air Seoul posted an 8.4 percent drop to 1.68 million. In contrast, airlines that expanded seat capacity recorded sharp gains. Aero K saw passenger numbers surge 75.4 percent to 1.5 million, while Eastar Jet carried 3.07 million passengers, up 59.7 percent. Air Premia also posted strong growth, with 1.08 million passengers, a 42.3 percent increase. T’way Air transported 7.06 million passengers, up 7.3 percent, while Jin Air carried 6.67 million, a 2.2 percent rise. Parata Air, a new entrant that launched international services in November, recorded about 71,000 passengers. Among full-service carriers (FSC), Korean Air carried 19.14 million international passengers, an 8.2 percent increase, while Asiana Airlines transported 12.15 million, up 1.3 percent. Industry officials said safety concerns following recent aviation incidents prompted some passengers to shift demand toward full-service carriers from early last year. 2026-01-09 16:40:19
  • Growing strawberries year-round, even in desert with Koreas smart farming
    Growing strawberries year-round, even in desert with Korea's smart farming SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Strawberries are no longer a spring fruit in Korea. They have become seasonless — and in fact, their peak arrives in icy-cold winter. From strawberry cakes to lattes, the fruit dominates winter menus. "Orders are pouring in because it's winter strawberry season. We go through 10 kilograms of strawberries a day," said the owner of a café in downtown Seoul. Winter strawberries grown in greenhouses are known to be especially sweet. From winter staple to export powerhouse Korea-grown strawberries have also gained global popularity. Strawberry exports surpassed the 100-billion-won ($70 million) mark in 2023, becoming the country's top agricultural export item by value. Their appeal lies in freshness and sweetness — the result of advanced breeding technology. Only Korea, Japan and China possess premium strawberry varieties with high sugar content that are widely recognized in global markets. Among them, Korea has secured a competitive edge by developing proprietary varieties such as Seolhyang, Maehyang and Geumsil, establishing what industry officials describe as "sovereignty" in strawberry farming. Since Seolhyang — a low-acid, juicy variety developed by the Nonsan Strawberry Research Institute under the Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services — entered the market, Korea's domestic strawberry variety adoption rate has reached 96.3 percent. Between 2005 and 2020, the country saved an estimated 35 billion won in royalty payments by replacing foreign varieties. The strawberry "family" has continued to expand, with Maehyang introduced in 2010, Kingsberry in 2012, Sunnyberry in 2016, Vitaberry in 2017 and Geumsil in 2019. Currently, 18 Korean strawberry varieties are registered with the Rural Development Administration. More than half of Korea's strawberry exports are shipped to Southeast Asian markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore. To maintain freshness, shipments rely on air freight and short-haul routes — a limitation that has capped further export growth. "If they can't go far, why not grow them overseas?" That question has led Korea's strawberry industry toward smart-farm experiments in the Middle East. Smart farms take strawberries to the desert Smart farming offers solutions to those logistical constraints. Water usage is reduced to roughly one-tenth of traditional agriculture, farms can be built in deserts or city centers, and production is shielded from climate volatility. These advantages have drawn strong interest from Middle Eastern countries pursuing food self-sufficiency. Heating is the key challenge for winter farming in temperate climates — while cooling is the main hurdle in desert regions. Artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped both. "Everything is automated based on environmental conditions that replicate natural growing environments through sensors," said Lee Sang-hun, CEO of Agro Solution Korea. Lee has been running a vertical farm in Abu Dhabi's Al Khatm South district since January 2025. Sensors collect real-time data on temperature, humidity and soil moisture, which AI systems analyze to automatically maintain optimal growing conditions. Early signs of pests and diseases are detected, while LED light spectra are adjusted according to growth stages to boost energy efficiency. Manual monitoring is largely replaced by data. Smart farms precisely control temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels and lighting. Vertical farms, in particular, achieve high productivity in confined spaces using multi-tier shelf structures. In conventional setups, fixed growing beds waste 30 to 40 percent of floor space on permanent walkways. The "Moving Bed" system addresses that inefficiency. Beds glide left and right on floor-mounted rails, remaining tightly packed during normal operation. When workers need access, pathways open only where necessary. "Vertical farms require more than 5 million won per pyeong in upfront investment for a four-tier structure," Lee said. "That's heavy capital, but the Middle East has the financial capacity." Lee added that while talks are underway with the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, large-scale expansion in Southeast Asia is challenging due to high humidity, unstable electricity and limited corporate investment. "The Middle East is more attractive," he said. Growing strawberries in Abu Dhabi Lee's smart farm in Abu Dhabi uses a "Double Bed" system. Unlike conventional single-row planting, two beds are connected to increase planting density and maximize yield per square meter. With this setup, 12,000 strawberry plants can be grown in a 75-pyeong (248-square-meter) facility, producing about one ton of strawberries per month. The potential is significant in a region where food self-sufficiency rates hover around 10 percent. Locally grown strawberries are virtually nonexistent, with imports arriving mainly from Europe and the United States. Long-haul logistics push prices into luxury territory. "In desert climates where temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall falls below 100 millimeters, traditional agriculture is nearly impossible," Lee said. Strawberries reach optimal flavor at sugar levels above 10 Brix, he explained, requiring temperature swings between a maximum of 24 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 10 degrees. "Strawberries are cold-climate plants, so heating isn't necessary," Lee said. "In vertical farms, we mainly focus on cooling. Even in winter, indoor temperatures remain stable — winter is actually ideal." Although desert heat suggests heavy cooling costs, Lee said insulation makes the difference. "We use double-layer sandwich panels to block external heat and maintain internal temperatures. There's minimal heat loss." Electricity costs also favor the Middle East. In the UAE, power for data centers costs about 73 won per kilowatt-hour — less than half Korea's average commercial rate of 172.99 won. Lee's company is also working with the Korea Institute of Energy Research on a proof-of-concept project to capture waste heat from LEDs. Since LEDs emit only 20 percent light and 80 percent heat, recovering that heat could significantly cut cooling demand. Automation and the road ahead Automation is also reducing labor costs. While strawberry harvesting still requires human hands, Lee said progress is being made. "Starting this January at our Iksan farm, robots patrol the facility to identify pest and disease outbreaks and apply treatments only where needed," he said. Full automation of harvesting is expected to take several more years. K-strawberry exports, which approached 100 billion won again in 2024, are projected to expand further. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has set a target of $21 billion in K-food exports by 2030 and identified the Middle East as a key growth market for fresh fruit. The Middle Eastern fruit and vegetable market is expected to grow from $17.9 billion in 2025 to $25.8 billion by 2032 — and Korea's smart-farm technology may offer the blueprint for growing strawberries where none could grow before. 2026-01-08 17:55:42
  • Overseas fugitives top 1,000 for first time as cross-border scams surge in Korea
    Overseas fugitives top 1,000 for first time as cross-border scams surge in Korea SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - The number of criminal suspects who fled overseas after committing crimes in South Korea has surged past 1,000 for the first time on record, raising concerns that the country is increasingly exposed to transnational crime networks operating across Asia and Russia. According to the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), 1,249 new overseas fugitives were recorded last year, up 31 percent from 951 a year earlier. It marked the first time the annual figure exceeded 1,000 since police began compiling the data. Police attribute the sharp rise to the growing internationalization and organization of crime, particularly scam- and fraud-related offenses structured to operate across borders. In the past, overseas flight was largely associated with suspects attempting to evade punishment after committing violent crimes such as murder or robbery. In recent years, however, many criminal operations have been designed from the outset to run from abroad, with perpetrators establishing overseas bases while targeting victims in South Korea. That shift has drawn renewed attention to Cambodia, which has emerged as a major hub for global online scam operations. Last August, a South Korean college student who traveled to Cambodia after being promised a high-paying job was found dead near a crime compound in the Bokor Mountain area of Kampot province. A joint investigation and autopsy conducted with local authorities found extensive signs of assault and torture. Cambodia has long been identified as a center for online scam activity involving the abduction and trafficking of foreign nationals. KNPA data show that Cambodia ranked first among destinations linked to overseas fugitives last year, with 399 suspects, or 31.8 percent of the total — overtaking China, which recorded 254 cases. The Cambodia-linked figure more than tripled from 123 a year earlier. Police believe hundreds of scam compounds operated by Chinese criminal organizations are scattered across Cambodia, drawing in criminal groups from South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and elsewhere to form an extensive transnational network. Experts trace the roots of this structure to the mid-2000s, when Cambodia and China jointly developed the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone. After China intensified its anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping in 2018, casino capital and criminal groups relocated to Cambodia. When the COVID-19 pandemic undermined the casino economy, these groups pivoted to online scams, repurposing existing infrastructure and manpower into what police describe as corporate-style fraud operations. Fraud accounted for the largest share of offenses among overseas fugitives last year, with 757 cases, or 60.6 percent of the total, followed by online gambling at 141 cases, or 11.3 percent. Most involved cyber-enabled financial crimes, including voice phishing, investment scams, romance scams and schemes using deepfake technology, the KNPA said. "In the past, suspects could simply flee overseas and wait out the statute of limitations," said Shin Yi-chul, chair of the Department of Police Science at Wonkwang Digital University. "But the law has since been revised so that the statute of limitations is suspended when a suspect flees abroad. Overseas flight no longer offers a real escape — at best, it buys time." Law enforcement authorities have stepped up cooperation with foreign counterparts through permanent joint investigation teams, enabling faster arrests on the ground. A key example is the Korea Task Force jointly operated by South Korean and Cambodian police. Established in November, the unit arrested 92 South Korean suspects within its first month. In early December, authorities detained the ringleader and 15 members of a romance-scam organization responsible for 26 billion won ($1.8 million) in losses in Poipet. Later that month, joint raids near the Cambodia–Vietnam border led to the arrest of 26 additional suspects. Extraditions have also risen. Police repatriated 828 fugitives last year, up nearly 20 percent from the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive annual record since 2022. In total, 263 South Korean suspects were arrested in Cambodia alone. "Crimes committed domestically have become much harder to carry out," an official at the KNPA's International Cooperation Bureau said. "International cooperation — through channels such as Interpol and bilateral partnerships — is now far more active and effective than in the past." 2026-01-07 17:22:04
  • Stray Kids, Jennie to headline major US music festival The Governors Ball
    Stray Kids, Jennie to headline major US music festival 'The Governors Ball' SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Jennie and K-pop boy band Stray Kids will headline The Governors Ball Music Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the U.S. Organizers of The Governors Ball Music Festival announced on Tuesday the lineup for this year's event, scheduled to take place from June 5 to 7 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York. HYBE's Korean-American joint girl group KATSEYE, which has been nominated for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards set to be held in February, will open the festival on June 5. Stray Kids will headline the June 6 show, while Jennie will take the stage as a headliner on June 7. Jennie is expected to perform tracks from her first full-length solo album, "Ruby," during her set. The festival is a large-scale outdoor music event held annually in New York during the summer. Past headliners include Eminem, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Lizzo. Meanwhile, Stray Kids have set a record by topping the U.S. Billboard 200 with eight consecutive releases. According to the latest chart released on Tuesday, the group's fourth full-length album, "KARMA," ranked No. 117, marking its 19th consecutive week on the chart and extending the group's longest charting record. Jennie recorded the highest first-week sales ever for a female solo artist in Korea last year, selling around 660,000 copies, according to the Korea-based music sales tracking system Hanteo Chart. She also logged the highest cumulative views at the Melon Music Awards, organized by Korea's largest music streaming platform, with a total of 1.7 billion streams to date. 2026-01-07 16:37:05
  • K-content gets a permanent address in Incheon — now comes the harder part: keeping it interesting
    K-content gets a permanent address in Incheon — now comes the harder part: keeping it interesting SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Imagine never having to fight ticket scalpers again for a G-Dragon concert. No frantic refreshing. No VIP seats resold at 6.8 million won. Just… a year-round GD performance you can drop in on, any weekend you like. That, at least, is the fantasy behind Incheon's ambitious bet on what officials are calling "K-Con Land" — a sprawling cultural complex designed to give K-pop, K-drama and digital content something they've never really had before: a permanent home. At the heart of the plan is a concert hall where holograms of past and present stars perform on a rotating basis. Die-hard fans won't have to wait for comeback tours or overseas dates. The show, in theory, is always on. But K-Con Land is not just about concerts. The larger vision, unfolding across the Cheongna and Yeongjong districts, is to stitch together production studios, performance venues, hotels and tourism infrastructure into a single ecosystem — one that turns K-content from a series of one-off events into something closer to a standing attraction. Think less "festival weekend," more "content district." From airport stopover to content destination Incheon's pitch starts with geography. The city sits next to Korea's main international gateway, and with the opening of the Third Sea Bridge this week, Cheongna and Yeongjong are now directly linked. The goal is to turn airport proximity — long a logistics advantage — into a cultural one. At the center of the plan is I-Con City, a massive complex slated for Cheongna International City, just west of Yeongjong Island. The project covers 260,000 square meters — roughly the size of Yeouido Park — with total floor space exceeding that of COEX. Rising up to 49 floors, the complex will house an arena, VFX studios, a content tower, museums, hotels and resort facilities, all wrapped around a central public space dubbed "Durumi Park." The idea is frictionless circulation: artists arrive, shoot, perform and stay in one place; visitors watch, tour, sleep and move on — or stick around longer. Transportation is meant to do the rest. Subway Line 7's extension to Cheongna, scheduled for 2027, will cut travel time to Gangnam to about 68 minutes without transfers. A KTX connection from Incheon via Songdo would link the area to Busan in just over two hours. For a city long seen as peripheral to Seoul’s cultural core, those minutes matter. Competing with Seoul — by not being Seoul Cheongna's biggest selling point may be what it lacks: density. Unlike Seoul's Sangam Digital Media City, where land is tight and costs are high, Cheongna offers room to build large-scale studios and move bulky equipment — and to house international crews without scattering them across the capital. Production, performance and accommodation in one zone is not just convenient; developers argue it cuts costs and time. "With the Third Land Bridge, Cheongna is now directly connected to Yeouido in 30 minutes and to Yeongjong," said Eum Jae-sang, CIO at DAOL Asset Management. "With Starfield Cheongna and a university hospital also coming in, this won't be a bedroom town. It's becoming a district with its own purpose." The lineup of partners reflects that long-game thinking. U.S.-based boutique hotel franchise The Kessler Collection will oversee overall development and hospitality operations. DAOL manages the funds. POSCO E&C is handling construction. Galaxy Corporation — which represents G-Dragon — is in charge of content operations. Financial structuring is being led by SK Securities. Hotel Shilla will operate serviced residences, while a U.S. senior-living operator is joining the residential side. "This isn't a build-and-sell project," Eum said. "We're talking about operating this for 20 to 30 years after completion." The real test: content, not concrete Construction is slated to begin in the second half of 2027, with completion targeted for 2031. By then, the buildings will likely be impressive. What's less guaranteed is what happens inside them. Industry officials say tax incentives for foreign content producers could make or break the project's appeal. Incheon's Free Economic Zone authority has been calling for stronger breaks, arguing that global competition for film and content production is intensifying. "If production costs one unit, the regional economic impact can be seven to ten times that," said Commissioner Yun Won-sok early last year, noting that many advanced economies now offer aggressive incentives to attract studios. For a project estimated at 1.9 trillion won, the stakes are high. K-content has proven it can draw global attention — but turning that attention into a permanent tourist habit is another matter entirely. A hologram concert may draw crowds once. The challenge will be making them come back. 2026-01-06 17:05:20
  • New S. Korean regional carrier SUM Airs first aircraft arrives at Gimpo
    New S. Korean regional carrier SUM Air's first aircraft arrives at Gimpo SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - SUM Air, a new South Korean regional carrier, said its first new-build aircraft has arrived at Gimpo International Airport after completing a multi-leg ferry flight from France. The inaugural aircraft of SUM Air, a Regional Air Mobility (RAM) operator, departed Toulouse on Jan. 1 and landed at Gimpo International Airport on Jan. 4, according to the company. The aircraft was formally handed over on Dec. 29 following the completion of leasing procedures with aircraft lessor Avation. It was registered in South Korea on Dec. 30 under the registration number HL5264 before departing France. The delivery flight was conducted as a ferry flight, operating without passengers or cargo, and passed through Cairo, Muscat, Nagpur and Da Nang en route to South Korea. SUM Air said the aircraft will undergo demonstration flights required for air operator certification. Following consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the airline plans to conduct trial takeoffs and landings in February at Goheung Airfield in South Jeolla Province, which has a 1,200-meter runway comparable in length to Ulleung Island's planned airport. SUM means "island" in Korean, and the carrier plans to connect cities and islands, including Ulleung, Heuksan and Baengnyeong, once their airports open. "SUM Air aims to address mobility challenges in regions with limited air connectivity and grow into a core regional carrier linking communities across Korea by revitalizing regional airports," said Choi Yong-duck, CEO of SUM Air. 2026-01-05 17:35:18
  • Lights-out warfare and why it should worry South Korea
    Lights-out warfare and why it should worry South Korea SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning U.S. raid last weekend was not merely a dramatic geopolitical shock. It marked a decisive shift in how modern wars are fought — quietly, surgically and increasingly in the dark. The operation, carried out by U.S. Delta Force commandos, removed a sitting head of state from his bedroom in just five minutes, completing an end-to-end mission in under five hours. Yet the most striking element was not speed or firepower, but how little the world saw while it was happening. There were no mass airstrikes. No prolonged fighting. No advance warning. Instead, the lights went out. The New Battlefield: Cyber Before Kinetic According to military analysts, the operation followed a now-emerging template of "dark warfare" — a fusion of cyber disruption, drone dominance and precision special operations. U.S. forces temporarily cut power and communications in parts of Caracas, reportedly through a coordinated cyberattack and drone strikes on key substations and communication towers. The objective was not destruction, but paralysis — delaying response, blinding defenses and sowing confusion. "This is modern warfare," said retired South Korean Army Lieutenant General Chun In-bum. "Drones didn't just support the operation — they reshaped the battlefield itself." Chun cautioned that many tactical details remain classified, but emphasized that drones have become central, not auxiliary, to contemporary military strategy. Drones That See What Satellites Cannot The groundwork for the raid was laid months earlier. Beginning last August, U.S. intelligence agencies deployed teams into Venezuela, combining human intelligence with persistent drone surveillance. Unlike satellites, which offer intermittent snapshots, drones hovered continuously — mapping Maduro's movements, routines and living quarters in granular detail. They tracked not only where he slept, but how he moved, what he wore, even the layout of his residence. Using this data, Delta Force built a full-scale replica of the hideout and rehearsed the assault repeatedly — a level of precision impossible without drone-collected intelligence. In early December, drones struck a remote coastal dock — a move widely seen as both a disruption of cartel logistics and a deliberate probe of Venezuelan air defenses. The strike drew radar responses without risking pilots, allowing U.S. planners to map threats in advance. Five Minutes in the Dark When the final order came from U.S. President Donald Trump late on Jan. 2, roughly 150 aircraft launched simultaneously from some 20 land and naval bases across the Western Hemisphere. As drones neutralized surveillance and cleared flight paths, helicopters carrying Delta Force operatives flew at just 30 meters above sea level toward Maduro's residence. Despite brief resistance, U.S. forces overwhelmed Venezuelan defenders under constant drone overwatch. Within three minutes of entry, commandos reached Maduro's location. Two minutes later, he and his wife were in custody as they attempted to flee to a reinforced panic room. By 4:30 a.m., the team had withdrawn safely to the USS Iwo Jima, stationed about 100 miles offshore. From authorization to extraction: four hours and 43 minutes. A Blueprint That Raises Alarms in Asia The operation has sent shockwaves far beyond Latin America — particularly in Northeast Asia. Just hours later, North Korea launched its first ballistic missile of the year, a move widely interpreted as signaling vigilance amid shifting global deterrence norms. Its foreign ministry was also among the first to respond to the U.S. operation, releasing a statement on Sunday to condemn "the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty." Still experts caution against simplistic parallels. "Venezuela and North Korea are fundamentally different cases," said Jung Kyeong-woon, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Military Studies. Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, he said, fundamentally alters the calculus. "The likelihood of a Venezuela-style operation on the Korean Peninsula remains low." Choi Seung-woo, a director of the Seoul Defense Forum Center for Nuclear Strategy, echoed that assessment, noting that Pyongyang emerged from the failed 2019 Hanoi summit convinced that Washington understands its nuclear capabilities, making so-called 'bloody nose' strikes unlikely. Why South Korea Still Cannot Ignore the Lesson Still, the Venezuelan raid underscores vulnerabilities that resonate uncomfortably in South Korea. South Korea is among the world's most digitized societies — its power grids, financial systems, transportation networks and military command structures deeply interconnected. That connectivity is a strength — and a potential weakness. In a crisis, a short-lived blackout, GPS disruption or cyberattack on civilian infrastructure could delay response just long enough for drones and special forces to act. North Korea, meanwhile, has invested heavily in asymmetric capabilities — cyber warfare units, GPS jamming, electronic warfare and special-operations forces trained not for invasion, but infiltration. Pyongyang is also accelerating drone development with reported Russian technology transfers, including AI-enabled reconnaissance and suicide drones. "The lesson is not that this will happen in South Korea," Chun said. "The lesson is that warfare has already changed — and anyone who ignores that reality is unprepared." War Without Sirens Perhaps the most unsettling takeaway is strategic ambiguity. Cyberattacks and drone strikes often fall below the legal threshold of war. They are deniable, reversible and difficult to attribute in real time. Mutual defense treaties were written for missiles and armies — not malware and micro-drones. When the lights go out, policymakers may still be debating whether an attack has even occurred. In the age of dark operations, wars may no longer begin with explosions — but with silence. And by the time certainty returns, the mission may already be over. 2026-01-05 16:54:33
  • Doctors associations urge halt to government-backed Korean medicine infertility programs
    Doctors' associations urge halt to government-backed Korean medicine infertility programs SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) - Doctors' associations in Korea have called on the government and local authorities to immediately suspend public support for Korean medicine–based infertility treatment, citing a lack of scientific evidence and safety verification. At a press conference on Saturday, the Korean Medical Association (KMA), the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and related groups said such programs pose potential risks to maternal health and fetal safety. "These treatments are being promoted without sufficient scientific or safety verification, despite infertility care being a highly specialized medical field directly linked to the health and lives of both parents and unborn children," the groups said. They cited a report published by the Research Institute for Healthcare Policy on the use of Korean medicine in infertility treatment, saying 4,473 participants took part in programs operated by 103 local governments between 2017 and 2019, recording a clinical pregnancy rate of 12.5 percent over an average treatment period of 7.7 months — roughly half the natural pregnancy rate observed over the same timeframe. They also warned that many herbal medicines used in these infertility treatments contain ingredients that have been linked to fetal abnormalities, miscarriage and organ toxicity when used during pregnancy. "Recommending treatments that lack even minimal safety assurances to women experiencing infertility — and funding them with public money — is unacceptable," they said. The groups urged an in-depth investigation into the toxicity and teratogenic risks of herbal ingredients used in infertility treatment, as well as full public disclosure of the findings. The controversy comes as the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to extend Korean medicine to fertility treatments to promote the development of traditional medicine. The KMA, in response, criticized the policy as lacking scientific grounds and reiterated its demand for a full suspension. However, the Association of Korean Medicine has pushed back against the criticism, arguing that its infertility programs have accumulated sufficient clinical experience over years of implementation. The group has urged the government to expand support to protect patient choice and address Korea's low birth rate. 2026-01-03 17:38:27