Journalist

Baek Seo-hyun
  • T map Launches ‘Open Profile’ to Let Users Share Reviews and Saved Places
    T map Launches ‘Open Profile’ to Let Users Share Reviews and Saved Places T map Mobility has introduced an “Open Profile” feature that lets users share information with one another. The company said April 28 that the new tool in the T map app allows users to bundle their reviews and saved places into a single profile and share it with other users. Open Profile can be set up in the app’s “MY” tab. Users can add a profile photo and nickname and link external social media accounts to build a personal profile. Saved places are managed as “saved groups,” allowing users to create and share themed lists. Each group can be set to public, limited, or private. Public lists can be viewed by other users, while limited lists are accessible via a link. Other users’ Open Profiles can be viewed through a review writer’s profile, and public saved groups can be added to a user’s own lists. T map Mobility said it aims to broaden user-to-user sharing and increase the amount of data people can reference when searching for places. To mark the launch, the company is running an event through next month’s 6, awarding T map points to users who create a new profile or set a saved group to public. Jeon Chang-geun, T map Mobility’s chief product officer, said the core of Open Profile is that “users’ preferences and travel experiences are naturally shared, creating new discovery and connections,” adding that the company will “continue to strengthen social features based on user participation.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:09:24
  • Naver Launches Beta of AI Search ‘AI Tab’ for Naver Plus Members
    Naver Launches Beta of AI Search ‘AI Tab’ for Naver Plus Members Naver has launched a beta version of its artificial intelligence search service, “AI Tab,” for Naver Plus membership users. The company said April 28 that AI Tab is available from Naver’s PC main search bar, below AI Briefing, and in integrated search results for Shopping and Place. Naver plans to expand access to all users in the first half of this year. AI Tab is a conversational AI search service designed to reflect a user’s intent and context and allow continued exploration through follow-up questions. Naver said the service is built to handle a wide range of queries, from everyday questions to searches with multiple conditions. It cited examples such as asking what to do with a girlfriend tomorrow, or requesting a recommendation in Gangnam for a cafe suitable for studying that has power outlets, spacious seating and many reviews mentioning those features. Users can refine results with additional questions. Naver also said it strengthened links across its services — including integrated search, Shopping, Place, Blog and Cafe — to reduce the need to switch between services and to show related information on a single screen. The company said it combined user-generated content and service data accumulated on its platform to improve search efficiency. For example, when a user asks for a “good date cafe near Hwadam Forest with a great view,” AI Tab provides results by combining Place information, visitor reviews and blog content, Naver said. Users can proceed from viewing details to making reservations on a PC screen. During the beta period, Naver said it will use user feedback to improve response speed and answer accuracy and to enhance performance for complex queries. It also plans to strengthen multimodal search this year by linking AI Tab with Smart Lens. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 08:15:17
  • Socar Offers Tesla FSD Subscription Service in Seoul, Starting at 1.49 Million Won a Week
    Socar Offers Tesla FSD Subscription Service in Seoul, Starting at 1.49 Million Won a Week Socar has unveiled a vehicle subscription service offering Tesla cars equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature and showcased it through a city driving demonstration.  Socar on the 27th held an FSD test-ride event for reporters around the Seongsu and Seoul Forest D Tower area in Seoul. After a destination was set, the vehicle drove itself for parts of the route. The course covered about 4 kilometers round trip and took roughly 25 minutes. The FSD function activated only after the driver fastened a seat belt. During the drive, basic assistance functions such as lane keeping, traffic-signal recognition and intersection handling operated steadily, but sudden situations required immediate driver intervention.  The demonstration took place amid Seongsu’s mix of narrow streets and major roads, though the run was conducted mainly on larger roads with fewer variables. The vehicle maintained lanes, recognized signals and passed through intersections while keeping the overall flow of traffic. Differences by driving mode were also noted. FSD offers styles ranging from “Sloth” to “Mad Max,” and the two extremes were compared during the event. Overall patterns were not sharply different, but “Mad Max” accelerated more quickly when pulling away after stops. A Socar subscription business team manager riding in the car described the adjustment process based on personal use. “During the rollout, I tried the FSD function for about 200 kilometers, and it took a few days to get fully used to it,” the manager said. “Depending on a person’s understanding and tendencies, the speed of building trust varies widely.” “At first, you think a lot about when to intervene,” the manager added. “But once you have enough experience, you start to distinguish what the system can handle and when the driver needs to step in.” Socar recently introduced Tesla Model X and Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with supervised FSD and is operating them through its weekly and monthly subscription service, “Socar Subscription.” Three Tesla models are included in the lineup. Pricing is 1.49 million won per week and 3.99 million won per month. Socar said the service avoids upfront costs such as acquisition tax that come with purchasing a vehicle, and it is targeting young professionals who feel burdened by one-time purchases of high-priced cars. Socar said its decision to offer Tesla FSD through a subscription model is tied to its longer-term vision for autonomous driving services. It described “edge case” data — unexpected situations such as sudden pedestrian entry or vehicles cutting in — as central to improving autonomous-driving AI, with the breadth of such learning shaping technical maturity. Jang Hyeok, head of Socar’s Future Mobility TF, said, “The only companies in the world that have secured edge-case data at this scale are Tesla and Socar.” Socar said it secures more than 40,000 cases of accident and driving data annually, totaling about 220,000 cases cumulatively. To obtain more advanced data, Socar said it is testing one full sensor-kit vehicle equipped with LiDAR, seven cameras, and GPS·IMU. It plans to expand that fleet step by step to as many as 1,000 vehicles to improve the quality of autonomous-driving training data.  2026-04-27 17:22:20
  • Sony Raises PS5 Prices in South Korea as Memory Costs Surge
    Sony Raises PS5 Prices in South Korea as Memory Costs Surge Surging semiconductor demand tied to the spread of artificial intelligence has driven memory prices sharply higher, prompting a steep increase in Sony's PlayStation 5 console prices in South Korea. The so-called “chipflation” is spreading across consumer IT devices. Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea said on the 27th it will raise PS5 prices in the Korean market, with the new prices taking effect May 1. The PS5 Digital Edition will rise 43.48% to 858,000 won from 598,000 won. The PS5 Disc Edition, which supports physical discs, will increase 26.74% to 948,000 won from 748,000 won. The higher-end PS5 Pro will climb 16.1% to 1,298,000 won from 1,118,000 won. The adjustment follows moves in other markets. Earlier this month, Sony Interactive Entertainment raised PS5 prices by about $100 in major markets including the United States. At the time, SIE Vice President Isabelle Tomatis said, “Amid continued cost pressure across the global economic environment, a price adjustment was unavoidable.” Industry officials point to structural shifts in the memory-chip market. As demand for AI servers jumps, chipmakers are focusing production on high-bandwidth memory and higher-capacity products, while supplies of consumer DRAM and NAND flash are tightening, analysts say. Memory prices have been rising quickly. Counterpoint Research said first-quarter DRAM prices jumped more than 50% and NAND flash more than 90%. TrendForce forecast additional second-quarter increases of 90% to 95% for DRAM and 55% to 60% for NAND flash from the previous quarter. The trend is extending beyond game consoles. Prices for laptops and smartphones, which also rely heavily on memory components, are rising as well. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have recently raised laptop prices by as much as nearly 1 million won compared with previous models, and new smartphone launch prices are also moving higher. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 16:28:09
  • Shift Up’s ‘Goddess of Victory: Nikke’ tops Google Play revenue in South Korea and Japan after 3.5-year update
    Shift Up’s ‘Goddess of Victory: Nikke’ tops Google Play revenue in South Korea and Japan after 3.5-year update Shift Up’s “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” has continued to post No. 1 revenue rankings on major app marketplaces at home and abroad with each major update, reinforcing its position as a long-running hit intellectual property, the company said. Shift Up said on the 27th that on the day of its 3.5-year anniversary update, the game ranked No. 1 in revenue on South Korea’s App Store and has since maintained the No. 1 revenue spot on Google Play in both South Korea and Japan. The company attributed the performance to content management built on story development accumulated over the service period, along with high-quality in-game content aligned with the update’s main “idol concept” theme. During the same period, Nikke stayed within the top 10 in revenue in Taiwan and continued steady results in other major markets globally, including North America. With each major update, Nikke has reclaimed top revenue rankings and has been positioned as a leading long-running South Korean subculture game IP. The title combines character collection with gun-shooting gameplay and has built a global fan base with polished content, an immersive story, and music. For the 3.5-year update, the game released an event story titled “STAR ANIS,” centered on the popular early character “Anis.” Additional content includes a 3D visual performance, a special animation and full voice dubbing, drawing strong user response. Shift Up director Yoo Hyeong-seok said, “As we have prepared the 3.5-year update for a long time, we are deeply grateful for users’ enthusiastic response,” adding, “We will continue working to showcase Nikke’s unique appeal.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 09:52:03
  • Ulsan Factories Turn to AI-Driven Autonomous Manufacturing as Workers Decline
    Ulsan Factories Turn to AI-Driven Autonomous Manufacturing as Workers Decline South Korea’s manufacturing sector is accelerating a shift in how it produces goods as it faces structural pressures from a shrinking and aging workforce. In Ulsan, the shipbuilding and petrochemical industries are pursuing artificial intelligence transformation, or AX, to address different challenges, driving broader change across industrial complexes. As of April 26, industry officials said the Ulsan Mipo National Industrial Complex is expanding AX adoption to respond to labor shortages and to reduce safety and process risks. In shipbuilding at Ulsan Mipo, the central issue is gaps on the production floor. The share of manufacturing workers fell to a record low of 15.2% last year, and the number of people employed in the sector has declined for three straight years. With the share of workers age 55 and older rising quickly, the industry expects a major outflow of core skilled labor within the next five to 10 years. Because shipbuilding processes have long relied on veteran know-how, companies worry the shift could directly hurt productivity and widen quality variation. In response, shipyards are increasingly adopting “autonomous manufacturing,” using process data to predict quality and automatically control equipment settings. The goal goes beyond basic automation, moving toward systems in which AI analyzes operating conditions and supports decision-making, reducing dependence on scarce labor. On-site efforts are focusing on expanding process optimization and automatic control based on equipment operating data. Manufacturing AI solution providers are also increasing deployments. Miracom I&C said its MES-based “Nexplant MESplus” integrates manufacturing data and enables AI to analyze and make judgments on factory operations. LS TiraYutek has proposed an integrated operating model that links workers, equipment and robots through AI to raise the level of unmanned operations. In petrochemicals, where safety is the top priority, work is underway to standardize process data and build AI-based analytics under the “AX demonstration industrial complex construction project.” Demonstrations are being pursued for 12 AI services across process, equipment and safety at an Ulsan pilot plant that concentrates refining and petrochemical operations, with the aim of expanding to companies including KPX Chemical. A key technology is MIQube Solution’s “digital twin modeler.” It organizes plant equipment data based on the international AAS standard, allowing AI to recognize the information and recreate the factory in a virtual space. The approach can simulate process abnormalities in advance and derive optimal operating conditions. A “safety AI agent” combining a large language model with retrieval-augmented generation, or RAG, is also set to be introduced. If a worker asks, “What are the risk factors under the current pressure conditions?” the AI would provide real-time guidance based on manuals and accident data. The technologies are expected to shift into cloud-based software-as-a-service offerings and spread to small and midsize manufacturers. The government is also supporting broader AX adoption through measures including GPU infrastructure support and the creation of manufacturing AI centers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 08:00:17
  • Five Firms Vie for South Korea’s $2 Billion GPU Project as Next-Gen Platform Looms
    Five Firms Vie for South Korea’s $2 Billion GPU Project as Next-Gen Platform Looms Competition is intensifying among major companies for the government’s 2.08 trillion won project to secure advanced graphics processing units, with the ability to build large clusters, whether to adopt Nvidia’s next-generation “Vera Rubin” platform, and how much of the GPUs bidders plan to use themselves emerging as key factors. Yonhap News reported on Saturday that the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) plans to select operators next month for the “GPU procurement, buildout and operations support” project. Led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the initiative aims to quickly secure large-scale GPUs through public-private cooperation and supply them to domestic industry, universities and research institutes. The project centers on using government funds to secure about 15,000 of the latest GPUs and choosing private cloud providers to build and run them reliably. Five companies submitted bids: Naver Cloud, KT Cloud, Samsung SDS, Coupang and Elice Group. Industry officials expect multiple operators could be chosen again, as in last year’s 1.4 trillion won program, which selected Naver Cloud, Kakao and NHN Cloud. A central issue this time is how the GPU volume will be allocated. Last year, based on proposed scale and build capability, NHN Cloud received about 8,000 units, Naver Cloud about 3,000 and Kakao about 2,400, with NHN Cloud winning the largest share after its large-cluster plan scored highly. Cluster size remains a major evaluation item. The government requires at least one cluster of 256 nodes, or 2,048 GPUs, or more, because larger clusters significantly improve processing speed and efficiency. Another new variable is whether bidders will adopt Nvidia’s “Vera Rubin” platform. The government plans to award extra points to proposals that include it. Naver Cloud and Elice Group are reported to be reviewing adoption, while some companies are said to have excluded it. Vera Rubin’s high power density and facility load requirements could limit where it can be deployed, raising concerns that adoption will depend heavily on each company’s data-center infrastructure. Strategies also differ, with some proposing to use existing data centers for large GPU clusters and others promoting new approaches such as modular data centers. How much of the GPUs companies plan to use themselves is also seen as decisive. The government will purchase and retain ownership of the GPUs, but participating companies may use the remainder after meeting public supply requirements. Because the government gives extra points to bidders offering a higher share for public supply, companies must balance profitability against evaluation scores. Industry sources said last year’s participants set self-use at about 20%, limiting profitability. “Once you factor in adopting a next-generation platform, the investment burden rises sharply,” an industry official said. “It’s not an environment where it’s easy to make aggressive large-scale proposals.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-26 11:27:09
  • Teacher Says AI Platform Turned Static Slides Into Student-Led Classroom Discussion
    Teacher Says AI Platform Turned Static Slides Into Student-Led Classroom Discussion South Korea introduced a requirement in the 2022 revised national curriculum for 34 class sessions of information education in elementary schools. But specific teaching methods and materials are still largely left to teachers. Oh Yuna, a teacher at Hongneung Elementary School in Seoul, said she has been filling that gap with a platform called Sooup AI ("Lesson AI") from startup Redbrick. Oh, who has received a minister of education commendation for work in strengthening teachers’ digital capabilities, said she has seen clear changes in how classes run. She spoke about those changes in an interview. ■ From static slides to discussion… "It takes one click" "Lesson AI" lets teachers upload existing PPT or PDF materials. The system analyzes them and automatically converts them into student-participation activities such as quizzes, discussion prompts and question-based tasks. Oh said it reduces preparation time and also helps teachers adjust lessons on the spot. "Most materials teachers have are PPTs or PDFs, and Lesson AI creates activity materials for students based on those lesson plans," she said. "Because the AI automatically builds activities like quizzes or discussions, the burden of making new materials drops a lot." During class, she said, it can function like an assistant. "When I’m teaching and want to reinforce a concept, Lesson AI generates that content right away," Oh said. "Being able to expand existing materials instantly is very useful." She also cited its ability to analyze individual learning data and provide immediate feedback, especially in subjects where student gaps are wide. Oh said the most visible change has been student participation. "A child who usually wouldn’t write an opinion in a textbook will actively type their thoughts in a discussion using digital devices," she said. "It seems speaking and expressing yourself in writing work differently for kids." She added that what matters is not just who speaks up, but "how much they are actually thinking." Using Lesson AI, she said, teachers can check multiple students’ thought processes in real time, drawing out a different kind of cognitive engagement than in traditional classes. She said students’ reactions have been positive, with comments like, "Let’s do this again," after class. "You can see kids trying to participate more actively through the tool," she said. Oh said the technology has also changed how teachers use their time. "Before, I had to spend a lot of time analyzing the curriculum and preparing materials, but now the AI takes over part of that process," she said. "That lets me use the time I gain to understand children’s characteristics and the classroom atmosphere more deeply." She said students, too, are beginning to set their own learning direction as real-time data helps them see their level more objectively. Addressing concerns from some parents about overreliance on devices, Oh said use is limited. "We don’t use devices for the entire class, only at necessary moments," she said. "Because activities are balanced — research, organizing opinions and presenting — situations where kids get overly absorbed in devices actually decrease." ■ Data resets each school year… "A condition for real personalized education" Oh said there are still limits in public education. "In AI education, accumulating data is very important, but right now the structure doesn’t carry data over when students move up a grade," she said. "It’s not easy because of privacy or system issues, but data has to accumulate for true personalized education to be possible." She said the most important factor is still teachers’ ability to design lessons. "No matter how many tools there are, if you don’t have the ability to use them for the children in your class, it’s hard to sustain," Oh said. "This is an opportunity to look back at the classroom and place technology appropriately where it’s needed."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:10:34
  • Kakao Speeds Global Push With KakaoBank and KakaoPay, Linking AI and Payments
    Kakao Speeds Global Push With KakaoBank and KakaoPay, Linking AI and Payments Kakao Group is accelerating its global push by leaning on its financial affiliates as it moves to execute its next-generation finance strategy. Kakao said Wednesday that KakaoBank and KakaoPay are splitting roles overseas to strengthen the group’s financial competitiveness. The effort follows the “global fandom OS” strategy Jeong outlined earlier this year. The plan aims to expand Kakao’s global user base by combining agent artificial intelligence, entertainment intellectual property and Web3 technology. In finance, Kakao has positioned AI-driven services and the buildout of global payment infrastructure as key pillars. KakaoBank is exporting its digital finance model, focusing on Southeast Asia and Central Asia. In Indonesia, it entered the market by investing in the digital bank Superbank in partnership with Grab. In Thailand, it is working with a local partner to establish a virtual bank. More recently, it has teamed with Mongolia’s MCS Group to invest in the digital bank M Bank and to upgrade credit-scoring models, part of a broader push to spread an inclusive finance model globally. KakaoPay is expanding payment infrastructure overseas to speed its shift into a “global pay” platform. After rolling out QR payments, it introduced NFC payments to enable use at major merchants worldwide, and it is focusing on providing the same user experience abroad as in South Korea. It is also covering payments by foreign visitors in South Korea, strengthening a two-way payments ecosystem. KakaoPay recently joined the x402 Foundation, led by the Linux Foundation, to help build next-generation payment standards. It is also expanding points of contact with Circle, a global stablecoin company, as it explores ways to broaden a digital asset-based financial ecosystem. Kakao said its integrated approach across banking, payments and platforms is accelerating work on a new model that links AI, finance and payments. The company said that if “agentic finance,” in which AI takes part in financial decision-making, is combined with global payment infrastructure, changes to the existing structure of the financial industry could follow. 2026-04-23 10:21:06
  • Hancom to Unveil ‘Twin Agentic OS’ Aimed at 24/7 AI-Assisted Work
    Hancom to Unveil ‘Twin Agentic OS’ Aimed at 24/7 AI-Assisted Work Hancom, formally known as Hancom Inc., said it will introduce what it described as South Korea’s first “twin agentic OS,” designed to reflect a user’s work patterns and support around-the-clock productivity. The company said AI agents would be able to carry out tasks autonomously even after users leave work. Hancom on the 23rd shared companywide results of its AI transformation, or AX, and outlined its strategy at an event called “Hancom AX Day.” CEO Kim Yeon-su said the company plans to reveal the “twin agentic OS” in the first half of the year and commercialize it within the year. At the core of the system is an AI agent that mirrors a user’s work style — a “digital twin,” the company said. By learning an individual’s work methods and patterns, the agent can continue handling tasks when the user is away. Hancom said the system is built on its document-structuring technology accumulated over 36 years and its AI capabilities, and is intended to serve as an “intelligent control tower” that links various AI models with existing workplace systems. Kim said the company will move beyond a business centered on packaged software and shift into building AX execution systems that let customers directly experience productivity gains in the field. Hancom also said it will pursue organizational culture changes alongside technology adoption. It plans to run an “AX Champion” program to select and reward employees who deliver measurable workplace improvements, and to promote AX through performance-based evaluations rather than whether employees use AI tools. “AX is a change that reshapes the overall way we work,” Kim said, adding that the company aims to establish itself as a trusted AX partner through the twin agentic OS. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:57:16