Netmarble reports data breach after hack on PC gaming site SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Netmarble announced on Wednesday that its PC gaming website was hacked last week, potentially exposing personal information belonging to customers and employees. The company said it detected the intrusion on Nov. 22 and “immediately took response measures,” including blocking unauthorized access and notifying authorities. An internal investigation is under way to determine the scale of the breach. According to Netmarble, the compromised data may include customer names, birthdates and encrypted passwords, along with information related to current and former employees such as names and company email addresses. Data from PC cafe operators collected before 2015 may also have been affected. Netmarble emphasized that no resident registration numbers or other highly sensitive personal data were leaked, and that encrypted passwords are unlikely to be exploited. Still, the company urged users of its 18 PC titles to change their passwords as a precaution. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:25:42

Naver expands healthcare portfolio with acquisition of cloud EMR firm Cenacle SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Naver has acquired a controlling stake in cloud-based electronic medical records (EMR) company Cenacle as it accelerates its expansion into the digital healthcare sector. The acquisition price was not disclosed, and Naver said it ultimately aims for full ownership. Cenacle operates the cloud EMR platform “Orem Chart” and the patient health-management app “Clea,” serving clinics across internal medicine, pediatrics and other specialties. In September, TIME and Statista named Cenacle one of the “World’s Best Health Tech Companies 2025.” The deal marks Naver's latest move in the healthcare space. This year, the company has invested in domestic clinical trial platform JNP Medi and InBody, a global leader in body-composition analysis, as part of efforts to strengthen its healthcare platform. Naver said discussions with InBody are continuing on senior-care initiatives and data-driven personalized health services. “With Cenacle’s technical capability and scalable platform, we will drive innovation in core EMR infrastructure for medical institutions,” said Choi In-hyuk, CEO of Naver Tech Business. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 14:53:45

OPINION: South Korea's 260,000 GPUs and vision for AI hub As artificial intelligence becomes the engine of global competition, nations are racing to secure not only the technology but also the computing power that makes it possible. South Korea’s recent partnership with NVIDIA — acquiring 260,000 of the latest AI graphics processing units — is more than a technical upgrade. It is a statement of intent that the country aims to be a serious player in the new digital order. The deal has quadrupled South Korea's national AI computing capacity, boosting its GPU count from roughly 65,000 to more than 300,000. That is no small feat at a time when even global tech giants are struggling to source high-end chips. In the geopolitical economy of artificial intelligence, where GPUs are the new oil, South Korea has just secured a significant reserve. The implications are profound. For years, the country’s researchers and startups have faced a bottleneck — not a lack of talent or ambition, but of access to large-scale computing infrastructure. Now, with this expanded capacity, South Korea can train its own foundation models rather than relying on foreign systems. It is a crucial step toward technological sovereignty in an era when data and algorithms define national power. This progress is anchored by the National AI Research Center, established last year with support from the government and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation. The consortium brings together the nation’s top universities — KAIST, POSTECH, Korea University and Yonsei University — and links them with international partners in the United States, Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates. That kind of collaboration is exactly what’s needed to turn computing power into meaningful innovation. But what makes this move especially significant is its emphasis on openness. The government is not building a closed fortress of technology. Instead, it is opening public AI cloud resources to startups, researchers and small enterprises. That approach reflects a belief that creativity does not reside only in big corporations — and that innovation thrives when access barriers fall. South Korea’s leadership of this year’s APEC forum has also given it a platform to push for global cooperation in AI. At the meeting, Seoul called for joint efforts to expand access to computing infrastructure and nurture AI talent across economies. This is an important recognition that the benefits of AI must be shared — that intelligence, like information, should not become another fault line of inequality. Still, ambition alone is not enough. Building a truly global AI hub will require sustained investment, trust in open ecosystems, and safeguards to ensure ethical and responsible use. The challenge is to balance competitiveness with inclusivity — to lead without dominating, to innovate without excluding. South Korea’s latest achievement is a reminder that in the age of AI, nations can chart their own course. By combining technological investment with openness and cooperation, the country is showing what responsible ambition can look like. If the future of AI is to be shared, not siloed, it will be built by those who understand that intelligence grows strongest when it is connected. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 08:58:46

BMW vehicles to adopt Kakao unit's voice AI system SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - Kakao’s artificial intelligence model, Kanana, is set to make its global debut through a partnership with BMW. DK Techin, Kakao’s IT service subsidiary, said Tuesday that it had signed an agreement with BMW Group to develop a Korean-language voice AI system for the German automaker’s vehicles. The signing took place at DK Techin’s headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Under the partnership, BMW’s upcoming models will feature Kanana-powered voice recognition technology, allowing drivers to control a range of functions and access in-car services through natural conversation. The collaboration represents Kanana’s first step into global markets and a key milestone in Kakao’s broader AI ambitions. The companies plan to develop an AI-driven vehicle control system that will eventually incorporate large language model–based generative AI, enhancing both the precision of vehicle commands and the quality of infotainment services. The integration aims to deliver a more intuitive and personalized driving experience for BMW customers. “We plan to combine our expertise in vehicle control systems with Kanana’s AI capabilities to implement a next-generation automotive intelligence platform,” said Lee Won-joo, chief executive of DK Techin. “Through this collaboration, we aim to elevate BMW’s customer experience and brand satisfaction.” The partnership underscores a growing trend among automakers turning to tech firms to strengthen in-car AI and digital ecosystems. For Kakao, best known for its popular messaging platform and expanding AI portfolio, the deal with BMW represents a crucial test of its ability to compete on the global stage. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-28 09:59:24

LG CNS donates AI legal support system for refugees to UNHCR SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - LG CNS has donated an artificial intelligence–based legal support system to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve legal assistance for refugees in South Korea. The system, developed jointly by LG CNS and UNHCR, was officially handed over during a ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 17, attended by LG CNS President Hyun Shin-kyun and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The AI system — named Agentic Works — is intended to improve legal protection for refugees in South Korea and support lawyers handling asylum cases. By analyzing application materials, interview transcripts, and multilingual documents, the platform can help generate legal drafts in a fraction of the time it currently takes. According to the company, the system can reduce document preparation from several days to just a few hours. Refugee applications are frequently rejected because of language barriers, procedural complexity, and insufficient documentation. LG CNS said its AI solution will help address these issues by enabling lawyers to input and verify essential information more accurately and efficiently. “This program reflects our commitment to using AI not only to advance industry, but to solve pressing social issues,” Hyun said at the signing ceremony. “We hope it will make a meaningful difference for refugees facing legal challenges.” Grandi welcomed the initiative, calling it an example of technology being used for humanitarian support. “This collaboration shows how AI can overcome barriers such as language and help ensure refugees receive the legal support they need,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-23 10:51:04

Kakao rolls out 'Kakao Travel Pack' in 16 languages SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - Kakao announced on Monday it will run a 'Kakao Travel Pack', mobility services in 16 languages, aiming at foreign visitors. The campaign aims to assist the increasing number of tourists expected due to global content popularity and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The 'Kakao Travel Pack' includes KakaoTalk, KakaoMap, and K-Ride, services popular among foreigners. KakaoTalk supports 16 languages, including English, Japanese, and Chinese, and offers free voice and video calls, local communication through open chat, and reservation services. KakaoMap provides rankings for restaurants and attractions and real-time public transport information. K-Ride, a mobility app for foreigners, supports four languages, allowing tourists to use KakaoT Blue, Venti, Black, and premium taxi services without language or payment issues. These services are available in over 30 countries, including the U.S., Japan, and Europe. To enhance accessibility, Kakao is advertising at key locations like Incheon International Airport, Myeongdong, and Seoul Station, and promoting on global social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This initiative responds to the growing demand for tourism. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 15.6 million foreign tourists visited South Korea from January to August, a 15.8% increase from the previous year. The APEC summit and visa exemptions for Chinese group tourists are expected to further boost numbers. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-01 12:49:10

India's information minister meets Krafton executives in Seoul SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Logesh Rajendran Murugan, visited Krafton’s headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday, marking the first visit by an Indian central government minister to the South Korean game publisher. Krafton said Thursday the meeting highlighted India’s importance as a strategic market and provided an opportunity to discuss policy cooperation and business collaboration. Murugan, who also serves as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, acknowledged Krafton’s role in India’s gaming industry through investments and the success of Battlegrounds Mobile India. The talks covered Krafton’s expansion in India, its investments in startups and the Indian government’s approach to the gaming sector. Participants included Krafton Chief Executive Kim Chang-han and Son Hyun-il, head of the company’s India operations. Murugan expressed appreciation for Krafton’s contribution to India’s gaming ecosystem and noted potential areas for cooperation in education, technology and media. Kim said in a statement that the discussion was “meaningful” and reaffirmed Krafton’s commitment to the Indian market. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-25 14:16:49