AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Kim Ki-eung
  • Korean Privacy Commission to Implement Risk-Based Inspections in Second Half of 2026
    Korean Privacy Commission to Implement Risk-Based Inspections in Second Half of 2026 The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) will begin implementing a risk-based inspection system in the second half of 2026, focusing on the risk levels associated with personal data breaches. This initiative aims to transition from a reactive enforcement approach to a preventive management system, responding to the increasing complexity of data processing due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services. On May 22, the PIPC announced its "Preventive Personal Information Management System Transition Plan" during a meeting of economic ministers, following a report to the Cabinet on May 12. Chairperson Song Kyung-hee has emphasized the limitations of solely relying on post-incident penalties since taking office, advocating for the establishment of a proactive personal data protection framework. The PIPC will categorize data processing entities into high, medium, and low-risk groups based on the scale and sensitivity of the data they handle, as well as industry characteristics. Sectors dealing with large volumes of personal or sensitive information, such as platforms, financial institutions, public agencies, edtech, and nursing homes, will be classified as high-risk and subject to regular and ad-hoc inspections. For high-risk groups, the PIPC plans to disclose inspection criteria in advance and focus on evaluating internal controls and safety measures. Conversely, lower-risk sectors will be managed through encouraging compliance with personal data impact assessments and the principle of Privacy by Design (PbD). The government will also develop a "basic risk map" to analyze the current state of personal data processing and associated risks. This map will guide the selection of inspection targets, and a cross-government policy consultation body will be established in collaboration with key ministries. A joint public-private early warning system for personal data threats will also be activated. In September, coinciding with the implementation of the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) designation reporting system, the PIPC will establish a hotline between the CPO council and industry associations. This will facilitate the rapid sharing of information on the latest hacking and data breach threats, enabling proactive responses to similar incidents. Management oversight will also expand to new technology sectors. The PIPC plans to conduct preemptive checks on potential privacy concerns related to Internet of Things (IoT) devices and AI agents, aiming to reduce gaps in personal data protection. The institutionalization of the Privacy by Design (PbD) framework will be pursued, ensuring that privacy features are integrated from the planning, design, and development stages of services, along with the dissemination of related guidelines and best practices. The existing ISMS-P certification standards will also incorporate PbD principles. The PIPC will encourage companies to increase their voluntary investment in data protection. Through information security disclosures, the PIPC will expand the public reporting of additional protective measures and internal control operations, offering incentives such as reduced penalties for companies demonstrating effective protective actions. Additionally, management will be strengthened across the supply chain, including Software as a Service (SaaS), cloud services, and specialized contractors. Research and development of privacy-enhancing technologies (PET) to prevent data breaches and misuse, as well as the training of specialized personnel, will also be promoted.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 16:30:00
  • Emro Unveils Agentic AI at Global Supply Chain Event to Target Procurement Automation Market
    Emro Unveils Agentic AI at Global Supply Chain Event to Target Procurement Automation Market Software company Emro is accelerating its global market strategy by showcasing agentic artificial intelligence (AI)-based procurement automation technology at the world's largest supply chain event. Emro announced on May 22 that it participated in the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium & Expo held in Orlando, Florida, and Barcelona, Spain, where it presented AI-driven procurement innovations and its SRM software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, Cadencia. The event attracted around 5,000 supply chain executives from major global companies and over 180 supply chain solution providers. Emro has participated for three consecutive years, aiming to secure a global client base. Amid increasing supply chain uncertainties and cost pressures in the global manufacturing sector, there is a growing demand for automating procurement processes with AI. Emro is focusing on enhancing its agentic AI-based supply chain automation technology in line with this trend. At this year's event, Emro introduced features that automate the entire direct procurement process, from product design to raw material sourcing and settlement, under the theme of "Accelerating Direct Procurement Processes Using AI Technology." The AI-based bill of materials (BOM) management feature garnered significant interest from local companies. Cadencia digitizes complex BOM data and applies agentic AI throughout the new product introduction (NPI) process, supporting real-time change management, cost optimization by component, and quality verification. A demonstration of the automated procurement process using AI agents was also conducted. When a procurement officer inputs requests in natural language into the AI workspace, the AI agent automatically handles the entire process, from drafting purchase requests (PR) and request for proposals (RFx) to recommending suppliers and issuing purchase orders (PO). Emro expects this technology will enhance the speed and efficiency of procurement operations. An Emro representative stated, "According to Gartner, the agentic AI-based supply chain management software market is projected to grow to $53 billion by 2030. We aim to connect the global customer demand identified at the event to actual references, strengthening our leadership in the global market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 16:06:00
  • AWS Korea CEO Ham Gi-ho: Physical AI is the Next Frontier for Korea
    AWS Korea CEO Ham Gi-ho: 'Physical AI is the Next Frontier for Korea' Amazon Web Services (AWS) is positioning 'Physical AI' as a key growth area, expanding beyond the digital realm into the real world, and is actively supporting the robotics industry in South Korea. This initiative comes as the era of AI operating in real industrial settings, including robotics, autonomous production, logistics, and healthcare, begins to take shape. During his keynote address at the 'AWS Summit Seoul 2026' on May 20 in Samsung-dong, Seoul, Ham Gi-ho, CEO of AWS Korea, stated, "AI is evolving from generative AI and agent AI to the physical AI stage, which extends into the physical world." On the same day, AWS unveiled the 'Physical AI Frontier Program' aimed at supporting domestic physical AI companies in technology development and international expansion. A dedicated AWS technical team will assist throughout the entire process, from data collection to model training, simulation, and edge inference. AWS plans to facilitate collaboration among domestic companies and connect them to global markets. Ham assessed that South Korea has significant potential in the field of physical AI. He noted, "South Korea has a dynamic physical AI ecosystem, ranging from AI semiconductor startups to robotics foundation model companies, and industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and defense. The government is also accelerating the nurturing of related industries with the goal of becoming the world leader in physical AI by 2030." AWS is currently providing cloud infrastructure to major companies like HD Hyundai Robotics and Doosan, as well as domestic AI startups such as Config and RealWorld, to support physical AI development. Ham emphasized AWS's strength in practical robotic operations, stating, "Over 1 million robots are already operating in Amazon's logistics centers. The end-to-end service connecting data collection to edge inference and our real operational experience are AWS's unique competitive advantages." At the event, AWS also set up a dedicated exhibition area to showcase technology demonstrations from domestic physical AI companies. Demonstrations included autonomous production systems, collaborative robots, and autonomous delivery and patrol robots, highlighting the integration of cloud-based data processing and AI model training technologies in real industrial settings. John Felton, AWS Chief Financial Officer, remarked, "Agent AI and physical AI represent a transformative change in the AI industry structure. This presents a significant economic opportunity, especially for South Korea, which has a strong manufacturing competitiveness."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 15:52:46
  • Hancom Partners with LG AI Research to Supply AI Agents for Chat Exa One
    Hancom Partners with LG AI Research to Supply AI Agents for Chat Exa One Hancom is set to supply its self-developed artificial intelligence (AI) agents to LG AI Research's generative AI platform, Chat Exa One, as it aims to penetrate the public AI market. On May 22, Hancom announced that it has signed a strategic business alliance agreement with LG AI Research, covering AI technology, service platforms, and both public and private market sectors. The two companies plan to explore new business opportunities based on long-term cooperation. The core of this partnership involves integrating Hancom's AI agent technology with LG AI Research's enterprise generative AI platform, Chat Exa One. This platform is developed on LG AI Research's proprietary large language model, Exa One 3.0. Through this collaboration, the companies will work on developing an integrated solution that combines Hancom's document AI technology with LG AI Research's AI service infrastructure. For instance, when a user requests a project proposal in the Chat Exa One chat window, Hancom's AI agent will analyze the document structure and automatically apply the format to generate a draft. Users will then be able to preview or save the results directly in a web-based Hangul viewer. This partnership marks a significant step for Hancom as it intensifies its entry into the public AI market. The two companies plan to jointly respond to the entire process from business development to bidding and delivery for public institutions, government agencies, and public enterprises. They also aim to expand collaboration in areas such as on-device AI, AI-based document automation, business-to-business (B2B) AI solutions, and global market entry. Hancom intends to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic AI ecosystem and expand its AI business focused on enterprises and the public sector through this partnership with LG AI Research.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 14:36:46
  • Rising Interest in Temples Reflects Hip Buddhism Trend
    Rising Interest in Temples Reflects 'Hip Buddhism' Trend The demand for visiting temples has been confirmed through actual travel data amid the rising trend of 'Hip Buddhism.' Tmap Mobility reported on May 22 that an analysis of Tmap driving data from 2023 to 2025 showed a continuous increase in temple visitation over the past three years. Notably, the number of temple destination settings last year increased by 26.9% compared to the previous year. This reflects the trend of consuming traditional Buddhism not just as a religion but as an everyday experience and cultural content. Last year, the most visited temple was Bulguksa, followed by Naksansa, Tongdosa, Haedong Yonggungsa, and Bomunsa. Interest in temple experience programs is also growing. According to the Korean Buddhist Cultural Business Corporation, a total of 349,219 participants took part in temple stay programs across 158 temples nationwide last year. The popularity of Buddhist cultural content continues to rise. The '2025 Seoul International Buddhist Expo,' held in April, attracted over 200,000 visitors over four days, setting a record for the event. During the expo, the number of destination settings for COEX increased by 4.1% compared to the previous week, and was 77% higher than the week following the event. Tmap Mobility stated, "We plan to analyze changing lifestyles and social trends from various perspectives based on driving data."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-23 10:54:21
  • AI Takes Center Stage in Regional Growth Strategies Ahead of Local Elections
    AI Takes Center Stage in Regional Growth Strategies Ahead of Local Elections As the June 3 local elections approach, candidates from Gangwon, Busan, and Ulsan are positioning artificial intelligence (AI) as a key element of their regional growth strategies. The common theme among them is to expand the AI industry, which has been concentrated in the capital region, into local areas and to create new growth engines by integrating AI with regional industries. In particular, Gangwon is focusing on securing AI infrastructure, Busan aims to establish itself as an AI hub, and Ulsan is prioritizing the transformation of its manufacturing sector through AI, leading to a competitive landscape of AI pledges tailored to each region's industrial structure. The race for the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province governor has highlighted the importance of attracting the National AI Computing Center. Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party's candidate for governor, has made this a central promise of his campaign. Woo stated, "This is the largest investment project in Gangwon's history, estimated to be worth between 20 trillion and 70 trillion won. We will secure both advanced companies and youth jobs based on AI infrastructure." He has also urged large corporations to prioritize hiring local talent in connection with policies aimed at fostering the AI industry. Kim Jin-tae, the People Power Party's candidate for Gangwon governor, is advocating for a strategy focused on developing future industries through the establishment of a semiconductor cluster and attracting advanced companies. His plan includes training semiconductor personnel and building test beds to expand Gangwon's advanced industrial ecosystem. In Busan, the competition to become an AI hub is intensifying. Jeon Jae-soo, the Democratic Party's candidate for Busan mayor, has proposed creating a customized AI belt by dividing the city into three areas: South, East, and West Busan. He envisions developing South Busan, home to the Busan New Port's 7th terminal, into a center for marine and logistics AI, while East Busan will leverage existing content infrastructure, such as the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), to create a media AI special zone. This strategy aims to focus on nurturing AI-based content industries, including film, drama, and gaming. In West Busan, centered around Saha District, plans are in place to establish an 'AI Industry Operations Center' to enhance productivity and equipment utilization in aging manufacturing plants through AI. Park Hyung-jun, the People Power Party's candidate for Busan mayor, emphasizes the importance of data for Busan's tailored AI initiatives. He plans to organize data from Busan's six key industries—port, marine, shipbuilding, manufacturing, finance, and civilian life—for AI learning and inference, and to establish a 'Busan AI Hub' that will provide over 200 types of public data (APIs) for free. He aims to create 50,000 related jobs by 2035. In Ulsan, the focus is on the transformation of the manufacturing sector through AI. Kim Sang-wook, the Democratic Party's candidate for Ulsan mayor, has proposed integrating AI into Ulsan's key industries, including shipbuilding, automotive, and petrochemicals, to enhance industrial competitiveness. His main pledges include expanding smart factories using data from manufacturing sites and creating an industrial AI ecosystem. Kim Doo-gyeom, the People Power Party's candidate for Ulsan mayor, has made the 'AI Capital Ulsan' strategy a key promise. He plans to promote the AI transformation of Ulsan's core manufacturing industries, including shipbuilding, automotive, and petrochemicals, based on the expansion of data centers by SK and Amazon Web Services (AWS). His strategy also includes maximizing local industrial competitiveness through the expansion of smart manufacturing and the utilization of industrial data.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-21 22:13:16
  • Kakao Union Votes for Strike Amid Ongoing Labor Dispute
    Kakao Union Votes for Strike Amid Ongoing Labor Dispute As labor disputes over bonuses and job security escalate, Kakao faces its first potential strike at its headquarters since its founding. The Kakao branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Workers' Union has approved a strike vote, increasing pressure on the company. The outcome of the second mediation session with the Gyeonggi Provincial Labor Relations Commission on May 27 is expected to be a critical turning point. On May 21, the information technology (IT) industry reported that five Kakao subsidiaries, including Kakao Pay, Kakao Entertainment, DK Tech, and XL Games, held a "2026 Collective Bargaining Victory Rally" at Pangyo Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, where union members voted in favor of a strike. The company and union extended the mediation period until May 27 after failing to reach an agreement during the first mediation meeting on May 18. If the second mediation also fails, the Kakao headquarters union will secure the right to strike. Some subsidiary unions have already obtained this right due to a decision to halt mediation. The two sides remain divided over the performance compensation system and job security. The union argues that employees have significantly contributed to Kakao's profitability and therefore deserve fair performance distribution. The company, however, is cautious about increasing compensation due to uncertainties surrounding its investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and business restructuring. During the rally, the Kakao union presented joint demands including: management reform and accountability, job security and community safety nets, fair performance compensation and profit distribution, and the establishment of universal labor conditions and welfare systems. Industry observers note that the current actions of the Kakao union carry more weight than last year's events. The Kakao Mobility union had previously announced a phased strike following a breakdown in wage negotiations, conducting partial strikes of two and four hours. However, no further strikes occurred during the negotiation process. In contrast, the current mobilization involves Kakao's headquarters and major subsidiaries, indicating a larger scale and potential impact. The Kakao headquarters oversees key operations related to KakaoTalk, advertising, commerce, and AI strategies, drawing significant industry attention. If a strike materializes, it could affect the stability of major services like KakaoTalk and the timeline for AI project development. Unlike manufacturing, a strike at an IT company like Kakao is less likely to lead to immediate service disruptions. The platform operates on automated server systems and a continuous response organization, making it improbable that a short-term strike would paralyze services like KakaoTalk. However, prolonged labor disputes could hinder the development of new services and project timelines. Kakao is currently transitioning KakaoTalk from a simple messaging app to an AI agent platform that integrates conversation, search, recommendations, and payments. A prolonged gap in development personnel could delay the rollout of new AI features and service enhancements. Kakao Pay is also expected to maintain its payment and remittance services despite the strike. However, analysts suggest that operational stability and external trust could be affected. Kakao Enterprise and DK Tech, which handle cloud and AI-based business-to-business operations and internal development and support, may experience some impact on technical support, maintenance, and new project implementations if the strike continues. Kakao has stated that it is focused on labor negotiations. A company representative said, "Since both sides agreed to extend the mediation period on May 18, we will continue to strive for a smooth agreement during the remaining time." 2026-05-21 15:53:02
  • NCSoft Decides Not to Pursue Legal Action Against YouTuber for False Claims About Aion 2
    NCSoft Decides Not to Pursue Legal Action Against YouTuber for False Claims About Aion 2 NCSoft has decided to refrain from pursuing legal action against the operator of the YouTube channel "Gamchanghyeon," who has been accused of spreading false information and excessive defamation related to the new game "Aion 2." On May 21, the company announced that it had withdrawn its ongoing civil and criminal legal actions. Reports indicate that NCSoft submitted a withdrawal notice to the Seoul Central District Court on May 11. Previously, NCSoft had filed a criminal complaint against Gamchanghyeon in December 2025, citing the spread of false information and malicious defamation regarding "Aion 2." NCSoft stated, "After our legal response, the YouTuber acknowledged his mistakes and has continuously expressed his willingness to apologize. Considering the seriousness of the matter, his deep reflection, and his promise to prevent recurrence, we decided to show leniency." However, the company reiterated its commitment to addressing false information and malicious defamation. NCSoft emphasized, "To protect our users, intellectual property, shareholders, and employees, we will continue to actively respond to acts of spreading false information and malicious defamation. We will also listen to and communicate about criticisms of our corporate activities and services to strive for better games." In a video apology, Gamchanghyeon acknowledged his wrongdoing, stating, "During the 2025 broadcasts of Aion 2, I made statements that were not factual and engaged in excessive defamation, causing harm to NCSoft employees and users. I deeply regret and apologize for this." He added, "I have continuously conveyed my apologies to NCSoft, and they have decided to show leniency by withdrawing the ongoing legal actions. Moving forward, I will act responsibly as a YouTuber who influences the public." Gamchanghyeon also mentioned that he plans to make donations to fulfill his responsibilities and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-21 12:48:24
  • Kraftons Subnautica 2 Surpasses 4 Million Sales in Just 5 Days
    Krafton's 'Subnautica 2' Surpasses 4 Million Sales in Just 5 Days Krafton's creative studio Unknown Worlds has announced that its new title, 'Subnautica 2,' has surpassed 4 million copies sold globally within just five days of its release. Krafton reported that 'Subnautica 2' achieved 1 million sales shortly after its early access launch, and exceeded 2 million copies sold within the first 12 hours. The game has continued to perform well, reaching 4 million sales in just five days. User engagement metrics are also on the rise. The peak number of concurrent users on Steam reached 467,000, with an average of 1.3 million active users daily. Total playtime has accumulated to 28.57 million hours. User feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Currently, there are over 73,000 reviews on Steam, with a user rating of 'very positive' (91% positive rate). Players have highlighted the realistic underwater graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5 and the exploration-focused storytelling as key strengths. The game has received praise for its expanded deep-sea exploration elements and survival-centric gameplay, appealing to a global audience. Analysts note that despite being in early access, the game exhibits a high level of polish and continues to thrive commercially. Unknown Worlds plans to implement updates based on user feedback in the future. These updates will aim to enhance the immersion of deep-sea exploration by adjusting creature aggression and awareness ranges, as well as improving the usability of survival tools. Fernando Melo, the executive producer of Subnautica 2, expressed gratitude to players worldwide for their enthusiastic support, stating, "We are deeply thankful to the global players who have dived into this alien ocean with a passion beyond our expectations. Early access is a process of completing the game together with players, and we will actively incorporate user feedback to provide a more profound exploration experience." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-21 10:43:43
  • Cisco Korea Launches Official Brand Store on Naver
    Cisco Korea Launches Official Brand Store on Naver Global information technology company Cisco has opened an official brand store on Naver to strengthen its online sales channel for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in South Korea. Cisco Korea announced the launch of the "Cisco Official Brand Store" on Naver, allowing SME and startup customers to explore and purchase networking, security, and collaboration solutions directly online. As SMEs increasingly demand stable networking and security infrastructure due to the shift toward AI-driven work environments and hybrid work models, the purchasing method for enterprise IT equipment is rapidly transitioning from offline to online. The store features a range of products, including network switches and firewalls, as well as video conferencing equipment suitable for small offices to larger enterprises. Notably, the Cisco Room Bar supports major collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex Meetings. Key product lines, including the Cisco Business Switch series, are designed to lower the barriers for adopting enterprise-grade networking technology. This allows startups and SMEs to utilize Cisco's networking and security technologies at relatively reasonable costs. With the opening of the Naver brand store, Cisco Korea aims to expand its customer touchpoints in the domestic market and enhance its digital e-commerce capabilities. Choi Ji-hee, CEO of Cisco Korea, stated, "The launch of the Naver brand store is an important starting point for enabling domestic SMEs and startup customers to experience proven Cisco technology in a more accessible and trustworthy manner. We will continue to strengthen our digital e-commerce capabilities to ensure that small and medium enterprises requiring network and security infrastructure suitable for the AI era can access world-class technology through official channels."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-21 10:16:28