Esports gears up for biggest year with major global events SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The booming esports industry is poised for its biggest year yet, fueled by its recognition as an official discipline at major global sporting events and international tournaments. Major events are scheduled throughout the year including the quadrennial Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan in September, the annual Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July and the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, also in Riyadh, in November. The upcoming Asian Games will be the major highlight, as e-sports returns with 11 events, up from seven, following its official debut at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where South Korea proved itself an e-sports powerhouse by winning four medals including two gold, one silver, and one bronze. Several Japanese games including "Gran Turismo 7" will be featured to reflect the host country, while Krafton's "Battlegrounds Mobile" has been selected again. But Nexon's "FC Online" will be replaced by Konami's "eFootball." Meanwhile, the Esports World Cup in the oil-rich country, which drew great attention last year with a total prize money of $70 million, is expected to be even bigger this year, with the number of events expanding to 24. The Esports Nations Cup, a country-based tournament in which players compete under their national flags, will be held every two years, with the inaugural event taking place in Riyadh. 2026-01-13 09:17:40

Lee begins four-day trip to China SEOUL, January 4 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. His four-day trip marks Lee's first visit to China since taking office in June last year. It is also the first visit to China by a South Korean president since former President Moon Jae-in traveled there in December 2019, and the first state visit in about nine years. Lee is set to start his itinerary with a dinner with South Korean expats there. After attending a business forum on Tuesday, he will hold a summit with Xi later in the day, which will include a welcoming ceremony and a banquet. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and economic cooperation, as well as various issues including China's veiled restrictions on South Korean films and dramas, and the installation of dubious structures on the submerged shelf of Ieodo in the West Sea, which overlaps with maritime zones of both South Korea and China. Attention is now focused on whether Lee's first overseas trip of the new year would bring momentum in efforts to further ease strained ties with China, after the two leaders met about two months ago on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in November last year. On Tuesday, he is also scheduled to have lunch with Premier Li Qiang before traveling to Shanghai. Lee will return home on Wednesday. 2026-01-04 14:11:31

Faker becomes first esports player decorated with highest athletic honor SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, has become the first esports player to receive the highest honor awarded to athletes who have made outstanding sporting achievements while promoting national reputation. The iconic player of multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends (LoL) was awarded the Blue Dragon Medal by President Lee Jae-myung at a New Year's event at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday. Accepting the medal, Lee said, "I'm deeply honored to receive this medal. I could not have achieved this without the teammates who have journeyed with me." Previous recipients include football player Son Heung-min, figure skating star Kim Yu-na and baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho, making Faker the first esports player to receive the honor. Faker, who turned pro with his team T1 at the age of 17 in 2013, continues to be a pivotal figure in the sport, winning ten domestic LoL championships and claiming his sixth career trophy at the LoL World Championship, the sport's biggest event, in November last year. Known for his strict self-discipline, he enjoys immense popularity among fans, becoming a sought-after model for advertisers as well. 2026-01-02 17:05:40

Samsung Electronics taps AI startup Nota for next Exynos mobile chip SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korean artificial intelligence software firm Nota has signed a contract with Samsung Electronics to embed its AI model optimization technology in the latter's next mobile application processor, the Exynos 2600. The deal, announced Tuesday, follows an earlier agreement covering the Exynos 2500, extending a partnership aimed at boosting on-device AI performance in Samsung’s flagship chipsets. Nota, led by Chief Executive Chae Myung-soo, said its AI optimization platform, NetsPresso, can shrink AI model sizes by more than 90 percent while preserving accuracy. Samsung selected Nota again to help maximize performance and efficiency in its next strategic mobile processor, the company said. As part of the collaboration, Nota will participate in developing the next version of Samsung’s in-house toolchain, Exynos AI Studio. The company said it will focus on maintaining precision so that large generative AI models can run smoothly on smartphones and other devices without relying on cloud connectivity. Nota also plans to further automate the optimization pipeline, allowing developers to deploy the latest AI models more quickly within the Exynos ecosystem. Devices powered by the Exynos 2600, including upcoming Galaxy smartphones, are expected to offer faster and more powerful on-device AI capabilities. “This collaboration, which has continued since the Exynos 2400, demonstrates that Nota’s technology delivers tangible value when combined with Samsung’s hardware,” Chae said in a press release. Nota said it is expanding its business beyond mobile chips into areas such as robotics, home appliances and autonomous driving, leveraging lightweight AI model technology developed over the past decade. 2025-12-30 09:10:49

Coupang falls under pan-government scrutiny in Seoul despite remedy program SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) -The South Korean government maintained that it will press ahead with a sweeping investigation into Coupang despite the e-commerce giant’s announcement of a large-scale compensation plan, vowing to leave “not a single suspicion” unresolved over a massive data breach affecting nearly all of its 34 million users. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, who chairs a pan-government task force on the case, on Monday said the incident would be treated not only as a cybersecurity failure but also as a potential case of serious legal violations and corporate irresponsibility. “A company that has grown on the public’s trust cannot justify behavior that evades responsibility,” Bae said at a task force meeting. He said the leak of personal information involving “more than 30 million” domestic users constitutes a clear violation of the Korean law, adding that authorities will act “strictly and without exception” if wrongdoing is confirmed, applying the same standards used for all companies. The stern stance was reaffirmed after Coupang announced a 1.7 trillion won compensation plan that drew more backlash than sympathy. Coupang offered to compensate users affected by the breach with vouchers worth 50,000 won ($35) each, following mounting criticism over its handling of the incident. The total compensation package amounts to 1.685 trillion won ($1.17 billion) to cover paid subscribers as well as non-subscribers and those who closed their accounts, according to Coupang. The vouchers will be split across multiple services on the platform: 5,000 won usable for Rocket Delivery, Rocket Direct Purchase, Seller Rocket and Marketplace purchases, 5,000 won for Coupang Eats, 20,000 won for Coupang Travel, and 20,000 won for R.LUX, the company’s luxury goods platform. The compensation plan, however, has drawn mixed reactions, with consumers questioning whether vouchers — rather than cash — adequately address potential harm from a breach involving sensitive personal data. The move also comes amid mounting scrutiny over the company’s broader governance and compliance practices. The government has formed an unusually large interagency task force involving 11 bodies: the Personal Information Protection Commission, National Police Agency, Fair Trade Commission, Financial Services Commission, National Intelligence Service, Korea Communications Commission, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, National Tax Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Officials said such a broad joint response for a single company is rare, describing the case as a test of Korea’s ability to protect personal data in the platform economy while ensuring worker safety and fair market order. Under the coordinated probe, authorities plan to apply pressure through investigations, penalties and possible policy reforms. The science ministry will analyze the technical causes of the breach and vulnerabilities in Coupang’s security systems. The Personal Information Protection Commission will determine the precise scope of leaked data and whether the company violated the Personal Information Protection Act. Police will analyze seized materials and work with overseas agencies to identify suspects. The Financial Services Commission will review risks of fraudulent transactions stemming from the leak, including whether consumers were steered toward high-interest financial products. The Fair Trade Commission said it is considering sanctions — including possible business suspension — while assessing risks of identity theft and broader consumer harm. The Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Communications Commission are also investigating whether Coupang’s membership cancellation process violates the E-Commerce Act or the Telecommunications Business Act, including the possible use of so-called “dark patterns” that make it difficult for users to cancel subscriptions. Labor authorities will conduct on-site inspections into overnight work conditions and whether adequate measures were in place to protect workers’ health. The transport ministry said it will work with the National Assembly’s Euljiro Committee to prepare institutional measures to improve conditions for Coupang delivery workers. “This case goes beyond personal data,” Bae said. “It concerns public safety, fundamental rights and corporate responsibility.” He added that the government will respond “as one team” and pursue the investigation through to the end so the public can feel safe. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-30 08:02:57

Korea's first private rocket crashes after liftoff, Innospace shares nosedive SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) -South Korean space startup Innospace said Tuesday that its Hanbit-Nano rocket lifted off normally from Brazil but crashed about 30 seconds later after an in-flight anomaly, ending the country’s first attempt by a private firm to place customer satellites into orbit. The two-stage Hanbit-Nano vehicle launched at 10:13 p.m. Monday local time (10:13 a.m. Tuesday in Korea) from Alcantara Space Center, the company said. The first-stage engine ignited as planned and the rocket initially gained altitude, but telemetry detected an abnormal signal roughly half a minute after liftoff, prompting mission termination. The vehicle fell within a designated ground safety zone, Innospace said, adding that there were no casualties or secondary damage. A fireball was visible after impact on a YouTube livestream, which was cut shortly afterward. The mission was ended under internationally compliant safety procedures coordinated with the Brazilian Air Force, the company said. The launch had been billed as South Korea’s first contracted satellite launch by a private operator. Hanbit-Nano was carrying eight payloads weighing about 18 kilograms in total—five small satellites for customers in Brazil and India, and three experimental devices—bound for a 300-kilometer low-Earth orbit. Hanbit-Nano uses a hybrid engine delivering about 25 tons of thrust on the first stage, while the second stage is powered by a liquid methane-oxygen engine, a technology Innospace is developing with an eye toward reusability. The launch had been postponed three times from its original Nov. 22 date. Innospace said it is reviewing flight data to determine the precise cause of the failure and will disclose findings after analysis. The company said it plans to attempt another launch after identifying the issue and implementing technical improvements. Shares of KOSDAQ-listed Innospace also crashed to close at 10,710 won ($7.2) after losing 28 percent. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-23 15:30:32

POSCO invests $3 million in US humanoid robot startup in push for 'physical AI' SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - POSCO DX is making a strategic investment in a U.S.-based industrial humanoid robot startup as it seeks to accelerate automation and improve safety at heavy industrial sites such as steel mills. POSCO DX, led by Chief Executive Shim Min-seok, said on Tuesday it will invest $2 million in Persona AI and collaborate with the company on joint robot development. Including a separate $1 million investment from a fund backed by POSCO Technology Investment, the total investment at the group level amounts to $3 million. The move is part of POSCO DX’s strategy to combine POSCO Group’s artificial intelligence capabilities with advanced robotics to develop so-called “physical AI,” which integrates intelligence directly into machines operating in real-world environments. Persona AI, founded in June last year, is a U.S. startup focused on humanoid robots for labor-intensive industrial workplaces. The company was co-founded by Chief Executive Nicholas Radford, a former NASA robotics engineer, and Jerry Pratt, who previously served as chief technology officer at humanoid robot maker Figure AI. POSCO DX said Persona AI’s technology enables precise manipulation across a wide range of tasks, from assembling small components to handling heavy objects. According to the company, the robots are equipped with multi-axis tactile sensors in their hands that process data in real time, allowing simultaneous control of force and position through compliant control, which supports stable operation in industrial environments. Persona AI also applies artificial intelligence algorithms based on a robot foundation model, enabling autonomous interaction and task execution, POSCO DX said. POSCO DX said it plans to integrate its industrial AI software with Persona AI’s humanoid robot hardware to develop robots capable of replacing high-risk manual processes at POSCO facilities. The company has previously introduced technologies that allow remote operation of ultra-large equipment, including steel-mill cranes and unloading machines. A POSCO DX official said humanoid robots tailored to heavy industrial environments could simultaneously improve productivity and workplace safety. 2025-12-23 10:45:26

New phone activations require face verification under pilot program SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Starting Tuesday, anyone activating a new mobile phone in South Korea must undergo face verification in addition to presenting an ID. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it launched a pilot program for stricter identity checks to prevent phones from being illegally activated for crimes such as voice phishing and smishing. Under the program, face verification will be mandatory for new activations at in-person sign-up counters run by major telecom operators including SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus as well as online channels operated by some 43 budget carriers. After a roughly three-month trial, the ministry plans to expand the verification procedure to all mobile carriers in March next year. Addressing privacy concerns, the ministry said facial data will be used solely for identity verification and immediately deleted afterward. 2025-12-23 09:36:57

South Korea's NCSoft pivots to casual games with two acquisitions SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - South Korean game developer NCSoft said on Monday it is stepping up its push into the global mobile casual game market, announcing two acquisitions to seek new growth beyond its traditional focus on massively multiplayer online role-playing games. NCSoft, led by co-chief executive officers Kim Taek-jin and Park Byung-moo, said it will acquire global mobile casual game developer Lihuhu Games and South Korean studio Springcomes as part of a portfolio diversification strategy. The company said it will purchase a 67 percent stake in Indigo Group, a Singapore-based firm that owns Lihuhu Games, for about 153.4 billion won ($103.9 million), making NCSoft the largest shareholder. Lihuhu Games, headquartered in Vietnam, has released about 100 titles across genres including match-3D, number-based and “hole” puzzle games. More than 80 percent of its revenue comes from North America and Europe, NCSoft said. The developer projects revenue of about 120 billion won and operating profit of around 30 billion won this year. Springcomes focuses on the merge-game genre and is known for its rapid development cycle, typically launching four to five new titles a year. The studio expects its revenue this year to more than double from a year earlier to about 28 billion won, NCSoft said. To integrate its expanded casual-game portfolio, NCSoft has established the Mobile Casual Center. The company said it appointed Arnel Cheman to lead the unit and recruited additional data and user-acquisition specialists, including Anthony Pascal. NCSoft also said it has secured a software license from European analytics firm Codebase to build a data analytics and live-operations platform. Park said the acquisition of Lihuhu Games was significant in that it established a foundation for “visible growth” in the global mobile casual market. He added that NCSoft plans to strengthen its international competitiveness through further acquisitions of European studios and an expanded publishing business. The company said it plans to announce a more comprehensive business strategy related to its mobile casual push early next year. 2025-12-22 10:19:24

Korea's first private rocket launch put off on technical glitch SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -South Korean space launch startup Innospace has called off the launch attempt of the country's first privately-developed rocket, HANBIT-Nano, after engineers identified a technical issue during final countdown procedures in Brazil. The launch was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday local time (9:30 a.m. Saturday in Korea) at the Alcantara Space Center, but was halted about an hour before liftoff when an abnormality was detected in a valve used to fill the second-stage liquid methane tank, the company said. Innospace said it had completed erection of the rocket and checks of telemetry and the flight termination system before beginning oxidizer loading at 6:17 a.m. local time. The countdown was stopped after the valve failed to operate normally following fueling. A new launch date will be determined in consultation with the Brazilian Air Force within the current launch window, which runs from Jan. 16 through Jan. 22, the company said. The delay marks the third postponement of the HANBIT-Nano launch. The mission was originally scheduled for Nov. 22 but was first delayed after abnormal signals were detected in avionics equipment. A second delay followed when an issue was found in the cooling system of the first-stage oxidizer supply during final prelaunch checks. Repeated delays are common in the space industry. In March, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, postponed the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket multiple times due to weather and technical issues while preparing to send NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope into orbit. HANBIT-Nano is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to place up to 90 kilograms into a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. The rocket stands 21.8 meters tall, measures 1.4 meters in diameter, and has a liftoff weight of 18.8 tons. Its first stage is powered by a 25-ton-thrust hybrid rocket engine, while the second stage uses a three-ton-thrust liquid methane engine. The current mission, dubbed “Spaceward,” aims to deploy 18 kilograms of payload into a 300-kilometer-high orbit, including five small satellites from Brazil and India and three experimental devices. Innospace said the mission will be considered successful once the satellites reach their target orbit and stable communications are confirmed. Innospace previously conducted a successful test launch of its HANBIT-TLV vehicle in March 2023, validating its hybrid propulsion technology. The company said the HANBIT-Nano mission is a key step toward entering the small-satellite commercial launch services market. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-20 12:12:59