POSCO seeking to deploy Persona AI's humanoid robots for steelworks SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - POSCO Group is moving to deploy humanoid robots in steel logistics operations in cooperation with U.S.-based startup Persona AI. The group said Wednesday that POSCO, POSCO DX, POSCO Technology Investment and Persona AI signed a memorandum of understanding a day earlier to jointly pursue on-site deployment of industrial humanoid robots. Under the agreement, POSCO will identify steel mill tasks suitable for humanoid robots and assess their operational feasibility. POSCO DX will design automation systems and jointly develop robot models optimized for steelworks, while POSCO Technology Investment will support proof-of-concept testing. Persona AI will develop and supply humanoid robot platforms tailored to harsh industrial environments. Starting in February, the partners plan to conduct a test using Persona AI’s robots to manage logistics for steel coils produced at POSCO plants. Handling finished coils, which can weigh tens of tons, typically requires crane operations. The companies aim to have humanoid robots assist workers in fastening crane belts to coils, enabling safer collaboration between humans and machines. The group said it has been reviewing humanoid robot applications in logistics processes, including transport and material preparation at terminals, since last year, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of heavy industry operations. If the pilot confirms operational safety and effective human-robot collaboration, POSCO plans to expand deployment and introduce the robots across broader logistics operations. Persona AI, founded in 2024 by robotics engineers and industry specialists, is developing industrial humanoid robots combining NASA-derived robotic hand technology with proprietary precision-control systems. POSCO Group invested a total of $3 million in the startup last year ahead of the partnership, aiming to support technologies capable of handling tasks ranging from fine assembly work to moving heavy industrial materials. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 09:50:08

Majority of workers use AI to enhance productivity, survey finds SEOUL, February 2 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly driving workplace productivity in South Korea, with more employees using AI tools to cut repetitive tasks and devote more time to strategic and creative work, according to data released on Monday by workplace solutions company Notion. The findings are based on a survey of 480 office workers and freelancers who have used AI. Some 61.5 percent of respondents said they used AI tools for work, a rate much higher than usage for daily assistance (46.7 percent), learning and self-development (33.5 percent), and leisure activities (33.1 percent). They said AI was most helpful for research (25 percent), followed by summarizing information (15.4 percent), refining phrasing (13.5 percent), writing reports and documents (9.8 percent), and translation (9.8 percent). More than 60 percent of respondents said AI tools reduce time spent on simple, repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on creative and strategic work and improve efficiency. Workers in their late 30s were the most active users of AI tools for work, at 71.7 percent, while those in their late 20s were the most likely to use AI more broadly, across both work and daily life. Among those in their mid-to-late 30s, AI has become a regular part of their day-to-day work, with many using AI tools at least six days a week, making them the most familiar with AI of any age group. Nearly 90 percent of respondents said AI tools will bring positive changes to the way they work, although barriers remain. Many cited lack of reliability (41.6 percent), concerns about data security and privacy (30.1 percent), and inconsistent results (23.7 percent) as reasons AI has not been more widely adopted. Nearly all respondents or 97.5 percent said they verify and revise AI-generated content before using it, indicating that while workers embrace AI as a useful tool, they remain cautious about relying on it entirely. "As AI takes over simple, repetitive tasks, a new work environment is emerging where people can focus on strategy, creativity, and collaboration," said Park Dae-sung, head of Notion's office in Seoul. 2026-02-02 09:25:59

Samsung SDS earnings lifted by AI, cloud demand SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Samsung SDS said on Thursday it posted annual revenue of 13.93 trillion won ($10.4 billion) last year, up 0.7 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit rose 5 percent to 957.1 billion won, as growth in cloud and artificial intelligence services offset weakness in logistics. Fourth-quarter revenue fell 2.9 percent from a year earlier to 3.54 trillion won, the company said, while operating profit rose 6.9 percent to 226.1 billion won. By segment, revenue from IT services increased 2.2 percent to 6.54 trillion won. Cloud revenue climbed 15.4 percent to 2.68 trillion won, leading growth in the IT services business. Samsung SDS said its cloud service provider business expanded on higher use of the Samsung Cloud Platform as generative AI services gained traction, alongside broader growth in high-performance computing and cloud network services. In AI platforms, Samsung SDS said it will support broader adoption of generative AI across industries through a ChatGPT Enterprise reseller partnership agreement signed with OpenAI in December, which it said was the first such deal by a South Korean company. In AI solutions, the company plans to expand its collaboration tool Brity Works and its generative AI service Brity Copilot — currently being piloted at three government agencies — to all 57 central government ministries. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-22 13:48:54

North Korean hackers 'spread malware through Google, Naver ads' SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - A hacking group believed to be linked to North Korea has spread malware through ads on Google and Naver. According to an analysis by South Korean cybersecurity firm Genians on Monday, Konni, suspected to be part of APT37, a North Korean state-sponsored cyber espionage group, used online advertising networks to launch cyberattacks by covertly routing users through malicious intermediary web links before landing them on advertisers' websites. Under a cyber operation dubbed the "Poseidon Operation," North Korean hackers copy URLs and then guide users step by step to an external server hosting malicious files. Even when artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools or security systems detect the links, they can be difficult to block because they appear to originate from legitimate Naver or Google domains. These attacks begin with spoofed emails, often posing as financial institutions or other trusted entities, to lure recipients into opening the message. Once users click the link, malicious software is installed that enables remote control of their devices. Genians warned that the latest findings reveal the increasing sophistication of North Korean cyberattacks, urging users to avoid clicking on suspicious links in e-mails or online ads. 2026-01-19 14:39:55

North Korea-linked hackers found distributing malware via word files SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - A North Korea-linked hacking group has been detected running a cyber operation code-named "Artemis," which distributes malware through word files. South Korean cybersecurity firm Genians said on Monday that it traced the operation, which is believed to have been carried out by the group known as APT37. The operation started with spear-phishing emails disguising others to evade detection by security software. When victims opened the files, malicious hyperlinks enabled attackers to gain access to their systems. The development comes after APT37 sent a seemingly highly credible email message to a university professor in late August, gullible enough to fall for it. The group has apparently honed its tactics for cyberattacks over the months since. 2025-12-22 17:24:18

[[UPDATE]] Police Sweep Kakao building following bomb threat; No explosives found SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Authorities in South Korea on Monday conducted a large-scale search operation at tech giant Kakao's office building in Pangyo, south of Seoul, following a bomb threat report, but no explosive devices were discovered. Police said a joint team of approximately 70 officials — including police officers, firefighters, and military personnel — was deployed to the site, but no unusual or suspicious findings were reported during the operation. Access restrictions to the Kakao building were subsequently lifted, police said. Kakao said it alerted police early on Monday after the threat appeared on its customer service website. In response, the company instructed all employees at the Pangyo office to work remotely as a precaution. The facility houses Kakao’s headquarters staff as well as employees from key subsidiaries, including Kakao Pay and Kakao Healthcare. “After receiving a bomb threat through our customer service center, we prioritized employee safety and shifted all staff to remote work while taking necessary safety measures,” Kakao said in a statement. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 13:47:05

KT Cloud unveils liquid-cooling systems for AI data centers SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - KT Cloud has launched South Korea’s first commercial liquid-cooling system using direct-to-chip (D2C) technology, stepping up efforts to capture a growing share of the AI data center market. The company on Thursday opened a center which replicates a full AI data center environment to showcase high-efficiency, high-reliability operations. D2C cooling works by attaching a cold plate directly to a server’s GPU chip and circulating coolant to remove heat. KT Cloud said the method delivers significantly better heat management than traditional air-cooling systems, cutting power consumption by 20 to 30 percent. The company has built server and rack load systems that meet global AI server specifications, testing variables such as coolant flow, pressure and temperature. The technology is already in commercial operation at KT Cloud’s Gasan AI data center, with upcoming facilities in Bucheon, Gaebong and Ansan designed to support liquid-cooling. KT Cloud also demonstrated an immersion-cooling setup — submerging servers in a dielectric liquid — which achieved up to 60 percent power savings during load tests. With AI infrastructure demand accelerating, KT Cloud said it will concentrate on developing next-generation cooling technologies. “There is growing demand for liquid-cooling technology among industries requiring high-performance computing and among cloud providers,” said Heo Young-man, head of the company’s data center division. “Although domestic experience is still limited, we aim to emerge as a leading AI data center player when services begin in April.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 16:12:25

South Korea weighs fines of up to 10 percent of revenue for major data breaches SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s National Assembly is considering legislation that would allow regulators to fine companies up to 10 percent of their revenue for serious data breaches, as lawmakers seek tougher penalties following a series of large-scale leaks. The proposed amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act, introduced by Park Beom-kye of the ruling Democratic Party and Kim Sang-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party, would raise the current cap on administrative fines from 3 percent of revenue to 10 percent in cases of major violations. The move follows high-profile incidents involving major companies, including a leak of 33.7 million customer records at Coupang and previous breaches at SK Telecom, Lotte Card and LG Uplus. Under the bill, the higher penalty rate would be applied as a punitive measure in cases involving intent or gross negligence, breaches affecting more than 10 million people, or situations in which companies failed to comply with regulatory corrective orders. If enacted, the legislation would expand victim protection and compensation. Park’s proposal would require companies to notify customers of potential leaks and would allow collective damage claims, rather than limiting class actions to injunctions, as is currently the case. Kim’s proposal would make business owners or top executives ultimately responsible for data protection and require the reporting of designated data protection officers. It would also make security certification mandatory, rather than voluntary. The bill is scheduled for review at a National Assembly subcommittee on Dec. 15. Park’s office said momentum is building in favor of stronger economic penalties, noting growing bipartisan support for the 10 percent cap. The government has also backed tougher enforcement. President Lee Jae Myung said stronger, more realistic fines were needed following the Coupang incident, and previously urged tougher penalties and punitive damages at a cabinet meeting on Dec. 2. Business groups, however, have warned of potential unintended consequences. A fine of 10 percent of revenue could translate into trillions of won for large companies. Industry representatives argue that steep penalties could burden firms even for relatively minor security lapses. Critics have also said the government is placing excessive responsibility on companies while failing to address structural weaknesses in national cybersecurity frameworks, calling for stronger public-sector security governance and more effective certification systems. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-10 15:20:30

Wemix will be listed on Thailand's largest crypto exchange Bitkub SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - The Wemix Foundation said Friday that its Wemix cryptocurrency will be listed on Bitkub, Thailand’s largest digital asset exchange, with deposits and withdrawals opening on Dec. 1. Bitkub controls about 70 percent of Thailand’s cryptocurrency market and operates under authorization from the Ministry of Finance. The platform lists more than 100 digital assets. The listing marks Wemix’s first official entry into the Thai market and will allow users to trade the token directly in Thai baht. The foundation said the move is expected to increase accessibility for local investors and broaden Wemix’s user base. The launch is also anticipated to strengthen engagement with Wemade’s blockchain-based game Legend of Ymir, which was released globally in October, by bolstering its in-game economy. The Wemix Foundation added that it is continuing to seek listings on major global exchanges as part of efforts to expand its ecosystem. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-28 16:28:49

Kakao Mobility launches autonomous ride service in Seoul SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Kakao Mobility, the transportation arm of South Korea’s internet giant Kakao, has introduced a new autonomous ride service in Seoul’s Sangam area, integrating self-driving technology into everyday transportation. The service, part of the Kakao T platform, offers what is known as Demand Responsive Transport, or DRT — a flexible form of public transit that adjusts its routes and schedules based on passenger demand. Unlike traditional buses, DRT vehicles stop only at designated stations within a defined service zone. Users can request, board, and pay for rides through the Kakao T app, selecting routes, stops, and departure times, and tracking vehicle locations and waiting times in real time. Kakao Mobility developed the system using data and operational experience from pilot programs in Seoul’s Gangnam area, the city of Sejong, and Jeju Island. Since being named a private operator for Seoul’s autonomous vehicle transport platform in September last year, the company has been working to fold autonomous services into its existing app-based mobility ecosystem. The new service, operated in partnership with the self-driving technology company SWM, will run on the A02 route in the Sangam area in Mapo-gu. Two vehicles, including one equipped for wheelchair access, will serve the route. The pilot service will be free of charge during its initial testing phase, operating on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. near Sangam DMC Station. Kakao Mobility said it plans to gradually expand the service to rural, suburban, and aging communities, where public transportation is often limited. “We hope more citizens will experience the convenience of autonomous DRT through the Kakao T app,” Ryu Gung-seon, the company’s chief executive, said in a press release. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-12 13:53:13