North Korean hackers spread malware through stolen smartphone accounts, report reveals SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - North Korean hackers have remotely inflicted smartphones and PCs with malware and bogus apps to steal sensitive data, according to a report released on Monday by Genians, a South Korean cybersecurity company. According to the report, one case involved a hacker who reset a South Korean psychologist's Android-based smartphone and used a stolen KakaoTalk account to spread malware disguised as a "stress relief program" to the victim's contacts in early September. Another similar attack targeted a North Korean human rights activist, affecting dozens of the activist's contacts on Sept. 15. The attackers tricked them into installing malicious software by posing as trusted acquaintances. They also infiltrated devices, used Google location services to track when victims were away from home or work, and then remotely reset the devices. "The use of various tactics to delete data and carry out other attacks appears unprecedented," the report said, highlighting North Korea's increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-10 10:05:46

South Korea's Naver forms strategic partnership with Spotify SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - South Korea's Naver said Tuesday it has entered into a strategic partnership with Spotify to bring the global streaming platform’s vast library of music and podcasts to more users across Naver’s digital ecosystem. The collaboration aims to integrate Spotify’s catalog — which includes more than 100 million songs and 7 million podcasts — into Naver’s suite of services, allowing users to more easily enjoy audio content tailored to their tastes and moods. Lee Jae-hoo, head of Naver’s app services, and Gautam Talwar, Spotify’s general manager for the Asia-Pacific region, met at Naver’s headquarters in Seongnam to discuss joint strategies and explore new areas of cooperation. “Through our collaboration with Spotify, users will find it easier to discover and enjoy audio content that matches their preferences and moods,” Lee said in a statement. “We aim to strengthen the synergy between our companies to offer richer and more personalized audio experiences.” Talwar noted that since Spotify entered the Korean market in 2021, the platform has helped connect fans with their favorite music and artists through personalization and algorithmic recommendations. “This partnership will allow even more listeners to find music that fits their moments and emotions,” he said. While the companies did not disclose specific plans, they said details of upcoming services will be announced gradually. Industry observers expect the partnership to help Naver expand its reach in digital entertainment while giving Spotify a deeper foothold in South Korea’s competitive streaming market, where local players like Melon and Genie dominate. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-04 13:45:00

AI data centers are 'strategic national assets': Naver chief SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Naver’s chief executive, Choi Soo-yeon, urged greater institutional and policy support for artificial intelligence data centers, calling them essential to the next stage of digital development in South Korea. Speaking Wednesday at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, Choi emphasized that AI data centers had become foundational infrastructure for the global economy and said governments should treat them as strategic national assets. “The AI we are developing at Naver connects the digital ecosystem more intricately, supporting users, creators and sellers,” she said, noting that the company has built a “full-stack” AI ecosystem that integrates infrastructure, data and services. Choi said countries around the world were racing to build AI data centers as part of national industrial policy, and she called for South Korea to accelerate its own efforts through the government’s “AI highway” initiative. She proposed tax incentives, streamlined regulatory procedures and more flexible location rules to encourage investment in the sector. She also voiced support for a special law under discussion in South Korea’s National Assembly that would create a legal framework to promote AI data center development, describing it as “a foundation for transitioning the national industry to AI.” “AI should benefit everyone,” Choi said, adding that data centers — with their vast energy needs — must also address power supply and environmental sustainability challenges. “I hope this summit will mark a starting point for meaningful collaboration.” Choi spoke alongside Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon Web Services, and Simon Milner, vice president at Meta, in a session devoted to AI’s role in the global economy. Earlier in the week, she had appeared at the APEC Future Tech Forum to discuss Naver’s AI strategy and ecosystem. In tandem with the summit, Naver is hosting a “Be Local Week” campaign in Gyeongju to showcase the city to foreign visitors. Choi visited the event site and met with local business owners to discuss regional growth and digital innovation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 13:34:28

OpenAI appoints former Google Korea head as first South Korea chief SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - OpenAI has named Kim Kyung-hoon, a former head of Google Korea, as its first chief executive in South Korea, the company announced Monday. Kim, who has more than two decades of experience in global technology and consulting, will lead OpenAI’s strategic partnerships and oversee the expansion of its artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country. The appointment comes amid surging demand for the company’s products in South Korea. Weekly active users of ChatGPT have risen more than fourfold from a year ago, according to OpenAI. Kim served as president of Google Korea from 2021 until recently, steering the growth of the company’s advertising business while supporting local AI and digital development through startup and developer initiatives. He previously led Google’s marketing solutions team in Korea and managed strategy and operations for the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on mobile and search advertising. He holds a computer engineering degree from Seoul National University and an MBA from Duke University. He also serves on the board of AMCHAM Korea, where he has contributed to policy discussions on information technology, cybersecurity and digital content. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 09:52:59