KAIST and Yoshua Bengio develop breakthrough to make AI diffusion models 100 times faster SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - A research team at South Korea’s prestigious research institution KAIST, in collaboration with renowned artificial intelligence scholar Yoshua Bengio from the University of Montreal, has developed a technique that significantly accelerates the performance of AI diffusion models while maintaining high output quality. The new method addresses one of the biggest barriers to deploying diffusion models in real-time applications such as robotics and decision-making systems. KAIST said on Sunday that the project was led by Professor Ahn Sung-jin from KAIST’s School of Computing was carried out through the KAIST-MILA Prefrontal AI Joint Research Center collaboration project. Diffusion models, widely used in AI for tasks like image and text generation, are known for their slow inference speed, which has limited their real-world utility in time-sensitive systems. The research team tackled this issue by introducing an inference approach based on Monte Carlo Tree Search, a strategy often used in game AI to explore decision paths. By modeling the generation process as a tree and strategically narrowing down the most promising paths, the method was able to produce high-quality outputs using limited computational resources. It also achieved a 100 percent success rate in a large-scale maze-solving task, a benchmark that previous models consistently failed to complete. The study was presented as a Spotlight paper at the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), held in Vancouver from July. 13 to 19. Spotlight papers are selected from the top 2.6 percent of all submissions, reflecting the technical significance and novelty of the work. While the initial version of the model demonstrated impressive accuracy, its speed remained a challenge. To address this, the team conducted follow-up research to parallelize the tree search algorithm, dramatically boosting its efficiency. The revised model achieved inference speeds up to 100 times faster than previous versions, with no loss in performance. "This study fundamentally breaks through the high computational cost barrier of conventional diffusion models," said Ahn Sung-jin. "We expect the technique to serve as a core technology across various domains, from intelligent robotics and simulation-based planning to real-time generative AI." The research was led by Ph.D. candidate Yoon Jae-sik, with contributions from Cho Hyeon-seo, Baek Doo-jin, Bengio, and Ahn. The results were published in two papers. The first, titled Monte Carlo Tree Diffusion for System 2 Planning, was authored by Yoon Jae-sik, Cho Hyeon-seo, Baek Doo-jin, Yoshua Bengio, and Ahn Sung-jin. The second paper, Fast Monte Carlo Tree Diffusion: 100x Speedup via Parallel Sparse Planning, was co-authored by Yoon Jae-sik, Cho Hyeon-seo, Yoshua Bengio, and Ahn Sung-jin. Both were posted on the preprint server arXiv. The study was supported by the National Research Foundation of South Korea. 2025-07-20 14:58:57

Viet Nam's top leader To Lam to visit South Korea for summit with President Lee SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - General Secretary To Lam, the top-ranking official in Viet Nam's Communist Party, is set to visit South Korea in August for a summit with President Lee Jae-myung, diplomatic sources confirmed Wednesday. Lam is expected to arrive on August 10. Both sides are now working to schedule a summit meeting for the following day, August 11. This will be Lam's first visit to South Korea and the first by a Vietnamese general secretary in 11 years, following Nguyen Phu Trong’s trip in 2014. During the summit, President Lee and General Secretary Lam are expected to explore ways to expand bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors, including high-speed rail and nuclear power. The talks will be framed under the two countries' existing comprehensive strategic partnership. On July 4, Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong sent a joint message congratulating President Lee on his election and inauguration. "We look forward to enhancing the relationship between Viet Nam and South Korea in a more practical, effective, and comprehensive way," the message read. "This will serve the interests of both peoples and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world. We are ready to work with President Lee and the Republic of Korea to make that happen." President Cuong followed up with a phone call on June 12, less than two weeks after Lee took office. During the call, he wished President Lee a successful term. Thuong was the fifth foreign head of state to speak with Lee after calls from U.S. President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. President Lee noted the progress in bilateral relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. He pointed to growth in trade, investment, and human exchanges, and expressed hope for deeper cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership. President Cuong welcomed Lee’s remarks and emphasized Viet Nam’s interest in strengthening ties with South Korea, calling it a trusted and essential partner in Viet Nam’s economic development and modernization. Both leaders agreed to advance cooperation in strategic industries such as high-speed transportation and energy. President Lee also requested support for South Korean businesses operating in Viet Nam. President Thuong responded positively. Cuong invited Lee to visit Viet Nam. Lee said he looked forward to the visit and added that he hoped for continued high-level exchanges between the two countries, including through forums such as APEC. 2025-07-16 16:45:26

New Zealand Embassy marks 10 years of free trade deal with South Korea SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - SEOUL — The New Zealand Embassy in South Korea on Tuesday released a video series to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Korea–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, highlighting a decade of growing trade and cooperation between the two countries. The embassy said that the agreement, which came into force in 2015, has more than doubled trade between South Korea and New Zealand. Today, South Korea stands as New Zealand’s fifth-largest trading partner, and the deal continues to provide real, measurable benefits and new opportunities for exporters. Recent developments include New Zealand gaining access to the South Korean market for blueberries and dairy products. In return, South Korea has been granted approval to export mandarins to New Zealand. The embassy described these outcomes as clear examples of how the agreement remains active and mutually beneficial. Both governments have also agreed to explore a potential upgrade of the agreement. According to the embassy, South Korea’s capabilities in technology and manufacturing, combined with New Zealand’s expertise in food and beverage, sustainability, and education, offer strong potential for deeper cooperation. To mark the anniversary, the embassy produced a three-part video series. It features Ambassador Dawn Bennet in a segment on Korean food and New Zealand wine pairings with chef Keewuk Lee, a kapa haka performance by the Hiwa Crew at the National Museum of Korea, and a visit to Seoul National University that highlights the importance of educational exchange between the two nations. "This video series is a celebration of the vibrant and evolving partnership between New Zealand and Korea," Ambassador Bennet said. "Through food, culture, and education, we’re telling the story of a relationship that goes beyond trade, one built on shared values, mutual respect, and a growing connection between our people." 2025-07-16 13:41:47

NewJeans' producer Min Hee-jin cleared of criminal charges, HYBE to appeal SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) -South Korea's police have cleared former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin of breach of trust allegations filed by HYBE, the parent company behind K-pop girl group NewJeans. The Yongsan Police Station said Tuesday that after more than a year of investigation, the case would not be forwarded to prosecutors. HYBE filed the complaint in April 2024, accusing Min of attempting to take control of ADOR by colluding with outside investors and bypassing the internal decision-making process. At the time, HYBE held an 80 percent stake in the label, which Min had led since its launch. Min's legal team welcomed the police decision, stating, "After more than a year of investigation, police have found no grounds for criminal suspicion. Both the breach of trust and embezzlement allegations have been dismissed." HYBE responded that it would formally appeal the decision. The company pointed to a recent ruling by the Seoul High Court which stated that Min had “intentionally destroyed the integrated structure that was the premise of the exclusive contract,” referring to the internal governance and contractual foundation of ADOR and NewJeans. The legal dispute began with HYBE’s audit of ADOR in early 2024, which quickly escalated into a public power struggle between the two sides. Following the fallout, the five members of NewJeans attempted to terminate their contracts and began operating under the name "NJZ." The move was not authorized by ADOR. In June 2025, the Seoul High Court issued an injunction in favor of ADOR, blocking the members from promoting independently or using the NJZ name. The court reaffirmed that the group remains legally bound to ADOR and imposed penalties of up to one billion won, about $725,000, per violation. Although the police decision relieves Min of criminal responsibility, HYBE maintains that her actions caused structural harm to the company and continues to seek further legal review. The company says the police ruling does not reflect more recent developments that have come to light during civil proceedings. 2025-07-15 16:33:51

SHINee's Onew to release second full-length album "PERCENT" SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - K-pop group SHINee member Onew will return to the music scene with the release of his second full-length album, "PERCENT," dropping Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. (0900 GMT). The album arrives five months after his January mini-album "CONNECTION." According to his agency, SM Entertainment, the title track "ANIMALS" captures the moment when instinct takes control. The song features a refined bass line, acoustic guitar, synths, and sound effects that mimic animal calls. Rather than repeating the same structure, Onew develops a narrative that creates tension and movement throughout the track. The music video, which will be released alongside the album, visualizes this theme by showing instinct awakening and reason giving way. Onew said he hopes listeners will feel free to follow their instincts and enjoy moments of joy, “even if only under a full moon.” "PERCENT" includes a variety of songs that reflect different moods and themes. The opening track "Silky" embraces rest and laziness, while "Caffeine" uses unusual harmonies to express a sense of addiction. "Marshmallow" describes the feeling of falling in love, and "Confidence" symbolically captures Onew’s emotional rhythm in uncertain times. The track "오래 OKㅋ" offers comfort with a light, humorous tone. Other songs include "Far Away," which contrasts sharp sounds to express a desire to escape confusion, and "MAD," which explores the emotional aftermath of a breakup. The track "PERCENT (%)" experiments with sound to portray a wide emotional range, while "Epilogue" focuses on a sincere, vocal-driven narrative. The album closes with "Happy Birthday," a song about hope and gratitude. Onew has described "PERCENT" as a personal story of being emptied, filled, and shaped by interaction with the world. He said, “No one can reach 100 percent alone, but even imperfect beings are beautiful in their own way.” He participated in the overall production of the album, showing his artistic growth. To celebrate the release, a pop-up store titled "ONEW 2ND ALBUM 'PERCENT' POP-UP STORE" has opened at the first floor open stage of Shinsegae Gangnam. The space features interactive displays and fan events designed around the album’s concept. 2025-07-15 14:15:26

NCT DREAM marks 9th anniversary with time travel-themed album 'Go Back To The Future' SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - As NCT DREAM approaches its 9th anniversary, the group is making a comeback with its fifth full-length album, "Go Back To The Future," built around the concept of time travel. The album was officially introduced during a press conference on Monday at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. The seven-member group, including Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung, explores the past, present, and future in a narrative that connects their beginnings in 2016 to their current identity in 2025 and a distant future they call the "Absolute Present." To fully realize the time travel theme, they received official approval to pay homage to the film "Back to the Future" from Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, combining familiar visuals like hoverboards with NCT DREAM's own symbols. "It is an album with double title tracks. It consists of nine songs and carries a theme of time travel," Mark explained. "We, the quirky seven members of NCT DREAM, accidentally discover a time machine, which is a hoverboard. As NCT DREAM, known for our storytelling, we included many fun elements in the album revolving around time." "BTTF" (Back To The Future), one of the title tracks, reflects on the idea of understanding a regret-free past while facing choices that can change the future. Jeno described the song as intense and central to the album’s message. Renjun added, "All the time in the past has accumulated to create the current NCT DREAM. Some lyrics recur like a slogan, capturing our shining selves from the past, present, and future." The group also nodded to their origins by wearing the same pajamas from their debut music video in the "BTTF" video, recreating those early scenes. "It conveys the message that the 'us' back then has led to the 'us' now," they said. The second title track, "CHILLER," shifts the focus to enjoying the present with confidence. Chenle noted, "It is a song that follows 'BTTF.' It carries a message of enjoying my most radiant self just as I am. The word 'CHILLER' itself conveys a sense of leisure." Jaemin added that it was recorded in a relaxed but sincere atmosphere to match the lyrics' tone. This is the first time NCT DREAM has selected two title tracks. "Rather than deciding to have double title tracks from the planning stage, we both loved them so much that we ended up going with double title tracks," Chenle explained. The album also includes "I LIKE IT," "DREAM TEAM," and "Interlude: Back to Our PARADISE," as well as ballads like "My Rain Shower ('Bout You)," "When the Summer Wind Blows (That Summer)," and "Dawn Star (Miss Me)." "Beautiful Sailing" closes the album, reflecting on their journey and hinting at what lies ahead. Ahead of the release, NCT DREAM held a three-day concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, drawing 60,000 fans and setting a new group record. "If those who attended the performances feel that they made the right choice to see an NCT DREAM concert, that brings me great fulfillment," Jaemin said. Jisung reflected on their near-decade-long career, saying, "I feel pride in being a team that can hold a concert at Gocheok Dome." Haechan added, "Even though we are approaching the 9th anniversary, we will show a passion as if it's just our 9th day since debut." NCT DREAM said their main goal is to deliver the album’s message clearly. "While each of us may have various new dreams, I believe that achieving the dream we initially had is valuable," Mark said. "Instead of dreaming different dreams, we want to carry the message, even if the form differs." "Go Back To The Future" was released on Jul. 14 at 6 p.m. on major music platforms and is also available as a physical album. 2025-07-14 15:14:10

BigHit to debut new BTS' brother band next month SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - BigHit Music, home to BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT), said Monday that it will debut a new five-member boy band on Aug. 18. This will be the label's first rookie group since TXT, which debuted in 2019. The new act features Martin, James, Juhoon, Sunghyun, and Gunho. All are teenagers and will work together as a creative unit without being limited to fixed roles. BigHit described them as a "young creator crew" who writes music, choreographs, and produces visuals on their own terms. "With a completely new and original sensibility, they will showcase their creative talent through lyrics, composition, performance, and videography based on their own stories," the company said. Martin and James have already been involved in producing TXT's "Deja Vu" and "Miracle," and ILLIT's "Magnetic." James also contributed to the choreography for "Deja Vu," "Magnetic," "Cherish," and "Tick-Tack." Details such as the group's name will be revealed later. 2025-07-14 10:02:42

Kazakhstan showcases exports at Korea Import Fair 2025 in Seoul SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - Kazakhstan highlighted its national products and services at the Korea Import Fair 2025, held in Seoul from July 7 to 9, as part of efforts to deepen trade relations with South Korea. The Kazakhstan Embassy in the Republic of Korea said that the event was hosted by the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), with support from South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). More than 200 companies from 40 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa participated. Kazakhstan's booth featured services from national carriers Air Astana and Scat Airlines, along with consumer goods such as Maximus products and chocolate by Lotte Rakhat. The booth attracted several hundred visitors, and a number of South Korean companies expressed interest in possible cooperation with Kazakh businesses. In her opening remarks, KOIMA Chairperson Youn Young-mi stressed the importance of expanding imports from friendly countries. "This exhibition gives foreign companies a unique opportunity to present their products in Korea and connect with potential partners," she said. Kazakhstan's Ambassador to South Korea Nurgali Arystanov toured the exhibition alongside Youn and National Assembly member Seo Il-jun. The three visited the Kazakh display and exchanged views on expanding bilateral trade. In 2024, trade volume between Kazakhstan and South Korea reached 3.1 billion US dollars, making South Korea one of Kazakhstan's top ten trading partners. 2025-07-13 17:44:33

KAIST team develops microbe for efficient, eco-friendly lutein production SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a safe, high-yield microbial strain capable of producing lutein more efficiently than conventional methods. The new approach provides an eco-friendly and scalable alternative to plant or algae-based extraction, which is often slow, costly, and difficult to industrialize. KAIST said in a statement on July 13, that the study led by Distinguished Professor Lee Sang -yup of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering was published in the journal Nature Synthesis on July 4. It demonstrates the potential of microbial metabolic engineering to mass-produce valuable health-related compounds using sustainable processes. Lutein is an antioxidant known for its benefits to eye health, particularly in preventing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. It is typically extracted from marigolds or microalgae, but these sources present limitations, including low yield and seasonal variability. To overcome these challenges, the KAIST team focused on Corynebacterium glutamicum, a microorganism widely recognized as safe for food and pharmaceutical use. By modifying the strain's internal metabolic pathways and applying a technique known as electron channeling, the researchers accelerated the chemical reactions needed to produce lutein. By optimizing enzyme arrangement and enhancing electron transfer, they achieved a production rate of 1.78 grams per liter in just 54 hours. That translates to an average of 32.88 milligrams per liter per hour, significantly outperforming conventional extraction methods. "This research overcomes the production bottlenecks in microbial lutein synthesis and establishes a competitive, eco-friendly process," said Eun Hyun-min, a doctoral student and co-first author of the paper. "We expect this to help accelerate the practical use of microbial platforms for producing various natural compounds." The team used glucose, a common and renewable sugar source, to feed the microbe. This not only enhances production efficiency but also supports a more sustainable manufacturing process. The researchers also employed spatial enzyme engineering techniques, arranging enzymes in close proximity within the cell to boost reaction speed and output. "Microbial metabolic engineering is emerging as a next-generation strategy that goes beyond traditional plant-based or chemical synthesis," said Professor Lee. "We will continue researching ways to produce high-value natural substances more efficiently using microorganisms." The work was funded by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT as part of a national initiative to develop next-generation bio-refinery technologies. The technology is expected to be commercialized by SilicoBio, a startup founded by Professor Lee. 2025-07-13 15:42:51

N. Korean leader meets Russian foreign minister, reaffirms deepening ties with Moscow SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday in Wonsan, reinforcing a growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow amid heightened global tensions, Pyongyang's state media the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday. Lavrov's visit, which followed the second foreign ministerial strategic dialogue between the two countries, was marked by a show of unity on key international and regional issues. During the meeting, Kim said North Korea and Russia "share the same views on all strategic issues," describing their relationship as having reached a "high strategic level." Before the meeting, Kim was briefed on the outcome of Lavrov’s talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. He expressed confidence that the "coordinated and harmonious diplomatic stands" of the two countries would contribute positively to peace and security in the region and beyond. Kim also voiced full support for Russia’s handling of the war in Ukraine. "We are ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," he said. Lavrov, delivering a personal message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressed Moscow's commitment to strengthening "strategic and tactical cooperation" with North Korea and deepening coordination on the global stage. Although neither side announced a new summit, Russian media reported that Lavrov conveyed Putin’s message expressing hope for a direct meeting with Kim "in the very near future." The Russian president had extended an invitation during his visit to Pyongyang in June 2024. North Korean state media also released a joint statement on the second strategic dialogue, which reaffirmed the two governments' commitment to their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. Both sides agreed to implement its provisions "faithfully" and continue developing what they called a long-term strategic alliance. Russia also made its position clear on the Korean Peninsula, rejecting any attempts to undermine North Korea’s status and expressing "unwavering support" for Pyongyang's efforts to protect its sovereignty and national security. The two countries signed a bilateral exchange plan for 2026 and 2027 and agreed to hold further high-level meetings. While the details were not made public, experts believe discussions may have included military cooperation, tourism initiatives, and energy support. Lavrov was welcomed at a banquet held at the newly reopened Songdowon Hotel in the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone. The event is seen as part of North Korea’s push to attract Russian tourists and rebuild economic links with its longtime ally. 2025-07-13 10:44:04