KAIST researchers develop animal-free culture platform to improve intestinal stem cell therapy SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Researchers have developed a new technology to grow human intestinal stem cells without using animal-derived materials, resolving a major safety hurdle for regenerative medicine. The method significantly improves the ability of these cells to move and repair damaged tissues, potentially accelerating treatments for intractable gastrointestinal diseases. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 23 that a joint research team led by Professor Im Sung-gap of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has created a polymer-based culture platform called PLUS (Polymer-coated Ultra-stable Surface). The project included researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). Current methods for growing intestinal stem cells often rely on "Matrigel" or mouse-derived cells to provide a foundation for growth. Because these materials come from animals, they carry risks of viral contamination and trigger strict regulatory hurdles for human use. The newly developed PLUS platform uses a synthetic polymer coating applied via gas-phase deposition, creating a completely "xenogeneic-free" or animal-free environment that remains stable at room temperature for three years. To understand why the cells grew so well on this synthetic surface, the team used proteomics, a method of analyzing all proteins within a cell simultaneously. They discovered that the PLUS platform triggers "cytoskeletal remodeling." This process essentially reorganizes the internal structural framework of the stem cells, specifically increasing proteins that bind to actin, which the cells use as a motor to move. Live imaging showed that stem cells grown on this platform moved nearly twice as fast as those grown on conventional surfaces. In laboratory models of damaged tissue, these cells repaired nearly half of the injured area within one week. This increased mobility is critical for cell therapy, as the injected stem cells must be able to migrate to and integrate with the patient's damaged intestinal lining to be effective. The researchers confirmed that the platform supports the mass production of stem cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The cells maintained their essential characteristics for over 210 days and successfully repaired intestinal inflammation in animal models, suggesting a high potential for clinical application in humans. "This research provides a synthetic culture platform that eliminates the dependence on animal-derived components, which has been a major barrier to the clinical application of stem cell therapies," Professor Im Sung-gap said. He noted that the technology could lead to a paradigm shift in how regenerative medicine is produced and distributed. The study involved Park Seong-hyun and Sun Sang-yu of KAIST, and Son Jin-kyeong of KRISS as lead authors. The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. (Paper information) Journal: Advanced Materials Title: Tailored Xenogeneic-Free Polymer Surface Promotes Dynamic Migration of Intestinal Stem Cells DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202513371 2025-12-23 08:28:54

S. Korea develops the world's second-fastest bullet train SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - South Korea has finished the development of a next-generation bullet train designed to operate at 370 kilometers per hour, the transport ministry said Monday. The achievement positions South Korea as the world's second-fastest rail operator, after China, to operate commercial rail services at speeds exceeding 350 kilometers per hour. Finalized under a four-year national research and development program, the project focused on the EMU-370. This electric multiple unit is built for a commercial speed of 370 kilometers per hour and a maximum design limit of 407 kilometers per hour. Manufacturing is slated to begin in 2026, with trial runs expected by 2030 and full commercial service following in 2031. The leap in speed moves South Korea ahead of other major rail markets like France, Germany, and Japan, which typically top out at around 320 kilometers per hour. China remains the leader, currently testing a 400 kilometers per hour model for a 2027 launch. The Korea Railroad Research Institute led the 22.5 billion won ($15.2 million) initiative, backed by 18.0 billion won in government funding. Engineers used the existing KTX-Cheongryong platform as a baseline, introducing upgrades to handle the intense aerodynamic resistance and vibration of ultra-high-speed travel. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reported that the EMU-370 features a 47.4 percent increase in motor output and a 12.3 percent reduction in running resistance. These changes, along with a 30 percent reduction in lateral vibration, are expected to significantly improve ride quality. Officials noted that the EMU-370 could eventually link major cities within a one-hour travel window. For instance, the travel time from Seoul to Busan could be reduced from the current 2 hours and 17 minutes to approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Beyond domestic use, the government is targeting export opportunities in markets like Vietnam and Poland, where new networks are being planned for speeds of 350 kilometers per hour or higher. "The completion of this project marks a milestone, coming two decades after South Korea introduced high-speed rail," Vice Minister Kang Hee-up said. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport intends to continue its research into third-generation rail technology with an ultimate goal of reaching 400 kilometers per hour in operational speed. 2025-12-22 17:10:48

KAIST researchers develop AI to automate plastic manufacturing and train new workers SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Professor Yoo Seung-hwa and his research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed an artificial intelligence system that can automatically manage factory machines and guide workers. The technology was created to help factories maintain production quality as experienced experts retire and more foreign workers enter the workforce, potentially creating language barriers on the factory floor. Most plastic items used today are made through a process called injection molding. This involves melting plastic and pouring it into a mold to create many identical parts at once. However, the process is very sensitive. Small changes in room temperature or humidity can cause the plastic parts to come out with defects. For a long time, factories have relied on the "gut feeling" of highly experienced workers to manually adjust the machine settings when the weather or conditions change. The research team at the KAIST Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Inno-Core PRISM-AI Center created two main tools to solve this problem. The first is a generative AI engine that acts like an expert's brain. It looks at the factory’s current environment, such as the humidity level, and automatically calculates the perfect pressure and speed for the machine. The second tool is a digital assistant called "IM-Chat." This chatbot uses a large language model to answer questions from workers in plain language. When a worker asks the chatbot a question, such as "What is the best pressure when the humidity is 43.5 percent?", the system does not just give a random answer. It automatically triggers the AI engine to do the math and then provides the worker with the exact settings along with an explanation from the factory's technical manuals. Because the system supports multiple languages, it allows newer or foreign workers to make the same high-level decisions as a human expert who has worked in the factory for decades. During testing, the AI proved to be much more reliable than older technology. Previous AI models used for this work often had error rates between 23 and 44 percent. The new system developed by the KAIST team reduced that error rate to just 1.63 percent. In real-world factory tests, the machine settings suggested by the AI successfully produced high-quality parts without any human help. "This is a case where we solved the core problems of manufacturing by using data-based AI," said Professor Yoo Seung-hwa. "By combining an AI that can optimize the factory process on its own with a system that can explain that knowledge to anyone, we hope to make many different types of industries more independent and automated." The researchers believe this technology can be used for more than just plastic. It could eventually be applied to making batteries, 3D printing, and even medicine. The project was a collaboration between several researchers, including doctoral students Kim Jun-young, Kim Hee-gyu, and Lee Jun-hyeong, who served as co-first authors. The work was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Journal: Journal of Manufacturing Systems (JCR 1/69, IF 14.2) Title: Development of an Injection Molding Production Condition Inference System Based on Diffusion Model DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2025.01.008 Journal: Journal of Manufacturing Systems (JCR 1/69, IF 14.2) Title: IM-Chat: A multi-agent LLM framework integrating tool-calling and diffusion modeling for knowledge transfer in injection molding industry DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2025.11.007 2025-12-22 09:47:37

Kookmin University undergraduates publish SCI paper through UROP research SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Two undergraduate students at Kookmin University have published a research paper in an international SCI-indexed journal after participating in the university's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), highlighting the growing role of hands-on research in undergraduate education. Kim Min-su and Lee Jeong-hun, students in the Department of Nanoelectronics and Physics, recently published a paper in Materials, an international journal published by MDPI, focusing on improving the long-term charge and discharge stability of anode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. Their study explores the use of hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles as an anode active material, applying structural concepts originally developed for drug delivery systems to battery technology. The researchers found that the unique hollow and porous structure helps absorb volume expansion during repeated charging and discharging, leading to improved Coulombic efficiency and more stable cycling performance even under high current density conditions. Anode active materials play a critical role in portable electronics and electrochemical energy storage systems by storing lithium ions during charging and releasing them during discharge. While silicon- and silica-based anodes offer high theoretical capacity, they have long struggled with structural instability caused by volume expansion, which degrades performance over time. The study shows that structural design at the nanoscale can mitigate these limitations and contribute to the development of more durable and reliable battery materials. The research was conducted under the supervision of Shim In-bo, a professor in the Department of Nanoelectronics and Physics. Shim said the project demonstrates the value of integrating real research experience into undergraduate education. "To address new risks facing higher education in the era of generative AI, we need systems that bring real problem-solving and research experience into formal curricula," Shim said. "This work shows that even undergraduate students, through structured programs like UROP, can independently explore topics beyond coursework and produce meaningful research outcomes." Kim Min-su said participating directly in laboratory experiments and paper writing as an undergraduate researcher was a valuable experience and expressed interest in continuing research related to next-generation batteries. Lee Jeong-hun also said the program provided an unexpected and meaningful opportunity and thanked the university and faculty for their support. The study was supported by Kookmin University's UROP program and the Advanced Field Innovation Convergence College Next-Generation Communications Project. (Paper information) Journal: Materials (MDPI) Title: A Study on Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Long-Term Cycling 2025-12-19 09:37:12

KAIST develops AI training method that learns human preferences with less data SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a new artificial intelligence training method that allows AI systems to learn human preferences more accurately using far less data, even in noisy or uncertain conditions. KAIST said on December 17 that a research team led by Kim Jun-mo has created a reinforcement learning framework called Teacher Value-based Knowledge Distillation, or TVKD. The approach improves how AI systems align their decisions with human judgment, a long-standing challenge in fields ranging from large language models to recommendation systems. Conventional preference-based AI training relies heavily on large volumes of comparison data, such as choosing whether option A is better than option B. While effective in controlled settings, the method often breaks down when data is limited or when human judgments are inconsistent, causing unstable learning and unreliable outcomes. The KAIST team addressed this problem by introducing a “teacher-student” structure. In the new framework, a teacher model first learns how valuable different choices are across full contexts, rather than relying on simple comparisons. The teacher then passes this distilled information to a student model, which learns more efficiently and consistently. Instead of copying binary judgments like “good” or “bad,” the student model learns why a decision is better by inheriting the teacher’s value-based evaluation. This allows the AI to make more balanced decisions in ambiguous situations and reduces confusion caused by conflicting data. The researchers also designed the system to account for the reliability of preference data. Clear and consistent data is given more weight during training, while noisy or uncertain inputs are downplayed. This helps the AI remain stable in real-world environments where human feedback is often imperfect. Tests across multiple AI benchmarks showed that the new method outperformed existing state-of-the-art approaches. The framework delivered stronger and more stable results on widely used evaluation tools such as MT-Bench and AlpacaEval. Kim said the method reflects how learning works in practice, where perfect data is rarely available. He added that the framework could be applied across a wide range of AI applications that require reliable alignment with human values. The research was led by Kwon Min-chan, a doctoral student at KAIST, and has been accepted to NeurIPS 2025, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence conferences. The study will be presented at a poster session on December 3, Pacific time. The project was supported by funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT through the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation. 2025-12-17 15:47:32

Korean calligraphy exhibition marks 60 years of immigration to Argentina SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - A Korean calligraphy exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of Korean immigration to Argentina opened on December 12 at the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo in Buenos Aires, bringing together Korean community members and Argentine officials to reflect on six decades of shared history. The opening ceremony was attended by Han Byung-gil, chairman of the Korea Council on Latin America & the Caribbean, who delivered congratulatory remarks highlighting the cultural significance of Hangeul and the long-standing contributions of the Korean community in Argentina. The exhibition, titled to commemorate the milestone anniversary, was hosted by North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province and organized by the World Calligraphy Biennale of Jeonbuk. It was supported by the Korea Council on Latin America & the Caribbean, the Korean Association in Argentina, and the Korean Cultural Center in Argentina. The exhibition runs from December 12 through December 19. Following the opening ceremony, an awards presentation was held at the same venue to recognize distinguished members of the Korean-Argentine community. Ambassador Lee Yong-soo of South Korea to Argentina presented commendations to Kim Hye-sook and Yang Won-joon in recognition of their contributions to the community. The evening continued with a year-end reception for the Korean community in Argentina, which also served as a commemorative gathering marking the 60th anniversary of immigration. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the community’s history and to reaffirm commitments to its future development. The reception was attended by more than 200 guests, including Kelly Olmos, a member of Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies and former labor minister; Santos Gaston, director of multicultural affairs for the city of Buenos Aires; Alfredo Bascu, former Argentine ambassador to South Korea; and members of the Korean diaspora. Organizers said the event underscored the role of cultural exchange in strengthening ties between Korea and Argentina and highlighted the enduring presence of the Korean community in Argentine society. 2025-12-16 17:51:01

Sookmyung Women's University team develops light-activated technology to break down fat SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - A research team at Sookmyung Women’s University, led by Professor Byun Jun-ho in the College of Pharmacy, has developed a new nanotechnology that uses light to selectively break down fat inside fat cells, a potential advance toward safer and more precise obesity treatments. The researchers said in the study, announced on December 16, that the approach targets fat without damaging surrounding tissue, addressing safety concerns linked to existing obesity treatments. Obesity is one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide and is closely associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. Current treatments rely largely on medication or surgery, which can cause systemic side effects or require invasive procedures, increasing demand for more targeted alternatives. The team focused on a natural cellular recycling process known as chaperone-mediated autophagy, or CMA. CMA helps maintain balance inside cells by breaking down specific proteins, and recent studies have shown it plays a key role in fat metabolism. To activate this process selectively, the researchers developed a nanoparticle system embedded in a hydrogel. The nanoparticles are coated with membranes derived from fat cells, allowing them to be absorbed primarily by fat cells rather than immune cells or nearby tissue. Each particle also carries a drug that promotes fat breakdown. When near-infrared light is applied, the nanoparticles generate mild heat that activates a key CMA-related protein, HSC70. This triggers the breakdown of a protective protein surrounding fat droplets, allowing fat-digesting enzymes to access and dismantle stored fat. The effect occurs only inside fat cells. In animal tests using mice fed a high-fat diet, the treatment led to significant weight loss and clear reductions in fat tissue size and triglyceride accumulation after light exposure. The researchers reported no abnormal findings in major toxicity indicators, including liver and kidney function, supporting the potential of the approach as a localized treatment. Byun said the study differs from existing light-based fat treatments that destroy fat cells directly. “This strategy selectively breaks down fat by precisely controlling the cell’s natural degradation system,” he said, adding that the approach could eventually be expanded to metabolic and aging-related diseases linked to impaired autophagy. The findings were published in Advanced Materials, an international journal in materials science and nanobiotechnology. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Seoul National University, Korea University, and the Korea Institute of Materials Science. ◆Journal: Advanced Materials (impact factor 26.8, JCR top 2.2 percent) ◆Title: Selective Lipolysis by Photoactivation of Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Using Adipocyte Membrane-Coated Nanoparticle in Hydrogel ◆DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418445 2025-12-16 14:30:49

KAIST develops stretchable liquid-metal ink for invisible cloaking technology SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a stretchable liquid-metal ink that allows electromagnetic cloaking properties to change as the material is stretched, a breakthrough that could expand the practical use of invisible cloaking technology in robotics, wearables, and defense applications. The research was announced on December 16 by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The study was led by Professor Kim Hyung-soo of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Park Sang-hoo of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering. The concept behind cloaking technology is to make an object undetectable to radar or sensors by controlling how electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, interact with its surface. While cloaking has long been studied in theory and in rigid materials, applying it to moving or flexible objects has remained difficult because conventional metals conduct electricity well but break easily when stretched. The KAIST team addressed this limitation by developing a liquid metal composite ink, known as LMCP, that maintains electrical conductivity even when stretched up to 12 times its original length. The ink also showed high durability, remaining stable in open air for nearly a year without significant corrosion or performance loss. Unlike solid metals, the ink behaves like rubber while retaining metallic conductivity. This is possible because liquid metal particles inside the ink naturally form a network-like structure as the material dries, creating a self-connected conductive pathway. When printed in repeating microscopic patterns, the structure functions as a type of metamaterial, an engineered material designed to manipulate electromagnetic waves in specific ways. Using this ink, the researchers demonstrated the world's first stretchable electromagnetic metamaterial absorber whose radar absorption properties change depending on how much it is stretched. Simply pulling the material like a rubber band altered the frequency range of electromagnetic waves it could absorb, showing that cloaking performance could be actively tuned through physical deformation. The fabrication process is also relatively simple. The ink can be printed or brushed onto a surface and dried without the need for high-temperature processing, lasers, or complex manufacturing equipment. It also avoids common problems seen in liquid-based materials, such as cracking or uneven drying, allowing for smooth and uniform metal patterns. According to the researchers, the technology could be applied to robot skins that move and deform, body-worn electronic devices, and next-generation stealth systems that require adaptability rather than fixed shapes. By allowing cloaking performance to respond dynamically to movement, the material opens possibilities that were previously difficult to achieve with rigid designs. Professor Kim said the research shows that advanced electromagnetic functions can be realized through simple printing processes without complex machinery. He added that the technology could serve as a foundation for future applications ranging from wearable electronics to radar stealth systems. The findings were published in the October 2025 issue of the international journal Small, published by Wiley, and were selected as a cover article. The study was supported by a mid-career research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea and the KAIST UP Program. The research team included first author Dr. Pyeon Jeong-su, co-author Lee Hyunseung, and Professor Choi Won-ho, with Professors Kim Hyungsoo and Park Sang-hoo serving as corresponding authors. 2025-12-16 14:06:05

South Korea and Türkiye revisit historic bonds, map future partnership in Seoul SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - The first 5,000-strong Turkish brigade, codenamed North Star, landed in South Korea on Oct. 19, 1950, just months after North Korea's invasion in June. Deployed under the United Nations Command, the Turkish contingent was not just second to arrive to South Korea's rescue after the United States, but also the second-largest contributor among the 16 nations involved in the war. Nearly 1,000 Turkish soldiers were killed or wounded while defending a country many had never seen before. Türkiye's connection to the Korean Peninsula goes back as far as more than 1,500 years ago, when the Göktürk Khaganate supported Goguryeo, one of Korea's ancient kingdoms. After the war, Turkish troops remained to help rebuild civilian life, establishing the Ankara School and Orphanage for Korean war orphans. The institution operated until the 1960s and remains a powerful symbol of humanitarian solidarity. For these reasons, relations between Seoul and Ankara are often described as a rare "blood brotherhood." That shared history was revisited Monday at a photo exhibition hosted at Korea University, which traced bilateral ties since the outbreak of the Korean War. The event brought together diplomats, policy experts, academics, and business leaders from both countries, creating an atmosphere of emotional resonance as well as strategic reflection. Seoul and Ankara are now drawing on a deep reservoir of shared history as they seek to expand cooperation into energy, technology and strategic industries, amid growing global polarization and middle-power diplomacy. High-level public-private discussions followed, aimed at moving the relationship beyond symbolism toward more reciprocal, future-oriented cooperation. The talks built on a memorandum of understanding signed during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to Türkiye last month. The discussions were part of the "Türkiye Meetings," co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in the Republic of Korea and the Korea University Graduate School of International Studies' International Policy Forum. The gathering added substance to summit-level agreements reached on Nov. 24 and coincided with Türkiye's Language and Diaspora Day on Dec. 15. The newly expanded MoU framework covers defense cooperation, nuclear energy, high-tech industries, infrastructure and finance, as well as digital infrastructure and green energy. Both sides underscored the growing role of middle powers as the global order becomes more polarized, fragmented and increasingly shaped by great-power rivalry. One focal point of discussion was South Korea's potential participation in Türkiye's Sinop Nuclear Power Plant project. For Seoul, the project represents an opportunity to expand its global nuclear footprint; for Ankara, it promises long-term technological reliability and greater strategic autonomy in energy. What distinguishes the 2025 MoUs, however, is their breadth. Beyond defense and nuclear energy, cooperation is set to expand into digital transformation, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, smart manufacturing, renewable energy, and the green-hydrogen economy. Dr. Nam Seung-wook said nuclear cooperation could serve as a cornerstone of broader industrial alignment, pointing to efforts to "integrate Korea's high-tech manufacturing strengths with Türkiye's production base and market linkages" to build a "resilient, uninterrupted supply chain." He noted that the two governments had laid institutional groundwork through a bilateral joint statement and a subsequent MoU, adding that the framework opens the door for South Korea to participate in Türkiye's planned second nuclear power plant in Sinop, including early-stage work such as site evaluation. Such cooperation, he said, is increasingly expected to extend beyond simple exports toward "joint development and production" in both nuclear energy and related strategic industries. With South Korea facing land constraints for large-scale renewable projects, Türkiye's abundant solar, wind, and geothermal resources present a natural complement. Türkiye's growing status as a regional energy hub also aligns with South Korea's push to secure diversified and stable energy supply chains. Participants at the Türkiye Meetings included Deputy Chief of Mission Esra Dogan Grajover, while Korea University officials—led by GSIS International Policy Forum Board Chair Kim Byung-ki—hosted the event on behalf of the graduate school and its affiliated research institutes. Speaking at the event, the Turkish Deputy Chief of Mission underscored the emotional foundation of bilateral ties, describing the Korea–Türkiye relationship as "deeply rooted in shared sacrifice and mutual respect." Recalling the Korean War, she noted that Turkish soldiers who crossed oceans to defend South Korea are remembered not as outsiders but "as brothers who helped save the nation." Looking ahead, she said the recent visit of President Lee Jae Myung to Ankara was "a testament to many more achievements to come," pointing to expanding cooperation in energy, defense, technology and people-to-people exchanges, and adding that the growing partnership reflects a shared vision of building "many 75 years to come." Addressing the broader strategic context, Grajober said the partnership between South Korea and Türkiye is increasingly shaped by shared global challenges, citing "global security, economic resilience, technological transformation, sustainable development." In that environment, she argued, reliable partnerships matter more than ever, asking, "who could be more trustworthy than a brother tested in difficult times." As both countries look ahead, officials emphasized that the challenge now lies in translating historic goodwill into sustained, project-based cooperation—anchored not only in memory, but in shared strategic interests for the decades ahead. 2025-12-15 18:00:15

World AI Film Festival to debut in Seoul in 2026 SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The World AI Film Festival will make its Seoul debut in March 2026, bringing together artificial intelligence technology and film as part of its expanding global network. Content planning firm Vision Culture said it will host the World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 (WAIFF Seoul 2026) on March 6 and 7, 2026, at Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul. The event will be held with official sponsor Lotte and media partner The Korea Herald. WAIFF is an international, network-based film festival that explores the artistic convergence of cinema and artificial intelligence. Founded by France-based Institut EuropIA, the festival has grown into a global platform with editions held in France, Brazil, Japan, China and South Korea. Each regional edition runs its own competition and jury while remaining linked through a shared international creative community. The inaugural WAIFF was held in April 2025 in Nice, near Cannes, attracting more than 1,500 submissions from 85 countries. About 200 industry professionals and more than 1,000 audience members attended the first edition. Following that launch, Seoul was selected as the festival’s Asian premiere host city for 2026. Cities confirmed to host WAIFF editions in 2026 include Sao Paulo, Kyoto, Wuxi and Seoul, with the Seoul event marking the first WAIFF edition in Asia. WAIFF Seoul 2026 will run a full competition program focused on short-form works created using generative AI technologies. Submissions opened on October 15 through the official website and include four categories: AI short films, AI short series, AI advertising and youth AI films. All entries must involve video works produced using generative AI. In addition to the competition, the festival will feature workshops, panel discussions, ethics forums, and industry exchange sessions covering AI-based content production, education, and collaboration. The jury and honorary leadership lineup includes Marco Landi, former chief operating officer of Apple and chairman of Institut EuropIA; French Academy Award-winning director Claude Lelouch; Emmy Award-winning writer Sarah Lelouch; and internationally acclaimed actress Gong Li, known for her roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and Farewell My Concubine. Winners in each category will receive prize money and sponsorship support, and selected award-winning works will be invited to screen at the main World AI Film Festival event in Cannes in April 2026. WAIFF Seoul 2026 is expected to serve as a platform connecting South Korea’s AI-driven content creators with global film and technology networks. 2025-12-12 17:59:31