Lee and Ishiba share hometown dishes at Tokyo dinner while emphasizing cooperation SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru shared hometown dishes at a dinner in Tokyo on Saturday, shortly after their summit, underscoring a cooperative tone, South Korea's Presidential Office said Sunday. National Security Director Wi Seong-rak said on August 24 that the meal was held in a friendly atmosphere at the prime minister’s residence. The leaders were joined by their spouses. From South Korea, Wi and Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom attended. From Japan, Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana Keiichiro were present. The menu paired specialties from both leaders' home regions. The table featured "Ishiba-style" curry, Andong jjimdak, a traditional Korean menu with chicken, glass noodles, and vegetables simmered in a soy sauce-based stew-like sauce, Andong soju, and beer from Tottori Prefecture. The courses also included sake, Korean-style grilled eel with kimchi garnish, and white peaches from Okayama, reflecting President Lee’s preference for peaches. Wi said the selection of Andong soju and Tottori beer appeared intended to emphasize cooperation and reconciliation. During the meal, Ishiba said he ate curry often during his college years. Lee replied, "I can picture a young Prime Minister Ishiba eating curry while listening to the Japanese girl group Candies." Lee added, "Because Prime Minister Ishiba likes Korean ramen, I tried to bring every ramen on the market, but I gave up because of the volume." Ishiba told Lee he had read the Japanese translation of Lee's autobiographical essay "I Came This Far Because I Had That Dream" and asked him to sign it. The leaders also spoke while looking into photos of Andong sites, including Hahoe Village, Dosan Seowon, and Wolyeonggyo. The conversation turned to political life and public communication. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said in a statement that both leaders noted that they were not mainstream politicians, yet rose to office after setbacks. Ishiba said, "I cannot sleep because I am replying late into the night to messages people send." Lee responded, "I am also busy sending messages, but I mostly send texts to instruct people to work." Ishiba noted that during the Edo period, the Joseon Tongsinsa played an important role. The official envoy missions were sent by the Joseon Dynasty court to Japan during the Edo period, active mainly from 1607 to 1811, to maintain peace, resume trade, and promote cultural exchange. Lee emphasized the value of shuttle diplomacy. After dinner, the two couples moved with only interpreters to a tatami room and talked for about 30 minutes over an after-dinner drink. Wi also described how the joint press document, released after the two leaders' summit meetings, was produced. He said initial coordination did not include a joint text because of the tight timetable. After reviewing the plan, President Lee directed aides to pursue a joint document with Japan, and the two sides agreed to and released a joint statement. Wi added that full joint declarations are typically issued during state visits, such as the 1998 Kim Dae Jung and Obuchi declaration or the 2003 Roh Moo Hyun and Koizumi declaration, and that this trip was a working visit. The joint statement, the first one that was issued after a South Korea-Japan summit in 17 years, set clear priorities. It pledged expanded cooperation in future industries such as hydrogen and artificial intelligence and launched a bilateral consultative body to address shared social challenges including low birth rates, aging populations, metropolitan area concentration, agriculture, and disaster safety. On security, it reaffirmed complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, close coordination on North Korea policy, continued enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions, and the need to respond together to deepening Russia-North Korea military ties. It also called for the resumption of shuttle diplomacy, more youth exchanges through working holiday programs, and cooperation on the APEC summit in Gyeongju in October and the Korea-Japan-China leaders' meeting to be chaired by Japan. The document recorded Prime Minister Ishiba’s statement that his cabinet inherits prior positions on historical recognition, including the 1998 Kim Dae Jung and Obuchi declaration. 2025-08-24 17:58:29

South Korean troops fire warning shots as North Korean soldiers cross MDL SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean troops fired warning shots after more than 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Aug. 19, the United Nations Command (UNC) confirmed Sunday. The MDL, drawn under the 1953 armistice, runs through the center of the DMZ, a 250-kilometer-long buffer separating the two Koreas. Unauthorized crossings are unusual and are considered serious violations of the armistice. According to the UNC, the North Korean soldiers had been carrying out construction and repair work when they stepped across the line. South Korean forces issued repeated loudspeaker warnings but received no response, leading them to fire warning shots. The soldiers then moved back to the northern side. The UNC said its Military Armistice Commission began an investigation immediately after the incident. It noted that North Korea had notified the command in advance about its work in the zone, describing such prior communication as "valuable in reducing the risk of misunderstandings and unintended incidents." The UNC added that it remains prepared to talk with the North about this and other issues. The statement came after North Korea accused South Korea of a "dangerous provocation," claiming troops fired more than 10 rounds from a 12.7-millimeter machine gun at its soldiers near the border. Ko Jeong-chol, deputy chief of the North’s General Staff, urged the South to "immediately stop reckless military actions that could trigger clashes along the southern border." South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that warning shots were fired, saying that around 3 p.m. on August 19, North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL in the central sector before returning north. 2025-08-24 15:45:00

Lee heads to Washington with clear agenda on tariffs, security and nuclear fuel pact talks SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left Japan on August 24 after his summit with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and is now en route to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. According to South Korean diplomatic sources on August 23, Seoul and Washington are drafting a joint statement that would say the two sides will begin discussions and technical studies on amending the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. The draft text would state that these talks will include South Korea's request to discuss the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Until the leaders issue the statement or say it on the record, this remains unconfirmed. The summit's confirmed and likely agenda items are as follows. The leaders will review the tariff deal outlined in late July. They will discuss broader economic coordination. Alliance issues are on the table, including the strategic flexibility of U.S. military forces in South Korea. Ministers prepared these topics in Washington this week. Foreign Minister Cho-hyun and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright on August 22. Background on the nuclear file is straightforward. The current U.S.–ROK nuclear cooperation agreement was revised in 2015 and runs until 2035. Under this agreement, South Korea needs U.S. consent even to enrich uranium below twenty percent. South Korea is not allowed to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. Limited research on pyroprocessing, a recycling method that does not produce weapons usable material, is permitted. These restrictions do not apply in the U.S.–Japan arrangement. South Korea's goal is to complete the nuclear fuel cycle at home. Seoul argues that gaining latitude on enrichment and reprocessing would secure fuel supply for its reactor exports, reduce pressure on interim storage that is nearing capacity, and strengthen resilience as the country faces North Korea's nuclear threat. Washington has been cautious because reprocessing can produce plutonium that could be diverted to weapons. That concern sits at the core of U.S. nonproliferation policy. Even if the two presidents announce the start of talks, it is not yet clear how far the U.S. will go toward endorsing South Korea's position. South Korean officials say they have worked to create room for progress at leader level. "We have worked to amend the agreement, and we intend to make progress through this summit," South Korea's National Security Director Wi Seong-rak told reporters before the trip. Lee's U.S. itinerary includes a business roundtable, a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a visit to Philadelphia's Philly Shipyard on Tuesday before returning home. 2025-08-24 14:57:20

S. Korea and Japan put hydrogen and AI cooperation at center of first joint statement in 17 years SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru wrapped up their Tokyo summit on August 23 with a joint statement, the first released by the two neighbors in 17 years. The document commits both governments to closer coordination on security and to new cooperation in future industries, with hydrogen and artificial intelligence singled out as priority fields. The talks at the prime minister's office ran longer than planned, beginning at 4:55 p.m. (0755 GMT) and totaling 113 minutes. A 62-minute small group session was followed by a 51-minute expanded meeting. The leaders agreed to launch a bilateral consultative body to tackle shared challenges that cut across economics and society, including low birth rates, aging populations, metropolitan area concentration, agriculture, and disaster safety management. Future industry cooperation anchors the economic track of the agreement. During last year's election campaign, Lee pledged to accelerate South Korea's AI capabilities to lift growth and productivity, deploying advanced models across manufacturing and public services to counter demographic headwinds. Linking that agenda to Japan's strengths in next-generation energy and advanced manufacturing, the two sides placed hydrogen and AI at the heart of their forward-looking partnership. Security coordination featured prominently. Lee and Ishiba reaffirmed their support for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful resolution of North Korea's nuclear and missile issues through dialogue and diplomacy. They agreed to maintain close policy coordination on North Korea, to work with the international community for thorough enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions, and to respond together to the deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea. Both leaders also underscored the importance of strengthening trilateral cooperation with the United States. The summit produced practical follow-ups. The two governments will resume shuttle diplomacy between leaders, expand youth exchanges through working holiday programs, and cooperate to ensure the successful hosting of the APEC summit in Gyeongju in October and the Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit to be chaired by Japan. Lee used his opening remarks in the expanded session to call for steady, pragmatic engagement. "Because our two countries are so close, unnecessary conflicts sometimes occur," he said. "Issues that are difficult to approach should be given sufficient time for reflection, but where we can cooperate, cooperation is what politicians in both countries must pursue." Ishiba welcomed Lee's choice of Japan as his first bilateral destination since taking office, calling it "very reassuring," and said that stronger Japan, South Korea, and United States cooperation is "very important." The joint statement also noted that Ishiba affirmed his government's overall inheritance of prior cabinet positions on historical recognition, including the 1998 Kim Dae-jung and Obuchi declaration, "A New Japan-Republic of Korea Partnership for the Twenty-First Century," which has long been viewed as a foundation for future-oriented cooperation. History still shadows the relationship. South Korea and Japan are close neighbors, yet disputes rooted in Japan's 1910 to 1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula have triggered periodic diplomatic friction. Contentious issues such as compensation for wartime forced labor, the treatment of "comfort women," and Japan-related seafood import questions were not addressed in detail at the summit. The leaders instead focused on areas where progress is possible while acknowledging that sensitive matters require time and careful handling. Lee described the meeting as a fresh start for rebuilding trust and routine leader-level engagement. He proposed that when Ishiba visits South Korea for the next round of shuttle diplomacy, the two meet outside Seoul to underscore a broader, people-to-people approach to ties. 2025-08-24 10:58:14

OPINION: Letter to President Trump - In anticipation of "Great Peace-Maker" (GPM) SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - Dear President Trump, I hope you will allow me to use the American-style "you" in this letter. There is a saying that comes to mind when I think of your effort to build a new world out of chaos. Willy Brandt, the German chancellor who pioneered East-West détente in Europe, sowed the seeds of German unification and won the Nobel Peace Prize, once said: "Peace is not everything, but without peace, everything is nothing." With wars raging and civilians dying around the world, there is nothing more important than the work of "Great Peace-Making." History has shown us what real peace-making leadership looks like. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served four terms, allied with the Soviet Union during World War II to defeat Hitler’s Germany and Imperial Japan. He went on to shape the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system, laying the foundations of the postwar order. Otto von Bismarck, Germany’s "Iron Chancellor," unified his country through realpolitik and later steered Europe away from major war through careful balance-of-power diplomacy. I recall that your own grandfather was a German immigrant. At home, you raised the banner of "MAGA," making America great again. Abroad, I believe you have pursued the role of peacemaker. You stepped in to ease military tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, brought the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the White House, and even invited President Vladimir Putin to Alaska to try to end the war in Ukraine. China’s Xi Jinping, by contrast, buys cheap Russian energy but offers no real effort at peace. There will be no "pax Sinica." It remains "pax Americana." It is time for you, President Trump, to reshape geopolitics as a true "Great Peace-Maker." Critics such as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman may call you a "tyrant," but I urge you to show what I would call "patchwork diplomacy" on the Korean Peninsula. Nobel laureate François Jacob once wrote of "Evolution and Tinkering" in Science. It is an idea that fits your approach well, responding creatively within limits to bring about new solutions. Tomorrow, on the 25th, you will meet President Lee Jae-myung at the South Korea–U.S. summit in Washington. What, then, is the bond between our two nations? We often use the term "blood alliance." America has been both an occupier and a divider, but also a liberator and protector. The decision at Yalta to divide Korea changed our fate. Yet the U.S. also freed us from Japan and stood with us in the Korean War. Some 36,000 Americans were killed, alongside about 137,000 South Korean soldiers and more than 1 million civilians. Without America, could South Korea have become a top-ten economy and a democracy? Just as the U.S. defended us, we now share America’s interests, values, and prosperity. I also know you have voiced doubts about us, once calling South Korea an "ATM." But our achievements were not handed to us. They were built on sweat and sacrifice. From the ruins of colonial rule, war, and division, we rose again. We sent miners and nurses to Germany, fought alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam, and worked in deserts and on construction projects across the Middle East and Africa. This is how we made what is known as the "Miracle on the Han River." Even today, South Koreans work some of the longest hours among OECD nations. At this week’s summit, you are expected to discuss tariffs, defense cost-sharing, and a new geopolitical framework. As with your dealings with the EU, defense spending of around 3.5 percent and weapons imports could be negotiated. I hope you and President Lee Jae-myung will reach a summit outcome that sets the stage for a new geopolitical order, one that could also strengthen diplomacy with Kim Jong Un and provide leverage toward China. Korea’s mythical emblem, the Samjoko, the three-legged crow, is not unlike your bald eagle. It symbolizes balance and good fortune. In both East and West, the number three is sacred: the Christian Trinity, Korea’s Cheon-Ji-In (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity), and the dialectical idea of synthesis. If you, together with the leaders of North and South Korea, can bring about peace on the peninsula—denuclearization, prosperity, normalization between the U.S. and North Korea—it would crown your role as the Great Peace-Maker. Success would more than justify a Nobel Peace Prize, as it did for Brandt and for Kim Dae-jung. Why not, at this summit, issue a communiqué inviting Kim Jong Un to the APEC summit in Gyeongju this October? Next year’s APEC will be in China, so Xi Jinping will be there. In Gyeongju, you could hold a U.S.–China summit and even bring together the U.S., China, and the two Koreas. After that, imagine visiting Pyongyang for a round of golf with both Korean leaders. The Pyongyang course even has a funnel hole where a hole-in-one is possible. As a real estate developer, you could also propose with North and South Korea the creation of a "Global AI Valley" and perhaps a "Trump Golf Course" inside the DMZ. Such a move would show bold leadership, the kind that overshadows Xi and Putin. I hope this summit will go beyond "small deals" like defense costs and instead embrace the "big deal" of becoming the Great Peace-Maker of the Korean Peninsula. Mr. President, I almost had the chance to meet you. As a journalist at a major daily, I once interviewed Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha." Later, I was offered the chance to interview you through a senior contact, but your visit was canceled. By coincidence, both you and I have a grandchild named Kai. After seeing Kai speak during the 2024 campaign, I felt certain you would win. I have read "The Art of the Deal," follow your posts on social media, and often click "like." I even published columns predicting your victory. Let me close with one of your favorite sayings: "If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big." If at this summit you show the world bold and creative diplomacy, you will move beyond those who mock you as a "trader" and stand as a statesman, the kind Kim Yo-jong once described as "a great man who can change the flow of history." Do that, and you will join the ranks of President Lincoln, remembered for embracing his rivals and leading a nation to unity. God bless you and Korea. Sincerely, Dr. Tack Whan Kim President, Institute for Future Policy Studies. National vision strategist, author of more than 20 books including "The U.S.–China Economic Power Struggle and the Future of the Korean Peninsula," former journalist at JoongAng Ilbo, visiting scholar at Georgetown University, and lecturer who has given more than 350 talks at institutions such as the National Assembly and Samsung Electronics. 2025-08-24 09:45:08

[[K-Pop]] Time magazine praises Netflix's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' as a breakout global hit SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - Netflix's animated feature K-Pop Demon Hunters has earned high praise from Time magazine, which recently featured the film in an article titled "How KPop Demon Hunters Conquered the World." The magazine described the title as a "breakout phenomenon" that has transcended cultural boundaries, winning both critical and popular acclaim. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film blends supernatural adventure with the vivid aesthetics of Korean pop culture. According to Time, the production stands out for its richly layered storytelling and visually distinct design. "As people who work in animation and storytelling, we're trained to layer things on and create something as entertaining as possible," Kang told the magazine. Since its release, the film has topped global streaming charts. Netflix's own platform, Tudum, reports that the movie has been viewed over 210 million times. Time also noted the film's soundtrack has become a sensation in its own right. Three original songs from the film have reached the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100. One of them, "Golden," is currently the most streamed song in the United States. The article highlights that this is the first time a film has achieved such musical success since Waiting to Exhale in 1995. Kang emphasized that the movie's emotional resonance comes from its deep cultural grounding. "Everything was seen through this Korean lens," she said. From the way sidewalks in Seoul are drawn to how napkins are wrapped around chopsticks, the team paid close attention to everyday Korean details. Even the film's demons are inspired by jeoseung saja, the grim-reaper-like figures from traditional Korean folklore. "This is dark, but I'm not going to be afraid of it," Kang said, recalling how her niece's love for Maleficent revealed how children can engage with layered, even frightening, stories. Kang also credited K-pop for shaping the film's scale and spectacle. "K-pop brought spectacle and scale, all the pizzazz that is kind of needed to sell it," she said. Time praised the film's ability to marry cultural authenticity with broad global appeal, underscoring its unique position as a creative and commercial success on the world stage. 2025-08-22 15:40:29

[[K-Pop]] Netflix hit animation director explores heart of Korean cultures and treasures SEOUL, August 21 (AJP) - Maggie Kang, director of Netflix’s global hit animation film "K-pop Demon Hunters," visited the National Museum of Korea in Seoul on Thursday, where she explored traditional Korean art and culture alongside museum director Yu Hong-jun. Following the tour, Kang expressed admiration for Korea’s cultural icons, calling the tiger character Derpy “a source of national pride” and praising Korea’s symbolic imagery. K-pop Demon Hunters, affectionately called "케데헌 (Kaedeheon)" by South Korean fans, has become a breakout hit across global streaming platforms. The film blends high-energy K-pop action with supernatural storytelling, earning praise for its original characters and use of Korean cultural themes. Derpy, the mischievous tiger mascot, has especially won over fans around the world. Kang spent about 40 minutes touring the museum with Director General Yu Hong-jun. The pair visited key exhibition halls, including the immersive digital media gallery and the Room of Quiet Contemplation. In the museum’s main atrium, Yu presented Kang with a traditional folding fan adorned with his own calligraphy. Inspired by the woodblock print "Muho-do" by folk artist Oh Yoon (1946-86), the fan reads, "Shinmyeong, the joy and soul of the Korean people." In return, Kang gifted Yu a Derpy plush, toy symbolizing the film’s signature character. After the two exchanged gifts and chatted briefly in private, they began their museum walk. At the immersive digital media room, Kang sat and watched a series of animated projections featuring themes from Joseon-era paintings, rank badges, and lacquerware. One short film, "Roaring Tigers," featured bold, humorous reinterpretations of tigers in Korean art. "I hadn’t seen this video before, and it’s truly remarkable. I missed it on my last visit, but I love how distinct and playful the tiger motifs are," Kang said. She explained that these styles contributed to the development of Derpy. "I thought the tiger could be fun and a bit cheeky, so that’s how Derpy came to be." At the sculpture and crafts hall, Yu offered an impromptu explanation of the famed moon jar on display. Kang stood in front of the delicate porcelain and nodded as Yu spoke. "It’s stunning. I never realized how much detail was involved," she said. "Just listening to your explanation gives me stories. Ideas are popping into my head." After finishing the tour, Kang said, "It was such a privilege to get a personal guided tour. I wish I had come before making the movie." She added, "But I now have great ideas for a new film, and I’m really excited about it." When asked if she would continue to incorporate Korean traditional culture into her future projects, Kang replied, "I think I will keep going." Yu said the film has played a role in attracting younger visitors to the museum. "I used to wonder why we had so many millennials and the Z generation visitors," Yu said. "But now I see they don’t just come to shop. They roam around the museum and really enjoy it in their own way." He added, "Now we are thinking about how to accommodate this wave of popularity and how to use it to upgrade the museum experience." According to Yu, the museum is now working on improving visitor engagement through enhanced exhibitions and new events. 2025-08-21 15:41:27

President Lee Jae Myung meets Bill Gates, discusses SMR and global health cooperation SEOUL, August 21 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation and co-founder of Microsoft, at the presidential office near central Seoul on Thursday. Lee and Gates' conversation focused on collaboration in global public health, next-generation nuclear energy, and South Korea’s role in emerging industries. Gates, visiting South Korea for the first time in three years, opened the meeting by wishing President Lee well in his upcoming summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. "Have a good conversation with President Trump," Gates said, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Lee responded, "It will be difficult, but I will handle it wisely." The two discussed the growing role of South Korea in the development of small modular reactors, or SMRs, a field where Gates has invested through his company TerraPower. President Lee underscored the potential of South Korean firms in this space. "Many of our companies are developing small modular reactors and expanding their presence in the global market," Lee said. "South Korea can become a global leader in SMRs. Our companies are well-prepared, and we already have a significant edge internationally." Praising Gates's global contributions, Lee said, "I respect your dedication to public service for the planet and for humanity. The South Korean government will seek every possible way to join you in that mission." Lee added with a smile, "You created Windows, which I use to write emails. Through that, people around the world have been given a window to see the world." Gates noted that the Gates Foundation had recently marked its 25th anniversary with a pledge to use all of its funds and his personal assets within 20 years. "We are aiming to use around 200 billion dollars, with a focus on improving global public health," he said. He highlighted an ambitious target. "We want to reduce the number of child deaths worldwide to fewer than 2 million a year over the next 20 years, which means cutting 80 percent from current levels." Gates emphasized that South Korea could play a critical role in achieving this goal. "One of the key ways is through South Korea's innovative products. Your bioscience sector is extraordinary," he said. "From the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to SD Biosensor, SK, LG, and EuBiologics, the biotech landscape in South Korea has grown immensely. Ten years ago, it was small. Today, it is one of the world’s most important industries," he added. "I have had many opportunities to work directly with products from these companies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their vaccines and diagnostic tools were excellent." Gates also pointed to the broader global shifts. "The world has changed dramatically. Along with geopolitical shifts, we have seen massive technological changes, such as AI. For South Korea, this is a key opportunity to reassess strategy and solidify its presence in developing solutions." Gates also urged South Korea to continue contributing to global health. "South Korea is almost uniquely positioned, having gone from aid recipient to donor. I hope you continue to play a vital role in improving public health around the world." 2025-08-21 14:43:01

S. Korea sets AI transformation as centerpiece of new economic plan SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea's government and ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday announced plans to push for an "AI transformation" across industry, government, and daily life, while easing heavy penalties on companies and opening public data to the private sector. The announcement followed a policy meeting at the National Assembly attended by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Officials said the strategy rests on four pillars: "technology-led growth," "inclusive growth," "fair growth," and "sustainable growth." To support advanced industries, the government will designate key projects and provide assistance packages that include financing, tax incentives, manpower, and regulatory support. The DP also said it will prepare legislation to expand access to public data and help implement government initiatives. Han Jeong-ae, the party’s policy chief, said after the meeting that the government and the ruling party will move to revise corporate governance laws and adjust regulations that do not meet global standards. "There were opinions within the party, including from the special committee on the KOSPI 5000 initiative, that revisions are needed regarding excessive penalties such as breach of trust charges," she said. The DP plans to launch a task force to pursue these reforms together with the government. Officials also said the scope of the stewardship code will be expanded to strengthen corporate governance by requiring institutional investors to act more responsibly when managing assets. The AI-centered growth plan traces back to a campaign pledge by President Lee Jae-myung ahead of the June 3 snap election. During his campaign, Lee promised to create a 100 trillion won fund, with contributions from both the public and private sectors, to make South Korea one of the world’s top three AI powers. He also vowed to ramp up investment in advanced industries ranging from biotechnology and healthcare to aerospace and defense. 2025-08-20 15:27:17

[[K-Pop]] BTS' brother band CORTIS releases music video for debut track "What You Want" SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - CORTIS, the new boy band under BigHit Music, has released the music video for its debut title track "What You Want." The video was posted at midnight on August 20 on the HYBE Labels YouTube channel. It serves as the title track of the group’s debut album "Color Outside the Lines," which is scheduled for official release on September 8. CORTIS, consisting of members Martin, James, Juhun, Sunghyun, and Gunho, took part in directing the video themselves, further highlighting their involvement in the creative process. The group officially debuted on August 18 with the digital release of "What You Want." By the morning of August 20, the track had entered the iTunes Top Songs chart in 15 countries and regions, including Thailand, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. 2025-08-20 14:34:19