Journalist
Mashrab Mamirov
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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PHOTOS: Living heritage and neon dreams - The parallel shopping worlds of Astana ASTANA, March 15 (AJP) -A thirty-minute taxi ride from the hotel leads to the Artyom Market in the older district of Astana. It is a personal routine to visit the traditional markets of any new city to see how people actually live without the filter of tourist attractions. The ground floor of this multi-story building is a dense world of its own, smelling of fresh dough, raw honey, and cold-stored meat. It feels like a space that has aged alongside the city, retaining a certain grit that the newer districts lack. Outside, the temperature hovered at minus 15 degrees with snow falling steadily outside the Soviet-era style building on March 12. Yet inside the market stalls, the sight of vibrant watermelons and peaches offered a startling contrast to the white winter. These colors were especially bright as grandmothers and mothers hurried between vendors to prepare for the evening meals of the Ramadan season. In this part of the world, the holy month is observed with a relaxed cultural grace where life in the markets continues with a steady, quiet energy. The dairy section stood out as a highlight, featuring heaps of fresh butter and artisanal cheeses that are rarely seen in such abundance elsewhere. Sellers often leaned across their counters with a quick smile or a nod, offering a sense of warmth that made the foreign setting feel unexpectedly familiar. Even without the ability to speak the local language, the simple exchange of goods felt like a genuine connection to the heart of the community. It is the kind of place where the history of the city is told through the hands of the people who have lived there for decades. Crossing the river to the left bank on March 15 reveals the other face of the capital at the Mega Silk Way mall. This massive glass complex is currently the largest in the country and feels more like a modern indoor city than a traditional shopping center. On a Sunday evening, the hallways were packed with thousands of residents, shifting the demographic from the grandmothers of Artyom to young families and couples. The air here is filled with the sounds of children playing and the hum of a society moving at a much faster pace. At the Galmart supermarket inside the mall, the transition to a more global lifestyle becomes even more apparent. While the prices are roughly 10 to 15 percent higher than the old town markets, the convenience of ready-made meals like plov and manti draws in a steady crowd. The bright lighting and sleek displays of imported chocolates and deli meats reflect the aspirations of a growing middle class. It is a space where the ritual of shopping has evolved from a necessity into a form of modern entertainment. 2026-03-16 02:51:54 -
Astana braves the frost for a new Kazakhstan ASTANA, March 15 (AJP) - A leaden sky hung low over Astana on Sunday morning, stubbornly refusing to deliver the slight thaw promised by the local forecast. Instead, the mercury hovered at a biting -4°C, and the city’s wide avenues were flanked by mounds of snow stained with soot and dust, while footpaths were glazed in a treacherous layer of ice. Despite the chill, the capital’s residents appeared early. Clad in heavy winter coats, citizens moved with a hurried, quick-stepping gait, determined to reach the polling stations without lingering in the biting wind. The brisk movements reflected a city eager to participate in a defining moment for the nation. Kazakhstan, the giant of Central Asia with a population of approximately 20.4 million, stands as the region’s largest economy. By the end of 2026, its nominal GDP is projected to exceed $320 billion, firmly placing it among the world’s top 50 economies. While the nation has historically relied on "old industries" like oil, gas, and minerals, it is now undergoing a massive structural shift.Under a national goal to double its GDP by 2029, Kazakhstan is aggressively pivoting toward "new industries," including high-value manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital finance. This national ambition has transitioned into concrete action this year. On January 18, Kazakhstan enacted a pioneering "AI Law," one of the first of its kind globally. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has declared 2026 as the "Year of Digitization and AI," concentrating state resources on technological innovation. Yet, these digital milestones are not merely technical adjustments; they represent the vanguard of a broader new industrial pivot intended to redefine the nation's competitive edge. The Kazakh leadership recognizes that a high-tech economy cannot thrive on an analog political foundation. Consequently, this referendum is targeted at a comprehensive overhaul of Kazakhstan's politics and society, acting as the critical "software synchronization" required to ensure the nation’s institutional architecture is as agile and transparent as the digital systems it is now deploying. Inside the grand, glass-fronted Al-Farabi Palace of Schoolchildren, the atmosphere shifted instantly from the harsh exterior to a scene of quiet, focused civic purpose. Citizens filtered into Polling Station No. 50 to cast a ballot that represents the most significant tectonic shift in the nation’s governance in decades. The referendum is designed to transition the country from a "super-presidential" system toward a more balanced "Presidential-Parliamentary" model, introducing a unicameral parliament known as the Kurultai and restoring the office of the Vice Presidency. Among the early arrivals was Roza, 61, whose bright, observant eyes offered a sharp contrast to the somber weather outside. She didn't see the freezing morning as a deterrent, but rather as a threshold. "Naturally, I believe that today, this new project is necessary for us," she said. "Because times are changing, people are changing, the era itself is changing. Therefore, it is necessary. I think it is only for the better, for the good". Roza’s hopes were grounded in a sense of urgency. "I don't have much time, I'm 61 years old," she remarked, noting that she paid particular attention to the changes that affect her personally—namely medicine, education, and the new direct access to the Constitutional Court. Despite the ticking clock, she remained optimistic: "I think everything will be very good in the near future". She confirmed she was fully informed before casting her vote. The mood took on a more rhythmic, festive energy in the residential suburb of Koshy. Inside Secondary School No. 3, the cold was a distant memory as the percussive strumming of traditional bands echoed through the hallways. The sound of the dombra turned what could have been a dry bureaucratic exercise into something closer to a cultural homecoming. Near the entrance, residents had set up unassuming, improvised stalls to greet the morning crowds. Golden jars of honey and royal jelly sat alongside piles of local confectioneries, turning the polling station into a modest community hub where neighbors paused to chat before heading to the booths. Kaisar Seifullin, the 39-year-old chairman of the precinct referendum commission at the school, watched the flow of families with an approving eye. "Most people are coming with a positive reaction, as you can see for yourself," Seifullin said. "Many Kazakh parents want to show and illustrate to their children how the polling station works". One of those parents was Almas Jexenbekov, 38, who arrived navigating the icy schoolyard patches with his pre-school son. For Jexenbekov, who works in mass media, the referendum is a necessary "upgrade" to the country’s fundamental software. "As for me, the new Constitution is like the upgrade of the Supreme Law of Kazakhstan that will affect the other laws because it is the priority," he explained. He noted that his professional background meant he was well-informed, having translated the discussions surrounding the changes. This sense of high-tech civic duty was echoed by Maksat Muratbekuly Mukhamedjanov, a 35-year-old education professional. To him, the day marked Kazakhstan’s transition from the raw, survival-focused independence of its early years to the maturity of a settled nation. "The first Constitution emphasized independence and our formation as a state. The new one is a big step into the future—not just as the Republic of Kazakhstan, but as a nation," Mukhamedjanov said. He was particularly struck by the inclusion of "digital rights" in the text, calling the legal evolution essential "immunity" for a nation in the age of digitalization. He praised the transformation of the parliament into a unicameral body, arguing that it "emphasizes public democracy" and aligns with models in developed nations. Like his fellow voters, he reported being "100 percent informed" through digital platforms and television. 2026-03-15 17:17:34 -
Kazakhstan prepares for national constitutional referendum ASTANA, March 14 (AJP) - Kazakhstan stands on the threshold of a truly historic stage in its development as citizens prepare to vote in a national referendum on a new draft of the Constitution. Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov stated that the new draft serves as a foundation for the long-term stability of the state and a timely response to global challenges. The reform process involved a Constitutional Commission of 130 members that reviewed more than 12,000 proposals submitted by citizens through state digital platforms. Issetov emphasized that the amendments affected 84 percent of the text, creating a document that is new in terms of its substance and meaning. The strategic goal of the reform is to strengthen statehood and independence and to improve the well-being of citizens. Under the concept of a listening state, the new Constitution establishes that the state exists for the individual, not the individual for the state. New legal protections, including the Miranda rule and the guaranteed right to privacy and personal data protection, have been elevated to the constitutional level. Issetov noted that the section devoted to the protection of human rights and freedoms has become the most extensive, comprising almost one-third of the Constitution. Economic growth remains a pillar of the national strategy, with the GDP reaching 306 billion US dollars last year. This performance allowed the country to enter the list of the 50 largest economies in the world this year. To accelerate growth capabilities, the development of science, education, culture and innovation is defined as a constitutional principle of state activity for the first time. This ambition is reinforced by the transition toward comprehensive digitalization and the development of artificial intelligence, supported by specialized legislation enacted in January. Issetov stated that these measures will create a stable and predictable legal and investment environment in which citizens are protected. The international community has deployed 359 international observers and 206 foreign journalists to monitor the proceedings. Beyond the domestic borders, 71 election commissions have been established at Kazakhstan's diplomatic missions in 54 countries to facilitate the participation of citizens abroad. The deputy foreign minister expressed high confidence that the new Basic Law will become the principal document of a Just, Strong, Safe and Clean Kazakhstan. 2026-03-15 03:51:50 -
South Korea moves to build its own AI backbone SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - South Korea is moving to build its own AI backbone — an "AI Highway" of massive data centers, specialized semiconductors and autonomous software — as it seeks to avoid falling behind the United States and China in the global artificial intelligence race. Government officials and industry executives outlined the strategy at a briefing at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club on Wednesday, describing an effort to link large-scale computing infrastructure with next-generation chip development and industrial AI systems. The initiative, led by the administration of President Lee Jae Myung, combines state investment in computing capacity with private-sector advances in semiconductor design and AI applications. The government has allocated 10.1 trillion won ($6.8 billion) in the 2026 budget to strengthen the country's AI infrastructure. A core goal is securing 50,000 high-performance computing units — specialized processors needed to run advanced AI models. Ha Jung-woo, presidential secretary for AI and future strategy, framed the push as a matter of national survival. "Advanced technology like AI is both economic power and the force that determines national security," Ha said. While the United States and China dominate global AI infrastructure, Seoul is attempting to build what officials describe as a "Silicon Shield" — a network of large domestic data centers powered by carbon-free energy. One flagship hub is planned in Haenam, a coastal county selected for its potential to host large-scale solar and nuclear power facilities needed to run energy-intensive AI computing. The government is also moving to integrate AI more rapidly into military operations. Ha said the defense system — traditionally structured and procedural — is being redesigned for faster adoption of AI technologies. A new deputy minister-level position has been created within the Ministry of National Defense to oversee AI strategy, while the Defense Acquisition Program Administration is preparing to incorporate AI tools into procurement and operational planning. "South Korea aims to become one of the world's top four defense powers, and AI will be at the center of that," Ha said. Shift toward specialized silicon At the hardware level, the AI boom is pushing the industry toward specialized chips designed specifically for AI workloads. Graphics processing units, or GPUs, remain the dominant technology for training large AI models, but their heavy electricity demand has become a growing constraint for data centers. South Korean startup FuriosaAI is targeting this bottleneck with its second-generation neural processing unit, RNGD — pronounced "Renegade" — which has recently entered mass production. Unlike GPUs, NPUs are designed specifically for AI inference, the stage where trained models process new data and generate responses. Kang Jee-hoon, chief research officer at FuriosaAI, said the industry is entering what he described as a "power crisis," where computing capacity is increasingly limited by electricity availability. "The challenge for the industry is to enable more work to be processed with the same power consumption," Kang said. The RNGD chip uses a proprietary Tensor Contraction Processor architecture that manages on-chip memory more efficiently than conventional chip layouts. According to the company, its PCIe server card operates at around 180 watts while delivering roughly 2.8 times higher throughput than comparable hardware within a standard 15-kilowatt server rack. "Our goal is to generate more tokens with the same power," Kang said. "Just as computing once shifted from CPUs to GPUs, we want developers to easily adopt our Renegade and next-generation products." At the software level, the next frontier is "agentic AI" — systems that can independently plan and execute tasks rather than simply respond to user prompts. LG AI Research is advancing this trend through its EXAONE model. Stanly Jung-kyu Choi, vice president and head of the institute's agentic AI research group, described the system as an "expert AI" designed for specialized industrial applications. In manufacturing, the system is already being used to optimize naphtha scheduling — the complex logistical planning required for petrochemical feedstocks. In life sciences, the EXAONE Discovery platform has reduced the time required to identify new material compounds from about 22 months to a single day by autonomously analyzing research papers and molecular structures. Because of the high autonomy involved, LG has established a dedicated AI ethics unit to monitor potential risks associated with the technology. "We are moving beyond general-purpose models to expert systems that maximize productivity in specialized industries," Choi said. The institute is also developing K-EXAONE, a national flagship model tailored to the Korean language and local context, which is expected to be deployed across public services by late 2026. As artificial intelligence evolves into a system of specialized hardware and increasingly autonomous software, South Korea is attempting to build a fully integrated ecosystem. Officials say the success of that strategy will depend on coordination between government policy, semiconductor innovation and advanced research — an effort aimed at securing the country's place in the rapidly shifting global AI supply chain. 2026-03-11 17:37:02 -
Seoul establishes committee to honor resistance against martial law decree SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - The government finalized plans on Tuesday to establish a presidential committee dedicated to honoring the citizens who defended the constitutional order during the emergency martial law of December 3, 2024. During a cabinet meeting on March 10, 2026, the administration approved the Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Light Committee. This new body will oversee the issuance of Light Certificates to individuals recognized for their contributions to preserving democracy during the six-hour crisis. The ministry will also evaluate the potential designation of a national commemorative day to mark the civilian-led movement. Applications for the certificates will be accepted through online portals, registered mail, and in-person submissions. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung stated that the initiative aims to provide formal state recognition to those who resisted the unconstitutional decree. "With the establishment of the Light Committee, we can now officially honor and treat with respect the citizens who resisted the December 3 martial law," the department director said. He further noted that through the committee, the government will achieve national unity and expand the values of K-democracy. The historical context for the committee's formation dates back to a late-night television broadcast on December 3, 2024, when the former president declared martial law. He alleged that anti-state forces were paralyzing the government and cited a need to protect the nation from communist influence. Martial Law Command Proclamation No. 1 immediately followed, banning political gatherings and imposing military censorship over all press outlets. This move triggered a rapid mobilization of special forces to the National Assembly in an attempt to block legislative functions. Thousands of ordinary citizens responded by converging on the legislative grounds in Yeouido to form a human blockade against military transport vehicles. Protesters outside the gates faced off against armed troops, using non-violent resistance and physical presence to prevent the military from seizing control of the chamber. Inside the hall, 190 lawmakers bypassed security cordons to cast a unanimous vote demanding the immediate lifting of the emergency decree. By 4:30 a.m. on December 4, the former leader was forced to rescind the order, effectively ending the shortest period of martial law in the history of Seoul. The failure of the decree led to a series of legal and political collapses for the previous administration. An impeachment vote followed on December 14, 2024, which was later upheld by the Constitutional Court. This vacancy led to the June 2025 snap election won by Lee Jae Myung. On February 19, 2026, the judiciary sentenced the former head of state to life in prison for his role in the insurrection. The newly formed committee now seeks to institutionalize the memory of the civilian resistance as a cornerstone of the current democratic framework. 2026-03-10 13:57:13 -
North Korea threatens 'super-offensive' response to US-South Korea military maneuvers SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Pyongyang’s second most powerful official, Kim Yo-jong, issued a stern warning on March 10, characterizing the ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea as a "provocative and aggressive war rehearsal." The statement, released via the state-run Korean Central News Agency, asserted that the maneuvers currently underway on the Korean peninsula are "intensively revealing once again their inveterate repugnancy toward the DPRK and habitual hostile policy toward it." The department director stated that the drill is "not a 'military game'" and warned that the "muscle-flexing of the hostile forces near the areas of our state's sovereignty and security may cause unimaginably terrible consequences." The joint military exercise, known as Freedom Shield, officially commenced on March 9 and is scheduled to run through March 19. According to military authorities in Seoul and Washington, the drill involves approximately 18,000 personnel, a figure consistent with previous years. This year’s iteration focuses on realistic threats derived from recent global conflicts, incorporating elements of information warfare and artificial intelligence technology. A primary objective is to evaluate and verify the conditions necessary for the transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul. While the personnel count remains stable, the scale of field training exercises has seen a marked reduction under the administration of President Lee Jae Myung. The current schedule includes 22 outdoor maneuvers, representing less than half of the 51 sessions conducted during the March 2025 exercises. Government officials in Seoul have indicated that this adjustment toward dispersing field training throughout the year is intended to create a stable diplomatic environment. This tactical shift coincides with reports that the U.S. President is scheduled to visit Beijing from March 31 to April 2. Despite the reduction in visible field maneuvers, the rhetoric from Pyongyang has shifted toward a more permanent stance of hostility. Kim Yo-jong dismissed the defensive nature of the drills, stating that the "clear confrontational nature of the high-intensity large-scale war drill staged by the most hostile entities in collusion at the doorstep of the DPRK never changes." She further emphasized that her state would "perfectly counter the strategic threats to the security of the state and the region through the bolstering of destructive power." This follows a broader doctrinal change where the supreme leader recently declared there is "no reason to speak with Washington." The supreme leader has also used recent public addresses to condemn the government of Lee Jae Myung for what he described as "double-sidedness." Kim Jong-un asserted that "it is undoubtedly a law and iron principle that the most powerful offensive capability constitutes the most reliable deterrent." He signaled that his state would no longer engage in what he deemed futile diplomatic overtures with Washington. This ideological pivot frames Seoul as a primary enemy state, a designation that the recent press statement reinforces. The latest communication warns that any violation of sovereignty will be met with an "extraordinarily overwhelming and preemptive super-offensive." The Freedom Shield exercises are proceeding as planned across the land, sea, and air domains of South Korea. 2026-03-10 10:32:42 -
Joint research team develops mRNA platform effective for aging and obesity SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Catholic University of Korea has developed a new mRNA platform designed to maintain high therapeutic efficacy in elderly and obese populations. The technology improves the production of therapeutic proteins by optimizing specific regulatory sequences within mRNA molecules, addressing a major limitation where current treatments lose effectiveness due to age or metabolic conditions. While mRNA vaccines gained global recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, their performance can vary significantly depending on the biological environment of the recipient. In older individuals or those with obesity, high levels of oxidative stress often hinder the process by which cells translate genetic instructions into functional proteins. This reduced efficiency has remained a hurdle for the broad application of next-generation RNA therapeutics. To overcome this, the researchers focused on the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of the mRNA. This segment does not encode the protein itself but acts as a control center that dictates the volume and speed of protein synthesis. By analyzing vast amounts of biological big data, including tissue transcriptomes and individual cell expression patterns, the team identified specific 5' UTR sequences that remain resilient under cellular stress. The research utilized multiple advanced analytical techniques, such as RNA sequencing and ribosome profiling, to minimize bias across different species and cell types. The team discovered that their newly designed sequences are regulated by specific protein factors, including LARP1 and LARP4. These factors allow the mRNA to continue producing proteins effectively even when standard cellular pathways are compromised by aging or obesity. Preclinical trials using animal models confirmed that the optimized mRNA platform significantly improved both protein expression and immune responses. Unlike conventional mRNA sequences that showed decreased performance in aging and obesity models, the newly engineered sequences maintained high levels of activity. "This research establishes a design methodology that allows mRNA to produce proteins more effectively by leveraging large-scale biological datasets," said Professor Lee Young-suk of the KAIST Department of Bio and Brain Engineering. "It provides a foundation for ensuring that mRNA vaccines and treatments remain reliable for patient groups where drug efficacy is typically lower, such as the elderly or those with obesity." The study, led by Professor Lee Young-suk and Professor Nam Jae-hwan of the Catholic University of Korea, featured Yoon Su-bin and Cho Hyeong-gon as joint first authors. The findings were published online in the international journal Molecular Therapy on January 2. (Paper information) Journal: Molecular Therapy (impact factor: 12.0) Title: Designing 5' UTR sequences improves the capacity of mRNA therapeutics in preclinical models of aging and obesity DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.060 2026-03-10 09:44:37 -
Qatar government organizes emergency flight for South Koreans stranded in Doha SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - An emergency direct flight carrying South Koreans departed Doha on Monday following negotiations between the South Korean Embassy in Qatar and the Qatari government. The Qatar Airways flight, carrying some 300 South Korean nationals, took off at approximately 3:45 p.m. (0645 GMT). According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the aircraft is scheduled to land at Incheon International Airport at 12:21 a.m. on Tuesday. The flight was arranged as the regional airspace remains under heavy restrictions due to the ongoing war involving Iran. Qatari airspace has been operating under a limited-opening policy, primarily allowing select emergency flights to Europe. MOFA stated that the South Korean Embassy in Qatar requested the resumption of flights to facilitate the return of its citizens. The Qatari government accepted the request, leading to the organization of this emergency departure. The evacuation follows a similar operation in the United Arab Emirates, where both commercial and chartered flights were used to transport South Koreans who had been stranded by the sudden closure of flight paths. South Koreans in neighboring countries, including Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have also sought assistance as commercial travel remains highly volatile throughout the Persian Gulf. South Korea has been coordinating with local governments across the Middle East to secure safe passage for its nationals since the escalation of hostilities in Iran led to widespread flight cancellations. Regional authorities have maintained that while most commercial corridors remain closed, humanitarian and evacuation flights are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 2026-03-09 16:55:38 -
Go grandmaster urges shift to AI collaboration decade after AlphaGo match SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Former South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se-dol returned to the site of his historic 2016 match against AlphaGo on Monday to advocate for a new era of cooperation between humans and artificial intelligence. Speaking during a press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, the same location where he faced the Google DeepMind program 10 years ago, Lee reflected on how the perception of AI has evolved from a competitive threat to a collaborative tool. The event was hosted by Enhans, a South Korean AI startup, as part of a campaign for the commercialization of agentic AI. According to the event organizers, the global showcase was also broadcast live in major international hubs including New York and Tokyo. Lee, who appeared in a suit similar to the one he wore during the 2016 matches, said that while many programs can now outperform humans at the game of Go, there is a distinct lack of AI specifically designed for educational purposes. He suggested that utilizing AI for instruction could significantly lower the barrier to entry for the complex strategy game. "Go is the only perfect abstract strategy game created by humanity, but its difficulty is both its strength and its weakness," Lee said. "Go is now in the realm of education, and it is no longer necessary to play as well as a professional." In March 2016, Lee faced AlphaGo in a five-game series that ended in a 4-1 victory for the machine. Despite the loss, Lee's victory in the fourth game remains the only time a human has defeated that version of the AlphaGo system in a formal setting. He famously retired from professional play in 2019, stating that AI had become an entity that could not be overcome. Information regarding the match history and his retirement was sourced from public news archives. Lee noted that the global situation has changed since he first sat across from the machine. He said that while the world previously viewed AI as an opponent, the current focus should be on working together to solve unsolvable problems and create new value. Addressing concerns about job security, Lee said he believes AI will transform the nature of work rather than lead to its disappearance. He described the current period as an early stage where technology will eventually present and create new opportunities for people. During the event, Lee participated in a demonstration using voice commands to direct an AI agent in building a Go game model. The demonstration was intended to show how human intent can guide AI to perform technical tasks. Lee, who currently serves as a professor at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, continues to explore the integration of technology in traditional sports and culture. His current academic role was confirmed through university appointment records. 2026-03-09 15:17:10 -
Joint research team identifies neural mechanism behind drug addiction relapse SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - A joint research team from South Korea and the United States has identified a specific neural circuit in the brain that controls drug-seeking behavior. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that addiction relapse is caused by a general decline in willpower or a permanent loss of function in the prefrontal cortex. A team led by Professor Baek Se-bum of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Professor Lim Byung-kook of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) announced on March 9 that they have discovered how specific inhibitory neurons in the prefrontal cortex regulate cocaine addiction. Addiction is notoriously difficult to treat because even minor triggers can revive intense cravings long after a person has stopped using drugs. Until now, this phenomenon was largely attributed to the weakening of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the area of the brain responsible for impulse control. However, the new findings indicate that relapse is actually driven by an imbalance in specific neural circuits rather than a simple decrease in overall brain activity. The study focused on parvalbumin-positive (PV) inhibitory neurons. These cells act as a brake gate in the brain by suppressing the activity of other neurons to maintain neural balance. By monitoring mice exposed to cocaine, the researchers tracked when these neurons activated and how they sent signals to lower brain regions. The researchers found that PV neurons, which make up 60 to 70 percent of inhibitory cells in the PFC, became highly active when the mice sought cocaine. When the mice underwent extinction training—a process to stop them from seeking the drug—the activity of these cells significantly decreased. This suggests that the behavior of PV cells is not permanently damaged by addiction but can be readjusted through behavioral training. To confirm the role of these cells, the team artificially suppressed PV neuron activity, which resulted in a major reduction in cocaine-seeking behavior. Conversely, activating these cells caused the mice to continue seeking drugs even after their training was complete. This effect was specific to drug addiction and did not occur with natural rewards like sugar water, nor was it observed in other types of inhibitory cells such as somatostatin (SOM) neurons. The study identified that the PFC sends these regulatory signals to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a core part of the brain reward system. The PV neurons act as a control switch in this pathway, influencing dopamine signals to determine whether to maintain or suppress addictive behavior. The findings prove that relapse is determined by whether this specific pathway between the PFC and the reward circuit is properly regulated. Professor Baek Se-bum stated that the research shows drug addiction is a circuit-level problem caused by a collapse in the regulatory balance of specific neurons and downstream circuits. He noted that the discovery of PV cells acting as a gate for addictive behavior provides a critical lead for developing precision-targeted treatment strategies in the future. The study, with Dr. Chung Min-ju of UCSD as the lead author, was published online in the journal Neuron on February 26. The work was supported by institutional funding and international research grants. (Paper information) Journal: Neuron Title: Distinct Interneuronal Dynamics Selectively Gate Target-Specific Cortical Projections in Drug Seeking DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.01.002 2026-03-09 11:12:03