KAIST technology cuts AI service costs by 67 percent using personal GPUs SEOUL, December 28 (AJP) - SEOUL, South Korea — Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a technology that significantly reduces the operating costs of large language models (LLMs) by utilizing consumer-grade graphics processing units (GPUs) found in personal computers and mobile devices. The university announced on December 28 that a team led by Professor Han Dong-su from the School of Electrical Engineering has created "SpecEdge," a framework that integrates low-cost edge GPUs into the infrastructure typically reserved for expensive data centers. AI services currently rely heavily on high-performance GPUs housed in centralized data centers. This dependency results in high operational expenses and creates significant barriers to entry for new AI technologies. While consumer-grade hardware, such as the NVIDIA RTX 4090, offers substantial computing power at a fraction of the hourly cost of data center equipment, existing systems have struggled to effectively coordinate these distributed resources with central servers. SpecEdge addresses this by distributing the inference workload. The system employs a technique known as "speculative decoding." In this process, a smaller language model running on a local device—such as a personal computer or smartphone—rapidly generates a sequence of draft words, or "tokens." The massive language model in the data center then verifies these drafts in a single batch. To maximize efficiency, the local device does not wait for the server's validation before proceeding. Instead, it continues to generate subsequent words, eliminating idle time. This allows the system to function effectively even over standard internet connections without requiring specialized high-speed networks. By offloading a portion of the computation to local devices, the research team reduced the cost per token by approximately 67.6 percent compared to systems relying solely on data center GPUs. The approach also improved server throughput by 2.22 times and cost efficiency by 1.91 times compared to performing speculative decoding exclusively on the server. "Our goal is to utilize edge resources around users as part of the LLM infrastructure, going beyond data centers," said Professor Han Dong-su. "We aim to lower the cost of providing AI services and create an environment where anyone can utilize high-quality AI." The research team included Dr. Park Jin-woo and Cho Seung-geun, a master's student at KAIST. The findings were presented as a "Spotlight" paper—a distinction awarded to the top 3.2 percent of submissions—at the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2025), held in San Diego from December 2 to December 7. The project was supported by the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) under the "AI-Native application service support 6G system technology development" project. 2025-12-28 13:38:48

South Korea's biotech technology exports top 20 trillion won led by platform deals SEOUL, December 28 (AJP) - South Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies saw technology exports surge 162 percent to a record $14.5 billion this year, driven by robust demand for platform technologies and new drug candidates. The Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association said Sunday that total non-confidential contract values jumped from $5.5 billion last year, demonstrating the sector's growing global competitiveness. Bio-platform deals led the charge. ABL Bio secured the year's largest contract in April, a $3.0 billion agreement with GSK for its "Grabody-B" blood-brain barrier shuttle technology, followed by a $2.6 billion licensing deal for the same platform with Eli Lilly last month. Other major agreements included Alteogen's March deal with AstraZeneca's MedImmune to export its human hyaluronidase technology for $1.4 billion, and Rznomics' $1.4 billion licensing pact with Eli Lilly for RNA editing therapies in May. Exports of new drug candidates were also strong. Abion signed a $1.3 billion joint development deal for its antibody therapeutic in June. Recently, ADEL licensed its Alzheimer's candidate to Sanofi for $1.0 billion, while Aimed Bio signed a contract with Boehringer Ingelheim worth nearly $1.0 billion. Industry observers attribute the streak of large-scale deals to strategic pipelines that match global demand. Experts emphasize that companies must now aggressively reinvest these profits into R&D to ensure sustainable growth, a strategy ABL Bio has already committed to following its recent windfalls. 2025-12-28 13:11:37

South Korean shipbuilders regain 20 percent market share despite global slump SEOUL, December 28 (AJP) - South Korean shipbuilders have successfully defended their order books this year, regaining a 20 percent global market share despite a sharp downturn in worldwide vessel orders, industry data showed Sunday. South Korea currently stands as one of the world's two dominant shipbuilding nations, locked in a fierce rivalry with China. While China often leads in sheer volume, South Korea has carved out a stronghold in the market for high-value, high-technology vessels, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and eco-friendly ships. The sector is anchored by three major conglomerates often referred to as the "Big Three" -- HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean, and Samsung Heavy Industries. After years of competing for volume, these companies have recently shifted strategies to prioritize profitability, engaging in "selective order taking" to fill their docks with premium contracts rather than low-margin bulk carriers. According to Clarkson Research, a British shipbuilding and shipping market analysis firm, cumulative global orders from January to November this year totaled 44.9 million Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT), or 1,627 vessels. This represents a 37 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite the shrinking global pie, South Korea secured 10.0 million CGT (223 vessels), capturing a 22 percent market share. While this volume represents a 5 percent decline from the previous year, industry analysts view it as a strong performance given that rival China saw its orders plummet by 47 percent to 26.6 million CGT over the same period. The result marks a significant recovery for South Korea, whose market share had fallen to the 10 percent range last year, specifically 17 percent, the lowest level since 2016. The industry appears poised to finish the year comfortably back in the 20 percent range. The "Big Three" shipbuilders have posted solid results, aided in part by geopolitical factors. Industry observers note that the United States' measures to contain the Chinese shipbuilding industry have prompted some international shipowners to redirect orders to South Korean yards. Specifically, following a Section 301 investigation initiated in 2024, the U.S. Trade Representative has moved to impose fees on Chinese-built vessels, creating uncertainty that has benefited Korean competitors. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai's shipbuilding units, has secured $18.2 billion in orders (129 vessels) so far this year. This achieves 100.6 percent of its annual target of $18.1 billion, marking the fifth consecutive year the company has exceeded its goals. Although HD KSOE's total order value decreased by 13 percent compared to last year's $20.9 billion, the industry attributes this to the company's "selective order" strategy, as its construction docks are already fully booked for several years. Hanwha Ocean has secured $9.8 billion in orders to date, surpassing its total performance from last year ($9.0 billion). Its portfolio includes high-value contracts for 20 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and 13 LNG carriers. Samsung Heavy Industries has won orders totaling $7.4 billion this year, including 9 LNG carriers, 9 shuttle tankers, 9 container ships, 2 ethane carriers, and 11 crude oil tankers. While this figure represents only 76 percent of its annual target of $9.8 billion, industry officials remain optimistic, noting that additional contracts for offshore plants are expected soon. 2025-12-28 10:47:36

Franchise chicken stores top 30,000 in South Korea as major brands dominate SEOUL, December 28 (AJP) - The number of franchise fried chicken stores in South Korea has surpassed 30,000 for the first time, the National Data Agency said Sunday, driven by the expansion of major chains even as independent shops struggle to survive. In South Korea, fried chicken is more than just fast food. It is a cultural staple comparable to pizza in the United States. The combination of chicken and beer, known locally as "chimaek," is a ritual for sporting events and social gatherings, evolving from a rare treat in the 1970s to the country's default comfort food. This immense popularity has led to the country being jokingly dubbed the "Republic of Fried Chicken." Opening a franchise is a common path for retirees and former corporate workers seeking a second act, creating a market density so high that brands must constantly innovate with new sauces and flavors to compete. According to the national statistical agency's "2024 Franchise Statistics Results," there were 31,397 franchise chicken stores operating nationwide as of the end of last year. This represents a 5.3 percent increase, or 1,592 locations, from the previous year. The sector has seen steady growth, crossing the 25,000 mark in 2018 and adding approximately 1,000 new franchise locations annually over the past six years. Competition at the top of the market remains fierce. BBQ reclaimed the number one spot last year with 2,316 stores, adding 67 new locations. It overtook bhc, which fell to second place with 2,228 stores after closing 48 locations. Kyochon Chicken followed in third with 1,361 stores, while Cheogajip Seasoned Chicken and Goobne Chicken rounded out the top five. Despite the rise in store numbers, the industry faces signs of saturation. While total revenue for franchise chicken stores rose 7.3 percent to 8.7 trillion won ($6 billion), the average annual revenue per store grew only 1.9 percent to 279.6 million won. The data also highlighted the small-scale nature of these businesses. The average number of employees per store dropped to 2.1, the lowest among all major food service franchises, indicating that most are family-run operations relying on minimal staff. The increasing concentration of franchises reflects a shift in consumption patterns, as delivery apps drive demand toward recognizable brands over independent operators. However, the prevailing view in the sector is that the domestic market has effectively reached a saturation point, leaving little room for major players to continue expanding their footprint aggressively. This saturation is evident in the broader market figures. When including non-franchise independent shops, the total number of chicken restaurants in South Korea has actually declined for three consecutive years, falling to 39,789 in 2023. With domestic growth stalling, major chains are looking abroad. BBQ recently established a European headquarters in Spain and opened a drive-thru location in the United States. Competitors are following suit, with bhc expanding into Indonesia and Kyochon opening new outlets in China this year. 2025-12-28 09:24:36

Animation pioneer Nelson Shin, VFX leader Daniel Son to lead jury at WAIFF Seoul 2026 SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 (WAIFF Seoul 2026) has appointed animation pioneer Nelson Shin as a jury member and named Daniel Son, founder and chief executive of visual effects studio Westworld, as president of the jury, reinforcing Korea’s growing role in shaping the future of AI-driven filmmaking. The appointments bring together two figures representing different generations of global visual storytelling — from the foundations of modern animation to today’s large-scale, AI-enabled production ecosystem. Shin, a legendary animator and producer, began his career in the late 1950s and helped create Korea’s earliest animated television commercials before moving to the United States in 1971. He later joined DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, contributing to iconic franchises such as Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In 1974, Shin played a pivotal role in developing the original lightsaber effects for Star Wars, helping define the visual language of modern science fiction through animation-based techniques. He later became a senior producer at Marvel Productions, overseeing animation for The Transformers and other major titles. After returning to Korea in 1985, Shin founded AKOM Production, which grew into one of the world’s leading animation studios and helped establish animation as a major export industry for the country. Under his leadership, AKOM became a key production partner for The Simpsons, the longest-running television series in history, as well as numerous Emmy Award–winning animated programs. At WAIFF Seoul 2026, Shin will contribute to jury deliberations with a focus on creative integrity, professional standards and responsible innovation, drawing on decades of experience navigating the transition from hand-drawn animation to digital and AI-assisted production. Leading the jury as president, Daniel Son represents the forefront of Korea’s visual effects industry. A first-generation Korean VFX supervisor, Son has played a foundational role in building the country’s global competitiveness in high-end visual effects since beginning his career in 1998 with The Soul Guardians. As founder and CEO of Westworld — one of Korea’s leading VFX studios and a member of the Netflix Academy — Son has supervised visual effects for more than 200 films and series. His portfolio includes Exhuma, All of Us Are Dead, Sweet Home (Season 1), The Silent Sea, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, The Battleship Island and The Age of Shadows. His work has earned major industry recognition, including Best Visual Effects at the 18th Asian Film Awards for Exhuma and the Special Award for Advanced Technology at the 52nd Grand Bell Awards for Ode to My Father. Exhuma surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korea within about a month of release and was exported to 133 countries, while Sweet Home became the first Korean series to enter Netflix’s U.S. Top 10. As president of the jury, Son will oversee the evaluation process and help shape standards for works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cinema and storytelling, with an emphasis on balancing creative freedom, technological innovation and ethical responsibility. Founded by former Apple chief operating officer Marco Landi, the World AI Film Festival positions itself as a global platform dedicated to exploring the future of cinema through artificial intelligence. The 2026 Seoul edition will be held as an official program commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, underscoring its cultural and institutional significance. WAIFF Seoul 2026 will take place on March 6–7, 2026, bringing together filmmakers, technologists, artists and industry leaders from around the world to explore the future of storytelling in the age of artificial intelligence. The festival also counts Oscar-winning director Claude Lelouch and internationally renowned actress Gong Li among its honorary members. With Nelson Shin and Daniel Son at the center of its jury leadership, WAIFF Seoul 2026 underscores Korea’s position not only as a global content powerhouse, but also as a key agenda-setter shaping the creative, ethical and industrial standards of AI-driven cinema. 2025-12-26 16:52:05

BTS Jimin extends record with 120th week atop Spotify South Korea artist chart SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Jimin of BTS has set a new record on Spotify South Korea's weekly artist chart, marking his 120th week at number one. According to data released by the streaming platform for the week of December 18, the singer remains at the top of the "Weekly Top Artists" chart. He is the first and only artist to reach the 120-week milestone since the chart's inception. The singer's run at the top is also reflected in the daily rankings. As of December 22, Jimin has held the number one spot on the "Daily Top Artists" chart in South Korea for 823 days. His solo catalog continues to see high engagement on the platform. "Who," the lead single from his second solo album "MUSE," has now spent 69 weeks at number one on the "Weekly Top Songs" chart in South Korea. This extends its record as the longest-running number one in the history of the domestic chart. His previous lead single, "Like Crazy" from the album "FACE," holds the second-highest record with 40 weeks at the top. As of December 22, "Who" has maintained the number one position on the "Daily Top Songs" chart for 485 consecutive days. The track is currently the most-streamed song on the Spotify South Korea chart, with more than 87 million filtered streams. Jimin has reached the top of the daily singles chart with five different songs, including "Set Me Free Pt.2," "Angel Pt.1," and the English version of "Like Crazy." Collectively, these tracks have earned him 789 days at number one on the "Daily Top Songs" chart. This total is more than five times the 152 days recorded by his group, BTS, which holds the second-highest number of days at the top of the South Korean daily song chart. 2025-12-26 09:13:07

KAIST researchers discover security flaw in architecture used by Google Gemini SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Researchers have identified a critical security vulnerability in the "Mixture-of-Experts" architecture used by major artificial intelligence models such as Google Gemini. The study reveals that a single "malicious expert" hidden within an AI's internal structure can bypass safety filters, increasing the rate of harmful responses from zero to 80 percent. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on December 26 that a joint research team led by Professor Shin Seung-won and Professor Son Sooel has identified this new threat. Their research received the Distinguished Paper Award at the Annual Computer Security Applications Conference 2025 (ACSAC), a prestigious global forum for information security. Modern large language models often use a system called Mixture-of-Experts to save computing power. Instead of one giant AI handling every request, the system acts like a manager that routes specific questions to a group of smaller, specialized "experts." This allows the AI to be faster and more efficient by only activating the experts needed for a specific task. The KAIST team demonstrated that this efficiency creates a dangerous loophole. Because many AI developers use "open-source" parts shared by others, an attacker can distribute a single maliciously trained expert model. If this "bad" expert is integrated into a larger AI, it can take over whenever certain topics are mentioned. The researchers found that even if only one expert among many is compromised, it can force the entire AI to produce dangerous or restricted content. This attack is particularly difficult to detect because it does not slow down the AI or break its general logic. The model continues to function normally for most tasks, but when the specific "poisoned" expert is called upon, the success rate of the attack jumps from 0 percent to as high as 80 percent. This means an AI that appears safe during standard testing could still be manipulated into generating harmful outputs. "We have confirmed that the Mixture-of-Experts structure, which is spreading rapidly for its efficiency, can become a new security threat," Professor Shin Seung-won and Professor Son Sooel said in a joint statement. They emphasized that as the industry moves toward shared AI development, verifying the origin and safety of individual expert models is now essential for public safety. The award-winning research was presented on December 12 at ACSAC 2025 in Hawaii. The team included Kim Jae-han, Song Min-gyu, and Na Seung-ho. The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA), and the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP). 2025-12-26 08:36:41

Park Chan-wook film No Other Choice opens in five US cities ahead of national release SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest feature, "No Other Choice," opened in a limited release in five United States cities on December 25. Neon, the film's U.S. distributor, announced the Christmas Day opening via its website and social media channels. The film is currently screening in Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. According to the distributor, the release will expand nationwide in January. The film stars Lee Byung-hun as Man-su, a man who is suddenly laid off after 25 years of service at the same company. The plot follows his increasingly desperate and competitive efforts to secure a new position. Since its debut at the Venice International Film Festival, the film has gained significant traction on the international awards circuit. It won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Park Chan-wook was named Best Director at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain. The film currently holds a 99 percent critic score on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. It has also earned three Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language, and Best Actor for Lee Byung-hun. On December 16, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences included "No Other Choice" on the shortlist of 15 candidates for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Oscars. The film is the South Korean director's first project since the 2022 romantic thriller "Decision to Leave." 2025-12-26 08:31:17

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