Journalist
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajupress.com
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Kookmin University posts top growth rate among Seoul universities in 2025 Joongang rankings SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Kookmin University marked a decisive milestone this year, as President Jung Seung-ryul noted that the institution is now recognized for its sustained rise in academic competitiveness. In the 2025 Joongang Ilbo University Rankings released on Nov. 28, Kookmin placed 14th overall and recorded the highest 10-year growth rate among universities in Seoul, securing second place nationwide in the new long-term growth index. Jung said the results reflect a decade of steady work to strengthen both teaching and research. The Joongang evaluation reviewed universities across four areas — faculty research, educational environment, student performance, and reputation. Kookmin has shown a consistent upward line since ranking 19th in 2017, climbing to 18th in 2018, 16th in 2019, and 13th last year. This year's outcome maintains the university's momentum while underscoring the effects of its internal reforms. Faculty research showed some of the most visible progress. The number of international journal publications per professor rose sharply, moving from 24th to 13th, a jump evaluated as evidence of stronger global research capacity. Industry-academic cooperation revenue per science and engineering professor — one of the university's traditional strengths — held steady at second place nationwide. University officials said the results align with Kookmin's eight specialized growth areas: design and content, mobility, quantum, AI+X, robotics, advanced materials and semiconductors, water-energy-environment, and bio. Research funding secured this year alone in AI and bio-related government programs reached 134.4 billion won, reflecting an active push into future-oriented fields. Kookmin also highlighted its new mid-to-long-term roadmap, "KMU VISION 2035: EDGE," unveiled in October. The plan focuses on strengthening the quality and global visibility of faculty research through targeted incentives and more systematic internal support. The university aims to recruit competitive scholars, raise the international presence of its research output, and secure a clearer institutional edge in an increasingly crowded higher-education landscape. In the educational environment category, scholarship-related indicators continued to improve. Scholarship per student rose from 13th to 11th, supported by a range of programs spanning national scholarships, university-funded awards, and tailored support based on individual circumstances. The university was recognized as a model institution in scholarship management in audits by the Korea Student Aid Foundation and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Student performance and outcomes also showed measured gains. The university's dropout rate improved from 14th to 12th, while startup support funding moved up from 8th to 7th. Reputation scores echoed a similar movement. The social influence of graduates — a metric closely tied to hiring outcomes and public recognition — climbed by 10 places compared to last year. Corporate recruiters ranked Kookmin 12th among preferred universities for new hires, while surveys of high school students and parents placed the school 12th and 13th, respectively. Reflecting on the results, Jung said the university will use its approaching 80th anniversary next year to advance a new institutional vision. "We have established the vision 'A university that sets the standard in higher education' and the slogan 'Make the Rule, Break the Rule'," he said. "As the meaning behind this vision suggests, we will not settle for this year's rankings but continue to improve conditions across education, research, and global engagement so that we can compete not only within Korea but with universities abroad." 2025-11-28 17:37:27 -
OPINION: New Uzbekistan and the Search for Global Social Justice SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - The Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha from November 4 to 6, brought the international community back to a question that has shaped global cooperation for thirty years: how to ensure that every person can live with dignity, opportunity, and security. The world has entered a period of intense economic, demographic, technological, and environmental transition. Rising hunger, widening inequality, climate instability, and declining social trust have reshaped the development landscape. The Doha summit sought to renew global momentum around one of the core promises of the United Nations, leaving no one behind. For Uzbekistan, which has carried out wide-ranging social and economic reforms in recent years, the summit was an important moment to present its experience and share new ideas for cooperation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev used the platform to outline several proposals aimed at strengthening social justice and deepening collective action on sustainable development. The ideas he introduced reflect the philosophy of what Tashkent calls the "New Uzbekistan," a society centered on human dignity and committed to reform, inclusion, and openness. A world that cannot afford complacency The global context in which the Doha summit took place demands attention. Although progress has been made since the first Social Development Summit in Copenhagen in 1995, the world remains far from achieving its own ambitions. Poverty has been reduced by half since the mid-1990s, and life expectancy has increased significantly, yet the pace of improvement has slowed. According to United Nations data, more than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and over 40 percent of the global population has no access to social protection. Hunger is rising in many regions, driven not by a shortage of food across the world but by conflict, economic shocks, and policy failures. Climate change continues to intensify droughts, floods, and food insecurity, placing the greatest strain on the poorest communities. At the same time, rapid technological change is creating new inequalities. Digital platforms offer access to information and opportunity, but they also accelerate polarization, disinformation, and disruption in labor markets. Millions of workers face uncertainty as automation and artificial intelligence alter traditional industries. These trends reinforce a clear reality: economic growth on its own is no longer enough to reduce structural inequality. This is the backdrop against which the Doha Political Declaration was adopted. The declaration reaffirms that social development must be at the center of global stability and peace, and calls for expanded social protection, stronger education systems, fair working conditions, and urgent climate action. It also stresses the need to reform the global financial architecture so that developing countries burdened by debt can secure the resources necessary for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Uzbekistan's reform agenda at the center President Mirziyoyev's participation in Doha highlighted how Uzbekistan has sought to respond to many of the same pressures affecting countries worldwide. Over the past eight years, the country has launched one of the most comprehensive reform programs in its recent history, aiming to modernize public institutions, liberalize the economy, expand opportunities for citizens, and raise living standards. Poverty reduction has been a major priority. In 2017, Uzbekistan introduced targeted social registers to identify vulnerable families and ensure the delivery of assistance. These registers, known as the "Iron Register," the "Women's Register," the "Youth Register," and the "Mercy Register," have become essential tools for directing support to those most in need. As a result, guaranteed assistance now reaches more than 2.3 million low-income families, elderly individuals, and persons with disabilities, four times more than eight years ago. The poverty rate, once near 35 percent, has fallen to 6.6 percent. Human capital has been another major focus. Preschool enrollment has risen from 27 percent to 78 percent, allowing more women to pursue education and employment. Over the past five years, more than 800,000 citizens have completed professional training and secured higher-income jobs. Uzbekistan has updated its labor code, adopted new employment and trade union laws, and amended its Constitution to enshrine the principle of the country as a social state. Migration, which is a reality for millions of Uzbek citizens who seek work abroad, has also become a key area of reform. A unified system now provides language and skills training before departure, legal and material support for citizens overseas, and reintegration programs for returning workers. The goal is to ensure that migration becomes a safe and empowering choice, not a source of exploitation. Environmental policy, especially regarding the Aral Sea region, has taken on global significance. The drying of the Aral Sea has long been recognized as one of the world's worst ecological disasters. Uzbekistan has responded by planting more than 2 million hectares of salt-tolerant vegetation on the exposed seabed, with plans to cover up to 80 percent of the area by 2030. Working with regional and international partners, the country is improving water management, expanding climate-resilient agriculture, and promoting renewable energy. These reforms form the domestic foundation for the proposals President Mirziyoyev presented in Doha. Five proposals for shared prosperity Uzbekistan's initiatives at the summit were framed around the idea that global stability depends on global social justice, and that developing countries must play a central role in advancing that agenda. The President introduced five proposals. The first was the establishment of a Global Fund for Social Justice. With over one billion people still living in poverty and developing countries requiring an estimated $4 trillion to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, there is an urgent need for a financial mechanism that improves access to development resources. Uzbekistan proposed hosting a high-level conference in Khiva in 2026 to explore how such a fund could operate, bringing together governments, international financial institutions, and donor organizations. The second proposal focused on employment and decent work. With the global unemployment rate at around 5 percent and technology reshaping labor markets, the President called for a Global Initiative on Social Responsibility and Decent Work. He pointed to Uzbekistan's own experience, noting that the country has attracted nearly $130 billion in investment over the past eight years, doubled the size of its economy, and created millions of jobs. The third initiative emphasized education. Uzbekistan, now a member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, proposed hosting a summit under the Alliance with education as the main theme. Illiteracy, the President noted, costs the global economy an estimated $1.4 trillion each year. Strengthening vocational education is especially important for preparing young people for the green and digital economy. The fourth proposal addressed international migration. With more than 300 million people working abroad worldwide, the President called for an International Forum on the Social and Legal Protection of Migrants and their Families, along with a Global Program on migrant rights. Uzbekistan's own reforms in this field were presented as a potential model for other developing countries. The fifth initiative focused on the Aral Sea region, which has been designated by the UN as a Zone of Environmental Innovation and Technology. Uzbekistan urged deeper cooperation to develop a socio-economic model for regions that face severe climate stress. Toward a renewed global consensus The Doha summit made clear that achieving social justice in an era of global turbulence requires more than restating existing commitments. It demands new partnerships, new financial tools, and renewed solidarity. Uzbekistan's proposals reflect the view that emerging economies not only face shared global challenges but also have practical ideas to contribute. In recent years, Uzbekistan has positioned itself as a more open and internationally engaged country, hosting global forums, aligning national strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals, and working closely with UN institutions. Its message in Doha, that development must be rooted in human dignity and collective responsibility, is consistent with that broader direction. As the world searches for a new consensus on development, Uzbekistan is seeking not only to transform itself but also to help shape the global conversation. The path to social justice, as articulated by its leadership, requires cooperation, inclusiveness, and investment in human potential. These principles remain as relevant today as they were in Copenhagen thirty years ago. 2025-11-26 16:09:57 -
KAIST to test plasma thruster for small satellites on Nuri rocket SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on November 26 that its cube satellite K-HERO will fly on South Korea's Nuri rocket early tomorrow to test a next-generation plasma thruster designed for small satellites. Nuri, also known as KSLV-II, is the country's first fully domestic launch vehicle. The upcoming fourth launch is scheduled for November 27 at 0:55 a.m. from the Naro Space Center in Goheung. It is also the first flight in which Hanwha Aerospace is serving as the system integrator after receiving technology transfer from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The shift is viewed as an early step toward moving South Korea's launch vehicle development from a government-led model to a more private-led structure. The mission will carry 13 satellites into a 600-kilometer orbit, including the main payload, Next-Generation Small Satellite 3, along with 12 cube satellites from universities, research institutes, and companies. K-HERO is one of them. K-HERO, which stands for KAIST Hall Effect Rocket Orbiter, is a 3U cube satellite developed by Professor Choi Won-ho's team in the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering. The satellite measures 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 30 centimeters and weighs 3.9 kilograms. The project began after the team was selected as a basic satellite group in the 2022 cube satellite competition overseen by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. As a basic test satellite, K-HERO is designed to confirm whether early designs and components can operate reliably in space before moving to a full flight model. Its main mission is to demonstrate the operation of a miniature plasma thruster in orbit. The engine is a 150 watt Hall thruster that the team redesigned so it can also operate at about 30 watts, which is important for small satellites with limited power. A plasma thruster uses electricity to ionize xenon gas and then pushes the plasma out the back to generate movement. The propulsion is gentle but highly efficient, making electric engines well-suited for small satellites and satellite constellations that require precise maneuvering while conserving energy. Large geostationary satellites and deep space probes have used electric propulsion for decades, but scaling the technology down for lightweight satellites has become increasingly important as the global space industry shifts toward clusters of small spacecraft. KAIST said K-HERO will be the first attempt to test a fully domestic miniature plasma thruster in space. The university said the demonstration could help strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in the growing small satellite market. Professor Choi's group has researched Hall thrusters since 2003 and previously flew a 200 watt model on KAIST's Science and Technology Satellite 3 in 2013. The new thruster is smaller and more efficient so it can support missions in low Earth orbit. CosmoB, a startup from Professor Choi's laboratory, also contributed to the K-HERO project to support future commercialization. Professor Choi said the thruster being tested on K-HERO can be applied to missions such as low Earth orbit surveillance satellites, 6G communication satellites, ultralow orbit imaging satellites, and small asteroid probes. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said the mission is an opportunity to verify the university's electric propulsion technology in space again and can help improve the country's competitiveness in small satellite platforms. 2025-11-26 10:46:58 -
KAIST expands national science outreach programs SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on November 25 that it is expanding its major public science programs, including the KSOP education initiative, the OPEN KAIST festival, and non-degree IT and AI training programs for young adults and military personnel. The institute said these efforts support national policies to broaden science culture, strengthen future talent pipelines, and reinforce South Korea’s scientific competitiveness. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said the institute is committed to widening educational access regardless of background. He said KSOP and OPEN KAIST help students from different regions and socioeconomic conditions imagine themselves as future scientists. He added that KAIST will continue focusing on warm science, inclusive education, and a sustainable science culture ecosystem. KSOP, run by the KAIST Center for Gifted Education Research, selects socially disadvantaged students with strong potential in mathematics and science and connects them with KAIST undergraduate and graduate mentors. The program began in 2015 with 250 participants and expanded to 1,000 per year by 2022. About 8,000 students have taken part so far, and more than 70 percent have continued into science and engineering fields. Some graduates return as mentors, forming a cycle of talent sharing. The program also reaches students in areas with fewer opportunities for science education, including Jeju, Mokpo, and Andong. KAIST said these activities have helped ease regional education gaps and have become one of its main science culture initiatives. Parent sessions, family camps, and counseling programs have expanded steadily, with the fifth family camp held in 2025. KSOP graduates and mentors operate KSOP Friends, a network that supports scholarship programs, mentoring, and donations. The effort has grown into a public small-scale recurring donation campaign known as the Kidarri Ajeossi Project. OPEN KAIST, held every two years, recorded more than 8,000 visitors over two days in 2025, the highest number to date and more than four times the turnout in 2023. Laboratory tours were especially popular and drew long waiting lists. KAIST said it plans to expand access in future events after some visitors were unable to join because of stronger-than-expected interest. KAIST also operates non-degree IT and semiconductor training programs for military personnel and young adults. The KAIST IT Academy provides hands-on instruction in AI, computing, and programming and enrolls about 1,000 trainees annually. The university’s SW training program, known as Jungle, graduated 308 participants between 2021 and 2024, with many joining companies such as Naver, Krafton, Team Sparta, Nearthlab, and Woowa Brothers. The program emphasizes project-based learning, practical coding experience, and mentoring by working developers. Based on the success of Jungle, Krafton launched a related program in 2022 called Krafton Jungle as part of the company’s social contribution efforts. KAIST’s IC Design Education Center, IDEC, trains about 240 young semiconductor design specialists each year and supports their transition into industry. KSOP received international recognition in 2024 at the Asia Pacific Conference on Giftedness, where it earned the top program prize and top researcher prize. KAIST also launched Junior KAIST in 2025 to expand science, mathematics, and AI exploration opportunities for younger students. KAIST said it will continue strengthening its role as a public research university through national-level science outreach and talent development programs. 2025-11-25 09:39:28 -
KAIST study finds red OLED light can reduce Alzheimer's protein and improve memory SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on November 24 that its researchers have confirmed that a specific color of OLED light can reduce a key Alzheimer’s disease protein and improve memory in animal models, suggesting a possible new direction for non-drug treatment. The work was carried out with the Korea Brain Research Institute. The team tested three OLED colors, blue, green, and red, using a platform that keeps brightness even and avoids the heat and uneven light problems found in regular LEDs. They compared the lights under the same conditions, including brightness, exposure time, and a 40-hertz flicker rate. According to the researchers, the red 40 hertz light showed the clearest improvement in both Alzheimer's-related proteins and memory performance. To put it simply, the team shone the lights on early-stage Alzheimer’s model mice for one hour a day over two days. Even in that short period, red and white lights helped the animals remember better, and the harmful protein amyloid beta, often called plaque, decreased in key brain regions such as the hippocampus. Levels of ADAM17, an enzyme that helps clear plaque, increased as well. The red light also lowered IL-1 beta, a molecule linked to brain inflammation, which the researchers said indicates an anti-inflammatory effect. They added that animals showing a larger drop in plaque tended to show a bigger jump in memory performance, suggesting a direct link between the two. In mid-stage Alzheimer’s models, red light again showed a clearer pattern. After two weeks of exposure using the same frequency and brightness, only the red light produced a significant reduction in plaque, although both red and white improved memory. At the molecular level, the differences were more pronounced. Red light increased ADAM17 and decreased BACE1, an enzyme that helps create plaque. In other words, red light both reduced plaque production and boosted plaque removal. White light, by comparison, only lowered BACE1. To understand what happens in the brain when the light is applied, the team tracked c-Fos, a marker that switches on when neurons are active. They found that the visual cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus were all activated, indicating that the stimulation traveled through the brain’s visual and memory-related circuit. Because the OLED system delivers even brightness regardless of movement, the researchers said it offered consistent results and overcame the technical limits of LEDs. The platform also allows fine control of color, brightness, flicker, and exposure time, which they believe could be useful in future personalized treatment studies. Noh Byung-joo from the KAIST team said the study proves the importance of standardizing color in light-based brain stimulation and shows that red OLED produces key effects across disease stages. Professor Choi Kyung-cheol said the even brightness OLED platform makes it easier to evaluate safety and repeat results, adding that wearable red OLED devices may become a new treatment option in daily life. The findings were published online on October 25 in ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering. 2025-11-24 11:32:29 -
Star chef 'Fabri' kicks off Italian Cuisine Week in Seoul with cheese-infused kimchi dish SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Italian chef Fabrizio Ferrari, widely known in South Korea by his affectionate nickname "Fabri," opened this year's Italian Cuisine Week in Seoul on Wednesday with a cooking demonstration that blended Italy's signature cheeses with Korea's most familiar flavors. At High Street Italia in Gangnam, Ferrari prepared a pan of kimchi fried rice and finished it with a cooled, paper-thin cheese crisp set over the dish like a hat. The crisp, made from melted and re-hardened Italian cheese, added a nutty aroma and a crackling texture as he introduced the first program of the week-long event. Ferrari called cheese one of Italy's greatest culinary treasures and said it cannot be separated from the country's food identity. He opened his remarks by drawing a parallel between cheese and jang, the fermented sauces at the foundation of Korean cuisine. "For Italian food, cheese is what jang is for Korean cuisine," he said. "Without jang, there is no real Korean food. It is the same for us. The flavor and umami in Italian dishes come from cheese." In Korean cooking, jang is the element that shapes the taste of soups, stews, and everyday dishes, and many chefs treat it as the essence of Korean food. Ferrari told the audience he sees the same role played by cheese in Italy. He spoke about cheese as a fermented food, noting that its depth comes from the same slow processes that define Korea's jang tradition. Holding up cheeses like provolone and caciocavallo, he pointed out their visual similarities to meju blocks and said the fermentation link explains why Korean diners often find Italian cheeses familiar rather than foreign. Ferrari's demonstration featured well-known cheeses such as Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano, but also lesser-known regional varieties. He reminded the audience that Italy produces dozens of traditional cheeses that differ according to altitude, grass, soil, and climate. "There are regions where animals eat different herbs and plants, so the taste of the milk changes and the cheese changes with it," he said. The chef also introduced the audience to Asiago from northern Italy, as well as provolone, which he described as a firmer, more elastic cousin of mozzarella. Using four types of cheese, he prepared a rich quattro formaggi pasta, then turned to his Korean-Italian fusion dish, placing the cheese crisp on top of the fried rice to bring together heat, salt, and sweetness with the aroma of aged dairy. During the Q&A session, Ferrari told AJP about pairing Italian cheese with Korean traditional drinks. He said fermented alcohols with a slight tang or sweetness worked well. "Makgeolli is a good example," he said. Ferrari is well known in Korea beyond his kitchen. Born into a family of restaurateurs, he earned a Michelin star in 2005 for his seafood restaurant Al Porticciolo 84 in Italy and held it for 15 years. His exposure to Korean cuisine began in 2010 while working with Korean culinary students in Italy. He learned how to make kimchi and other fermented foods and later developed his own Korean-Italian fusion dishes. He moved to South Korea in 2019, taught at Woosong University in Daejeon and became a familiar figure on television. His YouTube channel, Italy Fabri, has drawn a large Korean following. Before Ferrari took the stage, Italian Trade Commissioner Ferdinando Gueli opened the event by presenting this year's promotional focus on authentic Italian cheese. He urged Korean consumers to check origin labels and look for the EU's certification marks. "Korea is one of our most important markets in Asia in terms of per capita exports," he said. "Korean people are among the best lovers of made in Italy in the world." Italian Ambassador Emilia Gatto also greeted guests. Speaking in Korean, she thanked the audience for attending. She said food represents the cultural and artistic ties between South Korea and Italy and praised the popularity of Korean cuisine in Italy. The ambassador said she hoped the week's programs would help deepen the exchange between the two food cultures. 2025-11-19 17:57:08 -
Indian minister pushes shipbuilding cooperation during visit to South Korea SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, spent two days in South Korea meeting shipbuilding and shipping leaders as part of India's effort to expand maritime cooperation under the country's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The minister toured the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan on November 17, calling the visit productive. The shipyard, described by the Indian Embassy as the world's largest, covers 1,680 acres. He said India's fast-growing energy and shipping sectors, driven by the Make in India initiative and supported by a young population, offer what he called a "golden opportunity" for Korean shipyards to "Make in India for the World." He noted that nearly 20 percent of global vessels are expected to either arrive in or depart from India in the next fifteen years. He also reviewed progress under an existing agreement with Cochin Shipyard Limited, saying plans for a block fabrication facility are expected to be finalised soon. According to the release, India's public-sector companies can procure as many as fifty-nine crude, LNG and ethane vessels. The visit followed his meeting on November 16 with HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun at the company's Global R&D Center in Seongnam. The delegation was briefed on HD Hyundai's ship design capabilities and smart shipyard operation systems. Discussions focused on how these technologies could support India's plans to expand its commercial fleet and strengthen domestic shipbuilding. HD Hyundai noted that India aims to increase its fleet from 1,500 to 2,500 vessels and invest USD 24 billion under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, including USD 8 billion recently announced for fleet expansion. Earlier on November 17, the minister met senior executives from major Korean shipping companies: An Byung-gil of Korea Ocean Business Corporation, Kim Sung-ick of SK Shipping, Seo Myung-deuk of H‑Line Shipping, and Sung Je-yong of Pan Ocean. He stressed that energy and shipping are tightly linked to India's economic growth. India's crude and gas imports, valued at more than USD 150 billion, move entirely by sea, yet only about 20 percent of this cargo is carried on Indian-flagged or Indian-owned vessels, the embassy said. The minister also met Kim Hee-cheul, President and CEO of Hanwha Ocean, in Seoul. According to the embassy, he encouraged the company to look at opportunities emerging in India's shipbuilding sector under the Make in India initiative and said Indian public-sector companies are ready to work with Korean partners on manufacturing LNG and crude carriers. 2025-11-17 17:38:08 -
KAIST develops CT-style method to look inside light-based quantum computers SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - KAIST said on November 17 that its researchers have developed a way to look inside a light-based quantum computer almost like taking a CT scan. The idea is to make the machine’s hidden operations visible so researchers can understand how the device actually works. Light-based quantum computers use many small light signals that interact and become tangled with one another. This tangling makes the machines powerful, but it also makes them very hard to examine or verify. Until now, scientists struggled to analyze even around five of these signals at once. The KAIST team, led by physics professor Ra Young-sik, created a method that can examine up to sixteen light signals working together. According to the school, this is the first time such a large number has been analyzed experimentally. The basic idea is simple: send different kinds of light into the machine, see how they change on the way out, and then use math to recreate what happened inside. It works much like a medical CT scan, where images are rebuilt from many pieces of data. To make this easier to understand, the researchers separated the changes into two parts. One part shows how the light itself was strengthened or altered. The other part shows how much noise or unwanted disturbance came in from the environment. By splitting these two effects, the method gives a clearer view of both the ideal operation and the real-world imperfections. The new approach also cuts down the amount of data needed to run this kind of analysis. That makes it possible to study much larger quantum operations without overwhelming the system. The research team includes Gwak Geunhee as first author, along with Roh Chan, Yoon Young-do, and Imperial College London professor Kim Myung-sik. The findings were published online on November 11 in Nature Photonics. (Source: KAIST press release) The work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. 2025-11-17 15:33:19 -
Belgium marks King's Day in Seoul with focus on deepening ties SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium hosted a King's Day reception in Seoul on November 13, 2025, bringing together about 200 diplomats, business figures, academics, and media representatives at the Four Seasons Hotel. The evening combined national-day tradition with a look ahead to the 125th anniversary of Belgium–South Korea diplomatic relations next year. Opening his remarks, Ambassador Bruno Jans greeted the audience by saying, "Good evening, friends of Belgium," before reflecting on the roots of King's Day and the Belgian monarchy. He noted that the occasion pays tribute to Belgium's first king, Leopold I, and added, "This year marks the 12th anniversary of His Majesty King Philippe's accession to the throne." The ambassador emphasized that 2026 will be a significant year for both countries. "2026 will mark 125 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Belgium, established in 1901," he said, recalling the history that links the two nations. He also pointed to another milestone next year, noting, "It will also mark 75 years since Belgian troops arrived during the Korean War." The embassy held a design competition for the 125th anniversary emblem, which drew 58 submissions from Belgium and South Korea. "Good things come in pairs," the ambassador said as he explained that the anniversary of bilateral relations and the wartime commemoration would frame next year's program of events. Reflecting on recent exchanges, the ambassador said Belgium had seen a year of "high-level visits," and highlighted the growing number of cultural and educational links. He also welcomed progress toward establishing a Belgian chamber of commerce in South Korea to support business cooperation. The reception featured performances by cellist Kang Seung-min, a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, along with the saxophone quartet S.with. Guests continued conversations over the reception that followed, sharing views on the busy year of commemorative events planned for 2026. 2025-11-14 16:34:56 -
Indian Film Festival opens in Seoul with focus on storytelling and cultural ties SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - The 13th Indian Film Festival opened this week at the Korean Film Archive in Seoul, bringing a lineup of award-winning and widely acclaimed films to audiences in South Korea. The festival, organized by the Embassy of India together with local partners, began on November 12 with an evening ceremony attended by diplomats, cultural officials and film enthusiasts. Deputy Chief of Mission Nishi Kant Singh welcomed guests by noting how the festival has become a meeting point for shared cinematic appreciation. "Each year, the Indian Film Festival unites us in a powerful celebration of storytelling, deepening our collective cinematic bond and honoring the boundless creativity, diversity, and spirit of Indian cinema," he said. Singh highlighted the broader context of the event, pointing to the cultural dimension of India–South Korea relations. He said the two countries share more than trade and technology ties, adding that films remain one of the clearest ways to strengthen people-to-people understanding. "Films hold a unique power in strengthening people-to-people connections — transcending language and geography to touch hearts and inspire understanding," he said. This year's program includes titles such as 12th Fail, Manjummel Boys, English Vinglish, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Hellaro and Anur (Eyes on the Sunshine). Screenings will continue through November across several cities, including Busan, Incheon, Yangsan, Miryang, Suncheon and Gwangju. The festival is running in partnership with the Korean Film Archives, Busan Cinema Centre, India Centre, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Mirim Theatre and the Asian Culture Centre. Singh also noted how Korean content has gained strong traction globally, including in India. He referenced films and series that have drawn international attention in recent years, describing them as examples of how locally rooted stories can reach audiences far beyond their home market. The Seoul leg of the festival continues at KOFA through November 15, with online reservations available via the Korean Film Archive website and on-site ticketing offered when seats remain available. 2025-11-14 14:53:25