AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

박세진
Park Sae-jin
  • Kookmin University student racing team KORA unveils EV ahead of international competition
    Kookmin University student racing team KORA unveils EV ahead of international competition SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - Kookmin University student racing team Kookmin Racing (KORA) unveiled its new electric formula vehicle, F-26, during a launch ceremony on campus in Seoul, South Korea, ahead of an international engineering competition, Kookmin University said Thursday. KORA will participate in the 2026 Formula SAE Electric, an international student vehicle design competition hosted by SAE International (SAE). The event will take place from June 16 to June 20, 2026, at the Michigan International Speedway in the United States. KORA previously achieved a global fourth-place and Asia first-place finish at the 2015 event. During the ceremony held on May 27, 2026, the team conducted a test drive of the F-26, demonstrating its cornering performance and overall engineering to attending university officials, faculty and students. "The F-26 vehicle is an electric formula car developed with the goal of optimal stability and consistent performance based on our past experience participating in the competition," Cho Hyun-sung, project manager for KORA, said. "We will prove our preparation and efforts on the world stage with results." "KORA is a team with sufficient skills, so if they succeed in finishing the race based on the vehicle's stability, we can expect top-tier results," Shin Sung-hwan, dean of the College of Automobile and Mobility, said. "I hope the vehicle the students created with their best efforts completes the race stably on the international stage and leads to good results," Na Chang-soon, vice president of academic affairs, said. "Above all, I hope the entire process of participating in the competition concludes safely." 2026-05-28 16:15:01
  • S. Korean researchers resolve clogging in water electrolysis to improve green hydrogen production
    S. Korean researchers resolve clogging in water electrolysis to improve green hydrogen production SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - A team of researchers in South Korea has developed a new structural design for water electrolysis systems that prevents gas bubbles from obstructing energy flow, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Thursday. The research team, which includes scientists from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), and Konkuk University, redesigned the internal pathways of the catalyst layer. Using two-dimensional mesoporous carbon nanosheets, they created straight channels that allow water and gases to pass through rapidly. This prevents the traditional problem of bubbles accumulating inside the device and obstructing the chemical reaction. The researchers attached ultrafine ruthenium nanoclusters to the carbon surface to accelerate the hydrogen generation rate and protect the catalyst from damage over time. Testing showed the system reached a current density of 17.1 amperes per square centimeter at 80 degrees Celsius, exceeding the 2026 targets established by the United States Department of Energy. The device maintained stable operation for more than 1,000 hours using 0.09 milligrams of ruthenium per square centimeter, demonstrating high performance with a significantly reduced amount of the expensive noble metal. Water electrolysis is widely considered an essential technology for the transition to carbon neutrality, but high production costs and system inefficiencies have slowed its commercial adoption. By modifying how materials flow through the system rather than just changing the active catalyst material, the new design offers a method to make large-scale green hydrogen production more economically viable. The study, led by first authors Byun Jae-ho and Ban Min-kyung, was published online in the journal Joule on May 22, 2026. "This research is a technology that increases water electrolysis efficiency by designing not only the catalyst itself but also the path through which energy flows," Professor Lee Jin-woo of KAIST said. "We expect it to advance the commercialization of eco-friendly hydrogen production in the future as high-efficiency green hydrogen production is possible with only a small amount of noble metals." (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Joule Title: Outperforming water electrolysis through catalyst layer structuring with defective 2D mesoporous carbon Link/DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2026.102478 2026-05-28 13:56:05
  • South Korea links Iranian missile to cargo ship attack
    South Korea links Iranian missile to cargo ship attack SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday that an older Iranian anti-ship missile is highly likely to have struck the cargo ship HMM Namu earlier this month, signaling a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions. The conclusion marks a decisive shift from the stance of strategic caution maintained by South Korea since the May 4 attack in the Strait of Hormuz. According to earlier government briefings and maritime records, the HMM Namu, a 38,000-ton multipurpose heavy-lift cargo ship delivered to the South Korean shipping firm HMM in early 2026, was anchored near the United Arab Emirates when two unidentified flying objects struck its stern, triggering an engine room explosion and fire that disabled the ship without causing a catastrophic hull breach. Foreign ministry investigators determined that the weapon used in the incident was likely an Iranian Noor anti-ship missile. Officials noted that an engine component recovered from the explosion site is highly similar to Iranian-made turbojet engines. Government officials stated that multiple pieces of physical evidence are now pointing toward Iran as the entity behind the attack. In response to the forensic findings, South Korea plans to summon the Iranian ambassador to lodge a strong protest and demand formal guarantees against any recurrence. The ministry did not disclose the specific timing for the official diplomatic summons. Officials also noted that the intentionality of the attack remains difficult to confirm unless the governing authority or group responsible explicitly admits to the action, while Iran has vehemently denied any involvement in the maritime incident. 2026-05-27 17:22:58
  • Survey shows South Korean smokers harbor misconceptions about electronic cigarettes
    Survey shows South Korean smokers harbor misconceptions about electronic cigarettes SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Nearly half of South Korean smokers trying to quit believe electronic cigarettes help them stop smoking, despite strong warnings from medical experts that the devices hinder cessation efforts. The findings were released Wednesday at a forum in Seoul organized by the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and the Korea Medical Broadcast Journalists Association. Researchers polled 500 smokers aged 25 to 59 who had attempted to quit in the past year or plan to do so within the next six months. The survey showed 43 percent of respondents view electronic cigarettes as a useful tool for quitting, while 23.5 percent intend to use them for this purpose in the future. Another 20 percent have already tried using them to quit, primarily hoping to reduce withdrawal symptoms and manage their daily cravings. Medical experts at the forum dismissed these beliefs as widespread misunderstandings. Cho Hong-jun, a professor emeritus at the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, noted that about 70 percent of smokers who use electronic cigarettes to quit fail to do so, continuing to use the devices for over six months. He added that people who use both conventional and electronic cigarettes have only a 5 percent chance of transitioning entirely to electronic versions after two years. Instead, up to 80 percent of these dual users simply revert to smoking regular cigarettes. "Long-term studies show electronic cigarette users are highly likely to become dual users, and the quitting effects remain uncertain," Cho said. "Because the evidence that electronic cigarettes are less harmful than conventional ones is unclear, it is desirable to regulate all tobacco products equally." The survey also highlighted that many smokers switch to electronic devices because they smell less and seem less harmful to the body. However, Lee Sung-kyu, head of the Korea Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, warned that using heated tobacco products indoors can spike nicotine concentrations up to 86 times the acceptable health limit. Lee noted that public perception is significantly detached from scientific reality. "Just because it lacks a smell or has a sweet scent does not mean it is safe," Lee said. The forum also addressed public confusion surrounding nicotine replacement therapies, which are legally classified as over-the-counter drugs rather than tobacco products in South Korea. The survey found 48 percent of respondents who knew about the therapies did not understand how they helped, while 46 percent mistakenly believed the nicotine in these medical treatments is identical to the nicotine in cigarettes. Choi Su-jeong, a family medicine professor at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, stressed that equating the two products is a clear error. "Following the correct usage of different formulations like patches, gum, and candy, and utilizing combination therapy as needed, can further increase the success rate of quitting smoking," Choi said. 2026-05-27 15:43:51
  • ASIA INSIGHT: Hidden danger behind Japans new defense plan
    ASIA INSIGHT: Hidden danger behind Japan's new defense plan By mixing business supply lines and robot drones into its military strategy, Japan is turning factories into front lines. SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - When Chinese officials stopped shipping rare minerals to Japan last year, nobody saw a military attack. There were no warplanes in the sky and no warships at sea. Instead, the blow hit Japan right on its factory floors and technology labs. It was a silent punishment. Japan's Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae, had just warned China about Taiwan, so China hit back where it hurt. For decades, Japan thought national security was just about soldiers and guns, while business was separate and peaceful. That dream ended the moment China cut off the minerals. Japan learned that if you cannot get the parts you need to build things, you cannot defend your country. The answer to this problem came this week from Japan's ruling political party. Leaders revealed a new plan to change the country's defense strategy by the end of the year. They call this new idea collective autonomy. The name sounds boring on purpose so it does not scare voters. But it marks a massive shift in how a peaceful country prepares for war. It means Japan realizes it cannot protect its borders without protecting its trade. They are turning normal trade deals into tools for global competition. This shift is not just an emergency reaction to China. It is a complete blending of business and war. By putting trade security directly into military rules, Japan is giving up on its long history of peace. They are building a high-tech fortress. The goal is to partner closely with Western allies for safety, while Japanese factories switch to building smart weapons and computer chips. In doing so, Japan is erasing the line between everyday business and actual combat. The name collective autonomy actually has a funny contradiction. Autonomy means standing on your own feet. But Japan's plan admits that it cannot secure its factories alone. To survive China's trade threats, Japan is rushing to make friends. The Prime Minister went to Vietnam, expanded trade deals, and worked out a mineral agreement with Washington. They are building a shield. Together with Europe, Japan is setting up new rules to block cheap goods from China. It is a group of countries working together to isolate a rival before any real weapons are fired. The real change shows up in how Japan plans to fight. The ruling party wants the military to learn from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The old idea of brave pilots and big navy ships is being replaced by computers. The new plan calls for putting artificial intelligence into the military immediately. This will make decisions happen much faster. Satellites will send pictures to computers, and AI will choose the targets before a human can even think about it. This means Japan will soon use huge swarms of robot drones. Lawmakers want to build these unmanned planes, boats, and vehicles at home within five years. This is a massive change for Japanese factories. By building their own long-range drones, Japan gets a powerful weapon without looking like an aggressive invader. These cheap, robot swarms can defend islands easily. The factory line has become the front line, and businesses are shifting to make weapons at a massive scale. To pay for all this, Japan is throwing away its old budget rules. For a long time, Japan spent only about one percent of its money on the military. Now, they want to match neighbors like South Korea and Australia, or Western countries in NATO, which spend two or three percent. Japan is spending big to become one of the top military powers in Asia. But mixing business, trade, and war is a dangerous game. When giant electronics and car companies start making their money from military contracts, the country suddenly needs tension to keep those factories running. Normal citizens lose their voice because these big choices are made by a few leaders behind closed doors. Japan thinks this new plan is a shield to protect its factories. But as computers take over and factories churn out robot weapons, Japan might be building a war machine it can no longer control. 2026-05-27 14:45:31
  • South Korean joint university team wins Bosch Future Mobility Challenge 2026
    South Korean joint university team wins Bosch Future Mobility Challenge 2026 SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - A joint student team from Kookmin University and other prominent institutes won the top prize at the Bosch Future Mobility Challenge 2026, an international autonomous driving competition held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The team outperformed dozens of international competitors during the five-day event, the university said Wednesday. The competition, which ran from May 16 to May 20, 2026, invited undergraduate and master's degree students to develop autonomous driving algorithms for 1:10-scale model cars. The vehicles were tested for their ability to navigate real-world traffic scenarios on a miniature smart-city track. A total of 57 teams from around the world participated in the event. The winning team comprised students participating in the fourth cohort of SEA:ME, a mobility software training program jointly operated by KMU and the Volkswagen Group Woori Foundation (VGWF). The roster included Kim Ki-hoon and Oh Young-kyo from KMU, Jang Dong-min and Choi Min-hyuk from Inha University (IU), and Kang Ju-heon from Ajou University (AU), under the guidance of Professor Kim Jong-chan. The team earned high marks for developing a custom localization algorithm that maintained precise and stable driving performance even when local network and GPS signals became unstable. The SEA:ME program operates under the Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS) future automobile consortium to provide selected students with specialized mobility software education and training opportunities in Germany. The victory builds on previous achievements by earlier cohorts, which included a third-place finish in 2024 and the Best Newcomers Award in 2025. "We have gained the confidence and conviction that future talents who will take responsibility for South Korea's autonomous driving technology can lead the world," said Professor Shin Sung-hwan, the director of the COSS Future Automobile Consortium. KMU students Kim and Oh noted that collaboration was key to their performance. "The effort and cooperation of team members who challenged themselves to the end amidst fierce competition became the driving force of our victory," the students said. "We were able to learn and grow a lot through the competition." 2026-05-27 14:22:10
  • Iran denies seeking transit tolls in Strait of Hormuz
    Iran denies seeking transit tolls in Strait of Hormuz SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - The Iranian government rejected allegations that it plans to impose transit tolls on commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, announcing a joint maritime security mechanism with Oman, the Embassy of Iran in Seoul said Monday. Any financial or logistical shifts in the strait directly impact South Korea, which faces a deepening energy security crisis. Thanks to the country's effort to diversify its sources for crude oil, South Korea's reliance on Middle Eastern crude oil recently fell below 50 percent for the first time, dropping from 69.1 percent last year to 48.5 percent, as the ongoing blockade and military risks force importers to seek alternative routes. The Embassy of Iran in the Republic of Korea said in a statement that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeel Baghaei explained that potential charges would only cover operational costs for services related to maritime navigation, environmental protection, and shipping safety, stressing that these measures should not be interpreted as passage fees or restrictions on international shipping. Baghaei rejected recent claims by United States officials accusing Iran of attempting to nationalize the critical energy corridor, describing the accusations as misleading and inconsistent with international law. The diplomatic exchange occurred during an ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran, which officially began on February 28. The conflict has severely restricted navigation in the region, culminating in a May 4 attack on the South Korean-operated bulk carrier HMM NAMU. The newly built 38,314-ton vessel was struck by unidentified airborne objects while anchored near the United Arab Emirates, rendering the ship inoperable but resulting in no casualties among the 24 crew members. Following the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of executing the strike, an allegation Tehran formally denied. In response to the incident, the South Korean government dispatched a special investigation team to Dubai, where the disabled vessel was towed for inspection. The proposed security mechanism being developed by Iran and Oman aims to preserve freedom of international trade and prevent military misuse of the waterway. "Iran is not seeking to impose transit tolls in the Strait of Hormuz," Baghaei said. 2026-05-27 13:41:49
  • KAIST researchers develop smart antibody to control cancer treatment with light
    KAIST researchers develop smart antibody to control cancer treatment with light SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea have developed an antibody platform that allows immune cells to target and attack cancer cells only when activated by specific light or chemical signals, KAIST said Wednesday. Current cellular therapies, such as CAR-T treatments, can cause severe side effects because engineered immune cells begin attacking immediately upon recognizing cancer, sometimes damaging healthy tissue in the process. The new platform, named Extrabody, addresses this by splitting an antibody into two inactive fragments. These pieces only recombine and bind to tumor targets when exposed to external triggers. The research team confirmed the system works against common cancer proteins, including EGFR and HER2. By integrating this light-activated switch into existing immune therapy models, they created a double-lock safety mechanism. The immune cells only activate and release chemicals to kill the target when both the cancer protein and the light stimulus are present at the exact same time. This precision prevents immune cells from accidentally attacking healthy cells outside the intended treatment area. The study was led by Professor Heo Won-do from the biological sciences department, alongside co-first authors Dr. Kwon Yu-ri and Dr. Yoo Da-seul-i. The findings were published online in Cell Chemical Biology on May 7, 2026. "This research is a new platform technology that can precisely control cell target recognition at the desired time and location using external stimuli," Heo said. "It can be utilized as a core foundational technology to improve the safety and precision of next-generation immunotherapy and cell-based treatment technologies in the future." (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Cell Chemical Biology Title: An extracellular, optogenetic antibody platform for stimulus-gated antigen recognition and modulation of cell behavior Link/DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2026.04.006 2026-05-27 11:04:52
  • French-South Korea chamber unveils anniversary book at National Assembly
    French-South Korea chamber unveils anniversary book at National Assembly SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - The French-South Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched its 40th anniversary commemorative book at the National Assembly in Seoul, signaling a deepening of economic ties as the two nations mark 140 years of diplomatic relations. The exclusive reception gathered approximately 80 diplomats, lawmakers, and business leaders to celebrate the historical evolution of the bilateral partnership. The event, organized with the support of the South Korea-France Parliamentary Friendship Association, comes ahead of a major operational expansion for the business group. The chamber announced it will open its own standalone building, the French South Korea EcoMaison, in the Gangnam district of Seoul this September. The new multifunctional facility will be fully dedicated to supporting the corporate community. During the ceremony, South Korean officials and French representatives emphasized the importance of continued cross-border cooperation in innovation, culture, and commerce. Na Kyung-won, the chair of the parliamentary friendship association, delivered opening remarks alongside French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux and chamber Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon. Park Young-sun, the former minister of small and medium enterprises and startups, followed the speeches with a celebratory toast. The commemorative publication retraces the history of bilateral relations, tracing the timeline from the 1886 Treaty of Friendship and Commerce to modern strategic partnerships. It highlights collaboration across several key sectors, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, mobility, and green energy. Jalicon praised the contributors at the event, noting that the volume reflects the long-term dedication of the local business community. "This year should not only be an achievement, but the renewal of our ambition," Jalicon said regarding the upcoming Gangnam hub. He added that the new facility will serve as a dynamic space for future collaborative projects between the two countries. Ambassador Bertoux also stressed the global potential of the partnership, stating that the shared economic dynamism of both nations will position them to play an increasingly important role on the international stage. The diplomatic event concluded with a special celebration performance by the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. 2026-05-22 15:33:20
  • K-pop band BTS performs for 152,000 fans at Stanford Stadium
    K-pop band BTS performs for 152,000 fans at Stanford Stadium SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - K-pop legend BTS has performed for about 152,000 fans over three days at Stanford Stadium in the United States, drawing large crowds that waved South Korean flags and sang in Korean. The performances on May 16, 17, and 19 were part of the "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN STANFORD". The concerts highlighted the group's presence in the global music scene, as they became the second musical act to headline the venue since it opened in 1921, following Coldplay. During the performance of "Body to Body" from the "ARIRANG" release, the melody of the traditional folk song "Arirang" played through the stadium. The audience responded by simultaneously raising South Korean flags they had prepared in advance and singing the Korean lyrics in unison. The group addressed the crowd to acknowledge the coordinated display. "We are having the best moment of our lives right now," BTS said. "We were truly moved by the event you showed us. We will remember every single moment. We want to say thank you and promise to meet again." BTS will continue their tour with four concerts at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on the 23rd, 24th, 27th, and 28th. The group is also scheduled to attend the American Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 5 p.m. on the 25th. 2026-05-22 15:02:06