Nokia promotes AI-powered networks as crucial to Korea's tech future SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia unveiled its latest suite of AI-powered networking technologies in Seoul, Wednesday, positioning robust network infrastructure — not just graphics processing units — as the true backbone of next-generation artificial intelligence systems. The company showcased its 25G passive optical network (PON) and Ethernet-PON (E-PON) technologies, which promise faster, more scalable internet speeds without the need to replace existing fiber-optic infrastructure — a practical appeal for operators facing mounting data demands. While lauding the South Korean government’s focus on acquiring high-performance GPUs, Nokia Korea’s Chief Technology Officer James Han emphasized that AI innovation cannot thrive without a network capable of handling the vast quantities of data GPUs generate. “The transmission of GPU-processed data is only as strong as the networks that carry it,” Han said, underscoring the importance of end-to-end system performance in AI deployments. President Lee Jae Myung has made AI sovereignty a central plank of his administration’s agenda, pledging to acquire more than 50,000 GPUs and expand domestic data center capacity. His government has also appointed high-profile AI experts to public office, reinforcing South Korea’s ambition to lead in global AI development. “Building an AI ecosystem is key to next-generation digital innovation, and Nokia is delivering on that promise by embedding AI into real-world networks,” said Kevin Ahn, CEO of Nokia Korea. He added that true innovation lies not only in compute capacity but also in minimizing network latency and increasing throughput — both essential to real-time AI applications. Nokia also unveiled its vision for AI-integrated radio access networks, arguing that the convergence of AI and telecom will define the approaching 6G era. With international competition intensifying around sovereign AI capabilities and next-generation mobile standards, Nokia is positioning itself as a key partner in South Korea’s 6G R&D initiatives. The company said it remains committed to helping the country develop the foundational infrastructure needed to maintain its edge in digital innovation. “The real bottleneck in AI is no longer just processing power,” said Han. “It’s how fast and reliably you can move the data.” 2025-07-02 16:38:48

Shilla Duty Free, Paradise City partner to attract foreign tourists SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - Shilla Duty Free has joined forces with Paradise City, a major integrated resort and casino complex, to launch a collaborative marketing campaign aimed at boosting foreign tourist traffic, the companies announced Wednesday. The agreement outlines a strategic partnership that will combine the two companies’ strengths in duty-free retail and hospitality to enhance services for international visitors. As part of the arrangement, Shilla Duty Free will offer exclusive promotions tied to Paradise City experiences, while Paradise City will provide access to Shilla Duty Free benefits for foreign tourists visiting its resort. The initiative includes a series of perks for Paradise Casino members, who will be eligible for upgraded Shilla Duty Free memberships, prepaid cards redeemable in stores, and discount vouchers. Depending on casino membership status, benefits will extend up to Shilla’s highest-tier “black” membership. 2025-07-02 16:30:47

Musinsa to sell fashion, beauty products targeting young consumers at GS25 stores SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korean fashion platform Musinsa is expanding its collaboration with GS25, one of the country’s largest convenience store chains, introducing a new lineup of summer apparel and debuting its first beauty products at retail locations nationwide, the company announced Wednesday. The partnership extension includes five new items from the Musinsa Standard Express collection — the company’s casual sub-label tailored for retail distribution — and marks the launch of Little Whizzy, a new beauty line under Musinsa’s youth-focused cosmetics brand Whizzy. Musinsa said it will roll out two new Cool Standard T-shirts, along with three styles of summer shorts — nylon banding, basketball sweat, and boxer-fit — designed to emphasize comfort and breathability during Korea’s hot season. The latest collection will be available at 5,000 GS25 stores beginning in July, expanding from the 3,000 locations that carried the initial March release. Purchasers will also be eligible to receive randomly issued discount coupons, some offering up to 90 percent off. The collaboration is now moving beyond fashion with the debut of Little Whizzy, a compact beauty line priced at 3,000 won (approximately $2.15) per item. The launch includes seven lip and eyeshadow products, such as “Bouncy Gloss” tints designed for vivid color and high shine, and pocket-sized two-tone eyeshadow duos intended for everyday portability — a feature designed to resonate with younger, on-the-go consumers. Musinsa, best known for its online streetwear and fashion marketplace, has been increasingly exploring offline and cross-sector strategies to engage younger audiences. 2025-07-02 16:24:36

Hybe names new heads for Americas and APAC as global push accelerates SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, has appointed Isaac Lee as CEO and Chairman of Hybe America, expanding his current leadership role over Latin America to include the entire Western Hemisphere. The move reflects Hybe's broader push to streamline global operations and build stronger local networks in key music markets. The entertainment powerhouse that nurtured top K-pop acts such as BTS and TXT said Wednesday that Lee, who has served as Chairman of Hybe Latin America since November 2023, will also lead its North American business. He retains his role at the Latin American unit, taking full charge of both regions. Originally from Colombia, Lee is a veteran media executive who previously served as Chief Content Officer for Univision Communications and Televisa, two of the largest Spanish-language broadcasters. He also founded Exile Content, a global media company. His appointment to Hybe America comes just eight months after his recruitment as the first chairman of Hybe Latin America. Hybe America operates several major labels, including Big Machine Label Group, Quality Control Media Holdings, and HYBE x Geffen Records. Its artist roster spans multiple genres and includes names such as Justin Moore, Lil Baby, and Katseye, the K-pop girl group created with Geffen. "CEO Isaac Lee, with his proven creative vision and deep local network, is expected to expand the influence of Hybe artists across the Americas," the company said in a statement. Scooter Braun, who led Hybe America after the 2021 acquisition of Ithaca Holdings, has stepped down from the CEO role. He will remain on the board as a senior advisor. Braun has been widely credited for helping Hybe establish a foothold in the U.S. market. Hybe also announced a leadership reshuffle in its Asia-Pacific music division. Yoo Dong-joo, formerly an executive at Kolon FnC, was named as the new head of Hybe Music Group APAC. Yoo has experience in both corporate strategy and fashion branding, having worked at Hyundai Motor Company and later launching and selling the sustainable fashion brand K.O.A. He also has a background in international development with the United Nations. Hybe said Yoo is expected to contribute to the expansion of its impact-driven business approach in Asia and beyond. Shin Young-jae, who previously led the APAC division, will now oversee a separate project focused on enhancing Hybe’s multi-home and multi-genre strategy. 2025-07-02 16:24:15

Hanwha Ocean to build Korea's next-generation icebreaking research vessel SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a significant step in expanding its polar research capabilities with the selection of Hanwha Ocean as the preferred bidder to construct the country’s next-generation icebreaking research vessel. The vessel, to be built under the supervision of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is scheduled for delivery by December 2029. The new ship will more than double the capacity of the country’s first and only existing icebreaker, the Araon, launched in 2009. At 16,560 gross tons, the vessel will feature a Polar Class 3 hull capable of breaking through 1.5 meters of ice while operating in temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius. It is designed to function both forward and backward in heavy ice, allowing for greater flexibility in extreme conditions. Equipped with a dual-fuel LNG-electric propulsion system, the vessel will also adhere to tightening global emissions regulations. Its onboard amenities — including upgraded living quarters, lounges, and dining areas — are being designed to near cruise-ship standards to accommodate researchers during prolonged deployments in remote polar regions. “This next-generation platform is a complete departure from Araon,” a Hanwha Ocean spokesperson said. “It is designed as an entirely new scientific base at sea, optimized for future challenges in polar research and climate studies.” Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, brings extensive experience to the project. Since 2008, the company has focused on developing icebreaking capabilities, anticipating the future strategic importance of Arctic shipping lanes. It holds the global record for icebreaking LNG carriers built — 21 in total — with major construction peaks in 2014 and 2020. 2025-07-02 15:50:00

TRAVEL: The royal pines of Samcheok — A legacy etched in wood SAMCHEOK, July 02 (AJP) - In the mountainous reaches of Samcheok, Gangwon Province, lies Jungyongmyo, the tomb of General Yangmu, the father of King Mokjo and a fifth-generation ancestor of Yi Seong-gye, the visionary who founded the Joseon Dynasty. Surrounding this sacred ground is a remarkable forest of Geumgang pine trees, a distinctive species deeply woven into the fabric of Korean history and culture. This dense cluster boasts approximately 140,000 pine trees, many of them towering centenarians, aged between 100 and 120 years. What sets the Geumgang pine apart from its more common relatives is its unwavering upright growth. Unlike other pines that often exhibit bends or twists, these trees near Jungyongmyo ascend toward the heavens with remarkable straightness, their trunks reaching skyward in an almost disciplined formation. While pine trees broadly characterize Korea's diverse forests, distributed across its myriad mountains, the Geumgang pine is an anomaly. The bark, a thin and reddish sheath in its youth, matures to crack into a pattern reminiscent of a tortoise's shell. Younger, more vibrant specimens display a particularly striking crimson hue on their main trunks. Some of the most majestic Geumgang pines soar to approximately 35 meters, rivaling the height of a 10-story building. The inherent qualities of the Geumgang pine — its fine grain, exceptional hardness, and remarkable resistance to warping, cracking, and decay — made it the material of choice for royal construction during the Joseon Dynasty. Exclusively indigenous to Korea and found predominantly in the country's eastern areas, these trees were also integral to the creation of the Jaegung, the coffins reserved for kings and queens. Given the demand for aged trees for such sacred purposes, the Joseon court took the extraordinary step of designating specific mountains where Geumgang pines grew, placing them under stringent royal management. A historical stele in Sogwang-ri, Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, stands as a testament to this ancient policy. In a practice that underscored their reverence for these natural giants, ancient Koreans observed elaborate rituals before felling an old Geumgang pine. The act of logging would commence with a resonant cry of "Eomyeongiyo!," which means "This is by royal command," repeated thrice. This invocation was a plea to the mountain spirit, seeking understanding and permission for an act undertaken at the king's behest. The historical significance of the Geumgang pine continued into modern times. In 2008, twenty trees from the very cluster near Jungyongmyo were meticulously selected and used in the extensive restoration of Sungnyemun in Seoul, which had been tragically consumed by fire in February of that year. Along the serene path leading to Jungyongmyo, visitors encounter the "Miinsong," or "beautiful pine tree." This particular specimen gained renown for its symbolic wedding to the Jeongipumsong, another celebrated pine located in Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong Province. At the time of this ceremonial union in 2001, the Miinsong was 95 years old, stood 32 meters tall, and measured 2.1 meters in circumference at breast height. Its genetic superiority ensures its continued role in propagating high-quality successor trees. To walk through a forest teeming with Geumgang pines is to enter a realm that evokes both mystery and awe. Their singular appearance and profound historical connection distinguish them entirely, offering a unique and compelling experience of Korea's natural heritage. Jungyongmyo/ AJP Cho Bo-hee 2025-07-02 15:43:58

FBI on hunt for disguised North Korean IT workers in crypto theft scheme SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - U.S. federal investigators have been searching for four North Koreans allegedly involved in an IT scheme to steal cryptocurrency from blockchain firms and launder the illicit proceeds of their thefts. According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), they were placed on a wanted list on Tuesday with a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to their capture. "Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam Il are wanted for their alleged involvement with a scheme to steal virtual currency from two companies, valued at over $900,000 at the time of the theft, and to launder the proceeds of those thefts in 2022," it said, adding that they "speak English and Korean and have ties to the United Arab Emirates and Laos." The U.S. Department of Justice also indicted them the previous day, accusing them of using "fake and stolen personal identities to conceal their North Korean nationality, pose as remote IT workers, and exploit their victims' trust to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars." Such schemes "target and steal from U.S. companies and are designed to evade sanctions and fund the North Korean regime's illicit programs, including its weapons programs," it added. North Korea-linked hackers are believed to have stolen more than $1.34 billion in cryptocurrency through dozens of separate scams last year alone, according to a report by U.S.-based blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. 2025-07-02 14:25:57

Inflation hits five-month high in South Korea as food prices climb SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer inflation edged higher in June, returning to the 2 percent range after a brief dip, as rising food and seafood prices fueled by warming ocean temperatures drove costs upward, government data showed Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.2 percent year-on-year, up from 1.9 percent in May, according to Statistics Korea. The index reached 116.31, based on 2020 prices set at 100 — the fastest rate of inflation since January. Processed food prices led the acceleration, jumping 4.6 percent from a year earlier, the highest since November 2023. The category alone contributed 0.39 percentage points to headline inflation. Among the standouts: bread rose 6.4 percent, coffee surged 12.4 percent, and ham and bacon were up 8.1 percent. Instant noodles — the subject of political scrutiny after recent presidential comments — climbed 6.9 percent, the steepest rise since September last year. Seafood prices also spiked, rising 7.4 percent year-on-year, the sharpest increase since March 2023. Mackerel soared 16.1 percent, croaker rose 10.6 percent, and squid gained 6.3 percent — trends attributed in part to changing ocean conditions driven by climate change. The Ministry of Economy and Finance reiterated its commitment to managing price pressures, pointing to heightened weather-related risks and volatile international energy markets. Officials said they would continue discount programs for agricultural and fishery goods and maintain tariff quotas on key food imports. As part of a broader 46 billion won price stabilization package announced last month, the government has expanded summer cabbage reserves from 23,000 tons to 36,000 tons and will introduce new quota tariffs covering 10,000 tons of mackerel between July and December. 2025-07-02 14:24:54

US set to impose new tariffs on Korean goods as steel, automobile exports stumble SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports declined in the first half of 2025, as mounting U.S. tariffs on key goods — including steel and automobiles — weighed heavily on trade, with additional duties of up to 15 percent set to take effect next week. According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, exports fell 0.03 percent year-on-year to $334.7 billion from January to June. While the drop appears slight, officials say the underlying trends are alarming, especially with heightened trade tensions expected to escalate further when a new round of U.S. tariffs begins July 8. Exports to the United States fell 3.7 percent during the period, marking the first half-year decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Steel shipments to the U.S. tumbled 11.2 percent after the Trump administration raised tariffs from 25 percent in March to 50 percent by June. Auto exports were hit even harder, plunging 16.8 percent following the imposition of a 25 percent duty on Korean-made vehicles in April. General machinery exports dropped 16.9 percent amid sluggish investment in American industrial facilities. “The tariff shocks are now showing up clearly in the numbers,” a senior trade ministry official said. “And the next wave could be even more disruptive.” The looming tariffs — authorized under an executive order signed in March — will target a broad array of Korean goods not previously subject to levies. The U.S. granted a 90-day reprieve in April after financial markets reacted sharply to the initial announcement, but the White House has indicated it will allow the new tariffs to proceed starting next Monday. The trade pressures come at a time of broader global uncertainty, with Korea’s exports to China also falling 4.6 percent and to Japan by 3.8 percent in the first half. While steel and autos bore the brunt of the current tariff regime, one notable outlier has been the semiconductor sector. Exports of chips to the U.S. surged 14.7 percent year-on-year to $73.3 billion, driven in part by stockpiling ahead of possible sanctions. Semiconductors accounted for 22 percent of Korea’s total exports, hitting a record monthly high of $15 billion in June. South Korea and the U.S. held detailed negotiations in Washington from June 22 to 27, but failed to reach a breakthrough. While the U.S. pushed for changes to Korean regulations — including the 30-month age limit on imported beef and restrictions on genetically modified products — Seoul argued that the new tariffs violate existing free trade agreements and could undermine decades of bilateral economic cooperation. Forecasts for the rest of the year remain gloomy. The Korea International Trade Association projects exports will fall 3.8 percent in the second half, bringing the full-year total to $668.5 billion, down 2.2 percent from 2024. The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade offered a similar outlook of $670.6 billion, a 1.9 percent decline. 2025-07-02 14:16:20

HD Hyundai to merge key construction units SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - HD Hyundai has unveiled plans to merge two of its major subsidiaries — HD Hyundai Construction Equipment and HD Hyundai Infracore — into a single, unified entity tentatively named HD Construction Equipment. The boards of both companies approved the merger plan in meetings held on July 1. The new company is expected to be officially launched on Jan. 1, 2026, pending regulatory approvals and a shareholder vote. Once combined, the company is projected to generate annual revenues of around 8 trillion won, or approximately $5.8 billion, positioning it as a formidable player in the global construction equipment market. The move comes as manufacturers worldwide face growing economic headwinds and fierce competition in the heavy machinery sector. HD Hyundai said the restructuring is intended to sharpen the company's response to shifting market dynamics, accelerate innovation, and enhance operational efficiency through greater scale. 2025-07-02 13:37:15