Korean government unveils plan for national AI service, major R&D expansion SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced sweeping plans on Wednesday to accelerate the nation’s artificial intelligence capabilities, pledging to launch a state-sponsored AI service and boost research and development funding by more than 4 trillion won (approximately $2.9 billion). In a policy briefing to the National Policy Planning Committee at the Government Complex in Sejong, ministry officials outlined a strategy that favors promotion over regulation, amid growing global competition in AI technology. The initiative follows a series of high-profile cybersecurity breaches, including a recent hacking incident at telecom giant SK Telecom. The ministry’s blueprint aligns with President Lee Jae-myung’s campaign promise to develop a homegrown version of ChatGPT — dubbed the “Korean GPT” — designed for universal public access. Officials set a goal for the domestic AI model to reach at least 95 percent of the performance benchmark set by top-tier global foundation models. To revive what officials described as a weakened research ecosystem, the government plans to raise R&D investment to 5 percent of overall public spending. The expanded funding will target core areas including AI, biotechnology, defense, and energy, as part of a broader push to meet the administration’s campaign pledges. Among the key challenges outlined were the expansion of AI computing infrastructure, the implementation of supporting legislation under the recently passed AI Basic Act, and the development of general-purpose AI models that can serve diverse applications. The ministry also addressed setbacks in its national AI computing center project. After a failed tender process drew no private sector bids, officials said they would ease requirements for the special-purpose corporation intended to manage the center. New tenders will be issued, or alternative models considered, by next month. In a nod to industry concerns over excessive oversight, the ministry said it is reviewing a proposal from the ruling Democratic Party that would introduce a three-year grace period before the AI Basic Act is fully enforced. The goal, officials said, is to craft "flexible, promotion-oriented" regulations that foster innovation rather than stifle it. The government is also weighing a more centralized governance structure for AI policy. Plans include strengthening the National Artificial Intelligence Committee by appointing a small cohort of private-sector experts and potentially placing the committee under direct presidential leadership. A dedicated AI policy office may be launched as early as August. 2025-06-18 15:21:14

PHOTOS: Foggy landscapes SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - Clouds and fog often conspire to form distinctive landscapes. A photographic collection showcases the unique scenery forged by mist. 2025-06-18 14:36:42

North Korean leader meets Russian security chief to 'discuss additional troop deployment' SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has held talks with Russia's top security official in Pyongyang to discuss ways to further strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Wednesday. According to KCNA, Kim met with Russia's Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu the previous day, who made his third visit to the isolated country in just three months, following his previous trip about two weeks ago. The two discussed "immediate cooperation and long-term plans" based on a mutual defense treaty signed by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Pyongyang in June last year, with Kim vowing to "unconditionally support" Moscow "within the range of the treaty between the two countries." They also apparently discussed additional deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine. North Korea reportedly plans to send about 6,000 military personnel including construction workers and deminers to rebuild damaged infrastructure, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Over 10,000 North Korean troops are estimated to have been deployed to Russia since October last year, although North Korea denied the deployment for several months before admitting it last spring. Meanwhile, the South Korean government expressed "serious concerns" over North Korea's plans to send additional troops and slave labor abroad, calling it a "clear violation of UN Security Council sanctions," and also urged Pyongyang to "immediately halt" illegal military cooperation with Moscow. 2025-06-18 14:32:30

Eco-friendly vehicles outpace gasoline cars in S. Korea for first time SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - For the first time, sales of eco-friendly vehicles have overtaken those of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in South Korea, signaling a pivotal shift in one of Asia’s most technologically advanced auto markets. According to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, sales of electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles accounted for 52 percent of domestic auto sales in May. A total of 73,511 eco-friendly units were sold, out of 141,865 vehicles overall. The surge was driven largely by hybrid vehicles, which made up nearly 71 percent of all eco-friendly vehicle sales. Hybrid sales rose to 51,974 units — a 32.8 percent increase from a year earlier — reflecting growing consumer interest in fuel-efficient vehicles that do not rely on charging infrastructure. In contrast, sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles fell sharply. ICE vehicle sales dropped 22.7 percent year-on-year, to 68,354 units. Electric vehicles also saw a significant rebound. After a period of stagnant demand, EV sales jumped 60.3 percent in May compared to the same month last year, reaching 21,445 units. The ministry attributed the recovery to a wave of new model launches across price points, including affordable domestic offerings such as the Casper EV, Musso EV, and EV4. Among imported brands, Tesla performed strongly, capturing a 4.6 percent share of the overall market and ranking third in sales. South Korea’s auto industry also saw record-breaking growth in exports of eco-friendly vehicles, which climbed 10.2 percent year-on-year to 75,184 units. Hybrid vehicles led the export increase, with 54,118 units shipped overseas — a 22 percent rise over the same period in 2024. A ministry official cited broader consumer choice, thanks to model diversification across vehicle segments, as a key factor in the rising demand for electric and hybrid vehicles. South Korea's transition reflects a wider global movement away from fossil fuel-powered cars. China surpassed 50 percent eco-friendly market share in July 2024. Germany now reports 54 percent of annual vehicle sales from eco-friendly models, while Norway remains a global leader with approximately 90 percent. 2025-06-18 13:39:57

Upcoming thriller about noise pollution set to chill moviegoers next week SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - A press preview for director Kim Soo-jin's upcoming thriller was held at a multiplex in southern Seoul on Monday, about a week ahead of its release. The stars of "Noise" including Lee Sun-bin, Kim Min-seok and Han Su-a, gathered for the event to promote the film. The film, which marks the up-and-coming director's feature-film debut, revolves around a woman who becomes the target of relentless noise complaints in her apartment complex, as she gets drawn into a mysterious and troubling case involving a neighbor who endures the same disturbances and mistakenly believes she is to blame. The film is set to hit local theaters on June 25. 2025-06-18 11:15:45

POSTECH, LG unveil breakthrough in 6G communication SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and LG Electronics have jointly announced the development of the world’s first multimodal, multitask semantic communication system — a major step toward realizing the promise of 6G. The announcement was made at the IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC 2025), held in Montreal. The technology, a product of collaboration between Professor Lee Nam-yoon's electrical engineering team at POSTECH and LG’s Chief Technology Office, represents a significant evolution in how machines process and exchange information. Traditional wireless systems, including current 4G and 5G networks, rely on the sequential transmission of raw data. By contrast, semantic communication uses artificial intelligence to understand and transmit only the most essential, contextually relevant information needed for a specific task. The newly unveiled system takes this approach a step further. While earlier semantic communication models were typically limited to single-task operations, the new framework is capable of processing and transmitting multiple types of data — including video, text, and audio — across several tasks simultaneously. The technology operates in real time and remains effective even under restricted bandwidth or congested network conditions. In practical terms, this means an autonomous vehicle, for example, might no longer need to send full video streams to identify hazards. Instead, it could transmit a simplified semantic alert — such as “pedestrian approaching” — reducing data loads and enhancing reaction speeds. Experts say the innovation could lay the foundation for AI-powered radio access networks, or AI-RAN, that are expected to play a central role in the 6G era. These systems are designed to support ultra-low latency and high-efficiency communication, with potential applications in robotics, industrial automation, and advanced mobility technologies. Officials from POSTECH and LG called the development a “foundational step” toward building the infrastructure necessary for a future in which intelligent networks will manage complex digital environments through adaptive, purpose-driven communication. 2025-06-18 10:43:47

Presidents Lee and Lula, once injured factory workers, meet for first time at G7 summit SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met for the first time on Jun. 17 (local time) in Kananaskis, Canada, on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit. What could have been a routine diplomatic meeting carried an unexpected weight, shaped by the strikingly similar lives the two men have led. Both were invited to the summit as guest leaders. Their discussion covered bilateral cooperation, but it was their shared past, rooted in poverty, labor, injury, and political survival, that gave the meeting an uncommon sense of depth. During their conversation, President Lee spoke about working in a factory as an underage boy, where a press machine crushed his left arm and left it permanently damaged. Lula, who lost his left pinky finger in a factory accident at age 19, leaned in and asked, "How old were you when that happened?" The question landed with empathy -- one laborer to another. Lee’s life story is well known in South Korea. Born in 1964 in the southeastern city of Andong, he grew up in poverty and started working young. After his family moved to Seongnam, his mother sold toilet paper in a market while Lee worked in factories, where exposure to toxic chemicals cost him his sense of smell. In his memoir, he called his childhood "horrific," recalling how his family often survived on fruit discarded by vendors. Lula’s background has similar contours. He, too, came from a poor family, took up factory work early, and became active in Brazil’s labor movement after his accident. Both men were prosecuted. Lula served time in prison before his conviction was annulled, while Lee faced multiple investigations and legal battles before and after taking office. In early 2024, Lee survived a knife attack during a site visit in Busan. Their personal hardships and the political resilience that followed gave the meeting a human dimension that rarely accompanies first summits. It may also mark the beginning of a new phase in South Korea–Brazil relations. Despite strong ties, the two countries have never signed a free trade agreement. The shared understanding between the two leaders could open the door to future trade dialogue and deeper cooperation. Lula used the meeting to extend a formal invitation to President Lee to attend the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which Brazil will host. Lee thanked him, calling climate issues "very important," and said he would try to attend if possible. As they wrapped up, Lula offered a final piece of advice: "You must not forget why the people chose you." 2025-06-18 10:18:58

Lee holds first bilateral meeting with Japanese PM in Canada SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Canada on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Tuesday. After speaking over the phone last week, they met in person for the first time since Lee took office earlier this month. Lee began the talks with ice-breaking remarks likening the two countries to neighbors sharing a "front yard," and added, "There may be differences in opinion, but both countries should overcome them to build a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship." Congratulating Lee once again on his election, Ishiba also agreed on closer cooperation and expressed hopes for "more exchanges" between Seoul and Tokyo, highlighting the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries. Lee further stressed the need for "enhanced cooperation across various fields" to address global challenges including tariff-related disputes and a new round of deadly conflict in the Middle East following Israel's surprise attack on Iran last Friday, which triggered retaliatory strikes and heightened military tensions in the region. The two leaders talked for about 30 minutes and wrapped up the meeting, reaffirming their commitment to resume shuttle diplomacy, which will involve reciprocal regular visits to each other's countries. Meanwhile, Lee is returning home later in the day, wrapping up his brief trip to Canada, where he met with leaders of nine countries and the head of the United Nations. 2025-06-18 10:03:53

Neighboring private schools in Seoul connect through exchange classes SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Primary students from two private schools in southern Seoul had a special opportunity to interact through a series of classes as part of a two-day event last week. Fourth to sixth-grade students from the British international school Dulwich College Seoul and the country's oldest Catholic school Gyeseong Elementary School, took turns visiting each other's campuses for a day. More than 180 students immersed themselves in a variety of extracurricular classes and hands-on activities designed to foster cultural awareness and promote mutual understanding. Located next to each other in Seoul's affluent Banpo-dong, south of the Han River, the two neighboring schools connected for the first time through these classes last Friday and Saturday. On the first day of the event, Dulwich students visited Gyeseong, where they rotated through classrooms dedicated to traditional Korean instruments, learning how to play janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), gayageum (zither), and haegeum (two-string fiddle). They were also given a chance to explore traditional Korean dance through samgomu (dynamic three-drum dance) and talchum (lively mask dance). "Playing three drums at the same time was more difficult than I thought, but it was really interesting," said one Dulwich student who gave samgomu a try after observing a tutorial with fascination. Another Dulwich student from India, who had a chance to play the gayageum, expressed curiosity about the unfamiliar instrument and exclaimed, "The sound was beautiful." The following day, participants from the two schools switched places, with those from Gyeseong visiting Dulwich, where they watched intercultural performances by foreign students and tasted an assortment of exotic delicacies and culinary specialties from around the world. The two-day event was part of a program run by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education since 2021 aimed at connecting schools and students, providing opportunities for interaction and cultural exchange. Jane Smith, the head of the primary school at Dulwich, said that the school has participated in the program since last year, explaining that the program is valuable for its students, who "come from around 46 countries," as it allows them to "learn about Korean culture in an immersive way" through interaction with the local community. "By exchanging with peers from the local school community, students gain insight into different cultures and learn to see the world new perspectives," she added. 2025-06-17 17:42:19

K-ART: Reimagining the Buddha's path: 'Eight Views, Eight Senses' SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - In Eight Views, Eight Senses (팔관팔감, 八觀八感), artist Jeong Ha-yul takes on one of Buddhist art's most revered visual forms, the Palsangdo, or "Eight Scenes from the Life of the Buddha." Traditionally painted in temples, these works trace eight defining moments in Siddhartha Gautama's journey, from birth to enlightenment, and to final nirvana. But for Jeong, the Palsangdo is more than a historical or religious artifact. It's a reflection of the human condition. "The Palsangdo doesn't just recount the Buddha's life. It reflects our own," Jeong said during an interview at Moowoosoo Gallery in central Seoul on June 17. "It represents the Four Noble Truths: suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path to that end. These aren't just abstract ideas. They're deeply human experiences we still live through." The exhibition reimagines each of the eight scenes using a different medium and technique. Gold pigment on black silk, soft silhouettes, layered narrative compositions, even stark ink on bare white cloth. Through these varied approaches, Jeong draws out the emotional nuance and spiritual gravity of each moment. The exhibition opened to considerable attention, much of it sparked online. "There was a lot of interest even before the exhibition started, especially on Twitter," she said. "So many people came, and I did my best to explain the meaning behind each piece to everyone who visited. I am not sure whether I successfully explained everything, but I was really happy whenever someone walked out smiling." Some works took months to complete, others more than a year. "Subjugation of Demons took about a year and three months," she said. "The next most time-consuming piece took around seven months." Despite the weight of the subject, the demon scene gave her a rare opportunity to play. "You can't really change the way the Buddha or the monks look. That's fairly fixed. But the demons? That's where I had fun," she said. "I hid in movie villains like the Joker, added demons weraing traditional Korean masks like Hahoetal and Gaksital, and scattered little references from pop culture all over the canvas." 〈Huming Bodhisattva〉 Painted in gold pigment on black silk, this piece portrays the moment from Queen Maya’s dream in which the white elephant-riding Huming Bodhisattva appears. The surreal atmosphere emphasizes the divine mystery of pre-birth and spiritual foreshadowing. 〈Birth〉 The Buddha’s first moment in Lumbini is rendered in silhouette, surrounded by the calligraphic inscription of “Cheonsang Cheonha Yu-a Dokjon (天上天下唯我獨尊),” or “Above and below heaven, I alone am honored.” A minimalist yet powerful expression of sacred emergence. 〈Departure from the Palace: Dreaming〉 This dreamlike scene captures the night Siddhartha chooses to renounce worldly life. Tucked within the inner folds of a palace maid’s robe, the depiction layers reality and dream, embodying the quiet solitude of awakening amidst slumbering illusions. 〈Leaving the Palace〉 Instead of a traditional depiction with a charioteer, Siddhartha rides alone, dressed in the attire of a Joseon Dynasty prince. The black mountain range in the distance symbolizes the Himalayas. This bold reinterpretation highlights personal will and cultural resonance. 〈Meditation〉 Rather than the gaunt figure often shown in traditional depictions, this Buddha is soft, approachable, and warmly illuminated. The reimagining invites viewers to see meditation not as ascetic suffering but as a calm, welcoming space of inner peace. 〈Subjugation of Demons〉 Inspired by the traditional version at Tongdosa Temple, this painting inserts iconic villains from modern pop culture into the crowd of demon armies. The juxtaposition adds both humor and a contemporary metaphor for personal and societal struggles. 〈First Sermon in the Deer Park〉 Painted using Geumni Chaesaek, a traditional method of mixing pure gold with animal glue on dark silk, this piece radiates quiet brilliance. It reflects the enduring glow of truth that transcends time, even in the depths of darkness. 〈Parinirvana〉 With only ink and light washes on white silk, this final piece evokes the serene stillness of the Buddha’s passing. The absence of color emphasizes the emotional clarity of grief, acceptance, and transcendence. 2025-06-17 17:18:28