Samsung screens coral reef documentary at UN Ocean Conference SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics premiered its self-produced documentary, Coral in Focus, at the United Nations Ocean Conference, marking World Oceans Day with a spotlight on marine conservation efforts. The screening, held in the coastal city of Nice, drew an audience of roughly 70 attendees, including representatives from international organizations, marine scientists, and environmental advocates. The film explores the escalating crisis facing coral reef ecosystems and highlights how Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone camera technology is being used in efforts to restore marine environments. Through a partnership with the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the U.S.-based nonprofit Seatrees, Samsung launched the Coral in Focus initiative last year to aid reef restoration in regions suffering from severe degradation. The restoration project focuses on vulnerable reef systems in Florida, Bali, and Fiji’s Viti Levu Island. In each location, local conservation groups are equipped with Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones outfitted with a specialized “Ocean Mode” camera feature — developed exclusively for the project — to capture underwater imagery critical to monitoring coral health and restoration progress. Samsung Electronics' "Coral in Focus" documentary screening at the UN Ocean Conference/ Courtesy of Samsung Electronics 2025-06-13 14:33:48

Samsung raises bet on robotics with investment in US startup SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has invested $10 million in Skild AI, a California-based robotics software company developing artificial intelligence systems for autonomous machines, as part of a broader push into the emerging field of physical AI. The investment is part of Skild AI’s $4.5 billion Series B funding round, led by Japan’s SoftBank, which contributed $100 million. Nvidia also joined the round with a $25 million stake. Several other South Korean firms, including LG, Hanwha and Mirae Asset, participated as well, each contributing between $5 million and $10 million. In total, Korean investments in Skild have now surpassed 40 billion won, or approximately $29 million. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Skild AI is developing general-purpose AI software to allow robots to perceive, reason and act autonomously in real-world settings. While the technology is still under development, it reflects growing interest in applying artificial intelligence to physical machines — from humanoid robots and self-driving vehicles to industrial automation. For Samsung, the investment underscores a broader strategic pivot toward robotics and intelligent machines. In recent years, the company has moved beyond passive investments, acquiring a significant stake in Rainbow Robotics, a Korean firm known for its humanoid platforms. Samsung has also backed Physical Intelligence, a robotics algorithm developer that recently raised $400 million at a valuation of $2.4 billion. Later this year, Samsung is expected to unveil Ballie, a compact, video-projecting home robot developed in collaboration with Google. The device is designed to showcase Samsung’s integration of AI with consumer electronics, positioning the company as a player in the next generation of smart, interactive home devices. 2025-06-13 13:37:54

Korean petrochemical firms seek lifeline through mergers as losses mount SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s beleaguered petrochemical industry is turning to consolidation as a potential lifeline, with Lotte Chemical and HD Hyundai reportedly in discussions to integrate their naphtha cracking operations. The move comes as domestic producers reel from plunging profits and stiff competition from China and the Middle East. Lotte Chemical’s operating profit plummeted nearly 64 percent in the past year, falling from 2.59 trillion won ($1.9 billion) in 2023 to 916.8 billion won in 2024. HD Hyundai’s petrochemical unit, HD Hyundai Oilbank, saw a similarly steep drop of 58.2 percent, with profits shrinking to 258 billion won over the same period. In a bid to bolster liquidity, Lotte Group has put its landmark Lotte World Tower up as collateral and divested its Pakistan subsidiary. Now, the company is said to be weighing a more radical step: merging its naphtha cracking center in the Daesan industrial complex with that of HD Hyundai Chemical, a joint venture in which HD Hyundai Oilbank holds a 60 percent stake and Lotte Chemical owns the remaining 40 percent. Sources familiar with the matter say that under the proposed plan, Lotte would transfer its ethylene production facilities — which have a capacity of 1.1 million tons annually — to HD Hyundai Chemical, consolidating operations with HD Hyundai’s existing 850,000-ton unit at the same site. HD Hyundai would provide additional investment to integrate the assets under a single operating entity. Industry analysts say the consolidation could generate meaningful cost savings by streamlining operations and reducing overhead, including labor and facility maintenance. The talks come amid broader efforts within South Korea’s petrochemical sector to restructure in the face of unprecedented external pressures. Chinese ethylene production has more than doubled in recent years, soaring from 26 million tons in 2018 to an estimated 55 million tons in 2024, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Meanwhile, producers in the Middle East have further disrupted the market, slashing production costs to a third of South Korean levels by leveraging cutting-edge crude-to-chemicals technology. Lotte and HD Hyundai are not alone in considering consolidation. Industry sources say LG Chem has also approached both companies to discuss potential collaboration or facility reassessments, though no formal agreements have been reached. The South Korean government is preparing a sweeping policy response. The ruling Democratic Party has proposed special legislation aimed at revitalizing the sector. The bill includes financial assistance for corporate restructuring, reductions in electricity rates, and exemptions from antitrust laws to facilitate cooperative ventures. 2025-06-13 11:09:16

Lee's nominee for senior post bows out over allegations SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday accepted the resignation of a key nominee who had come under fire over several allegations. Oh Kwang-soo, Lee's pick for senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, stepped down less than a week after his nomination, becoming the first top-level government official to resign since Lee took office on June 4. Amid mounting controversy over hidden real estate dealings involving his wife along with a suspicious loan taken out under a borrowed name, Oh tendered his resignation the previous day, expressing regret and embarrassment. Lee's prompt acceptance appears to be intended to prevent any disruption, given that the post is responsible for vetting high-ranking public officials and overseeing law enforcement agencies, which require strict ethics and moral integrity. Kang Yu-jung, a spokesperson for the presidential office, said in a briefing, "Lee is expected to name his successor as soon as possible." 2025-06-13 11:05:15

Trump 'remains receptive' to talks with North Korea, White House says SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump "remains receptive" to engaging in talks with North Korea, the White House said Wednesday. When asked to clarify whether North Korean diplomats had refused to accept a letter Trump sent to Kim, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing, "The president remains receptive to correspondence with Kim Jong-un, and he'd like to see the progress that was made at that summit in Singapore, which I know you covered in 2018 during his first term." Earlier, North Korea-focused media outlet NK News reported that Trump had written a personal letter intended for Kim, but North Korean diplomats at the isolated country's UN mission in New York reportedly declined to accept it. The letter was said to be part of Trump's efforts to reengage in talks with Pyongyang following his previous photo ops with Kim during his first term. Leavitt declined to elaborate further, merely saying, "As for specific correspondence, I'll leave that to the president to answer." Regarding that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said on Thursday, "The South Korean government is currently checking further details through a channel with Washington," with a ministry spokesman adding that the two countries "remain open for dialogue with the North." During his first term, Trump met with Kim three times and exchanged personal "love letters" multiple times, which often led him to brag about his "romance" with the North Korean leader. Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has made conciliatory gestures toward North Korea, referring to it as a "nuclear power," suggesting a possible shift from his predecessor's stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But Pyongyang has shown little interest in U.S. overtures so far, strengthening military ties with Russia instead. 2025-06-12 16:38:14

Korea's leading online bookstore admits possible data breach after ransomware attack SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Yes24, South Korea’s largest online bookstore, acknowledged for the first time on Thursday the possibility that customer data may have been compromised in a ransomware attack that has crippled its operations for days. In a statement posted on its official website, the company said it would individually notify customers if investigators confirm that personal data had been leaked. The announcement came one day after the Personal Information Protection Commission launched a formal investigation into the hacking attack. The company, which until now had denied any breach of user data, said in its advisory, “Yes24 has not confirmed any external leakage of customer personal information. The company, however, added, “We are informing customers of this precautionary measure to prepare for any possibility.” The attack, carried out by unidentified hackers using ransomware, knocked out both the main and backup servers of Yes24 on Monday. As of Thursday, the website remained inaccessible, and the company said it expects to restore full service by Sunday — though that timeline has already slipped past earlier projections amid ongoing technical challenges. The company also urged customers to be on alert for phishing attempts, warning them to avoid suspicious messages purporting to be from Yes24 or financial institutions, and to delete any unverified links or attachments. The incident marks one of the most disruptive cyberattacks to hit a major South Korean e-commerce platform in recent years. The Yes24 case has raised new concerns over digital security and crisis response protocols at private firms entrusted with sensitive consumer information. Amid the growing fallout, discrepancies emerged between Yes24 and a government cybersecurity agency over the company’s cooperation in the recovery effort. The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) disputed Yes24’s assertion that it was working with authorities, saying it had sent experts to the company’s headquarters twice since the onset of the attack but was denied cooperation on both occasions. 2025-06-12 16:16:47

Kakao charts new course with AI push, global ambitions Editor's Note: This article is the 22nd installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Kakao Corporation, once a scrappy start-up with a single messaging app, has grown into one of South Korea’s most powerful tech conglomerates — a digital behemoth whose services permeate nearly every aspect of daily life for millions of Koreans. Founded in 2006 by Kim Beom-su, also known as Brian Kim, the company built its vast empire on the back of KakaoTalk, the free messaging service that launched in 2010 just as smartphones became ubiquitous in South Korea. Today, the app boasts a 93 percent penetration rate among the country’s 52 million people, with some 48 million monthly active users. The company’s rapid ascent mirrored the nation’s mobile revolution. Within six months of launch, KakaoTalk surpassed one million users; by 2015, it controlled more than 90 percent of South Korea’s messaging market. That dominance laid the groundwork for a strategy of aggressive expansion into new sectors — one that transformed Kakao from a chat app into a sprawling digital ecosystem. Kakao’s growth accelerated in 2014 with its merger with the web portal Daum, a deal valued at 1.06 trillion won (about $960 million at the time), bringing media and content into its fold. In the decade since, the company has ballooned in size, growing from 26 affiliated firms in 2014 to 124 as of 2024. According to the Fair Trade Commission, Kakao’s combined assets now total 86 trillion won. Its operations span financial services via KakaoPay and KakaoBank, transportation through Kakao T — which holds a commanding 90 percent share of the country’s ride-hailing market — entertainment via Kakao Entertainment, online gaming through Kakao Games, and music streaming through Melon. In the first quarter of 2025, the company reported revenue of 1.86 trillion won and an operating profit of 105.4 billion won, reflecting the strength of its diversified business model and the seamless integration of services across its ecosystem. But Kakao’s runaway growth has not been without controversy. The company has come under increasing scrutiny from regulators and the public over allegations of monopolistic behavior, particularly in sectors traditionally served by small and midsize businesses. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol in 2023 labeled Kakao’s ride-hailing operation “monopolistic,” a statement that signaled intensifying government pressure. The scrutiny deepened in 2024 when founder Kim was arrested and indicted on charges of stock market manipulation related to Kakao’s high-profile acquisition of SM Entertainment, a leading K-pop agency. In March, Kim stepped down from his operational roles, citing a diagnosis of bladder cancer and the ongoing legal proceedings. The company is now led by CEO Shina Chung, who has vowed to usher in a new era of “governance innovation” and corporate restructuring. Kakao is also grappling with internal tensions. In June, its labor union staged the first strike in company history, citing grievances over compensation and working conditions. The labor unrest stands in stark contrast to the company’s robust financials, and suggests deeper dissatisfaction within its ranks. Globally, Kakao has seen more modest success. Its international efforts have focused primarily on Asia, with its webtoon platform Piccoma gaining popularity in Japan, where it has maintained the top spot in the lucrative digital manga market. The company has also expanded content offerings in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, while KakaoPay now operates in about 50 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Kakao’s future ambitions are increasingly tied to artificial intelligence. In 2025, the company announced a strategic alliance with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT into its services. Among its newest offerings is Kanana, a “hyper-personalized” AI companion service now in beta testing. During its recent earnings call, Kakao previewed upcoming AI integrations, including “AI Mate Shopping” and “AI Mate Local,” which will tie into its e-commerce and mapping platforms. While the company teased further collaborations with OpenAI, it said it was “too early" to discuss business models. Kakao now faces a delicate balancing act: maintaining its dominant position at home while pursuing growth abroad, all under the watchful eye of regulators and amid internal and legal upheaval. How it navigates this moment — particularly its transition beyond Kim’s leadership, resolution of labor disputes, and execution of its AI vision — may well determine whether it remains South Korea’s leading tech champion or becomes a cautionary tale of unchecked expansion.​​​​​​​ 2025-06-12 15:55:56

Kim Jong-un sends message to Putin to coincide with first anniversary of military pact with Russia SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin as Moscow marked "Russia Day," state media reported on Thursday. The Russian national holiday, which celebrates the 1990 declaration of the country's sovereignty during the Soviet era, is observed annually on June 12. In the message reportedly delivered the previous day by North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol, Kim called Putin his "dearest comrade" and praised the bilateral ties between the two countries as a "genuine relationship between comrades-in-arms and between allies," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The friendship between Pyongyang and Moscow has been "further cemented" through the comradeship "the two countries have forged at the cost of their blood," Kim was quoted as saying. He also added his country would "always stand with" Moscow. After several months of silence, Pyongyang earlier this year admitted for the first time that it had dispatched troops to Russia to support its prolonged war in Ukraine, following the two countries' signing of a mutual defense treaty during Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June last year. The message was delivered just a week ahead of the first anniversary of the treaty. Meanwhile, railway services linking Pyongyang to Moscow and Khabarovsk, which were suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, are scheduled to resume next week, fueling speculation that Kim could visit the Kremlin sometime later this year. Kim traveled by train to meet Putin in Vladivostok in 2019 and again to Russia's main spaceport Vostochny Cosmodrome in 2023, although he does not appear to have inherited his father's morbid fear of flying. 2025-06-12 15:50:25

S. Korea and Viet Nam agree to expand cooperation in rail and nuclear energy SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone conversation with Vietnamese President Lương Cường on Thursday, reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation. The 25-minute call, which began at 9:30 a.m., opened with President Cường congratulating Lee and expressing hope for meaningful progress during his term. "I hope President Lee achieves many accomplishments during his presidency," Cường said, according to South Korea's presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Lee responded by highlighting the remarkable progress the two countries have made since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. "I look forward to working closely with President Cường to further develop our comprehensive strategic partnership," he said. The two leaders agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in key areas, including high-speed rail and nuclear power. Lee also asked the Vietnamese government to support South Korean companies operating in the country, and Cường responded positively. President Cường extended an invitation for Lee to visit Viet Nam, and Lee welcomed the offer, expressing hope to hold in-depth discussions on advancing bilateral ties. He also proposed further high-level exchanges through opportunities such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. 2025-06-12 15:43:59

PHOTOS: A season of new life in the wild SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - For the natural world, spring ushers in a period of profound renewal, marking the birth of countless fragile lives. From hidden dens to sun-dappled nests, this season witnesses the arrival of a new generation. We've gathered a collection of images showcasing these freshly arrived animal offspring. 2025-06-12 15:07:41