Driver sentenced to five years in prison for fatal crash in central Seoul SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - A driver involved in a fatal crash in central Seoul last year was sentenced to five years in prison, as the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the lower court's ruling. The man in his late 60s, identified by his last name Cha, was charged with violating traffic laws after crashing into pedestrians near City Hall in July 2024, killing nine people and injuring five others. Investigations revealed that he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while driving in the wrong direction on a one-way, four-lane street, hitting pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. The initial court sentenced him to seven and a half years in prison, counting each death and injury as a separate crime. The appellate court, however, ruled that the crimes resulted from a single incident and reduced the sentence to five years. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:26:16

OpenAI Korea targets enterprise market as ChatGPT usage soars SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - OpenAI Korea CEO Kim Kyung-hoon said the company aims to become the best partner for South Korean businesses transitioning to artificial intelligence, highlighting the rapid expansion of ChatGPT’s global footprint. Kim made the remarks Thursday at his first press conference since taking office in September. Kim said that daily message volume has jumped from 450 million in June last year to 2.63 billion this June, making AI “a part of everyday life.” “AI adoption will become increasingly important for businesses,” Kim said. “Given South Korea’s exceptionally high use of AI in daily life, building AI-integrated work environments is essential for corporate competitiveness.” Globally, 29 percent of users turn to ChatGPT for practical advice and 24 percent for information searches. In South Korea, usage skews more toward professional tasks: 29 percent of users rely on the tool for document translation and drafting, while 21 percent use it to obtain task-specific guidance. He said that broad consumer familiarity with AI is helping accelerate enterprise-level transitions. According to OpenAI, more than 800 million people now use ChatGPT weekly, enabling companies to run rapid pilot programs and scale AI projects more quickly. Representatives from GS Engineering & Construction and LG Uplus shared case studies at the event. GS E&C has deployed ChatGPT Enterprise to employees to improve workflow efficiency, while LG Uplus will unveil its “Agentic Callbot Standard” on Dec. 16 and a more advanced “Agentic Callbot Pro” next year to enhance customer-service automation. “AI transitions often start from the bottom up,” Kim said. “ChatGPT Enterprise is the first step, as we’ve seen in the productivity gains at GS Engineering & Construction.” OpenAI technologies are now being used by more than one million companies worldwide, Kim said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:07:52

Lee to discuss AI, semiconductor cooperation with SoftBank chairman SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet with SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son to discuss cooperation in advanced high-technology sectors including artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. According to the presidential office on Thursday, their meeting is scheduled for Friday morning, with a focus on collaboration and infrastructure investment in these sectors. The meeting will also be attended by key officials including chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom, Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon. SoftBank is speeding up its AI expansion in the U.S. through its "Stargate" project, working with OpenAI and Oracle to build large-scale AI infrastructure and data centers. South Korea aims to become one of the world's "top three AI powerhouses." Lee already met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in October to discuss cooperation in the field. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 13:50:54

Samsung teases new flagship chip for Galaxy S26 series SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Thursday unveiled its upcoming mobile application processor, Exynos 2600, with a 30-second teaser video posted on its official YouTube channel. The Exynos 2600 is slated to power the next-generation Galaxy S26 series. The chip is reportedly the company’s first to be built with a cutting-edge 2-nanometer process. The teaser opens with the words, “In silence, we listened,” followed by promises that the new chip is “refined at the core” and “optimized at every level." While full technical specifications have not been revealed, early signals suggest the Exynos 2600’s neural-processing unit (NPU) and overall performance gains may position it as a serious competitor to other premium chips. The company said the Exynos 2600 will mark a significant milestone not only for Samsung’s smartphone line, but also for its semiconductor ambitions. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 13:48:45

K-beauty brand O'ngredients gains traction at home and abroad on strong skin-barrier lineup SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korean skincare brand O’ngredients is gaining momentum both domestically and overseas, backed by strong sales of its skin-barrier products and rising visibility on global e-commerce platforms. According to industry data, O’ngredients’ Skin Barrier Calming Lotion has surpassed cumulative sales of 3 million units in South Korea as of July 2025 and ranked first overall on CJ Olive Young’s online store in December 2024. The product has been one of the brand’s key drivers in the domestic market. Overseas, the brand is beginning to show early signs of traction. On Amazon US, the Skin Barrier Calming Lotion (220 milliliters) recorded sales of about 3,600 units as of November 2025, while its Skin Barrier Glow Mist entered the top 100 rankings in the lotion and face mist category within one month of its launch, according to company data. The growing international interest coincides with O’ngredients’ broader export expansion. Parent company Power Player said its founder and chief executive Kim Yu-jae recently received South Korea’s “2025 Venture Entrepreneur of the Year” award, alongside the government-backed “$5 million Export Tower,” which recognizes companies that achieve significant export milestones. The brand’s performance reflects a broader trend of K-beauty labels moving beyond trend-led marketing toward products centered on skin-barrier care and sensitive-skin solutions — a segment that is increasingly resonating with overseas consumers. O’ngredients has also expanded its offline presence, entering Costco Korea and extending distribution across major Japanese retail chains, including drugstores and specialty beauty outlets, as part of its push to strengthen its foothold in Asia. While global sales remain at an early stage compared with its domestic footprint, company data show the combination of strong repeat demand at home and improving overseas sell-through suggests the brand is positioning itself as part of the next wave of export-driven K-beauty growth. 2025-12-04 13:28:46

Asian market mostly flat early Thursday, KOSDAQ stands out SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Asian equities were mostly flat in early Thursday trading as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting in the United States. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.5 percent to 4,017.89, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ surged 9.2 percent to 934.21 as of 9:01 a.m. The secondary market’s total capitalization topped the 500-trillion-won level for the first time, buoyed by reports that the government is preparing a stimulus package aimed at smaller-cap and growth stocks. Selling by both foreign and institutional investors weighed on the main board. Foreign investors unloaded 259 billion won ($176 million) worth of shares, and institutions sold a net 107.6 billion won. Retail investors stepped in as net buyers of 362.8 billion won. Samsung Electronics slipped 0.8 percent to 103,700 won and SK hynix fell 2.5 percent to 538,500 won. Large-cap names showed mixed performance: LG Energy Solution eased 0.1 percent to 417,500 won, KB Financial declined 1 percent to 130,400 won and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries lost 0.9 percent to 529,000 won. Hyundai Motor gained 3.8 percent to 276,500 won, Doosan Enerbility rose 1.8 percent to 79,800 won and Kia added 0.3 percent to 119,000 won. Entertainment shares were weaker across the sector. HYBE slipped 0.8 percent to 293,500 won, JYP Entertainment dipped 0.2 percent to 68,500 won, SM Entertainment fell 0.4 percent to 104,000 won and YG Entertainment eased 0.2 percent to 62,800 won. U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday as fresh data pointed to cooling labor-market conditions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9 percent to 47,882.90, the S&P 500 gained 0.3 percent to 6,849.72 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2 percent to 23,454.09. Private-sector employment fell by 32,000 in November, according to ADP, sharply missing expectations for a 10,000 increase. Sentiment was dented somewhat by reports that Microsoft trimmed its revenue outlook for artificial-intelligence-related businesses. “Signs of weaker employment and easing inflation are reinforcing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut,” said Lee Sung-hoon, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities. He noted that growth shares, particularly in biosciences, typically benefit from lower interest rates, although the Korean market failed to reflect that trend at the open. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.5 percent to 50,105.72. Toyota Motor rose 0.2 percent to 3,012 yen ($19.4), Honda Motor gained 0.9 percent to 1,516 yen and Nissan Motor added 0.5 percent to 364 yen, sending the country’s automakers modestly higher. SoftBank Group advanced 3 percent to 17,175 yen, Sony Group rose 0.4 percent to 4,407 yen and Nintendo gained 0.9 percent to 12,765 yen. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.1 percent to 3,881.55, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.1 percent to 25,728.64. 2025-12-04 11:40:56

Gov't seeks talks to bring home South Koreans held in North Korea SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - South Korea is seeking talks with North Korea to bring back six South Koreans being held there, the presidential office said on Thursday. It comes just a day after the revelation was made during President Lee Jae-myung's press conference with foreign media, marking the first anniversary of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle. When asked by a reporter from NK News about the South Korean detainees in North Korea and any messages for their families here, Lee responded that he would look further into it, citing the lack of detailed information due to those cases occurring long ago. According to the presidential office, three North Korean defectors and three missionaries have been held since between 2013 and 2016 on dubious charges of espionage and other offenses. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 11:14:13

POSCO Future M to work with US firm to co-develop solid-state battery materials SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - POSCO's battery-materials unit, POSCO Future M, has signed a partnership with U.S.-based Factorial Energy to co-develop next-generation solid-state battery materials, the South Korean company said Thursday. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Nov. 25 on the sidelines of the Future Battery Forum in Berlin. Factorial Energy selected POSCO Future M as a partner after testing cathode samples from multiple global suppliers and determining that POSCO’s materials delivered superior quality and performance. The collaboration is expected to strengthen POSCO Future M’s position in the emerging solid-state battery market, with joint work centered on advanced cathode materials and silicon anodes. Solid-state batteries, which use solid electrolytes rather than liquid ones, are viewed as a breakthrough technology for electric vehicles and robotics due to enhanced safety, higher energy density and improved fast-charging capability. Factorial Energy, headquartered in Massachusetts, operates a pilot production facility in Cheonan, South Korea. POSCO Future M executive Hong Young-jun said the companies expect strong synergy between Factorial’s solid-state battery expertise and POSCO’s materials technology. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 10:39:34

OPINION: South Korean politics faces perpetual crisis as debate and compromise disappear SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - South Korea's political system is currently severely dysfunctional. Politics is meant to be the art of discussion, negotiation, and compromise. However, this essential process is missing today. The country's two major parties have normalized the dangerous practices of "deciding without discussion" and "acting without debate," neglecting their role as representatives of the people. This procedural destruction undermines public trust. The biggest issue is the absence of a functioning decision-making structure in the National Assembly. Laws are prioritized for speed over thorough debate, and party interests often outweigh public opinion. Policies hastily enacted are frequently reversed when political circumstances shift. This cycle of self-negation reflects the current reality of South Korean politics. Political parties are also to blame. They should be forums for debate, but have long lost this function. Meetings are held with predetermined conclusions, and leadership enforces positions based on "political loyalty," ignoring individual expertise and silencing representatives. This results in politicians who merely follow party directives, further weakening politics. This structure undermines policy consistency and effectiveness. Laws born from partisan power struggles are repealed with each change in administration, creating uncertainty that leaves government without direction and businesses without the ability to plan ahead. Over time, this instability erodes national competitiveness. This structure threatens the consistency and effectiveness of government policies. Laws created through power struggles between parties are repealed with each change in administration, leaving the government directionless and businesses unable to plan. Such shifts could eventually weaken national competitiveness. To normalize politics, robust debate must be restored. Without it, policies risk becoming mere political bargains, and laws turn into tools of partisan control. The current structure, where conclusions are forced upon the National Assembly, solves nothing. Politics must open its doors to diverse opinions and expand public discourse. Though slower, such a pace is a healthy sign of democracy. Strengthening internal party democracy is essential for political normalization. This requires transparent procedures, reform of unilateral decision-making, and enhancement of individual expertise and accountability. When parties become forums for debate, the National Assembly can function properly again. The problem is not confined to one faction or group. The entire political system has learned the wrong way to operate, undermining the basic order of national governance. Meanwhile, citizens suffer from political strife, policies drift, and the nation stands still. Politics is ultimately about creating legitimate outcomes through discussion, negotiation, and compromise. The harm of skipping this process must not be repeated. Politics that ignores process, abandons debate, and rejects compromise will ultimately destroy itself. What is needed now is not grand slogans but the restoration of politics' most basic functions. Ignoring this simple truth will trap South Korean politics in perpetual crisis. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI. 2025-12-04 10:34:36

December sees spike in traffic accidents SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Traffic accidents caused by slippery roads are most frequent in December, according to a study released by insurance company Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance on Thursday. The analysis of some 2,120 accidents from November 2021 to February 2024 found that 53.9 percent occurred in December, compared to 36.6 percent in January. Despite having fewer snowy or rainy days in December, the average number of accidents per day was 82.5, higher than January's 51. The study also found that some 44.9 percent of accidents happened on the day of bad weather and during the following week. In particular, over 80 percent of accidents were concentrated on rainy days. Researcher Jang Hyo-seok, who led the study, said, "The sudden drop in temperatures and snowfall or rain could reduce motorists' driving skills," and advised using public transportation on such days. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 09:56:36