Animation pioneer Nelson Shin, VFX leader Daniel Son to lead jury at WAIFF Seoul 2026 SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 (WAIFF Seoul 2026) has appointed animation pioneer Nelson Shin as a jury member and named Daniel Son, founder and chief executive of visual effects studio Westworld, as president of the jury, reinforcing Korea’s growing role in shaping the future of AI-driven filmmaking. The appointments bring together two figures representing different generations of global visual storytelling — from the foundations of modern animation to today’s large-scale, AI-enabled production ecosystem. Shin, a legendary animator and producer, began his career in the late 1950s and helped create Korea’s earliest animated television commercials before moving to the United States in 1971. He later joined DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, contributing to iconic franchises such as Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In 1974, Shin played a pivotal role in developing the original lightsaber effects for Star Wars, helping define the visual language of modern science fiction through animation-based techniques. He later became a senior producer at Marvel Productions, overseeing animation for The Transformers and other major titles. After returning to Korea in 1985, Shin founded AKOM Production, which grew into one of the world’s leading animation studios and helped establish animation as a major export industry for the country. Under his leadership, AKOM became a key production partner for The Simpsons, the longest-running television series in history, as well as numerous Emmy Award–winning animated programs. At WAIFF Seoul 2026, Shin will contribute to jury deliberations with a focus on creative integrity, professional standards and responsible innovation, drawing on decades of experience navigating the transition from hand-drawn animation to digital and AI-assisted production. Leading the jury as president, Daniel Son represents the forefront of Korea’s visual effects industry. A first-generation Korean VFX supervisor, Son has played a foundational role in building the country’s global competitiveness in high-end visual effects since beginning his career in 1998 with The Soul Guardians. As founder and CEO of Westworld — one of Korea’s leading VFX studios and a member of the Netflix Academy — Son has supervised visual effects for more than 200 films and series. His portfolio includes Exhuma, All of Us Are Dead, Sweet Home (Season 1), The Silent Sea, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, The Battleship Island and The Age of Shadows. His work has earned major industry recognition, including Best Visual Effects at the 18th Asian Film Awards for Exhuma and the Special Award for Advanced Technology at the 52nd Grand Bell Awards for Ode to My Father. Exhuma surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korea within about a month of release and was exported to 133 countries, while Sweet Home became the first Korean series to enter Netflix’s U.S. Top 10. As president of the jury, Son will oversee the evaluation process and help shape standards for works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cinema and storytelling, with an emphasis on balancing creative freedom, technological innovation and ethical responsibility. Founded by former Apple chief operating officer Marco Landi, the World AI Film Festival positions itself as a global platform dedicated to exploring the future of cinema through artificial intelligence. The 2026 Seoul edition will be held as an official program commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, underscoring its cultural and institutional significance. WAIFF Seoul 2026 will take place on March 6–7, 2026, bringing together filmmakers, technologists, artists and industry leaders from around the world to explore the future of storytelling in the age of artificial intelligence. The festival also counts Oscar-winning director Claude Lelouch and internationally renowned actress Gong Li among its honorary members. With Nelson Shin and Daniel Son at the center of its jury leadership, WAIFF Seoul 2026 underscores Korea’s position not only as a global content powerhouse, but also as a key agenda-setter shaping the creative, ethical and industrial standards of AI-driven cinema. 2025-12-26 16:52:05

Korean, Japanese stocks and currencies hold ground on foreign buying in chip shares SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese markets held ground Friday, supported by foreign inflows into semiconductor stocks and a recovery in currencies that had been among the year’s weakest performers. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI closed at 4,129.68, up 0.5 percent, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ also edged up 0.5 percent to 919.67. Chip heavyweights led the market. Samsung Electronics surged 5.3 percent to 117,000 won ($81), while SK hynix rose 1.9 percent to 599,000 won, supported by continued strengthening in DRAM prices. Elsewhere market breadth remained weak, with decliners outnumbering advancers 643 to 246, as foreign and institutional buying was concentrated largely in semiconductor shares. LG Energy Solution fell 1.8 percent to 383,500 won, Hyundai Motor slipped 1 percent to 286,000 won, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries declined 1.4 percent to 512,000 won. KB Financial Group lost 1.2 percent to 124,600 won, while Doosan Enerbility dropped 3 percent to 73,600 won. Kia fell 1 percent to 119,800 won, and Hanwha Aerospace eased 0.9 percent to 870,000 won. Entertainment stocks moved broadly lower, with Hybe down 2.6 percent to 314,500 won, JYP Entertainment off 1.5 percent to 71,100 won, SM Entertainment sliding 3.5 percent to 124,400 won, and YG Entertainment falling 2.4 percent to 64,500 won. The Korean won strengthened amid broad strengthening of East Asian peers led by the Chinese yuan. The dollar ended Seoul session at 1,440.3 won, down 9.5 won from Wednesday. The greenback also weakened against the yen, slipping 0.65 yen to 155.74, even as the dollar index edged slightly higher to 97.68. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 held firm, up 0.5 percent at 50,662.22 as of 3:41 p.m., supported by chip-related shares. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged down 1.09 points to 3,958.53. 2025-12-26 16:23:13

OPINION: Illegal crypto operators on the rise in Korea More operators are running virtual-asset businesses without reporting to South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit, in violation of the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information, commonly known as the Specified Financial Information Act. Despite the FIU’s hard-line enforcement through ongoing monitoring, user tips and cooperation with related agencies, information encouraging use of unreported operators — including false or exaggerated claims such as guaranteed high returns — continues to spread through blogs, open chat rooms and social media. In a news release issued earlier this month, the FIU detailed the risks posed by illegal operators, common types of crypto-related illegal activity and its planned actions. It also said any virtual-asset operator not reported to the FIU is an illegal business. Specified Financial Information Act requires FIU reporting by virtual-asset businesses Under the Specified Financial Information Act, a virtual-asset business operator — including anyone seeking to operate such a business — must report to the FIU chief: information about the filer; the representative and registered executives; major shareholders; the types of activities to be conducted; information on real-name verified deposit and withdrawal accounts; the organization, staffing, IT systems and internal controls for complying with virtual-asset laws; and information on information-security management system certification (Article 7(1) and Enforcement Decree Article 10-11(1) and (2)). Under the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users, a “virtual-asset business operator” means a person who, as a business, buys, sells, exchanges, transfers, stores or manages virtual assets, or brokers, arranges or acts as an agent for those activities (Article 2(2)). The reporting duty also applies when an overseas operator does business targeting users in South Korea (Article 6(2)). If an operator violates the duty and conducts virtual-asset transactions as a business without reporting, it may face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won (Article 17(1)). FIU identifies illegal operators and notifies investigative authorities The FIU news release listed 27 virtual-asset business operators reported to the agency and confirmed that all other unreported operators are illegal under the Specified Financial Information Act. It said the FIU notified investigative authorities about 27 unreported operators, and warned that any operator not reported to the FIU may be in violation. The FIU said illegal operators are not subject to financial regulators’ management and supervision and may lack adequate anti-money laundering and user-protection systems. As a result, users who trade through illegal operators may have difficulty obtaining relief for financial losses. Common types of crypto-related illegal activity The FIU grouped recent illegal activity by unreported operators into three categories and provided examples. First, anonymous stablecoin exchanges through Telegram or open chat rooms. Promoting stablecoin trading in KakaoTalk open chat rooms and similar channels violates the Specified Financial Information Act. Second, promoting or brokering unreported operators through blogs or social media, including referrals. The FIU said providing referral links on internet blogs while promoting a specific crypto exchange — where users receive fee discounts by entering a referral code and the referrer receives a portion of fees — violates the law. Third, using currency-exchange shops to conduct “hwan-chigi,” an informal remittance scheme using virtual assets. The FIU said if a remitter sends fiat currency to an overseas accomplice, the accomplice sends an equivalent amount of stablecoins to a domestic exchange operator, and the domestic operator deposits the stablecoins, the conduct may violate the Specified Financial Information Act and the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. What virtual-asset users should know By presenting the three categories, the FIU warned that such conduct can amount to transactions with a virtual-asset business operator committing a Specified Financial Information Act violation. However, the offense applies when a “virtual-asset business operator” violates Article 7(1) by failing to report and conducts virtual-asset transactions “as a business,” meaning the threshold question is whether the party qualifies as a virtual-asset business operator. The Supreme Court has said that determining whether someone is a virtual-asset business operator conducting transactions “as a business” requires examining whether the person repeatedly and continuously conducts virtual-asset transactions for profit. It said the assessment should reasonably consider, under social norms, the purpose, type, scale, frequency, duration and manner of the transactions, in light of the amendment’s intent to bring virtual-asset operators into anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing systems. The court also held that ordinary users who repeatedly buy or exchange virtual assets only through an exchange for their own benefit are generally unlikely to be considered virtual-asset business operators absent special circumstances, while those who repeatedly conduct transactions for the convenience of an unspecified number of customers or users and receive compensation in return can, in principle, be considered operators (Supreme Court ruling dated 2024. 12. 12, 2024Do10710). Whether an operator has “business” characteristics is likely to be the key test, but users may find it hard to know that in advance. In peer-to-peer transactions, prices change in real time, making it difficult to determine whether one side obtained “compensation.” Some also argue that strict regulation may not help establish fair and transparent trading order while the operator definition remains unclear. Anyone handling or trading virtual assets should closely watch financial authorities’ policy direction and proactively review, in advance, whether FIU reporting is required. About the author: ▲ Visiting professor, Institute for Far Eastern Studies, Kyungnam University ▲ Former visiting scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center ▲ Former expert adviser, National Assembly Defense Committee ▲ Former senior expert adviser, Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee ▲ Former senior expert adviser, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee ▲ Adviser to Ajou Economy Law & P ▲ Director of the Legislation Office at Daeryuk Ajou (D&A) LLC ▲ Visiting professor, Department of Parliamentary Studies, Chung-Ang University * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI. 2025-12-26 15:50:48

KAI signs $69 million deal to upgrade Philippines' FA-50PH jets SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract with the Philippines on Friday to upgrade 11 FA-50PH fighter jets for about 93 billion won ($65 million). The deal includes aircraft performance upgrades and follow-on logistics support for jets delivered between 2015 and 2017, with work to be completed by 2029, the South Korean aircraft manufacturer said. The upgrade will strengthen the FA-50PH's ability to operate precision-guided weapons, extend its range and sustained-operations capability, and improve network-based joint-operations performance, according to KAI. A total of 23 FA-50PH aircraft, including additional jets contracted in June, are expected to contribute to the Philippine Air Force's airspace defense and modernization efforts. The upgrade reflects requirements drawn from the Philippine Air Force's operational experience and is aimed at improving aircraft performance and operational efficiency. The project reflects ongoing cooperation based on aircraft capability, stable follow-on support and long-term partnership, KAI said. The company said the program demonstrates its ability to serve as a "total solution provider," covering the full life cycle from development and production to follow-on support. Follow-on support and upgrade capabilities over an aircraft's 30- to 40-year service life are increasingly seen as key to export competitiveness, with such costs reaching two to five times the acquisition cost, KAI noted. The company has operated performance-based logistics programs for about 15 years, from the South Korean Air Force's KT/A-1 to the T-50 and Surion aircraft families, demonstrating improvements in availability and reductions in operating and maintenance costs. KAI has expanded its global support operations through Iraq's T-50IQ contractor logistics support program in 2022, a performance-based logistics contract for the Philippines' FA-50PH last year, and Indonesia's KT-1B service-life extension program this year. "This contract once again confirms the trust and cooperative relationship between the Philippine Air Force and KAI," CEO Cha Jae Byung said in a statement. "We will continue to expand our presence in the global defense market through tailored upgrades and systematic follow-on support." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 15:50:48

Seoul's presidential office returns to Cheong Wa Dae Monday SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will formerly begin work at the Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, making the end of the presidential office's temporary operation in Yongsan-gu. The official name of the president’s office will change from the Office of the President to Cheong Wa Dae on the same day. At midnight, the phoenix flag symbolizing the head of state will be lowered at the Yongsan presidential office to be raised at Cheong Wa Dae. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office on May 10, 2022, relocated the presidential office to the former Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan and opened Cheong Wa Dae to the public as a tourist site. The experiment with relocating a presidential office outside the traditional Cheong Wa Dae ended with his removal from office. On Dec. 3, 2024, Yoon declared martial law, and on Apr. 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment with a unanimous ruling by all eight justices. A snap election followed on Jun. 3. President Lee Jae Myung upon declared victor began term the following day. In Korean, Cheong Wa in Cheong Wa Dae means “blue tiles,” while dae means “building.” The name comes from the main building’s distinctive blue-tiled roof. The complex was officially renamed Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 30, 1960, during the administration of President Yun Po-sun. According to the Cheong Wa Dae website, roughly 150,000 blue tiles were used in the roof, each individually fired. Their durability is said to exceed 100 years. The current main building of Cheong Wa Dae, where the president conducts official duties and receives foreign guests, was completed on Sept. 4, 1991. Its construction followed mounting criticism that it was inappropriate for the president of the Republic of Korea to operate from the former office of the Japanese Governor-General, a remnant of the colonial era. Designed in the style of a traditional royal palace, the building was intended to symbolize state authority and represent the Republic of Korea. The president’s main office is located on the second floor. President Lee Jae Myung’s primary office is reportedly planned to be located on the third floor of Yeomin Building 1, part of the Cheong Wa Dae office complex where senior presidential aides work. According to a presidential aide, the arrangement is intended to minimize movement between the president and top staff to enhance communication efficiency. Historically, the site of Cheong Wa Dae has served multiple roles. During the Japanese colonial period, it housed the residence of the Governor-General. Under the U.S. military government, Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge used the residence as his official quarters. South Korea’s first president, Rhee Syngman, later used the same building as both his office and residence. Earlier still, during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392), the site contained a royal villa, and during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), it formed part of the rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Cheong Wa Dae has also hosted moments of modern diplomatic symbolism. In July 1993, during an official visit to South Korea, then-U.S. President Bill Clinton jogged for 15 minutes and 20 seconds along the Nokjiwon trail with then-President Kim Young-sam. 2025-12-26 14:57:58

Korean won revisits 1,430 versus dollar for the first time since Nov SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -The Korean won strengthened more than 1 percent on Friday, extending its 1.3 percent jump in the previous session on Wednesday, as the U.S. dollar broadly weakened against major East Asian currencies, including the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan. The dollar opened at 1,449.9 won after the Christmas break and slid as low as 1,429.5, marking its first dip below the 1,430 level since Nov. 4 — a move that signaled a possible shift in market positioning toward the won. Dollar-selling gathered pace on expectations that the greenback could face further downside pressure amid renewed strength in regional currencies, a trader said, cautioning that it remains unclear whether the past two sessions mark a structural turning point. The Chinese yuan has strengthened past 7 per dollar, supported by easing geopolitical tensions and a rebound in local equity markets, while the yen has remained firm since the Bank of Japan’s rate hike last week. 2025-12-26 14:45:52

Samsung to showcase unified AI vision in standalone CES 2026 exhibit SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - For the first time in its CES history, Samsung Electronics will operate a fully standalone exhibition space, breaking away from its long-established practice of presenting its products in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall. The move underscores Samsung’s push to position itself as a leader in connected AI ecosystems ahead of next year’s show. Samsung has secured a 4,628-square-meter venue at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, separate from the main CES grounds. The company said the location will allow it to present an “AI living platform” — a curated environment linking TVs, appliances, mobile devices and services through unified software and artificial intelligence. Unlike previous years, Samsung will structure the space around thematic experiences rather than product-by-product displays. The standalone format will consolidate demonstrations, technical briefings, partner meetings and a newly introduced “Samsung Tech Forum,” featuring panels on AI, devices, services and design between Jan. 5–6. A Samsung official said the decision to leave the LVCC was deliberate. “We previously showcased most of our systems in the Central Hall, but this year we wanted a larger, more private space,” the official said. “By operating a dedicated hall, visitors — whether consumers or business partners — can move seamlessly from product displays to announcement events and technology forums in one place.” Samsung said the shift reflects the need to demonstrate its AI capabilities across its entire device portfolio rather than as isolated features. The standalone venue is also intended to minimize congestion and offer guided, structured sessions. Ahead of the official CES opening, the company will host “The First Look,” an event used to preview new hardware and technologies. It will also hold two media briefings outlining its AI strategy and product roadmap. “Our goal at CES 2026 is to show how AI can blend into everyday routines through tightly connected hardware–software experiences,” said a representative. 2025-12-26 14:41:00

Homeless left outdoors in Seoul's deep freeze SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A bitter cold settled over Seoul as temperatures fell below zero, pushing the wind chill near minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Beneath Seoul Station, some homeless people lay on the floor wrapped in cardboard and thin sleeping bags, sheltering under fluorescent lights that never go out. Outside, they huddle inside fragile tents as Arctic air cuts through. The city issued its first freeze warning of the winter and activated round-the-clock monitoring, as forecasters said the cold wave would persist through the weekend. As trains came and went above ground, winter tightened its hold — quiet, relentless, and unevenly felt. 2025-12-26 14:04:50

PHOTOS: Seoul art show opens in Coex SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The 2025 Seoul Art Show, an exhibition offering a comprehensive look at the latest trends in contemporary art, opened December 24 at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and runs through December 28. Now in its 14th year, the Seoul Art Show is held annually during the Christmas season and has become a fixture of the city's year-end cultural calendar. The event serves as a barometer for the Korean art market and a primary point of contact between the public and the arts. Reflecting this role, large crowds visited the venue on the December 24 opening day and on Christmas Day, December 25. The exhibition features approximately 150 domestic and international galleries alongside several curated special programs. A special exhibition highlighting the diversity and innovation of Korean art includes works by Kim Whan-ki, Lee Jung-seob, Nam June Paik, Chun Kyung-ja, Kim Ku-lim, and Lee Ufan. Previously unreleased works by Lee Jung-seob are among the pieces on display. A second special exhibition, "60 Years of Korea-Japan Art Exchange," focuses on how artistic dialogue has fostered cultural sensitivity and reduced prejudice by offering insights into the history, tradition, and modern society of both nations. This year's show includes works by Korean artists Lee Ufan, Lee Kun-yong, Lee Jong-sang, Lee Seung-taek, and Lee Il-ho, as well as Japanese artists Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, and Kenji Takashi. "We will ensure that leading domestic and international galleries and renowned artists participate in this show to establish it as a center of the international art market," said Kim Jong-geun, co-director of the Seoul Art Show. "We intend to play a pivotal role in the growth of the Korean art market." 2025-12-26 13:53:10

Special counsel seeks 10-year jail term for ex-President Yoon over martial law case SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A special counsel team on Friday asked a Seoul court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 10 years in prison on charges including obstruction of justice and abuse of power related to his short-lived martial-law declaration in December last year. It is the first request for sentencing on the disgraced president whose term was cut short in the wake of his Dec. 3 martial-law stunt. During the final hearing of Yoon’s obstruction-of-justice trial at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 35, the prosecution team argued the former president had abused state power to block investigators, infringed on Cabinet members’ constitutional rights and attempted to conceal evidence after the lifting of martial law. The special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, sought five years in prison for allegedly obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant; three years for infringing on Cabinet members’ deliberation and voting rights, spreading false information to foreign journalists and destroying evidence linked to a secure phone; and two years for drafting a martial law proclamation after the decree had already been lifted. “This case involves a serious crime in which state institutions were effectively privatized to conceal and justify unlawful acts,” Assistant Special Counsel Park Eok-su said during closing arguments. He added that Yoon showed no remorse and instead attempted to justify his conduct, even describing efforts to detain him as “childish." Prosecutors argued that South Korea, as a democratic republic, operates on the principle that all power derives from the people, and that Yoon violated constitutional checks on presidential authority. They said his actions damaged the country’s legal order and betrayed voters who elected him, stressing the need for a heavy sentence to prevent the recurrence of abuses of power by future leaders. On the charge of obstructing arrest, the team emphasized that it was unprecedented for a president to allegedly mobilize Presidential Security Service personnel as “private soldiers” to block the execution of a warrant. The requested five-year sentence exceeds the standard sentencing guideline of one to four years for such offenses. The court has said it is likely to deliver a verdict on Jan. 16, two days before Yoon’s detention period expires. His lawyers had requested that sentencing be postponed until the conclusion of his separate insurrection trial. The article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 13:16:22