Coming-of-age indie film continues impressive run at box office SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Low-budget film "The World of Love" directed by Yoon Ga-eun has attracted over 60,000 viewers since its release late last month. The impressive feat for an independent film came after positive word of mouth boosted its popularity, with the 119-minute film still drawing hordes of moviegoers in its second week since its release on Oct. 22. In particular, it continues to draw viewers despite being shown on fewer screens, becoming the only film in the top 10 at the box office to maintain a double-digit seat occupancy rate for five consecutive days. "The World of Love," which earned critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, revolves around a teenage girl who becomes isolated and ostracized after refusing to participate in a school-wide petition. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 10:54:57

Hyundai Motor to cooperate with Singapore for development of hydrogen, low-carbon technologies SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore’s Economic Development Board to cooperate on the development of hydrogen and low-carbon technologies. Under the agreement, Hyundai will use its experience in fuel cell and hydrogen infrastructure to help Singapore identify and develop opportunities in hydrogen-based, low-carbon technologies. The EDB, a government agency under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, will support Hyundai’s efforts to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in the city-state. Hyundai said it plans to expand its hydrogen business in Singapore, focusing on applications such as power generation and long-distance hydrogen transport. The company also intends to work with local partners to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles, helping raise public awareness of cleaner energy alternatives and sustainable mobility. “This collaboration aligns with Singapore’s commitment to a low-carbon economy,” said Jingxin Zheng, director of mobility at the EDB. Park Jae-ha, who oversees Hyundai’s global hydrogen business, said government backing would be crucial to establishing the foundations of a hydrogen economy. “Through this partnership with EDB, we hope to develop policies and practical models that can accelerate hydrogen adoption,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 10:36:08

HD Hyundai Heavy to develop submarines for Peruvian Navy SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a letter of intent with Peru’s state-run SIMA shipyard to jointly develop a new class of submarines for the Peruvian Navy, in what could become one of its most significant defense export ventures in Latin America. The agreement, announced Monday, builds on a series of accords between the two countries over the past year. It follows a memorandum of understanding signed at the APEC summit in Peru last November and a memorandum of agreement reached during the SITDEF defense exhibition in April. The letter of intent, timed to coincide with the APEC 2025 in Gyeongju, lays the groundwork for a final contract on submarine development and construction. At the signing ceremony were Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Teresa Mera, Peru’s minister of trade and tourism, and Adm. Bravo de Rueda, commander of the Peruvian Navy. Under the agreement, the two companies will discuss cooperation in design, production, and technology transfer, as well as broader industrial partnerships. The aim is to conclude a formal development contract later this year, with Peruvian engineers working alongside HD Hyundai teams at the company’s Ulsan shipyard to design submarines tailored to Peru’s naval requirements. The deal builds on an existing collaboration: HD Hyundai and SIMA are already constructing four naval vessels, including frigates and patrol ships, part of a broader effort to modernize Peru’s maritime capabilities. The partnership also includes training programs intended to bolster Peru’s shipbuilding workforce and expand local production capacity. “The joint construction of four surface vessels has strengthened Peru’s shipbuilding industry and deepened bilateral cooperation,” Joo said in a statement. “This submarine project will take that partnership to the next level, enhancing the Peruvian Navy’s operational capabilities.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 10:17:56

CJ Olive Young, riding K-beauty wave, becomes must-visit stop for foreign tourists SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - At the Olive Young flagship store in Myeongdong, the aisles are crowded not just with locals but with visitors from Tokyo, Bangkok and Los Angeles, filling baskets with sheet masks, toners and serums. What began as a domestic health and beauty chain has quietly become one of South Korea’s most popular tourist destinations — and a symbol of how K-beauty has gone global. From Seoul’s bustling shopping districts of Myeongdong, Hongdae and Gangnam to stores in Busan and Jeju, CJ Olive Young has emerged as a key stop for international travelers. The influx has buoyed both in-store and online sales, reflecting the powerful pull of Korean skincare and cosmetics abroad. Industry data show that from January to September, Olive Young’s offline foreign sales jumped more than 50 percent from a year earlier. Foreign purchases, which accounted for single digits in early 2023, climbed to 26.4 percent this year, surpassing 30 percent in the second quarter alone. According to data from the Korea Tourism Data Lab, roughly 7.2 million people visited South Korea between January and May, and about 5.96 million — or 80 percent — shopped at Olive Young. The brand’s international reach has even found its way into diplomatic circles. During the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen browsing the shelves of an Olive Young branch, later posting her haul of 13 skincare products on Instagram. Last year, the wives of Los Angeles Dodgers players shared their own visits online, helping to amplify Olive Young’s global profile. Much of the retailer’s success lies in its deliberate courting of foreign shoppers. Olive Young has designated over 110 stores nationwide as “global tourist zones,” equipped with multilingual staff and signage in English, Japanese and Chinese. Product displays highlight bestsellers favored by foreign customers, while promotions are tailored to shopping behaviors by region. The company’s global e-commerce platform, launched in 2019, has further extended its reach. Many travelers who discover Olive Young in Korea continue to shop from their home countries. From January to August, sales rose 230 percent in Britain and 140 percent in Japan, according to company figures. “K-beauty is no longer just a trend — it’s becoming a lifestyle,” an Olive Young spokesperson said. “As more travelers experience our products firsthand, they’re helping expand Korea’s beauty culture worldwide.” During the APEC Summit, Olive Young presented curated K-beauty gift packages to world leaders, featuring 17 products spanning skincare, makeup and personal care. The gesture symbolized both national pride and the growing cultural weight of Korean brands. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 10:02:32

Drunk driver arrested after hitting Japanese tourists in Seoul SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Two pedestrians were hit by a drunk driver in central Seoul on Sunday, according to police. They have been identified as a Japanese tourist and her daughter. A man in his 30s was arrested for drunk driving after allegedly driving onto the sidewalk and hitting them as they crossed the street at around 10 p.m. His blood alcohol level was high enough to have his license immediately revoked. The mother, in her 50s, was taken to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest and later died, while her daughter, in her 30s, sustained minor injuries. Police are investigating the exact cause of the accident after arresting the driver at the scene. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 09:49:02

Asian Culture Calendar SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korea Nov. 6 - 8 Jeju Olle Walking Festival Sep. 26 - Nov. 8 Daegu International Opera Festival Japan Nov. 1 - 10 Gion Odori Nov. 1 - 3 Meiji Shrine Autumn Grand Festival Nov. 9 Arashiyama Momiji Festival Nov. 1 - 10 Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival Nov. 1 -4 SAKANA & JAPAN Festival Thailand Nov. 5 - 6 Loy Krathong Festival Nov. 5 - 6 Yi Peng Lantern Festival Nov. 21 - 23 Surin Elephant Round-up Nov. 28 - 29 Pattaya International Fireworks Festival Taiwan Nov. 3 Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon Hong Kong Nov. 6 - 12 India by the Bay Nov. 6 - 9 Freespace Jazz Fest 2025-11-03 09:21:21

Season's first cold wave advisory issued in Seoul SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Morning lows in Seoul fell below 1 degree Celsius on Monday, prompting the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to issue the season's first cold wave advisory for the capital and nearby areas the previous day. Such an advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to drop by more than 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, or at least 3 degrees below the seasonal average, or when the morning low is forecast to remain at or below -12 degrees for two or more consecutive days. According to the KMA, morning lows were 0.9 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 1.0 degree in Incheon, and -0.1 degree in Suwon. The KMA said cold air from the north caused morning temperatures to drop by 5 to 10 degrees from the previous day. "Daytime temperatures will recover to 15 to 20 degrees in midweek, returning to the seasonal average," said a KMA official. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 09:20:11

OPINION: As technology advances, can wisdom keep up? SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Human history can be read as the story of technology — a long march from the roar of engines to the quiet hum of algorithms. Each invention begins as a spark of imagination, becomes the engine of industry, and ultimately reshapes the fabric of civilization. From steam to silicon to synthetic intelligence, this evolution has not only transformed economies but also the meaning of being human. The progression of technology tends to follow three distinct stages. The first is the technological stage, the moment of invention — often driven by necessity, curiosity or conflict. The second is the industrial stage, when innovation meets production, and technology becomes widely available. The final stage is civilization, when it seeps into daily life, alters social values and redefines relationships. In the mechanical age, these stages unfolded over decades. Karl Benz’s automobile, first built in 1886, dazzled as a feat of engineering, but it was Henry Ford’s Model T in 1908 that brought cars to the masses. By the 1950s, with highways stretching across nations, the automobile had come to symbolize freedom and modernity. What began as an invention became an industry within two decades — and a defining element of civilization within four. Computing advanced more rapidly. The ENIAC, born in 1945 out of wartime necessity, marked the birth of electronic computation. By the 1950s, IBM had commercialized the machine; by the 1970s, computers were indispensable to business and government. The personal computing revolution — from the Altair 8800 in 1975 to the IBM PC in 1981 — brought the digital world into homes. Laptops in the 1980s and mobile computing in the 2000s collapsed the boundaries between work, home, and everywhere in between. The internet’s rise was even more explosive. ARPANET, launched in 1969, was a tool of defense. The World Wide Web, created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991, transformed it into a public utility. By the 2000s, social media had woven it into the social fabric — for better and worse — turning connection into currency. Smartphones and platforms like YouTube illustrate how swiftly innovation now races through its life cycle. IBM’s Simon, introduced in 1992, was the first smartphone, but Apple’s iPhone in 2007 turned it into a global necessity. Within a decade, it redefined communication, commerce and culture — giving rise to what some call phono sapiens. YouTube, founded in 2005 and bought by Google a year later, industrialized almost instantly, spawning a new creative economy and an era of digital celebrity. Artificial intelligence, the newest frontier, is still in motion. Conceived in 1956, AI endured long periods of disillusionment before deep learning in the 2010s pushed it into the industrial age. By the 2020s, with tools like ChatGPT, it had entered everyday life. Yet as AI augments creativity and efficiency, it also stirs anxiety about bias, surveillance and the future of work. Across these revolutions, one truth endures: no technology becomes civilization without social acceptance. Progress depends as much on human desire as on technical achievement. Each wave of innovation delivers both liberation and loss — expanding possibilities while unsettling old orders. The next wave may arrive faster than we expect. Quantum computing could industrialize by the 2030s. Virtual and augmented reality may redefine education and experience. Advances in biotechnology may extend lifespans, forcing new ethical reckonings. And if general artificial intelligence emerges, it could transform not only industry but the human condition itself. As technology converges toward a post-human era, we face an ancient question in modern form: Can wisdom keep pace with power? The journey of technology continues, but its destination remains ours to decide. To preserve our humanity in the age of machines, we must look backward as much as forward — learning from each revolution not just how to build, but how to be. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 08:28:09

S. Korea, Singapore form strategic partnership to boost defense and trade ties SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed on Sunday to establish a strategic partnership and to deepen cooperation across various sectors, including defense and trade. During a joint press conference following their summit at the presidential office, Lee and Wong agreed to closely cooperate in advanced technology, strengthen security coordination, and expand people-to-people exchanges in response to a rapidly changing global environment. “Our two countries share many similarities. Despite our limited land, lack of natural resources, and challenging geopolitical environments, we have both achieved remarkable growth by relying on human capital and free trade,” Lee said. Lee said the two countries would enhance strategic cooperation in defense and security, including expanded joint research on defense technologies, and reaffirmed Seoul’s intention to actively participate in Singapore’s efforts to diversify defense imports. He also pledged to strengthen policy and legal cooperation to combat transnational crimes such as online scams, citing both nations’ advanced digital and financial infrastructures. Lee added that the two countries agreed to bolster economic and human exchanges through improvements to the Korea–ASEAN FTA and the Korea–Singapore FTA. A notable outcome of the talks was an agreement to allow beef and pork produced on Jeju Island to be exported to Singapore for the first time. Lee noted that Singapore is known for its strict inspection and said the deal would pave the way for more Korean agricultural products to enter global markets. Lee also expressed hope that Singapore, as a global financial and investment hub, would expand investment in promising Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and K-content, fostering joint growth in innovative industries. He said both governments would work to strengthen institutional support for broader exchanges in culture, tourism, education, and sports under the newly established strategic partnership. Wong described South Korea and Singapore as “rising stars of Asia” in an era of uncertainty, saying that regular exchanges between the peoples of both countries have helped build a more stable and prosperous region. 2025-11-02 18:33:05

SK hynix to become biggest supercycle winner and overtake TSMC in chip profit by 2027: Nomura SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - SK hynix can outshine dominant pure-play foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in income from chip sales by 2027, placing the South Korean leader in AI memory the biggest winner of the chip "super cycle" that is expected to run at least two more years, according to Japanese investment bank Nomura Securities. SK hynix has already been stellar among memory makers, reporting a record operating profit of $8 billion in the third quarter, and plans to significantly increase capital spending next year to meet with growing demand for its proprietary high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips as well as other advanced memory for servers. Nomura raised its target price for the company to 840,000 won from 540,000 won, a jump of more than 55 percent — the most optimistic forecast among both domestic and global brokerages. SK hynix finished last Friday at 559,000 won after testing new high near 570,000 won on the previous day, more than tripling from its humble closing of 171,200 on the first trading day of 2025. Among Korean firms, Heungkuk Securities currently holds the highest target at 750,000 won among local firms, followed by KB Securities and Shinhan Securities at 730,000 won, and NH Investment & Securities at 710,000 won. JPMorgan last month raised its own target price from 460,000 won to 650,000 won. “Super-cycle to continue through 2027F, growing to an unprecedented revenue level due to limited supply expansion until 2027F,” Nomura wrote in its latest report released on Sunday. The brokerage expects the super-cycle that began in 2023 to continue through 2027, as tight cleanroom capacity and long construction lead times are likely to limit supply expansion until mid-2027. Industry-wide output acceleration, Nomura said, is expected to begin only in late 2027, driving revenue to record levels. Reflecting this outlook, Nomura lifted SK hynix’s operating profit forecasts to 99 trillion won for 2026 and 128 trillion won for 2027, representing increases of 38 percent and 46 percent, respectively. The 2027 projection would make SK hynix the most profitable chipmaker, ahead of TSMC. The report pointed to explosive demand not only for AI servers but also for traditional cloud servers equipped with AI inference capabilities, pushing up prices for HBM as well as general-purpose DRAM and NAND (SSD) chips. Nomura also raised its 2026 price growth outlook for DRAM and NAND to 57 percent and 65 percent, respectively, from 38 percent and 36 percent. Meanwhile, SK hynix has already secured customer orders through next year for all DRAM and NAND products amid surging AI-related demand. The company has also completed HBM supply agreements with key clients including NVIDIA, paving the way for faster shipments. The firm’s sixth-generation HBM4, developed in September and now in mass production, fully meets performance requirements and supports industry-leading speeds. It plans to begin shipping the chip in the fourth quarter and to expand full-scale sales in 2026. 2025-11-02 15:22:40