South Korea ranks second in antibiotic use among OECD nations SEOUL, October 13 (AJP) - South Korea ranks second among developed nations in antibiotic consumption, raising alarm among health authorities over growing risks of drug resistance. According to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, South Koreans used 31.8 defined daily doses (DID) of antibiotics per 1,000 people per day in 2023 — the second highest level among OECD members. The figure marks a sharp rise from 25.7 DID in 2022, when South Korea already exceeded the OECD average of 18.9 DID and ranked fourth. The World Health Organization has warned that antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s top 10 public health threats. Misuse or overuse of the drugs allows bacteria to evolve and survive treatments, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and more fatalities — particularly among children and older adults. In response, the KDCA last November began a pilot program to encourage hospitals to prescribe antibiotics only when medically necessary and to use the most effective type, dose, and duration. The early results have been encouraging: all hospitals in the program implemented restricted antibiotic use, compared with just 56.6 percent of non-participating hospitals. Still, manpower shortages are slowing progress. More than half of hospitals with at least 300 beds — about 53.6 percent — were unable to join the pilot program because they lacked trained personnel. The KDCA said it will expand the initiative in its second year to include more institutions, aiming to make the program a standard nationwide practice. “Proper antibiotic use is crucial for protecting the lives of vulnerable populations like the elderly and children,” said KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan. “We intend to broaden this program to smaller and long-term care hospitals so that responsible prescribing becomes the norm.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-13 09:58:44

KAIST launches nationwide campaign to share failures on International Day of Failure SEOUL, October 13 (AJP) - KAIST has launched a national campaign inviting people to share their everyday mistakes to mark the International Day of Failure on October 13, highlighting the idea that failure is the starting point of innovation and challenge. "Failure should not be feared. A culture that accepts it is the basis of creativity and progress," said KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung. "Even for just one day, I hope everyone will recall a small failure they experienced and share it with others. That moment can become the starting point for a new challenge." The International Day of Failure began in 2010 when students at Finland's Aalto University started a movement built on the message, "Failure is part of challenge. Let's respect it." The idea gained wide support during Finland's economic slump following Nokia's decline and later spread to Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Since establishing the Institute for Failure Studies in 2021, KAIST has seen a visible shift in how its members view setbacks. A survey conducted in December 2024 showed that 73.9 percent of KAIST members said the university encourages new challenges, more than double the national average of 35.6 percent. Fifty-two percent said KAIST is tolerant toward failure, compared with 20.5 percent in South Korean society. More than 80 percent of respondents said the institute's programs had helped improve resilience and flexibility. To encourage participation, Lee shared a personal story on social media about being turned down while seeking donations. "One of the key duties of a university president is fundraising. I often meet potential donors, but most of them say no. Each time I walk away, the back of my head burns with embarrassment," he wrote. "Still, I take a break, then meet someone new the next day. My job is a series of failures, but I have decided not to feel ashamed of them. I believe it might give courage to those who hesitate to try something themselves." The Institute for Failure Studies also released simple ideas for people to join the campaign, such as sharing "today's failure" with family or friends, posting short stories online, or turning mistakes into memes. Director Cho Sung-ho said even small acts of openness can shift people's views about failure. "Just talking lightly about failure can change the way people see it. KAIST members show twice the level of acceptance toward failure compared with the general public because of this culture," he said. Since its founding, the institute has organized programs such as the Failed Project Showcase, failure essay contests, and the Failure Photovoice exhibition to encourage open discussion about mistakes. It has conducted a biennial survey since 2022 to track changes in awareness. This year, the institute plans to expand its activities nationwide. One new initiative, the AI×Failure Idea Contest, invites university students to present creative ways to learn from mistakes. The top ten teams will present their ideas at the Failure Conference to be held at KAIST on November 7. Lee said KAIST will continue to promote a culture that reflects on and shares failure as a part of everyday life. 2025-10-13 08:25:57

South Korea discusses security measures with Cambodia amid rising crimes SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - Amid a string of crimes targeting South Koreans in Cambodia, authorities are considering measures to strengthen consular support and bolster local investigative capabilities to crack down on them. According to government sources on Sunday, South Korea is in talks with Cambodia to bolster security by increasing police personnel at the South Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh and forming a joint task force to tackle the rise in employment scam-related crimes including kidnappings. The talks came after it was belatedly revealed that a South Korean college student, who had visited the Southeast Asian country after being lured by an online employment scam in August, was later found to have been tortured and killed. The tragic incident prompted South Korea to raise the travel alert for the region. Currently, the embassy has only three police officers, making it difficult to respond to the growing number of such incidents. In addition to increasing embassy staff, discussions are underway to set up a dedicated desk within the Cambodian police department to focus on crimes involving South Koreans. The move is based on a similar effort in the Philippines, which has been in place since 2012 to assist with crimes that local authorities find difficult to manage independently. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-12 17:04:07

Sales of gold bullion surge as more people turn to safer assets SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - As gold prices continue to soar, savvy people and investors are increasingly turning to the precious metal to grow their assets amid record-low interest rates. According to relevant data released on Sunday, total balances in bank accounts at South Korea's top three banks - KB Kookmin, Shinhan, and Woori - stood at 1.51 trillion Korean won as of early this month, up 95.9 billion won in just about a week from the end of last month and up 730.8 billion won so far this year, nearly double the amount from the end of last year. These accounts, which allow users to trade gold instead of holding physical bullion, first surpassed 1 trillion won in March and have now exceeded 1.5 trillion won last week. Sales of gold bullion are also on the rise, as the country's five major banks - KB Kookmin, KEB Hana, NH Nonghyup, Shinhan and Woori - sold bullion worth 13.49 billion won in just the first two days of this month, a whopping increase compared to last month's daily average of 5.1 billion won. This year's cumulative sales have already reached 450.5 billion won, nearly triple last year's total of 165.4 billion won. Demand for silver bullion is also rising, fueled by expectations of higher returns and investors' efforts to diversify their portfolios. But experts advise caution, warning of fluctuations in value despite a potential long-term upward trend in gold prices. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-12 16:22:32

South Korea, U.S. trade chiefs to meet in Washington amid deadlock in tariff-related negotiations SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. will hold ministerial-level talks later this week amid an impasse in tariff-related negotiations between the two countries. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol is scheduled to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s annual gathering in Washington, D.C., which are set to take place from Monday through Oct. 18, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Sunday. The exact date of their meeting has yet to be decided, but the two countries are expected to work together to iron out differences amid a deadlock over the details of South Korean companies' US$350 billion investment plans in the U.S., agreed upon in late July as part of a broader trade deal to lower reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent. U.S. President Donald Trump late last month demanded that South Korea fulfill its massive investment pledge to Washington in full and "upfront," but South Korea has expressed concerns about potential market instability here, further stalling the two allies' trade negotiations, as the two sides remain unable to formalize a memorandum of understanding. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also earlier warned that a lump-sum cash payment without protective measures such as currency swap deals could lead to a repeat of the 1997 Asian financial meltdown. 2025-10-12 15:07:00

Xi vows to strengthen ties with North Korea in letter to Kim Jong-un SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening strategic communication and cooperation with North Korea in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported on Sunday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim received the letter on Oct. 9, which was a reply to his earlier message to Xi on Oct. 1 in celebration of the 76th anniversary of China's National Day. In the letter, Xi stressed the enduring bilateral relationship, describing the two countries as "great neighbors, friends, and comrades who help each other." He also expressed China's willingness to deepen friendly exchanges with North Korea while enhancing strategic cooperation to confront international and regional issues. KCNA also reported that North Korean premier Pak Tae-song met with Li Qiang, China's premier and second-ranking leader, who made a rare visit to the North last week on behalf of Xi to attend a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country's sole ruling Workers' Party. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-12 14:11:38

North Korea unveils new ICBM at late-night military parade SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - North Korea unveiled its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of its sole ruling Workers' Party, state media reported on Saturday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the new Hwasong-20 ICBM, hailed as "the most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system," made its first public appearance at the parade the previous day, signaling the North's intent to accelerate its nuclear arsenal and continue to develop missiles and other weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Despite rain that some speculated might disrupt the event, the late-night parade went ahead as planned, with leader Kim Jong-un joined by high-ranking officials and dignitaries from China, Russia, Viet Nam, and other countries, showcasing strengthened ties with the country's key allies. The rare appearance of foreign leaders at the parade came about a month after Kim appeared along with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a similar large-scale military parade in Beijing earlier last month, in a show of unity against the West. In a speech at the parade, Kim Jong-un said his military "should continue to grow into an invincible entity that destroys all threats," without directly mentioning the U.S. or South Korea. Other weapons on display included short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, howitzers, and battle tanks, as well as hypersonic missiles, which North Korea has previously claimed are capable of striking targets in the South. The unveiling of the Hwasong-20 follows North Korea's announcement last month of a successful test of a new high-thrust solid-fuel engine, which KCNA said was the ninth and final test in the development of "next-generation" ICBMs. The engine reportedly has a maximum thrust of 1,971 kilonewtons, indicating progress toward developing a missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. 2025-10-12 10:08:24

Shares of South Korean power equipment suppliers surge despite US tariff uncertainty SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - South Korea's leading power equipment suppliers saw their share prices surge sharply despite stalled tariff-related negotiations with the U.S. Shares of HD Hyundai Electric rose 5.12 percent to close at 657,000 Korean won, as KOSPI trading resumed on Friday after a weeklong break for the country's biggest Chuseok holiday. Its market competitors also saw strong gains, with shares of Hyosung Heavy Industries jumping 5.52 percent and those of LS Electric climbing 4.14 percent. Iljin Electric, the last of the "big four" in the country's power equipment market, also saw the steepest gain at 6.11 percent. Brokerage firm LS Securities forecast that HD Hyundai Electric is expected to post 1.03 trillion won (approximately US$848 million) in revenue and 230.6 billion won in operating profit (around $162 million) for the third quarter of this year. Buoyed by the optimistic market outlook, the firm also raised its forecast for Hyundai Electric, expecting its shares could climb up to 20 percent from 640,000 won (US$450) to 800,000 won (US$563). Friday's rally in stocks of these power equipment suppliers, buoyed by market optimism, began after Washington signaled its intent to replace its aging U.S. power grid. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), about two-thirds of power transformers currently in use there require replacement. The average age of these transformers is 38 years, and nearly seven in ten are reportedly more than 25 years old. The DOE aims to replace outdated transformers with units capable of handling voltages above 345 kV, known as extra-high-voltage (EHV) systems. Washington apparently sees the replacement as crucial for artificial intelligence-related facilities, which demand massive amounts of electricity. The move is expected to benefit South Korean suppliers, recognized for their proven reliability and competitive prices. According to a report by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), South Korea was the top exporter to the U.S. market for small transformers with 650 kVA or below in 2024, accounting for 31.2 percent. 2025-10-10 17:37:48

KOSPI reaches new high after weeklong holiday SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - The benchmark KOSPI surpassed the 3,600 level for the first time on Friday, following a sharp opening after a weeklong break for the country's biggest Chuseok holiday. KOSPI hit a record intraday high of 3,617.86 and closed at 3,610.60, up 61.39 points or 1.73 percent, from the previous session. The record rally was fueled by foreign investors, who snapped up a net 1.06 trillion won in shares. Among the top market-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 6.07 percent to close at 94,400 Korean won (US$66.48), SK Hynix gained 8.22 percent to 427,000 won ($300.70), Doosan Enerbility jumped 14.97 percent to 74,400 won ($52.39), and Naver increased 5.73 percent to 267,000 won ($188.03). On the other hand, shares of LG Energy Solution fell 9.90 percent to close at 359,500 won ($253.17), while those of Hanwha Aerospace dropped 5.01 percent to 1,040,000 won ($732.39), seeing relatively steep declines. The junior Kosdaq closed at 859.49, up 5.24 points or 0.61 percent from the previous trading session. 2025-10-10 16:51:44

South Korea set to face Brazil in friendly in Seoul SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - South Korea is set to face Brazil in a friendly match in Seoul on Friday night. Led by Hong Myung-bo, the South Korean national team, ranked 23rd in the latest FIFA rankings, will take on the sixth-ranked team at 8:00 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Past statistics show that South Korea has struggled against the South American powerhouse, winning just once in eight encounters. Their most recent match ended in a 4-1 defeat in the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Friday's match would be momentous s captain Son Heung-min could set a new record for the most international appearances by a South Korean player, surpassing the current record of 136 matches held jointly by former players and coaches Cha Bum-kun and Hong Myung-bo. At a press conference the previous day, Son expressed gratitude for his 15-year career with the national team, saying, "It's an honor to stand alongside legends like Hong and Cha. Facing Brazil on the field would be a joy." Hong praised Son's dedication, saying, "Son has consistently performed at his best despite a demanding schedule in Europe. I hope he breaks all my records." The match will be broadcast on TV Chosun, tvN, and Coupang Play. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-10 16:16:19