Samsung Heavy signs partnership with Indian shipyard Namgoong Geum-seong of Samsung Heavy Industries, right, and Vipin Kumar Saxena of India's Swan Shipyard pose after signing an MOU on Sept. 29. Courtesy of Samsung Heavy Industries SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries said Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, an Indian shipyard, in a move to expand its global footprint in shipbuilding and marine projects. The agreement positions Samsung Heavy to collaborate with Swan on ship design, procurement and production management. The Indian company operates the nation’s largest dry dock, capable of building very large crude carriers and offshore facilities. For Samsung Heavy, the partnership offers a production foothold in India. The company said it intends to scale up its operations there gradually. “This collaboration combines technology and market opportunities, creating a win-win model for both companies,” Namgoong Geum-seong, head of Samsung’s production support division, said in a press release. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 10:33:14

Gov't services remain crippled as recovery drags on SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - A nationwide network outage caused by a fire at a state-run data center has entered its fourth day, with recovery efforts still below 5 percent. As of Monday, key services, including Government24, remain offline, and full recovery is expected to take at least two weeks. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, only 30 of nearly 650 affected systems have been restored, with a recovery rate of just 4.6 percent, following the fire at the National Computing and Information Agency in Daejeon, which hosts servers for most government agencies and facilities nationwide. Efforts are underway to restart approximately 500 systems in unaffected areas of the agency, while 96 systems directly damaged by the fire are expected to face prolonged delays in restoration. A ministry official said, "Relocating and reinstalling these servers at another data center in Daegu is more efficient, and the process is expected to take about two weeks." Meanwhile, the slow recovery is causing major disruptions, forcing citizens to visit local district offices or make phone calls to book or access various administrative services. Yoon Ho-jung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "We will do our best to minimize public inconvenience by transparently sharing recovery progress and other relevant information." * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 10:25:14

OpenAI appoints former Google Korea head as first South Korea chief SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - OpenAI has named Kim Kyung-hoon, a former head of Google Korea, as its first chief executive in South Korea, the company announced Monday. Kim, who has more than two decades of experience in global technology and consulting, will lead OpenAI’s strategic partnerships and oversee the expansion of its artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country. The appointment comes amid surging demand for the company’s products in South Korea. Weekly active users of ChatGPT have risen more than fourfold from a year ago, according to OpenAI. Kim served as president of Google Korea from 2021 until recently, steering the growth of the company’s advertising business while supporting local AI and digital development through startup and developer initiatives. He previously led Google’s marketing solutions team in Korea and managed strategy and operations for the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on mobile and search advertising. He holds a computer engineering degree from Seoul National University and an MBA from Duke University. He also serves on the board of AMCHAM Korea, where he has contributed to policy discussions on information technology, cybersecurity and digital content. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 09:52:59

OPINION: South Korea's illusion of peace At the recent United Nations General Assembly, President Lee Jae Myung unveiled his "END Initiative," a plan aimed at ending the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula through exchange, normalization, and denuclearization. While presented as a flexible, multi-pronged approach, the initiative raises a critical, uncomfortable question: Does South Korea still suffer from the fatal illusion that North Korea can be coaxed away from its nuclear arsenal? The reality is that Lee’s plan, despite its new acronym, risks repeating the strategic mistakes of the past two decades. Critics are right to fear that the core nuclear issue might be diluted or neglected in the pursuit of improved inter-Korean ties. Pyongyang’s commitment to its nuclear program has proven stronger than any diplomatic or economic inducement. The demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office in 2020 and Kim Jong-un’s recent declaration of the South as a hostile entity underscore his regime’s unwavering, nuclear-first focus. Historically, South Korea has often been its own worst enemy in this dynamic, exhibiting an eagerness to provide aid and seek sanctions relief that effectively subsidized Pyongyang’s defiance. This passive, almost supplicatory approach — illustrated by the historical anecdote of North Korean journalists jokingly seeking more inter-Korean cooperation funds — created a strategic vulnerability. It fostered a dangerous mindset, even among some in the South, that North Korea's nuclear weapons might eventually benefit a unified Korea. This ideological leniency undoubtedly contributed to the current situation where a nuclear-armed North Korea is an immutable reality. The failure of past policies is stark. The 2018 Singapore and 2019 Hanoi summits handed Kim Jong-un international legitimacy without requiring any significant concessions, validating the utility of his nuclear weapons. Even during the Clinton administration, when the U.S. weighed a surgical strike on North Korea's nuclear facilities, South Korean opposition was enough to stop it. We are now living with the consequences of that hesitancy and the long-term failure of the goal to achieve denuclearization through engagement alone. It is now difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a "nuclear-free North Korea." The regime’s economic failures have only cemented its reliance on nuclear capabilities as the ultimate guarantor of its survival. South Korea must abandon the pretense that simple exchange and normalization will somehow undo a nuclear state. The strategic conversation must pivot from denuclearization to deterrence. The time has come for a serious, public reassessment of South Korea’s nuclear strategy. This requires moving beyond wishful thinking and embracing a tough-minded realism. Options now being discussed, such as reintroducing U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, ensuring a constant presence of armed U.S. nuclear submarines in Korean waters, or even enhancing South Korea’s own nuclear capabilities to match regional rivals, must be put on the table. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun’s recent comments about potentially easing restrictions on uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel reprocessing may signal a necessary shift in attitude. The END Initiative offers a nostalgic echo of failed peace plans. To ensure the true end of the Cold War — and not merely the end of South Korean diplomatic leverage — President Lee must acknowledge the nuclear reality and prioritize a credible, powerful strategy of deterrence. Only then can any meaningful form of exchange and normalization proceed from a position of strength, rather than hope. About the author -Ph.D. in Political Science from Korea University -Former Political Editor, Editorial Chief at Dong-A Ilbo -Former President of the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency * This column, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 09:43:48

INTERVIEW: Stronger South Korea-Japan cooperation needed to navigate U.S.-China rivalry and foster future industries SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - "Japan is a 'nation of accumulation,' known for its craftsmanship built over time. In contrast, South Korea is a 'nation of flow,' quickly adapting and integrating changes. By combining these strengths, South Korea and Japan can create a new balance against the U.S. and China," said Professor Guk Joong-ho of Yokohama City University. In an interview with Aju Business Daily earlier this month, Guk highlighted the need for South Korea and Japan to strengthen cooperation amid the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, as the WTO's free trade system is no longer effective. He emphasized the importance of securing leadership in future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and energy through bilateral collaboration. Guk, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from Hitotsubashi University, has been teaching at Yokohama City University since 1999 and is a visiting professor at Keio University. He has over 30 years of experience studying South Korea-Japan relations. He suggested that South Korean exporters could fill gaps in Japanese industries, such as traditional liquor, where Japan excels in quality but lacks marketing and digital skills. By leveraging South Korea's digital expertise, both countries could benefit. Looking ahead to the years following U.S. President Donald Trump's presidency, which ends in 2029, Guk advised South Korea to prepare for a multipolar world by engaging with international groups such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), BRICS, and the Global South. He also stressed the importance of fostering talent exchange to strengthen advanced industries. "In Japan, there is a culture in which talented individuals who studied at universities do not hesitate to return to their hometowns after graduation to contribute to local communities," he said, proposing the establishment of a talent exchange program that "matches individuals interested in the culture and economy of both countries and provides adaptation training, which could be an effective approach." Guk added generational differences in perceptions of South Korea, with younger Japanese showing more favorable attitudes toward Korean culture. But he warned of the growing influence of right-wing politics in Japan, which could impact bilateral relations. Guk concluded that patience and understanding of Japan's cautious approach are crucial for successful cooperation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 09:32:21

Most postal services resume after fire at gov't data center SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - The Korea Post has resumed part of its financial services after a two-day disruption caused by a fire at a state-run data center in Daejeon. However, mail delivery and some administrative systems are still being restored, and full recovery is expected to take more time. The Ministry of Science and ICT said that all financial services including check card payments, internet banking, and ATM transactions, were back to normal as of Sunday night, while mail services, including parcel delivery, are expected to resume by Monday morning. The Korea Post conducted thorough checks to ensure service safety before resuming operations. A swift recovery is crucial to prevent logistical chaos ahead of Chuseok, the country's biggest holiday, which begins later this week. Minister Bae Kyung-hoon expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the fire at the National Computing and Information Agency, which hosts servers for most government agencies and facilities nationwide including the Korea Post's postal servers. "We will endeavor to fully restore postal services and will continue to update and monitor systems while thoroughly assessing the damage," he said. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 08:59:21

OPINION: Technical roadmap for Korean AI models South Korea's global ambition in the AI transformation — a goal of both national significance and export potential — hinges on mastering challenges that continue to plague tech giants in the U.S. and China. The key to success won't be model size alone, but a technical focus on building trust, combating deception, and ensuring truthful, ethically aligned AI behavior. The most immediate technical hurdle is the phenomenon of hallucination — the AI's confident generation of false information. This is not just a nuisance; it's a severe threat to the reliability of foundation models, especially in critical applications. For South Korean models to succeed, they must be trained to admit uncertainty and refuse to answer rather than fabricating responses. This requires a fundamental shift in the reward mechanism. A study in May suggested a practical fix: rewarding the AI for refusal or silence when the answer is uncertain, directly incentivizing truth over fabrication. Furthermore, models primarily trained on English or Chinese data exhibit more hallucinations in Korean due to data scarcity. Therefore, developing Korean-focused models built on rich, high-quality domestic data is essential to achieve linguistic reliability and reduce error rates. Beyond truthfulness, alignment — the AI's adherence to democratic values and ethics — is non-negotiable for global acceptance. AI can deceive and flatter more effectively than humans, potentially leading to social isolation and poor decision-making. Models with undesirable hidden biases, like those favoring destructive ideologies, must be identified and retrained. The "Alignment Camouflage" paper warned that AI can be trained to hide its biases, making detection difficult. Techniques like switching the AI’s conversational role from an assistant to a "user," as noted in a March study, can reveal these latent tendencies. To police this behavior, an automated system of AI multi-agents is necessary for continuous monitoring to prevent manipulation and report misconduct. For South Korea to truly lead the export market, its technical agenda must prioritize techniques that implement "I don't know" as a core, rewarded output; invest heavily in high-quality, representative Korean-language training data to close the linguistic reliability gap; and develop sophisticated AI multi-agent monitoring systems for real-time detection and mitigation of hidden biases and deceptive behavior. By focusing on these core issues of Truth, Trust, and Alignment, South Korea can distinguish its foundation models as reliable and ethical global leaders, ensuring its AI transformation supports both a vibrant capital market and a cohesive community. * This contribution article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 08:54:35

CJ Logistics expands US cold chain network with new Kansas hub SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - South Korea's CJ Logistics said Sunday it has opened a new cold chain logistics center in New Century, Kansas. The facility is specifically designed to manage the storage and transport of refrigerated and frozen goods, utilizing specialized temperature control systems to maintain product freshness and quality. The new center's proximity to major highways allows for fast, same-day transport to key Midwestern cities, the company said. The facility boasts a direct connection to the BNSF railway, which links the western and central United States. Furthermore, the nearby CPKC railway provides access for continental transport across North America, connecting Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. This multimodal capability allows the center to reach an estimated 85 percent of the U.S. within two days. The Kansas center opening follows the launch of a 24,904-square-meter cold chain center in Gainesville, Georgia, a key frozen poultry production area, which opened last year. Kevin Coleman, CEO of CJ Logistics America, emphasized the importance of the expansion. "High-value cold chain logistics require stringent temperature control and quality maintenance, demanding expertise and trust," he stated. "We aim to strengthen our North American cold chain supply network with advanced technology." CJ Logistics America currently operates over 70 logistics centers across 17 states, including Illinois, California, and Georgia, offering comprehensive logistics services such as warehouse management, transport management, and consulting. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-28 15:11:12

Emart24 becomes first Korean convenience store in Laos SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - South Korean convenience store chain Emart24 announced its entry into the Laotian market, Sunday, becoming the first Korean convenience store brand to establish a presence in the country. The entry follows a strategic franchise agreement with Laos-based conglomerate, Kolao Group. The partnership will see Emart24 convert 50 existing KOK KOK MINI convenience stores, currently operated by Kolao Group, into Emart24 outlets, alongside the opening of new locations. Kolao Group, founded by Oh Se-young in 1997, is a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning from car assembly and sales to finance, platforms, construction, and leisure. Since 2023, the group has also operated hypermarkets and convenience stores under its proprietary KOK KOK brand. Emart24 currently operates seven stores in Cambodia, 102 in Malaysia, and one in India. Emart24 is positioning its new Laotian stores to capitalize on the country's youth demographic, who are demonstrating a growing affinity for Korean culture, including K-food, K-content, and K-beauty. Emart24 CEO Choi Jin-il, said, "We anticipate this expansion will not only boost exports of our private label products but also open new markets for South Korean small and medium-sized businesses." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-28 15:02:04

Son Heung-min scores twice in LA win, extends goal streak to 4 games SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - Los Angeles FC (LAFC) forward Son Heung-min scored two goals on Sunday, propelling his team to a 3-0 victory over St. Louis City SC at Energizer Park and extending his personal scoring streak to four consecutive Major League Soccer (MLS) matches. Son registered his seventh and eighth goals of the season during the match. His first came in first-half stoppage time with a precise right-footed shot. He added his second in the 60th minute, calmly placing the ball into the bottom left corner from inside the penalty box. The South Korean international's hot streak began on Sept. 14 against the San Jose Earthquakes, followed by a hat trick against Real Salt Lake on Sept. 18, and another goal against the same team on Sept. 22. This four-game run is his longest goal-scoring streak in regular league play since December 2021, when he played for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Son now has eight goals and two assists in just eight MLS appearances and has been key in LAFC securing four consecutive victories. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-28 14:30:34