South Koreans detained in US immigration raid set to return home after delay SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Hundreds of South Koreans detained in a sweeping immigration raid in Georgia in the U.S. are expected to return home at last after their scheduled departure was unexpectedly delayed earlier this week. According to the Foreign Ministry, 316 South Koreans, along with about a dozen foreign workers, are set to board a chartered flight in Atlanta and arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday. The ministry added that one South Korean chose to remain in the U.S. They were workers who were swept up in the largest single-site workplace raid in U.S. history by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Folkston, Georgia about a week ago. They had been working at a construction site for an electric vehicle battery plant being jointly built by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. The raid last Thursday targeted about 475 workers, including around 300 South Koreans, mostly LG Energy staff, who were allegedly working at the site without valid work permits after entering the U.S. under either the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or short-term B1 business visas. Having been detained at an ICE facility, they were scheduled to return earlier this week after agreeing to leave the U.S. voluntarily rather than face deportation. But their departure was suddenly delayed due to what the ministry explained were "U.S. circumstances." Some speculate that the U.S. required them to wear handcuffs on their way to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to board the flight, a common U.S. practice for those facing deportation, which would provoke anger here. The ministry also gave some baffling explanations that U.S. President Donald Trump urged these mostly "high-skilled workers" not to leave so they could train local staff. After talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is in Washington to resolve the matter, asked the U.S. to allow the South Korean detainees to return home swiftly without "physical restraints" and arranged for their departure to be rescheduled. He added that he requested that the U.S. ensure they would not face any disadvantages with future reentry into the U.S. The two also discussed increasing visa quotas for South Korean workers or creating new visa types, along with other measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, which Cho warned could cause "serious delays and disruptions" in South Korean businesses' U.S. projects involving massive investment. 2025-09-11 16:12:17

Shadow device attack adds to Korea's cybersecurity scare SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea, an ICT powerhouse, is again confronting the perils of ever-evolving cyber threats, with the latest breach involving what appeared to be a benign device designed to boost mobile coverage. KT Corp., one of the nation's major wireless carriers, estimates losses of around 170 million won ($122,305) after unauthorized micro-payments were routed through rogue micro base stations. Reports of fraudulent transactions surfaced on Aug. 26, with attacks spanning from Seoul's Geumcheon district to southern Gyeonggi Province. As cases multiplied rapidly, the Gyeonggi cyber police launched a full investigation on Sept. 6., followed by a joint government-private investigation. Investigators traced the fraud to unregistered femtocells – portable miniature base stations that had infiltrated KT's network. "This security breach is an extremely critical matter directly tied to public trust in telecommunications services that are part of our daily lives," said Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, visiting KT headquarters in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, Thursday. Unlike past scams that relied on malicious apps or phishing links, the scheme puzzled investigators: victims reported charges they had never made, while their devices had never been infected. Instead, hackers are suspected of exploiting low-power base stations often used to resolve coverage blind spots. Operated from moving vehicles, the rogue femtocells could explain the broad geographic spread of reports. "One can use femtocells to make virtual base stations. Although the coverage may be small, one can have their own personal base stations," said Kim Ki-hyung, a cybersecurity professor at Ajou University. The fraudulent signals proved stronger than KT's legitimate nearby base stations. Since mobile phones automatically connect to the strongest available signal, users' devices were silently hijacked. "Think of it similar to wifi signals. Our phones automatically connect to wifi with faster internet, right? It's the same for radio frequencies for phones, that's why these virtual base stations gain control over other phones as they get closer to the victims," said Hwang Suk-jin, a professor at Dongguk University's Graduate School of International Affairs and Information Security. Kim suspected the criminals could have driven vans equipped with the rogue femtocells, intercepting one-time verification codes to log into users' online accounts. "They could easily shop online and purchase digital coupons without leaving any traces," Kim said. While femtocell exploits have been documented abroad, intercepting authentication codes to authorize payments marks a troubling new twist in Korea. Because most digital verification in South Korea still relies on text messages — from online shopping to tax filing — the attack highlights structural vulnerabilities. Experts warn that, with more effort, hackers might even have penetrated PASS, Korea's near-universal mobile verification app. "(This incident) should raise a red flag for Korea to update mobile verification and security methods," Kim said. There had been earlier warnings. Just weeks ago, rival SK Telecom was slapped with a record fine for failing to protect personal data of more than 23 million subscribers as regulators found the company negligent in basic cybersecurity practices and oversight. KT, meanwhile, did not formally acknowledge the rogue femtocell intrusion until Sept. 9, when it reported the incident to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA). By that point, the damage had spread beyond initial hotspots, placing the country’s entire telecom sector on high alert. Cybersecurity experts argue that encrypting radio frequencies from the outset and regularly updating encryption algorithms is critical to preventing such intrusions. Extending end-to-end encryption into the core network would help close off vulnerabilities, they add. "There should also be no gaps where base stations decrypt data," emphasized Hwang of Dongguk University. "If base stations simply transmit, verification remains intact. But once they decrypt, it opens the door to exploitation. Femtocells themselves should not handle passwords," Hwang said. Actions are urgent, experts warn, as exploitations via ghost base stations can compromise not only mobile payments but also government authentication systems, including tax and mortgage verifications. 2025-09-11 16:04:55

Son of ex-president tapped as new envoy to China SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Roh Jae-heon, the eldest son of former President Roh Tae-woo, has been tapped as South Korea's new ambassador to China, according to government sources on Thursday. Despite not being a career diplomat or a key political figure, Roh, 60, has engaged in various activities related to China including serving as an adviser to an international council of the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2016 and participating in exchange programs to foster ties with Beijing through his role as director of the East Asia Culture Center in Seoul. His surprise appointment comes after he traveled to Beijing last month as part of an entourage delivering a letter from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, he met senior officials, including Vice President Han Zheng. If confirmed, he will become the first envoy to China under the Lee administration. He is expected to assume the post as soon as agrément procedures from China are finalized. 2025-09-11 13:47:00

Lee puts AI at the heart of South Korea's economic future in 100-day address SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung marked his 100th day in office on Thursday with a press conference that put artificial intelligence (AI) at the core of his economic agenda. He stressed that embedding AI into everyday life could open a path for South Korea to become more competitive globally. "Education policy is not about changing the admissions system," Lee said when asked about competition in schools. He pointed to excessive competition as the root problem and argued that AI can create more opportunities and drive growth. "The real issue is how to create more opportunities, how to achieve more growth, and how to distribute those opportunities more fairly. We should implement AI-related education across the board. Let's build our people's ability to adapt to and use AI," he said. "Let's start it seriously from the lower grades, just like learning addition and subtraction, because AI will become part of daily life." Lee's emphasis on AI echoes one of his central campaign pledges: accelerating South Korea's AI capabilities as a driver of growth and productivity. During the June 4 snap election, he vowed that the country would become a "top-three AI powerhouse" by expanding research, industrial applications, and public-sector use of the technology. His administration has presented AI as a tool to modernize traditional industries, address education inequality, and secure South Korea's place in the global economy. On the economy, Lee underscored the same promise in concrete terms. "The South Korean economy will be massively reorganized around high-tech industries, including AI. Traditional manufacturing will be converted to AI, energy will shift to renewables, and we will build up cultural industries in a major way," he said, adding that providing such direction is enough to keep the country from faltering. The president also turned to the fallout from a U.S. immigration raid at Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution's battery plant construction site in Georgia, where more than 300 South Koreans were detained. In what U.S. officials described as the largest single-site immigration enforcement action ever conducted, federal agents arrested about 475 people at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solution plant, most of them South Korean nationals. Investigators said many workers had entered the U.S. on short-term visas or through the visa waiver program, which does not allow employment. Construction at the $4 billion facility has been suspended, fueling diplomatic tensions and raising doubts among South Korean investors about the risks of expanding in the U.S. "As of today, our latest information is that at 3 p.m., they will leave the detention facility, with the flight scheduled to take off at about 1 a.m. tomorrow and arrive in Seoul tomorrow afternoon," Lee said. "There are 316 South Koreans, 306 men and 10 women, along with 14 foreigners, moving by the chartered flight. One of the detainees chose to remain in the U.S. because of a family situation." Lee added that Seoul had objected to U.S. authorities' initial plan to transport the workers in handcuffs and pressed for their release without restraints. "Frankly, it is embarrassing," he said. "Companies must be wondering whether investing directly in the U.S. is worth it. If this situation continues, it will inevitably affect future investment decisions." On security and inter-Korean relations, Lee emphasized the need to reduce tensions despite North Korea's cool stance. "From North Korea's perspective, it would be foolish to expect them to suddenly change their stance just because our government stopped loudspeaker broadcasts and took a few conciliatory steps," he said. "But for us, easing military tensions along the border is in our interest. It is not for them, but for us." Rejecting ideological labels, Lee described his approach as pragmatic. "It is not because Lee Jae Myung is pro-North Korea. It is because this is about South Korea," he said. "North Korea's nuclear and missile issues are directly tied to the U.S. The armistice was signed by the U.S., not us. So, of course, U.S.-North Korea relations are critical. But when that relationship improves, it also helps inter-Korean relations." Lee added that he would continue to act as a go-between for Washington and Pyongyang. "Right now, the person who can have the strongest influence is President Donald Trump," he said. "If he plays the role of peacemaker, I will do my best as the pacemaker." The press conference followed Lee's intense diplomatic schedule, which included summits with the G7, Japan, and the United States. He is set to attend the U.N. General Assembly and APEC later this year. Reflecting on his first months in office, Lee said, "The past 100 days were about recovery and normalization. From today until the last day of my term, I will dedicate myself to building a country where the people are the true owners, and where South Korea can grow and leap forward." 2025-09-11 13:19:06

Humanoid robots promise cheaper cars. Are they ready for assembly lines? SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Cars glide down the assembly line with the practiced rhythm of human workers moving in unison in ordinary automotive plants. But if a new vision of the future proves correct, those workers may soon be replaced by machines that look uncannily like them. Humanoid robots — once confined to science fiction and corporate stage shows — are being recast as the next frontier of industrial labor. And according to a recent analysis by Samsung Securities, their widespread adoption could do more than reshape factory floors. It could cut the cost of building cars so dramatically that sticker prices fall by half. The math, at least on paper, is compelling. A Hyundai Motor plant in Korea pays an average of $38 per hour in labor costs, already a fraction of what Detroit automakers are on track to spend by 2027. But Tesla’s Optimus robot, used as a benchmark in the Samsung study, could operate at just $14 per hour if purchased for $100,000 and run around the clock. If mass production slashes robot prices to $30,000, as some expect, the figure plunges to $5 per hour — cheaper than labor in China, the global capital of low-cost manufacturing. For automakers, the potential payoff is enormous. Hyundai’s current two-shift system tops out at 310,000 cars a year. Robots never sleep, and with 24-hour operations, annual output could climb to 520,000 vehicles, a 60 percent jump. Analysts say such efficiency could drive down plant costs from nearly 80 percent to the low 40s, opening the door to cars priced at levels unimaginable today. But reality is still far messier than the spreadsheets suggest. Robots tire more quickly than humans — their batteries last only about two hours — and wear out faster too, with critical components needing replacement within a year. “They are best suited right now for simple, repetitive tasks,” Yoo Beom-jae, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, told AJP. “Substantial development is still needed before they can take on full production roles.” BMW is putting robots from the California start-up Figure to work in South Carolina. Mercedes-Benz is using Apptronik’s Apollo models in Europe. BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant, has already deployed 500 humanoid robots on its factory floors. Hyundai, not to be left behind, plans to roll out Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robots at its new Georgia plant later this year. The changes underway may reach far beyond cars. Lim Eun-young, who led the Samsung Securities study, believes humanoid robots could help catalyze an economic transformation. “If vehicles become both cheap and smart,” she said, “transportation becomes more efficient, traffic is better organized, and the number of cars in cities actually decreases. We could reclaim parking lots and free up enormous amounts of space.” The stakes are high, and national competitiveness may be on the line. “This is not a change Korea can ignore,” Lim warned. “The United States and China are already racing ahead. Without active government support in building data centers and power grids, Korea risks falling behind and becoming dependent on others’ technology.” 2025-09-11 10:35:03

Daegu Photo Biennale to bring together 200 photographers from over 30 countries SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The Daegu Photo Biennale will be "the best yet," Daegu Arts Center director Kim Hee-chul said Wednesday. The 10th Daegu Photo Biennale, hosted by the city of Daegu, begins next Thursday and runs for two months. This year’s theme is "Life," with about 200 photographers from more than 30 countries taking part and roughly 700 works, including photographs, videos and installations. Kim and this year’s artistic director, Emmanuelle de l’Ecotais, outlined the biennale at the French Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday. De l’Ecotais, who holds a PhD in art history, regularly curates exhibitions in France and abroad and is the founder and artistic director of "Photo Days Festival," one of Europe’s most popular annual photography festivals. On this year’s theme, de l'Ecotais said the exhibition looks beyond humans to include plants, animals and even forms of life that are hard to see, inviting visitors to think about "how all living things depend on one another" and "how we should relate to the world." Alongside the main exhibition, there will be special programs including a symposium where domestic and overseas experts discuss how artificial intelligence is affecting photography, and networking sessions for photographers. The biennale runs through Nov. 16. 2025-09-11 00:00:28

South Korea bets on return of Chinese visitors to fuel tourism boom SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea is riding a banner year in tourism, fueled by the surging global popularity of K-pop, and expects further momentum from a visa-waiver program for Chinese travelers set to begin at the end of this month. As part of efforts to boost the tourism industry, the program will take effect on Sept 29, allowing short-term visa-free entry for Chinese travelers until June next year, following China's similar move in November last year, coinciding with China's "Golden Week" holiday, which begins early next month and falls just ahead of Chuseok, the country's biggest holiday of the year here. The last such waiver was offered during the 2018 Winter Olympics in the country's alpine city of Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province. Chinese group tourists, better known as "youke" in Chinese and known for their splurge at duty-free shops, once formed the backbone of South Korea's tourism industry. Before an unofficial boycott onouth Korean products over the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery from the U.S. in 2017, Chinese visitors who accounted for nearly half of all foreign arrivals here, sharply dropped. With relations easing, Seoul and Beijing have been steadily rolling back visa restrictions. The resumption of Chinese group travel is expected to boost South Korea's tourism rebound, already buoyed by the global popularity of K-pop and South Korean drams and shows including Netflix's latest hit anime "KPop Demon Hunters." The country's tourism industry is growing increasingly dependent on Chinese visitors, who account for about half of all foreign arrivals here. The number of Chinese visitors, which plummeted due to travel restrictions with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, has been gradually recovering, reaching about 4.6 million last year after peaking at 8.07 million in 2016. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), about 602,000 Chinse came in July, well ahead of those from Japan (300,000), Taiwan (199,000), the U.S. (132,000), and Hong Kong (64,000). The state-run tourism organization expects the program, along with other promotional measures such as K-pop-themed events, cultural performances, and shopping discounts, to attract even more travelers from China. Tourist numbers have also been surging. Foreign arrivals surpassed 10 million by July, up 23.1 percent from a year earlier and nearly 120 percent higher than in July 2019, before the pandemic. Seoul welcomed a record 1.36 million foreign visitors in July alone, pushing the total tally for the first seven months of this year to an all-time high of 8.28 million. The visa waiver for Chinese group tourists could help South Korea reach its target of 18.5 million foreign arrivals in the second half of the year, although it remains to be seen. "It is still difficult to predict whether the number of Chinese tourists will rise during China's upcoming holiday," Seo Ho-seok, a KTO official, told AJP on Wednesday. "But we hope to attract more Chinese travelers and return to pre-pandemic levels with the visa-waiver program and other government-led efforts to boost tourism." Duty-free retailers are among the most hopeful after years of weak traffic and spending by Chinese tourists. Hyundai, Lotte, Shilla, and Shinsegae all posted losses in 2024, hit by the downturn in Chinese group travel and changes in foreign travelers' shopping patterns. Industry officials expect an increase in Chinese group arrivals from the third quarter to boost the industry. Local travel agencies, hotels, and other lodging businesses are already gearing up for an influx of Chinese visitors. They are busy preparing Chinese-language flyers, arranging interpreters and other staff to assist Chinese customers, and trying to meet their changing tastes and shopping patterns. Chinese visitors often flocked to Seoul's shopping district of Myeong-dong, spending most of their money there, but with an increase in repeat visitors, they are now exploring other popular areas and trendy neighborhoods such as Seongsu-dong, known for its fashion boutiques and eateries. 2025-09-10 18:00:02

New presidential committee's appointment of K-pop impresario expected to boost tourism, drive economic benefits SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - With the surging popularity of K-pop and other megahit series of South Korean dramas and shows, the country has been experiencing a cultural renaissance lately, with expectations that it will expand further into global markets. To capitalize on the resurgence of the Korean Wave including the latest global hit like Netflix’s South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters," the government has launched a new presidential committee to further promote Korean culture and leverage it to boost tourism. The committee, launched early this week, aims to expand the global presence of South Korean pop culture, with K-pop impresario and founder of talent mill JYP Entertainment Park Jin-young appointed as co-chair along with Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young. Park, widely regarded as a pioneer of K-pop's early entry into the U.S. with his agency's girl band Wonder Girls making their American debut in the late 2000s, is an expert in grooming and nurturing young K-pop talents, having spent many years promoting K-pop overseas. In a post on Instagram, Park admitted that taking on a government role felt “burdensome and worrisome” for someone in the entertainment business but said it was an opportunity he could not pass up. While expressing the heavy responsibilities of taking on a "burdensome" role in a post on Instagram, Park said he could not resist the "opportunity." He then vowed to use all his experience and expertise to help more artists and young prospects gain opportunities and support their growth. Stressing that K-pop is "at a very special moment right now," he added that he wants it to serve not only as a "cultural showcase but also as a platform for global connection." Experts say the committee demonstrates the government’s determination to support related industries through policies as they expand on the global stage. Kenneth Chi Ho Kim, a professor at Hanyang University ERICA, told AJP on Wednesday that the establishment of the committee "shows the government's commitment to nurturing popular culture by collaborating more closely with the entertainment industry and other businesses to support its growth overseas." To strengthen the global competitiveness of the Korean Wave, he said, "Policy support, stronger cooperation between public and private sectors, and broader cultural exchanges would be essential, and the new committee is expected to take the lead in this process." Kim said Park's appointment is impressive, as it reflects the committee's willingness to bringing in experts who have played a key role in globalizing K-pop, adding that the move "reflects an effort to expand the global reach of Korean popular culture." Attention now turns to whether the committee can convert global buzz into meaningful growth for the tourism industry and generate broader economic benefits. Meanwhile, following the announcement of Park's appointment, shares of JYP Entertainment rose 2,000 won or 2.67 percent to close at 77,000 won later in the day. 2025-09-10 17:08:35

South Korea launches task force to fast-track offshore wind projects SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The South Korean government has launched a new task force aimed at accelerating the deployment of offshore wind power, a strategic move to boost energy security and support the nation's growing, AI-driven economy. The pan-government task force, led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, held its first meeting on Wednesday, bringing together various ministries to address major bottlenecks hampering projects, including complex permitting processes, insufficient infrastructure, and financing challenges. The initiative comes as President Lee Jae Myung's administration pushes to build a "West Coast Energy Highway" by 2030, a project first proposed by Lee during his campaign. The initial plan aims to deliver 14 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity from the country's southwest coast, a scaled-down target from a previously envisioned 20 gigawatts. The project is estimated to cost around 100 trillion won ($72 billion) in public and private investment. "All experts are saying that now is the last golden time to activate domestic offshore wind," Vice Trade Minister Lee Ho-hyeon said during the meeting. "To avoid missing this opportunity, all relevant ministries will work as one team." South Korea is surrounded by water on three sides, and offshore wind is seen as a crucial pathway to achieving the country's carbon neutrality goals and generating significant economic ripple effects in related industries, such as shipbuilding and steel. 2025-09-10 16:36:30

KOSPI hits record high on hopes of US rate cuts, tax relief SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index closed at a record high on Wednesday, lifted by heavy foreign and institutional buying amid optimism about potential U.S. interest rate cuts and speculation that the government may ease capital gains taxes for large shareholders. The KOSPI gained 54.48 points, or 1.7 percent, to finish at 3,314.53, surpassing the previous record set more than four years ago. Foreign investors led the rally, with net purchases of 1.38 trillion won (about $1 billion). Analysts said the rally reflected improved sentiment after robust U.S. employment data, along with growing hopes that Korean policymakers will act to ease investor concerns over tax policy. Market headwinds that weighed earlier this year — from a hawkish monetary stance by the U.S. Federal Reserve to disappointment over tax reform and fears of an AI bubble — appear to be fading, they said. Among blue chips, KB Financial posted the sharpest rise, climbing 7 percent to 117,600 won. Chipmaker SK hynix advanced 5.6 percent to 304,000 won, while market bellwether Samsung Electronics gained 1.5 percent to 72,600 won. The KOSDAQ, the country’s secondary tech-heavy index, also rose, adding 0.99 percent to close at 833. 2025-09-10 16:32:14