Scorching heat to persist next week after torrential rains SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - Scorching heat gripped most of South Korea on Saturday, with advisories in effect nationwide and feels-like temperatures climbing to as high as 37 degrees Celsius. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), daytime highs ranged from 31 to 36 degrees Celsius in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby North Gyeongsang Province, while the southwestern province of Jeonbuk recorded 33 degrees. After heavy rains across the country last week, scorching weather is forecast to persist through the weekend and into next week, with tropical nights likely in some areas. "Temperatures will stay around 33 degrees next week, and hot and humid conditions will continue," a KMA official said, urging people to take precautions against heat-related illness. 2025-08-16 17:48:05

Comedy-drama 'My Daughter Is a Zombie' draws 4 million viewers SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - Comedy-drama "My Daughter Is a Zombie" has drawn more than 4 million moviegoers less than two weeks after its release, becoming the biggest box-office hit of the year. According to the Korean Film Council on Saturday, the film attracted 290,000 viewers on Friday alone, bringing the total to 4.05 million. It is the fastest release this year to reach the milestone. Released on July 30, the film has stayed No. 1 at the box office since opening day. Directed by Pil Gam-sung, the film follows a father who tries to protect his daughter, the world's last remaining zombie. The film stars well-known actors including Cho Jung-seok and Jo Yeo-jeong. The film is also performing well overseas. Since its Aug. 8 North American release, it has become the year's top-performing Korean film, and was ranked No. 2 in Vietnam and No. 3 in Indonesia on opening weekend. 2025-08-16 17:11:17

Washington signals Asian allies to 'pull their weight' on defense ahead of summit with Seoul SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - A senior U.S. defense official on Friday urged Asian allies to increase defense spending and take on greater responsibilities for collective defense, echoing Washington’s push for fairer burden-sharing ahead of a summit with Seoul. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, "It’s common sense that all allies, especially in Asia, need to pull their weight. That’s how we get peace through strength and sustainable collective defense." Colby also said, "Fortunately, many of our allies, led by Europe, get it," citing New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, who told Australian media that the United States had long carried the burden of global defense, saying "the Americans have been carrying us" while others focused on welfare and free services. In a separate post on Thursday night, he said, pacifism is "not the answer," stressing that the military "must be ready to fight and defeat aggression against our key interests, especially in Asia," and that Washington must have the "industrial base" to support its posture under President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Colby’s remarks come as the Trump administration pushes NATO members to raise defense spending targets from 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) to 5%. The United States raised the issue of "alliance modernization" during consultations in July, urging South Korea to boost defense spending and adjust roles between the two militaries as part of a future-oriented strategic alliance. Defense burden-sharing is expected to feature prominently when South Korean President Lee Jae-myung meets Trump at the White House on Aug. 25 for their first bilateral summit. 2025-08-16 11:21:59

Special envoys from Seoul meet Prabowo, vow closer bilateral ties SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - Special envoys sent to Jakarta this week pledged their readiness to enhance ties with Indonesia after talks with President Prabowo Subianto and senior officials, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Led by Cho Jeong-sik of the ruling Democratic Party, a handful group of lawmakers arrived in Jakarta on Monday for a four-day trip as part of President Lee Jae-myung’s broader diplomatic outreach to key Asian partners since taking office in early June. On Thursday, the group met Prabowo at his residence in Bogor, south of Jakarta. Discussions focused on boosting collaboration in high-tech and strategic industries while securing stronger support for South Korean businesses in Indonesia. They also delivered a letter from Lee outlining Seoul’s commitment to broadening cooperation across various sectors. Prabowo said he hoped to work with Lee to bring ties to "the highest level" and pledged closer cooperation. During the visit, the group also met senior officials in Jakarta, including Foreign Minister Sugiono, to present Seoul’s foreign policy priorities and explore ways to expand exchanges. They also met with Korean residents and toured the first battery cell plant that South Korea has built in Indonesia, built jointly by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. 2025-08-15 16:53:05

Ex-justice minister Cho Kuk freed in Lee's Liberation Day pardon SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - Former justice minister and ex-leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party Cho Kuk was freed early Friday under President Lee Jae-myung’s first pardon. Lee's first amnesty, marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, pardoned some 836,687 individuals, including around 2,000 minor offenders convicted of livelihood-related crimes and about 20 business moguls, in a move aimed at "promoting unity in the country." Cho was pardoned less than a year after receiving a two-year prison sentence last December for corruption and document forgery related to his children's university admissions. After his release, Cho described the pardon as "a symbolic step toward ending the abuse of power." He argued that the investigation had stemmed from politically motivated investigations rather than solely from the charges against him. Cho thanked Lee, said he would "respectfully listen" to critics, and vowed to make a humble return to politics. Apart from Cho, several figures accused of irregularities and other wrongdoings, including Cho's wife Chung Kyung-shim, former lawmakers Choe Kang-wook and Yoon Mee-hyang, and former Seoul education chief Cho Hee-yeon, were also pardoned or had their rights reinstated. Meanwhile, main opposition People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo expressed opposition to Lee’s pardon of some figures including Cho during a Liberation Day ceremony on Friday morning. His party’s leadership also said they would not attend the president’s inauguration ceremony later in the day to protest Lee’s decision. 2025-08-15 15:09:06

Lee calls for peace and unity at 80th Liberation Day celebration SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday set out his vision in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation at a ceremony in central Seoul. Lee said the country had "overcome various difficulties, achieving rapid industrialization and democratization" since its liberation in 1945, saying it is now a time for more "dialogue and cooperation" and that the country should move beyond various conflicts. Lee also stressed the importance of honoring those who gave their lives during the liberation movement, noting that many of them had taken part in the movement abroad and have yet to be brought home. Lee said the government "will step up efforts to return the remains of activists who fought abroad and ensure those not yet recognized by the state are honored," he said. On North Korea, Lee said, "The South and the North are not enemies. We should respect each other’s differences and aim for peaceful unification," citing the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and the sending of leaflets critical of the North as steps to ease tensions since he took office in early June. "This year is a suitable time to pursue peace and end hostility," Lee said, noting it marks the 80th anniversary of liberation and expressing hope for Pyongyang to respond. Regarding the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue, Lee reaffirmed that denuclearization is the ultimate goal but acknowledged that it is "a complicated and difficult task" that will require talks between the two Koreas, U.S.-North Korea engagement, and cooperation with the international community. On Japan, Lee urged Tokyo to "acknowledge and address historical issues while seeking future-oriented cooperation," signaling issues likely to be discussed ahead of a summit with the Japanese prime minister later this month. Lee will also attend a large public event at Gwanghwamun Square in the evening. Eighty representatives, which symbolize the 80 years since Korea’s liberation, will present him with ceremonial letters of appointment. The event comes two months after he took office in early June. The event’s participants are expected to include former President Moon Jae-in, some relatives of former presidents, leaders and officials in various fields, foreign envoys, and about 3,500 citizens. Meanwhile, most opposition leaders are expected to be absent. 2025-08-15 11:54:07

Heat wave to return on Liberation Day after torrential rains lash central regions SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - A sweltering heat wave is expected to return on Friday, when the country marks the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, after torrential rain swept through Seoul and other central regions earlier this week. With sporadic showers lingering in some parts of the country until early Friday morning, daytime highs are forecast to soar to 34 degrees Celsius, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Many parts of the capital area and central South Chungcheong Province saw heavy rains of up to 300 mm over two days starting Wednesday, causing flooding and road disruptions. Paju in Gyeonggi Province was hit particularly hard, with a record 316 mm of rain. A total of 410 damages were reported nationwide, including one death in Incheon. 2025-08-14 17:28:55

South Korean display makers to get boost as ITC's impending ban on Chinese BOE panels SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - Display maker Samsung Display is expected to benefit from a ruling that would ban U.S. imports of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels from China’s BOE Technology for more than a decade. In a preliminary ruling last month, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) barred the Chinese display maker and its seven subsidiaries from importing OLED panels into the U.S. for 14 years and 8 months, industry sources said Wednesday. The ruling followed Samsung Display's complaint over trade secret theft in October 2023, with a final decision expected sometime in November. The ITC found that BOE violated Section 337, which applies to the importation or sale of products made abroad, by illegally obtaining trade secrets through the hiring of former employees or via supplier contracts to access Samsung Display's proprietary OLED technology. Samsung Display alleged that BOE acquired the technology without independent research and development, despite being a latecomer, some 16 years after Samsung began producing OLEDs in 1997. The ruling's unprecedented penalty length was calculated by combining the development timelines of multiple OLED technologies that Samsung Display created over decades, with a massive investment of hundreds of millions of dollars. The ITC also imposed restrictions on BOE's marketing and advertising activities in the U.S, effectively halting all its business operations. Industry observers described such bans as "unprecedented in severity," as part of broader strategies amid the U.S.’ heated competition with China, making it virtually impossible for BOE to acquire new U.S. customers." BOE held 22.7 percent of share for small OLED panel markets for Apple's iPhone in the second quarter of this year, surpassing LG Display's 21.3 percent, according to industry data. BOE's rival market players like Samsung Display and LG Display, which have served as Apple's primary and secondary suppliers, are expected to get a boost, once the ruling is finalized in November. 2025-08-14 17:00:25

[[K-Tech]] KAI delivers AI-based air combat training system to Air Force SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has delivered an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tactical simulation and training system to the South Korean Air Force, the company said on Wednesday. The system, designed for tactical development and pilot training, is part of a contract valued at 35.5 billion won (about $26 million) and incorporates reinforcement learning–based AI, making it the first of its kind in the country. It allows virtual aircraft to learn from real-world combat data and autonomously adapt their tactics over time. The Air Force has faced challenges in conducting large-scale flight training due to restricted airspace and noise complaints from civilians. The new system, however, enables combat simulations in a fully virtual environment, helping to overcome these constraints. As part of the project, KAI also developed Level D simulators for the KF-16 and FA-50 fighter jets, incorporating virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies. Level D represents the highest certification standard for flight simulations. The system also integrates a range of advanced technologies, including AI-controlled virtual aircraft that act as both friendly and adversary forces, high-difficulty mission scenarios based on real-world tactics, and voice recognition features that enable pilots to issue and respond to spoken commands. "The latest achievement sets a new standard for next-generation military training," a KAI official said. "We aim to lead the development of future Modeling & Simulation (M&S) technologies, including manned-unmanned integrated systems and Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) training platforms, contributing to the modernization of our armed forces." 2025-08-14 16:19:40

Netflix tops most popular streaming platform among South Koreans SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - Global streaming giant Netflix was voted the most popular streaming platform among South Koreans, a survey reveals. According to a survey of 1,500 users conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency and released on Thursday, participants were asked to express their satisfaction levels, with Netflix taking the top spot with an average score of 3.75 out of a possible 5 points. It was followed by Tving with 3.66 points, Coupang Play with 3.64 points, Wavve with 3.62 points, and Disney Plus with 3.51 points. About 20.3 percent of respondents cited the availability of diverse programs as their main reason for choosing a platform, while slightly fewer users ticked subscription fees. Netflix earned the highest score of 4.07 points for content diversity, while Coupang Play scored 3.74 points for its relatively affordable subscription fees. But some 12.2 percent of respondents said they experienced service disruptions due to server and connection problems. 2025-08-14 16:01:35