[[K-Pop]] ILLIT makes sitcom debut as college freshmen in new YouTube series SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - K-pop girl group ILLIT is taking on a new challenge, stepping into the world of sitcom acting for the first time since their debut. On the night of August 6, the group released the second teaser for their new self-produced content series titled "The Genre is ILLIT, Introduction to Youth Studies" through their official YouTube channel. The upcoming series "The Genre is ILLIT" follows the comedic campus life of five freshmen at the fictional ILLIT University. Each member takes on a unique character as they navigate college life, form friendships, and learn to work as a team, all while showcasing the awkward, endearing charm of youth. Despite the teaser’s short length, it offers a vivid glimpse into each member’s role. Yuna plays an exuberant and cheerful theater major bursting with enthusiasm. Minju transforms into a competitive physical education major. Moka takes on the role of a top-ranking law student, highlighting her studious persona. Wonhee portrays a quirky, free-spirited art student. Iroha rounds out the group as an early childhood education major who may lack bite but never holds back her thoughts. In one scene, the five characters gather for a group project, only for tensions to rise as Yuna and Minju both vie for the lead in the presentation. Moka steps in to mediate, but the teaser ends on a cliffhanger as the group's dynamics take a dramatic turn, heightening anticipation for the full episode. Episode one of "The Genre is ILLIT" will premiere on August 11 at 8 p.m. on the group's official YouTube channel. 2025-08-07 09:39:14

KAIST develops robotic sheet that folds, grips, and walks on its own SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - A KAIST research team has developed a new kind of robotic material that can fold itself in real time, changing its shape and function instantly without the need for reconstruction. The innovation combines physical artificial intelligence with real-time programmability and could lead to a new class of autonomous robots capable of adapting to their surroundings. KAIST announced Wednesday that Professors Kim Jeong and Park In-kyu of the Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed what they call a "field-programmable robotic folding sheet." Unlike traditional foldable structures that require pre-designed hinges and fixed directions, this new material allows users to change folding patterns and shapes through simple software commands. The team expects it to have applications in autonomous robotics, space exploration, and emergency response. Folding structures have long been used in robotics due to their intuitive and efficient ability to alter shape. However, conventional mechanisms are limited by their fixed designs, which require a new structure each time the task or environment changes. The KAIST team addressed this limitation by developing a system that lets users reprogram fold positions and directions in real time, using a single, reusable material. The robotic sheet is made from a thin, flexible polymer embedded with a fine network of metallic resistors. These resistors serve dual functions as both heaters and temperature sensors. This allows the sheet to monitor and control its folding state without the need for external hardware. By integrating software powered by genetic algorithms and deep neural networks, users can input the desired fold locations, directions, and intensity. The sheet then responds autonomously by heating and cooling itself to generate the exact programmed shape. Feedback from the built-in sensors ensures the process is continuously adjusted for accuracy. The researchers also applied a closed-loop temperature control system, which improves real-time folding precision and compensates for changes in the environment. They reported that the system resolves one of the key limitations of heat-based folding technology, which is slow reaction time. This kind of programmable shape-shifting allows a single sheet to take on multiple robotic roles without physical redesign. The team demonstrated an adaptive robotic gripper that can modify its grip depending on the shape of the object it holds. In another demonstration, the same sheet was laid flat on a surface and reprogrammed to walk or crawl, imitating biological motion. These results suggest potential for real-time environment-adaptive robots. "This research takes us one step closer to what we call 'morphological intelligence,' where the robot’s shape becomes part of its intelligence," said Professor Kim. "We plan to improve the material’s load-bearing capacity, develop faster cooling, and create integrated electrode designs without wiring. Our long-term goal is to develop this into a next-generation physical AI platform that can be applied to disaster response, personalized medical devices, and space exploration." The study was led by Dr. Park Hyun-kyu, now at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, and Professor Jung Yong-rok, now at Kyungpook National University. They served as co-first authors of the paper, which was published in the August 2025 online edition of Nature Communications. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea under the Ministry of Science and ICT. 2025-08-06 17:44:37

Lee mulls pardons for upcoming Liberation Day SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is considering pardons next week to mark the 80th anniversary of the Aug. 15 Liberation day, the presidential office said Wednesday. His first special amnesty since taking office in early June coincides with a large-scale event in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, celebrating his inauguration. The Ministry of Justice is currently compiling a list of those eligible for the amnesty based on internal procedures and strict criteria, with first-time violators and minor offenders involved in petty livelihood-related crimes expected to be included, with an aim to give them a second chance and promote "national unity" in tough times. But there are already concerns over possible pardons handed out to politicians and corporate bigwigs convicted of corruption. Among them was former Justice Minister and ex-leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, Cho Kuk, who was sentenced in December last year to two years in prison for corruption and document forgery related to his children's university admissions. His supporters claim his case was politically motivated, calling for his pardon, while others warn it could be an ominous sign for the Lee administration. 2025-08-06 17:36:36

South Korea to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists starting next month SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - Chinese tour groups will be able to enter South Korea without visas as early as late next month. As part of efforts to boost the tourism industry, the visa-waiver program, which follows China's similar move in November last year, was decided during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the government complex in Seoul on Wednesday. The program, which allows short-term visa-free entry for Chinese travelers, is set to take effect on Sept. 29 and will run through June next year. "Once implemented, we expect the program to attract more tourists and help boost domestic consumption," said a government official. South Korea will also ease and expand its current fast-track entry program, which expedites immigration procedures at airports, to include more foreigners and businesspeople attending large-scale international conferences and other events. 2025-08-06 16:38:31

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries wins US Navy ship repair contract SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced Wednesday that it has secured a contract to perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul work on a U.S. Navy vessel. The deal marks the first such agreement since the two countries began discussing broader cooperation in shipbuilding. The contract involves the USNS Alan Shepard, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship weighing 41,000 tons. The work will be carried out at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan and is expected to be completed and the vessel redelivered in November, the company said in a press release. Joo Won-ho, the head of HD Hyundai Heavy’s naval and special ship business unit, highlighted the significance of the contract. "This MRO contract is significant as it's the first order following the government's 'Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)' proposal," he said, referring to a South Korean initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation with the United States. South Korea's government proposed the $150 billion shipbuilding cooperation plan as a potential bargaining chip to counter potential tariff measures from the U.S. The contract is the latest step in a series of efforts by HD Hyundai to deepen its ties with the United States. The company signed a strategic partnership with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest U.S. defense shipbuilder, in April to collaborate on technology and joint naval ship construction. It also entered into a commercial shipbuilding partnership with the American company Edison Chouest Offshore in June. Other South Korean shipbuilders are also pursuing U.S. market opportunities. Hanwha Ocean, another major player, won a maintenance contract for the auxiliary ship Charles Drew last month and secured two other naval maintenance contracts in 2024. 2025-08-06 16:27:48

Three former Sapeon employees indicted for stealing AI core technology SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - South Korean prosecutors have indicted three former employees of the artificial intelligence chip company Sapeon, accusing them of leaking core technologies ahead of the company's planned merger with a domestic rival. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday it charged two of the former employees with theft of industrial technology, unfair competition, and breach of trust. A third former executive was indicted without detention on the same charges. According to prosecutors, the stolen materials, which include source codes and technical documents for AI semiconductor architecture, are valued at approximately 28 billion won, or about $20.2 million. The prosecutors allege that the former Sapeon employees leaked the source codes to external hard drives and personal cloud storage between January and June of 2024. The former executive is accused of leaking separate architectural materials to an external hard drive in March 2023. The indictment states that the former executive left Sapeon before its merger with Rebellions, another domestic AI chip firm, and founded a new AI semiconductor startup. The two employees later joined his new company as engineers. 2025-08-06 16:22:15

[[K-Food]] PHOTOS: Korea's summer stamina food SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - As the summer heat grips the Korean Peninsula, many find themselves turning to food not just for nourishment but for revival. And while the instinct may be to cool down with icy treats or chilled dishes, Korean tradition takes a different path: when it gets hot, the food gets hotter. Contrary to expectations, Korea’s summer stamina foods — or boyangshik — are served steaming. Rooted in centuries of traditional medicine and culinary wisdom, these dishes are designed to replenish energy drained by heat and humidity, using hot broths and nutrient-rich ingredients to invigorate the body from within. Among the most iconic of these is samgyetang, a restorative ginseng chicken soup. Widely known even among international diners, the dish features a young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujubes, garlic, and herbal ingredients, all simmered to tender perfection in a rich, warming broth. Another classic is chueotang, a loach soup prized for its hearty, earthy flavor. Made by boiling and blending loach — a small freshwater fish — the dish is thickened into a deeply savory broth, often seasoned with soybean paste and red chili paste to mask any fishy odor. Radish greens and scallions are added to enhance its depth. The result is a rustic, comforting bowl with a nutty, spicy edge. High in protein and calcium, the dish is often recommended for bone health. Grilled eel, or jangeo-gui, rounds out the trio of summer staples. Long considered a luxury stamina food, eel is rich and buttery yet surprisingly clean in flavor. Typically paired with ginger and a slightly sweet soy-based glaze, it is not only a delicacy but also a nutritional powerhouse — high in protein, vitamins A and E for skin health, and unsaturated fats believed to help prevent chronic illnesses. While each dish carries its own history and flavor, what unites them is their purpose: to restore balance and strength when the body is under seasonal strain. With a range of variations tailored to different tastes and constitutions, Korea’s summer cuisine offers more than just relief — it offers resilience, one hot bowl at a time. 2025-08-06 15:22:04

Elderly account for almost half of total medical expenditures SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - With South Korea's rapidly aging population and declining birthrate, healthcare spending keeps rising as elderly people make up a larger proportion of those who seek medical treatments. According to data submitted on Wednesday to lawmaker Kim Mi-ae of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the proportion of elderly patients aged over 65 rose to 44.8 percent last year, up from 43.1 percent in 2020. Their medical spending amounted to 52.12 trillion won (US$39.8 billion), up nearly 40 percent from 37.47 trillion won (US$28.6 billion) during the same period, accounting for nearly half of the country's total health insurance expenditures. In the first half of this year alone, their spending already reached 27.98 trillion won (US$21.4 billion), making it likely that the total for the year will exceed last year's figure. 2025-08-06 15:16:49

[[K-Tech]] Hanwha Systems delivers first mass-produced AESA radar for KF-21 fighter jet SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems has completed delivery of South Korea’s first domestically mass-produced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for the KF-21 fighter jet, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s push for self-reliant defense technology, the company announced Wednesday. The radar handover ceremony was held Tuesday at the Hanwha Systems Integrated Research Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The event was hosted by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and organized by Hanwha Systems. Under the contract terms, a total of 40 AESA radar units are scheduled to be delivered by 2028 for integration into the next-generation KF-21 Boramae fighter, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries. The AESA radar is considered a cornerstone of modern air combat capability. Comprising approximately 1,000 transmit/receive modules (TRMs), the radar electronically steers its beam without mechanical movement by varying the phase of signals emitted from each module. This enables rapid scanning across wide angles, allowing the radar to detect, track, and identify multiple targets simultaneously — a sharp contrast to older mechanically scanned radars. The successful mass production of the radar underscores South Korea’s emergence as a credible developer of advanced defense electronics — an achievement made more notable by early skepticism surrounding the project. In 2015, the United States declined to transfer core AESA radar technologies for the KF-21, raising doubts about the feasibility of a fully indigenous solution. Hanwha Systems joined the program as a prototype manufacturer under the leadership of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), completing the first working prototype in 2020 — just four years after development began. The project is now viewed as a landmark case of South Korea’s growing capabilities in strategic military technologies. “Hanwha Systems is the only domestic company to have successfully developed and mass-produced a homegrown AESA radar for aircraft,” said Park Hyuk, head of the company’s Defense Electronics division. “With export deals already in hand, we’re now accelerating efforts to bring our radar systems to the global market.” Park added that the company aims to broaden the application of its AESA radar technology across a range of platforms, including mid-size fighter jets, light combat aircraft, and even small drones. The KF-21, South Korea’s first domestically developed fighter jet, is expected to serve as the backbone of the country’s air force over the coming decades, and its successful integration of homegrown components is central to Seoul’s ambitions for defense autonomy and global competitiveness in the arms industry. 2025-08-06 14:48:13

Wall Street banks lift growth forecasts for S. Korea as exports, trade outlook improve SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - Major international investment banks are turning more optimistic about South Korea’s economic prospects, with J.P. Morgan raising its 2025 growth forecast for the country for the second time in a month. J.P. Morgan has lifted its projection for South Korea’s real gross domestic product growth to 0.7 percent on July 24, up from 0.5 percent at the end of June. The 0.2 percentage-point upward revision follows stronger-than-expected second-quarter growth, driven by resilient exports and a rebound in manufacturing, the bank said in a release, citing data from the Bank of Korea. Until late June, J.P. Morgan had held the lowest forecast among eight major global investment banks tracked by the Korea Center for International Finance. The Wall Street firm maintained its average annualized growth forecast for the second half of 2025 at 1.8 percent. It cautioned, however, that third-quarter momentum may taper due to base effects, though ongoing fiscal stimulus should cushion any slowdown. Goldman Sachs also adjusted its outlook upward on Aug. 1, raising its 2025 growth forecast to 1.2 percent from 1.1 percent. The bank cited easing trade-related uncertainty following recent Korea-U.S. negotiations. “The trade announcement alleviates tariff-related risks for key sectors such as semiconductors,” Goldman Sachs said in a note, adding that South Korea now faces no worse conditions than its global peers. This latest revision follows an earlier upgrade in June, when Goldman increased its forecast from 0.7 percent to 1.1 percent, citing reduced U.S. tariff threats, stronger growth outlooks in the United States and China, and expected fiscal support from Seoul. Despite the individual upgrades, the average 2025 GDP growth forecast among the eight international banks remained steady at 0.9 percent as of late July, unchanged for a second consecutive month, according to the Korea Center for International Finance. The Bank of Korea may also revise its growth outlook upward later this month when it releases its August economic update. In May, the central bank projected 0.8 percent growth for the year and said a second supplementary budget could add about 0.1 percentage point to that figure. 2025-08-06 14:36:45