[[K-Tech]] Samsung's Galaxy S25 hits 3 million sales in Korea — fastest pace yet for 5G Galaxy phone SEOUL, August 05 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that its Galaxy S25 smartphone series has surpassed 3 million domestic sales, achieving the milestone faster than any previous 5G Galaxy S device. Launched in February 2025, the Galaxy S25 lineup reached the 3 million mark two months earlier than its predecessor, while maintaining steady momentum throughout the first half of the year. Pre-launch anticipation was particularly high, with Samsung recording 1.3 million pre-orders — the highest in the Galaxy S series’ history. Much of the enthusiasm was driven by upgrades in performance and the debut of Galaxy AI features, including the personalized “Now Brief” function. Samsung cited widespread use of new on-device AI tools such as generative photo editing, automatic slow-motion rendering, and audio eraser features as key factors in sustaining sales after the launch period. The company’s Galaxy AI subscription club, which offers a 50 percent residual value guarantee after one year, also proved popular — accounting for 30 percent of purchases made through Samsung’s direct sales channels. The company’s success extended into the second half of the year with the recent launch of its foldable flagships, the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, on July 25. The duo generated a record 1.04 million pre-orders — surpassing all previous foldable Galaxy models — fueled by a slimmer design and the foldable-optimized ONE UI 8 interface. Samsung credited the strong showing to its continued integration of advanced AI and hardware innovation across its product lineup. 2025-08-05 16:29:33

[[K-Tech]] S. Korean firm lands $79 million deal for Singapore power grid expansion SEOUL, August 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution has secured a major contract with Singapore’s state-run electricity provider to deliver and install a 400-kilovolt underground power network as part of a regional initiative to expand clean energy transmission. The deal, announced Tuesday, was signed with SP PowerAssets Limited and is valued at approximately 110 billion won, or $79.2 million. The project will form a critical piece of Singapore’s energy infrastructure as the city-state prepares to import renewable electricity from Indonesia. Under a turnkey model, Taihan will oversee the full construction of the high-voltage system — from initial design and cable manufacturing to underground installation, connection, and testing — delivering a fully operational network to SP PowerAssets. The new transmission line will feed power to a substation on Singapore’s West Jurong Island, a key industrial hub. The contract comes as Singapore's electricity demand surges, fueled by a growing number of data centers and AI-driven infrastructure. The cross-border grid project is part of a broader push by Southeast Asian nations to decarbonize energy systems and enhance regional connectivity. “This contract once again proves Taihan’s competitive edge in Singapore’s ultra-high voltage power grid market,” the company said in a statement. “As a key supplier in the region, we plan to accelerate our push into high-value markets by leveraging our technological leadership in strategic products such as HVDC and subsea cable systems.” 2025-08-05 16:22:30

[[K-Food]] Young chefs explore Korean cuisine in Indonesia SEOUL, August 5 (AJP) - Riding a global wave of enthusiasm for Korean food culture, South Korean food firm CJ CheilJedang has concluded its first overseas culinary competition, aimed at fostering the next generation of Korean food ambassadors abroad. The event, part of the company’s Cuisine.K initiative, was held in Indonesia in partnership with Akademi Sages, a leading culinary institute in the country. CJ CheilJedang served as the exclusive sponsor of the two-month competition, which attracted over 100 aspiring chefs eager to fuse Korean flavors with local traditions. The contest began in May with an online preliminary round, challenging participants to create original dishes under the theme of Indonesian-Korean main courses using Korean ingredients. Competitors drew on a variety of CJ products widely available in Indonesia — such as Bibigo dumplings, seaweed, and gochujang (red pepper paste) — to craft dishes that reflected both culinary cultures. Michael Ken Samuel, who emerged as the grand prize winner, impressed judges with his inventive use of dumplings and fermented soybean paste. “This competition not only deepened my understanding of Korean cuisine but also solidified my dream of becoming a Korean food chef,” Samuel said following his win. The initiative comes as Korean cuisine continues to gain international attention through popular media, including Netflix’s hit cooking show Culinary Class Wars, which has helped spotlight Korean food culture on screens worldwide. “For CJ CheilJedang, this was more than a competition — it was a meaningful opportunity to inspire lasting interest in Korean cuisine and share the DNA of K-food with the next generation of chefs in Indonesia,” said Kim Sang-myeong, who oversaw the project. The company said it plans to expand the Cuisine.K program to other countries in the coming years, in line with its broader efforts to globalize Korean food and elevate local talent with a passion for Korean flavors. 2025-08-05 16:16:26

TRAVEL: Seeking solace in cold valleys of Mount Geumsu JECHEON, August 05 (AJP) - In the thick of a Korean summer, when the humidity clings to your skin and the sun bakes the city streets, the idea of hiking a mountain may seem more ordeal than escape. But in the highlands of the Korean Peninsula, nature offers a surprising reprieve. At Mount Geumsu, which straddles the regions of Danyang and Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province, chilled streams and shaded trails provide relief even in the hottest months. Rising to 1,016 meters and nestled within Woraksan National Park, Mount Geumsu is one of the few places where a midsummer trek ends not in exhaustion, but exhilaration. What makes this mountain especially unique is the phenomenon known as "eoreumgol" — literally “Ice Valley.” Here, even during August’s peak heat, icy air seeps from deep rock crevices, cooling the surrounding area and forming frost under the right conditions. The crevices are wide enough for two or three people to sit inside, and the cold draft is so strong it seems to breathe new life into tired limbs. Only a handful of such valleys exist across the country, found in places like Mount Palgong in Gunwi and Mount Juwang in Cheongsong. But Mount Geumsu's eoreumgol, combined with the mountain’s dense pine forests and mineral springs, makes it a rare refuge — a natural air-conditioner built into the landscape. For weary hikers, the moment of dipping sun-warmed hands into the icy waters of a mountain stream is a kind of instant therapy. The stream winds through mossy rocks beneath the forest canopy, its glass-clear water offering moments of quiet reflection and pure sensory pleasure. The reward for reaching the summit is a sweeping view of the Namhangang River and the sprawling lakes formed by the Chungju Dam — known as Chungju Lake in Chungju and Cheongpung Lake in Jecheon. On clear days, the glinting expanse of water, framed by green peaks, feels worlds away from the thick summer air below. In a season when many seek comfort in air-conditioned rooms and beach crowds, Mount Geumsu offers something quieter, cooler, and altogether more rejuvenating — proof that, sometimes, the best way to beat the heat is to climb toward it. 2025-08-05 16:06:46

Former first lady to appear for questioning on Wednesday SEOUL, August 5 (AJP) - While disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been stalling questioning, his wife and ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee is expected to appear for questioning on Wednesday over a slew of allegations. Once she does, Kim will become the first former first lady to be publicly summoned in the country's modern history. She has been accused of accepting bribes including a luxury handbag and jewelry, being involved in a stock manipulation scheme, and interfering in candidate nominations during the 2022 by-elections. Some of her charges had previously been dismissed, but fresh evidence uncovered by independent prosecutors has led to the reopening of related probes. Kim earlier said she would faithfully undergo questioning, though it remains to be seen whether she will fully cooperate. Meanwhile, prosecutors, who failed to forcibly bring in Yoon for questioning from a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province last week, are expected to make another attempt later this week before a warrant to arrest him, issued by the Seoul Central District Court, expires on Thursday. They had to leave the prison empty-handed, as Yoon reportedly protested vehemently by lying almost bare-naked on the floor of his cell, refusing to comply with prosecutors' repeated requests to respond to questioning. But Yoon claimed he had to do so because of health issues, including difficulty regulating his body temperature, denouncing prosecutors for "publicly shaming" him by inappropriately revealing these personal ailments. 2025-08-05 15:54:31

Tajik teachers attend digital learning program in S. Korea SEOUL, August 5 (AJP) - A seminar on digital education for teachers from Tajikistan kicked off on Monday in a central South Korean city, as part of growing educational cooperation between South Korea and Tajikistan. The two-week program, hosted by the Office of Education in Sejong city, South Korea’s administrative capital, brings together 30 Tajik teachers to explore Korea’s experience with digital tools in classrooms, teacher training, and online learning platforms. The initiative comes as Tajikistan accelerates its efforts to reform the education system through digital transformation. In recent years, the country has introduced a national roadmap for education digitalization and launched a five-year ICT program for schools. The country’s president Emomali Rahmon has also declared 2025 to 2030 the "Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development." "The knowledge and experience shared through this program will not only enhance the capabilities of teachers but also inspire countless students to become active participants in the digital age," said Salohiddin Kirom, Tajikistan’s ambassador to Seoul, expressing gratitude to the Sejong Office of Education. 2025-08-05 15:52:14

China's EV boom offers new opportunities for Korean auto suppliers: KOTRA SEOUL, August 05 (AJP) - China’s dominance in electric vehicle production is opening a fresh wave of opportunities for South Korean companies, particularly those specializing in core automotive technologies and components, according to a new report by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). In a report released Tuesday titled “Recent Trends and Implications in China’s Automotive Industry,” KOTRA identified strong potential for Korean firms to supply electric vehicle-related parts and systems as Chinese automakers expand output and face growing international scrutiny. The agency pointed to surging demand for automotive semiconductors, ultra-lightweight materials, EV software solutions, and components related to speed reduction and transmission as key areas for growth. “As China pivots toward electric mobility, there is a widening gap between rapid expansion and the need for high-quality, specialized components—precisely where Korean firms excel,” said Lee Ji-hyung from KOTRA. “Our focus must be on developing technologies tailored to the unique demands of China’s market while building deeper partnerships with local players.” The report details how China, in 2024, cemented its role as the world’s largest auto market, producing and selling over 30 million vehicles and exporting more than 5 million. Electric vehicles accounted for over 40 percent of total production, and Chinese brands now command more than 80 percent of the domestic EV segment. However, the report also underscores challenges within the Chinese market. Fierce price competition has left only a handful of EV makers — including BYD, Li Auto, and Tesla — operating above the breakeven point, thanks to annual sales volumes exceeding 400,000 units. As domestic competition intensifies, Chinese automakers are accelerating exports, prompting protective responses from the United States, the European Union, and several Latin American countries, including countervailing duties and anti-dumping measures. These trade frictions, KOTRA noted, are creating new supply chain dynamics that Korean firms can tap into. The report emphasizes the strategic advantage Korean suppliers hold in high-precision, export-ready components — particularly as Chinese manufacturers aim to improve quality and performance to compete globally. 2025-08-05 14:15:12

[[K-Tech]] Korean biotech firms target Middle East's healthcare markets SEOUL, August 05 (AJP) - South Korean pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are ramping up expansion into the Middle East, seizing new opportunities in healthcare as Gulf nations shift their economic focus away from oil and toward medical innovation and services. Botulinum toxin manufacturers and medical artificial intelligence firms are at the forefront of this push, aiming to tap into rising healthcare investments across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, industry officials said Tuesday. Hugel, a leading South Korean aesthetic medicine firm, is awaiting regulatory approval to launch its botulinum toxin product, Botulax, in Saudi Arabia. Mirae Asset Securities expects the company’s botulinum exports to surge by 53 percent in the second half of 2025 compared to the first half. The move follows Hugel’s market entries into Kuwait in 2023 via Medica Group and the United Arab Emirates this past May, positioning Saudi Arabia as its next major target. Medytox, which also entered the Saudi market last year, is moving to establish the first Korean botulinum toxin manufacturing plant in the region. The firm signed an agreement in May with Dubai’s Tecom Group to construct the facility within Dubai Science Park, a strategic step toward localizing production. Daewoong Pharmaceutical, another major player, has expanded its botulinum toxin product, Nabota, to five Middle Eastern markets since 2022. Export sales for Nabota reached 156 billion won ($120 million) in 2024, up from 108.2 billion won two years earlier. The biotech push extends beyond aesthetics. South Korea’s medical AI companies are also accelerating efforts to enter the region. Last month, Vuno signed a partnership with an Egyptian healthcare provider to distribute its AI-powered cardiac arrest prediction tool, DeepCAS, across Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The firm is currently navigating local regulatory approval processes. Lunit, a Seoul-based medical AI startup, played a prominent role during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in June, providing AI-assisted chest X-ray analysis to detect infectious respiratory illnesses such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Since entering the region in 2023, Lunit has secured supply contracts with UAE’s SEHA health authority and Saudi Arabia’s Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group. Analysts say the momentum is driven by the region’s push for economic diversification and aspirations to become global medical hubs. According to market research firm Research and Markets, the pharmaceutical market in the Middle East and Africa is projected to grow to $42.4 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 percent. 2025-08-05 14:05:14

South Korea moves to shore up steel industry hit by US tariffs, Chinese imports SEOUL, August 5 (AJP) - A joint inspection team made up of senior government officials and industry representatives visited major steelworks in the southeastern port city of Pohang on Tuesday, as South Korea confronts a deepening crisis in its steel sector driven by U.S. tariffs and a surge in low-cost Chinese imports. The team, including officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, held closed-door meetings at the steel plants of POSCO and Hyundai Steel. The site visits were intended to assess the feasibility of designating Pohang as a preemptive industrial crisis response zone, according to city officials. The visit comes as Pohang, long the center of South Korea’s steel industry, suffers from a severe slowdown. Production at the city’s steel industrial complex, which houses 268 companies operating 355 factories, totaled 1.2 trillion won (about $920 million) in May — a 7.2 percent decline from a year earlier. Cumulative output through May fell 9.3 percent year-on-year to 5.87 trillion won. Amid growing global competition and weakening demand, major steelmakers have begun scaling back operations in the region. POSCO shuttered its No. 1 blast furnace last year, followed more recently by the closure of its wire rod plant, citing an oversupply in the global market, falling prices, and outdated equipment. Hyundai Steel closed its No. 2 Pohang plant in July, citing unsustainable losses. The downturn has prompted an unusual show of political unity. On Monday, 106 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties jointly introduced a sweeping “K-Steel Bill,” which would establish a presidential committee under President Lee Jae Myung to guide the industry’s transition toward low-carbon steelmaking. The proposed legislation outlines plans to designate four major steel-producing regions — Pohang, Gwangyang, Incheon and Dangjin — as special green steel zones. These areas would benefit from fast-tracked permits, reduced administrative fees, and exemptions from certain antitrust regulations to allow for coordinated restructuring efforts. The bill also proposes tougher trade defenses, including stricter verification of country-of-origin claims and extended anti-dumping measures, in an effort to stem the influx of low-priced Chinese steel. Crucially, the legislation seeks to position South Korea’s steel industry for a transition to hydrogen-based production, as global regulatory pressures mount. The European Union is set to impose carbon-based tariffs on steel imports, raising the stakes for producers who continue to rely on coal-intensive methods. Industry leaders welcomed the proposed overhaul. “This special bill comes at a very important time for overcoming the steel industry crisis and transitioning to green steel technology,” said Lee Kyung-ho, executive vice chairman of the Korea Iron & Steel Association, which has traditionally been led by chairmen of POSCO. The bill, if enacted, could provide a critical boost to an industry that helped power South Korea’s postwar economic rise — but now finds itself at a crossroads, squeezed between environmental mandates abroad and fierce price competition at home. 2025-08-05 13:59:16

Striker Son Heung-min's move to Los Angeles FC 'imminent' SEOUL, August 5 (AJP) - Striker Son Heung-min appears to be on the verge of joining Los Angeles FC. Son "is poised to sign with MLS side LAFC, with an unveiling happening as soon as Wednesday," ESPN reported Monday, citing sources. The American sports network added that Son is set to join LAFC for a "fee of around $26 million." Amid months of swirling transfer rumors, Son finally confirmed he is leaving Tottenham Hotspur, just ahead of a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul over the weekend, describing it as "one of the hardest decisions" of his football career. British media outlet BBC also reported similarly, "The final details of the transfer remain in discussion but his move to LAFC is now considered subject just to the completion of paperwork and a medical." Son, whose contract with Spurs runs until 2026, has scored 173 goals in 454 appearances since his transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He is set to head west soon to complete the transfer and begin a new chapter after wrapping up his 10-year stint with Tottenham. 2025-08-05 10:46:33