Gov't set to distribute cash vouchers after passing $22.7 bln supplementary budget SEOUL, July 5 (AJP) - South Korea on Saturday approved a 31.8 trillion won ($22.7 billion) supplementary budget aimed at reviving the economy and supporting livelihoods. The cabinet meeting, held at the presidential office in Yongsan, followed the budget’s parliamentary approval the night before. President Lee Jae-myung, who presided over the meeting, said the move was in response to the country’s “difficult economic conditions” and urged each ministry to ensure the smooth implementation of the measures. A central part of the budget is a 13.8 trillion won ($9.7 billion) cash voucher program designed to boost private consumption. All 51.17 million citizens will receive between 150,000 and 550,000 won ($109–$400), depending on their income brackets and region of residence. Those in non-capital or population-declining areas will get the highest amount. The voucher budget was initially set at 13.2 trillion won ($9.4 billion) but was increased by 600 billion won ($430 million) during National Assembly deliberations, led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP). “Handing out cash efficiently and quickly will play a key role in stimulating demand and aiding economic recovery,” Lee said. The first round of payments is expected to be made as early as this month. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) criticized the move, warning it could worsen the national debt, which has already surpassed 1,300 trillion won ($930 billion). The debt-to-GDP ratio has also climbed to nearly 50 percent. Meanwhile, the meeting was also the first for new Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, confirmed earlier this week. Kim said he felt a “strong sense of responsibility” and would work with urgency and accountability as the President’s chief aide. 2025-07-05 10:50:00

France looks to deepen IP cooperation with S. Korea in film and media SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - France is pushing for stronger cooperation with South Korea in the area of intellectual property rights, particularly in film and media, as the rapid rise of generative AI and global content platforms continues to disrupt traditional frameworks. Speaking at a press conference hosted by the French Embassy in Seoul on Friday, Gaëtan Bruel, the President of the French National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC), underlined the urgency of protecting creative rights in both countries. "South Korea and France are two nations that deeply value their cultural identity and creative freedom," said Bruel. "By working together on frameworks that protect intellectual property, we can ensure that creators are not only respected but fairly compensated." Bruel is in South Korea from July 4 to 8 to attend the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). The visit reflects a shared interest in developing joint production networks, expanding content distribution, and addressing legal and policy challenges tied to emerging technologies. He is also scheduled to speak at an international conference on July 6 at the Bucheon Art Center, where AI’s impact on the content industry will be a key focus. He pointed to the need for updated legal tools to manage issues such as piracy, fair compensation, and the ownership of AI-generated material. "We need to rethink how copyright frameworks can remain robust in the face of generative AI," he said. Founded in 1946, the CNC operates under France’s Ministry of Culture with an independent budget. It plays a central role in supporting filmmakers and audiovisual creators, while regulating and coordinating policies to ensure balanced development across the French content industry. Before assuming his current role in February 2025, Bruel served as chief of staff to France’s minister of culture and previously held senior posts in the foreign and defense ministries. From 2019 to 2023, he was cultural counselor at the French Embassy in Washington, where he launched the Villa Albertine artist residency program and opened a CNC-backed office in Hollywood to promote French content in the United States. France sees South Korea as a natural partner in this area, pointing to similarities in domestic content support, strong theatrical networks, and the international reach of cultural exports. Both countries have also worked to maintain creator-centered policies in the face of global industry shifts. During the visit, France is expected to explore deeper cooperation with South Korea in areas such as co-production, cross-border content distribution, and rights protection for creators. Discussions are also expected to include corporate social responsibility practices that could apply across the media sector. 2025-07-04 17:52:25

GS Retail launches AI-assisted feature to help customers shop for alcoholic beverages SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - GS Retail, the operator of convenience store chain GS25, has launched a new feature that allows customers to identify wines and other alcoholic beverages simply by photographing them without the need to scan QR codes or barcodes. Since last week, the artificial intelligence-assisted feature is available on its mobile app Wooridongne's Wine25Plus. It can recognize and provide information on approximately 10,000 types of alcoholic beverages such as wines and whiskey as well as traditional Korean liquors, Japanese rice wine (sake) and Chinese baijiu. Customers just need to take photos of products and upload them to access detailed information and real-time reviews, making shopping easier, especially for those who find it difficult to distinguish between brands and varieties in liquor stores. GS Retail said its Wine25Plus online store currently handles an average of 9,000 alcohol-related searches daily, demonstrating strong demand for the feature. A GS Retail spokesperson told AJP on Friday, "We went through rigorous testing to enhance searches and improve accuracy ahead of the feature's launch," adding that even foreigners can use the service after downloading the app and completing some verification procedures. Users who order products through the app can also pick them up at their nearest GS25 convenience stores nationwide. "I believe the latest feature makes shopping even more convenient for customers," said Seo Dong-woo, head of GS Retail's Platform DX division, adding that the company plans to continue expanding AI-powered services. 2025-07-04 17:35:24

Chinese tech giant Tencent unveils massive investment plans to boost cloud business in South Korea SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - Chinese tech giant Tencent aims to boost investment and hiring to expand its presence here, as it considers South Korea a key strategic market. During an interview in central Seoul earlier this week, general manager Nicky Fang of Tencent Cloud, a cloud computing service arm, unveiled the company's ambitious plans to further accelerate its business here, with a focus on gaming, e-commerce, and entertainment. In particular, it seeks to leverage its expertise in the entertainment industry including online video streaming to compete with global archrivals and other competitors. Since making an inroad into South Korea in 2018, Tencent Cloud currently operates two availability zones (AZs) in Seoul, in addition to offering exabyte-level storage across 56 availability zones in 21 regions globally. Fang particularly emphasized the company's "irreplaceable strength" in the entertainment industry, citing its WeChat messaging platform with over 1.4 billion users and its strong presence in the gaming sector, which sets it apart from other cloud-service competitors. South Korea's cloud business market has been dominated by the big three global players, with Amazon Web Services holding a lion's share of 60.2 percent, followed by Microsoft Azure at 24 percent and Google Cloud at 19.9 percent, according to a 2023 survey by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Specific figures for Tencent Cloud's market presence in South Korea are not readily available due to its recent entry here. Tencent Cloud's latest expansion plans come after another Chinese giant, Alibaba Cloud, opened its second data center in Seoul last month, about three years after its first one in 2022. Welcoming what could be a heated competition with Alibaba Cloud, Fang said, "Alibaba Cloud's addition of another data center in South Korea proves that our strategy of prioritizing the South Korean market was correct." He vowed the company aims to achieve double-digit annual growth but declined to provide details on sales revenues. 2025-07-04 17:00:35

Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' voted 'best film of 21st century' by NYT readers SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - Director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film "Parasite" has been voted the "best movie of the 21st century" by the readers of the New York Times. According to the daily, a survey of over 200,000 readers choosing the top 100 films named Bong's 2019 film as their top pick, followed by David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and the Coen brothers' "No Country for Old Men" (2007). Another film by Bong, "Memories of Murder" (2003), also made the top 100, placing 49th. Compatriot Park Chan-wook's films "Oldboy" (2003) and "The Handmaiden" (2016) were also included, ranking 40th and 67th. Earlier, "Parasite" also took the top spot in a similar survey last month by the daily, in which more than 500 filmmakers, actors, and film critics voted for the 10 best movies released since January 2000. 2025-07-04 15:53:49

North Korea denounces Quad's demand for denuclearization SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - North Korea on Friday slammed the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad over its "coercive" demand for the isolated country's complete denuclearization, calling it a "provocation" that infringes on its sovereignty. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) accused the informal alliance, which was formed among Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, of "recklessly interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign state" and warned that "such acts will inevitably bring about grave consequences," quoting the foreign ministry. The ministry claimed its nuclear-armed state "permanently fixed and irreversible," warning that it would not hesitate to take "self-defensive countermeasures" if provoked. It further threatened that the U.S. must be responsible for any negative consequences of its "malicious and hostile" intentions against the North. The North's tirade came after the foreign ministers of the four countries met in Washington earlier this week and issued a joint statement condemning North Korea's continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. In their meeting chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Quad countries also reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 2025-07-04 14:50:29

KAIST and King Saud University partner to develop open-source AI model SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - South Korea's prominent research institute Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) and Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University (KSU) have agreed to work together on building an open-source artificial intelligence platform, offering an alternative to the current dominance of the United States and China in the global AI landscape. The two universities held a meeting on Jul. 3 at the KAIST campus in Seoul. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung and KSU President Abdulla Al-Salman discussed a range of joint initiatives, including AI research, digital platform development, student and faculty exchanges, and a dual graduate degree program. A key focus will be the creation of a joint AI research center to develop open AI models with real-world applications. The collaboration reflects a shared interest in promoting what President Lee described as a "Tripartite Platform Strategy," a vision for a more cooperative and open AI framework that does not rely on the existing digital power structures led by the U.S. and China. "Under Saudi Vision 2030, we are driving innovation in science and technology through new leadership, openness, and strategic investment," said President Al-Salman. "This partnership with KAIST will serve as a critical foundation for building a competitive AI ecosystem in the Middle East." President Lee said, "By combining Saudi Arabia's leadership, market, and investment capacity with KAIST's technological innovation and the rich talent pools from both countries, we will significantly contribute to diversifying the global AI ecosystem." Saudi Arabia brings strong capital and digital infrastructure to the table. South Korea offers expertise in semiconductors, core AI technologies, applied research, and education. Both sides see the partnership as a way to expand access to AI development beyond the current two-pole system. The two leaders said their goal is to develop independent AI models that will allow countries across the MENA region, Southeast Asia, and beyond to take part in a more inclusive innovation environment. KAIST and KSU plan to formalize their agreement through a memorandum of understanding. They also plan to move ahead with projects such as the joint research center and talent development programs. The partnership was launched through the Korea Foundation's Distinguished Guests Invitation Program, supported by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Founded in 1957, King Saud University is Saudi Arabia's first national university and has built a strong reputation in areas including artificial intelligence, energy, and biotechnology. KAIST is South Korea's top science and engineering university and is recognized for its leadership in innovation, AI, and advanced research. 2025-07-04 13:10:14

Empyrion Digital opens first new Gangnam data center in over a decade SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - Singapore-based Empyrion Digital officially opened its KR1 Gangnam Data Centre on Wednesday, marking the first new data center development in Seoul's Gangnam district in more than 10 years. The 29.4 megawatt IT load facility, located in Seocho District, spans 30,714 square meters and represents the company's second operational asset in Asia following its 2021 acquisition of SG1 Dodid in Singapore. Singapore Ambassador to South Korea H.E. Eric Teo, Seocho District Vice Mayor Jung Young-jun, and other business leaders attended the opening ceremony. The facility is designed to support hyperscaler and enterprise customers requiring high-density infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cloud computing applications, with each rack capable of handling up to 140 kilowatts of AI workloads. "KR1 GDC is launched at a time when demand for high-quality, power-secured facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area far exceeds supply," said Mark Fong, chief executive of Empyrion Digital. "With South Korea advancing its goal to become a global AI powerhouse, KR1 GDC reflects Empyrion Digital's foresight and execution in addressing this infrastructure gap." The data center features advanced cooling technologies and green design principles, with a Power Usage Effectiveness rating of 1.3. The facility includes seven data halls across floors two through eight, with ceiling heights of seven meters for floors one through six and eight meters for floors seven and eight. The building can provision up to 40 megawatts of power, with 25.4 megawatts available for IT devices. Chief Strategy Officer Choi Yong-seok explained the strategic location choice, saying “our data center is located in the region where network connectivity is ensured in its maximum” and noted the facility is positioned just 500 meters from the Gyeongbu Expressway, which connects Seoul to the southern port city of Busan. Empyrion Digital is a portfolio company of Seraya Partners, an Asia-focused infrastructure fund managing 1.8 billion dollars in assets. The company received operational certification last Friday and is strategically positioned near major network connectivity points, including Sejong and Gasan, with direct access to national backbone networks via the nearby Yangjae-daero corridor. 2025-07-04 11:13:46

Hyundai Steel and AWS forge strategic alliance to accelerate digital transformation SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - Hyundai Steel has signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to drive digital transformation and expand its presence as a global digital steelmaker. The agreement was formalized on July 1 (local time) at AWS headquarters in Seattle, inside The Spheres. The two companies plan to cooperate in two main areas: introducing AWS’s cloud infrastructure to Hyundai Steel’s domestic production sites to accelerate digital transformation, and exploring the application of Hyundai Steel’s low-carbon steel products in AWS’s global data center construction projects. The signing ceremony was attended by key executives from both companies, including Martyn Mallick, Vice President of Corporate Business at AWS; Kerry Person, Vice President of AWS Data Centers; Kim Hu‑gon, Executive Director in charge of steel supply at Hyundai Steel, and Kim Seung‑hoe, Head of Hyundai Steel’s DX Strategy Division. Ozgur Tohumcu, AWS’s Head of Automotive and Manufacturing, emphasized the shared vision of the partnership, saying: “AWS and Hyundai Steel share a mutual commitment to innovation for both customers and the broader industry. We are proud to partner with Hyundai Steel on its journey to accelerate digital transformation through cloud and AI technologies.” As part of the agreement, Hyundai Steel is exploring plans to migrate its production management systems and data analytics operations to AWS Cloud. This transition would enable the company to build an AI-powered, real-time data integration and analysis environment across its domestic manufacturing facilities. In addition, Hyundai Steel sees the collaboration as a key opportunity to supply its low-carbon steel products to AWS’s ongoing global data center projects, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The move aligns with Hyundai Steel’s efforts to expand its footprint in the eco-friendly construction materials market. “This agreement marks a significant starting point to maximize synergy between the two companies,” said Kim Seung-hoe, Head of DX Strategy at Hyundai Steel. “It’s especially meaningful as it supports Hyundai Steel’s push to pioneer the global low-carbon steel market and strengthen its digital competitiveness. Through this partnership with AWS, we aim to propose a new vision for the steel industry.” In recent months, AWS has been deepening its footprint in Korea through strategic partnerships across key sectors. It established a generative AI launch center with LG CNS, began co-developing sovereign cloud services with LG U+, and partnered with Samsung on AI-powered telecom solutions. AWS is also building a hyperscale AI data center in Ulsan with SK Group. Now, Hyundai Steel joins this broader wave—bringing advanced manufacturing and low-carbon steel into AWS’s infrastructure. 2025-07-04 11:11:17

INTERVIEW: US strikes on Iranian nuke sites may spur North Korea's nuclear buildup, Iranian envoy warns SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - Last month's U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which came shortly after Israel's sudden attack on Tehran, have ignited a cycle of escalating military tensions and retaliatory attacks across the Middle East. These developments could have "perilous" global repercussions with far-reaching consequences for further hostilities, potentially emboldening nuclear-armed countries including North Korea to reassess their military capabilities and defense strategies, Iran's top envoy in Seoul warned in an exclusive interview with AJP earlier this week. "Those strikes could mislead North Korea into believing it must further bolster its military arsenals for nuclear deterrence, along with the notion that Washington is not a trustworthy partner for talks or negotiations," said Iranian Ambassador to Seoul Saeed Koozechi. Koozechi's comments came just a few weeks after Israel launched a "preemptive" attack on Iran on June 13, which it claimed was intended to prevent Tehran from nearing completion of nuclear weapons. Tensions in the already-volatile region escalated even further about a week later when Washington struck three Iranian nuclear sites including a secret underground uranium enrichment facility in a remote mountainous area using precision-guided, high-powered munitions known as "bunker-buster" bombs for the first time in an overnight operation dubbed "Midnight Hammer." About 12 days of tit-for-tat aerial strikes including Iranian missile attacks on a U.S. base in Qatar ended early last week with a "fragile" ceasefire deal mediated by the U.S. between Israel and Iran. Iran's development of nuclear weapons has long been in the crosshairs of international non-proliferation efforts, with many experts comparing it to North Korea's nuclear ambitions. At this point, Koozechi said he believes the fresh escalation of conflict in the Middle East may undermine such efforts, sending the "wrong signal" to countries that possess or are pursuing nuclear weapons programs like North Korea, where denuclearization talks remain stalled. He speculated that North Korea, which may feel threatened, would seek to further bolster its military buildup. Indeed, North Korea quickly condemned the strikes by both Israel and the U.S., with state media providing unusually detailed coverage instead of its typically terse commentary or silence on the outside world. Koozechi's comments draw attention to the multifaceted nature of Iran's diplomatic stance, as it maintains relations with the two Koreas and is one of only a handful of countries with an embassy in Pyongyang. Currently headed by chargé d'affaires ad interim Hossein Janzani, Tehran's mission in the isolated country resumed operations in recent years after North Korea gradually reopened its borders in 2022, following the coronavirus pandemic. When asked whether Tehran had communicated with Pyongyang about the latest Middle Eastern conflict, Koozechi declined to elaborate. Instead, he said vaguely that Iran has been "keenly monitoring the situation and assessing how it might affect peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, while coordinating with all Iranian missions overseas." But he assessed that the alleged U.S. "green light" for Israeli strikes, followed by its own airstrikes, blew any chance for future talks between Pyongyang and Washington, making U.S. President Donald Trump's overtures to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seem unlikely anytime soon. Furthermore, he predicted that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung may also find it difficult to ease tensions and pursue dialogue with the North, despite already taking a step by suspending loudspeaker broadcasts along the border areas just a week after taking office early last month, in what appeared to be a signal for rapprochement. He then cautioned that Seoul should brace itself and prepare for any fallout, which may "pose challenges to its security and complicate inter-Korean relations. In particular, pointing to Seoul's "ironclad" alliance with Washington, he asked, "If the U.S. truly considers South Korea a close ally, shouldn't it refrain from such futile strikes on Iran that could put its ally's security at risk?" Meanwhile, Koozechi insisted that Iran's nuclear program remains strictly for peaceful purposes such as energy generation and medical applications for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. He also denied his country's involvement with North Korea in developing missiles and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as any transfer of related technologies, dismissing such allegations as "false and ungrounded." Wrapping up the interview, he vowed that his country would "take whatever steps are necessary to defend its sovereignty and people, should it come under attack again." 2025-07-04 10:43:06