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

NZ envoy says clean tech offers major opportunity for South Korea–New Zealand ties SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - New Zealand Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Dawn Bennet says clean technology and renewable energy are among the most promising areas for expanding cooperation between the two countries. Speaking in an interview with Aju Press on Thursday, she pointed to the potential for joint growth in industries that are increasingly shaping the global economy. "There is a great opportunity for New Zealand and South Korea to work more closely together in the clean tech space, including renewable energy," she said. "It's an area where we see growing demand globally, and both countries have complementary strengths." Trade continues to be a core pillar of the relationship. "This year marks ten years since the Korea–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement came into effect, and we've seen real benefits on both sides," she said. "We now have kiwi fruit being grown in both countries. Jeju Island is growing a New Zealand variety, and at the same time, Korean mandarins are being exported to New Zealand. That kind of exchange reflects the complementarity and trust in our trading relationship." "South Korea is New Zealand's fifth-largest trading partner. We have a complementary trade relationship. We export a lot of food and beverages to South Korea, and we import high-quality technology and cars." She reiterated that clean tech and emerging industries hold particular promise. "There is increasing interest in expanding cooperation on emerging industries, including clean tech, which I mentioned earlier." She noted that both countries are investing heavily in innovation to meet future challenges. "South Korea is a leader in advanced manufacturing and digital technology, and New Zealand brings strengths in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and green innovation," she said. "By combining our expertise, we can help develop solutions that benefit not just our two countries, but the wider region as well." Bennet also pointed to the importance of collaboration at both the public and private levels. She said regular exchanges, joint research initiatives and partnerships between startups could help accelerate progress in areas such as energy transition, low-carbon transport and sustainable food production. The ambassador underscored that the two nations share a long history, dating back to the Korean War. "New Zealand's relationship with South Korea goes all the way back to the Korean War when New Zealand was one of the first countries to respond to the call for help to come here and fight," she said. "We sent 6,000 troops to help fight for Korea, which was quite significant at the time. New Zealand's population was only two million, so that was a big contribution." That history, she noted, laid the foundation for a strong and wide-ranging partnership. "It's a very strong and deep relationship. We have good connections across education, tourism, culture, business and even defense." One unexpected but lasting cultural connection emerged from the war as well. A traditional Māori love song called Pokarekare Ana, sung by New Zealand soldiers during their deployment, was picked up by South Korean troops and transformed into the Korean folk ballad "Yeon-ga" ("Love Song"). Today, the tune remains widely known and beloved in South Korea, reflecting a deep emotional link that outlived the battlefield. Bennet also spoke of growing ties on the people-to-people level. "We have a growing Korean community in New Zealand. Also, Korean tourists are very important for us, and the Korean language is even being taught in some of our schools now." She described South Korea as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region, citing shared democratic values and common interests. "New Zealand is part of the Indo-Pacific region and South Korea is a very important partner for us in the region. We share democratic values and a commitment to regional stability and prosperity." "We work together on issues such as climate change, non-proliferation and economic resilience," she added. "Those are very important issues for both of us." While New Zealand and South Korea are not military allies, the ambassador pointed out that defense and security cooperation remains active. "We don't have a military alliance with South Korea, but we do engage in defense exchanges and dialogue. We also participate in regional forums and support UN sanctions enforcement on North Korea." In education, South Korea remains a major partner. "We have a strong interest from Korean students in studying in New Zealand. We continue to focus on cooperation in education and youth mobility." Cultural exchanges are also an important aspect of the relationship. "We promote New Zealand through our films, food and Maori cultural events. Cultural exchange is a great way to build mutual understanding." "I feel very honored to serve in South Korea. I really enjoy Korean food and culture, and I am very grateful for the warm hospitality of the Korean people," she said. 2025-07-04 10:04:20

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk grilled by regulators over alleged IPO fraud SEOUL, July 3 (AJP) - South Korean financial regulators have summoned Bang Si-hyuk, the founder and chairman of HYBE, for questioning over allegations of fraudulent trading practices linked to the firm's initial public offering. Bang, the influential music executive who oversaw HYBE’s transformation into a global entertainment powerhouse, appeared before the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) late last month to address accusations that he misled investors in the run-up to the company’s 2020 stock market debut, sources from the FSS said Thursday. According to the allegations, Bang privately informed early investors and venture capital firms that HYBE had no plans to go public, only to subsequently arrange for those stakeholders to sell their shares to a private equity fund reportedly controlled by a close associate. That fund then profited significantly from HYBE’s IPO, generating an estimated 400 billion won, or roughly $294 million. Industry sources said Bang had a profit-sharing agreement with the fund — entitling him to more than 30 percent of its trading gains — but failed to disclose the arrangement in HYBE’s official securities filings. Regulators are investigating whether the alleged omission constitutes a breach of disclosure requirements under South Korean financial law. The FSS is currently reviewing the case and is expected to determine next steps through the Financial Services Commission’s Securities and Futures Commission. A formal referral to prosecutors remains under consideration. HYBE, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, went public in October 2020 and quickly became one of South Korea’s most valuable entertainment companies, propelled by the global success of BTS and an expanding roster of K-pop talent and international acquisitions. Neither HYBE nor Bang has publicly commented on the investigation. 2025-07-03 17:30:36

Aespa to drop collaboration song with PUBG: Battlegrounds SEOUL, July 3 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will release a collaborative song titled “Dark Arts” with the popular online game PUBG: Battlegrounds on July 15, SM Entertainment said Thursday. The song conveys a strong will to achieve victory in a survival battle, featuring intense rhythms and fast-paced guitar sounds. The upcoming release follows aespa’s recent single “Dirty Work,” which dropped last Friday and topped most South Korean music charts. The physical album sold over 910,000 copies within its first six days, according to Hanteo Chart, a South Korean music ranking and album sales tracking site. The song also ranked in five categories on China’s QQ Music and reached No. 1 on Japan’s AWA trending chart. Meanwhile, aespa will embark on their third world tour at the end of August, beginning with a three-day concert in Seoul. 2025-07-03 17:15:36

French AI firm Dataiku courts Korean enterprises SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - Dataiku, a French artificial intelligence platform company, unveiled its strategy to support South Korean businesses in adopting AI and accelerating digital transformation, during a press briefing in Seoul on Thursday. The company emphasized its growing partnerships with major Korean firms such as LG Chem and Nepes, highlighting its integrated platform’s flexibility and enterprise-grade security. The firm's co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Clément Sténac and Vice President of Platform Strategy Jed Dougherty outlined the firm's AI capabilities. “Our goal is to help organizations scale AI safely, transparently, and across all departments,” Sténac said. “AI is the core technology of the next industrial revolution, and we’re here to ensure that Korean companies can lead it.” Dataiku said its platform enables organizations to integrate AI across both multi-cloud and on-premises environments while preserving existing IT infrastructure. Dataiku’s presence in Korea is part of its broader global expansion. The company, which began in Paris and is now headquartered in New York, serves more than 700 customers worldwide — including over 220 Fortune 500 companies — through 13 international offices, the firm said. 2025-07-03 16:56:54

Korean power equipment makers expand in Europe SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - South Korean manufacturers of power infrastructure equipment are accelerating their push into European markets, seizing on surging demand for data center power systems and aging grid replacement across the continent. The expansion comes amid growing European concerns over energy security and infrastructure resilience. A series of recent power disruptions — including major blackouts in Spain and Portugal in April — coupled with intensifying summer heat waves have underscored vulnerabilities in Europe’s aging electrical networks. On June 29, HD Hyundai Electric signed a supply agreement with Bulk Infrastructure, a Norwegian data and telecommunications company. The agreement grants Hyundai Electric preferred bidding rights on high-voltage transformers and circuit breakers for Bulk’s future data center projects. The deal builds on an earlier contract signed in June 2024 to deliver two 400-kilovolt ultra-high voltage transformers for a Norwegian data center project scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026, Hyundai Electric officials said Thursday. Hyundai Electric has also ramped up its role in Europe’s broader grid modernization efforts, which are being driven by the continent’s accelerating transition to renewable energy. In May, the company won a contract to supply four 400kV transformers to SP Energy Networks in Scotland, followed by a 40 billion won (approximately $29 million) deal in June to provide equipment to Denmark’s state-owned utility, Energinet. Both contracts support infrastructure upgrades needed to accommodate rising solar and wind power generation. Hyosung Heavy Industries, another major South Korean player, is also expanding its European footprint. In May, the company signed an 85 billion won contract with Scottish Power to supply ultra-high voltage transformers designed to transmit electricity from wind farms in rural Scotland to population centers. Hyosung became the first South Korean firm to supply transformers to German transmission operators in the first quarter of this year, following earlier contract wins in France, Germany, Norway and Spain. 2025-07-03 16:49:35

LG Electronics sharpens focus on AI, robotics under CEO William Cho SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - LG Electronics is undergoing one of the most ambitious transformations in its corporate history, shifting its focus away from traditional consumer hardware toward emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and business-to-business solutions. Now in his fourth year at the helm, CEO William Cho — also known by his Korean name, Cho Joo-wan — is steering LG with a long-term vision centered on “structural competitiveness,” rather than chasing the cyclical ups and downs of consumer electronics. The pivot is already reshaping the company’s operations, financial profile, and identity in the global tech landscape. Since Cho’s appointment in 2021, LG has significantly expanded its research and development operations. As of 2024, the company employed more than 21,600 full-time R&D professionals — a 9.5 percent increase from 2021. The share of R&D staff among LG’s regular workforce rose from 27.2 percent to 29.4 percent during the same period. Backed by rising investment, LG’s R&D spending surged 32.1 percent over three years, reaching 4.76 trillion won (approximately $3.45 billion) in 2024. The company allocated more than 1.1 trillion won to R&D in the first quarter of 2025 alone. LG operates a two-tier innovation model: business-unit laboratories focus on product-level improvements, while the CTO division oversees long-term research in fundamental technologies. This global R&D network includes facilities across South Korea, as well as in the United States, Europe, Japan, India, and China. To fuel its AI ambitions, LG is aggressively recruiting top-tier talent, hosting tech conferences across North America to showcase its innovation roadmap and attract skilled engineers and researchers. At the heart of Cho’s strategy is a decisive pivot beyond hardware. The company is embedding AI and robotics into its core offerings, and expanding into autonomous service robots for logistics and food delivery. In his keynote at CES 2025, Cho teased developments in humanoid household robots, positioning LG at the forefront of domestic robotics. The company is also deepening ties with global tech giants. In March, Cho met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss expanding cooperation in AI agents and advanced data center cooling systems, an area where LG’s expertise in ventilation and air conditioning plays a key role. 2025-07-03 15:44:19

Republicans press Trump administration to challenge Korea's online platform regulation SEOUL, July 3 (AJP) - A group of 43 House Republicans is urging the Trump administration to confront South Korea over a proposed law regulating online platforms, warning that the measure could become a flashpoint in ongoing trade talks between the two countries. In a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the lawmakers called the proposed regulation a discriminatory barrier that unfairly targets American digital companies. The effort was led by Representatives Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Carol Miller of West Virginia. The legislation, championed by President Lee Jae Myung and previously pursued by his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, has drawn criticism from U.S. tech firms and policymakers who argue it mirrors the European Union’s Digital Markets Act — a law that imposes strict rules on large online platforms. "One barrier that we urge you to address in any negotiations is proposed legislation advanced by the Korea Fair Trade Commission and embraced by the new Lee Jae Myung government, which disproportionately targets U.S. digital companies for heightened regulatory requirements," the lawmakers wrote in the letter, which was posted on Representative Smith’s website. The Republicans said the bill imposes "disparate legal and enforcement standards designed to undermine" innovative U.S. business models, while giving a pass to Chinese digital giants such as ByteDance, Alibaba and Temu. They accused the Korean government of advancing policies that “serve the strategic interests of the Chinese Communist Party.” The lawmakers also took aim at South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, accusing it of conducting aggressive enforcement actions — including early-morning inspections — against American firms. They claimed such tactics constrain U.S. companies’ ability to operate freely in the Korean market. The letter marks a rare, coordinated intervention by a large bloc of congressional Republicans into a specific regulatory proposal in a close U.S. ally, and highlights the growing scrutiny of digital trade barriers abroad. It also signals a broader willingness by Republican lawmakers to link digital market access to broader strategic concerns about China’s influence in the region. While the Trump administration has not publicly responded to the letter, analysts here say the issue could become a sticking point in future trade negotiations with Seoul. 2025-07-03 15:34:48

Coupang enters cloud services market with AI-focused platform SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - E-commerce platform Coupang has entered the competitive cloud services arena with the launch of Coupang Intelligent Cloud, or CIC, a rebranded version of the company’s internal artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The move signals Coupang’s ambitions to expand beyond retail and logistics by positioning itself as a serious player in South Korea’s rapidly growing cloud service sector — a space long dominated by global heavyweights like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, along with local firms such as Naver Cloud. CIC builds on years of proprietary infrastructure development that has supported Coupang’s core operations, including AI-driven logistics, recommendation engines and back-end systems. With the rebranding, Coupang is now offering its high-performance computing resources to outside clients — targeting startups, small and mid-sized businesses, and research organizations. “Based on cutting-edge GPU servers and robust infrastructure, we aim to provide Korea’s highest-quality AI cloud service,” a CIC spokesperson said. “We look forward to growing the AI ecosystem through deep partnerships with startups and research institutions.” CIC’s facilities are located in Seoul and the surrounding capital region, allowing for low-latency services crucial to AI model training and real-time inference. The data centers are equipped with high-performance GPU servers, advanced cooling and power redundancy systems, and physical security infrastructure. Coupang has indicated it will update its hardware frequently to keep pace with advances in GPU technology. In addition to its commercial offerings, Coupang is seeking to align CIC with national AI development efforts. The company has applied to join a government-led initiative aimed at expanding access to AI computing power and has expressed its intent to collaborate with public-sector agencies. 2025-07-03 15:28:11

Korea seeks to address China's export controls on key materials SEOUL, July 3 (AJP) - South Korea and China held a new round of bilateral supply chain talks in Seoul on Thursday, as the two countries grapple with growing disruptions stemming from Beijing’s tightening export controls on key industrial materials. The meeting brought together senior officials including Kim Jong-chul, director-general for international trade relations at South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Wang Liping, his counterpart from China’s Ministry of Commerce. Since August 2023, China has steadily expanded its list of export restrictions on strategic resources, starting with gallium and germanium — materials essential to semiconductor and defense technologies. In the months that followed, Beijing added graphite, antimony, tungsten and tellurium to the list. Tensions escalated further in April, after Washington raised tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports. In response, China imposed new export controls on seven rare earth elements, including samarium, used in cobalt magnets; gadolinium, for medical imaging contrast agents; and dysprosium, vital to electric vehicle motors. Other materials now under restriction include lutetium, used in radiation therapy; scandium, a strengthening additive in aerospace aluminum alloys; yttrium, for solid-state lasers; and terbium, essential for display phosphors. At Thursday’s meeting, South Korean officials urged Beijing to minimize the impact of these measures on domestic manufacturers and to ensure the continued flow of critical inputs. Seoul also proposed that Chinese authorities host a series of policy briefings later this year to enhance transparency and predictability in supply chain management. The dialogue is part of a broader framework known as the “supply chain hotline,” a government-to-government mechanism launched in December 2023 to facilitate communication and preempt disruptions. The first meeting was held in Seoul, followed by a second session in the eastern Chinese city of Yantai in November. While no major breakthroughs were announced, both sides expressed commitment to ongoing dialogue amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical and trade landscape. 2025-07-03 13:32:08