KAIST researchers develop biodegradable farming film from fallen leaves SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a biodegradable agricultural mulching film using fallen leaves collected from campus grounds and nearby riverbanks. The development offers a potential solution to soil pollution caused by conventional plastic films, the institute said Thursday. Agricultural mulching films are used to suppress weeds and maintain soil moisture. However, most commercial films are made of polyethylene (PE), a petroleum-based plastic that is difficult to recover after use. These films often break down into microplastics that remain in the soil, posing long-term environmental risks. The research team, led by Professor Myung Jae-wook at KAIST's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, extracted nanocellulose from fallen leaves using a green solvent composed of citric acid and choline chloride. This plant-derived fiber was combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a biodegradable polymer, to create a composite film. The entire manufacturing process utilized water as a medium instead of toxic organic solvents. In performance tests, the leaf-based film effectively blocked ultraviolet radiation and maintained soil moisture, with only a 5 percent loss of water over 14 days. Ryegrass grown using the film showed better development compared to crops grown without any covering. Biodegradability tests conducted in soil conditions showed that the film decomposed by 34.4 percent within 115 days, a rate faster than existing biodegradable alternatives. The researchers also confirmed that the decomposition process produced no plant toxicity, ensuring no negative impact on the germination or early growth of crops like ryegrass and bok choy. "This research is significant because it transforms fallen leaves into a functional material that protects the agricultural environment," Professor Myung Jae-wook said. "Because it uses non-edible biomass that does not compete with food resources and employs a water-based process, it can serve as a sustainable replacement for agricultural plastics." The study, with doctoral student Pham Thanh-trung-ninh as the first author, was published in the journal Green Chemistry on February 6, 2026. (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Green Chemistry Title: All-water-based fabrication of biodegradable mulch films from dead leaves via complex hydrogen-bonded networks Link/DOI: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/gc/d5gc06616f 2026-04-30 09:00:12

Hyundai Motor Group Unveils Pleos Connect Next-Gen In-Car Infotainment System 현대차그룹이 차량을 '움직이는 스마트 기기'로 전환하는 차세대 인포테인먼트 시스템을 공개했다. 현대차그룹은 지난 29일 서울 강남구 UX 스튜디오 서울에서 미디어데이를 열고 다음 달 선보일 차세대 인포테인먼트 시스템인 플레오스 커넥트의 개발 콘셉트와 주요 기능, 향후 적용 계획을 발표했다. 플레오스 커넥트는 현대차그룹이 개발자 컨퍼런스 플레오스 25에서 공개한 연구개발 모델을 양산형으로 구현한 시스템이다. 그룹은 이를 소프트웨어중심차량(SDV) 체제 전환을 이끄는 핵심 플랫폼으로 보고 있다. 시스템은 대화면 디스플레이와 슬림 디스플레이, AI 음성 어시스턴트 '글레오 AI', 개방형 앱 마켓을 기반으로 구성됐다. 운전자는 터치와 음성 명령으로 차량 기능을 제어하고 내비게이션, 미디어, 외부 앱 서비스를 이용할 수 있다. 대화면 디스플레이는 주행 정보와 앱 기능을 분리해 직관성을 높였다고 회사는 설명했다. 화면 왼쪽에는 속도와 경고등 등 핵심 주행 정보를, 오른쪽에는 내비게이션과 콘텐츠 등 기능을 배치했다. 앱 화면은 분할해 여러 기능을 동시에 실행할 수 있다. 현대차그룹은 AI 기능을 핵심으로 내세웠다. 글레오 AI는 대규모 언어모델(LLM)을 기반으로 사용자의 의도와 상황을 파악해 차량 제어, 길 안내, 정보 검색 등을 수행한다. 여러 명령을 한 번에 처리하거나 모호한 표현도 인식하는 음성 인터페이스를 제공한다고 밝혔다. 또 차량 내에서 음악, 영상, 내비게이션, 웹 검색 등 외부 서비스를 이용할 수 있는 앱 마켓을 도입한다. 향후 게임과 엔터테인먼트, 차량 관리 서비스로 확대할 계획이다. 현대차그룹은 5월 출시 예정인 더 뉴 그랜저에 플레오스 커넥트를 처음 적용하고, 글로벌 시장에 순차적으로 확대해 2030년까지 약 2000만대 차량에 적용할 계획이다. 이종원 현대차·기아 피처&CCS사업부 전무는 "플레오스 커넥트는 모바일 친화적으로 구성된 플랫폼에 고도화된 인공지능 기술을 결합해 이용자에게 한 차원 높아진 이동 경험을 제공할 것"이라고 말했다. 2026-04-30 08:59:08

Samsung Electronics posts record first-quarter operating profit of 57.2 trillion won Samsung Electronics posted its biggest quarterly results on record in the first quarter of 2026. The company said April 29 that, on a consolidated basis, it recorded revenue of 133.9 trillion won and operating profit of 57.2 trillion won. From the previous quarter, revenue rose 43% and operating profit jumped 185%. The semiconductor (DS) division led the gains, as stronger AI-related demand lifted sales of higher-value memory chips and prices rose. DS posted revenue of 81.7 trillion won and operating profit of 53.7 trillion won. The mobile and home appliances (DX) division reported higher revenue on stronger flagship smartphone sales, but profitability improved only modestly due to higher costs and the impact of tariffs. DX posted revenue of 52.7 trillion won and operating profit of 3.0 trillion won. A weaker won also supported results. Samsung said the stronger U.S. dollar produced an earnings improvement effect of about 1.8 trillion won. Samsung forecast that the semiconductor-led improvement will continue in the second quarter. The company said, "As AI infrastructure investment expands, strong memory demand will persist," adding it will "push to maximize profitability centered on high value-added products." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:58:08

Jipyeong Wins Constitutional Ruling Against Mandatory Patent Attorney Association Membership Law firm Jipyeong said on April 30 it helped secure a Constitutional Court ruling of constitutional nonconformity against a provision of the Patent Attorney Act that requires mandatory membership in the Korea Patent Attorneys Association. The petitioners were registered as patent attorneys based on their attorney licenses but did not join the association. In November 2018, the association disciplined them for violating the membership requirement. The petitioners then filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the disciplinary action and also filed a constitutional complaint challenging Article 11 of the Patent Attorney Act, which mandates membership for registered patent attorneys. Jipyeong, retained by the Korean Bar Association, submitted multiple opinions arguing the mandatory membership system was unconstitutional and sought to persuade the court. The constitutional complaint was filed in January 2020, and after more than six years of dispute with the association, the court issued the constitutional nonconformity decision, the firm said. The Constitutional Court found that the current association engages in activities representing the interests of patent attorneys who are not lawyers, and that forcing lawyer-patent attorneys to join infringes their freedom of association and freedom of occupation. The court also accepted the argument that a less restrictive alternative exists: allowing lawyer-patent attorneys to form a separate patent attorney group and requiring membership there. Jipyeong said it has previously won a series of constitutional rulings in high-impact cases, including challenges involving multiple provisions of the Public Official Election Act, the Court Organization Act, and Civil Act provisions on statutes of limitations and lease terms. Park Seong-cheol, an attorney who heads Jipyeong’s Constitutional Petition Center and led the case, said, “Although there were two prior rulings upholding the same provision, it was effective that we did not give up and persuaded the Constitutional Court with reasoning that went beyond the limits of the earlier decisions.” He said the team aimed to present specific grounds showing the provision excessively restricts lawyer-patent attorneys’ freedom of association and freedom of occupation. Park said changes in legislation could bring major shifts in how lawyers conduct patent attorney work, calling the decision one that will help companies and the public receive diverse and sufficient legal services. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:57:16

Seoul Apartment Jeonse Deposits Rise 7.6% in Q1; Gangdong Up Nearly 20% Seoul apartment jeonse deposits rose 7.6% in the first quarter (January-March) from a year earlier, with increases in 24 of the city’s 25 districts, excluding Jongno, according to a report released by real estate information platform Dabang. Dabang said its Q1 2026 “Dabang Yeojido” data put the average jeonse deposit for an 84-square-meter apartment in Seoul at 710.68 million won, up from 660.64 million won in the first quarter of last year. The average sale price for an 84-square-meter apartment in Seoul was 1.19476 billion won, down 293.71 million won, or 19.7%, from the first quarter of 2025. Seocho District had the highest average jeonse deposit at 1.09906 billion won, 388.38 million won above the Seoul average, or 155% of it. Other districts above the citywide average included Gangnam (142%), Songpa (126%), Jongno (120%), Seongdong (114%) and Mapo (112%), with 10 districts in total exceeding the average. Seocho also posted the highest average sale price, at 2.86190 billion won, 1.66714 billion won above the Seoul average, or 240% of it. A total of 12 districts were above the citywide average, including Gangnam (233%), Songpa (181%), Yongsan (180%), Seongdong (151%) and Gwangjin (148%). Gwangjin recorded the biggest year-on-year increase in sale prices, with the average rising 256.91 million won, or 17.0%. Gangdong saw the largest increase in jeonse deposits, up 114.16 million won, or 19.8%. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:51:16

Actor Choi Jae-won Reflects on Finale of 'My Baby’s Romance 2' With Daughter Choi Yu-bin Actor Choi Jae-won shared his thoughts as tvN STORY and tcast’s E Channel wrapped up the variety series ‘My Baby’s Romance 2.’ The jointly produced program follows parents as they watch their children date, offering a relationship-observation format seen through a parent’s eyes. Choi appeared with his daughter, Choi Yu-bin, drawing viewer attention with candid, relatable reactions as a father. On the show, he openly showed emotions ranging from surprise to pride while watching his daughter’s dates. His spontaneous responses and quick wit added to the program’s appeal, while his careful, parent’s perspective resonated with audiences. Choi said, “Watching my daughter on the broadcast, I felt proud, and it was a precious time that made me realize she has grown up this much.” He added, “I sincerely thank everyone who related to my honest reactions and sent warm support.” He continued, “As I watched my daughter date, I got immersed without even realizing it, and I even surprised myself with my reactions.” He added, “Through this program, I think I received an unforgettable, precious memory with Yu-bin. Thank you again to the production team who worked with us and to the viewers who watched.” Choi also mentioned future plans. He said Yu-bin will continue communicating through videos of her daily life on a YouTube channel she has been preparing, and that he will also greet audiences through a range of activities. He added, “Please continue to show warm support for our father-daughter pair.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:48:24

Bitcoin Slips to Mid-$75,000s as Rate-Cut Hopes Fade and Mideast Risks Weigh Virtual asset prices, led by bitcoin, weakened broadly after a short-term rise, as investors turned cautious amid fading expectations for interest-rate cuts and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. According to CoinMarketCap, bitcoin was trading at $75,912 as of 8 a.m. on the 30th, down 0.39% from the previous day. Ethereum fell 1.24% to $2,257. Binance Coin (BNB), Solana and XRP also slipped 0.82%, 0.71% and 0.65% to $617, $83 and $1.36, respectively. Market watchers cited profit-taking as prices cooled from an overbought condition following the recent surge. Macro factors also weighed on sentiment. With geopolitical risks such as tensions in the Middle East persisting, expectations for U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts have weakened, dampening appetite for risk assets. Analysts also said momentum has eased on the demand side, with U.S. buying interest softening and short-term selling pressure increasing. In South Korea, bitcoin was trading at about 113.71 million won ($75,929) on the won-based exchange Bithumb as of 8 a.m., down 0.34% from the previous day. The so-called “kimchi premium” stood at 0.573%, indicating domestic prices were higher than overseas levels.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:39:15

South Korea’s March Output, Spending and Investment Rise Together for First Time in Six Months In March, production, consumer spending and facility investment all rose, marking a “triple increase.” It was the first time the three indicators climbed together since September last year. According to the National Data Agency’s “March 2026 Industrial Activity Trends” released on the 30th, all-industry output rose 0.3% from the previous month, led by gains in services (up 1.4%) and mining and manufacturing (up 0.3%). All-industry output increased 1.2% in December, fell 0.8% in January, rebounded 2.1% in February, and extended the rise in March. Mining and manufacturing output rose 0.3% as increases in autos (up 7.8%) and other transport equipment (up 12.3%) offset a drop in semiconductors (down 8.1%). The agency said the semiconductor decline reflected base effects after a 28.2% surge the previous month, while overall conditions remained favorable. Services output climbed 1.4%, driven by finance and insurance (up 4.6%) and transportation and warehousing (up 3.9%). Still, the impact of the Middle East war was visible in some industries. Petroleum refining output fell 6.3% from the previous month, and chemicals slipped 0.3%. The agency cited a combination of war-related uncertainty in crude supply and seasonal factors such as scheduled maintenance. Consumption continued to recover. Retail sales rose 1.8% from the previous month, led by higher sales of durable goods such as communications devices and computers, supported by new smartphone launches and stronger back-to-school PC demand. Facility investment increased 1.5% from the previous month on expanded investment in transport equipment, including aircraft purchases. Construction investment remained weak. Construction completed fell 7.3% from the previous month as civil engineering (down 13.7%) and building construction (down 4.5%) both declined. Business-cycle indicators improved. The coincident composite index (cyclical component) rose 0.5 point from the previous month, and the leading composite index (cyclical component) gained 0.7 point. A National Data Agency official said March data appeared to reflect the Middle East war only in a limited way, adding that the impact could become more pronounced after April in related industries and would require further monitoring. For the first quarter, all-industry output rose 1.7% from the previous quarter, supported by gains in mining and manufacturing (up 2.7%) and services (up 1.2%). Consumption and investment also improved: retail sales rose 2.4%, and facility investment jumped 12.6%. Construction completed increased 1.2%, returning to growth. The government said the figures showed a broadly based recovery across production, consumption and investment, consistent with the first-quarter gross domestic product growth rate of 1.7% announced last week. It said the recovery that has continued since the second half of last year was again confirmed in the industrial activity data. The government added that despite the external shock of the Middle East war, measures to support the domestic recovery and invigorate capital markets, along with a price cap system, helped limit the impact. It said it would step up efforts to sustain the recovery by minimizing the war’s economic spillover effects. It also said it would swiftly execute supplementary budget programs, including support payments for damage from high oil prices, and push initiatives such as an “eco-friendly green consumption and tourism boost” and a “youth New Deal implementation plan,” while preparing additional measures, including an economic growth strategy for the second half of the year. 2026-04-30 08:37:46

NH Investment Raises EcoPro BM Target on Expected Hungary Plant Expansion NH Investment & Securities said April 30 it expects EcoPro BM to expand its second plant in Hungary in the second half of the year, raising its target price 14% to 280,000 won and maintaining its “buy” rating. In a report, NH analyst Joo Min-woo said customer strategies are being revised to reflect Europe’s IAA rules and the TCA (EU-U.K. trade agreement), which he said is increasing the likelihood of winning orders from new customers, including CATL. Joo said EcoPro BM is a key cathode-material supplier to Samsung SDI and is expected to benefit as Samsung SDI expands European electric-vehicle sales for models including the Ioniq 3, EV2, Audi, Benz and BMW. He added that EcoPro BM is also expected to benefit directly from a recovery in sales of cylindrical batteries used in BBU and power tools. Joo said EcoPro BM’s first-quarter revenue fell 4% from a year earlier to 605.4 billion won, while operating profit was 20.9 billion won, beating the market consensus. He attributed the results to the start of mass production of nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum (NCMA) cathode materials for Samsung SDI’s new European volume models, including the EV2 and Ioniq 3, and improved non-EV sales as demand for Samsung SDI’s power tools and BBU strengthened. He said sales to SK On totaled about 4,000 tons, rising from the previous quarter as volumes for the Europe-bound Volkswagen ID.4 gradually recovered. Joo said the factors behind the strong first quarter are expected to persist, with both selling prices and volumes continuing to grow.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:31:11

Wall Street Ends Mixed as Oil Jumps and Fed Split Widens; Dow Falls, Nasdaq Flat U.S. stocks finished mixed on Tuesday, pressured by a sharp rise in oil prices and higher Treasury yields, while the Federal Reserve held interest rates but revealed unusually deep internal divisions. The Dow fell, and the Nasdaq ended little changed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 280.12 points, or 0.57%, at 48,861.81. The S&P 500 slipped 2.82 points, or 0.04%, to 7,135.98. The Nasdaq composite added 9.44 points, or 0.04%, to 24,673.24. The Russell 2000, which tracks smaller companies, fell 0.6%. Oil surged as U.S. pressure on Iran and tensions in the Middle East persisted. Brent crude rose as high as $111.84 a barrel intraday and settled at $110.44, up 5.8%. The jump revived inflation worries and pushed yields higher, dampening sentiment. The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.41%, and the 2-year yield climbed to 3.92%. The Fed added to investor caution by holding its benchmark rate at 3.5% to 3.75% on an 8-4 vote, its widest split since 1992. Three officials opposed leaving room in the statement for possible rate cuts, while one argued for a 0.25 percentage point cut. Markets read the outcome as a signal that expectations for rate cuts this year may be pushed back. By sector, energy stocks led on the oil rally, while utilities and materials fell. Starbucks rose 8.5% and Visa gained 8.3% after strong results. NXP Semiconductors jumped 25.5% on a robust earnings outlook. Robinhood slid 13.2% after disappointing results. After the close, big tech traded in different directions. Alphabet rose more than 3% in after-hours trading, while Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Amazon were lower. Investors are watching oil, interest rates and major tech earnings as key drivers for near-term market moves. 2026-04-30 08:23:51