Travel guidebook event highlights Kazakhstan as 'blue ocean' for Korean tourists SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Kazakhstan's ambassador in Seoul said tourism is emerging as a new bridge between his country and South Korea, speaking at a book launch held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on December 3 for the travel guide "Travel Kazakhstan" by author Seo Byung-yong. "It's a delight for me to be in front of such a wonderful audience, the true friends of Kazakhstan and the wonderful partners who are always here to support us," Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov told guests at the Garnet Suite on the hotel's 37th floor. The audience included diplomats, officials from the travel industry and business leaders, according to event organizers. Holding up the newly published guide, Arystanov said the book arrived at a moment of deepening ties. "This book is not just yet another book. It's yet another built bridge between our two countries," he said. He noted that more than 1,800 South Korean companies now operate in Kazakhstan and pointed to roughly 20 weekly direct flights connecting the two countries. (The flight frequency figure was stated by the ambassador at the event.) He also referred to Kazakhstan as "the country in the heart of Central Asia," highlighting next year's planned C5+K summit that will bring the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan together with the South Korean president. "Central Asia is a beautiful region, beautiful food, beautiful cultures," he said, encouraging South Koreans to explore the wider region as well. Arystanov ended his speech by reciting the Korean proverb "seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times," adding that books can "open many doors, spark many dreams and bring our two nations even closer." Seo, who has written guidebooks for a decade, traced how his latest project took shape. His earlier titles on Moscow, Saint Petersburg, the Trans-Siberian Railway and Georgia had all focused on places that lacked detailed Korean-language guides at the time. He said the same gap existed for Kazakhstan. The author walked the audience through the structure of the new book, which covers Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Aktau and Ush-Tobe, along with sample itineraries that combine Kazakhstan with Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan. He also pointed to the cover design, which uses yellow typography inspired by the Kazakh flag. "The blue represents the sky and water, the sun stands for abundance and the golden eagle symbolizes future flight," Seo said, adding that the cover image was provided by the Kazakhstan Embassy. A large portion of his talk focused on why he believes Kazakhstan will appeal to South Korean travelers. He listed seven points he said make the country "a blue ocean" for the travel market. The first was flight access. "There are so many direct flights now, with Air Astana, Asiana Airlines, Eastar and SCAT operating around 20 flights a week," Seo said. "This is a huge advantage when you design products or decide where to go." Second, he highlighted visa-free entry. "You do not need a visa for 30 days. If you have a passport, you can fly tomorrow," he said. Third, he argued that the perceived distance is misleading. "The flight to Almaty is about six and a half hours. Bangkok is around six hours, so it is not far at all," he said. His next points focused on scenery and food. Seo described Kazakhstan as "an Asian country that still feels exotic," pointing to places such as the rock formations and coastal desert around Aktau. At the same time, he said travelers rarely struggle with meals. "There are rice dishes, noodle dishes and plenty of meat," he said. "I don't think many people suffer because of the food." His sixth point centered on history, especially the legacy of ethnic Koreans who were deported to Central Asia in the 1930s. "For people interested in the history of Koreans abroad, Ush-Tobe and other sites linked to Koryoin history are very meaningful places," he said. Finally, he mentioned local attitudes and Kazakhstan's policy focus on tourism. "There is almost no discrimination, and the level of friendliness toward Koreans is something you have to experience yourself," he said, noting that Korean convenience store chains and food brands have been expanding in Almaty. (Expansion of Korean brands was mentioned by Seo at the event.) Seo said he hoped the book would be useful for independent travelers, pointing to sections covering local transport, currency, ride-hailing apps, SIM cards and practical travel tips. "We live in an era when more than 30 million South Koreans travel abroad each year," he said. "If this book can help turn curiosity about Kazakhstan into actual journeys, then I think it has done its job." 2025-12-04 15:24:13

TRAVEL: Historic private academy in Nonsan NONSAN, December 04 (AJP) - Nine Confucian academies, known as seowon, from Korea's Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), were officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, cementing their status as crucial institutions in East Asian history and education. The seowon were private, residential academies established by respected Confucian scholars. They served two primary functions: as a place for scholarly worship of revered sages and as an educational institution to prepare the next generation of civil servants and intellectual leaders. This system stood in contrast to the hyanggyo, which were the public, state-run schools of the era. The seowon’s blend of academic rigor and moral cultivation made them vital centers for Neo-Confucianism, the Joseon Dynasty's ruling ideology. Among the nine recognized sites is Donam Seowon, located in the city of Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. The academy traces its origins back to the influential scholar Sagye Kim Jang-saeng (1548–1631). Kim dedicated over three decades to teaching his disciples at this location, beginning in 1602. Following his passing, his devoted students established the academy in 1634 to honor his life and continuing legacy. Donam Seowon, with its tranquil architecture and deep historical roots, now serves as a tangible link to Korea's rich intellectual past. 2025-12-04 15:18:09

Korea's income gap widens by largest rate in 3 years SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s income gap between the top and bottom 20 percent of households widened to 5.78 times last year, snapping a three-year trend of improvement as income growth slowed and gains increasingly concentrated among high-income earners and older asset-holding households. According to the 2025 Household Finance and Welfare Survey released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Thursday, average household income rose 3.4 percent to 74.27 million won ($54,900) in 2024, the slowest increase in five years. Average household assets stood at 566.8 million won and liabilities at 95.34 million won as of March 2025. Housing and property assets accounted for 75.8 percent of total household assets, with the largest holdings among those in their 50s and 60s. Income growth slowed sharply across major categories—wages, business earnings and asset income—pulling down overall gains. Public and private transfer income, however, swung back into positive territory after a decline the previous year. Gains were heavily skewed toward upper-income households. The top 20 percent saw income climb 4.4 percent to 173.38 million won, while the bottom quintile posted a 3.1 percent increase and the second-lowest quintile just 2.1 percent. The pattern also diverged by age. Households headed by people in their 50s recorded a 5.9 percent income increase, supported by strong labor and asset gains. Those led by seniors aged 60 and older saw income rise 4.6 percent. In contrast, 40-something households posted a 2.7 percent rise, and those headed by adults under 40 saw income inch up only 1.4 percent amid weaker wage and asset gains and a decline in business income. The Gini coefficient for disposable income rose to 0.325 from 0.323, worsening for the first time since 2021. The income quintile ratio—comparing average income of the top 20 percent with that of the bottom 20 percent—expanded to 5.78 from 5.72. While inequality widened among working-age households, retirees moved in the opposite direction. For those aged 66 and older, both the Gini coefficient and quintile ratio improved, reflecting higher senior employment, increased national and basic pension benefits, and stronger asset income. The relative poverty rate among retirees fell 2.1 percentage points to 37.7 percent, the lowest level since the data series began in 2011. Non-consumption household spending—including taxes, social insurance contributions and interest payments—rose 5.7 percent to an average of 13.96 million won. Surveyed households estimated their “adequate” average monthly living cost after retirement at 3.41 million won, slightly higher than a year earlier. 2025-12-04 15:14:17

Yonsei University embroiled in another cheating scandal SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Another cheating incident has surfaced at Yonsei University, which was previously embroiled in a similar large-scale scandal. About 200 students took an online quiz for an education-related course early this month. Some allegedly shared questions and answers via anonymous chat rooms, while others collaborated using Google Docs, according to multiple university sources on Thursday. The online course had already faced cheating allegations during midterms in October, prompting the prestigious university to switch the final exam to an in-person format, though the quiz remained online. The university is currently conducting further investigations. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:48:26

Shinhan Financial Chairman Jin Ok-dong poised for extended term SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong is set to secure a second three-year term after delivering consecutive record earnings since taking office in March 2023. On Thursday, the group’s chairman nomination committee named Jin as its final candidate for the next chairman, following interviews with him and other shortlisted contenders, including Shinhan Bank President Jeong Sang-hyeok and Shinhan Investment Corp. CEO Lee Sun-hoon. The committee cited Jin’s “strategic insight, operational expertise and strong ethical leadership,” saying he had strengthened Shinhan’s performance and long-term competitiveness through digital transformation, overseas expansion and tighter internal controls. Born in 1961, Jin began his career at the state-run Industrial Bank of Korea in 1980 and joined Shinhan Bank in 1986, where he held key roles including Osaka branch manager and CEO of the Japanese subsidiary SBJ. Under Jin’s leadership since March 2023, Shinhan has posted steady record operating profits, excluding one-off factors. The group’s cumulative net income reached 4.46 trillion won in the third quarter, placing Shinhan on track to surpass the 5 trillion-won mark for the first time this year. Jin’s renewed term is expected to be finalized at the group’s annual shareholders’ meeting and board meeting in March. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:26:21

Driver sentenced to five years in prison for fatal crash in central Seoul SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - A driver involved in a fatal crash in central Seoul last year was sentenced to five years in prison, as the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the lower court's ruling. The man in his late 60s, identified by his last name Cha, was charged with violating traffic laws after crashing into pedestrians near City Hall in July 2024, killing nine people and injuring five others. Investigations revealed that he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while driving in the wrong direction on a one-way, four-lane street, hitting pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. The initial court sentenced him to seven and a half years in prison, counting each death and injury as a separate crime. The appellate court, however, ruled that the crimes resulted from a single incident and reduced the sentence to five years. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:26:16

OpenAI Korea targets enterprise market as ChatGPT usage soars SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - OpenAI Korea CEO Kim Kyung-hoon said the company aims to become the best partner for South Korean businesses transitioning to artificial intelligence, highlighting the rapid expansion of ChatGPT’s global footprint. Kim made the remarks Thursday at his first press conference since taking office in September. Kim said that daily message volume has jumped from 450 million in June last year to 2.63 billion this June, making AI “a part of everyday life.” “AI adoption will become increasingly important for businesses,” Kim said. “Given South Korea’s exceptionally high use of AI in daily life, building AI-integrated work environments is essential for corporate competitiveness.” Globally, 29 percent of users turn to ChatGPT for practical advice and 24 percent for information searches. In South Korea, usage skews more toward professional tasks: 29 percent of users rely on the tool for document translation and drafting, while 21 percent use it to obtain task-specific guidance. He said that broad consumer familiarity with AI is helping accelerate enterprise-level transitions. According to OpenAI, more than 800 million people now use ChatGPT weekly, enabling companies to run rapid pilot programs and scale AI projects more quickly. Representatives from GS Engineering & Construction and LG Uplus shared case studies at the event. GS E&C has deployed ChatGPT Enterprise to employees to improve workflow efficiency, while LG Uplus will unveil its “Agentic Callbot Standard” on Dec. 16 and a more advanced “Agentic Callbot Pro” next year to enhance customer-service automation. “AI transitions often start from the bottom up,” Kim said. “ChatGPT Enterprise is the first step, as we’ve seen in the productivity gains at GS Engineering & Construction.” OpenAI technologies are now being used by more than one million companies worldwide, Kim said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:07:52

Lee to discuss AI, semiconductor cooperation with SoftBank chairman SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet with SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son to discuss cooperation in advanced high-technology sectors including artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. According to the presidential office on Thursday, their meeting is scheduled for Friday morning, with a focus on collaboration and infrastructure investment in these sectors. The meeting will also be attended by key officials including chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom, Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon. SoftBank is speeding up its AI expansion in the U.S. through its "Stargate" project, working with OpenAI and Oracle to build large-scale AI infrastructure and data centers. South Korea aims to become one of the world's "top three AI powerhouses." Lee already met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in October to discuss cooperation in the field. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 13:50:54

Samsung teases new flagship chip for Galaxy S26 series SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Thursday unveiled its upcoming mobile application processor, Exynos 2600, with a 30-second teaser video posted on its official YouTube channel. The Exynos 2600 is slated to power the next-generation Galaxy S26 series. The chip is reportedly the company’s first to be built with a cutting-edge 2-nanometer process. The teaser opens with the words, “In silence, we listened,” followed by promises that the new chip is “refined at the core” and “optimized at every level." While full technical specifications have not been revealed, early signals suggest the Exynos 2600’s neural-processing unit (NPU) and overall performance gains may position it as a serious competitor to other premium chips. The company said the Exynos 2600 will mark a significant milestone not only for Samsung’s smartphone line, but also for its semiconductor ambitions. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 13:48:45

K-beauty brand O'ngredients gains traction at home and abroad on strong skin-barrier lineup SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korean skincare brand O’ngredients is gaining momentum both domestically and overseas, backed by strong sales of its skin-barrier products and rising visibility on global e-commerce platforms. According to industry data, O’ngredients’ Skin Barrier Calming Lotion has surpassed cumulative sales of 3 million units in South Korea as of July 2025 and ranked first overall on CJ Olive Young’s online store in December 2024. The product has been one of the brand’s key drivers in the domestic market. Overseas, the brand is beginning to show early signs of traction. On Amazon US, the Skin Barrier Calming Lotion (220 milliliters) recorded sales of about 3,600 units as of November 2025, while its Skin Barrier Glow Mist entered the top 100 rankings in the lotion and face mist category within one month of its launch, according to company data. The growing international interest coincides with O’ngredients’ broader export expansion. Parent company Power Player said its founder and chief executive Kim Yu-jae recently received South Korea’s “2025 Venture Entrepreneur of the Year” award, alongside the government-backed “$5 million Export Tower,” which recognizes companies that achieve significant export milestones. The brand’s performance reflects a broader trend of K-beauty labels moving beyond trend-led marketing toward products centered on skin-barrier care and sensitive-skin solutions — a segment that is increasingly resonating with overseas consumers. O’ngredients has also expanded its offline presence, entering Costco Korea and extending distribution across major Japanese retail chains, including drugstores and specialty beauty outlets, as part of its push to strengthen its foothold in Asia. While global sales remain at an early stage compared with its domestic footprint, company data show the combination of strong repeat demand at home and improving overseas sell-through suggests the brand is positioning itself as part of the next wave of export-driven K-beauty growth. 2025-12-04 13:28:46