Online sexual violence on the rise among teenagers, report finds SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Nearly 30 percent of teenagers have experienced sexual violence over the past three years, according to a report released by the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center (KSVRC) on Wednesday. Based on an analysis of reported cases from 2022 to 2024, the report found that there were 14,146 cases in 2022, 15,542 in 2023, and 14,874 in 2024. Among them, cases involving those under 19 increased from 27.6 percent in 2022 to 28.6 percent in 2024. The report also revealed a concerning rise in the number of offenders under 19. Juvenile offenders increased from 1,962 in 2022 to 2,042 in 2023 and 2,069 in 2024, accounting for approximately 13 percent of all offenders last year. "Online spaces have become an integral part of many children's lives these days, leading to a rise in digital sexual violence," the center said. "Cases of online grooming, where perpetrators demand photos or videos and then use them for threats or illegal distribution, are on the rise. Many victims remain unaware of their exposure for extended periods," it added. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:57:11

South Korean shipowners warn against foreign sale of Hyundai LNG Shipping SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipping industry has raised alarms over the potential sale of Hyundai LNG Shipping, the country’s largest liquefied gas carrier operator, to a foreign buyer, warning the deal could undermine national energy security. The Korea Shipowners’ Association said Wednesday that IMM Private Equity and IMM Investment are in talks to sell the company to Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Group. Hyundai LNG Shipping operates 12 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. Calling the prospective transaction a “national loss,” the association said the transfer of major energy-transport assets abroad could expose sensitive information, including LNG transport know-how and vessel-operation data. Such leakage, it warned, may affect Korea Gas Corporation’s long-term shipping contracts. A reduced domestic share of LNG transport could also weaken the country’s energy supply chain, the group added. The association said the planned sale runs counter to government policy aimed at securing a 70 percent utilization rate of domestic vessels for strategic energy shipments and discouraging the sale of related assets overseas. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:48:57

Netmarble reports data breach after hack on PC gaming site SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Netmarble announced on Wednesday that its PC gaming website was hacked last week, potentially exposing personal information belonging to customers and employees. The company said it detected the intrusion on Nov. 22 and “immediately took response measures,” including blocking unauthorized access and notifying authorities. An internal investigation is under way to determine the scale of the breach. According to Netmarble, the compromised data may include customer names, birthdates and encrypted passwords, along with information related to current and former employees such as names and company email addresses. Data from PC cafe operators collected before 2015 may also have been affected. Netmarble emphasized that no resident registration numbers or other highly sensitive personal data were leaked, and that encrypted passwords are unlikely to be exploited. Still, the company urged users of its 18 PC titles to change their passwords as a precaution. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:25:42

Prosecutors seek 15-year sentence for former PM in martial law case SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Wednesday sought a 15-year prison sentence for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle late last year. During the final hearing of Han's trial at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, the request was made, making him the first among dozens of defendants facing charges related to Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. "As the second-highest official in the government, was the only person who could have prevented the debacle, yet he abandoned his constitutional duty to serve the country and was instead involved through his actions before and after martial law was declared," one prosecutor said. "By imposing strict punishment, we must ensure that this dark chapter in our history never happens again," he added. Prosecutors accused Han of not only attending a Cabinet meeting with several key officials just before Yoon declared martial law, but also of attempting to cover up some illegal measures by fabricating relevant documents. They also criticized Han's refusal to cooperate with investigators, citing his perjury, which they said harmed South Korea's democracy. With the court scheduled to deliver its verdict on either Jan. 21 or 28 next year, Han is likely to become the first among those involved in the case to be sentenced. 2025-11-26 16:20:55

KT signs MOU with DigitalBridge to tap rising demand for AI infrastructure SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - KT said on Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with DigitalBridge, a U.S.-based digital infrastructure investment firm, to collaborate on the development and operation of AI data centers in South Korea. The agreement was signed on Nov. 25 at KT’s headquarters in Seoul. DigitalBridge, which manages about $108 billion in assets, specializes in data centers, fiber networks and cloud infrastructure. KT said the partnership aims to address rapidly growing demand for AI computing capacity across the Asia-Pacific region. The two companies will work together on designing and operating AI-focused data centers and will also explore sustainable operating models, sharing technologies to mitigate the high energy consumption associated with AI workloads. “As AI use expands, securing stable infrastructure is essential,” said Jung Woo-jin, head of KT’s Strategy and Business Consulting Division. “We will actively pursue market opportunities with our global partner to deliver optimal services.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:13:00

OPINION: New Uzbekistan and the Search for Global Social Justice SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - The Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha from November 4 to 6, brought the international community back to a question that has shaped global cooperation for thirty years: how to ensure that every person can live with dignity, opportunity, and security. The world has entered a period of intense economic, demographic, technological, and environmental transition. Rising hunger, widening inequality, climate instability, and declining social trust have reshaped the development landscape. The Doha summit sought to renew global momentum around one of the core promises of the United Nations, leaving no one behind. For Uzbekistan, which has carried out wide-ranging social and economic reforms in recent years, the summit was an important moment to present its experience and share new ideas for cooperation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev used the platform to outline several proposals aimed at strengthening social justice and deepening collective action on sustainable development. The ideas he introduced reflect the philosophy of what Tashkent calls the "New Uzbekistan," a society centered on human dignity and committed to reform, inclusion, and openness. A world that cannot afford complacency The global context in which the Doha summit took place demands attention. Although progress has been made since the first Social Development Summit in Copenhagen in 1995, the world remains far from achieving its own ambitions. Poverty has been reduced by half since the mid-1990s, and life expectancy has increased significantly, yet the pace of improvement has slowed. According to United Nations data, more than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and over 40 percent of the global population has no access to social protection. Hunger is rising in many regions, driven not by a shortage of food across the world but by conflict, economic shocks, and policy failures. Climate change continues to intensify droughts, floods, and food insecurity, placing the greatest strain on the poorest communities. At the same time, rapid technological change is creating new inequalities. Digital platforms offer access to information and opportunity, but they also accelerate polarization, disinformation, and disruption in labor markets. Millions of workers face uncertainty as automation and artificial intelligence alter traditional industries. These trends reinforce a clear reality: economic growth on its own is no longer enough to reduce structural inequality. This is the backdrop against which the Doha Political Declaration was adopted. The declaration reaffirms that social development must be at the center of global stability and peace, and calls for expanded social protection, stronger education systems, fair working conditions, and urgent climate action. It also stresses the need to reform the global financial architecture so that developing countries burdened by debt can secure the resources necessary for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Uzbekistan's reform agenda at the center President Mirziyoyev's participation in Doha highlighted how Uzbekistan has sought to respond to many of the same pressures affecting countries worldwide. Over the past eight years, the country has launched one of the most comprehensive reform programs in its recent history, aiming to modernize public institutions, liberalize the economy, expand opportunities for citizens, and raise living standards. Poverty reduction has been a major priority. In 2017, Uzbekistan introduced targeted social registers to identify vulnerable families and ensure the delivery of assistance. These registers, known as the "Iron Register," the "Women's Register," the "Youth Register," and the "Mercy Register," have become essential tools for directing support to those most in need. As a result, guaranteed assistance now reaches more than 2.3 million low-income families, elderly individuals, and persons with disabilities, four times more than eight years ago. The poverty rate, once near 35 percent, has fallen to 6.6 percent. Human capital has been another major focus. Preschool enrollment has risen from 27 percent to 78 percent, allowing more women to pursue education and employment. Over the past five years, more than 800,000 citizens have completed professional training and secured higher-income jobs. Uzbekistan has updated its labor code, adopted new employment and trade union laws, and amended its Constitution to enshrine the principle of the country as a social state. Migration, which is a reality for millions of Uzbek citizens who seek work abroad, has also become a key area of reform. A unified system now provides language and skills training before departure, legal and material support for citizens overseas, and reintegration programs for returning workers. The goal is to ensure that migration becomes a safe and empowering choice, not a source of exploitation. Environmental policy, especially regarding the Aral Sea region, has taken on global significance. The drying of the Aral Sea has long been recognized as one of the world's worst ecological disasters. Uzbekistan has responded by planting more than 2 million hectares of salt-tolerant vegetation on the exposed seabed, with plans to cover up to 80 percent of the area by 2030. Working with regional and international partners, the country is improving water management, expanding climate-resilient agriculture, and promoting renewable energy. These reforms form the domestic foundation for the proposals President Mirziyoyev presented in Doha. Five proposals for shared prosperity Uzbekistan's initiatives at the summit were framed around the idea that global stability depends on global social justice, and that developing countries must play a central role in advancing that agenda. The President introduced five proposals. The first was the establishment of a Global Fund for Social Justice. With over one billion people still living in poverty and developing countries requiring an estimated $4 trillion to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, there is an urgent need for a financial mechanism that improves access to development resources. Uzbekistan proposed hosting a high-level conference in Khiva in 2026 to explore how such a fund could operate, bringing together governments, international financial institutions, and donor organizations. The second proposal focused on employment and decent work. With the global unemployment rate at around 5 percent and technology reshaping labor markets, the President called for a Global Initiative on Social Responsibility and Decent Work. He pointed to Uzbekistan's own experience, noting that the country has attracted nearly $130 billion in investment over the past eight years, doubled the size of its economy, and created millions of jobs. The third initiative emphasized education. Uzbekistan, now a member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, proposed hosting a summit under the Alliance with education as the main theme. Illiteracy, the President noted, costs the global economy an estimated $1.4 trillion each year. Strengthening vocational education is especially important for preparing young people for the green and digital economy. The fourth proposal addressed international migration. With more than 300 million people working abroad worldwide, the President called for an International Forum on the Social and Legal Protection of Migrants and their Families, along with a Global Program on migrant rights. Uzbekistan's own reforms in this field were presented as a potential model for other developing countries. The fifth initiative focused on the Aral Sea region, which has been designated by the UN as a Zone of Environmental Innovation and Technology. Uzbekistan urged deeper cooperation to develop a socio-economic model for regions that face severe climate stress. Toward a renewed global consensus The Doha summit made clear that achieving social justice in an era of global turbulence requires more than restating existing commitments. It demands new partnerships, new financial tools, and renewed solidarity. Uzbekistan's proposals reflect the view that emerging economies not only face shared global challenges but also have practical ideas to contribute. In recent years, Uzbekistan has positioned itself as a more open and internationally engaged country, hosting global forums, aligning national strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals, and working closely with UN institutions. Its message in Doha, that development must be rooted in human dignity and collective responsibility, is consistent with that broader direction. As the world searches for a new consensus on development, Uzbekistan is seeking not only to transform itself but also to help shape the global conversation. The path to social justice, as articulated by its leadership, requires cooperation, inclusiveness, and investment in human potential. These principles remain as relevant today as they were in Copenhagen thirty years ago. 2025-11-26 16:09:57

NPS can stall — but hardly a joker card in Korea's FX defense SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Hedging maneuvers and central bank lifelines — South Korea's National Pension Service has several cards it can play to help authorities fend off pressure on the Korean won, but any relief is likely to be temporary, as the fund's core mission is safeguarding old-age coffers, not defending the currency. The NPS has been asked to join fiscal and monetary authorities in a joint response council as the won drifts toward the once-unthinkable 1,500 threshold. The world's third-largest pension fund, managing 1,322 trillion won in assets as of August, has become a critical presence in the FX market not by policy choice but because of the sheer scale of its overseas holdings. Overseas equities alone amount to 486 trillion won — already exceeding its medium-term target — compared with 196 trillion won in domestic stocks. The fund has been especially aggressive in U.S. big tech. SEC filings show the NPS held $128.8 billion worth of U.S. equities through September, booking around 33.5 trillion won in paper gains this year. It owns about 0.2 percent of Nvidia and sizable stakes in Apple, Microsoft and Broadcom, positions that have delivered hefty returns and elevated the fund's global influence. But that global tilt is a double-edged sword. To sustain its offshore investments, the NPS buys an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion in the domestic market every month, making it one of Korea's largest structural buyers of dollars and a steady source of downward pressure on the won. The currency traded at 1,465.8 won per dollar on Wednesday afternoon — slightly firmer than the Nov. 21 peak of 1,475.2 won after strong verbal intervention — but still nearly 100 won weaker over four months despite a current account surplus nearing $83 billion through September. The won has approached levels previously seen only during extreme stress, including the 2009 global financial crisis and this April's political turbulence. Stock Market Dilemma for FX This year's roaring domestic stock rally adds to the FX pressure. Korean shares returned an average 36.4 percent in the first eight months of the year, far outpacing foreign equities at 8.6 percent and positioning the NPS to rebalance by locking in domestic gains and reallocating abroad. Pension funds sold roughly 800 billion won in local stocks from September to early November as the KOSPI hit a record 4,221.87. A three-percentage-point reduction in domestic equity allocation alone would require shifting about 48 trillion won — or $32.7 billion — reinforcing the fund's role as a structural dollar demander. In the near term, the NPS still has cards it can play. The simplest is adjusting the timing of its dollar purchases. While its long-term strategy requires continued expansion overseas, it faces no obligation on when it converts won into dollars. Delaying purchases by several weeks or accelerating the repatriation of overseas returns can temporarily ease FX pressure without altering its portfolio strategy. A second lever is recalibrating hedging ratios. Under internal rules, the fund can hedge up to 10 percent of its overseas assets when the won trades significantly above its long-term average — a mechanism known as strategic currency hedging. Analysts expect the fund to return to that stance as the 1,480-won level emerges as a short-term ceiling. When the NPS adopted this posture in January, the won strengthened by 20 to 30 won within days, easing into the mid-1,300s by May. The fund can also tighten cash-flow management, temporarily holding more contributions in won or delaying scheduled FX transactions. But the most powerful institutional lever remains the currency swap line with the Bank of Korea, which allows the NPS to borrow dollars directly from foreign reserves rather than sourcing them in the spot market. The ceiling stands at $65 billion, up from $50 billion, and could be expanded or extended. Borrowed dollars must eventually be repaid, but the mechanism smooths sudden spikes in demand and reduces market volatility. Analysts note that both the swap arrangement and strategic hedging have proven to be the most effective tools in past episodes. Still, the NPS cannot be treated as Korea's joker card. The fund's mandate is to maximize long-term returns for an aging society, not to steer currency markets. "The NPS is certainly a major player in the FX market, but it operates under fundamental principles," said Park Sang-hyun of iM Securities. "Mobilizing pension funds for currency defense at the expense of those principles is a different matter entirely." Reducing its overseas investment ratio, while technically possible, contradicts its core mandate and requires multiple layers of approval — making it infeasible as a short-term defense instrument. "For short-term exchange rate adjustments, currency hedging is realistically the optimal approach," Park added. 2025-11-26 16:02:42

S-Oil foundation honors young scientists with 368 million won in research grants SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - S-Oil Science Prodigy and Culture Foundation on Wednesday presented awards to promising researchers in basic sciences, distributing a total of 368 million won (about $250,000) in research funding at its Seoul headquarters. The foundation, chaired by Hong Suk-woo, held the 15th Dissertation of the Year Awards and the 7th Next-generation Scientist Fellowship Awards ceremony at the company's Gongdeok-dong office. The Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the Korea University President Association co-hosted the event. Twelve young scientists and their academic advisors received 168 million won for exceptional doctoral dissertations across six fields including mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, chemical and materials engineering, and information technology. Five researchers were also granted 200 million won under the Next-Generation Scientist Award for work in physics, chemistry, physiology and medicine, chemical and materials engineering, and IT. "Korea's scientific future is bright, with researchers gaining global recognition for outstanding papers in basic sciences," S-Oil CEO Anwar A. Al-Hejazi said. "S-Oil will continue supporting Korean scientists so they can focus on their research with stability." The company established the independent foundation in 2011 to bolster basic science research in South Korea. Beyond its annual awards, the foundation operates various programs including international academic forums to nurture scientific talent. 2025-11-26 15:54:56

Agriculture Minister calls for strict measures after avian influenza cases detected SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong on Wednesday stressed the increased risk of avian influenza, urging enhanced safety measures such as restricting access to migratory bird habitats and thorough disinfection. Song's remarks came after a series of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks were reported at farms in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek, both located in Gyeonggi Province. During a visit to an egg storage facility in neighboring South Chungcheong Province to inspect containment efforts, Song emphasized strict prevention measures including changing shoes before entering farms and banning egg transport vehicles from farm premises, citing the province's vulnerability during previous outbreaks due to its high concentration of farms. Song also urged swift action including restricted access and culling, after the first African swine fever case was detected at a pig farm in the province the previous day. She called for all available resources to be mobilized to prevent further spread. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 15:39:22

North Korea could expand nuclear stockpile to over 400 warheads by 2040, expert warns SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - North Korea is estimated to currently possess up to 150 nuclear warheads, with the potential to expand to over 400 by 2040 if its production capabilities increase, an expert said at a forum in Seoul on Wednesday. Lee Sang-kyu, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), pointed out that the ongoing expansion of nuclear plants and other facilities under the oversight of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will significantly accelerate the country’s nuclear arsenal. His speculation came after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) earlier revealed its findings on new uranium enrichment facilities in Yongbyon, North Pyongan Province, suggesting increased enrichment activities there. According to his analysis, North Korea appears to have around 150 warheads, including 115 to 131 uranium-based and 15 to 19 plutonium-based ones. These figures are significantly higher than previous estimates by major international research institutions, which suggested around 50 warheads. Kim projected that the number could grow to 243 warheads by 2030 and 429 by 2040. When asked about North Korea's nuclear-powered submarines, he said their combat readiness and key equipment are not yet fully developed, requiring significant time to complete, though potential technical support from Russia cannot be ruled out. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 15:10:25