Concerns Raised Over Special Prosecutor Bill's Authority to Dismiss Charges The Corruption Investigation Office has expressed concerns regarding a clause in the special prosecutor bill, known as the "manipulated prosecution special prosecutor law," which would allow the special prosecutor to decide whether to maintain charges. The office submitted its opinion to the National Assembly, stating that this provision could violate the principle of separation of powers. On May 28, legal sources reported that the Corruption Investigation Office conveyed its concerns in a written response to Representative Koo Ja-geun of the People Power Party. The office noted that the clause allowing the special prosecutor to take over cases and decide on charge maintenance raises potential issues with the principle of separation of powers, warranting careful consideration. However, the office clarified that the decision on whether a special prosecutor is needed for specific cases should be determined by the National Assembly, which holds legislative authority. This decision should take into account the necessity for an independent special prosecutor, public interest, and various circumstances surrounding the cases. The clause in question is Article 8, Section 7 of the bill, which states that "the special prosecutor shall perform the duties related to the maintenance of charges for the cases received." Previously, the Democratic Party introduced the bill on April 30, aimed at appointing a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of manipulated investigations and prosecutions by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the National Intelligence Service, and the Board of Audit and Inspection. The bill includes a total of 12 cases for investigation, such as the Daejang-dong development corruption scandal, the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, and the shooting of a civil servant in the West Sea. Legal experts have pointed out that this clause could effectively grant the special prosecutor the authority to dismiss charges. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office also expressed concerns on April 30, stating that it could unduly influence the independence of the judiciary. The Economic Justice Action has also called for the removal of the clause granting charge dismissal authority. Political disputes continue over the advancement of the bill. The People Power Party has labeled the bill as a "charge dismissal special prosecutor" and has opposed it. In contrast, the Democratic Party has stated that it will gather opinions on the timing and procedures for processing the bill after the local elections.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:09:00

Park Ji-hyun Reveals Father's Battle with Stomach Cancer Actor Park Ji-hyun has revealed that her father, a doctor, is battling stomach cancer. On May 27, Park appeared as a guest on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block." During the episode, she discussed her role in the Netflix series "Eun-jung and Sang-yeon," stating, "Since my father is a doctor, I sought a lot of medical advice during the preparation for the project," and added, "He was diagnosed with cancer around the time 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate' was released." She explained the situation, saying, "At the time when the ratings for 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate' were rising, I received a call from my brother. They found pus in his stomach due to food poisoning, and while he was hospitalized at a university hospital, they conducted further tests and discovered cancer." Park continued, "From that point on, his condition worsened, and I felt like something was being taken away from me while I was given something in return." She expressed that her father's illness weighed heavily on her heart. She also mentioned that she asked her father many questions during filming. "While shooting 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon,' I thought of my father a lot. When I received the script, he was in a much better condition, so I asked him many questions. I asked him what kind of pain he was experiencing, and he said, 'If it weren't for my family, I would have wanted to die.' Hearing that made me understand Sang-yeon's feelings," she said. Despite his battle with cancer, Park's father expressed joy over his daughter's achievements. Park reflected, "I think my father felt proud that I was able to show some success in my acting while he was sick. I saw him liking all the posts fans shared, and I thought that showing a good image through my active work was the best I could do for him."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:09:00

Privacy Commission Recommends Improvements to Face Recognition System for Mobile Phone Registration The Personal Information Protection Commission has recommended improvements to the face recognition system implemented during mobile phone registration, citing inadequate privacy protections. On May 28, the commission announced that it had approved a set of recommendations regarding the operation of the face recognition system during mobile phone registration at its plenary meeting the previous day. The Ministry of Science and ICT has been piloting the face recognition system since December as part of a government initiative to combat voice phishing. This system compares a photo of the user's ID with their live face in real time. The commission's investigation found that the ministry had not sufficiently considered the sensitivity of biometric data from a privacy protection perspective. Under the Personal Information Protection Act, facial data is classified as sensitive information and can only be processed with the consent of the individual or a clear legal basis. Concerns were raised about the lack of clarity in existing telecommunications laws regarding the use of facial data as a means of identity verification during mobile phone registration. Additionally, the commission noted that users effectively have no choice but to accept face recognition, which undermines their ability to opt out. It also suggested that the scope of data processed by the contractor's system should be minimized. The commission urged the ministry to thoroughly review the necessity, applicability, effectiveness, appropriateness, and proportionality of processing biometric data before formal implementation. It emphasized the need to operate the system according to the principle of privacy by design (PbD) and to clarify legal grounds and protections for individuals' rights. The commission plans to monitor the implementation of these recommendations and support efforts to ensure that government-wide measures against voice phishing are carried out within a framework that protects personal information.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:06:00

South Korea to Develop Specialized AI Models for Home Appliance Manufacturing Government officials are set to accelerate the transition to manufacturing artificial intelligence (AI) in the home appliance industry by developing specialized AI models. As mixed production becomes essential, the aim is to create AI systems that manage production and logistics schedules. This initiative includes building AI training data and establishing K-AI standards as part of the "Home Appliance M.AX Three Major Tasks." On May 28, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the third general meeting of the "Home Appliance M.AX Alliance" at the Electronics Hall, attended by Choi Woo-hyuk, Director of Advanced Industry Policy, and over 80 participating companies and institutions. During the meeting, the ministry outlined plans for the "Home Appliance M.AX Three Major Tasks." The home appliance industry is facing increasing challenges due to global supply chain disruptions exacerbated by recent conflicts in the Middle East. Coupled with fierce competition from companies in rival nations, the domestic and international landscape is more precarious than ever. This risk is reflected in the numbers. According to the Korea Customs Service, home appliance exports fell to $6.9 billion last year, a 17% decrease from the previous year. In the current year, exports have only reached $2.246 billion, marking a 6.2% decline compared to the same period last year. In response, the government plans to fundamentally improve the industry by integrating AI into all aspects of home appliance manufacturing, from production processes to innovative product development, centered around the M.AX Alliance. Specifically, the government will develop specialized manufacturing AI models that reflect the unique characteristics of home appliance production. As consumer preferences diversify, mixed production—where multiple products are manufactured on a single line—has become essential. To accommodate frequent line changes, the government will develop AI models that manage production and logistics schedules autonomously, utilizing automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The initiative will also support the rapid and efficient development of innovative AI-powered home appliances. A roadmap for building AI training data will be established, and a survey of corporate demand will be conducted to systematically collect public data for AI training. Alongside data construction, the government will initiate the development of universal modules, including standard hardware and software development kits for AI home appliances, to alleviate the economic and technological burdens on companies. An AI home appliance support center will open in July to assist with the entire development process, from product design to prototype production. To prevent "AI washing"—the misleading practice of claiming AI capabilities for non-AI products—the government will establish standards. The National Institute of Technology and Standards will swiftly prepare national standards for the technical grading of AI home appliances and inter-device security by the end of the year. The goal is to ensure that reliable products that meet quality and security standards can establish a foothold in the market, while also identifying and linking government policy support measures. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will operate the Home Appliance M.AX Alliance with a focus on three key functions: manufacturing processes, product innovation and data, and standard cooperation, to execute these three major tasks with urgency. Choi Woo-hyuk stated, "The overall AI transformation of the manufacturing ecosystem is a necessary strategy for survival in fierce global competition. We will concentrate all policy efforts to ensure that the intelligence of home appliances and the AI transformation of manufacturing processes are organically aligned, establishing global leadership for domestic home appliances."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:06:00

Government to Complete Rare Earth Recycling Certification by August The South Korean government is accelerating its rare earth recycling initiative to reduce dependence on China for its supply chain. The plan includes establishing a domestic production base for rare earths using recycled permanent magnets by the end of the year, with certification procedures expected to be completed by August. On May 28, Lim Ki-geun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, visited Seongrim Advanced Industries, a manufacturer of rare earth permanent magnets in Daegu, to assess the progress of the recycling project. This visit was aimed at reviewing strategies for the early implementation of key mineral recycling initiatives included in this year’s main and supplementary budgets. In light of recent global supply chain uncertainties and escalating U.S.-China strategic competition, the government has identified rare earths as a critical national resource and is working to enhance its response capabilities. Rare earths are essential materials used across various industries, including electric vehicles, semiconductors, defense, and artificial intelligence, and disruptions in their supply can significantly impact the broader economy. To support this initiative, the government has allocated 1 billion won for rare earth recycling facility support in the main budget and an additional 6 billion won for raw material procurement and 2.08 billion won for production capacity verification in the supplementary budget. The goal is to secure 100 tons of raw materials for recycling by the end of the year. To expedite the establishment of a collection system for recycled permanent magnets, the government will begin providing financial support for related facilities and equipment starting in June. It also aims to complete preliminary administrative procedures, such as the recognition of recycled resources, by August. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will oversee facility and equipment support, while the Ministry of Environment will handle the recognition and designation processes. Seongrim Advanced Industries and its subsidiary, Ecoreon, are recognized as leading companies in South Korea capable of recycling rare earths from used permanent magnets. Based on the supplementary budget, the government plans to initiate production capacity verification within this year. Earlier, on May 21, the government announced measures to reduce import dependence on economically sensitive items from specific countries to below 50% by 2030. Rare earths will be managed as a focus item for concentrated procurement through 2029. Concerns were raised during the visit that a significant number of used permanent magnets are either not being collected or are leaking overseas, highlighting the urgent need for establishing a raw material collection system and improving regulations in the initial stages. Vice Minister Lim stated, "The rare earth recycling project is a newly established initiative aimed at proactively addressing supply chain uncertainties. We will promptly complete the certification process by August and work closely with the Ministries of Trade and Environment to ensure comprehensive support for regulatory improvements and preliminary procedure management."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:06:00

Government to Manage Port Safety Incidents with New Statistics and Plans The South Korean government is taking steps to systematically manage port safety incidents at the national level by establishing tailored disaster statistics and a safety basic plan. The initiative aims to identify hidden risk factors at port sites in advance to prevent serious accidents. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on May 28 that it will conduct a legislative notice for amendments to the "Port Safety Special Act Enforcement Decree" and the "Port Safety Special Act Enforcement Regulations" from May 29 to July 8. This legislative notice is a follow-up to the amendment of the "Port Safety Special Act" that passed the National Assembly in February. The amendments aim to specify provisions delegated by the law, including the procedures for establishing the port safety basic plan and the basis for conducting tailored disaster statistics. Before formulating the port safety basic plan, which is established every five years, the government will conduct surveys on the occurrence and causes of port safety incidents, the training of specialized personnel, and the development and dissemination of safety facility technologies. The basic plan will be finalized after consultations with relevant central administrative agencies and local governors overseeing trade ports, followed by a review by the Central Port Policy Council. To address the long-standing need for tailored disaster statistics for ports, the government will conduct annual surveys on port incidents. Officials believe that existing industrial accident statistics do not adequately reflect the unique risk factors present in port environments, prompting the need for a separate statistical system. To enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of the surveys, the qualifications for commissioned organizations have been specified. Organizations or groups with experience in statistical production, port safety policy research, or surveys related to port transportation and relevant industries will be eligible to conduct the surveys. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries aims to shift the port safety management system from a reactive approach to a proactive one through this regulatory overhaul. With ongoing concerns about serious accidents in port loading and transportation operations, the government seeks to establish a national safety management system. Han Ji-woong, head of the Port Safety and Security Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "This legal amendment is intended to institutionally support the establishment of the port safety basic plan and the production of tailored disaster statistics. We will identify hidden risk factors in port workplaces in advance and implement effective disaster prevention policies to create a safe working environment for port workers."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:06:00

Hyundai Mobis Joins Global Open Source Ecosystem to Boost SDV Competitiveness Hyundai Mobis has joined the global open-source ecosystem to enhance its competitiveness in software-defined vehicles (SDV). The company plans to share some of its proprietary technologies to secure global standards and expand its ecosystem. On May 28, Hyundai Mobis announced its membership in the Eclipse Foundation's SDV Working Group and participation in the S-Core project. This initiative marks the beginning of its efforts to develop a software platform for SDVs. The S-Core project aims to standardize automotive software platforms and middleware through global collaboration. Launched in late 2024, primarily among European companies, it is working to develop the first open-source-based SDV platform with functional safety standards (ASIL-B). Thirteen companies, including automakers, parts suppliers, and software firms, are involved in the project. The adoption of open-source methods, traditionally used in the IT industry, is significant for mobility companies. Participating firms will share some of their code, allowing developers worldwide to utilize it freely. Hyundai Mobis plans to unveil a Linux-based 'container solution' as part of this project. This technology creates independent spaces in the SDV environment to prevent interference between various software applications, enabling stable execution of multiple functions simultaneously. According to Hyundai Mobis, the container solution operates over ten times faster than existing technologies in automotive control environments. It also features continuous integrity assurance to prevent software tampering from external intrusions. A Hyundai Mobis representative stated, "Through our participation in this project, we aim to emerge as a leading company in mobility software." Meanwhile, the automotive software market is experiencing rapid growth. According to market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the SDV market is projected to increase from $270.9 billion in 2024 to $419.7 billion by 2028.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:06:00

Woori Bank and GH Develop Exclusive Loan for Shared Equity Housing Woori Bank is moving forward with the development of an exclusive loan product to ensure the stable supply of shared equity housing.On May 28, Woori Bank announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation (GH) for financial support for buyers of shared equity housing.In this public sale model, buyers initially acquire only a portion (10-25%) of the housing equity and gradually purchase the remaining equity over 20 to 30 years, ultimately achieving full ownership.Despite the advantage of significantly reducing initial financial burdens, financial support for shared equity housing has faced limitations. Due to the shared ownership structure between buyers and the public supplier, traditional mortgage structures have not recognized the equity as collateral, making the development of exclusive loan products impossible.In response, the two organizations have jointly developed a financial support model based on the 'bond transfer method,' utilizing the buyer's right to claim the return of their equity acquisition funds. Woori Bank plans to complete the product development before the first sale announcement of shared equity housing, scheduled for October.Jung Jin-wan, President of Woori Bank, stated, "This agreement is significant as it proactively establishes a financial support system tailored to a new public housing supply model. We will continue to strengthen collaboration with public institutions to expand financial products that support housing stability and asset formation for those without homes."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:03:00

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon to Discuss Redistribution of Samsung's Excess Profits Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon announced plans to hold an urgent discussion on how to redistribute the "astronomical excess profits" of large corporations amid the ongoing Samsung strike. The announcement has sparked reactions from netizens. During a press briefing at the Government Sejong Center, Minister Kim stated, "I would like to open a discussion on how to socially redistribute the excess profits of large companies and explore the possibilities of a Korean-style social solidarity wage policy." He revealed that the urgent discussion is scheduled for June 1. Kim explained that the discussion aims to set the agenda and initiate dialogue before formal labor-management negotiations. He referred to the event as a "tentative discussion on the possibilities of a Korean-style social solidarity wage policy." The social solidarity wage policy is a labor initiative aimed at reducing wage disparities between large and small businesses, as well as between regular and non-regular workers. It involves using the funds saved from restraining wage increases for high-income workers to boost the wages or welfare of vulnerable workers. The Rehn-Meidner Model from Sweden is a notable example. While acknowledging that applying Sweden's social solidarity fund model directly to Korea is nearly impossible, Kim emphasized the importance of upholding its spirit. He expressed a desire to foster social dialogue aimed at collective well-being. "We must reflect deeply and rationally on this issue, and the solution ultimately lies in social dialogue," Kim said. He added, "The success of Samsung Electronics is not only due to the dedication of its labor and management but also the contributions of all communities and society. If we agree that this success should be redistributed socially, then the solution is social dialogue." He further clarified, "We need to discuss how to share the pure profits remaining after excluding taxes, interest, depreciation, and other financial costs. This is not about the government collecting more taxes or directly intervening in distribution, but rather about labor and management autonomously seeking ways to achieve mutual growth and reduce disparities in the labor market alongside the primary distribution of taxes." However, netizens have expressed criticism in response to the report. Comments included, "What excess profits does a private company have?" and "If there are losses, the government won't take responsibility, so why discuss sharing profits?" Others questioned, "Why is the government discussing the distribution of corporate profits? Isn't that a communist idea?" Some suggested, "If you want to share profits, buy stocks," and remarked, "Only Lee Jae-yong suffers in this structure." Some commenters acknowledged the issue of disparities between subcontractors and non-regular workers but argued that it is excessive for the government to address profit distribution in private companies. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics' labor and management recently reached a dramatic agreement after mediation by the Central Labor Relations Commission, averting a total strike. However, discussions surrounding the bonus system and excess profit distribution are expected to continue in the political and labor sectors for the foreseeable future.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-28 11:03:00

Naver pledges 1 trillion won for creators in AI shift SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - Naver will pour 1 trillion won ($663 million) into its content creator ecosystem over the next five years, the South Korean internet giant pledged, betting that proprietary data and creator partnerships — not raw model performance — will decide the next phase of the artificial intelligence race. The announced was unveiled at a media round table in central Seoul on Thursday led by Kim Kwang-hyun, Naver's chief data and contents officer, in his first public appearance since taking the role in February. The company, headed by CEO Choi Soo-yeon, said the spending will fund efforts to surface high-quality creators and feed their work into its AI services. "As a CDO, I will build up quality data — the foundation of execution-capable agents — through our creator ecosystem and external partnerships, connect it to AI to deliver differentiated user experiences, and dive more aggressively into the competition," Kim said. As part of the strategy, Naver is launching a fellowship called Naver Mate, which will select about 3,000 top contributors each month from its blog, cafe, Knowledge iN and Premium Content platforms, ranked by how often their work is cited in the company's AI Briefing service. Kim Sang-bum, head of Naver's search platform division, said the company's edge lies in its product-native large language model, a trove of about 10 billion data records, and the operational know-how built up over more than two decades of running its own search ecosystem. A next-generation HyperCLOVA X model will also be deployed shortly, he added. 2026-05-28 11:02:46