The world is getting thinner on a needle, and Korea wants in SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - South Korean companies have a knack for catching up — and then overtaking. Their latest target is a class of drugs first designed to manage blood sugar that has since become the most coveted weight-loss tool on the planet, reshaping pharmacy shelves, celebrity bodies, and the business model of personal trainers everywhere. The drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimic a gut hormone that curbs appetite and slows digestion. Marketed by Denmark's Novo Nordisk as Wegovy and by Eli Lilly as Mounjaro and Zepbound, they have delivered double-digit weight loss in clinical trials and turned obesity treatment into one of the most lucrative frontiers in modern medicine. The numbers are staggering. Mounjaro and Zepbound together accounted for nearly 56 percent of Eli Lilly's $65.2 billion in revenue in 2025. Novo Nordisk's diabetes and obesity segment generated roughly $44 billion. Lilly's CEO has said 20 to 25 million patients are now on the two companies' drugs. What began as a medical breakthrough has long since spilled into popular culture. In Korea, interest in Wegovy surged after Bang Si-hyuk — the once-portly chairman of K-pop powerhouse HYBE — appeared markedly slimmer in public, reportedly with the drug's help. Overseas, a parade of slimmed-down celebrities has fueled a social-media frenzy that critics say glamorizes a dangerous thinness. The hype has outrun both the supply chains and, at times, the science. Studies show the drugs must be taken indefinitely to keep weight off; research published this year found that patients who quit regain weight up to four times faster than those who stop conventional dieting. Researchers are still mapping the fuller picture. Large observational analyses have linked semaglutide to sharply lower rates of Alzheimer's diagnosis — but the first major Phase III trials, reported in March, found that an oral form of the drug did not slow the disease's progression. A separate concern, that the drugs strip muscle along with fat, has driven much of the current innovation race. More recent studies temper the alarm, suggesting the apparent loss comes largely from liver and other tissue rather than skeletal muscle, and that strength is mostly preserved. The side effects, though, are real. Korean regulators have logged cases of acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and kidney failure among Wegovy users, alongside prescriptions wrongly issued to children and pregnant women. Cost has divided the world into haves and have-nots. In the United States, list prices have topped $1,000 a month, pushing some patients to buy abroad. In China, Wegovy launched at around $193. Indian generics — available after patents lapsed there — have appeared for as little as $14. Korea sits somewhere in between. Wegovy is not covered by national health insurance, leaving patients to pay 400,000 to 800,000 won (roughly $290 to $580) per four-week pen, though a price war touched off by Mounjaro's arrival has since pushed some clinics lower. That gap, combined with easy access through clinics and telemedicine apps, has bred misuse: prescriptions have flowed from psychiatry, dentistry, and ophthalmology offices. On Wednesday the country's drug-safety ministry said it would tighten controls on overseas purchases and customs clearance, citing a surge in purely cosmetic use. It is into this turbulent, fast-globalizing market that Korean firms are pressing their case — not as pioneers, but as fast followers betting on better formats and lower prices. The local push rests on three ideas: pills for the needle-averse, longer-lasting injections, and drugs that spare muscle. A 2025 survey across 21 countries found 62 percent of respondents preferred oral weight-loss drugs over injectables, which drew only 16 percent. Hanmi Pharmaceutical said Wednesday it will present eight studies on two obesity candidates at the American Diabetes Association meeting in New Orleans next week, including the first disclosure of HM500197, a peptide designed to build muscle while cutting fat. Celltrion said Friday it had begun primate toxicity testing of CT-G32, a drug acting on four biological targets simultaneously, with a regulatory filing planned for the first half of next year and an oral version targeted for 2028. Samsung has joined the race too, with Samsung Bioepis striking a March deal to develop a monthly version of semaglutide and Samsung Biologics weighing U.S. manufacturing plants. Because the drugs' full range of effects remains uncharted, researchers are probing where else they might reach. At the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, scientists are studying GLP-1's potential as an anti-aging therapy. "Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly spoke at an international aging conference last year about developing GLP-1 as an anti-aging treatment," said Oh Doo-byoung, head of the institute's Aging Research Institute. "Many experts believe obesity drives aging by triggering inflammation, and there is an idea that GLP-1 could counter that — and even help reverse aging, though nothing is settled yet." Oh added that his institute is exploring exercise-mimicking drugs to see how they might help older people losing muscle mass. "There are honestly so many indications that some call it a cure-all," he said. "If an anti-aging drug is developed, it too could likely be used across a wide range of conditions." 2026-05-29 16:08:57

US House bill broadens guardrails against USFK troop cuts amid China rivalry SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - A new U.S. House defense bill seeks to strengthen congressional guardrails against any reduction of American troops in South Korea, at a time when the role of U.S. Forces Korea is increasingly being discussed in the broader context of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy and rivalry with China. The chairman’s mark of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would amend a provision in the fiscal 2026 defense law that restricts the use of funds to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in or deployed to South Korea below 28,500. Under the 2026 NDAA, funds authorized by that law cannot be used to cut the U.S. military presence in South Korea below the current level or to complete a transfer of wartime operational control of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command in a way that deviates from a bilaterally agreed plan, unless the defense secretary submits required certifications and assessments to Congress. The 2027 House draft goes a step further by broadening the funding restriction. Instead of applying only to amounts authorized under the NDAA itself, the draft would prohibit the use of funds “authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal years 2026 or 2027” for such purposes. The change appears aimed at closing a potential loophole that could allow the administration to use other defense funds to carry out troop reductions, even if NDAA-authorized funds were restricted. If enacted, the provision would make it harder for the executive branch to move forward with a unilateral or rapid reduction in U.S. Forces Korea without first going through congressional oversight procedures. The provision comes amid lingering concerns in Seoul that the Trump administration could push for a reshaping of U.S. overseas military posture as part of its broader pressure campaign on allies to shoulder more defense costs and take on larger regional security roles. “The U.S. will not be able to act entirely on its own,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University. “Given its strategic competition with China, it would be difficult for Washington to reduce U.S. Forces Korea significantly. It may be able to scale back some ground troops, but there is little reason to move them to Japan or Guam, especially when Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek is such an advanced and well-established base.” Koh said Washington may still pressure Seoul over defense cost-sharing or other alliance issues, but the strategic value of the U.S. military presence in South Korea remains too important to abandon. “For South Korea, even the symbolic presence of U.S. troops serves as a deterrent,” he said. “For the United States, there are few locations as strategically useful as South Korea when it comes to keeping China — and even Russia — in check.” During Trump’s first term, the possibility of reducing U.S. troops in South Korea repeatedly surfaced alongside contentious defense cost-sharing negotiations. Congress responded at the time by inserting troop-level safeguards into annual defense policy bills. Similar concerns have resurfaced since Trump returned to office, particularly as his administration has reviewed U.S. force posture in Europe and other regions. The House draft does not itself order the United States to maintain troops in South Korea permanently, nor does it eliminate the possibility of a reduction. But it would require the defense secretary, in consultation with senior military, diplomatic and intelligence officials, to certify that any reduction below 28,500 is in the national security interest of the United States and follows consultations with allies, including South Korea and Japan. The required assessment would also have to analyze the impact of such a reduction on U.S., South Korean and Japanese security, U.S. deterrence, the defense posture of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the ability of American forces to carry out contingency plans, including operations beyond the Korean Peninsula. That last point is drawing renewed attention after Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, recently described South Korea as a “dagger” in the heart of Asia from China’s strategic perspective. His remarks underscored Washington’s growing view of the Korean Peninsula not only as a frontline against North Korea but also as a key strategic location in the wider Indo-Pacific theater. Brunson has also previously emphasized the need for closer operational links among South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, reflecting the U.S. military’s push to build a more networked regional deterrence posture. For Seoul, the developments point to a two-sided challenge. On one hand, the House NDAA language could reassure South Korea by making abrupt U.S. troop cuts more difficult. On the other hand, the growing emphasis on the peninsula’s strategic value in a potential China-related contingency could fuel debate over how far South Korea should align with U.S. regional operations beyond deterring North Korea. The Chinese Embassy in Seoul has strongly criticized Brunson's remarks, portraying South Korea and USFK as a forward base aimed at China, warning that he had “clearly crossed the line.” The bill remains a draft and must still go through committee deliberations, House passage and negotiations with the Senate before becoming law. But the language offers an early signal that Congress is seeking to preserve oversight over U.S. force posture in South Korea as the Trump administration weighs broader changes to America’s global military footprint. 2026-05-29 16:01:38

New York–inspired fashion brand opens flagship store in Seoul's Yeonnam-dong SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Contemporary designer brand CARLYN held the grand opening of its new flagship store in Seoul's trendy neighborhood of Yeonnam-dong on Friday. Known for its New York–inspired modern aesthetic, CARLYN has built a following among young consumers in South Korea and across Asia for its handbags and accessories. The new four-story store features an exterior inspired by the brand's signature quilting design, with spaces divided into four themes — "volume," "freedom," "lightness," and "colorways" —offering visitors an immersive experience of the brand's collections. Located in Seoul's hip district near Hongik University areas, a popular destination for young people and international tourists, the store is expected to attract plenty of visitors and raise the brand's profile. The opening event was attended by Wendy of K-pop girl group Red Velvet, Yook Sung-jae of boy group BTOB, Leeseo of girl group IVE, as well as Thai actors EMI, BONNIE and MIK. 2026-05-29 16:01:27

South Korean researchers develop virtual simulator for AI servers SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea have developed a virtual platform to test the performance of large artificial intelligence server setups without building physical systems, the prominent research institute said Friday. Created by a team led by Professor Park Jong-se at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) School of Computing, the software is called LLMServingSim 2.0. It models the complex hardware and software interactions needed to run large language models. The tool allows developers to experiment with different designs and verify performance before buying expensive server equipment. Running large artificial intelligence models usually requires thousands of servers. Testing new chips or system layouts in the real world takes a lot of time and money. The new simulator solves this by copying tasks like data processing, request sorting, and memory use on a regular computer. The technology goes beyond traditional graphics processing units to support newer chips. Users can test neural processing units and memory chips that handle calculations directly within a virtual data center. This helps researchers see if a certain chip will speed up processing, use less power, and stay stable across huge server networks. It can also analyze setups where different server resources are physically separated but connected over a network. The research was led by master's students Cho Jae-hong and Choi Hyun-min. It won the best paper award at the IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and Software (ISPASS) 2026. The simulation tool has been released to the public as open-source software so businesses and schools can use it freely. "AI service competitiveness is determined not only by the model itself but also by the infrastructure technology that operates it stably and efficiently," Park said. "I hope this simulator will serve as an important foundation for researchers and the industry to develop next-generation AI infrastructure more quickly and efficiently." (Reference Information) Journal/Source: IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and Software (ISPASS) 2026 Title: LLMServingSim 2.0: A Unified Simulator for Heterogeneous and Disaggregated LLM Serving Infrastructure Link/DOI: 10.1109/ISPASS69572.2026.00012 2026-05-29 15:54:20

KFA chief Chung Mong-gyu to step down after 2026 World Cup SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, said Friday he will step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, ending his 13-year tenure at the helm of South Korean football. In a statement released two weeks before the tournament opens, Chung said he intends to resign after the World Cup, calling support for the national team his final duty as head of the association. "I intend to step down as president of the Korea Football Association after this World Cup," Chung said. "I believe my last duty as president is to do my best to support the national team so it can produce meaningful results at the tournament." "I am aware that there have been various controversies and criticisms during my time leading the association," Chung said. "I believe all of this is due to my shortcomings." The KFA said Chung made the decision to urge football fans to give their full support to the national team during the World Cup. It also said he concluded that taking responsibility was necessary for the association to move past the current situation and return to long-term planning for South Korean football. Chung won a fourth term in February last year with 85.6 percent support. He has led the KFA since 2013, when he took office as the association's 52nd president. South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, is preparing for the World Cup finals, which open next month in North America. Chung plans to submit his resignation after the tournament, which is scheduled to conclude on July 19 local time. 2026-05-29 15:49:26

Nike teams up with BTS for customization, tour merchandise collection SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Nike has partnered with K-pop legend BTS to launch a Nike By You customization experience and tour merchandise tied to the group's BTS WORLD TOUR "ARIRANG," Nike said Friday. The project combines customized Nike products with tour merchandise, giving BTS fans a way to personalize apparel and accessories connected to the group's upcoming world tour. The Nike By You experience features 10 custom graphics created specifically for BTS. The designs can be used to personalize select Nike apparel and tote bags. Nike said the graphics use bold shapes, fluid movement and custom typography to reflect the group's musical evolution and its connection with fans around the world. The collaboration also includes Nike x BTS tour merchandise, including T-shirts, a hoodie and a Korea-only cap. The items will be sold in select cities on the "ARIRANG" world tour and online in China. The collection references BTS' Korean heritage alongside themes of legacy and creativity. Some Nike By You designs highlight the number seven, representing the seven members of BTS, while others reference musical bars and measures. The Nike By You customization experience will begin June 1 at select Nike stores in Seoul, Busan, Tokyo and Osaka. It will later expand to cities across Asia, Europe and North America through February 2027. Nike x BTS tour merchandise will launch June 12 in Seoul, Busan and Tokyo, followed by releases in major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and Las Vegas, on July 5 and in London on July 6. Additional merchandise drops are scheduled for China, Singapore, Taguig, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney through February 2027. 2026-05-29 15:48:43

Ruling Party Warns Opposition Candidates of Serious Consequences Amid Election Controversies On May 29, the Democratic Party issued a warning to the opposition amid ongoing controversies surrounding the local elections, specifically addressing allegations of deepfake video production and distribution linked to Park Wan-soo, the People Power Party's candidate for Gyeongnam governor, and accusations of online comment manipulation involving Oh Se-hoon, the party's candidate for Seoul mayor. The party asserted that these issues would lead to serious consequences for the opposition. Kang Jun-hyun, the party's spokesperson, spoke to reporters at the National Assembly, emphasizing the importance of active voter participation on the first day of early voting. "We urge the public to exercise their valuable right to vote," he said, noting that problems related to the People Power Party candidates continue to emerge. Kang highlighted reports from May 28 that raised concerns about illegal AI deepfake election videos being created and distributed by Park's campaign, as well as indications of election interference by Gyeongnam provincial officials. He stated, "If true, this constitutes a serious violation of the Public Official Election Act and is one of the most severe election crimes." He further remarked, "This is also an instance of administrative power being mobilized for electoral purposes. Elections are a stage for the people's choice, not a mud fight where one can win through crime and rule-breaking." Regarding the recent controversy surrounding Oh's alleged comment manipulation, Kang noted, "There are reports that malicious posts were created and systematically disseminated with the intent of causing the defeat of candidate Jeong Won-ho. A representative from Oh's camp even mentioned that they had previously changed the game during the 2021 by-elections through a comment campaign." Kang criticized the People Power Party, questioning whether they take pride in manipulating public opinion. He recalled the remnants of similar tactics from the Lee Myung-bak administration, warning that the unethical approach of prioritizing electoral victory over political integrity would now face severe scrutiny. Additionally, Kang pointed to recent polling data indicating that Lee Won-taek is leading Kim Kwan-young in the race for the Gyeongbuk governor position, suggesting that public sentiment in the region is rallying behind the Democratic Party. He concluded by stating, "What Kim should do now is not to dream of an unrealistic return to the party but to show integrity by apologizing to party members and resigning. I urge the voters of Jeonbuk, who support President Lee Jae-myung, to choose him."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-29 15:45:00

In the Age of AI, Com2us Platform Seizes Quantum Leap Opportunity with B2B Expansion "As game developers adapt fiercely to survive, Com2us Platform sees another opportunity. Our goal is clear: to instill strong trust in the market that 'clients will succeed with Com2us Platform.'" Iru Da, director of Com2us Platform's Technology Business Division, recently shared the company's business objectives in response to changes in the development environment, including artificial intelligence (AI), during an interview with Aju Economy. Com2us Platform, a subsidiary of Com2us Holdings, is expanding its B2B portfolio by developing new businesses in cloud, system integration (SI), and AI integrated services (MaaS), following its core business of the game backend platform, Hive. Hive began as an internal platform to support global game services for the Com2us Group. After validating common functions necessary for game services, such as login, authentication, payment, operations, and community management, Com2us Platform began external commercialization of Hive to third-party game companies in 2021. This decision was based on the belief that the global service know-how gained internally would be in demand by external game developers. Iru Da explained, "Just as Google's Gmail started as an internal product and expanded externally, Hive also began its external opening based on validated product viability." He noted that in the early days of external release, Hive's recognition was low, so they had to start by explaining the platform to clients. Despite having a data separation system, there were initial misunderstandings that game data or business information from the Com2us Group might leak. Hive experienced a turning point in growth in 2022 with the introduction of cross-play functionality, which supports both mobile and PC. Iru Da stated, "MMORPG clients, who had a high demand for PC games, chose Hive because it allows for cross-play implementation with just a few lines of code, which resonated well in the market." After five years of external commercialization, Hive's business achievements are becoming evident. According to the company, Hive is currently applied to over 250 games. This marks an increase from 112 contracted games and 86 partners at the end of the first quarter last year to 145 games and 158 partners this year. Com2us Platform is now broadening its business into infrastructure and system integration. The experience gained from Hive's external commercialization has laid the groundwork for expanding into cloud, SI, and AI businesses. Leveraging its global game service operation experience, Com2us Platform is expanding its cloud and SI business. Starting in 2024, it plans to supply customized infrastructure to domestic and international developers as a global partner of Tencent Cloud, responding to system construction and operational needs through SI and B2B consulting. The experience from Hive's external commercialization is expected to create synergies in cost reduction for developers when utilizing both Hive and cloud infrastructure. According to Com2us Holdings' first-quarter data, revenue from Com2us Platform's cloud business increased by 212% year-on-year and 13% quarter-on-quarter. Additionally, in April, the company expanded its business with the launch of AI integrated services (MaaS - Model as a Service), providing generative AI models to enterprises. Iru Da emphasized, "Companies can freely utilize the latest generative AI models from AI firms like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic with just a single application programming interface (API) integration. This allows for immediate incorporation of AI technology into services without the substantial costs of building GPU infrastructure or navigating complex contracts with individual model providers." He identified 'efficiency' as the core of the AI business. As the development environment changes with the proliferation of AI tools, he believes that Hive can also evolve to meet the needs of developers using AI, potentially leading to a quantum leap. Iru Da stated, "In the AI era, a developer's competitiveness is not merely about using a lot of tokens. As AI tool usage becomes more common, the ability to consider cost efficiency and operational stability in development is becoming increasingly important." However, challenges remain. The downturn in the gaming industry poses variables for Hive as well. Iru Da noted, "There is a polarization phenomenon in the gaming industry. Indie and mid-sized game companies are struggling with marketing competition and cost burdens." He added, "Hive is a platform that can only thrive if the games succeed, emphasizing that 'our success is tied to our clients' success.'"* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-29 15:45:00

Labor and Industry Ministers Clash Over Excess Profits Ministers Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor and Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy are at odds over the issue of excess profits generated by large corporations. Kim Young-hoon advocates for using these excess profits to address social polarization through co-prosperity, while Kim Jung-kwan emphasizes the need for reinvestment. On May 29, Kim Jung-kwan stated on his social media that "the world is currently in a race to secure leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) investments," adding that competing nations are preparing for victory in the AI era with unprecedented large-scale investments. He stressed, "Now is a critical time to connect the profits generated by the semiconductor industry to 'productive reinvestment' for the future," and urged the strategic use of the AI boom to secure a growth engine for South Korea's industrial leap. He warned that even a single missed investment could collapse the industrial ecosystem. Kim Jung-kwan further noted, "What is needed now is not hesitation but determination, and not dispersion but concentration." Kim Jung-kwan's remarks are interpreted as a response from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to the recent debate on the distribution of excess profits raised by Kim Young-hoon. During a meeting with reporters on May 27, Kim Young-hoon stated, "The only solution to how to socially distribute the excess profits of large corporations is social dialogue," and announced plans to hold a discussion forum soon. However, members of the ruling People Power Party reacted by saying it was like "rolling up sleeves to cut open a goose's belly." This reflects concerns that the concept of excess profits is unclear and that government intervention should be minimized. In response, Kim Young-hoon addressed speculation on his social media the previous day, stating, "There are misconceptions that the government intends to take away and redistribute the profits of large corporations. This misinterprets the government's concerns and the essence of social dialogue. The government has no authority to forcibly intervene in the legitimate profits of companies, nor does it intend to do so." He added on social media, "Someone must be a fence and clean up the mess so that the goose can safely continue to lay eggs. That egg growing into another goose is sustainable growth for all. A company may be small, but its dreams cannot be small." As differences in the ministers' positions on the handling of excess profits emerge within the government, the Blue House sees a need for public discourse. Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung remarked the previous day, "The Labor Minister's comments highlight the necessity of performance distribution from his perspective. If it were the Industry Minister, he would be discussing excess operating profits or profits from the industry's standpoint." She added, "The Blue House also hopes for various opportunities for public discourse through future forums."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-29 15:33:00

Nexon's 'MapleStory' brings fantasy world to life in southern Seoul SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Game developer Nexon's iconic game "MapleStory" has taken over southern Seoul with giant monster installations and themed attractions as part of a large-scale event marking its 23rd anniversary. The monthlong event, in collaboration with the Lotte Group, runs until June 21 around Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake in Jamsil, bringing the world of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) to life. At the lawn of Lotte World Tower, visitors can explore a themed exhibition inspired by Henesys, one of the most recognizable towns in "MapleStory." Giant sculptures of iconic monsters including "Orange Mushroom" and "Slime" are also on display. At nearby Seokchon Lake, game-themed art balloons have drawn crowds of residents, tourists and "MapleStory" fans. The oversized installations stand out against Seoul's urban skyline and have become popular photo spots. Visitors can take commemorative photos, explore interactive exhibition spaces and experience the game's fantasy world in real life, along with augmented reality mini-games, a stamp rally and a pop-up store. 2026-05-29 15:32:29