Special Counsel to Question Lee Si-won on Alleged Pressure in Marine Death Probe Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special counsel team, which is investigating unresolved allegations following three earlier special counsel probes (insurrection, Kim Keon Hee and the fallen Marine), will summon Lee Si-won in connection with claims of outside pressure on the Marine death investigation. The special counsel said Lee will be questioned as a witness on the 23rd. The team said the questioning concerns matters tied to the earlier special counsel cases and is unrelated to the North Korea remittance case transferred from the Seoul High Prosecutors Office human rights inspection task force to the Suwon District Prosecutors Office. The inquiry centers on allegations of interference surrounding the death of a Marine Corps 1st Division private in July 2023. At the time, Marine investigator Park Jeong-hun, then head of the Marine Corps investigative unit, transferred the case to police after applying negligent homicide charges to Lim Seong-geun, then commander of the 1st Division, and others. After the transfer, the records were retrieved, prompting suspicions that the presidential office and the Defense Ministry intervened in the investigation. The episode also fueled the so-called “VIP anger” claim — that Yoon Suk Yeol, described in the case as a former president, strongly reprimanded officials after being briefed on the findings and that the direction of the investigation then changed. The special counsel views whether there was improper pressure in the record-retrieval process as a key issue. Investigators plan to examine whether Lee was involved in the retrieval of the records. He is suspected of taking part in checking the transfer process, including speaking in August 2023 with Yoo Jae-eun, then the Defense Ministry’s legal affairs chief, and contacting police after receiving instructions from Cho Tae-yong, described as a former national security adviser, the report said. The earlier special counsel team on the Marine case, led by Lee Myung-hyun, indicted 12 key figures, including Yoon, without detention. It granted Lee discretionary immunity and issued a suspension of indictment, citing his cooperation. The special counsel said it will use the new questioning to recheck the decision-making process at the time and how instructions were conveyed. Separately, Lee is on trial in a case involving allegations that Lee Jong-sup, described as a former defense minister, fled overseas. That case concerns whether the presidential office intervened in the process of appointing him as ambassador to Australia, amid claims he was a central figure in the pressure allegations. The comprehensive special counsel is also separately reviewing whether the presidential office intervened in the investigation into Ssangbangwool’s alleged remittances to North Korea. The special counsel recently received related materials from the Seoul High Prosecutors Office task force, formed a dedicated team and is examining whether Lee and others influenced the direction of that investigation. The special counsel said it will analyze the secured materials and conduct witness interviews to determine, step by step, whether there was organized intervention by the presidential office. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:54:20

Samchundang Pharm Shares Slide More Than 14% After Exchange Flags Disclosure Lapse Samchundang Pharm shares fell more than 14% after the Korea Exchange designated the company as an “unfaithful disclosure” firm over a disclosure lapse. According to the Korea Exchange on April 22, as of 10:38 a.m., the stock was trading at 407,500 won, down 14.30% from the previous session. Early in the session, it briefly dropped more than 28% to 342,000 won. The Korea Exchange’s KOSDAQ Market Division said the company was designated for failing to meet disclosure obligations and was assessed five penalty points, according to a filing released the previous day. Samchundang Pharm said it “humbly accepts” the exchange’s designation. The company said the issue stemmed from some information in a specific press release that could be interpreted differently from disclosure standards, adding that it is not directly related to the company’s business structure or performance. The exchange had previously issued a notice on March 31 that it planned to designate the company for failing to make a fair disclosure of outlooks or forecasts related to operating performance. With the latest action, the company’s cumulative penalty points over the past year total five. Under exchange rules, a single case resulting in eight or more penalty points can trigger a one-day trading suspension. If cumulative penalty points over the past year exceed 15, the company may be subject to a substantive review of listing eligibility.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:51:15

Kookmin University team demonstrates quantum-secured satellite communication system SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Lee Ok-yeon at Kookmin University in South Korea has successfully implemented and verified a next-generation security system that combines low Earth orbit satellite communication with quantum-resistant cryptography. Working alongside Arion Communication, the team developed a hybrid structure designed to protect data across both wired and wireless connections. The technology integrates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for ground-based networks and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) for wireless satellite links. This hybrid approach is designed to counter security threats posed by future quantum computers. It specifically addresses the risk of hackers collecting encrypted data today to unlock it later, a threat known as harvest-now-decrypt-later. During the demonstration, Kookmin University (KMU) researchers verified end-to-end encryption across a satellite link using the Iridium constellation. The team successfully ensured that KMU cryptographic modules were fully compatible with the TYTO series equipment from Arion. This verification moves the technology beyond a basic proof of concept and into a pilot stage for broader use. Beyond technical validation, the demonstration shows the potential for creating a sovereign security infrastructure that remains stable during disasters or military conflicts. KMU plans to expand the use of these systems to national defense networks, satellite-based battlefield communications, and unmanned vehicle operations. The university is now focusing on building a cooperation hub to bridge the gap between research and commercial markets. This initiative will provide a platform for private companies to test and certify their security technologies while helping to build a domestic industrial ecosystem. "Quantum security technology is not just about individual functions or performance; the core lies in demonstration and ensuring interoperability based on hybrid implementation technology," Professor Lee Ok-yeon said, adding: "I will accelerate the establishment of a Quantum Campus that covers water, land, air, and space by converging quantum security technologies such as PQC, QKD, and QRNG with satellite communications." 2026-04-22 10:50:15

STX Green Logistics Shares Slide 13% on Guarantee Dispute, Late Disclosure Warning STX Green Logistics shares fell more than 13% in early trading as investor sentiment weakened on a legal dispute tied to an STX affiliate guarantee and a Korea Exchange warning over a delayed disclosure. According to the Korea Exchange, STX Green Logistics was trading at 5,180 won as of 10:29 a.m. on the 22nd, down 810 won, or 13.52%, from the previous session. The stock extended losses from the opening. The biggest drag appeared to be legal risk surrounding the group structure, raising concerns that contingent liabilities across the broader STX group could materialize. The company disclosed that it provided 185.7 billion won in debt guarantees for borrowings by STX, a related party of its largest shareholder, from Nov. 29, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024. It said STX Green Logistics was created through a spin-off from STX on Sept. 1, 2023, and that under the Commercial Act it shares joint and several repayment responsibility with STX, the surviving company, for debts incurred before the split. At the same time, STX Green Logistics filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Southern District Court against the Korea Development Bank seeking confirmation of nonexistence of debt. The suit asks the court to rule that no guarantee obligation exists in connection with an STX-related joint and several guarantee agreement signed on Nov. 28, 2024. Disclosure risk added to the pressure. The Korea Exchange notified STX Green Logistics of a preliminary designation as an unfaithful disclosure company, citing that it disclosed a Nov. 20, 2023, decision on providing a debt guarantee to another party only on April 20 this year, about two years late. Under KOSPI market disclosure rules, the exchange said the delay amounts to a failure to disclose. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:45:44

Seoul Sauce 1991 Launches Official Store on Amazon to Expand Overseas Sales 소스코가 운영하는 K-푸드 기반 소스 브랜드 ‘서울소스 1991’이 글로벌 이커머스 플랫폼 Amazon에 공식 입점했다. 회사는 이를 계기로 북미를 포함한 해외 소비자 대상 직접 판매(D2C) 채널을 확대할 계획이라고 밝혔다. 서울소스 1991은 한국 전통 장류인 고추장을 기반으로 트러플, 까르보나라, 마라 등 해외 식문화를 접목한 퓨전 소스를 선보이고 있다. K-푸드 확산과 함께 간편식 트렌드가 커지면서 ‘소스’ 형태의 가공식품이 글로벌 시장에서 빠르게 성장하는 점을 반영한 전략으로 풀이된다. 농림축산식품부와 한국농수산식품유통공사(aT)에 따르면 최근 몇 년간 고추장을 포함한 장류 수출은 꾸준히 증가했다. 특히 소스 형태로 가공된 제품은 현지 요리에 쉽게 활용할 수 있어 해외 소비자 접근성이 높은 품목으로 꼽힌다. K-푸드 수출도 김치, 라면 등 완제품 중심에서 소스·조미료 등 ‘재료형 식품’으로 확장되는 흐름이 나타나고 있다. 서울소스 1991은 초기 개발 단계부터 글로벌 식품 규격을 반영한 단일 레시피를 적용했다고 설명했다. 국가별 규제와 금지원료 기준 차이로 내수용과 수출용 제품의 맛이 달라지는 문제를 줄이기 위한 방식으로, 지역별 레시피를 따로 운영하는 것과 달리 하나의 기준으로 맛을 통일하는 전략을 택했다. 유통 측면에서는 아마존 입점이 물류·배송을 지원하는 풀필먼트 서비스(FBA) 활용과 맞물리는 경우가 많다고 업계는 보고 있다. 이는 중소 식품 브랜드의 해외 진출이 오프라인 수출 중심에서 온라인 직판으로 이동하는 흐름을 보여주며, 초기 유통망 구축 부담을 낮추고 소비자 반응을 빠르게 확인할 수 있다는 장점이 있다. 서울소스 1991은 국내에서 외국인 관광객이 많이 찾는 리테일 채널을 중심으로 판매 데이터를 확보해 왔으며, 이를 바탕으로 해외 시장에서도 제품 확장 가능성을 검증해 왔다고 밝혔다. K-푸드는 한류 콘텐츠 확산과 함께 집에서 한국식 맛을 간편하게 구현하려는 수요가 늘면서 소스류 소비가 증가하는 경향을 보이고 있다고 회사는 설명했다. 회사 측은 미국을 시작으로 말레이시아, 일본, 홍콩, 대만 등 아시아 주요 시장으로 유통망을 넓혀갈 계획이라고 밝혔다. 업계에서는 고추장 기반 소스가 매운맛 트렌드와 맞물려 성장 가능성이 큰 분야로 평가하고 있으며, 간편식과 홈쿡 수요 증가로 소스 시장도 확대되는 추세라고 보고 있다. 소스코 관계자는 “아마존 입점은 글로벌 소비자와 직접 연결되는 계기가 될 것”이라며 “국내외에서 동일한 맛을 유지하는 제품 경쟁력을 기반으로 시장을 확대해 나갈 계획”이라고 말했다. 제목* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:43:19

Korea Auto Insurance Loss Ratio Rises to 85.9% in Q1, Up 3.4 Points Major South Korean nonlife insurers posted a weaker auto insurance loss ratio in the first quarter than a year earlier, industry data showed. According to the nonlife insurance industry on Tuesday, the simple average auto insurance loss ratio for four insurers — Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, DB Insurance and KB Insurance — came to 85.9% in the first quarter, up 3.4 percentage points from 82.5% a year earlier. The March loss ratio was 81.5%, up 4.0 percentage points from the same month a year earlier. The ratio typically dips slightly in March, but this year it stayed above the break-even level of 80%. An industry official said premiums rose slightly early this year for the first time in five years, but the impact of four straight years of premium cuts was larger. The official added that the outlook is “somewhat negative,” citing expected increases in traffic and accidents as temperatures rise and more people travel after April, along with higher parts and repair costs driven by inflation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:42:06

SC First Bank Steps Up Private Banking Push With Pak Seri Master Class SC First Bank said on April 22 it is strengthening the core values of its “next-generation private banking model” designed for high-net-worth clients and rolling out a global lifestyle program in earnest. The private banking model targets customers with at least 1 billion won in deposited assets. The bank said it has adapted wealth-management know-how proven in global markets including Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates to fit local conditions. As part of the lifestyle program, the bank plans to hold a “Master Class with Director Pak Seri” in May. Pak, introduced by the bank as the first customer of its private banking center, will take part in the event. Customers selected through an on-site drawing will receive a one-point lesson from Pak. The program will also include one-on-one coaching with a professional golfer and a private dinner, the bank said. SC First Bank opened a large private banking center in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam district, in November and began its wealth-management business for clients with at least 1 billion won in deposited assets. It plans to add more private banking centers in the second half of this year to expand its PB customer base. The bank has also hosted experience-focused events using its global network. On April 5, in collaboration with the SC Group and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, it invited Korean customers aboard the newest vessel in the Ritz-Carlton global yacht collection, LUMINARA. The tour was held on the 46,000-ton cruise yacht while it was docked at Incheon Port, and included guided commentary and a culinary program led by LUMINARA’s executive chef. In addition, the bank worked with Porsche’s official dealer SSCL to run a docent program for new-car displays at Porsche Center Busan and Porsche Studio Hannam. Sachin Bambani, executive vice president of SC First Bank’s affluent and wealth management division, said the bank is “enriching customers’ lives through symbolic and distinctive lifestyle benefits that only a global bank can provide,” citing the master class with Pak. He said the bank will continue to set a benchmark for its next-generation private banking model based on five core values spanning space, service and experience.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:39:04

How Coffee Mix Helped Shape South Korea’s K-Coffee Industry South Korea’s coffee culture took a different path from Europe’s bean-first tradition or the United States’ early dominance of chain cafes. In Korea, coffee took off through “mix” packets — a cup made by adding hot water. That convenience became an early template for what is now often called “K-coffee.” Coffee mix was more than a product. By combining coffee, creamer and sugar in one packet, it shifted coffee from something “made” through multiple steps to something simply “stirred.” The change helped reshape consumption: as preparation became easier, coffee moved from a niche preference to an everyday staple. The rise of coffee mix also reflected a broader industrial pattern in Korea: not necessarily inventing something entirely new, but combining existing elements into a more efficient, repeatable form. Coffee, creamer and sugar already existed; the key was building a standardized system. With a process that could deliver the same taste anywhere and support mass production, coffee mix spread quickly. That expansion required both technology and industrial infrastructure. The article cites freeze-drying methods to preserve aroma, processes to produce creamer uniformly, and techniques to keep ingredient ratios consistent. It also required lowering prices and building distribution networks. Together, those factors helped coffee mix become a shared routine — consumed the same way in offices, factories, the military and homes. The article highlights the role of the late Cho Pil-je, a former vice chairman of Dong Suh Foods. Trained in ship engineering, Cho led the company’s technology work and helped drive development of the plant-based creamer “Prima” and integrated coffee mix products. His approach, the article says, treated taste not as a matter of intuition but as a process problem — something that could be made repeatable by design. Coffee mix also fit the pace of rapid industrialization, the article says, in workplaces where people worked fast and took short breaks. A drink that required no equipment or preparation matched that demand for efficiency. The phrase “Let’s have a cup of coffee” became not just an offer of a beverage but a way to open a conversation, helping coffee mix settle into everyday language. Looking abroad, the article points to another feature of K-coffee: the spread of Korea’s “mix-style coffee” in Southeast Asia. In hot climates and price-sensitive markets with fast consumption habits, coffee mix proved competitive. The article describes this as more than exports — a transfer of a Korean way of consuming coffee — now commonly seen in convenience stores and homes across the region. The article argues that the global coffee market is again being reorganized around convenience, citing capsule coffee, ready-to-drink products and premium instant coffee. The common goal is to reduce steps while delivering consistent quality — a value coffee mix pursued early. K-coffee, the article says, is now moving into a new phase as specialty coffee, premium beans and cafe culture expand consumer choice. Still, it argues that the foundation remains a standardized coffee experience, built on the uniformity and accessibility that coffee mix introduced. The article adds that coffee mix began with a simple idea, but making it work required a complex system: production processes, quality control and distribution working together. It says that structure remains relevant for industry today. When people talk about K-coffee, the article says, they often picture trendy cafes or global brands. But its starting point was modest: a small packet of coffee that becomes a cup with just water — a simple experience that also became a competitive strength. Coffee mix remains part of daily life in Korea, the article says, carrying an industrial approach aimed at simplifying complexity and making products widely usable. It argues that K-coffee began that way and continues to grow from that base.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:37:42

LG AI Research, NVIDIA to co-develop specialized AI models, deepen tech alliance SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - LG AI Research and U.S. chipmaker NVIDIA will deepen their technology alliance to co-develop specialized artificial intelligence models. Executives from both companies, including LG AI Research Co-head Lim Woo-hyung and NVIDIA’s Vice President of Applied Deep Learning Research Bryan Catanzaro, met at LG's research headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss joint AI ecosystem strategies. Under the agreement, the companies will combine LG’s EXAONE AI model with NVIDIA’s Nemotron open ecosystem to build domain-specific models. The two firms have collaborated closely from the development of EXAONE 3.0 to the recently unveiled multimodal model, EXAONE 4.5. LG utilized Nemotron open datasets to ensure training data quality, while NVIDIA supplied its latest Blackwell GPUs, NeMo Framework, and TensorRT-LLM software to optimize the models' learning capabilities and inference efficiency. A recent Stanford University AI Index Report ranked South Korea third globally, behind the U.S. and China, for the number of notable AI models. Four of the five recognized Korean models belonged to LG's EXAONE series, including EXAONE Deep, EXAONE Path 2.0, EXAONE 4.0, and K-EXAONE. Catanzaro said the integration of EXAONE and Nemotron will help lead the development of "sovereign AI" and expand the broader ecosystem. Lim added the partnership aims to produce tangible sovereign AI results that can be applied directly to industrial sites. The NVIDIA tie-up follows a series of meetings earlier this month by LG Corp Chairman Koo Kwang-mo with Silicon Valley tech leaders, including Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Skild AI co-founders Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, as the conglomerate moves to accelerate its AI initiatives. 2026-04-22 10:37:18

Samsung C&T Proposes Han River View Design for 533 Units in Shinbanpo 19-25 Rebuild Samsung C&T said it has proposed a design for the combined reconstruction of Shinbanpo 19 and 25 that would give every union member a view of the Han River. The union has 446 members, but the company said it designed 533 units with river views. Of the project’s 616 total units, about 87% would have Han River views, it said. Samsung C&T said the proposal focuses on maximizing the site’s river-view advantage by using a method it calls Vista Matrix Analysis, or VMA, rather than a simple AI review. The company said the approach adapts sunlight analysis used in education-environment impact assessments, simulating views from each unit’s windows while factoring in obstructions from nearby buildings. It said repeated simulations were used to adjust building placement, angles, heights and floor plans to reduce blind spots and improve view quality. The company also revised the layout, cutting the number of residential buildings from seven in the union’s original plan to six to reduce interference between buildings. It applied 10-meter-high pilotis to all residential buildings to lift sightlines, and planned a 3.3-meter floor-to-ceiling height to increase openness. Samsung C&T said the changes would increase the number of Han River view units from 464 under the existing maintenance plan to 533. In addition to securing views for 100% of union members, it said the same benefit could be extended to 87 units for general sale. Inside the units, the company said it incorporated large view windows and an LDK-oriented layout, aiming to connect the river view naturally from key living spaces such as the living room and kitchen while reducing visual obstruction and improving openness. Samsung C&T also said it would address a long-standing challenge for riverside apartments in Gangnam: balancing north-facing Han River views with south-facing sunlight access. It said it applied a “swivel” layout that allows residents to switch the placement of the living room and kitchen based on preference, designed to consider both views and daylight. Im Cheol-jin, head of housing sales at Samsung C&T, said Shinbanpo 19 and 25 “will be a key project site that, along with Raemian One Bailey, forms the central axis of a Raemian town.” He said the proposal reflects design know-how that “maximizes the value of Han River views while also considering sunlight rights and overall balance across the complex.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:36:19