Pharmaceutical Companies Focus on Low-Dose Strategies to Reduce Side Effects The pharmaceutical industry is accelerating its competition for patient-tailored prescriptions by refining dosages and formulations. The structure of treatment prescriptions is becoming increasingly detailed.According to industry sources on June 7, competition among pharmaceutical companies to offer low-dose options is intensifying, particularly for treatments addressing hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease, which are gaining attention in an aging society.JW Pharmaceutical has launched a low-dose product for hyperlipidemia treatment, 'Rivarojet 1/10mg,' this month. Rivarojet is the first dual-combination improved new drug in South Korea that combines pitavastatin, a treatment for hyperlipidemia, with ezetimibe. The newly introduced Rivarojet 1/10mg combines 1mg of pitavastatin with 10mg of ezetimibe, expanding the dosage options available to patients while considering their LDL-C levels and treatment goals, alongside the existing 2/10mg and 4/10mg lineups.The addition of low-dose products allows for more precise dosage adjustments from the start of treatment, thereby broadening patient-specific treatment options. The medical community can now provide more refined prescriptions by considering LDL-C levels, treatment goals, and the risk of side effects.Earlier, Daewoong Pharmaceutical also released a combination drug for hyperlipidemia, 'Barojet Tablet.' Barojet Tablet is a low-dose combination of 1mg of pitavastatin and 10mg of ezetimibe, indicated for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. Previously, the market for pitavastatin and ezetimibe combination drugs only offered 2/10mg and 4/10mg dosages, leaving a gap for low-dose options. Barojet Tablet introduces a new 1/10mg low-dose option among pitavastatin-based combination drugs, expanding treatment choices.SK Chemicals has also strengthened its product portfolio by introducing a low-dose three-drug combination for early-stage hypertension treatment. In April, it launched the low-dose three-drug combination hypertension treatment 'Telamclo Tablet,' which combines 20mg of telmisartan, 2.5mg of amlodipine, and 6.25mg of chlorthalidone, designed with each component at half the standard dosage.Samjin Pharmaceutical has introduced 'Neutoin Tablet (donepezil hydrochloride) 3mg,' adding a fourth dosage option to its existing 5mg, 10mg, and 23mg lineups for Alzheimer's treatment. This is in line with the recommended gradual dose escalation starting from a low dose.A representative from Samjin Pharmaceutical stated, "Donepezil-based dementia treatments often see patients discontinuing due to gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting at the start of treatment, so a gradual dose escalation from a low starting point is recommended." Clinical studies have shown that the group receiving 3mg of donepezil reported a lower incidence of early adverse reactions compared to the 5mg group.Additionally, JW Pharmaceutical has introduced 'Minoxipaz Tablet 2.5mg,' a hypertension treatment containing minoxidil, allowing for more precise dosage adjustments compared to the existing 5mg tablets. International Pharmaceutical has also launched 'Exduo Tablet 2.5/80mg,' a combination of 2.5mg of amlodipine and 80mg of valsartan. With this addition, International Pharmaceutical now offers a total of four dosage options, broadening prescription choices for patients ranging from early-stage to moderate severity.Industry experts believe that the focus on low-dose strategies by pharmaceutical companies is driven by changes in patient demographics. As society enters an ultra-aging phase, the number of patients on multiple medications is increasing, and standard dosages can be burdensome for elderly patients with lower body weight or diminished physical function. A pharmaceutical representative noted, "To reduce cases of patients discontinuing medication due to initial side effects, starting with a low dose and monitoring responses is becoming a practical alternative."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 23:03:00

British Petroleum Selected as Preferred Negotiator for East Sea Gas Field Development British Petroleum (BP), a major global oil company, has been selected as the preferred negotiator for the joint development of a deep-sea gas field in the East Sea.On June 7, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) informed BP of the selection results last month after consulting with the ministry, and detailed negotiations are currently underway.The project, known as the Blue Whale Project, aims to explore for gas and oil in promising structures in the East Sea, specifically in Blocks 8 and 6-1, located off the eastern coast of Pohang.Former President Yoon Suk Yeol announced during a national briefing in June 2024 that geological surveys indicated a high likelihood of significant oil and gas deposits in the waters off Pohang. He stated, "Today, we approved the exploratory drilling plan for the East Sea oil and gas field," adding that initial drilling would commence by the end of the year, with results expected by the first half of the following year.Following this, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported in February of the previous year, after Yoon's impeachment, that preliminary results from the first drilling indicated some signs of gas, but the overall oil system structure was not deemed economically viable.In September of the same year, KNOC confirmed that the Blue Whale structure was not economically feasible and decided against further exploration.However, KNOC has continued to pursue the development of the East Sea deep-sea gas field by attracting foreign investment, and BP's involvement has prevented a complete halt to the project. 2026-06-07 21:51:00

Nvidia's Huang, SK's Chey solidify AI partnership over chicken and 'somaek' in Seoul SEOUL, June 07 (AJP) - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won (Tony Chey) held a highly public, casual dinner meeting over fried chicken and beer in Seoul on Sunday, a gathering that highlighted the close ties between the AI chip giant and the world's leading high-bandwidth memory (HBM) maker. Arriving at a Kkanbu Chicken branch in southern Seoul's Gangnam district at 6:46 p.m., Huang wore a Doosan Bears baseball uniform—having just thrown the ceremonial first pitch at a local game—alongside his wife, Lori Huang, who sported the same jersey. Chey arrived ten minutes later, exchanging high-fives with Huang before settling at a central table. The executives were joined by key SK leaders, including SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung, SK Telecom CEO Chung Jae-heon, and SKT AI CIC Head Chung Seok-geun, as well as Nvidia Senior Director Madison Huang and her fiancé. The gathering quickly morphed into an impromptu fan event. Huang and Chey moved around the restaurant, signing autographs for citizens—including a child wearing a custom t-shirt featuring the two executives' faces—and posing for photos. The group shared fried chicken and toasted with "somaek," a popular Korean cocktail of soju and beer. Taking the lively atmosphere to the streets, Huang stepped outside to hand out boxes of fried chicken to reporters and citizens. Chey and the SK executives followed suit, distributing traditional sweet rice beverage (sikhye) and a promotional snack playfully modeled after HBM chips. "I want more HBM!" Huang joked to the crowd as Chey distributed the HBM-themed snacks. Despite the heavyweight corporate lineup, the executives downplayed any immediate strategic discussions. "It wasn't an atmosphere for business talk today; we just engaged in small talk," SK Hynix CEO Kwak said. "We talked about which chicken was delicious." Kwak reportedly picked up the tab for the evening's gathering. The choice of venue was deeply personal for the two leaders. According to Chey, Huang strongly insisted they visit the fried chicken franchise together because Huang had been disappointed that Chey was absent from a similar informal gathering at the same chain last year. "It's not me who was disappointed, it was Jensen," Chey told reporters regarding last year's absence. Following Sunday's casual diplomacy, the executives will shift to official business. Huang is scheduled to visit the SK Seorin Building in central Seoul on Monday morning for further discussions with Chey. On Monday evening, Huang will host the "Korea AI Ecosystem Reception" at the Shilla Hotel to meet with domestic AI partners and enterprises. 2026-06-07 21:22:11

President Lee Calls for Joint Investigation into Election Commission Crisis President Lee orders joint investigation into election commission crisis President Lee Jae-myung announced on June 7 that he has directed the establishment of a joint investigation team involving both the police and prosecutors to clarify responsibility regarding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. In a statement on Facebook, President Lee emphasized that the government will take all necessary measures at the administrative level, considering the seriousness of the situation. He criticized the National Election Commission for causing significant obstacles to citizens' exercise of their voting rights during the elections, stating, "The incident itself is hard to comprehend, and the subsequent response and explanations to the public have been insufficient." President Lee asserted that citizens' voting rights are a constitutional right that should never be restricted or violated, calling the incident a serious matter that undermines the foundation of popular sovereignty. He expressed deep regret both as a citizen and as the president responsible for the government. He also requested a national investigation by the National Assembly, urging it to swiftly clarify the facts surrounding the incident and to develop measures to prevent its recurrence. He added that he hopes discussions on fundamental institutional improvements for the Election Commission will also take place. President Lee highlighted that the reason the chairperson of the National Election Commission is classified as one of the five key state officials is that the commission, like the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, is an independent body with corresponding authority, obligations, and responsibilities. He stressed that an independent body that loses public trust has no reason to exist. He concluded by stating that the Election Commission must take this incident seriously and demonstrate a strong commitment to reform and renewal that meets the level of public trust. Jensen Huang and Choi Tae-won to announce SK and NVIDIA collaboration Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is set to visit SK's headquarters on June 8 to meet with Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group. On the same day, Jeon Young-hyun, CEO of Samsung Electronics and head of the Device Solutions (DS) division, is also expected to meet with Huang. According to Yonhap News on June 7, Huang will meet with Chairman Choi at 8:30 a.m. at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno, Seoul, to discuss collaboration between the two companies. After their meeting, they will hold a press Q&A regarding their partnership. The discussions are anticipated to focus on cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor businesses. Huang has also indicated plans to meet with Vice Chairman Jeon at a Samsung location in Gangnam, where he expressed his eagerness to discuss potential collaborations. Huang and Jeon are expected to address issues related to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) supply. Following his meeting at SK, Huang is likely to meet with LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and LG Electronics CEO Ryu Jae-cheol at the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido. He will also visit Seoul National University and the Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Yangjae, where he is scheduled to meet with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin. Additionally, Huang will participate in the "Korea AI Ecosystem Reception" at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, which will include representatives from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, SK Telecom, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Electronics, Naver, Krafton, Upstage, and Doosan Robotics. Han Sung-sook appointed as new Prime Minister amid surprise selection Han Sung-sook, the Minister of SMEs and Startups, has been nominated as the new Prime Minister, following her unexpected appointment as the first Minister of the newly established ministry last June. Initially, it was widely expected that the next Prime Minister would be someone with a political background, given the need for strong leadership and cabinet control. However, President Lee Jae-myung has once again defied expectations by selecting a private sector representative for the role, signaling a focus on economic recovery and the transition to artificial intelligence (AI) and digital industries in the second year of his administration. Han, a graduate of Sookmyung Women’s University with a degree in English literature, began her career as a reporter for a computer magazine. She later became the head of public relations at Nanum Technology and joined the founding team of Empas in 1997. In 2007, she moved to NHN, the predecessor of Naver, where she played a key role in transforming Naver from a search service into a content and commerce platform, eventually becoming its CEO after a decade. Han was appointed as the first female CEO of Naver in 2017 and held the position until 2022. Aftermath of ballot shortage leads to investigations and protests The crisis surrounding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, which prevented some voters from casting their votes, has now entered a phase of investigation. The police have begun investigating complaints against National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak, amid growing demands for constitutional appeals and protests calling for a rerun of the election. According to legal sources on June 7, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Special Investigation Unit will conduct interviews with complainants regarding Chairman Noh and others starting at 9:30 a.m. on June 8. The Citizens' Livelihood Countermeasure Committee has filed complaints against Chairman Noh for neglect of duty and abuse of authority. The committee submitted an amended complaint the previous day, adding allegations of embezzlement and breach of trust. In addition to the Citizens' Committee, several civic groups have also filed complaints. Six organizations, including the Speculative Monitoring Capital Center, the National Solidarity, the Justice Solidarity, and the Mugunghwa Club for Rule of Law and Democracy, have submitted complaints to the National Police Agency through the National Petition Office, including all eight members of the National Election Commission as targets. The police are reportedly focusing on legal reviews, as cases of ballot shortages due to failure in election demand forecasting are rare. They are examining relevant precedents and the applicability of laws. The police plan to verify whether the Election Commission adhered to its standards for ballot distribution and the decision-making process through future data collection and interviews with involved parties. On the same day, citizens demanding a rerun of the election gathered for protests near the handball stadium in Olympic Park, Songpa District, Seoul. Participants chanted slogans calling for a rerun of the election near the entrance to the counting center. This protest is understood to be taking place spontaneously without an organized group. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 21:21:00

Prosecutors and Police to Investigate Voting Irregularities in Local Elections Prosecutors and police will establish a joint investigation team to address the ballot shortage that occurred during the June 3 local elections, following directives from President Lee Jae-myung.On June 7, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced, "We will quickly form a joint investigation team with the police to investigate issues that hindered citizens' exercise of their voting rights during the June 3 local elections. We will work closely with the police to effectively clarify the public's concerns regarding this matter."President Lee stated, "I urge the National Assembly to promptly conduct a national investigation to clarify the facts surrounding this issue and to develop measures to prevent its recurrence. Additionally, I request discussions on fundamental reforms for the election commission."He added, "Considering the seriousness of the situation, the government will take all possible measures at the administrative level. I have instructed the formation of a joint investigation team involving the prosecutors and police to clearly identify responsibilities and thoroughly investigate the entire incident."Currently, the police have begun investigating a case filed by civic groups against Noh Tae-ak, the chairman of the National Election Commission. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Special Investigation Unit plans to conduct interviews with complainants regarding Chairman Noh and others starting at 9:30 a.m. on June 8.Earlier, on June 3, the day of the local elections, the civic group filed a complaint against Chairman Noh for neglect of duty and obstruction of official duties. They later submitted an additional complaint on June 6, alleging embezzlement and breach of trust.Six organizations, including the Speculation Monitoring Capital Center, Citizens' Alliance, Justice Alliance, and the Mugunghwa Club for Rule of Law and Democracy, filed complaints with the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters through the National Petition Center, including all eight members of the National Election Commission as targets.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 21:12:00

Jensen Huang and Chey Tae-won to Announce SK and NVIDIA Collaboration on June 8 Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is set to visit SK Group's headquarters on June 8 to meet with Chairman Chey Tae-won. On the same day, he will also meet with Jeon Young-hyun, President and Head of Device Solutions at Samsung Electronics. According to Yonhap News on June 7, Huang will meet with Chey at 8:30 a.m. at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno, Seoul, to discuss collaboration between the two companies. Following their meeting, they are expected to hold a press conference to address questions regarding NVIDIA and SK's partnership. The discussions between Huang and Chey are anticipated to focus on cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor ventures. Huang also indicated plans to meet with Jeon Young-hyun. When asked by reporters at Kkanbu Chicken in Gangnam whether he would visit Samsung Electronics the next day, he expressed, "I look forward to meeting Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun tomorrow." The two are expected to discuss issues related to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) supply. After his meeting at SK Seorin Building, Huang is likely to meet with Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group, and Ryu Jae-cheol, CEO of LG Electronics, at the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido. Following these engagements, he will visit Seoul National University and the Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Yangjae, where he will meet with Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and Lee Hae-jin, Chairman of Naver. Additionally, Huang will participate in the "Korea AI Ecosystem Reception" at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, after his meeting with Jeon. This event will include representatives from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, SK Telecom, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Electronics, Naver, Krafton, Upstage, and Doosan Robotics. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 20:54:00

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force Unveils Long-Range Counterstrike Missile Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has publicly unveiled a counterstrike missile with a range of several hundred kilometers for the first time. According to Japanese media, including the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), the GSDF conducted a "Fuji Comprehensive Firepower Exercise" on June 7 at the Higashi-Fuji training ground in Shizuoka Prefecture. This large-scale live-fire training simulated the defense of remote islands. The exercise featured not only conventional tanks and drones but also unmanned vehicles currently under development. It marked the first appearance of the Type 25 High-Speed Glide Bomb (25HVGP), which was deployed to the Fuji base in Shizuoka Prefecture in March. The Type 25 High-Speed Glide Bomb is a missile designed for counterstrike capabilities. Its warhead reportedly travels at speeds exceeding the speed of sound, making it difficult for enemies to intercept. Currently, the missile has a range of several hundred kilometers, but Japan plans to enhance its capabilities to extend the range to 2,000 kilometers in the future. In March, the Japanese government also deployed the Type 25 anti-ship guided missile, which has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, to the GSDF base in Kumamoto Prefecture. This training exercise is interpreted as a response to China's increasing maritime assertiveness. Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture is only 110 kilometers away from Taiwan. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi remarked before the exercise, "Japan is currently facing the most serious and complex security environment since the end of World War II."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 20:12:00

Lee Jun-seok Criticizes Jang Dong-hyuk's Call for Nationwide Re-elections Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, criticized Jang Dong-hyuk, head of the People Power Party, for calling for nationwide re-elections in response to a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. He questioned whether Jang was urging the resignation of Oh Se-hoon, the elected mayor of Seoul, labeling it as "bad politics."Lee stated on Facebook on June 7, "Jang Dong-hyuk has brought up the idea of a 'full re-election including Seoul.' However, one thing must be made clear: the Seoul mayoral election was won by Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party."He noted that there are only two ways to invalidate a winning election: either the defeated candidate, Jeong Won-oh of the Democratic Party, files a lawsuit to annul the election, or Oh voluntarily resigns.Lee remarked, "Jeong Won-oh has already acknowledged his defeat. Is Jang really asking the opposing party to overturn our party's victory through a lawsuit?"He further explained that the only path the People Power Party can directly control is for Oh to voluntarily relinquish his position and resign, leading to a by-election in October.Lee concluded, "This leads to one clear conclusion. Jang's call for a 're-election in Seoul' is essentially a demand for Oh to step down. Is Jang's demand for a re-election a call for Oh's resignation or not? It must be one of the two."He criticized the notion of discussing technical issues while gathering support from the youth, stating, "Pressuring Oh to resign is bad politics. Aren't you a judge?"Jang Dong-hyuk held a press conference at the National Assembly the same day, stating, "The citizens gathered at Olympic Park calling for re-elections, and those who cannot be there but are watching through videos, represent the majority of the public who want this flawed election corrected."He added, "This is not just about one or two issues, and it is not a matter of excluding regions where our party has won. The time for the party to decide whether to pursue re-elections based on its own interests has already passed."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 20:09:00

SK Group's Chey Tae-won Shares Insights on Jensen Huang's Visit Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, shared insights about his recent meeting with Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA. On June 7, at Kkanbu Chicken in Gangnam, Seoul, Chey noted, "Jensen Huang was very disappointed that I could not attend our meeting last year. He insisted that I must be present today, which led to this second meeting." The two leaders sat side by side, just as they did during last year's meeting with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, and they commemorated the occasion with handwritten signatures, showcasing their strong bond. Along with Chey, key executives from SK Group participated in the dinner with Huang. This close meeting came just two days after Chey had another gathering in Hongdae, Seoul, where he enjoyed a drink with Kwak No-jung, president of SK Hynix, Kim Joo-sun, head of AI infrastructure at SK Hynix, and Jeong Jae-hun, president of SK Telecom, among others. The atmosphere during the dinner was informal and friendly. During the meal, Kwak demonstrated a trick by popping a beer bottle cap with the back of a fork, prompting a delighted reaction from Huang's daughter, Madison Huang, senior director of marketing for NVIDIA's Omniverse and Robotics products, who exclaimed, "Amazing!" Chey also presented Huang with a drink he prepared himself, and the two leaders shared a friendly toast. Industry analysts believe that this series of meetings has strengthened the AI and semiconductor alliance between the two companies. They suggest that a top-down strategic agreement has been reached regarding key issues, including NVIDIA's next-generation AI chip supply chain and SK Hynix's leadership in HBM technology.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 20:03:00

People Power Party Criticizes Prime Minister Nomination Amid Voting Paper Shortage The People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae-myung's nomination of Han Seung-sook as the new Prime Minister on June 7, calling it a "political maneuver to change the narrative." Choi Bo-yoon, the party's spokesperson, expressed deep concern in a statement, questioning whether this is the right time for a Prime Minister change. He emphasized that addressing the "voting paper shortage crisis" should take precedence over the Prime Minister's nomination. Choi noted that public outrage and skepticism have reached unprecedented levels due to the voting paper shortage, stating that even the current Prime Minister, Kim Min-seok, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, calling for a special investigation and a national assembly inquiry. He further criticized the government for attempting to shift focus from the thorough investigation and resolution of the crisis to a personnel change, which he argued is completely disconnected from public sentiment. Spokesperson Ham In-kyung also commented, stating that the public finds it difficult to understand the background of the Prime Minister's change. She suggested that the current shift appears to be a political move to clear the way for Kim Min-seok ahead of the Democratic Party's convention. Ham concluded that this has only fueled public anger, as the government seems to prioritize its political agenda while neglecting accountability and the need for a resolution to the crisis.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-07 19:45:00