Viet Nam courts South Korean chip giants as Hanoi ratifies landmark incentive package SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Hanoi is formalizing a massive state-led effort to corner the semiconductor supply chain, offering South Korean conglomerates a sweeping array of tax holidays and land-use exemptions. The newly passed Law on Digital Technology Industry marks a strategic pivot for Viet Nam, moving beyond its traditional role as a low-cost assembly hub toward becoming a core strategic node for high-end silicon fabrication. This legislative overhaul disrupts the regional status quo by targeting the specific operational hurdles that have previously deterred high-stakes capital investment in Southeast Asia. The policy framework centers on a corporate income tax holiday that lasts for four years, followed by a 50 percent tax reduction for the subsequent nine years. To encourage deep-tech integration, Hanoi is allowing a 200 percent tax deduction for research and development expenditures, a move designed to lure R&D centers away from traditional hubs in East Asia. According to the South Korean Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam, these concessions are currently the primary focus for Seoul-based executives evaluating long-term infrastructure plays in the region. Logistical velocity is a critical component of the new law, acknowledging the hyper-sensitive turnaround times inherent in semiconductor assembly and packaging. Hanoi has established a "green lane" for customs clearance to accommodate the "Pali Pali" culture of South Korean business, which prioritizes rapid execution. Furthermore, the Vietnamese government has eliminated import duties on project-related machinery and equipment, while granting complete exemptions from land lease fees for the entire lifecycle of a project. This allows firms like Samsung and SK Hynix to channel their capital expenditures directly into core technology rather than real estate overhead. The strategy seeks to build a self-sustaining ecosystem by extending these same incentives to Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers. Under the new mandate, any ancillary manufacturing firm integrated into the semiconductor supply chain receives state subsidies for infrastructure and equipment commensurate with those given to the lead developer. This synchronization ensures that when a major anchor tenant moves into a province like Bac Ninh or Bac Giang, its entire constellation of South Korean satellite suppliers can transition under a unified regulatory framework. To address the regional shortage of high-skilled labor, the law introduces radical shifts in immigration and personal taxation. South Korean experts and high-tech personnel are now eligible for immediate work permit exemptions and five-year extended visas that include full family sponsorship. Hanoi is also offering a five-year personal income tax exemption for high-caliber digital technology personnel, alongside state-funded stipends intended to maintain a standard of living comparable to Gyeonggi Province. This legislative push arrives as global firms increasingly adopt "China Plus One" strategies to mitigate geopolitical risks—a term originally popularized by Japanese business circles in the mid-2000s to describe diversifying manufacturing away from China (Source: Nikkei Asia). Amkor Technology has already inaugurated a 1.6 billion dollar facility in Bac Ninh, while Samsung continues to scale its chip substrate production in Thai Nguyen. Hana Micron has also committed billions of dollars toward expanded operations in Bac Giang. 2026-04-17 18:45:47

AI 'hunter' sparks alarm in Korea amid regulatory vacuum SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) — Claude Mythos, an artificial intelligence model developed by Anthropic to autonomously detect and potentially exploit critical software vulnerabilities, is another new import challenging South Korea’s lagging regulatory response to rapid technology advances. Experts in Korea are already raising concerns over the lack of legal and ethical accountability. “If such technology is misused, the developer must bear responsibility,” said Kwon Hun-yeong, a professor at the School of Cybersecurity at Korea University, warning that the exploitation of software vulnerabilities could carry serious legal consequences. South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT convened a meeting with major cybersecurity firms on Wednesday morning to assess the impact of global AI-driven security projects and explore ways to safeguard local industry. On Tuesday, the government separately held an emergency review with the country’s three major telecom operators and leading platform companies, including Naver and Kakao. Mythos is a tightly controlled preview system, available only to a limited number of partners through Anthropic’s “Project Glasswing” program, which provides early access to advanced AI models for cybersecurity research. It is reported to autonomously detect software weaknesses at an advanced level, a capability that can also be misused for malicious attacks and potentially pose risks to the global financial system. In just two days, using around $20,000 in computing power, it uncovered a previously unknown flaw in OpenBSD, a highly secure open-source operating system, that had gone undetected for 27 years. Park Choon-sik, a professor of information security at Ajou University, said such tools could help identify and fix weaknesses but could also provide attackers with a clearer map of system vulnerabilities. “If these capabilities fall into the wrong hands, hacking could become faster, easier and far cheaper,” he said. “This kind of capability should not be allowed to evolve into a weapon.” Beyond detecting vulnerabilities, Mythos is believed to map attack paths and minimize traces after execution, compressing tasks that once took years into hours. Such speed makes it difficult for traditional security systems to keep up. South Korea’s ICT sector is stepping up its defenses. Following Tuesday’s emergency meeting, companies scrambled to strengthen internal security protocols and expand AI-based threat monitoring. Naver is closely tracking global security developments linked to Mythos, stepping up real-time monitoring and analyzing AI-driven attack patterns while deepening cooperation with government authorities. Kakao is also reinforcing its security posture, reviewing internal information protection systems and expanding monitoring to prepare for potential risks. Toss is strengthening core security practices, including asset management, vulnerability scanning and access control, while enhancing intrusion detection, log management and backup systems. The telecom sector is tightening defenses, with SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus expanding vulnerability analysis and continuous monitoring, strengthening anomaly detection and upgrading AI-based threat response capabilities. Park noted that organizations are already capable of identifying vulnerabilities with precision, but the core issue lies in how quickly they respond. “Organizations will need to eliminate weaknesses through patches before they are exploited,” he said. “In many cases, the problem is not detection but the failure to respond once weaknesses are identified.” Despite stepped-up defenses, some experts point to the need for broader governance. Kwon said the focus should not be limited to restricting the technology, but also on how it can be used to strengthen defenses, noting that developers could build systems to counter the very threats their models create. “Rather than treating all uses as inherently illegal, there needs to be a framework that allows responsible use while preventing abuse,” he said, warning that the issue could have significant legal and societal repercussions if left unaddressed. In the cybersecurity industry, such risks have traditionally been managed through coordinated vulnerability disclosure, where vulnerabilities are reported privately and disclosed publicly only after patches are developed. The speed and scale of AI-driven discovery, however, are outpacing existing frameworks, compressing the window between discovery and exploitation. Kwon stressed that rather than imposing legal prohibitions on the exchange of vulnerability information, “we need to focus on how it can be used constructively,” emphasizing that the discussion must be translated into action quickly. 2026-04-17 18:03:44

South Korea to hold training camp in Salt Lake City to prepare for World Cup in June SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - The final roster of South Korea's national soccer team for this year's FIFA World Cup will be decided by mid-May, the Korea Football Association said on Friday. Once the 26-man roster is announced by head coach Hong Myung-bo on May 16, they will leave for Salt Lake City, Utah to hold a pre-tournament camp to prepare for the quadrennial sporting event. This year's World Cup, which kicks off in June, will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Salt Lake City was chosen as the training site because it sits at about 1,460 meters above sea level and has time zone and altitude conditions, similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, located at roughly 1,500 meters, where South Korea will play its first two group matches, making it an ideal place to prepare. It also aims to reduce travel fatigue and jet lag from long-haul flights by avoiding travel to Seoul before flying to World Cup venues for players based at European clubs. About a two-week stay there, before leaving for Guadalajara on June 5, would also help players adjust their fitness and regain normal cardiopulmonary performance, which typically takes about two to three weeks at such altitudes. But the full squad is not expected to gather until late May, as players based in Europe are likely to join later depending on their respective club schedules. Grouped with the Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa, South Korea will face the European side in its opening group-stage match slated for June 11. 2026-04-17 17:55:26

South Korea's prosecutorial overhaul enters uncharted territory SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - The fall of prosecutor-turned-president Yoon Suk Yeol did not end an epic downfall for a leader, but also the institution he had once represented. The prosecution has already lost much of its once-mighty power to the police and the Corruption Investigation for High-ranking Officials, with another agency pending, leaving it a near-defunct institution. The dramatic downsizing is creating a severe bottleneck, turning what was once a sought-after post into a grind. At the Cheonan branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office, the numbers tell the story. Each prosecutor is now responsible for more than 500 unresolved cases. "It's not something you can control with long hours anymore," one prosecutor said. "At 400 or 500 cases, the system is essentially in a state of panic." Nationwide, the average caseload per prosecutor rose from 73.4 at the end of 2024 to 135.7 by late 2025. Unresolved cases — defined as those not processed within three months — have surged. In Namyangju, caseload per prosecutor jumped from 169.6 to 295.2 within a year, with similar spikes in Jinju and elsewhere. As workloads mount, prosecutors are increasingly unable to process cases before statutes of limitations expire, forcing closures without prosecution — directly affecting victims and undermining confidence in the system. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has urged prioritization of long-pending cases. Exodus of experience Driving the surge is a sharp reduction in manpower. Between last year and March, 233 prosecutors — more than 10 percent of the total — left the service, including 151 with more than 15 years of experience. A record number have taken leave, while dozens have been seconded to special investigations. At Cheonan, only 17 prosecutors remain out of an authorized 35, with roughly half in their second or third year. "Work overload is pushing people to their limits," said Cho Bae-sook, a lawmaker on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. She warned that delays are leading to more expired prosecutions, calling the situation "a judicial bankruptcy" in which the state's ability to impose criminal punishment is eroding. The reform that changes everything In March, the National Assembly passed landmark legislation that will effectively dismantle the traditional prosecution service. A new entity — the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency — is to take over core functions, while prosecutors will, in principle, no longer conduct investigations. That authority will shift primarily to the police and the new agency. The reforms also eliminate prosecutors' authority to direct and supervise certain investigative bodies, marking a decisive break from past practice. The changes are scheduled to take effect later this year. Efforts to curb prosecutorial power are not new. Since the early 1990s, critics have questioned political neutrality and the concentration of authority. "Prosecutors' ability to both investigate and decide whether to indict creates efficiency," a senior incumbent prosecutor said. "But it also carries risk." Supporters argue separating investigative and prosecutorial functions is essential. "The belief that prosecutors investigate better than police is an illusion," said Kim Kee-Chang, a professor at Korea University Law School. "What prosecutors are good at is not investigation, but planning, building narratives and shaping cases." He also criticized pretrial disclosures. "In a system where prosecutors publicly declare someone guilty before trial, one has to ask what role remains for the judiciary," he said. Opponents argue the reforms are moving too quickly. Shin Dong-wook, a lawmaker on the same committee, described the overhaul as a "rough and ideological dismantling" of the prosecution service. He warned that without safeguards such as supplementary investigative authority, enforcement capacity could weaken. "If these systems are not properly designed," he said, "the result could be a country where criminals operate with greater impunity." At the heart of the reform is whether the police can absorb expanded investigative responsibilities. "That police conduct investigations is the standard model in modern states," Kim said, while acknowledging the need for stronger oversight and institutional safeguards. Inside the prosecution service, the mood is subdued. "People feel they have little room to speak," a senior prosecutor said. The system is now undergoing simultaneous shifts in structure, staffing and workload, placing it in a transitional phase where capacity and institutional design are being tested in parallel. 2026-04-17 17:50:57

Korean stocks slip as foreign investors offload $1.34 billion in shares SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Korean stocks closed lower Friday, retreating from recent highs as foreign investors led broad-based selling. Lingering geopolitical uncertainty continued to cap risk appetite despite signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East. Other Asian markets also traded lower, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling 1.21 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropping 1.2 percent, and China’s Shanghai Composite edging down 0.2 percent. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.6 percent to close at 6,191.9, after trading between a high of 6,230.32 and a low of 6,159.88. Foreign investors drove the decline, offloading 1.99 trillion won ($1.34 billion) worth of shares. Retail investors bought 1.44 trillion won, while institutions added 150.1 billion won, indicating continued dip-buying against external outflows. The pullback came as investors reassessed the sustainability of the recent rally, with mixed signals emerging around U.S.-Iran negotiations and a temporary truce between Israel and Lebanon failing to fully stabilize sentiment. Large-cap stocks were broadly weaker, led by semiconductors. Samsung Electronics fell 0.7 percent to 216,000 won, while SK hynix dropped 2.3 percent to 1,128,000 won, reflecting cautious positioning despite overnight gains in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Defense and industrial names also came under pressure. Hanwha Aerospace slid 6.3 percent, and Doosan Enerbility lost 2.1 percent, reflecting profit-taking following recent strength in defense-linked plays. Automakers, however, provided limited support. Hyundai Motor rose 0.8 percent, and Kia gained 0.8 percent. Among notable movers, Hanwha Engine surged 16.4 percent to 56,100 won on expectations of earnings growth tied to expanding orders and improving profitability in marine engine segments. The rally was further supported by optimism over the shipbuilding supercycle and strategic overseas acquisitions aimed at strengthening its position in eco-friendly vessel markets. STX Engine also hit its daily upper limit, driven by strong demand tied to defense exports and shipbuilding expansion. Sector-wise, gains were concentrated in selective themes. Venture investment firms jumped 7.7 percent, while electronics equipment and display panel stocks rose 4.1 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively, highlighting rotation into mid-cap growth plays. The KOSDAQ outperformed, rising 0.6 percent to close at 1,170.04, supported by heavy buying from foreign and institutional investors, who added 15.8 billion won and 9.1 billion won, respectively. Retail investors bought a modest 2.5 billion won. Biotech and secondary battery names showed mixed performance. Meanwhile, COVID-19-related stocks gained amid renewed concerns over the global spread of emerging variants, including BA.3.2, supporting selective strength in healthcare names. However, the move was largely thematic and had limited impact on broader market direction. The Korean won weakened against the dollar, trading at 1,483.1 won, down 0.2 percent from the previous session, reflecting sustained external pressure amid foreign outflows. Oil prices edged lower, with Brent crude falling 0.7 percent to $98.7 per barrel and WTI declining 1 percent to $93.7, as optimism over potential negotiations offset ongoing concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. 2026-04-17 17:31:30

Hanwha Solutions trims capital raise to 1.8 trillion won after regulator pushback SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Hanwha Solutions announced it will scale back its planned rights offering to 1.8 trillion won ($1.21 billion) from an initial 2.4 trillion won, retreating from a contentious fundraising plan that drew a rare regulatory rebuke and sharp criticism from shareholders. The revised offering, approved by the company's board on Friday, comes just eight days after the Financial Supervisory Service ordered Hanwha Solutions to refile its securities registration, citing missing or unclear disclosures that could impair investor judgment. Under the amended plan disclosed through regulatory filing, funds earmarked for debt repayment will shrink to 907 billion won from 1.49 trillion won, while the roughly 908 billion won set aside for capital investment remains untouched. The issue size has been cut to 56 million new shares from 72 million, with the subscription price lowered to 32,400 won per share from 33,300 won. The allotment ratio for existing shareholders correspondingly drops to 0.2604 new shares per held share from 0.3348. The record date is May 14. The company has previously defended the move as a necessary measure against a credit-rating downgrade amid a prolonged downturn in the global solar and petrochemical sectors. "We sincerely reflect on and apologize for failing to adequately communicate the scale and rationale of the rights offering with shareholders and the market in its early stages," said Nam Jung-woon, head of the chemical division. The company said it will raise the remaining 600 billion won shortfall through asset monetization and capital-like financing, and pledged to refrain from additional equity offerings through 2030 while maintaining its shareholder return policy. 2026-04-17 17:01:59

Bakery fair underway in southern Seoul SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - A bakery fair is being held in southern Seoul, with around 300 booths from 100 bakeries and confectionery makers participating. Co-hosted by the Korea Confectionery Master Association and the Korea Bakery Association, the fair at COEX kicked off on Thursday and runs until Sunday under the theme of "Bake the World," showcasing bakery-related machinery, packaging solutions, and raw materials During the four-day run, a competition is also scheduled, featuring top-level pâtissiers showcasing their confectionery and baking skills. 2026-04-17 16:30:37

Annual coffee expo brings together industry professionals and coffee enthusiasts in Seoul SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - A large-scale coffee expo is underway in southern Seoul this week, bringing together industry professionals, baristas, and coffee enthusiasts. Co-hosted by the Korea Coffee Association and COEX, the annual expo, now in its 15th year, kicked off its four-day run on Wednesday and runs until Saturday, showcasing coffee-related machines, equipment, beans, and other products. Under the slogan of "Blend the World," the expo features a special pavilion showcasing coffee brands and products from Viet Nam, selected as this year's guest country of honor. 2026-04-17 15:57:08

Wolf escaped from Daejeon zoo undergoes surgery to remove fishhook after capture SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - "Neukgu," a wolf that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon last week and was caught after a nine-day search on Friday, is recovering at a veterinary clinic after undergoing surgery to remove a fishhook found in its stomach. According to Daejeon city officials, an X-ray revealed a 2.6-centimeter fishhook, along with leaves and fish bones. The fishhook, which posed a risk of perforation, was safely removed. The wolf was captured after rescue workers received a report at around 5:30 p.m. the previous day that it had been spotted near an expressway. After searching surrounding areas for several hours, they located the animal at around 11:45 p.m. and captured it with a tranquilizer gun after midnight. Officials said its pulse and body temperature were normal. A video clip released later shows Neukgu being captured after a 30-minute standoff. The two-year-old male wolf, born at Daejeon O-World, escaped last Wednesday after digging under a wire fence there. 2026-04-17 15:29:07

OPINION:  Seoul navigates strategic reckoning as West Asia conflict rewrites energy calculus SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) -The West Asia conflict is forcing South Korea to confront a fundamental shift: energy security is no longer about efficiency, but resilience. For decades, Seoul optimized its energy system for cost and scale — routing roughly 70 percent of its crude imports through the Strait of Hormuz, refining heavier Middle Eastern oil into high-value fuels, and exporting them across global markets. It was a model built on efficiency. That model is now under strain. With the Hormuz corridor constrained and maritime risks spilling into the Red Sea, shipping costs are no longer just a function of distance. They now reflect geopolitical risk. Routes once considered optimal are vulnerable, while alternatives once dismissed as uneconomical are being reassessed through a different lens: safety. The recent transit of a South Korea-linked crude carrier through the Red Sea — the first confirmed Hormuz bypass shipment — captures this shift. It is not simply a logistical workaround, but a signal that Seoul is recalibrating priorities under pressure. Yet the challenge runs deeper than import diversification. South Korea is not just a major crude importer. It is also a critical exporter in the global energy system — a dual role that amplifies the stakes of disruption. Petrochemicals and refined oil products ranked as the country’s third- and fourth-largest export items last year, generating a combined $88.5 billion and accounting for 14 percent of total shipments. The country’s four major refiners — SK Energy, GS Caltex, S-Oil and HD Hyundai Oilbank — exported 86 million barrels of jet fuel in 2025, representing roughly 4 percent of global supply, the largest share worldwide. Despite being the world’s largest crude producer, the United States remains structurally dependent on Korean refining output. Korean shipments accounted for 71 percent of U.S. jet fuel imports last year — equivalent to about 7 percent of total supply. In western regions such as Washington and California, dependence rises to as high as 85 percent of imports. This reflects a structural imbalance. The U.S., buoyed by the shale revolution, produces predominantly light crude, which yields lower refining margins and is less suited for certain high-value fuels. South Korea, by contrast, has built its system around heavier Middle Eastern crude, particularly from Saudi Arabia, enabling it to produce premium products at scale. Washington has urged Seoul to pivot toward U.S. crude, framing it as both a commercial and strategic adjustment. But such a shift is not straightforward. It would require reconfiguring refining systems and could erode Korea’s competitiveness in high-value exports — a sector that has become a pillar of its trade balance. And here lies the contradiction. South Korea’s energy model is built on global integration — importing crude, refining it, and exporting higher-value products. But geopolitical fragmentation is beginning to challenge that model. Supply chains are no longer neutral. They are increasingly shaped by strategic alignments and conflict zones. The immediate risks are already visible. Some 26 South Korea-linked vessels remain stranded or delayed near the Persian Gulf. Shipping through Hormuz has dropped sharply, while insurance costs and security risks are rising. These pressures are feeding directly into domestic fuel prices and industrial margins. The government has responded with short-term stabilizers — emergency crude purchases and fiscal support — but these are stopgaps. The more consequential shift is strategic. Seoul is moving beyond simple diversification toward a broader rethinking of its energy architecture. This includes exploring new sourcing corridors and strengthening ties with alternative partners such as India, whose refining capacity and geographic position offer a potential buffer against Middle Eastern volatility. President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to New Delhi, accompanied by a large business delegation, reflects this recalibration. Even if tensions ease, the old equilibrium is unlikely to return. U.S.-Iran negotiations may reopen parts of the Hormuz corridor, but under tighter controls and new conditions. The waterway may function again, but it will no longer be a frictionless artery of global trade. For South Korea, that changes the equation. Energy security can no longer be measured solely in cost per barrel. It must now account for route stability, geopolitical exposure and systemic resilience. In that sense, higher shipping costs are not an anomaly — they are the new premium for security. The shift from efficiency to safety will not be painless. It implies higher costs, more complex logistics and potential trade-offs in competitiveness. But the alternative — continued dependence on a single, volatile chokepoint — carries far greater risk. The West Asia conflict is not just disrupting supply. It is rewriting the logic of energy strategy. For Seoul, the task now is to adapt — not incrementally, but structurally — to a world where the cheapest route is no longer the safest one. *The author is the assistant editor of AJP 2026-04-17 15:29:05