KAIST unveils mid-to-long-term strategy for artificial intelligence talent SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology outlined its mid-to-long-term strategy for nurturing artificial intelligence professionals and launched an international advisory board during a vision proclamation ceremony held at its main campus on Monday, the prominent institute said. The event shared the institution's direction for educational innovation, industry cooperation, and the establishment of a responsible artificial intelligence ecosystem. A key part of the ceremony was the appointment of the KAIST College of AI Advisory Board, which includes international experts such as Professor Yoshua Bengio of the University of Montreal and Professor Cho Kyung-hyun of New York University. Domestic participants represent major South Korean technology companies and research organizations, including the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, Naver Cloud, and Hyundai Motor Company. The advisory board will provide strategic guidance on education, research, and global cooperation. As part of a special innovation session, undergraduate student representatives presented proposals on new possibilities for university education. This reflects the college's approach to treating students as active participants in designing future research cultures rather than passive recipients. During his keynote speech, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon emphasized the need for rapid adaptation. "In order to preemptively respond to the period of great transition where AI moves beyond the stage of generation to the stage of execution, investment in AI talent is the most urgent," Bae said. "We will build South Korea's differentiated AI education system through active communication with students, who are the consumers of education." KAIST College of AI Dean Yoon Kuk-jin presented the institution's primary strategies following the keynote. "The KAIST College of AI intends to become an educational and research platform that expands human intellectual capacity alongside AI and designs new knowledge and the future, rather than an organization that simply teaches AI technology," Yoon said. "We will use this vision proclamation ceremony as an opportunity to grow into a hub leading world-class AI talent training, challenging research, industrial and social problem solving, and the establishment of a responsible AI ecosystem." KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung highlighted the broader impact of the technology on modern infrastructure. "AI is now becoming a core driving force leading changes in science, technology, industry, and society as a whole, beyond technology in specific fields," Lee said. "We will actively support the KAIST College of AI so that it can grow into an open platform that leads AI talent training and research innovation in South Korea and cooperates with the world." 2026-06-01 10:53:14

CJ Olive Young's first U.S. store in Pasadena draws large crowds SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - CJ Olive Young, South Korea's largest beauty retailer, successfully launched its first U.S. brick-and-mortar store in Pasadena, California. According to the company on Monday, it plans to open a second store in Los Angeles this month, located at the Westfield Century City shopping mall. The Pasadena store opening drew significant consumer and media attention. Wait lines began forming the day before the opening on Friday, with a line of approximately 400 meters stretching across four blocks of Colorado Boulevard. Major local broadcasters, including KTLA and ABC, provided live and aerial coverage of the event. Major U.S. media outlets, including CNN and the Wall Street Journal, also visited and covered the opening. Despite limiting entry to around 200 people at a time for customer safety and convenience, the store recorded over 1,000 transactions on the first day, demonstrating high local consumer interest. Skincare products, including sun care, mask packs, and cleansers, accounted for over 60 percent of total sales, followed by makeup categories such as lip products and cushions, indicating local interest in K-beauty color cosmetics. Sales across K-wellness categories, which included hair care, body care, beauty accessories, and food items like bagel chips, sauces, and health foods, suggested that Olive Young’s K-beauty and lifestyle curation strategy resonated with local consumers. The personalized services offered, such as the 'Skin Scan' zone for skin diagnosis and 'THE BEAUTY LAB' for basic K-beauty skincare lessons, also attracted consumer attention, particularly since these consultations are provided free of charge. Social media activity was also high, with over 1,000 pieces of content uploaded to platforms like TikTok and Instagram from May 28 to 30, accumulating over 8 million views. Olive Young CEO Lee Sun-jung said that the Pasadena store "demonstrates the blueprint of the global platform Olive Young pursues" and will serve as a "new milestone for the co-growth ecosystem" of domestic small and medium-sized indie brands on the global stage. Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo welcomed the company's arrival, noting that Olive Young’s investment is expected to "create new jobs and economic vitality" and "increase the city’s diversity and global competitiveness". The upcoming Century City location is situated in a key commercial area with high traffic from young professionals, high-income consumers, and international tourists. Olive Young stated that while the Pasadena store focused on customers interested in K-culture and experiential shopping, the Century City branch will aim to broaden its reach to a wider premium consumer base and global customers. Market research firm Circana reported that K-beauty held about a 6 percent share of the U.S. mass beauty market in the first quarter of 2026, which Olive Young views as an indicator of future growth potential. The company plans to gradually expand its U.S. presence, beginning with the West Coast, to implement an omnichannel strategy that links online and offline operations. Olive Young ultimately aims to evolve into a 'local beauty retailer' in the U.S., expanding its offerings to encompass lifestyle products, including wellness and food. 2026-06-01 10:53:07

Instagram Tests Subscription Service Amid Mixed Reactions Instagram is testing a monthly subscription service called 'Instagram Plus' as it expands its paid features, prompting reactions from users in South Korea. Recently, screenshots of Instagram's new subscription service 'Instagram Plus' circulated on online communities and social media, drawing significant attention. According to the shared screenshots, Instagram is testing a service that offers a one-month free trial, followed by a subscription fee of $3.99 per month (approximately 2,800 won). However, prices may vary by country. The screenshots also included features available with an Instagram Plus subscription. Key features include: ▲ Setting multiple audience targets for stories ▲ Providing statistics on story replays ▲ Searching the list of story viewers ▲ Previewing stories ▲ Extending story expiration periods ▲ Sending super hearts on stories ▲ Enhancing story visibility. Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of the long-requested 'story viewer search feature,' which has garnered significant interest. The bottom of the screen features a prompt to "Start your free trial" along with a note that "subscriptions will auto-renew until canceled." In response to the service, South Korean users expressed a range of opinions, including comments like, "I can check how many times my ex has viewed my story?" and "This seems like a path to failure." Others noted, "If it boosts exposure for over 24 hours, influencers and creators might have to subscribe," while some suggested, "Please sell an ad-free program for a fee," and others remarked, "This company shows the negative impact it has on humanity." As of now, Instagram has not officially announced whether the service will be globally launched. However, with major social media platforms increasingly enhancing paid subscription models to diversify revenue sources, there are speculations that Instagram may also be expanding its premium features.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 10:48:00

NHN Shares Surge Nearly 50% in Six Trading Days Amid AI Cloud Growth NHN's stock price has surged nearly 50% in just six trading days. This increase is fueled by expectations of improved performance following the easing of regulations on web board games, alongside growing investor interest in the company's artificial intelligence (AI) cloud business. Analysts suggest that NHN is transitioning from a gaming and payment-focused company to one centered on AI infrastructure. As of 10:22 a.m. on June 1, NHN shares were trading at 55,300 won, up 4,400 won (8.64%) from the previous trading day. During the session, the stock reached a new 52-week high of 59,000 won. The recent upward trend has been steep, with NHN experiencing three consecutive days of gains. The stock jumped 10.95% on May 28 and 22.50% on May 29. Just six trading days ago, on May 22, the stock was priced at 38,200 won, marking a nearly 50% increase since then. Market analysts believe that expectations for improved performance are now being reflected in the stock price. The existing cash cow, the web board game business, is benefiting from regulatory changes, while the AI cloud business is emerging as a new growth driver. NHN Cloud's expansion into AI data centers and GPU services is shifting market perceptions. NHN Cloud offers Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) to both public and private sectors. Starting in the second quarter, AI-related revenues are expected to gradually reflect the government's GPU as a Service (GPUaaS) initiative, the expansion of AI agents in public institutions, the normalization of the Gwangju AI data center, and the large-scale GPU cluster project with Krafton. Particularly noteworthy is the launch of the water-cooled AI data center in Yangpyeong at the end of March, which has marked the official start of GPU-based AI services. Song Ji-won, an analyst at Heungkuk Securities, stated, "The Yangpyeong region's GPU B200 is expected to start generating revenue in the second quarter, and this project alone could lead to approximately 300 billion won in revenue growth over the next five years." NHN has achieved about 80% of its previous revenue guidance with only 60% of its total 7,656 GPUs, which has heightened market expectations. Considering the potential for additional sales and price increases, further upward revisions to performance forecasts are anticipated. Analysts also assess that the growth potential in NHN's technology sector is stronger than expected. Kim Dong-woo, an analyst at Kyobo Securities, noted, "Even without contributions from the government GPU business, technology sales have grown 19.0% year-on-year based solely on existing CSP and MSP revenues. Given the expansion of public AI transitions and GPU business growth, the technology sector's growth rate is likely to accelerate further this year." However, the recent rapid increase in stock price has raised concerns. NHN's small shareholders hold only 28.23% of the company, while the largest shareholder owns 56.8%, and treasury stock accounts for 7.11%. With relatively low circulating shares, stock price volatility may increase due to supply and demand imbalances. Additionally, the nature of the AI cloud business entails significant initial investment costs. In the first quarter, NHN Cloud incurred 7.3 billion won in amortization expenses, falling short of market expectations for operating profit. The ongoing expansion of GPU investments may further increase cost burdens, leading to short-term fluctuations in performance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 10:45:00

Korea's Ministry of Culture Launches Initiatives to Attract Foreign Tourists The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is launching initiatives to attract foreign tourists to various regions in South Korea, coinciding with the record number of visitors this year, particularly around the BTS concert in Busan. On June 1, the ministry announced that it will hold a "Welcome Week" event at Gimhae International Airport from June 1 to June 14, in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea Visit Year Committee. This event is designed to accommodate the expected surge in foreign tourists visiting Busan for the BTS concert on June 12 and 13. A welcome booth will be set up in the arrivals area on the first floor of the airport, offering multilingual tourist information, local tourism details, and on-site reservations for themed tourism packages. Visitors will receive a welcome kit that includes a welcome card, a map of Korean tourist attractions, and K-food items. In the departure area on the second floor, farewell images will be displayed on electronic boards, and travelers will be given goodbye cards and traditional cultural souvenirs to leave with a warm impression of Korea. In addition to the offline events, customized information will be provided in eight foreign languages through the overseas promotion platform "VisitKorea." This will include guides to BTS-related attractions in Busan, safety travel guidelines for crowded areas, and information on public transport restrictions. "The number of visitors to Korea from January to April this year has reached an all-time high, indicating a positive trend in inbound tourism," said Kang Jeong-won, head of the tourism policy division at the ministry. "We aim to expand the journey of foreign tourists to various regions, ensuring both quantitative and qualitative growth in inbound tourism through enhanced infrastructure, improved reception capabilities, and strengthened promotion efforts." In response to the growing demand for health and wellness-focused travel, the ministry is also accelerating the development of K-Wellness tourism. Following the implementation of the "Healing Tourism Industry Promotion Act" on April 9, the ministry has selected 20 specialized wellness tourism sites known for their ability to attract foreign tourists from an existing list of 88 excellent wellness destinations. The selected sites include Daegu's "Sayuwon," which won the "Star of Korean Tourism" award in 2025, and "Awon Hanok" in Jeonbuk, where BTS filmed a video and photoshoot. The "WE Hotel Jeju," operated by the Halla Medical Foundation, is also among the chosen locations. The government plans to support each of the selected sites with up to 50 million won for competitiveness enhancement projects. This includes overseas promotion using global platforms and establishing a digital service environment tailored for foreign visitors to help these sites become key destinations for international tourists. Furthermore, the ministry aims to systematically support the creation of a healing tourism ecosystem by quickly implementing basic plans, training professionals, and designating healing tourism industry zones based on the regulations established on April 21 under the Healing Tourism Industry Act. A ministry policy official stated, "Wellness tourism is a future growth industry that combines tourism, health, and healing. We will actively support the development of specialized wellness tourism sites to establish a globally competitive Korean wellness tourism model and help Korea become a leading destination for healing tourism worldwide."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 10:39:00

Kakao union sets June 10 partial strike as labor standoff sharpens SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - Kakao's union announced it would stage a four-hour partial strike on June 10, escalating a deepening standoff with management over job security and the company's executive pay structure. The Kakao branch of the Korean Chemical, Textile & Food Workers’ Union laid out its demands and walkout schedule in a statement on Monday, marking the latest step toward the messaging giant's first-ever headquarters strike. The union said its core demand was to halt the sales, spin-offs and restructuring it blames on years of management missteps, and to secure stable employment. It also called for an overhaul of a pay system it said rewards executives lavishly even as their decisions fuel worker insecurity. "We are well aware of deep concern over possible disruptions or problems with KakaoTalk and other services so closely woven into daily life," the union said, adding it would hold the four-hour stoppage and a rally in Pangyo on Wednesday, June 10. The union signaled it could sharpen its action, saying it had opted for a limited walkout rather than an immediate all-out strike and would ratchet up pressure depending on the course of further talks. The move follows the collapse of a second mediation session at the Gyeonggi National Labor Relations Commission on May 27, which handed the union the legal right to strike. Industry officials see little chance of an extreme outage such as a KakaoTalk blackout even if the union escalates, noting that most platform systems are automated and that non-union and standby staff can keep maintenance and operations running. The standoff comes amid a swell of labor unrest across South Korea's tech and chip sectors, where workers are pressing for a bigger share of profits. Samsung Electronics' union has sought 15 percent of chip-division operating profit, while Hyundai Motor's union has demanded 30 percent of net profit in its 2026 wage talks. 2026-06-01 10:36:41

Naver Shares Surge Amid Anticipation of Jensen Huang's Visit Naver's stock has continued to rise sharply as expectations grow for collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) with Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, who is expected to visit South Korea this week. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 10:23 a.m. on June 1, Naver shares were trading at 260,500 won, up 26,500 won (11.32%) from the previous day. The stock opened at 247,500 won and briefly reached 262,000 won in early trading. Industry sources indicate that Huang will discuss AI collaboration with major domestic IT companies, including Naver, during his visit. Previously, Huang gained attention for a meeting with Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, at a chicken restaurant during the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju last October. Analysts have also positively assessed Naver's potential for expanding its AI business. Lee Seung-hoon, a researcher at IBK Investment & Securities, stated in a report that "Naver is fully launching its 'AI Tab' service, which explores users' complex search intentions and contexts in real-time conversational formats," maintaining a target price of 320,000 won and a 'buy' recommendation. He added, "The 'AI Briefing' service, which summarizes the core of search queries to provide users with optimal information, has become a key engine for maximizing conversion rates within the search ecosystem," and noted that Naver is intensifying synergies with its next-generation advertising platform, 'ADVoost,' to enhance targeting efficiency for advertisers. Furthermore, he highlighted that Naver's self-developed large language model, HyperClovaX, holds a significant advantage in the amount of Korean data learned compared to global big tech competitors. He stated that Naver is entering a phase of realizing sales from tailored AI infrastructure solutions for the domestic B2B enterprise market, particularly in public, finance, and manufacturing sectors.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 10:36:00

LG Display Unveils Gaming OLED Lineup in Taiwan LG Display is accelerating its entry into the rapidly growing global gaming OLED market. The company aims to strengthen its leadership in the premium gaming monitor sector with a robust product lineup and next-generation technology roadmap. Starting June 4, LG Display will host a "Taiwan Gaming OLED Roadshow" in Taipei for key global clients, running until June 10. The event will feature over 20 global gaming monitor manufacturers who will experience LG Display's new technologies firsthand and discuss potential collaborations. The roadshow will focus on the theme of "Faster, Clearer, and Brighter Display Experiences." LG Display plans to unveil its flagship gaming OLED lineup and next-generation technology roadmap, along with comparative demonstrations against liquid crystal display (LCD) panels to showcase OLED's distinct competitive advantages. Currently, LG Display boasts the industry's largest gaming OLED lineup, ranging from 20 inches to 40 inches. The event will showcase the world's only mass-produced 39-inch model, along with the most popular 27-inch OLED monitor panel. The 39-inch OLED monitor panel is the first in the world to achieve 5K2K ultra-high resolution. It features a 21:9 aspect ratio and a maximum 1500R curvature design, enhancing immersion in racing and simulation games. The wide screen and curved design maximize the gaming experience. LG Display will also introduce the "RGB Stripe OLED," which uniquely arranges red, green, and blue (RGB) subpixels in uniform sizes. This design minimizes color bleeding and ensures sharp text even at close distances. It supports a high refresh rate of up to 240 hertz, enhancing usability for both gaming and document work. Next-generation technology will also be highlighted. LG Display plans to showcase a gaming OLED that meets the "DisplayHDR True Black 1000" standard set by the global display standards organization VESA. This technology allows for accurate color representation as intended by content creators, with peak brightness reaching 2000 nits for a more vivid display. The 27-inch 5K OLED panel is also noteworthy. With a high resolution of 220 pixels per inch (PPI), it provides print-level detail for tasks requiring precision, such as graphic design and video editing. LG Display has applied its proprietary surface treatment technology to reduce reflectivity to an industry-low 0.3%. Leveraging over a decade of expertise in tandem white OLED (WOLED) technology, LG Display entered the monitor OLED market in 2022. In just two years, it has rapidly expanded its market share, securing over ten global monitor manufacturers as key clients. Lee Hyun-woo, head of LG Display's large business division, stated, "Building on our technological leadership in large OLEDs, we will expand collaborations with global clients for both current and next-generation products. We aim to provide gamers with the perfect display experience and actively target the rapidly growing high-end monitor market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 10:33:00

Samsung Display Unveils Gaming OLED Lineup at Computex 2026 Samsung Display is set to showcase a wide range of gaming OLED products at Computex 2026. The lineup includes 16 models spanning portable gaming PCs, laptops, and monitors, aimed at capturing the premium IT display market. According to industry sources, Samsung Display will present its offerings from June 2 to 5 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, featuring OLED panels for portable gaming PCs starting at 8.8 inches up to a 49-inch QD-OLED monitor. Among the highlights is the debut of an ultra-slim OLED panel for laptops, which reduces the thickness by over 20% compared to existing mass-produced models while maintaining OLED's deep blacks and fast response times. For monitors, the key product is a QD-OLED that achieves both 4K resolution and a 360Hz refresh rate. Samsung Display explained that it optimized the circuitry and driving system to deliver high resolution and high refresh rates simultaneously. Industry experts anticipate a shift in gaming monitor demand from high-refresh-rate LCDs to OLED and QD-OLED models, predicting an increase in OLED monitor adoption among major PC brands this year. The new QD-OLED technology, known as 'Penta Tandem,' will also be introduced. This technology enhances efficiency, lifespan, and brightness by increasing the blue OLED stacking structure from four to five layers, making it suitable for HDR gaming and high-quality content. Samsung Display will also set up a gaming experience zone where visitors can play shooting games on a 500Hz QD-OLED monitor or compare the response times and color representation between a 49-inch QD-OLED and an LCD. Collaborations with game companies such as Krafton, Pearl Abyss, EA, and Neowiz will also be showcased. Son Dong-il, Vice President of Samsung Display's Large Display Business Division and IT Business Team, stated, "The technological trend in the high-end gaming display market is shifting from LCD to self-emissive displays. We will lead the way in showcasing technologies that enhance gamer immersion." 2026-06-01 10:33:00

NCSoft Reports Strong Growth Driven by Legacy IP and New Ventures NCSoft is demonstrating the results of its two-year restructuring efforts through its first-quarter performance. The revival of legacy game intellectual properties (IPs) and the integration of mobile casual gaming have led to revenues and profits that significantly exceed market expectations. Industry experts view NCSoft's restructuring as the beginning of a structural transformation rather than a one-time event. According to the gaming industry on June 1, NCSoft reported its first-quarter results during a conference call held on May 13, revealing consolidated revenues of 557.4 billion won, operating profit of 113.3 billion won, and net profit of 152.4 billion won. Revenue increased by 55% year-over-year and by 38% from the previous quarter, while operating profit surged 2,070% compared to the same period last year (5.2 billion won). The primary drivers of this performance rebound are the successful launches of two PC massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), Aion 2 and Lineage Classic. First-quarter PC game revenue reached 318.4 billion won, marking a 210% increase year-over-year and a 69% increase from the previous quarter. This is NCSoft's highest quarterly PC revenue on record. For the first time since the launch of Lineage M in 2017, NCSoft's PC game revenue has surpassed its mobile game revenue. Launched simultaneously in South Korea and Taiwan last November, Aion 2 generated 136.8 billion won in quarterly revenue. The company noted that Aion 2's active user engagement and high-quality gameplay contributed to achieving the highest quarterly revenue among NCSoft titles. Aion 2 is also set for a global launch in North America and Europe in the third quarter, indicating significant growth potential. Lineage Classic recorded quarterly revenue of 83.5 billion won. Since its release on February 11, it has accumulated 200 billion won in revenue over 90 days. NCSoft reported that the game has attracted new users in their 20s and 30s while maintaining a solid daily active user (DAU) base among its existing older fan demographic. The mobile casual gaming segment is also noteworthy. The performance of Lihuhu (Vietnam) and Springcoms (South Korea), both acquired by NCSoft last year, is being reflected in this quarter's results for the first time. This marks the beginning of new revenue streams in NCSoft's previously MMORPG-focused revenue structure. Starting in the second quarter, results from JustPlay (Germany) will also be included, suggesting rapid expansion for NCSoft. This earnings surprise is interpreted as evidence that NCSoft's promised "predictable growth structure" is taking shape, rather than being a result of a one-off new release. The company has previously outlined three main growth pillars: enhancing legacy IPs like Lineage, Aion, and Guild Wars; securing new IPs in genres like shooters and subcultures; and expanding into mobile casual gaming. In the second half of this year, NCSoft plans to accelerate its new IP initiatives. The company is preparing for the global launch of Aion 2 in the third quarter, along with a diverse lineup of genres, including the PC console open-world tactical shooter "Cinder City," the animated action RPG "Limit Zero Breakers," and the time survival shooter "Time Takers," all set for global testing and release. Co-CEO Park Byung-moo stated, "Based on our efforts over the past two years for structural improvement, we are designating this year as the year of innovation for NCSoft. As our business structure becomes more predictable and steadily growing, we ask for your continued support for our future achievements."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 10:30:00