Aei Robot taps Nvidia tools to cut humanoid training costs SEOUL, June 08 (AJP) - South Korean humanoid robot developer Aei Robot announced it has reached a key milestone in bipedal robot development by harnessing Nvidia's motion-generation and inverse-kinematics tools, sharply lowering the cost of gathering the training data that machines need to learn human tasks. The announcement came as Aei Robot prepared to meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang later Monday, the final day of his four-day South Korea trip, during which the chip giant has courted Korean firms across memory, robotics and gaming to build out a "physical AI" ecosystem. The company built a "Motion Factory" system around Nvidia Kimodo, a natural-language model that spins out three-dimensional, full-body motion sequences from plain instructions such as "lift the box and place it on the shelf." Unlike vision-based capture, which can miss obscured movements, the tool generates comprehensive data from every angle. To carry that data onto physical robots, Aei Robot adopted Nvidia SOMA Retargeter, a GPU-accelerated library built on the open SOMA framework. Drawing on Nvidia's standard skeleton architecture, the system reads unified robot description format data to adapt swiftly to new platforms, removing a long-standing bottleneck in research and development. The firm expects the integration to prove especially potent at shipyards and construction sites, where it can safely simulate and collect motion data off-limits in the real world for security reasons. Aei Robot, a member of the Nvidia Inception program for startups, saw its humanoid ALICE featured in a keynote video at GTC 2026. Its chief technology officer is Hanyang University robotics professor Han Jae-kwon, whose lab has long argued that a humanoid's worth lies in useful labor rather than spectacle. "If Kimodo is the data factory that mass-produces rich behavioral data, then SOMA Retargeter is the smart connector that lets us inject that data into a robot of any shape instantly," CEO Eom Yoon-seal said, calling mastery of Nvidia's accelerated computing pipeline the firm's core edge in reaching market fastest. Huang, who has described robotics as the next major growth sector for South Korea, is scheduled to meet AI and robotics startups at a Seoul hotel on Monday evening, capping a visit that included talks with SK, LG, Hyundai and Naver. 2026-06-08 10:31:02

Kakao Shares Plunge Over 5%, Hitting One-Year Low Kakao's stock price fell more than 5% in early trading, reaching a new 52-week low. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 10:14 a.m., Kakao shares were trading at 38,150 won, down 2,100 won (5.22%) from the previous trading day. The stock dropped to 37,850 won shortly after the market opened, marking its lowest price in a year. Since the beginning of the year, Kakao's stock has declined by over 36%. According to Naver Pay Securities, the average purchase price for 96,733 Kakao investors is 83,068 won, resulting in an average loss of 53.77%. Analysts have recently lowered their target prices for Kakao. Mirae Asset Securities set a target of 58,000 won, Daol Investment & Securities at 60,000 won, LS Securities at 66,000 won, and KB Securities at 69,000 won. Im Hee-seok, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, stated, "While the restructuring of subsidiaries is a positive step for improving profitability, it will be difficult for the stock to be re-evaluated until visible results from the anticipated introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) that accelerates user engagement on KakaoTalk are realized." Kim Hye-young, a researcher at Daol Investment & Securities, noted, "Kakao is currently in the stage of enhancing the capabilities of its AI agent 'Kanana' and AI services based on KakaoTalk. We expect stronger integration with existing ecosystems such as mobility, payments, and maps, but significant monetization is likely to occur gradually after 2027."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:27:00

Democratic Party at 41.8% and People Power Party at 41.1% in Latest Poll A recent poll indicates that the support gap between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party has narrowed to within the margin of error for the first time in five months. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on June 4-5, commissioned by Energy Economy News, the Democratic Party garnered 41.8% support, while the People Power Party received 41.1%. The Democratic Party's support decreased by 3.1 percentage points, whereas the People Power Party saw an increase of 2.6 percentage points. Realmeter noted, "Although the Democratic Party secured victories in 12 local government elections, it failed to reclaim the symbolic Seoul mayoralty. Losses in key battlegrounds, such as Busan North and Pyeongtaek, have highlighted a significant departure of moderate voters and those in their 30s." Regarding the People Power Party, Realmeter stated, "The party has established itself as a focal point for government oversight, particularly in Seoul, and has maintained control in critical battlegrounds like Pyeongtaek and the Daegu mayoralty. This trend has led to increased support among voters aged 70 and older, as well as conservative groups." Support for the Justice Innovation Party stands at 2.8%, while the Reform Party has 2.5%, and the Progressive Party trails with 1.1%. The proportion of undecided voters is 7.6%. The survey utilized a wireless automated response method. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 5.6%. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:24:00

Seoul, Tokyo hold first rescue drill in 9 years SEOUL, June 08 (AJP) - South Korea and Japan held a bilateral search and rescue exercise in international waters southeast of Jeju Island on Sunday, marking the first such drill between the two countries in nine years amid efforts to rebuild defense ties. The maritime exercise, known as SAREX, is designed to rehearse joint procedures for responding to maritime emergencies involving distressed vessels and was held for the first time since December 2017. The South Korean Navy deployed the 4,900-ton Cheonjabong landing ship tank (LST-II), while Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force participated with the 7,250-ton Aegis destroyer Kongo and an SH-60K maritime helicopter. During the exercise, the two sides conducted joint firefighting drills simulating a fire aboard a distressed vessel, while the Japanese SH-60K helicopter carried out takeoff and landing operations on the flight deck of the Cheonjabong. South Korea and Japan launched the search and rescue exercise program in 1999 and had conducted 10 rounds of drills every two years through 2017. The exercise was suspended after bilateral defense ties deteriorated over Japan’s rising sun flag, a symbol many Koreans view as a reminder of Japan’s wartime militarism, during a 2018 fleet review hosted by South Korea, followed by a patrol aircraft dispute. The two sides agreed in January during defense ministerial talks in Japan to resume the exercise and had since coordinated its timing. The schedule was officially confirmed during a bilateral defense ministers’ meeting held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on May 30. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said during the meeting that resuming the exercise carried “symbolic and declaratory significance,” adding that the two countries should further deepen and develop what he described as a valuable achievement of bilateral cooperation. 2026-06-08 10:19:30

NVIDIA's Jensen Huang: AI Infrastructure is Essential for Future Development SK Telecom (SKT) is partnering with NVIDIA to establish artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in South Korea, marking the beginning of a broader initiative across Asia. The collaboration involves joining NVIDIA's global AI infrastructure ecosystem program, known as NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP), and developing an AI factory. During a briefing at the SK Serin Building in Jongno, Seoul, on June 8, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, stated, "SKT and NVIDIA are forming a partnership to build an AI factory in Korea. In the future, AI will be utilized in all industries, just like electricity, water, and the internet." Huang emphasized that "telecommunication networks will not just serve to transmit bits; AI will permeate networks, providing higher frequency efficiency and greater network capabilities." The two companies plan to collaborate on a "full-stack AI cloud" based on NVIDIA's DSX platform, covering everything from chips to data center operations. The focus is on establishing an AI factory, a data center specialized in AI learning and inference. Huang noted, "Korea currently needs AI infrastructure, but it is insufficient. Korea is one of the leading AI ecosystems in the world, and AI infrastructure is essential for future development." The AI factory will serve as a next-generation AI infrastructure that produces tokens, the core units of AI services, on a large scale, based on power and data. It will be built to optimize AI computations, moving beyond traditional data centers focused on general computing and data storage. The companies plan to launch the first AI factory in South Korea by 2027. This initiative aims to validate the AI cloud operating system and governance before gradually expanding operations across Asia. To achieve this, SKT will join NVIDIA's NCP, a global partner ecosystem program that provides high-performance AI cloud services using NVIDIA's AI infrastructure and software. The goal is to secure the lowest token costs and the highest performance per watt, enhancing competitiveness in the global AI infrastructure market. The collaboration with NVIDIA is expected to be a cornerstone of SKT's AI cloud business. SKT plans to utilize NVIDIA's Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs) to provide AI learning and inference services, with the next-generation platform "Vera Rubin" set to be introduced in the second half of this year. SKT aims to accelerate the expansion of its AI cloud business through this partnership. Unlike general cloud services, AI cloud services are specialized for AI learning, inference, and data processing, emerging as a key business in the AI supply chain as global tech giants increasingly lease infrastructure. The company also plans to expand global partnerships, positioning itself as a strategic partner providing the infrastructure and business network needed by NVIDIA across Asia, with the goal of becoming a leading AI cloud provider in the region. Huang concluded, "Just as the semiconductor industry needed fabs, the AI industry needs AI factories. I expect we can accelerate the establishment of AI infrastructure in Korea with SKT." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:12:00

Jeon In-ji Finishes Fourth at U.S. Women's Open; Nelly Korda Claims Second Major Title Jeon In-ji's attempt to win her fourth major title was unsuccessful as she finished fourth at the 81st U.S. Women's Open, held at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. On June 8, she shot a final round of 1-under par 70, with four birdies and three bogeys.With a total score of 6-under par 278, Jeon finished two strokes behind winner Korda, who ended at 8-under par 276.Jeon has demonstrated her strength in major tournaments, having won three of her four LPGA Tour titles in such events. After starting the final round tied for third, she seemed poised to capture her first major title since the 2022 Women's PGA Championship. However, she made bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes, and another on the 18th, which dashed her hopes.Despite not winning, Jeon achieved her best finish of the season, marking her second top-10 finish and earning $585,535.Kim Sei-young, who entered the final round tied for the lead, struggled with a score of 1-over par 72, finishing with a total of 5-under par 279 in fifth place. Kim, a 14-time LPGA Tour winner, was seeking her second major title since the 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. However, she lost two strokes in the final round, hindering her chances for victory.This marks Kim's fourth top-10 finish of the season. Korda's victory at the U.S. Women's Open follows her win at the Chevron Championship in April, marking her first triumph at this event. She received a winner's prize of $2.5 million. This is the first time since 2023 that an American has won the U.S. Women's Open.Yoo Hyun-jo, who won the KLPGA Tour Player of the Year and scoring average awards last year, had a tough day, finishing with a total score of 4-over par 288, tied for 34th place after losing seven strokes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:12:00

Hana Financial Group Expands Support for People with Disabilities As the banking sector's social contributions reached 2 trillion won last year, Hana Financial Group is expanding its support for people with disabilities. This initiative aligns with the government's emphasis on the public role of the financial sector. On June 8, Hana Financial announced plans to provide funding for the renovation of aging disability welfare facilities and support for vehicles. The initiative aims to prevent safety accidents and human rights violations in outdated facilities while enhancing mobility for individuals with disabilities. The support will target all types of disability welfare facilities as defined under Article 58 of the Disability Welfare Act, including residential facilities, vocational, medical, and community rehabilitation centers. To qualify for renovation support, facilities must meet the following criteria: they must have been established for over 10 years, possess fire insurance, have no plans for relocation within five years, and not have received similar support from businesses or local governments in the past three years. For vehicle support, eligible facilities must have been established for over three years, require vehicle replacement due to aging, and not have received similar assistance from businesses or local governments in the last five years. Facilities selected for support will be determined through a review process by a committee of academic and field experts, along with on-site inspections. A total of 20 facilities will receive renovation support, while 15 will receive vehicle assistance. Applications can be submitted through Hana Financial's official website until June 30. A Hana Financial representative stated, "We will continue to engage in sincere, field-centered activities to protect the rights and enhance the welfare of people with disabilities."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:09:00

Neowiz Appoints First Developer as CEO, Park Sung-jun Named Neowiz has announced the appointment of its first-ever CEO from a development background. On June 8, the company revealed that Park Sung-jun, head of the new game development group, will take on the role of CEO. He is set to officially assume the position following board approval in August and will lead the company alongside current CEO Bae Tae-keun in a co-CEO structure. This marks the first time in Neowiz's history that a CEO with a development background has been appointed. The company stated that this decision aligns with the launch of its new game pipeline, emphasizing the importance of expertise and execution in development. With this co-CEO system, Neowiz aims to concentrate its efforts on new game development and achieving success in the global market. Park has been with Neowiz since 2013, starting as the development director at Neowiz CRS. He has also served as the head of console development at Neowiz Bless Studio and as head of Round 8 Studio. Since 2023, he has been overseeing the new game development group, managing the entire next-generation development lineup. He is recognized as a key developer behind the global success of "Lie of P" and its DLC, "Lie of P: Prelude." Neowiz praised his hands-on experience in development and his success with global projects as key factors in his appointment as CEO. Park Sung-jun stated, "With several projects now on a stable development track, we will be able to fully showcase the new game pipeline that Neowiz has been preparing starting in 2027. Our top priority will be to deliver the fun that gamers want, focusing on new game development that can achieve results in the global market based on the experience and know-how we've accumulated in the field."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:09:00

High School Dropouts Exceed 10,000 as Grading System Changes Fail to Deliver The South Korean government's implementation of the 'high school grading system' aimed at reducing competition has not yielded the expected results after one year. Instead, the number of high school dropouts and students opting for the GED has surged to unprecedented levels. A recent analysis by Jongno Academy of data from 1,703 general high schools revealed that the number of high school dropouts nationwide rose by 163 from the previous year, reaching 18,661, the highest figure in seven years. Notably, the number of first-year students dropping out under the new grading system increased by 6.1% to 10,450, surpassing the 10,000 mark for the first time since the policy's introduction. The increase in dropouts is particularly pronounced in the Gyeongin region (11.6% increase) and in rural areas (4.3% increase), with significant concentrations in traditional educational districts such as Gangnam, Yangcheon, and Seocho in Seoul, as well as in high-ranking schools in non-uniform regions of Gyeonggi Province. Experts attribute this trend to a disconnect between the intended reforms of the grading system and the realities of the college admissions landscape. Initially, the reform aimed to widen the top grading bracket from the top 4% to 10%, which was expected to alleviate pressure on students. However, a simulation conducted in March by the Gyeonggi Academic Guidance Council revealed that only 1.2% of students achieved top grades across all subjects, indicating that the competitive nature of college admissions remains intact. As a result, students have recognized that falling below the 10% threshold in school rankings makes it nearly impossible to gain admission to prestigious universities. This realization has led many to abandon public education early in favor of pursuing the GED and focusing solely on standardized tests. The number of students registering for the 2026 GED exam reached 22,355, the highest level in 31 years since 1996, and projections suggest that the number will exceed 20,000 for the upcoming 2027 exam. Education experts warn that without a stable college admissions track to support students who fall behind in school rankings, it will be difficult to prevent a loss of human resources and the expansion of the private education market. Jongno Academy's representative, Lim Seong-ho, stated, "As long as the selection criteria of universities and the cumulative differentiation remain unchanged, students' anxiety will persist. It is urgent to design flexible admissions policies and supplementary programs to support students who miss out on grades within the public education system."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:06:00

Peace Peace Studio Shares Drop After Initial Surge on KOSDAQ Debut Peace Peace Studio experienced a sharp rise in its stock price during the early trading hours of its debut on the KOSDAQ, but soon reversed course, falling below its initial public offering (IPO) price. As of 9:48 a.m. on June 8, the company’s shares were trading at 18,480 won, down 14.05% from the IPO price of 21,500 won. Initially, Peace Peace Studio’s stock opened at 32,000 won, 48.84% above the IPO price, and surged to as high as 42,000 won, marking a 95.35% increase. However, the stock later surrendered its gains as selling pressure emerged, leading to a downturn. This decline appears to be influenced by a broader decline in investor sentiment across the domestic stock market. On the same day, the KOSPI index triggered a first-stage circuit breaker shortly after opening, reflecting increased volatility and a significant drop in risk appetite among investors. Peace Peace Studio, known for its flagship brand 'Mardi Mercredi,' was established in 2020 and reported revenues of 113.777 billion won and an operating profit of 28.158 billion won last year. During the public offering subscription for individual investors held on May 26-27, the company recorded a competition ratio of 1,194.94 to 1, attracting approximately 7.28 trillion won in deposits. The earlier demand forecast for institutional investors was also successful, leading to the IPO price being set at the upper end of the desired range, 21,500 won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:06:00