Seoul and Tokyo take a breather and China-related markets muted SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) — A correction hit Seoul and Tokyo on Friday after this week’s record-setting rally, while Chinese and Hong Kong stocks remained mostly sidelined ahead of next week’s closely watched “Two Sessions,” China’s annual legislative and political advisory meetings. A tech-led pullback on Wall Street overnight weighed on Asian semiconductor shares, reversing part of the strong gains seen earlier in the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.03 percent to close at 49,499.20, while the S&P 500 fell 0.54 percent to 6,908.86 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.18 percent to 22,878.38. AI bellwether Nvidia slid more than 5 percent to $184.89 — its steepest single-day decline since April last year — despite posting earnings and revenue guidance that beat expectations. The move underscored investor unease over stretched valuations and concerns about AI’s broader impact across industries. Other semiconductor names followed lower. AMD fell 3.4 percent, TSMC declined 2.8 percent, Micron Technology lost 3.1 percent and Broadcom slipped 3.2 percent. The mood carried into Asia. In Seoul, Samsung Electronics fell 1.49 percent and SK hynix dropped 3.46 percent in morning trade, reversing part of the previous session’s roughly 7 percent surge in both stocks. The two chipmakers, key suppliers to Nvidia, had led Thursday’s rally. As of 10:59 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI declined 2.11 percent to 6,170.18, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.53 percent to 1,181.71. Foreign investors continued to trim positions, posting net sales of 3.5436 trillion won. Individual investors and institutions stepped in as buyers, net purchasing 3.1064 trillion won and 337.7 billion won, respectively. The Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar for the first time in three sessions, with the greenback rising 4.70 won to 1,437.20 won. In Tokyo, semiconductor-related shares also came under early pressure, adding to the downside. The Nikkei fell 0.84 percent to 58,260.38 in morning trading. Large-cap stocks outside semiconductors showed mixed performance. Hyundai Motor dropped 2.13 percent to 596,000 won and Kia lost 3.40 percent to 199,000 won. SK Square fell 5.60 percent, while Samsung Life Insurance declined 4.18 percent. In biotech and battery plays, Samsung Biologics slipped 0.54 percent and LG Energy Solution edged down 0.12 percent. Defense and shipbuilding names moved in the opposite direction, reflecting selective rotation. Hanwha Aerospace rose 1.76 percent, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries advanced 1.52 percent and Hanwha Ocean gained 1.00 percent. Entertainment shares rebounded after an extended decline, with HYBE up 0.51 percent, JYP Entertainment edging 0.14 percent higher and YG Entertainment surging 6.45 percent. On the KOSDAQ, Samchundang Pharm extended its rally, rising nearly 11 percent after announcing a 5.3 trillion won technology transfer deal for an oral obesity treatment. The stock, which hit the daily upper limit the previous day, climbed to a new 52-week high of 838,000 won. China-related stocks remained relatively muted ahead of the “Two Sessions,” scheduled from March 4 to around March 11. The meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference are expected to unveil China’s annual economic targets and outline the 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030. Investors are watching for signals on growth support, fiscal stance and industrial strategy, particularly amid intensifying trade friction with the United States. Elsewhere in Asia, the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.10 percent to 4,150.96, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.57 percent. 2026-02-27 11:32:18

WAIFF D-7: World AI Film Festival in Seoul for the first time SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - The World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 will kick off on March 6 at offline venues including a concert hall and a franchise movie theater, kicking off the annual AI film festival in the Asia region and highlighting South Korea’s growing presence in AI-driven content creation. The two-day event, running through March 7, is part of the World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 (WAIFF Seoul 2026)’s expanding global network founded by Institut EuropIA under the leadership of former Apple executive Marco Landi. Since its inaugural launch in Nice, France, in 2025, the festival has positioned itself as an international platform dedicated to exploring the artistic and industrial convergence of artificial intelligence and cinema. More than 27 million won ($18,775.4) in prize money will be awarded across six competitive categories. The Best AI Film prize carries 10 million won for first place, 5 million won for second place and 3 million won for third place. Additional honors include Best AI Screenplay, Best AI Soundtrack, Best AI Micro Series and Best AI AD, each accompanied by a 2 million won award, while Best Youth AI Film carries a 1 million won prize. Selected winners may also be invited to screen at the main World AI Film Festival event in Cannes in April 2026. An 11-member jury representing film, animation, media and global cultural industries will evaluate the competition. Daniel Son, founder and chief executive of visual effects studio Westworld, will serve as jury president. A veteran VFX supervisor whose credits include "Exhuma," "All of Us Are Dead" and "Sweet Home Season 1," Son has received major honors at the Asian Film Awards and the Grand Bell Awards. Animation pioneer Nelson Shin, known for his work on "The Pink Panther," "Bugs Bunny," "Daffy Duck," 'The Simpsons" and the original lightsaber effects for Star Wars, joins the panel alongside supervising editor Nayoung Nam, whose credits include Squid Game and Along with the Gods. The jury also features Nigerian producer and cultural entrepreneur Bolanle Austen-Peters; director Jang Hang-jun, known for Forgotten, Rebound and The King’s Warden; and Cine21 chief executive Chang Young-youp, bringing together expertise spanning animation, global streaming production, filmmaking and film journalism. The festival was co-founded by Ngo Thi Bich Hanh and David Defendi. A total of 30 nominations have been confirmed across six prize categories: "Best AI Short Film," "Best AI Youth Film," "Best AI Micro Series," "Best AI AD," "Best AI Screenplay" and "Best AI Soundtrack." Several titles received multiple nominations. "Losing, Dog," "Octopus & Me," "Ticket to Neverland," "Little Wings" and "The Gate of Yokai" earned dual nominations, underscoring their cross-category strength. Beyond the competition, WAIFF Seoul 2026 will host a Pro Talks program addressing generative AI production workflows, intellectual property governance and ethical standards in AI-assisted filmmaking. Organizers say the Seoul edition aims to serve not only as a showcase of emerging AI cinema, but also as a forum shaping the creative and regulatory frameworks of the industry’s future. The festival will open at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on March 6 at Lotte Concert Hall. Tickets are currently available through the official ticketing platform Event Us, with sales closing at 1 p.m. on March 2. 2026-02-27 11:28:56

KGM Holds Dealer Conference in Germany, Previews Musso Pickup Ahead of Europe Launch KG Mobility (KGM) said it held a large-scale dealer conference on Feb. 26 (local time) in Bruehl, a city in northern North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany’s biggest economic region. About 220 people, including local dealers and reporters, attended. KGM said the event was designed to brief dealers and the media on its brand and marketing strategy for this year, export plans, mid- to long-term product lineup direction and new models. Ahead of its planned launch in Europe, KGM gave dealers an early look at the Musso, which the company said has been well received since its domestic debut in January, to gauge market reaction and build expectations. KGM also displayed existing models such as the Musso EV and Torres EVX, along with tuned versions by trim, including taxi and camper variants, off-road vehicles and fire trucks. Dealers and reporters showed strong interest in the Musso’s styling and multipurpose use, as well as tuned models including a Torres EVX taxi and a Musso EV camper, KGM said. Alongside the conference, KGM said it recognized and awarded top-performing dealers in the German market for last year. Western Europe is KGM’s largest export region, with 22,496 vehicles shipped there last year, accounting for 32% of total exports. Germany ranked as KGM’s third-largest export market with 6,213 vehicles, behind Turkiye (13,337) and Hungary (9,508). A KGM official said exports topped 70,000 vehicles last year, the company’s best performance in 11 years. The official said KGM plans to strengthen its push in Germany and Europe through new-product launches and marketing strategies, citing strong interest from dealers and reporters in the Musso and the tuned lineup. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 11:24:18

KAIST launches deep tech scale-up valley to drive physical AI implementation SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea announced on February 27 that it held a performance report meeting for the Deep Tech Scale-up Valley project at its main campus in Daejeon. During the event, the university unveiled its implementation strategy for Physical AI, focusing on moving robot technology out of the laboratory and into actual industrial settings. The Deep Tech Scale-up Valley is a joint initiative between South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, Daejeon Metropolitan City, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The university has secured 13.65 billion won in funding for a three-year and six-month period starting in 2025. Led by Professor Kim Jung, the project aims to build a robotics innovation ecosystem by commercializing deep tech developed at the institute. A Robot Alliance has been formed to support this goal, including KAIST Holdings, Daejeon Techno Park, the Daejeon Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, Angel Robotics, and YuRobotix. The project operates on a three-pillar system: technology commercialization, deep tech R&D, and commercial scale-up. In its first year, the initiative achieved 23 billion won in technology transfers and investment attraction through Physical AI lectures, startup pitching events, and networking sessions. Physical AI refers to technology that combines robotics with artificial intelligence, allowing machines to perceive, judge, and act autonomously in the real world. While government R&D and corporate investments are increasing, KAIST noted that practical business models remain limited. The report meeting redefined Physical AI as a challenge of industrial structure rather than just a competition of algorithms, emphasizing that commercialization requires the organic integration of research, factories, and the investment ecosystem. Researchers highlighted that applying Physical AI to industry requires meaningful data generated from actual worksites rather than just virtual environments. This involves collaborating with skilled professionals in manufacturing to accumulate data that reflects human physical senses and judgment. Professor Kong Kyoung-chul of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST emphasized the need for a concrete platform. For AI trained in a virtual environment to function properly in the real world, the accuracy of virtual technology must improve, and physical variables in reality must be managed predictably, Professor Kong Kyoung-chul said. Professor Myung Hyun of the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST noted that research into Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINN) is currently active. The completion of Physical AI is possible when hardware researchers who understand physical systems and AI researchers who implement learning structures work together, Professor Myung Hyun said. He added that AI must understand physical laws rather than just processing large volumes of data. KAIST plans to establish a value chain connecting researchers, industrial experts, and corporations to solve actual industrial problems. We must move beyond competing over data volume and consider how to execute AI in the actual physical world, said Professor Kim Jung, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST. Based on our specific strategies, we will support startups and companies to succeed in commercializing Physical AI. The Deep Tech Scale-up Valley project will proceed with building Physical AI platforms, discovering and investing in startups, establishing testbeds, and expanding cooperation networks with global robotics companies. 2026-02-27 11:07:43

Lee to visit Singapore and the Philippines next week SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to embark on a trip to Singapore and the Philippines next week, Cheong Wa Dae said on Friday. According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Lee is scheduled to depart for Singapore on Sunday for a summit with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During his three-day stay there, Lee will also meet with ceremonial head of state Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Lee will then attend a joint event between the two countries to discuss exchanges and expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI)-related areas, while meeting with people working in the field. Kang described Singapore as a transportation, logistics and financial hub that leads regional free trade, expressing expectations that Lee's trip will strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure while expanding collaboration into "promising future sectors" such as AI and nuclear energy. After wrapping up his itinerary there, Lee will travel to Manila for a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and will attend a business forum and other events. Calling the Philippines a longtime partner as South Korea's first Southeast Asian country to establish diplomatic relations, Kang said that the archipelagic country was also the first Asian country to send the largest number of troops to aid South Korea during the Korean War. She added that Lee's summit, slated for March 3, would be even more meaningful as it marks the 77th anniversary of bilateral relations. Kang also expressed hope that the visit will deepen the two countries' cooperation across various sectors including defense, trade, nuclear energy, shipbuilding and critical minerals. She added that the Philippines, which assumed the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, followed by Singapore next year, will help further foster the visions of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established in October 2024. 2026-02-27 11:04:19

Kookmin University research team has two papers accepted for CVPR 2026 SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Lee Seong-won of the Department of Electronics Engineering at Kookmin University has had two papers accepted for the IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition 2026. The IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) is regarded as a premier international academic event in the fields of artificial intelligence and computer vision. Known for its rigorous review process and low acceptance rates, the conference serves as a global stage where leading universities and research institutions share core technological advancements. The research was conducted through a joint collaboration between the team of Professor Lee Seong-won at Kookmin University and the team of Professor Kim Eun-tae at Yonsei University. The two institutions worked together to develop methods that combine theoretical precision with practical scalability. The first paper, titled Rethinking Pose Refinement in 3D Gaussian Splatting under Pose Prior and Geometric Uncertainty, proposes a new optimization framework to address camera pose errors and geometric uncertainties. These issues are central challenges in 3D Gaussian Splatting, a prominent technique for 3D scene reconstruction. By integrating pose priors and geometric uncertainty analysis, the framework enables more stable and precise three-dimensional reconstruction, with potential applications in digital twins, robotics, and immersive content creation. The second paper, titled HypeVPR: Exploring Hyperbolic Space for Perspective to Equirectangular Visual Place Recognition, introduces a method for visual place recognition using hyperbolic space. This approach is designed to overcome representation differences between standard perspective images and equirectangular (omnidirectional) images. The framework maintains robust recognition performance across different camera formats, providing a foundational technology for autonomous driving, drones, and extended reality (XR). CVPR is a conference where computer vision researchers worldwide aspire to present, as it strictly evaluates the originality and completeness of research, Professor Lee Seong-won said. We will continue to strengthen our global competitiveness through research that possesses both theoretical sophistication and practical application. Professor Lee Seong-won added that Kookmin University (KU) intends to focus on creating leading research results and fostering talent in the fields of artificial intelligence and computer vision. 2026-02-27 10:59:32

Volkswagen Group Korea Names Michael Ant as Head of Volkswagen Brand Unit Volkswagen Group Korea said Thursday it will appoint Michael Ant as president of its Volkswagen brand unit, effective April 1. Till Scheer, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea, has overseen the Volkswagen brand in addition to his broader duties since February 2024, working to strengthen core business capabilities and improve organizational efficiency, the company said. Building on that foundation, Ant will take overall responsibility for Volkswagen brand operations, maintaining continuity in strategic direction while focusing on strengthening brand execution. Under the group’s operating structure in South Korea, he will report directly to Scheer. Ant joined the Volkswagen Group in 1998 and has held key posts in major markets including Germany and China, working across brands such as Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi. The company said his broad experience is expected to support the Volkswagen brand’s growth in the South Korean market. Volkswagen Group Korea said the appointment reflects its continued commitment to the South Korean market and its intent to boost operating efficiency and competitiveness through closer cooperation among its brands.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 10:48:17

K-pop girl band aespa to release collaborative single 'Keychain' SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - K-pop girl band aespa will drop "Keychain," a collaborative single with Grammy-winning artist Anderson .Paak on Friday, the four-member group's agency SM Entertainment said. The collaborative track will unveil globally at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) across major streaming platforms. "Keychain" serves as an original soundtrack (OST) for "K-POPS!," a film produced, directed and starring Anderson .Paak. The song blends the artist's signature hip-hop, R&B and funk-rooted sound with aespa's distinctive vocal tone and performance style. Anderson .Paak, a Korean American musician, first rose to prominence with his 2016 album "Malibu," which earned him his first Grammy nomination. In 2021, he formed the project duo "Silk Sonic" with Bruno Mars. The pair topped the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to win nine Grammy Awards, solidifying the 40-year-old's global profile. The collaboration has drawn attention as a cross-cultural partnership between a leading K-pop act and an established American pop artist. aespa, debuted in 2020, is a fourth-generation K-pop girl group known for its aggressive electronic production style rooted in "hyperpop" and "cyberpunk/industrial aesthetics." The quartet, Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning has built its sonic identity around high-intensity synth textures, metallic sound design and digitally layered vocal processing. K-POPS! portrays the Korean American community, one of the fastest-growing multicultural groups in the United States, through a family comedy centered on identity, music and generational connection. The film is set to premiere in North America on Feb. 27. Meanwhile, aespa is set to continue its "2026 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : aeXIS LINE" with performances in Macau on March 7 and 8. 2026-02-27 10:42:24

Hanwha Aerospace diversifies into LNG trading with landmark Venture Global contract SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace has secured a 20-year liquefied natural gas supply agreement with U.S. producer Venture Global, signaling a strategic expansion beyond its core defense and aerospace operations into global energy markets. Under the deal revealed Friday, Hanwha Aerospace will secure 1.5 million tons of LNG annually for 20 years starting in 2030, supplying the fuel to end users across Europe and Asia. The volume represents about 4.4 percent of South Korea's total annual LNG consumption, based on 2024 figures of about 34.12 million tons. The agreement is part of a broader push by the Hanwha Group to build an integrated LNG value chain, leveraging affiliates across the energy supply spectrum. Hanwha Ocean brings shipbuilding and floating LNG production capabilities, Hanwha Energy handles LNG power generation and operations, and Hanwha Shipping oversees maritime transport. Hanwha Aerospace said the move into LNG is designed to bolster its core defense and shipbuilding businesses as well as open new revenue streams. Geopolitical tensions have ushered energy supply chains to become increasingly intertwined with national security strategies, particularly in Europe, where governments are seeking to diversify away from Russian gas. The company plans to use its energy portfolio as leverage to deepen security partnerships with client nations and expand defense exports, while also driving LNG carrier orders for Hanwha Ocean. "Defense, shipbuilding and energy are closely linked as pillars of national security," a Hanwha Aerospace spokesperson said. "We will contribute to global security through eco-friendly energy solutions spanning production, distribution and utilization." Hanwha Aerospace has been steadily laying the groundwork for the venture, investing about 180 billion won ($125 million) in U.S. LNG firm NextDecade in 2024 and signing a memorandum of understanding with Hanwha Energy and Korea South-East Power in 2025 to expand global LNG supply networks. 2026-02-27 10:33:13

Actor Im Ju-hwan Confirms He Previously Worked at a Coupang Logistics Center Actor Im Ju-hwan has acknowledged that he previously worked at a Coupang logistics center. A representative of his agency, Basecamp Company, said on the 27th that Im "has experience working at a Coupang logistics center in the past." The comment followed online posts and social media chatter in which people claimed they had seen Im at a Coupang logistics site. One user wrote that they worked alongside him and posted, "Maybe he was bored because he didn’t have a project." Others also circulated accounts saying Im worked hard on site. Online reactions ranged from, "I guess it’s true actors have to take part-time jobs when they don’t have work," to, "What’s the problem if he’s earning money in a healthy way?" * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 10:30:20