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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 -
Korea's Fair Trade Commission Launches Major Survey on Subcontracting Practices To prevent unfair subcontracting practices in the manufacturing, service, and construction sectors, South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated a comprehensive survey. On June 8, the FTC announced it will conduct a survey of 100,000 businesses regarding subcontracting transactions that took place last year. The survey will target 10,000 primary contractors and 90,000 subcontractors across the manufacturing, service, and construction industries. The primary contractors will be selected from the top 15,000 companies by revenue, including 7,000 from manufacturing, 2,500 from services, and 500 from construction. The subcontractors will be drawn from the list of subcontracting companies submitted by the primary contractors, comprising 63,000 from manufacturing, 22,500 from services, and 4,500 from construction. The survey period for primary contractors will run from June 8 to July 13, 2026, while subcontractors will be surveyed from August 11 to October 2, with possible extensions if necessary. Key survey topics include: the issuance of contracts and use of standard subcontracting agreements, status of subcontracting payments and deadlines, implementation of payment linkage systems, requests for and use of technical data, and improvements in trading practices. The FTC plans to thoroughly examine the overall state of subcontracting transactions in major industries. This year, the FTC will also expand its safety management burden survey, previously conducted only for subcontractors, to include primary contractors. This change comes in response to ongoing debates over responsibility for safety management costs in construction sites following the implementation of the Serious Accident Punishment Act. Additionally, the survey will investigate potential disadvantages stemming from contracts that designate overseas arbitration venues, as well as experiences related to overseas construction reporting and disputes. To provide a more detailed analysis of subcontracting payment practices, the FTC plans to refine the payment deadline intervals. The method for reporting financial conditions and subcontracting amounts will shift from a range-based approach to a direct input method to enhance statistical accuracy. The introduction of a payment linkage system for subcontracting in 2023 was expected to alleviate the burden on small partner companies due to soaring raw material prices; however, disputes over exceptions and contract methods have persisted. The FTC is expected to assess the system's implementation and identify areas for improvement through this survey. The survey will be conducted online, with targeted companies receiving notification letters to access and submit their responses via the FTC's website. During the survey period, the FTC will provide prompt assistance for any inquiries or issues through a centralized consultation center and one-on-one social media support. The results of this survey are scheduled to be published at the end of the year and will serve as foundational data for monitoring legal violations and improving regulations. All statistical data derived from the survey will be registered without omission in the National Statistical Portal (KOSIS) to support related policies and academic research. An FTC official stated, "The results of this survey will form the basis for enforcing laws to create a fair subcontracting environment, and we urge active participation from both primary and subcontractors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:03:00 -
LG CNS Launches Agentic AI Development Platform for Automated IT System Building LG CNS has introduced an Agentic AI-based development platform designed to support the entire process of building and operating large-scale IT systems. On June 8, LG CNS announced the launch of its Agentic AI Development (AIND) platform. While recent advancements in coding through natural language, known as "vibe coding," have gained attention, concerns have been raised about the potential for code generation to clash with existing systems due to a lack of understanding of enterprise system architecture. To address this issue, LG CNS has implemented a specialized AI agent tailored for the entire system development process. AIND was developed based on extensive experience in system construction and operation across various industries. When users input requirements in natural language, the platform facilitates end-to-end development through the collaboration of multiple agents: a requirements analysis and design agent, a coding agent, and a testing and quality assurance agent. For instance, if a financial institution requests the addition of a new financial service to its existing core banking system, such as "please build an automatic transfer service for savings accounts linked to the account system," the analysis and design agent will assess the requirements and design the system architecture. Subsequently, the coding agent will generate code in accordance with the financial institution's development standards, and the testing and quality assurance agent will validate the output. This allows users to focus on reviewing and approving results, thereby shortening the development timeline. AIND's core competitive advantage lies in its "knowledge foundation," which integrates and analyzes IT information within the enterprise. This knowledge foundation is an ontology-based database structured to help AI understand development standards, security regulations, system source code, and various development deliverables. AIND utilizes this foundation to learn about the enterprise's systems and work environment, enabling customized development. LG CNS co-developed AIND with Cline, a U.S.-based open-source AI coding company. Cline's AI coding agent has gained attention for its rapid growth on the global development platform GitHub. The two companies plan to expand the application of AIND in IT system construction and operation projects in the finance, public, manufacturing, and defense sectors, focusing on the United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:03:00 -
Japan Pressures South Korea to Lift Seafood Import Ban on Fukushima Products Japan's government has renewed its demand for South Korea to lift its import ban on Japanese seafood, which has been in place since the Fukushima nuclear disaster. This request comes as Japan seeks to leverage improving relations with South Korea to establish a working-level dialogue, although public sentiment in South Korea and existing safety regulations make the actual resumption of imports uncertain. According to Kyodo News on June 8, the Japanese government has asked South Korea to create a regular consultation body to discuss the lifting of the seafood import restrictions. It is suggested that Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries would represent Japan, while South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety would likely take the lead on its side. However, this request does not confirm the start of negotiations for resuming imports. Kyodo News reported that the South Korean government has not provided a clear response to Japan's request for consultations, indicating that the realization of import resumption remains uncertain. Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, South Korea has strengthened its radiation safety management for Japanese food products. Currently, all seafood produced in eight prefectures—Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Ibaraki, and Chiba—are banned from import. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has stated that it conducts radiation testing on all Japanese food products with each import. The backdrop to Japan's renewed request for a consultation body is the recent trend toward improved Korea-Japan relations. Kyodo News explained that Japan aims to alleviate concerns in South Korea regarding seafood from near Fukushima and create a favorable environment for resuming imports. Additionally, the issue of lifting seafood import restrictions could serve as a bargaining chip for Japan in negotiations related to South Korea's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). However, the South Korean government is unlikely to lift the restrictions in the short term. In a 2019 World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute, South Korea successfully maintained its existing import ban and inspection requirements against Japan's complaint. The WTO's dispute resolution body adopted a report from the appellate body that overturned key judgments made by the initial panel that had favored Japan.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:03:00 -
Trump's Approval for Economic Policy Hits Record Low Amid Inflation Concerns Voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of inflation and economic policy is on the rise. A survey conducted by Financial Times (FT) in partnership with polling firm Focal Data revealed that Trump's job approval ratings across ten categories are predominantly negative. In the category of 'inflation and cost of living,' only 18% of respondents rated his performance positively, while 69% expressed disapproval, marking the largest gap recorded since FT began this survey. This disapproval rate has increased by 10 percentage points compared to the previous month, according to FT. Discontent over inflation has also spread among Republican supporters. Among Republican voters, 43% rated Trump's performance in this area negatively, a significant rise from 26% just a month ago. A clear majority of voters, 67%, attributed rising food prices to Trump's policies. Even among Republican supporters, 53% agreed with this assessment. Conversely, fewer than 8% of all voters credited Trump's policies for a decrease in food prices. FT noted that in April, the most recent period for which official statistics are available, retail food prices rose by 2.9% compared to the previous year, the highest increase since 2023. Notably, prices for fruits and vegetables surged by 6.1%. The inflation statistics for May are set to be released on June 10. Bloomberg's survey of economists predicts an average increase of 4.2%, potentially marking the highest rate in three years. FT explained that disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran conflict and rising international oil prices are contributing to increased gasoline and diesel prices in the U.S., which in turn is affecting the prices of other goods. Overall evaluations of economic policy were also negative. In the survey, 64% of voters indicated that the U.S. economy is heading in the wrong direction, while only 26% believed it is on the right track, a slight decline from 29% the previous month. According to FT, the average monthly job growth in the U.S. over the past three months was 188,000, a significant improvement from the dismal average of 10,000 in 2025. However, the wage growth rate in May was 3.4% year-over-year, falling short of the recent inflation rate of 3.8%. When asked to evaluate Trump's performance across various areas, 'national debt and government spending' received a positive rating of 22% and a negative rating of 59%. 'Tariffs and trade' scored 26% positive and 57% negative. 'Iran' received 26% positive and 56% negative, while 'housing' was rated 22% positive and 51% negative. 'Jobs and the economy' garnered 28% positive and 55% negative. 'Healthcare' received 28% positive and 51% negative, 'foreign policy' scored 30% positive and 50% negative, and 'artificial intelligence (AI)' had 24% positive and 38% negative. However, 'immigration and border security' showed a narrower gap, with 41% positive and 46% negative. Trump's overall job approval rating stands at 37% positive and 56% negative, showing little change. In the upcoming federal midterm elections on November 3, 50% of respondents indicated they would support the Democratic candidate, while 45% favored the Republican candidate. This marks a narrowing gap from the previous month's survey, which showed 52% support for Democrats and 44% for Republicans. The White House maintains that inflationary pressures are temporary. Kush Desai, a spokesperson for the White House, stated to FT, "The disruptions caused by Iran's attempts to hinder the free flow of energy are creating temporary chaos. Once the effects of our policies take hold and the threat of Iranian terrorism is neutralized, Americans will see inflation slow, gasoline prices drop, and economic growth accelerate." This survey was conducted from May 29 to June 1 among 1,537 registered voters in the U.S., with a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 10:00:00