Food retailers launch BTS-themed products SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - South Korean food companies Paldo and hy have launched 28 products under ARIH, a food and beverage brand themed with K-pop group BTS, the companies said Monday. Paldo is a South Korean instant noodle maker, while hy is a food and beverage company known for its probiotic products. The companies said BTS took part in the brand from the planning stage. ARIH is built around the concept of balance and health in everyday life. The brand name comes from a Korean word meaning "beautiful" or "graceful," with the final "H" standing for harmony, happiness and health. The lineup consists of three product categories: Modern Noodle, a stir-fried noodle product combining elements of pasta and ramen; Postbiotic Energy Drink; and Dual Biotic Soda, a low-sugar, low-calorie take on soda. The products were released in South Korea on Monday through hy's online mall hyFredit and Naver Smart Store. The companies plan to expand sales to other online marketplaces, convenience stores and major retail chains. ARIH first entered the overseas market through Walmart in the U.S. on April 24. The companies said the brand received a bestseller badge on Walmart's online store within three days of its launch, with some areas seeing temporary shortages due to strong demand. Paldo and hy plan to expand ARIH to additional markets, including Japan, Mexico and Canada. 2026-06-01 17:27:43

Calls for Transfer of North Korean Provinces Committee to Unification Ministry There is a growing call within the political sphere to transfer the North Korean Provinces Committee, currently under the Ministry of Interior and Safety, to the Ministry of Unification, aiming to consolidate operations and completely overhaul its functions. This discussion comes as North Korea rapidly shifts its approach to inter-Korean relations, emphasizing a 'state-to-state' framework, which has raised concerns about the committee's unclear identity and lack of real authority, leading to perceived budget waste. In a report published on May 27, the investigative team at Aju Economy examined the operational status of the North Korean Provinces Committee, highlighting issues such as late arrivals and allowances being paid near members' homes, reigniting debates about the committee's viability. Following this report, lawmakers have repeatedly argued that the committee's functions should be transferred to the Ministry of Unification to enhance effectiveness in light of changing inter-Korean relations. Notably, independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin has been a strong advocate for this transfer. In an interview with the investigative team on June 1, Choi elaborated on the necessity of transferring the North Korean Provinces Committee to the Ministry of Unification. He previously pointed out during a National Assembly audit in December that restructuring such organizations could save over 10 billion won annually, suggesting that it would be more prudent to abolish the committee and transfer its responsibilities to the Ministry of Unification. Choi emphasized that the North Korean Provinces Committee has become largely ineffective. He noted, "The President recently called for restructuring budgetary allocations that are maintained without results, as well as formal and symbolic institutions. By that standard, the North Korean Provinces Committee should be the first to undergo serious review. Initially, there were governors for Hwanghae Province, South and North Pyongan Provinces, and South and North Hamgyeong Provinces, but these no longer align with the current administrative divisions in North Korea (Pyongyang Directly Governed City, three special cities, nine provinces), and the Ministry of Unification is already handling support for defectors and research in preparation for unification." He continued, "Given that access to North Korean regions is impossible, the committee lacks any real administrative authority. Therefore, I believe it is reasonable to abolish the North Korean Provinces Committee and transfer its duties to the Ministry of Unification." Some have argued that the North Korean Provinces Committee and the Ministry of Unification cannot merge due to their respective constitutional bases in Articles 3 (territorial clause) and 4 (peaceful unification clause). Choi countered this by stating, "These two clauses are complementary principles that together form South Korea's North Korea policy and unification policy." He added, "The North Korean Provinces Committee and the Ministry of Unification can be seen as addressing different aspects of this constitutional spirit. While some administrative adjustments may be necessary during the transfer of organizations or functions, I do not believe that the philosophies of the two institutions are fundamentally incompatible." Choi emphasized that this could serve as an opportunity to more organically connect and clarify the 'principle of legitimacy' and 'principle of peaceful unification' enshrined in the South Korean Constitution." To understand the backdrop of the strong calls for reform of the North Korean Provinces Committee, it is essential to consider its historical context. Established shortly after the government was formed in 1949, the committee originated from the concept of 'unrecovered territories' that emerged during the division at the 38th parallel and the Korean War. At that time, the Syngman Rhee administration recognized the entire Korean Peninsula as territory of the Republic of Korea and viewed the North Korean region as something that must be recovered eventually. The North Korean Provinces Committee was an administrative mechanism to implement this territorial awareness and unification orientation. Since then, it has officially undertaken tasks such as research and investigation of North Korean regions, promoting harmony and communication among North Korean residents, supporting the settlement of defectors, preserving intangible cultural heritage, and nurturing the next generation of leadership. To facilitate these efforts, it operates a large honorary position structure, including five vice-governors and honorary mayors, county heads, and township heads. However, as the division has persisted for over 70 years and inter-Korean relations have evolved, questions have been raised about whether the committee is fulfilling its original purpose. While there are calls for both abolition and transfer of the North Korean Provinces Committee in the political arena, some scholars express a more cautious perspective on the matter. Jeon Gap-saeng, director of the Cold War Peace Center at Sungkonghoe University, expressed in an interview with the investigative team on June 1 that the North Korean Provinces Committee, with its unique historical background, has become somewhat ineffective after enduring a long period of systemic competition. He noted that the general public finds it difficult to perceive the committee's actual activities, and it tends to operate as a formal position, akin to a 'reward appointment' following elections, depending on the administration in power. However, Jeon took a reserved stance regarding the proposal to transfer the North Korean Provinces Committee under the Ministry of Unification. He stated, "The basic unit of the North Korean Provinces is the 'province,' which is an administrative district. Moving it to the Ministry of Unification, without considering the inter-Korean exchange aspect, is challenging." He highlighted the limitations of approaching the issue without considering the historical context of an organization founded on territorial recognition. Jeon also pointed out the ambiguity in the current government's perception of North Korea. He noted the coexistence of views within the government that regard North Korea as 'two states' while officially not recognizing it as a state, suggesting that this may have political implications and considerations related to elections. Nevertheless, he remarked, "North Korea is showing a trend of thoroughly restructuring its relations with the South as a 'state-to-state' relationship while reorganizing its constitution and related organizations." He emphasized the need for South Korea to reassess its systems in light of these changes in North Korea. He concluded by stating, "It is essential to consider the constitutional amendment issue, the long-standing perception of division, and the sentiments of those whose hometowns are in the North. Abolishing the North Korean Provinces Committee in the short term may not be easy, but there is a need to gradually adjust the committee's role to align with the changed reality of inter-Korean relations."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 17:27:00

Han Dong-hoon: 'I Will Rebuild Conservatism to Stop Lee's Administration' Han Dong-hoon, an independent candidate for the Busan North Gap parliamentary by-election, called the upcoming election a crucial and historic opportunity for the reconstruction of conservatism while appealing for last-minute support on June 1. During a press conference at his campaign office in Deokcheon-dong, Busan, Han stated, "We cannot continue to watch the regression of the Jang Dong-hyuk faction within the party." He emphasized, "Opportunities to rebuild conservatism do not come often, and not everyone can raise the banner of conservatism. The public sentiment will be confirmed through the June 3 election, and if I win and provide direction for the reconstruction of conservatism, no one will be able to reject that wind of change." Han also targeted his opponents, Ha Jung-woo of the Democratic Party and Park Min-sik of the People Power Party, saying, "President Lee Jae-myung has sent his avatar into this contest, and the regressive Jang Dong-hyuk faction is presenting Park as their avatar. We must overcome both Ha Jung-woo, Lee Jae-myung's avatar, and Park Min-sik, Jang Dong-hyuk's avatar, to secure the future of South Korea." He warned, "If the Democratic Party candidate wins, the Lee Jae-myung administration will certainly eliminate its own trials. Voting for Park is not just a wasted vote; it effectively means voting for Ha Jung-woo." Han urged, "Who else can prevent the reckless actions of the Lee Jae-myung administration, such as the cancellation of charges? I ask for your votes to help me shatter the reckless policies of the Lee administration." He concluded, "I will ensure that the priorities of Buk-gu become the top priority in Busan and in South Korea. No matter what happens, I will not leave Buk-gu. I will either win and survive here or lose and perish."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 17:27:00

BTS to celebrates 13th anniversary with special event and concert in Busan SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - K-pop super group BTS will host an event to mark the 13th anniversary of their debut, the group's agency BigHit Music said on Monday. The event named "BTS FESTA" is the group's annual celebration held around June 13, the date the septet debuted in 2013. This year's edition will run for about two weeks and coincide with the Busan leg of the group's "ARIRANG" world tour, scheduled for June 12 and 13 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. The theme for this year's FESTA is "13(B)TS." BigHit Music said the title reflects the idea of adding a new "one" shared by BTS and its fandom ARMY to the group's 12-year journey, marking the start of a new chapter. The schedule begins Thursday with the release of a group photo shot under a family concept. On Friday, BTS will release a performance video for "Hooligan," a track from its fifth full-length album "ARIRANG." New episodes of the group's original variety content "Run BTS 2.0" will follow on June 10 and 11. On June 12, "Come Over," a new song previously available only on the deluxe vinyl edition of ARIRANG, will be released on major streaming platforms. Additional FESTA content will be released during the anniversary period, according to BigHit Music. 2026-06-01 17:23:17

KakaoBank Surpasses 50,000 Accounts for National Living Expense Account in 10 Days KakaoBank announced on June 1 that the number of accounts opened for its 'National Living Expense Account' has surpassed 50,000 just ten days after its launch.According to KakaoBank, six out of ten customers using the living expense account have linked it to the Friends Check Card. Customers who use the KakaoBank Friends Check Card can enjoy cashback benefits and free ATM withdrawal fees.The National Living Expense Account is available to anyone aged 14 and older and can only be opened at one financial institution. It is designed to allow deposits up to 2.5 million won per month, providing a secure way to protect essential living expenses. A base interest rate of 2% will be offered until the end of the year.The account also includes differentiated features for customer convenience. Each month on the first day, a new deposit limit is assigned, and customers are notified when the total limit of 2.5 million won is reached. Users can easily access transaction statements and balance certificates through the 'Certificate Issuance' menu in the app. 2026-06-01 17:21:00

Lee Jae-Yong Attends Samsung Ho-Am Prize Ceremony for Fifth Consecutive Year Lee Jae-Yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, attended the Samsung Ho-Am Prize ceremony for the fifth consecutive year, encouraging this year's awardees.The Ho-Am Foundation held the 36th Samsung Ho-Am Prize ceremony on June 1 at the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Approximately 270 attendees included this year's winners, their families, friends, and Samsung executives.Dressed in a black suit, Lee entered the venue quietly without making any remarks. This marks his fourth consecutive attendance since becoming chairman, reflecting his commitment to the 'people first' philosophy emphasized by his late father.A significant number of Samsung executives were present at the ceremony, including Jeon Young-Hyun, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division; Noh Tae-Moon, President of the Device Experience (DX) division; and Park Seung-Hee, President of Samsung Electronics, along with over 50 other executives from Samsung and its affiliates.The event began with remarks from Kim Hwang-Sik, Chairman of the Ho-Am Foundation, followed by a report from the judging chair, award presentations, acceptance speeches, and congratulatory remarks from Yoo Hong-Rim, President of Seoul National University. This year, Sven Lidin, President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, also attended the ceremony.This year's awardees include: △ Science Prize in Physics and Mathematics: Oh Sung-Jin (37), Professor at UC Berkeley; △ Science Prize in Chemistry and Life Sciences: Yoon Tae-Sik (51), Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; △ Engineering Prize: Kim Bum-Man (79), Emeritus Professor at POSTECH; △ Medical Prize: Eva Hoffman (51), Professor at the University of Copenhagen; △ Arts Prize: Jo Su-Mi (63), Soprano; and △ Community Service Prize: Oh Dong-Chan (58), Head of the Medical Department at the National Sorokdo Hospital.Each awardee received a certificate, a medal, and a cash prize of 300 million won, totaling 1.8 billion won.In his remarks, Kim Hwang-Sik expressed, "It is a great joy and pride to welcome the awardees who have achieved the honor of the Ho-Am Prize through their outstanding contributions. We celebrate the meaningful achievements of the awardees who have contributed to the advancement of science, technology, and culture, and who strive to create a warmer world through their creative wisdom, academic passion, and strong spirit of service."The Samsung Ho-Am Prize was established in 1990 by the late Lee Kun-Hee, former chairman of Samsung, to honor the 'people first' and social contribution spirit of Samsung's founder, Lee Byung-Chul. It is awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to academia, the arts, and social development for the betterment of humanity. With this year's 36th ceremony, a total of 188 awardees have received 37.9 billion won in prize money.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 17:18:00

Daesang Participates in Thailand Food Expo, Aiming for 1 Trillion Won in Southeast Asia Sales Daesang has launched an integrated brand booth at THAIFEX-Anuga 2026, Asia's largest food trade fair, held in Bangkok, Thailand, to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian market.From May 26 to 30, Daesang showcased its Kimchi brand Jongga, global food brand Ofood, and Indonesian local brand Mama Suka at the event.THAIFEX-Anuga is the largest food trade fair in Asia, featuring over 3,300 companies from 60 countries this year.At the fair, Daesang operated a unified brand booth for Jongga, Ofood, and Mama Suka. More than 13,000 visitors attended Daesang's booth, where the company engaged in export consultations with global buyers, exploring opportunities to expand its local distribution network.The company noted that major Southeast Asian buyers, including CP Extra's Macro and Lotus, as well as Big C and Tops, visited the booth to discuss entry and distribution strategies.Daesang also conducted tasting programs reflecting local food culture. The company presented a 'Seafood Salad with Jongga Flavored Kimchi' produced at its factory in Vietnam. Additionally, it introduced 'Hot Lava Chicken Stir-fry' using 'Ofood Cup Tteokbokki,' which is popular among the MZ generation in Southeast Asia, and 'Mama Suka Hot Lava Sauce,' certified halal in Indonesia.Building on the network established at the fair, Daesang plans to expand its business in Southeast Asia. The company aims for a combined revenue of 1 trillion won from its Southeast Asian subsidiaries by 2030.Im Jeong-bae, CEO of Daesang, stated, "We will lead the way in enhancing the status of K-food by presenting products that harmonize with global food culture based on Daesang's localization strategy."In the first quarter of this year, Daesang reported an operating profit of 57 billion won, a 0.4% increase from the same period last year, while sales fell by 1.8% to 1.11 trillion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 17:18:00

AI dominates day one as annual World News Media Congress opens in Marseille SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - The annual gathering of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) opened at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, southern France, with artificial intelligence (AI) shaping every major session on the first day of the three-day event. About 1,000 publishers, editors and chief executives from more than 60 countries packed the venue at the global news media association's 77th congress on Monday. The program moved through pre-Congress Deep Dives, partner showcases, a press freedom prize ceremony and the formal Congress opening, capped by an evening welcome reception. The day's most urgent strand was the disruption of search. A Deep Dive titled "Discovery: How to Rethink Search in the AI Era" examined the impact of Google's AI Overviews, AI Mode and chatbot-driven discovery on publisher traffic and audience behavior. Recent announcements from Google I/O 2026 were also dissected. Speakers said publisher business models built on search were now in structural transition, not merely facing another search-engine optimization tweak. The crisis is backed by hard numbers. A Pew Research Center study tracked 68,879 searches by 900 US adults. When an AI Overview appeared, the click-through rate on regular search results dropped to 8 percent, half the 15 percent recorded without one. Clicks on the source links inside the AI summary itself ran at just 1 percent. Chartbeat data covering more than 2,500 global news sites also showed Google search referrals down 33 percent last year. In September, US media group Penske Media filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, arguing that AI Search has broken the reciprocal relationship between publishers and the search engine. Equally pressing is the wave of disinformation generated by AI itself. According to a European Parliamentary Research Service briefing, deepfake videos shared online surged from about 500,000 in 2023 to about 8 million in 2025 — a 16-fold rise. Europol estimates that up to 90 percent of online content could be synthetically generated by 2026. Running in parallel was a session on the emerging market for licensing news content to AI companies. "What Publishers Must Do to Take Advantage of the AI Content Market" walked publishers through bot management, content enhancement and monetization, drawing on WAN-IFRA's own market guidance. The association brought together vendors active in each area, framing the AI content market as both threat and opportunity for newsrooms trying to protect content and capture new revenue at the same time. The newsroom's own response took center stage in "AI: What the Latest Developments Mean for Publishers and Newsrooms", a 90-minute session that worked through technical developments, accelerator lessons, governance and practical tools. Florent Daudens, co-founder of Mizal AI and a former press lead at Hugging Face, opened the slot alongside OK Lab founder Christophe Israël with a survey of the latest AI technical developments. The session closed with a demonstration of Sourcebase.ai, the US AI investigations and reporting platform led by CEO Ron Suskind, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Three back-to-back Partner Showcase sessions translated those themes into concrete tools. DeeperDive opened the slot, demonstrating a generative AI answer engine for the open web designed to convert trusted publisher content into personalized conversations and lift user retention. A subsequent session showcased how French newsrooms are deploying AI-driven semantic analysis combined with dynamic templates and auto-layout tools, with concrete return-on-investment data on both productivity and subscriber retention. Google closed the slot with a session on NotebookLM, led by Google News Initiative trainer Luisa Fernau. The tone then shifted with the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize ceremony, held in English. Awarded annually since 1992, the prize this year recognized 24 journalists and outlets across five categories. These were the Courage, Impact and Independence prizes, alongside the Mohamed Maïga Prize for African Investigative Journalism and the Lucas Dolega-SAIF Photo Prize. The international jury included Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub, Pakistani editor-in-chief Hamid Mir and Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression president Mazen Darwish, among others. Closing remarks came from Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission's Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. Virkkunen oversees the bloc's AI policy and the enforcement of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. Her appearance pulled the morning's threads — search disruption, content licensing and platform power — onto regulatory ground. The Congress formally opened with welcome remarks from Ros Atkins, BBC News Analysis Editor and Presenter; Catherine Pégard, France's Minister of Culture; and Ladina Heimgartner, President of WAN-IFRA. The opening leaned into the symbolism of France's first WNMC host turn in about three decades, since Paris in 1995. The first Congress Keynote was titled "AI, Journalism and the Uncertain Future of the Public Square." It was delivered by The New York Times Chairman and Publisher A.G. Sulzberger. The substance of his remarks will be covered in a separate article. The "Plenary: In Conversation" that followed was hosted by Atkins and revisited the day's main threads in interview format. The Golden Pen of Freedom Awarding Ceremony then took the stage, preceded by a keynote from Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO Assistant Director-General. Established in 1961, the Golden Pen has on several occasions been credited with securing the release of imprisoned journalists, and remains WAN-IFRA's highest press freedom honor. The formal day-one program closed with a Welcome Reception at R2:Reverso, a venue overlooking Marseille's Old Port. The setting framed the first evening of informal networking against the Mediterranean. 2026-06-01 17:16:06

Next-Generation Platform Technology TPD Gains Attention as Korean Pharmaceutical Investments Expand Investment and research and development (R&D) in the domestic pharmaceutical and biotech industry surrounding targeted protein degraders (TPD), recognized as next-generation drug technology, are gaining momentum. Rather than relying solely on individual candidate substances, the focus has shifted to securing platform technologies that can continuously discover follow-up pipelines, emerging as a new competitive advantage. According to market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global TPD market is expected to grow from $5.88 billion this year to $12.44 billion by 2034. Last month, the TPD treatment 'Vepdegestrant,' co-developed by U.S. biotech company Arvinas and Pfizer, received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This approval has drawn significant attention from the industry, as it demonstrates the commercial viability of TPD, which has been discussed as a next-generation technology for several years. Unlike traditional therapies that inhibit the function of disease-causing proteins, TPD utilizes the cell's protein degradation system to eliminate the proteins themselves. This approach is noted for its potential to reduce toxicity associated with high drug concentrations. It is also evaluated as a next-generation platform capable of targeting proteins that have been difficult to approach with conventional synthetic drugs. Market expectations are growing. Although most developments are still in preclinical and early stages, investments are expanding domestically as well. SK Biopharm, which has established a stable cash-generating structure through its epilepsy treatment 'Cenobamate' (marketed in the U.S. as Xcopri), has identified TPD as a future growth pillar. In 2023, the company invested approximately 62 billion won to acquire U.S. TPD specialist Proteovant. Following the acquisition, the organization was restructured into SK Life Science Labs to enhance its research capabilities. The TPD drug currently under development, 'SKT-18416,' is a p300-targeted degrader. It selectively degrades p300 while minimizing effects on the similar protein CBP, ensuring safety. The drug has also shown tumor growth inhibition effects in models of prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and CBP-mutated cancers. The company aims to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the first half of 2027. An SK Biopharm official stated, "Based on the stable profits from Cenobamate, we are expanding our growth pillars to include next-generation modalities and platform technologies. TPD is being developed as a technology that can repeatedly discover new pipelines through SK Life Science Labs' MOPED platform." Yuhan Corporation is also focusing on securing next-generation platforms. Following the non-small cell lung cancer drug 'Lazertinib,' the company has prioritized establishing a research organization for next-generation modalities. In January, it established a 'New Modality' division within its central research institute and recruited Jo Hak-ryeol, a former executive from U.S. TPD biotech Chimera Therapeutics, to lead the department. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is also developing an anti-cancer drug utilizing TPD platform technology. The 'EP300' selective degrader being developed by Hanmi targets cancer cells dependent on the EP300 protein and selectively kills cancer cells with CBP gene mutations. While TPD is still in its early market stages, some view it as premature to discuss it as a medium- to long-term strategy. However, it is increasingly recognized as a new treatment alternative in areas where existing targeted therapies have shown limitations, leading to growing market expectations. An industry insider remarked, "Next-generation platform technologies are likely to become targets for strategic partnerships. The ability to stably discover follow-up pipelines, rather than relying on a single candidate substance, will be the benchmark for assessing global competitiveness."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 17:12:00

Ministry of Economy Launches AX Jiphyeonjeon 2.0 to Integrate AI into Operations The Ministry of Economy and Finance is enhancing its operations by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across various functions, from establishing an AI learning club to training senior officials and appointing private expert advisors. On June 1, the ministry launched "AX Jiphyeonjeon 2.0" to create a learning organization within government departments in response to the AI transformation era. This club aims not only to study AI theory but also to explore ways to apply AI in policymaking. Members of the club will engage in tasks such as identifying automation projects, developing tools, researching data utilization within the ministry, visiting leading AI companies, and supporting government innovation competitions. During a meeting held that day, Deputy Prime Minister Koo emphasized, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance is recognized as a leader in AI innovation among government departments," and pledged to provide active support to ensure the smooth operation of the initial phase of the club. AI training for senior officials is also underway. Koo noted the need for high-level officials' interest to strengthen the ministry's capabilities and introduced demonstrations of training outcomes during three expanded executive meetings. At the morning meeting, three major projects from employees who completed the second AI intensive training program were showcased. One project demonstrated how to automatically generate revised tax law provisions and related documents in a Word file by inputting key changes. To incorporate external perspectives, the ministry plans to appoint and operate an AI advisory group consisting of six private experts. The advisors will serve a one-year term and will be responsible for providing AI training programs, mentoring and judging hackathon competitions, and accompanying visits to innovative companies by the learning club. Additionally, the ministry is pursuing initiatives like the "Korean-style AI package project" to integrate AI into policies such as official development assistance (ODA).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 17:12:00