Journalist

Ryu Yuna
  • AI hunter sparks alarm in Korea amid regulatory vacuum
    AI 'hunter' sparks alarm in Korea amid regulatory vacuum SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) — Claude Mythos, an artificial intelligence model developed by Anthropic to autonomously detect and potentially exploit critical software vulnerabilities, is another new import challenging South Korea’s lagging regulatory response to rapid technology advances. Experts in Korea are already raising concerns over the lack of legal and ethical accountability. “If such technology is misused, the developer must bear responsibility,” said Kwon Hun-yeong, a professor at the School of Cybersecurity at Korea University, warning that the exploitation of software vulnerabilities could carry serious legal consequences. South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT convened a meeting with major cybersecurity firms on Wednesday morning to assess the impact of global AI-driven security projects and explore ways to safeguard local industry. On Tuesday, the government separately held an emergency review with the country’s three major telecom operators and leading platform companies, including Naver and Kakao. Mythos is a tightly controlled preview system, available only to a limited number of partners through Anthropic’s “Project Glasswing” program, which provides early access to advanced AI models for cybersecurity research. It is reported to autonomously detect software weaknesses at an advanced level, a capability that can also be misused for malicious attacks and potentially pose risks to the global financial system. In just two days, using around $20,000 in computing power, it uncovered a previously unknown flaw in OpenBSD, a highly secure open-source operating system, that had gone undetected for 27 years. Park Choon-sik, a professor of information security at Ajou University, said such tools could help identify and fix weaknesses but could also provide attackers with a clearer map of system vulnerabilities. “If these capabilities fall into the wrong hands, hacking could become faster, easier and far cheaper,” he said. “This kind of capability should not be allowed to evolve into a weapon.” Beyond detecting vulnerabilities, Mythos is believed to map attack paths and minimize traces after execution, compressing tasks that once took years into hours. Such speed makes it difficult for traditional security systems to keep up. South Korea’s ICT sector is stepping up its defenses. Following Tuesday’s emergency meeting, companies scrambled to strengthen internal security protocols and expand AI-based threat monitoring. Naver is closely tracking global security developments linked to Mythos, stepping up real-time monitoring and analyzing AI-driven attack patterns while deepening cooperation with government authorities. Kakao is also reinforcing its security posture, reviewing internal information protection systems and expanding monitoring to prepare for potential risks. Toss is strengthening core security practices, including asset management, vulnerability scanning and access control, while enhancing intrusion detection, log management and backup systems. The telecom sector is tightening defenses, with SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus expanding vulnerability analysis and continuous monitoring, strengthening anomaly detection and upgrading AI-based threat response capabilities. Park noted that organizations are already capable of identifying vulnerabilities with precision, but the core issue lies in how quickly they respond. “Organizations will need to eliminate weaknesses through patches before they are exploited,” he said. “In many cases, the problem is not detection but the failure to respond once weaknesses are identified.” Despite stepped-up defenses, some experts point to the need for broader governance. Kwon said the focus should not be limited to restricting the technology, but also on how it can be used to strengthen defenses, noting that developers could build systems to counter the very threats their models create. “Rather than treating all uses as inherently illegal, there needs to be a framework that allows responsible use while preventing abuse,” he said, warning that the issue could have significant legal and societal repercussions if left unaddressed. In the cybersecurity industry, such risks have traditionally been managed through coordinated vulnerability disclosure, where vulnerabilities are reported privately and disclosed publicly only after patches are developed. The speed and scale of AI-driven discovery, however, are outpacing existing frameworks, compressing the window between discovery and exploitation. Kwon stressed that rather than imposing legal prohibitions on the exchange of vulnerability information, “we need to focus on how it can be used constructively,” emphasizing that the discussion must be translated into action quickly. 2026-04-17 18:03:44
  • Asian shares edge lower ahead of U.S.-Iran talks; Samsung Electro-Mechanics hits record
    Asian shares edge lower ahead of U.S.-Iran talks; Samsung Electro-Mechanics hits record SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Asian markets traded lower Friday as recent rally momentum faded, with investors weighing mixed signals from the Gulf over whether the conflict may begin to wind down through renewed U.S.-Iran talks and separate negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.98 percent to 58,937.04, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 0.81 percent to 26,180.23 and China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.18 percent to 4,048.38. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI opened higher and moved in a narrow range around the 6,200 level in early trading before turning lower, shedding 0.42 percent to 6,199.97. Despite the broader weakness, Samsung Electro-Mechanics climbed to a fresh record high. As of 10:30 a.m., the stock had surged 6.26 percent from the previous session to 679,000 won, extending gains for an eighth straight session since April 8. The rally reflected growing expectations of an industry upturn, with improving earnings prospects in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA) products underpinning investor sentiment. The company’s market capitalization rose to 50.79 trillion won, lifting it to 12th on the KOSPI from 21st at the start of the month. Among chipmakers, Samsung Electronics slipped 0.23 percent to 217,000 won, while SK hynix fell 0.95 percent to 1,144,000 won. Samsung Biologics also declined 0.80 percent to 1,603,000 won. In the industrial sector, Hanwha Aerospace dropped 5.27 percent to 1,439,000 won, while Doosan Enerbility lost 1.90 percent to 108,700 won. Automakers were mixed. Hyundai Motor traded flat at 534,000 won, while Kia edged down 0.25 percent to 157,500 won. Financial stocks posted limited gains, with KB Financial Group rising 0.25 percent to 162,700 won. Elsewhere, LG Energy Solution added 0.36 percent to 417,500 won, while SK Square rose 0.14 percent to 691,000 won. The KOSDAQ swung between gains and losses before edging up 0.05 percent to 1,163.56 as of 10:59 a.m. Among biotech names, Alteogen fell 0.54 percent to 367,500 won, Samchundang Pharm dropped 3.66 percent to 486,500 won, HLB declined 3.61 percent to 61,400 won and LigaChem Biosciences slid 2.42 percent to 193,200 won. Among gainers, Ecopro rose 1.94 percent to 152,100 won, Ecopro BM gained 1.46 percent to 208,000 won and Koh Young Technology advanced 2.12 percent to 111,000 won. The Korean won also weakened slightly against the dollar, with the greenback trading at 1,478.30 won, compared with the previous close of 1,474.60 won. Overnight on Wall Street, major indexes ended higher on expectations for a potential second round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks this weekend, along with news that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day truce, lifting investor sentiment. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.26 percent and 0.36 percent, respectively, both extending record highs for a second straight session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also added 0.24 percent. The Nasdaq has now risen for 12 consecutive sessions, marking its longest winning streak since 2009. 2026-04-17 11:34:09
  • A village, a baby — and the limits of Koreas birth incentives
    A village, a baby — and the limits of Korea's birth incentives SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - It takes a village to raise a child — and in Mungok-ri, a mountain-ringed hamlet in northeastern South Korea, it took a village just to welcome one. For the first time in 20 years, the community of barely 100 residents heard the cry of a newborn. Banners lined the narrow roads to celebrate Seo-yoon, the second child of Kim Hyun-dong and Chang Yoo-jin. Gifts poured in from neighbors and local groups. Even the provincial governor sent his congratulations. In a country confronting demographic decline, the birth felt less like a private milestone than a communal event — a rare interruption in a long silence. It was not entirely by chance. Jeongseon County, where Mungok-ri is located, provides monthly subsidies of 100,000 won ($74) for up to two children in their first year, with payments extended to age 12 from the third child onward. Across South Korea, local governments are deploying increasingly aggressive incentives to slow population decline and revive shrinking communities. Some are pushing further. South Jeolla Province offers a monthly child allowance of 200,000 won starting a year after birth. The province recorded a fertility rate of around 1.1 — the highest in the country — even as the national rate remains well below one. In Incheon, combined central and local government support can exceed 100 million won per child born since 2024, including transport subsidies, childcare allowances and other benefits. Housing has become another lever. Jeonnam’s “10,000-won housing” program offers subsidized rental units for young couples at a fraction of market rates. The competition is intensifying — and becoming more expensive. Yet the results remain uneven. South Korea’s total fertility rate rose slightly to 0.80 in 2025 from 0.75 a year earlier, with births increasing 6.8 percent to 254,457. It marked the first uptick in nearly a decade, but the country still holds the lowest fertility rate in the OECD. The longer-term trend is stark. Annual births have collapsed from over 1 million in 1970 to around 250,000 today, while fertility has fallen from 4.53 to below one. Since 2006, more than 380 trillion won has been spent on pro-natal policies. The return, so far, has been marginal. Recent regional data offers some optimism. Several provinces — including Jeonnam, Sejong and Gangwon — have recorded fertility rates above the national average. But much of the increase reflects delayed marriages rebounding after the pandemic and the temporary demographic boost from the “echo boom” generation entering peak childbearing years, while the underlying trajectory remains unchanged. Japan offers a useful, if cautionary, comparison. Tokyo has rolled out a far more comprehensive policy mix: higher childbirth grants, expanded child allowances, stronger parental leave benefits and workplace reforms aimed at improving work-life balance. It has also moved to reduce the cost of childbirth and expand housing and education support for families. Despite this, Japan’s fertility rate remains stuck around 1.1 to 1.2, with births continuing to decline. The lesson is clear: policy alone has limits. In South Korea, the growing reliance on local incentives raises additional concerns. While subsidies may lift birth rates in specific regions, they risk shifting population rather than increasing it. “Local governments may see higher births, but often because women move into those areas or delay leaving,” said Yang Jae-jin, a professor at Yonsei University. “At the national level, the impact is limited.” Financial support, experts say, addresses only part of the problem. “To increase births, parents need better pay during parental leave, more flexible working hours and reliable childcare,” Yang said. At a deeper level, the issue is structural. “For many young people, avoiding marriage and childbirth has become a rational choice,” said Yee Jae-yeol, a sociology professor at Seoul National University. Employment insecurity, high housing costs and intense competition have reshaped life decisions. In Seoul, marriage itself has become a financial burden. “For younger generations, marriage is no longer a step toward stability, but a decision that may lower their quality of life,” Yee said. The labor market offers little relief. Compared with countries such as the Netherlands or Denmark, where flexible and part-time work is more common, Korea’s rigid employment structure makes it harder to balance work and family. Geography compounds the challenge. Jobs remain heavily concentrated in the capital region, which houses more than half the population on just 12 percent of the land. Young people continue to migrate to Seoul, intensifying competition, driving up housing costs and raising barriers to both marriage and parenthood. A Bank of Korea study found between 2015 and 2021, youth inflows accounted for 78.5 percent of population growth in and around Seoul, while youth outflows made up 75.3 percent, 87.8 percent and 77.2 percent of population decline in the southeast, southwest and Daegu–Gyeongbuk regions, respectively. The trend is even more pronounced among the highly educated, who are disproportionately drawn to the capital. Across all regions, the share of college graduates is higher among those leaving than in the overall youth population. The capital region stands out as the only area where the proportion is higher among inbound migrants, reflecting a stronger tendency for highly educated individuals to remain in or move to Seoul. Rural incentives alone are unlikely to reverse the broader decline. “Providing financial support without addressing the broader context misses the point,” Yee said. Back in Mungok-ri, the village is celebrating — and holding on to a rare moment of hope. But one baby, however cherished, does not change the math. 2026-04-17 11:33:53
  • Asian markets rise on hopes for upcoming US–Iran talks as KOSPI stays above 6,000
    Asian markets rise on hopes for upcoming US–Iran talks as KOSPI stays above 6,000 SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) - Asian markets opened broadly upbeat on Thursday as hopes for a possible end to the conflict in the Middle East started to rise ahead of another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan this month. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.73 percent to 59,139.58. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.73 percent to 26,137.49, and China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.17 percent to 4,033.92. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI also extended its gains, rising 1.71 percent to 6,195.54, while the junior KOSDAQ gained 1.11 percent to 1,165.20 shortly after the day's trading began. Large-cap stocks mostly traded higher. Among chipmakers, Samsung Electronics rose 1.66 percent to 214,500 won, and SK hynix gained 0.79 percent to 1,145,000 won. Auto stocks were also broadly higher, led by Hyundai Motor, which jumped 5.71 percent to 537,000 won, on growing expectations for the commercialization of autonomous driving technologies. The automaker has laid out its roadmap through the adoption of NVIDIA's Hyperion platform and a collaboration with Google DeepMind on vision-language-action (VLA) models. The gains were further supported by comments from president José Muñoz, highlighting a broader push into future mobility technologies. He stressed plans to expand autonomous driving capabilities and integrate robotics into manufacturing including the deployment of Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robots on assembly lines. Its affiliates including Kia, Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Glovis, also rose 4.09 percent, 3.13 percent and 2.72 percent, respectively. Among other major companies, SK Square rose 2.26 percent to 680,000 won, and Hanwha Aerospace added 1.59 percent to 1,533,000 won. Doosan Enerbility surged 5.95 percent to 110,400 won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries climbed 4.21 percent to 494,500 won. Financials sectors were also higher, with KB Financial Group up 2.59 percent at 162,300 won and Samsung Life Insurance gaining 1.36 percent to 261,500 won. In particular, communications and broadcasting equipment maker Innox Instruments was the top gainer across both the KOSPI and the KOSDAQ since Feb. 27, surging more than tenfold, or 1,042.11 percent, over the period. It was trading at 4,450 won in morning trade, up 2.53 percent from the previous close. The rally also extended across the broader optical communications value chain. Wooriro jumped 882.70 percent, followed by Kwang Electronics at 773.71 percent, Gigalein at 480.28 percent, Bit & Electronics at 468.00 percent, and Taihan Fiberoptics at 383.52 percent. Momentum accelerated after Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang highlighted photonics as a key future technology at its annual tech conference GTC in San Jose last month, drawing investor attention to companies involved in optical semiconductors, fiber optics and cable infrastructure. The trend is driven by long-term demand. As global tech companies invest more in data centers and artificial intelligence (AI)-related infrastructure, demand for faster data transmission is expected to grow, supporting further gains in the sector. Meanwhile, Samchundang Pharm, which had been previously flagged for not properly reporting earnings forecasts on March 31, fell in early trading after the Korea Exchange referred the company to its KOSDAQ disclosure review committee. The stock was trading at 532,000 won as of around 10 a.m., down 4.14 percent. Among other stocks on the KOSDAQ, performance was mixed across sectors. Battery materials stocks saw modest gains, with EcoPro rising 0.95 percent to 149,300 won and EcoPro BM adding 1.23 percent to 205,000 won. Pharmaceutical and biotech stocks showed mixed moves. Alteogen edged down 0.40 percent to 371,500 won, while Celltrion Pharm gained 1.47 percent to 620,000 won. ABL Bio rose 1.77 percent to 166,700 won, and Kolon TissueGene jumped 3.44 percent to 108,400 won. HLB declined 3.37 percent to 65,900 won. The Korean won was slightly weaker against the dollar, trading at 1,475.10 won, compared with the previous close of 1,474.20. Earlier, the S&P 500 on Wall Street rose 0.80 percent to close at 7,022.95 overnight, setting a record high. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.59 percent to 24,016.02 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.15 percent to 48,463.72. 2026-04-16 11:18:42
  • KOSPI recovers above 6,000 for first time since Trumps war in Iran
    KOSPI recovers above 6,000 for first time since Trump's war in Iran SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,091.39 on Wednesday, up 2.07 percent from a day earlier, regaining the 6,000 mark for the first time in about 30 trading sessions. The index had last closed above that threshold on Feb. 27, when it was at 6,244.13, just a day before the U.S. and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran, throwing the already volatile Middle East region into deeper conflict. The gain was driven by foreign investors, who bought about 550 billion won ($370 million), while the junior KOSDAQ also ended higher, rising 2.72 percent to 1,152.43. Large-cap stocks mostly closed higher. Among chip-related stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 2.18 percent to close at 211,000 won, and SK hynix gained 2.99 percent to 1,136,000 won. The two accounted for about 40.9 percent of the KOSPI's total market capitalization, up from 39.9 percent at the previous peak, with their combined market value surging by about 227 trillion won since April 7, just before the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Their dominance is expected to intensify further, supported by a semiconductor supercycle. Both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are on track to post record-high operating profits this year, with some forecasts suggesting they could rank among the world's top three in operating profit next year. A similar trend is seen globally, with Taiwan's TSMC accounting for over 40 percent of the country's stock market. Other sectors also posted solid gains. In the auto sector, Hyundai Motor climbed 3.36 percent to 508,000 won, while Kia added 1.54 percent to 151,500 won. Battery and energy shares were largely higher, with LG Energy Solution up 2.00 percent at 408,000 won and SK Inc. rising 3.91 percent to 665,000 won, while Hanwha Aerospace slipped 0.92 percent to 1,509,000 won. Among biopharmaceutical stocks, Samsung Biologics gained 4.30 percent to 1,602,000 won and Doosan Enerbility rose 4.51 percent to 104,200 won. Financial sectors also closed higher, with KB Financial Group up 1.48 percent at 158,200 won, Samsung Life Insurance rising 4.88 percent to 258,000 won, and Shinhan Financial Group gaining 1.53 percent to 99,800 won. Major KOSDAQ stocks also ended broadly higher. Among biopharmaceutical and healthcare shares, Alteogen surged 5.67 percent to close at 373,000 won, and Samchundang Pharm jumped 6.73 percent to 555,000 won. ABL Bio rose 5.07 percent to 163,800 won, HLB climbed 8.77 percent to 68,200 won, and LigaChem Biosciences advanced 6.63 percent to 193,000 won. In other sectors, Ecopro gained 2.57 percent to 147,900 won, and Ecopro BM added 2.38 percent to 202,500 won. Rainbow Robotics edged up 1.33 percent to 611,000 won, while Koh Young Technology rose 9.74 percent to 104,800 won and Rino Industrial increased 1.08 percent to 112,800 won. The dollar initially retreated on foreign stock buying, trading at 1,471.80 won in the morning trading, before paring losses to 1,474.20 won in the afternoon, compared with the previous close of 1,481.20. Elsewhere, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.44 percent to 58,134.24, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 0.37 percent to 25,967.30, China's Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.015 percent to 4,027.21. 2026-04-15 18:03:08
  • AI enters Korean legislature, but humans remain in charge
    AI enters Korean legislature, but humans remain in charge SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - The National Assembly of South Korea said Tuesday it has launched an AI-powered legislative support platform in collaboration with Samsung SDS, an ICT company affiliated with Samsung Group. The system — a generative AI tailored for legislative use — integrates internal legislative records with external public and academic data to support document search, analysis, and drafting. About 5,000 users, including lawmakers and their aides, are expected to use the platform. The first phase of the project has been completed, with subsequent phases set to expand data coverage, enhance AI functions, and eventually open the platform to the public. While the move is expected to improve efficiency in legislative work, experts caution that AI should remain a support tool, emphasizing that decision-making must ultimately remain a human responsibility, as AI cannot fully account for real-world context. “You cannot explain every context to AI,” said Kang Chang-mook, a professor of electrical engineering at Hanyang University. “Decisions still need to be made by humans.” The platform offers three main functions. It answers policy-related questions, drafts documents, and summarizes meeting records. It also allows users to search across internal and external sources using natural language. In addition, it analyzes existing laws and provisions to suggest similar legislation. The system has been developed in phases, with only the first stage completed so far. The project’s first phase focused on building the National Assembly’s big data infrastructure, according to an official at Samsung SDS. This included converting previously scattered data into AI-readable formats, introducing a legislature-specific language model, establishing data governance, and developing AI-powered search tools. “The next phase will focus on improving the platform by adding more data, enhancing the usefulness of AI services for legislative work, and strengthening data management and maintenance,” he said. In the third phase, he said, the project may expand to include a dedicated AI platform for public use, along with more advanced data structuring and upgraded generative AI capabilities, including agentic AI — a type of AI focused on autonomous systems that can make decisions and perform tasks without human intervention. Despite rapid adoption, structural challenges remain. According to the Korea-based Software Policy & Research Institute, as of 2024, 85.9 percent of central government agencies, all local governments, and 85.5 percent of quasi-governmental institutions in Korea had adopted AI. However, 91.1 percent of administrative staff still use document formats such as HWP and PDF, which are difficult for AI to process. Most public data also remain unstructured, limiting their use for AI training. Data preprocessing alone can account for up to 70 percent of AI adoption costs. Samsung SDS said the platform generates responses based on verified sources such as meeting records and reports to ensure reliability. It added that the system operates on the National Assembly’s internal servers rather than external cloud systems, strengthening data security. South Korea is not alone in adopting AI for legislative work. In the United States, the Senate has approved expanded use of tools including ChatGPT Enterprise, Google Workspace with Gemini, and Copilot Chat. In Brussels, the European Parliament uses AI for translation, summarization, and speech-to-text services, reflecting its multilingual environment. Japan is also expanding adoption, with its Digital Agency planning a pilot program for around 180,000 government officials. However, experts say institutional safeguards will be crucial as AI becomes more embedded in legislative processes, particularly regarding data bias and accountability. They also point to practical limitations, noting that AI may struggle to fully interpret complex legal language and policy context. Concerns have also been raised over data quality, the risk of errors in AI-generated outputs, and unclear lines of responsibility when such outputs are used in policymaking. 2026-04-15 17:33:46
  • KOSPI tops 6,100; Asian markets rise on renewed U.S.-Iran talks hopes
    KOSPI tops 6,100; Asian markets rise on renewed U.S.-Iran talks hopes SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s KOSPI climbed above the 6,100 level on Wednesday, as the benchmark index rode easing war concerns to resume its record-breaking rally that had been disrupted by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The main index rose 2.96 percent to 6,144.26, while the KOSDAQ gained 1.93 percent to 1,143.49 as of 10:29 a.m. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.15 percent to 58,542.14. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.00 percent to 26,131.14, and China’s Shanghai Composite Index added 0.33 percent to 4,039.85. Samsung SDS surged more than 10 percent in early trading after announcing plans to issue 1.22 trillion won worth of convertible bonds. The stock opened 9.70 percent higher at 166,200 won and extended gains, rising 19.08 percent to 180,400 won as of 10:00 a.m., up 28,900 won from the previous session. Bellwether Samsung Electronics gained 3.63 percent to 214,000 won, while SK hynix rose 5.53 percent to 1,164,000 won ahead of its earnings release next week. In the auto sector, Hyundai Motor climbed 4.37 percent to 513,000 won, and Kia added 2.61 percent to 153,100 won. Battery and energy shares were also in positive territory, with LG Energy Solution up 1.75 percent at 407,000 won and SK Inc. gaining 4.84 percent to 671,000 won. Hanwha Aerospace edged up 0.26 percent to 1,527,000 won. Biopharmaceutical stocks saw moderate gains, as Samsung Biologics rose 2.15 percent to 1,569,000 won and Doosan Enerbility advanced 4.61 percent to 104,300 won. Financials also moved higher across the board, with KB Financial Group up 2.05 percent at 159,100 won, Samsung Life Insurance rising 5.49 percent to 259,500 won, and Shinhan Financial Group gaining 1.32 percent to 99,600 won. All major KOSDAQ stocks also traded higher. Among biopharmaceutical and healthcare shares, Alteogen rose 3.97 percent to 367,000 won, Samchundang Pharm gained 3.08 percent to 536,000 won, and ABL Bio climbed 3.91 percent to 162,000 won. HLB and LigaChem Biosciences also advanced 1.12 percent and 5.30 percent to 63,400 won and 190,600 won, respectively. In other sectors, Ecopro and Ecopro BM rose 3.81 percent and 3.39 percent to 149,700 won and 204,500 won, respectively, while Rainbow Robotics gained 1.16 percent to 610,000 won. Koh Young Technology jumped 9.32 percent to 104,400 won, and Rino Industrial edged up 0.54 percent to 112,200 won. The dollar retreated on foreign stock buying, trading at 1,471.80 won, compared with the previous close of 1,481.20. Overnight on Wall Street, U.S. tech stocks rallied on hopes for renewed U.S.-Iran talks. Nvidia rose 3.8 percent, while Micron Technology surged 9.17 percent, extending gains in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which climbed 2.04 percent for a 10th consecutive session. Buying sentiment was supported by softer U.S. producer price data, easing inflation concerns. The U.S. Labor Department said the Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.5 percent in March, well below the Dow Jones consensus estimate of a 1.1 percent increase. Meanwhile, oil prices pulled back sharply. West Texas Intermediate fell 7.9 percent to $91.28, while Brent crude dropped 4.6 percent to $94.79 a barrel. 2026-04-15 10:57:02
  • South Korea jobs rise in March, but youth outlook worsens
    South Korea jobs rise in March, but youth outlook worsens *Updated with additional information SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) -South Korea's headline jobs market maintained resilience in March as the impact of the Gulf war remained peripheral for now, but data pointed to worsening conditions for youth, signaling a structural job cliff for young people. The number of employed people rose by 206,000 from a year earlier to 28.795 million, easing slightly from a 234,000 increase in February, according to data released by the Data and Statistics Wednesday. The employment rate for those aged 15 to 64 — the OECD-comparable benchmark — stood at 69.7 percent, up 0.4 percentage points from a year earlier, supported by strong gains among those aged 60 and older. The younger cohort remained in the doldrums. The employment rate for those aged 15 to 29 fell 0.9 percentage points year-on-year to 43.6 percent, while their unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 7.6 percent. The overall unemployment rate, in contrast, edged down 0.1 percentage point to 3.0 percent. Job losses were concentrated among those in their 20s, down 167,000, while those in their 40s — typically prime working years — also shed 5,000. Employment gains were largely seen among those in their 40s and 50s. By gender, employment declined among men in their 20s and 30s, while women posted gains in their 30s and 40s. The trend has raised concerns that the downturn reflects not only a cyclical slowdown but also a structural shift driven by AI. Entry-level hiring has weakened, while routine junior tasks — such as basic coding, data research and drafting — are increasingly being automated. A Bank of Korea report released in October last year found that youth employment declined across key industries in the three years following the launch of ChatGPT (July 2022 to July 2025). Jobs for those aged 15 to 29 fell by 11.2 percent in computer programming and system integration, 20.4 percent in publishing, 8.8 percent in professional services, and 23.8 percent in information services, underscoring growing exposure to AI-driven disruption. By industry, weakness persisted in manufacturing and construction. Employment in the wholesale and retail trade sector fell by 18,000 (0.6 percent), marking the first decline in 11 months since April last year, while accommodation and food services shed 2,000 jobs (0.1 percent), extending declines to a fifth consecutive month. Manufacturing employment also dropped by 42,000 (1.0 percent), extending its downturn to 21 consecutive months, while construction lost 16,000 jobs (0.8 percent), marking a 23rd straight month of decline. In contrast, gains were driven by the services sector, with employment rising by 294,000 (9.4 percent) in health and social welfare services, 75,000 (4.5 percent) in transportation and storage, and 44,000 (8.4 percent) in arts, sports and leisure-related services. Meanwhile, the number of people who reported they were simply “taking a break” — not seeking work despite being capable — increased, particularly among older age groups. Those aged 60 and above who were resting rose 8.6 percent from a year earlier. 2026-04-15 09:51:42
  • War resilience draws Korean retail money home, but sustainability in question
    War resilience draws Korean retail money home, but sustainability in question SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) -South Korean equities have shown surprising resilience so far against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions, helping to bring home retail capital previously deployed in U.S. markets. Yet how durable — and how deep — this reshoring trend will prove remains uncertain. “Tax incentives can act as a supporting factor, but not the primary driver,” said Shin Hyun-han, a finance professor at Yonsei University’s School of Business. “Funds tend to return when domestic equities become more attractive, not simply because of policy benefits.” He added that the long-term trajectory hinges more on corporate competitiveness than on the Reshoring Investment Account (RIA) scheme itself. According to Shinhan Investment & Securities on Tuesday, proceeds from overseas stock sales within RIA accounts are being funneled primarily into large-cap Korean equities and index-tracking exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As of April 3, Nvidia accounted for the largest share of overseas withdrawals at 19.1 percent, followed by Apple (7.8 percent), Tesla (7.4 percent), Alphabet Inc. Class A (6.8 percent) and Palantir Technologies (5.4 percent) — pointing to profit-taking in global AI and big tech leaders. On the domestic side, SK hynix led purchases with a 15.7 percent share, closely followed by Samsung Electronics (15.4 percent). Benchmark ETFs such as KODEX 200 ETF (4.1 percent) and TIGER 200 ETF (2.5 percent), along with Hyundai Motor (3.6 percent), also ranked among the top destinations — underscoring a rotation into semiconductor heavyweights and broad market exposure. The RIA framework allows investors to reinvest proceeds from overseas stock sales into domestic equities or hold them in won, with phased tax relief on capital gains depending on the timing of liquidation. Shinhan Investment & Securities said the program applies to overseas holdings acquired before Dec. 23, 2025. The government has positioned the scheme as part of a broader strategy to encourage the repatriation of overseas investment gains, offering targeted tax incentives. Participation data suggest the trend is being driven less by short-term trading than by profit realization among seasoned investors. The average amount transferred into RIA accounts stood at around 30 million won — about 60 percent of the 50 million won cap. Among participants, 43.7 percent liquidated overseas holdings, booking an average gain of roughly 13 million won per person. Demographically, men accounted for 65.3 percent of participants, compared with 34.7 percent for women. Investors in their 40s made up the largest cohort at 31.4 percent, followed by those in their 50s (26.2 percent) and 30s (23.4 percent), while those aged 60 and above — and under 30 — comprised smaller shares. The data point to a structural shift led by middle-aged investors with accumulated gains, rather than momentum-driven retail flows. Importantly, the movement does not signal a wholesale exit from U.S. technology stocks, but rather a reallocation within the same AI-driven investment theme — locking in profits from earlier winners and redeploying capital domestically. Expectations for Korea’s semiconductor sector are reinforcing this rotation. Samsung Electronics reported record preliminary first-quarter results on April 7, with revenue of 133 trillion won and operating profit of 57.2 trillion won. SK hynix, ahead of its earnings release later this month, has also seen rising expectations, with its shares trading around 1.115 million won on Tuesday. Brokerages say surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and server DRAM — fueled by the rapid buildout of AI data centers — is positioning the two firms as key beneficiaries of the U.S.-led AI value chain. Analysts have been steadily raising target prices for SK hynix, citing sustained long-term demand from global tech firms securing memory supply. The growing share of ETF allocations further underscores a shift in strategy. The prominence of KODEX 200 and TIGER 200 among top buys suggests investors are not simply chasing individual winners, but increasingly diversifying across benchmark KOSPI constituents to manage risk. Given that a portion of the flows is being channeled through the Reshoring Investment Account (RIA), tax incentives appear to be playing a facilitating role rather than acting as the primary catalyst. Whether these inflows translate into sustained, long-term allocations to Korean equities once the program expires remains an open question. “The key variable is corporate fundamentals. Without sustained earnings growth and competitiveness, such flows are unlikely to persist,” said Shin Hyun-han of Yonsei University. He added that investors could readily pivot back to overseas assets once the policy window closes. Shin also cautioned against overinterpreting the current movement, characterizing it as cyclical rather than structural, and underscoring the importance of maintaining diversified portfolios. “From an asset allocation perspective, maintaining exposure to global markets remains important, particularly for institutional investors,” he said. The recent shift, in this view, reflects a confluence of factors — stretched valuations in U.S. AI stocks, currency dynamics and improving expectations for Korea’s semiconductor cycle — rather than a decisive turning point.Distinguishing between temporary rebalancing and a structural reallocation will ultimately hinge on whether Korea’s equity market can sustain earnings momentum and close its longstanding competitiveness gap. 2026-04-14 17:50:43
  • Energy-poor ASEAN speaks out, demands safe Hormuz reopening
    Energy-poor ASEAN speaks out, demands safe Hormuz reopening SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) —The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), increasingly strained by energy supply disruptions stemming from the Gulf conflict, on Monday urged the United States and Iran to reach a permanent resolution and restore safe passage through the critical shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz. ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement following a virtual meeting, calling on Washington and Tehran to intensify diplomatic efforts toward a lasting end to hostilities and durable peace in the Middle East. They warned that the conflict is already disrupting both energy and food supply chains, underscoring the urgency of securing priority access to energy for member states amid the crisis. The ministers stressed the need for the full and effective implementation of the two-week ceasefire agreement to prevent further casualties, and called for the immediate restoration of safe, secure and uninterrupted transit for vessels and aircraft through the Strait of Hormuz. They also urged all parties to ensure the safety of ships and crews operating in the area. ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with South Korea, China and Japan to mitigate supply disruptions and curb price volatility. Philippine foreign minister Theresa Lazaro said the ministers also discussed joint measures to secure key agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, in a bid to reinforce regional food security. She added that the ASEAN Summit in May will proceed as scheduled, with a focus on food and energy security as well as the safety of citizens across member states. Manila chairs this year's summit. The region is considered particularly vulnerable to the conflict due to its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil and gas. According to the International Energy Agency, roughly 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz, with nearly 80 percent of those flows bound for Asian markets, including Southeast Asia. Countries with limited reserves are already feeling the strain from what officials describe as the worst energy disruption in modern history. The Philippines has declared a national energy emergency, Indonesia has introduced flexible work arrangements, Vietnam has suspended crude exports, and Thailand is rationing diesel while reactivating coal-fired power plants. Tensions escalated further after Donald Trump announced that U.S. naval forces had begun blocking Iranian-linked shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13. The move followed the collapse of ceasefire talks held in Islamabad from April 11 to 12. 2026-04-14 15:41:59