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  • Heavy Rain Damages Historic Sites in Tongyeong
    Heavy Rain Damages Historic Sites in Tongyeong Record rainfall during the Liberation Day holiday caused significant damage to national heritage sites in the southern coastal region of Gyeongnam, including the stone structures at the 'Tongyeong Hansando Yi Chung-mu Historic Site.' As of the morning of August 18, the Cultural Heritage Administration reported five cases of damage to national heritage sites in the Tongyeong and Geoje areas due to the heavy rain, including one historic site and four registered cultural properties. The 'Tongyeong Hansando Yi Chung-mu Historic Site' suffered damage to a stone structure measuring approximately 15 meters in length and 1 meter in height, as well as a section measuring about 30 meters long and 2.5 meters high. Additionally, fallen trees caused damage to tiles and walls. Access for visitors is currently restricted. The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to conduct an emergency inspection of the site and develop a restoration plan. The registered cultural properties 'Tongyeong Kim Sang-ok's Birthplace' and 'Tongyeong Old Daehung Inn' were partially flooded due to the heavy rain on August 16, and water removal efforts are underway. These sites reflect the modern history and daily life of Tongyeong. At the registered cultural property 'Tongyeong Hwangri Church,' the stone structure behind the building collapsed, allowing rainwater to enter the interior. Efforts are being made to assess the damage and clear drainage systems. The 'Tongyeong Sobanjang Workshop' also experienced damage on the same day, with some roof tiles falling and soil entering the interior. The affected area has been covered with plastic, and cleaning and installation of temporary coverings are planned. Cultural Heritage Administration head Heo Min stated on X (formerly Twitter) that they will thoroughly assess the damage in the affected areas and do their utmost to protect national heritage and ensure prompt restoration. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 14:36:00
  • Korean National Soccer Team Confirms Venues for September and October Friendlies
    Korean National Soccer Team Confirms Venues for September and October Friendlies The Korean national soccer team has confirmed the schedule and venues for four friendly matches in September and October under a new interim coaching system.The Korea Football Association announced on August 18 that the four matches, part of the Hana Bank Invitational, will take place in Suwon, Seoul, Ulsan, and Yongin.This series of matches will adhere to the newly revised international match schedule regulations set by FIFA, which has reduced the number of annual A-match periods from five to four. Instead, FIFA has consolidated the September and October schedules into a single 16-day period, allowing for a maximum of four matches to be played at once.Korea will kick off the series against Ecuador (ranked 25th by FIFA) on September 24 at 8 p.m. at Suwon World Cup Stadium, just before the Chuseok holiday. The team will then face Uruguay (20th) on September 28 at 8 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium.The October matches will continue in Ulsan and Yongin. On October 2 at 8 p.m., Korea will play against Venezuela (47th) at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, followed by a match against Uzbekistan (60th) on October 6 at 8 p.m. at Yongin Mir Stadium.These four matches will mark the first schedule for the national team following the 2026 North American World Cup. Additionally, it will be the first A-match held domestically since the game against Ghana in November of last year.Looking at the host cities, Suwon will host a national team match for the first time in about a year and a half since the World Cup qualifying match against Jordan in March of last year. Yongin and Ulsan will also host A-matches for the first time in about a year and three years and six months, respectively, since the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship and the match against Colombia in March 2023.Meanwhile, the selection of an interim coach to lead the team during the September to November A-matches is progressing. The football association reported on August 17 that it has completed the document eligibility review and result verification for the open recruitment of the interim coach and coaching staff, notifying applicants of their acceptance or rejection.The evaluation committee, composed of some members of the Strengthening Committee and external members, closed the document submission on September 9 and will begin online interviews with those who passed the document screening this week. Once the interview schedule concludes, the committee plans to establish a priority negotiation ranking based on the evaluation results and proceed with negotiations sequentially, aiming to finalize the selection by the end of this month.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 14:28:10
  • Kim Min-seok Initiates Unified Politics in the Democratic Party
    Kim Min-seok Initiates Unified Politics in the Democratic Party Kim Min-seok, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party, received a congratulatory letter from President Lee Jae-myung on August 18 and paid respects at the grave of former President Kim Dae-jung. On August 19, he plans to visit the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun and meet with former President Moon Jae-in. As he embarks on a path of unified politics, attention is focused on whether he can fulfill the '4 Unity' pledge made by his rival, former leader Jeong Cheong-rae, which calls for the integration of supporters from four Democratic presidents.On the same day, Kim met with Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo, and Political Secretary Jeong Eul-ho at the National Assembly. He stated, "The Democratic Party will convey the voices of the people from the field to the Blue House and the government," adding, "We will engage in discussions and ensure stable cooperation between the party and the government." Kim, who previously served as the first Prime Minister under the Lee administration, emphasized the importance of party-government collaboration.Additionally, Kim attended a memorial service for his political mentor, Kim Dae-jung, on the 17th anniversary of his passing. He remarked, "The youngest secretary to the president has now become the leader of the Democratic Party. Without the president's support, it would have been difficult to establish the Park Chung-hee Memorial Library, which symbolizes reconciliation and unity."Furthermore, Kim plans to visit Roh's grave on August 19 and meet with Moon. While visits to former presidents typically occur after the formation of the party leadership, the recent tensions between the pro-Lee and pro-Jeong factions during the party convention have drawn attention.In his acceptance speech following his election at the party convention, Kim indicated a commitment to unity, stating, "I will work alongside Jeong and Song Young-gil, who also competed with me. I will open the door wide and welcome everyone." Jeong had previously argued that the decline in President Lee's approval ratings was due to a loss of core support and emphasized the need for internal cohesion, advocating for the '4 Unity' initiative.Meanwhile, both President Lee and former President Moon have stressed the necessity of party unity. During a cabinet meeting, President Lee acknowledged that "people's opinions may differ, and conflicts may arise," but emphasized that "ultimately, we are all a community of destiny working together for a better life for the people and a brighter future for the nation." This statement is interpreted as an effort to mend internal party conflicts and encourage cooperation with the opposition following the recent party convention. President Lee is scheduled to host a dinner with Kim, Jeong, and Song on August 19, signaling a desire to resolve the tensions that surfaced during the convention.Former President Moon also addressed the party convention via video, stating, "Competition is natural and a process that makes the party healthier and more vibrant," but cautioned that "competition should not divide the party. I urge you to compete fiercely, accept the results, and demonstrate a mature attitude of embracing one another." 2026-08-18 14:28:10
  • Xi Jinping to Visit U.S. Next Month, Will Skip UN General Assembly
    Xi Jinping to Visit U.S. Next Month, Will Skip UN General Assembly Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the United States next month, but he is expected to skip the United Nations General Assembly.According to a report by Politico on August 18, citing anonymous sources, President Xi will arrive in the U.S. on September 23 and hold a summit with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on September 24 before returning home on September 25. The sources are said to be four individuals familiar with Xi's schedule. The White House, State Department, and the Chinese embassy in the U.S. did not provide specific comments on the matter.In Washington diplomatic circles, there had been speculation that Xi would attend the UN General Assembly, which opens on September 22, as part of his visit. Some anticipated that he would present China's vision for peaceful international development as an alternative to the U.S. approach regarding Iran. A European Union diplomat in Washington noted, "When the summit date was first announced for September 24, there was speculation that Xi proposed this date to link it with his attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York."Xi last addressed the UN General Assembly in person in 2015, during the 70th anniversary of the UN's founding. In 2021, he delivered a virtual speech amid the COVID-19 pandemic, indirectly referencing the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan a month earlier and promoting a vision of a world order less centered on the U.S. for developing countries.Richard Stengel, who served as the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs during the Obama administration, commented, "As the U.S. appears to be retreating from the international stage due to its entanglement in a war with Iran, China has positioned itself as a strong supporter of the UN Charter and a bastion of global governance. In that sense, skipping this General Assembly is a missed opportunity for Xi." He added, "From the Trump administration's perspective, this absence highlights the contrast between a world power that supports the UN and an America-first approach that is indifferent to it."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 14:28:00
  • AI-Generated Super SOL Wins Gold at International Business Awards
    AI-Generated 'Super SOL' Wins Gold at International Business Awards Advertising content created using generative artificial intelligence (AI) has gained international recognition. Digital advertising agency Bomsun, led by CEO Oh Deok, announced on August 18 that it won a Gold Stevie® Award at the 2026 International Business Awards (The 23rd Annual International Business Awards®).The award-winning project is the character content series 'super SOL Universe,' based on Shinhan Bank's integrated financial platform 'Super SOL.' This work was selected for the highest honor, Gold, in the Video category for Financial Services and Banking. Bomsun is the only company to receive a Gold Award in this category.'super SOL Universe' was produced using generative AI. Bomsun applied its self-developed AI advertising content production system to streamline character design and video production processes. As a result, four short-form content pieces were completed in about two months with a team of four.Bomsun explained that compared to traditional 3D animation production methods, it significantly reduced production time and manpower. The AI advertising content production system received a patent decision last month.However, not all production processes were entrusted to AI. Brand assets requiring precision, such as logos, typography, and brand colors, were excluded from the AI generation process and implemented through 2D post-production. The voices of the main characters were also provided by professional voice actors.This approach utilizes AI's production efficiency while ensuring that areas requiring brand identity and accuracy are directly controlled by humans. In this regard, Bomsun stated that it applies the principle of 'not delegating brand assets to probabilistic generation.'Oh Deok, CEO of Bomsun, remarked, "AI dramatically accelerates the speed at which initial results are produced, but reaching the consistency required by the brand is a different level of challenge. As tools lower the barriers to execution, the determining factor for results becomes the judgment of what to create."Meanwhile, Bomsun ranked second among 73 companies in the '2025 Advertising Agency Status Survey' conducted by the Korea Advertising Association, achieving a growth rate of 108%. This accomplishment comes as 40% of surveyed companies reported negative growth, leading the survey organization to classify Bomsun as an 'AI and data-driven growth company.'Founded in 2017, Bomsun is a comprehensive digital advertising agency with major clients including Shinhan Bank and Anuk Hotel. In 2022, it was ranked first in the advertising sector of the 'Asia-Pacific High-Growth Companies' list by the Financial Times.The 2026 International Business Awards ceremony will be held on October 28 in Paris, France. 2026-08-18 14:24:00
  • RIIZEs upcoming single chosen as official song for Japans Winter Cup
    RIIZE's upcoming single chosen as official song for Japan's Winter Cup SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - The latest song by K-pop boy group RIIZE has been chosen as the official track for Japan's national high school basketball championship, expanding their activities in Japan beyond concerts and music releases, their agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. "Rise Over" will be used for the 79th All Japan High School Basketball Championship, better known as the Winter Cup, which runs Dec. 23 to 29 in Tokyo, the Japan Basketball Association said. The song will be released next week as part of RIIZE's third Japanese single, "Sunburst." SM described "Rise Over" as an up-tempo rock song built around the tournament's spirit of challenge, with lyrics about getting back up despite setbacks. Members addressed that they hope the song would bring strength to players and resonate beyond the arena. The collaboration adds a sports element to RIIZE's Japan promotions ahead of the release of "Sunburst." RIIZE will hold a showcase in Osaka on Aug. 26, the day of the album's release. AJP Takeaways: - RIIZE's new song "Rise Over" has been chosen as the official cheer song for Japan's Winter Cup 2026 high school basketball championship. - The tournament will run from Dec. 23 to 29 in Tokyo. - "Rise Over" will be released Aug. 26 as part of RIIZE's third Japanese single, "Sunburst." - SM Entertainment described the song as an up-tempo rock track about overcoming setbacks and moving forward. 2026-08-18 14:23:55
  • Over 300,000 International Students in South Korea: Focus Shifts to Integration and Employment
    Over 300,000 International Students in South Korea: Focus Shifts to Integration and Employment As the number of international students residing in South Korea surpasses 300,000, there is a growing call to shift the focus of student policies from mere recruitment to enhancing educational quality and facilitating domestic employment and integration. In response, private universities, which educate the majority of these students, are convening to discuss effective policy and visa system improvements.The Korea Private University Presidents Council (KPUC) and the Korean Immigration Policy Association announced that they will hold a policy seminar on August 21 at 2 p.m. in the second meeting room of the National Assembly to strengthen the connection between attracting, employing, and integrating international students.This seminar is co-hosted by five lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, including Kim Jun-hyuk, Park Beom-kye, and Ko Min-jeong from the Democratic Party, as well as Jeong Seong-guk from the People Power Party and Kang Kyung-sook from the Justice Party.The government’s 'Study Korea 300K Project' aimed to achieve a milestone of 300,000 international students by 2027, but this goal was reached ahead of schedule in 2026. Amid declining birth rates, a shrinking school-age population, regional decline, and labor shortages, there is a consensus in academia that a policy shift is urgently needed to view international students not just as resources for university enrollment but as strategic talents to lead the future of the nation and its regions.Private universities play a crucial role in educating international students. As of 2025, among 152,838 foreign students enrolled in four-year degree programs, 137,080, or 89.7%, are attending private universities. This means that approximately nine out of ten international students in four-year programs are being educated at private institutions.However, there are ongoing concerns that private universities are at a disadvantage compared to public institutions regarding scholarships and support for education and living infrastructure. There have even been instances where students recruited and educated by private universities transfer to public institutions due to differences in tuition and scholarship conditions. This has led to calls for a redesign of the government support system based on actual roles and outcomes rather than the type of institution.The seminar will discuss various alternatives to overcome these challenges. Im Dong-jin, president of the Korean Immigration Policy Association and a professor at Soonchunhyang University, will present on 'Employment and Settlement Support Policies for International Students in Major Countries and Their Implications.' Yoon Seung-yong, president of Namseoul University and chair of the KPUC's special committee on international students, will present on 'Policy Tasks to Strengthen the Connection Between Attracting, Employing, and Integrating International Students.'The subsequent comprehensive discussion will be moderated by Yoon Seung-yong, featuring participants such as Ryu Yi-hyun, a researcher at the Democratic Research Institute, Moon Seong-je, president of Sun Moon University, Lee Jeong-ki, president of Kosin University, as well as Choi Ha-young from the Ministry of Education and Lee Hyang-sook from the Ministry of Justice, who will delve into building inter-agency support systems.A KPUC official stated, 'We will actively convey the opinions and policy proposals from the university field presented at this seminar to the government and the National Assembly,' adding, 'In particular, we will officially communicate the issues related to visa system improvements to the 'Foreign Student Visa System Improvement Council' operated by the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the voices of private universities are adequately reflected in the reform process.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 14:20:00
  • Google Cloud Partners with Shinhan Investment Corp to Build AI Agent Platform
    Google Cloud Partners with Shinhan Investment Corp to Build AI Agent Platform Google Cloud announced that it has developed a next-generation AI agent platform in collaboration with Shinhan Investment Corp, designed to comply with financial security regulations while integrating with the company's key operational data and systems. The implementation of agents for core tasks, such as contract analysis, has reduced processing time from two hours to just five minutes.This year, Shinhan Investment Corp established a dedicated organization, the AX Division, to enhance its capabilities in AI and digital assets, driving company-wide innovation. By selecting 'AX Coordinators' from various departments, the firm has encouraged the development of agents, resulting in the creation of over 500 agents. These agents are integrated with the company's key operational data and financial systems through the Google Cloud-based AI agent platform.Utilizing the 'Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform,' Shinhan Investment Corp has designed a 'hybrid orchestrator' structure tailored to the financial environment. Tasks requiring precise and consistent execution, such as fund transfers, are handled by agents according to established rules, while areas needing inference, like contract analysis, call upon large language models (LLMs) such as Gemini. This approach ensures both system stability and flexibility. The results and feedback from these tasks are stored and updated in databases like BigQuery, creating a 'data flywheel' structure that allows agents to recycle this information.Both companies have placed a strong emphasis on compliance with network separation regulations and financial security procedures. Shinhan Investment Corp has undergone relevant processes, including approval for innovative financial services, safety assessments for cloud service providers, and security due diligence. They maintain a network separation environment through dedicated lines and VPC service controls between their internal network and Google Cloud, while also implementing solutions for data loss prevention (DLP) and separating areas of LLM usage.Shinhan Investment Corp is currently operating the platform in a closed beta format for select employees and is preparing for an official launch. Previously, the processing of over 50-page unstructured contracts attached to emails required 3 to 4 employees to review and input more than 50 items into the internal system. However, with the introduction of the agent, the analysis of contracts and system input has been automated, requiring only simple operations from email selection to execution. The company aims to increase the automation rate of agent-based tasks to over 70%.Ruth Sun, President of Google Cloud Korea, stated, 'The establishment of this platform by Shinhan Investment Corp is a pioneering example of how AI agents can be integrated into operational systems within regulated industries.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 14:20:00
  • Kwon Seong-dong Faces Lawyer Registration Cancellation Following Conviction
    Kwon Seong-dong Faces Lawyer Registration Cancellation Following Conviction Kwon Seong-dong, a former lawmaker of the People Power Party, is set to have his lawyer registration canceled after being sentenced to two years in prison for receiving illegal political funds amounting to 100 million won from the Unification Church. The Supreme Court's ruling has created a disqualification under the Lawyer Act, prompting the Ministry of Justice to order the Korean Bar Association to proceed with the cancellation.According to legal sources on August 18, the Korean Bar Association received the cancellation order from the Ministry of Justice on August 14 and is currently processing the necessary steps. A representative from the Bar Association stated that they are following the Ministry's directive and expect to complete the cancellation process within this week.Under current lawyer regulations, individuals sentenced to imprisonment for more than a year and who have not completed their sentence or had it suspended within the last five years are disqualified from practicing law. The Minister of Justice is required to instruct the Bar Association to cancel the registration of any lawyer deemed disqualified. Article 18 of the Lawyer Act also mandates that the Bar Association must cancel the registration upon receiving such an order from the Minister.Previously, on July 16, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling that sentenced Kwon to two years in prison and ordered him to return the 100 million won in illegal political funds. With the confirmation of his prison sentence, Kwon also lost his parliamentary seat.Kwon was accused of accepting 100 million won in political funds from former Unification Church leader Yoon Young-ho on January 5, 2022, ahead of the presidential election, in exchange for requests related to support for the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. At the time, Kwon served as the chief of staff for Yoon, who was the presidential candidate for the People Power Party.During the trial, Kwon acknowledged dining with Yoon but denied receiving any money.However, both the first and second trials found evidence, including a note in Yoon's diary stating 'Kwon Seong-dong lunch - support of a large amount,' and messages sent to Kwon after the money was allegedly transferred, leading to the conclusion that the funds were indeed given. The Supreme Court dismissed Kwon's appeal, stating there were no legal misunderstandings in the lower court's judgment.Kwon passed the bar exam in 1985 and began his career as a prosecutor, working in the Seoul and Incheon District Prosecutors' Offices. He later became a practicing lawyer and served as the legal secretary to the President during the Lee Myung-bak administration. Kwon entered politics after winning a by-election in Gangneung in 2009.Recently, there have been several cancellations of lawyer registrations for former high-ranking officials following confirmed convictions. The Korean Bar Association also canceled the registration of former President Yoon, who received a seven-year prison sentence for obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, and former chief prosecutor Kim Sang-min, who received a suspended sentence for soliciting favors in exchange for expensive art gifts to Kim Geon-hee.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 14:16:00
  • NCT 127 to build buzz for new album with teaser medley
    NCT 127 to build buzz for new album with teaser medley SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - A medley featuring all nine songs from K-pop boy group NCT 127's seventh full-length album is set to be released at midnight Tuesday, ahead of the album's release next week to build excitement to their fans. A music video for "BLINGY," set to be released on Aug. 24, is also expected to be uploaded on the group's YouTube channel, with clips of the title track and other songs, including "IKR" and "Getaway." "IKR," short for "I Know, Right?" is an upbeat hip-hop track built around arcade-style synth sounds and a message of rejecting familiar formulas. Moreover, "Getaway" moves in a lighter direction, using retro synths and a funk-influenced rhythm to carry a message of stepping away from a busy routine, even briefly. The two tracks show SM Entertainment's vision for the album, weighing between sharper hip-hop energy and a more relaxed indie-pop mood. "BLINGY" will be released on global music platforms at 6 p.m. next Monday with a physical release the same day. With the release of the album, NCT 127 will continue their overseas activities, appearing on NBC's "America's Got Talent" later this week before performing at KCON LA later this month. AJP Takeaways: - NCT 127 will release a highlight medley for their seventh full-length album "BLINGY" on Tuesday. - The album contains nine tracks, including title song "Blingy" and album tracks "IKR" and "Getaway." - "IKR" is an up-tempo hip-hop track built around arcade-style synth sounds and a defiant message. - "Getaway" is a retro-tinged indie-pop song with a funk-influenced rhythm and a more relaxed mood. 2026-08-18 14:15:34