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  • Takaichi Offers Tribute at Yasukuni Shrine Amid Controversy
    Takaichi Offers Tribute at Yasukuni Shrine Amid Controversy On August 15, which marks both Korea's Liberation Day and Japan's Defeat Day, Takaichi Sanae, Japan's Prime Minister, did not visit Yasukuni Shrine but instead made a monetary offering in her capacity as president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).According to Yonhap News and local media reports, Takaichi donated funds known as 'tamagushi' to Yasukuni Shrine out of her own pocket. This offering was made as LDP president rather than as Prime Minister.While she had regularly visited the shrine on August 15 before taking office, it is believed that she refrained from doing so this year due to potential backlash from neighboring countries such as South Korea and China. In Japan, August 15 is referred to as Victory Day.On the same day, Takaichi visited the Tokyo Memorial Cemetery to pay her respects.In contrast, Defense Minister Kono Shinjiro made a surprise visit to Yasukuni Shrine around 7 a.m. This marks the first time a sitting defense minister has visited the shrine on Japan's Defeat Day since former Defense Minister Kihara Minoru in 2024. Kono's visit is notable as it is the seventh consecutive year that a current Japanese minister has paid tribute at Yasukuni.Additionally, Okinawa and Northern Territories Minister Kawai Hitoshi also visited Yasukuni Shrine that morning and made a monetary offering.Following Kono, key LDP officials, including Secretary-General Suzuki Shunichi, General Affairs Chairman Arimura Haruko, and Election Strategy Committee Chairman Nishimura Yasutoshi, collectively visited Yasukuni Shrine. This group visit by senior LDP officials on the anniversary of Japan's defeat is considered unusual.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:40:10
  • Korea widens nuclear export push from rules to SMRs
    Korea widens nuclear export push from rules to SMRs SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - South Korea is widening its nuclear export strategy beyond building reactors, seeking to package regulatory know-how with its manufacturing and construction muscle as it targets newcomer markets in Southeast Asia and a rapidly forming global supply chain for small modular reactors. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission agreed to integrate nuclear safety and regulatory cooperation into overseas reactor bids, paving the way for Bill Gates' TerraPower deepen partnerships with SK Innovation and Hyundai companies on Friday. The government is initially looking toward countries including Vietnam and the Philippines, where plans for new nuclear power programs are creating demand for expertise that extends well beyond construction. Newcomer countries must establish nuclear laws, licensing procedures, technical standards, regulatory institutions and trained safety personnel alongside the physical plant. Under a memorandum signed in Seoul on Thursday, the industry ministry and nuclear safety commission will regularly share information on overseas projects, local regulatory conditions and requests for cooperation. They plan to use Korea's experience regulating reactors through design, construction and operation to help prospective importing countries build safety and licensing systems suited to their stage of nuclear development. Until now, requests for regulatory assistance from overseas were generally passed by the industry ministry to the safety commission, which then worked with specialist agencies on an individual basis. The new arrangement is intended to bring regulatory cooperation into export projects from an earlier stage, effectively adding another piece to the "Team Korea" model traditionally built around utilities, reactor vendors, engineering companies and construction contractors. Korea Electric Power Corp., Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control also signed a separate cooperation agreement to carry out country-specific regulatory projects. Officials reviewed projects in Vietnam, the Czech Republic and the Philippines following the signing and discussed how regulatory cooperation previously pursued with the United Arab Emirates and the Czech Republic could be adapted to other markets. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said the agreement created a formal structure linking reactor exports with regulatory cooperation and would allow Korea to respond more comprehensively to countries preparing to introduce nuclear power. Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairman Choi Won-ho said Korea would use its accumulated regulatory experience to tailor cooperation to individual countries' conditions and needs. The second part of Korea's nuclear push is emerging in advanced reactors. Gates, TerraPower's founder and chairman, met Korean government and business leaders in Seoul on Friday as the U.S. developer expanded commercial ties with Korean companies involved in manufacturing, engineering and project development. The industry ministry said Korean companies including SK and HD Hyundai have invested in TerraPower and are seeking roles ranging from equipment manufacturing to construction and operations in its U.S. and overseas projects. The ministry said Korea's dense network of large nuclear-equipment suppliers and smaller specialized manufacturers could serve as a production base for a future fleet of advanced reactors. TerraPower is building its first Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The design combines a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor with molten-salt energy storage, allowing output to rise to as much as 500 MW when demand peaks. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its construction permit in March, and TerraPower began reactor construction in April. TerraPower says the first plant is expected to be completed in 2030, while the Korean industry ministry's release cites a 2031 target for commercial operation. SK Innovation on Friday signed a term sheet with TerraPower to pursue broader Natrium business development and explore Korea's first commercial Natrium project, as well as opportunities in international markets. The companies also plan to examine cooperation in engineering, digital twins and artificial intelligence for plant operation and maintenance. The agreement builds on SK's earlier financial investment in TerraPower and gives the Korean group a potential route into a reactor business that could eventually serve both industrial power demand and electricity-hungry AI infrastructure. The Korean government said rapidly expanding data centers are contributing to global interest in SMRs and argued that the early formation of their supply chains creates an opening for Korean manufacturers. Hyundai companies are moving deeper into the same supply chain. TerraPower said Friday that Hyundai Engineering & Construction had been selected as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for up to eight future Natrium reactors, with completion, price and performance guarantees intended to make conventional commercial financing easier. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries already became TerraPower's preferred manufacturer in May for components of the Natrium Reactor Enclosure System, giving the shipbuilder a role in building a scalable production chain for multiple reactors. TerraPower, HD Hyundai and Hyundai E&C have also agreed to cooperate across design, manufacturing, construction and project delivery. Kim told Gates that Korea had built what he described as a "foundry-level nuclear manufacturing and construction ecosystem" through roughly five decades of domestic and overseas reactor projects. Combining standardized foreign SMR designs with Korea's capacity for reliable serial production could help improve project economics, he said. AJP Takeaways: TerraPower is pulling Korean companies deeper into the SMR supply chain: SK Innovation is exploring a Korean Natrium project, while Hyundai E&C has been tapped for up to eight future reactors and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a preferred equipment manufacturer. The export strategy is becoming technology-agnostic: Korea aims to sell its own reactors while also supplying manufacturing, EPC and regulatory expertise to foreign-designed nuclear projects. 2026-08-15 09:38:22
  • Chey divorce returns to court, buying time on record payout
    Chey divorce returns to court, buying time on record payout SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) —South Korea's biggest divorce settlement is heading back to the Supreme Court, giving SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won more time to raise the 944 billion won ($669 million) in cash he has been ordered to pay his former wife while deferring immediate pressure on his corporate holdings. Chey filed another appeal Friday against the Seoul High Court's property-division ruling in his divorce from Roh Soh-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi, extending a legal battle that began in 2017 and delaying the point at which the record settlement becomes final. The appeal also holds off the 5 percent annual statutory interest that would begin accruing once the judgment becomes final and remains unpaid — about 47.2 billion won a year, or roughly 129 million won a day on the full award. For Chey and SK, the extra time matters. The court ordered the settlement to be paid in cash, allowing him to retain the SK Inc. shares underpinning his influence over the conglomerate, but leaving him to find nearly 1 trillion won without weakening that control. From presidential family to corporate dynasty Chey and Roh married at the presidential Blue House in September 1988, during the first year in office of Roh's father, Roh Tae-woo. The marriage joined one of South Korea's leading corporate families with its presidential household and lasted through decades of SK Group's expansion, financial crises and changes in the conglomerate's ownership structure. It publicly unraveled in 2015, when Chey disclosed in a three-page letter that he had fathered a daughter with another woman and said he no longer believed the marriage could be saved. Chey sought divorce mediation in 2017. After that failed, the case moved to court, and Roh filed a countersuit in 2019 seeking 300 million won in damages and about 6.48 million SK shares as part of the property division. The first ruling went overwhelmingly in Chey's favor. In December 2022, the Seoul Family Court ordered him to pay Roh 66.5 billion won in property division and 100 million won in damages, concluding that his SK shares were separate property rather than assets jointly accumulated during the marriage. Roh appealed, calling the award "a denial of women's commitment to the household." In May 2024, the Seoul High Court raised the property award to about 1.38 trillion won and damages to 2 billion won, finding that Roh had contributed to the formation, maintenance and growth of the marital estate, including Chey's SK Inc. holdings. At the heart of that decision was 30 billion won linked to former President Roh Tae-woo. Roh's lawyers presented a handwritten note preserved by her mother that included Sunkyong — SK's former name — alongside "30 billion won," arguing that the money had flowed to Chey's family and helped expand the conglomerate. Chey's side denied that SK received such support. The Supreme Court overturned the property-division portion of the ruling last October, finding that even if the money had been transferred, funds derived from illegal activity could not be recognized as Roh's legally protected contribution to the marital estate. The court left the divorce and 2 billion won damages award intact. On remand, the Seoul High Court excluded the disputed 30 billion won but again ruled that Chey's SK Inc. shares were subject to division, rejecting his argument that they constituted separate property acquired through inheritance or gifts. The court awarded Roh one-third of the couple's property and Chey two-thirds, producing the 944 billion won cash award — still more than 14 times the 66.5 billion won awarded at the first trial. The case has unfolded alongside a dramatic rise in the value of Chey's corporate holdings. SK hynix has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global artificial-intelligence investment boom through its high-bandwidth memory chips used alongside AI processors, increasing investor attention on Chey's stake in SK Inc., the holding company through which he exercises influence over the group. The remand court kept April 16, 2024 — when arguments in the earlier appellate proceeding ended — as the valuation date for Chey's SK Inc. shares, setting their value at 160,000 won each. It rejected Roh's argument that the shares should instead be valued at the end of the remand proceedings, when the stock was trading above 800,000 won. The court nevertheless took the subsequent rise in share prices into consideration when setting Roh's share of the marital estate at one-third. Chey was allowed to retain his SK shares and satisfy the award in cash, avoiding a direct transfer of stock that could affect his grip on the conglomerate. That still leaves the question of how Chey would finance a payment approaching 1 trillion won if the award survives the second Supreme Court review. His marriage to Roh is legally over. The price of ending it is now back before the Supreme Court. AJP Takeaways: Chey appealed the 944 billion won property-division award, sending the financial portion of his divorce case back to the Supreme Court after nine years of litigation. The divorce itself is already final. Only the division of marital assets remains contested; a separate 2 billion won damages award has also been finalized. Corporate-control concerns remain central: The cash award allows Chey to retain his SK Inc. shares, but financing the payment could still draw scrutiny because those holdings underpin his influence over SK Group. 2026-08-15 09:27:47
  • Takaichi drops remorse, Seoul scorns ministerial visit to Yasukuni
    Takaichi drops 'remorse,' Seoul scorns ministerial visit to Yasukuni *Updated with new information SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) -Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dropped the word "remorse" from her first Aug. 15 war memorial address on Saturday, returning to language associated with her political mentor Shinzo Abe even as she stayed away from the diplomatically sensitive Yasukuni Shrine. Marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, Takaichi pledged that the horrors of war "must never be repeated," but omitted the "remorse" invoked last year by her predecessor Shigeru Ishiba, who restored the term after a 13-year absence. The shift was closely watched in South Korea and China, where the wording of Japanese leaders' Aug. 15 statements and visits to Yasukuni are regarded as measures of Tokyo's willingness to confront its colonial and wartime past. At the government-sponsored National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan, Takaichi said Japan had "consistently walked the path of a nation that values peace" and worked for global peace and prosperity. "The horrors of war must never be repeated," Takaichi said. "Although 81 years have now passed, no matter how time flows, we will remain committed to this resolute pledge, passing it down across generations," she added. Her speech nevertheless marked a reversal from Ishiba's language at last year's 80th anniversary ceremony. Ishiba became the first Japanese prime minister since 2012 to use the word "remorse" in an Aug. 15 memorial address, saying Japan must keep in its heart the "remorse and lesson from that war." He also renewed a pledge against war. Japanese prime ministers had regularly referred to wartime remorse and the suffering inflicted on other Asian countries before Abe returned to office in December 2012. From Abe's 2013 address onward, explicit references to remorse and Japan's wartime aggression disappeared from the annual ceremony. Takaichi, a conservative who has long identified politically with Abe, also avoided direct mention of Japan's aggression in Asia or its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Her choice of wording reinforced the distinction. Takaichi described Japan as a "nation that values peace," language previously associated with Abe and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. More recent prime ministers, including Fumio Kishida and Ishiba, had referred to Japan as a "peaceful nation." The omission of "remorse" stood in contrast with Emperor Naruhito, who attended the memorial with Empress Masako and again expressed "deep remorse" while reflecting on the war. The emperor also called for memories of suffering during and after the conflict to be passed to future generations. About 3.1 million Japanese military personnel and civilians died in the war. Participants observed a minute of silence at noon, the time Emperor Hirohito's radio broadcast announcing Japan's acceptance of the Allied surrender terms began on Aug. 15, 1945. Takaichi's shift in memorial language came even as she exercised restraint over Yasukuni. The prime minister did not visit the shrine Saturday, instead paying from her own pocket for a ritual offering known as a tamagushi in her capacity as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Before becoming prime minister, Takaichi regularly visited Yasukuni on Aug. 15 and during its major spring and autumn festivals. She also stayed away from the shrine's spring festival in April after taking office, sending an offering instead. Her decision to skip an in-person visit Saturday had been widely interpreted in Japanese media as an effort to avoid damaging improving relations with South Korea and adding to tensions with China. Kyodo had reported before the anniversary that Tokyo was also mindful of trilateral security cooperation with Seoul and Washington. No serving Japanese prime minister has visited Yasukuni since Abe in December 2013. Junichiro Koizumi was the last prime minister to go to the shrine on Aug. 15, in 2006. Instead, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni at around 7 a.m. Saturday, leaving without answering reporters' questions. Hitoshi Kikawada, minister of state for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, also visited and made an offering. Koizumi's appearance was particularly sensitive because of his defense portfolio. He became the first sitting Japanese defense minister to visit Yasukuni on Aug. 15 since Minoru Kihara, now chief Cabinet secretary, did so in 2024. Koizumi also visited the shrine on the surrender anniversary last year when he was agriculture minister. The visits mean at least one serving Cabinet minister has gone to Yasukuni on Aug. 15 for seven consecutive years since 2020. The streak reached six years in 2025. LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki, General Council Chair Haruko Arimura and Election Strategy Committee Chair Yasutoshi Nishimura visited the shrine together Saturday. The South Korean government on Friday expressed “deep regret” over what it called “anachronistic acts that ignore history” after senior Japanese figures again made ritual offerings or visited Yasukuni Shrine. “The government strongly urges Japan’s responsible leaders to face history squarely and demonstrate through their actions humble reflection and sincere remorse over the past,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We emphasize that this is an important foundation for building a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship based on mutual trust.” Yasukuni honors more than 2.4 million people who died in wars involving Japan since the late 19th century. Among those enshrined are 14 Class-A war criminals convicted after World War II, including wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. Their inclusion has made the shrine a recurring source of diplomatic friction with South Korea and China, where visits by Japanese political leaders are viewed as symbols of insufficient reckoning with Japan's wartime aggression and colonial rule. Aug. 15 carries sharply different historical meanings across the region. In South Korea it is Liberation Day, marking the end of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Japan observes the date as the day to commemorate the war dead and pray for peace, marking Emperor Hirohito's announcement in 1945 that Japan would accept the Allied terms of surrender. AJP Takeaways: Takaichi chose distance, not disassociation: The prime minister skipped Yasukuni but sent a privately funded ritual offering as LDP president. Cabinet and party conservatives remained visible: Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, another minister and three senior LDP executives visited the shrine on Aug. 15. History remains a diplomatic fault line: The visits came on the same date Japan commemorates its war dead and South Korea celebrates liberation from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule. 2026-08-15 09:16:03
  • Legendary Korean Baseball Player Baek In-cheon Passes Away at 83
    Legendary Korean Baseball Player Baek In-cheon Passes Away at 83 Baek In-cheon, a legendary figure in Korean professional baseball and a player known for his remarkable batting average, passed away on August 15 at 6:41 a.m. at Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 83 years old.According to Yonhap News Agency, Baek was found in cardiac arrest at his home in Cheonan around 6 a.m. the previous day. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he received CPR and regained his blood pressure and pulse, but his condition remained critical, leading to his transfer to Dankook University Hospital, where he had been receiving regular treatment.After battling for a day in the intensive care unit, Baek ultimately passed away.The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) plans to hold a funeral for Baek, honoring his contributions to the development of Korean baseball. He will be the second person to receive a KBO funeral, following Lee Yong-il, the former acting president of KBO, who passed away last September.Born in 1942 in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, Baek learned baseball while fleeing to South Korea during the Korean War, playing at Kyungdong Middle School and Kyungdong High School.He began his professional career as a catcher, joining the Nonghyup in 1961. In 1962, he signed with the predecessor of the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, the Toei Flyers, as a free agent.Baek played in Japan until 1981, representing teams such as the Daiei Hawks (now Seibu Lions), Lotte Orions (now Chiba Lotte Marines), and Kintetsu Buffaloes. He won the Pacific League batting title in 1975 with a batting average of .319.Returning to Korea with the establishment of the professional league, Baek played for the Sammi Superstars from 1983 to 1984, concluding a 23-year career as a professional player in both Japan and Korea.In 1985, he began his coaching career as a hitting instructor for the Cheongbo Pintos. He later became the inaugural manager of the LG Twins, a team he helped re-establish after acquiring the MBC Cheongryong, leading them to a Korean Series championship in 1990.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:08:00
  • The Shift to Written and Essay-Type Exams in South Koreas Education System
    The Shift to Written and Essay-Type Exams in South Korea's Education System <Education & Perspective> examines the crumbling public education system, declining school-age population, and the shifting college entrance exam system, addressing pressing educational issues and challenges with a sharp focus. It also seeks sustainable alternatives while occasionally offering a cold yet warm perspective on our society.We are in an era where generative artificial intelligence (AI) can derive optimal answers in just seconds. The ability to quickly find answers has already surpassed human capabilities. It is time to bid farewell to the traditional educational paradigm that confines us to merely finding answers. The ability to pose significant questions and actively reconstruct scattered knowledge data has become a new measure of future talent.However, our school system remains trapped in the framework of multiple-choice exams. The current college entrance exam method, which has students repeatedly practice selecting answers from predetermined options for years, cannot cultivate the autonomous inquirers that future society demands. Transitioning to a written and essay-type evaluation system that assesses students' critical thinking and argumentative skills, rather than relying solely on memorization, is an urgent task that can no longer be postponed.The National Education Commission (NEC), which operates under the direct authority of the President, has proposed the introduction of written and essay-type questions in college entrance exams to foster social consensus. The main obstacles to implementing this change have been the enormous grading workforce and costs, as well as concerns about fairness due to individual biases among graders. However, as recent discussions at field forums have indicated, AI grading technology could be the key to solving this significant challenge. A shift in mindset is needed to utilize AI not merely as a tool for generating scores but as a capable assistant that quickly and accurately establishes evaluation criteria and grading foundations based on pre-set standards.The problem is that the current situation makes this transition difficult. For instance, in the AI era, children are primarily using keyboards, leading to a decline in handwriting skills. As the use of digital devices increases, more children are struggling with poor handwriting and weakened grip strength. In the private education market, there is a rising demand for programs such as handwriting correction academies and short-term workshops to address these issues.There is no need to create a meaningless private education market within public education. There is no need to instill anxiety in parents and children. The process of writing correctly and laying the foundation for thinking should be adequately addressed within the realm of public education. Educational authorities must strengthen and take responsibility for teaching proper handwriting and basic literacy skills in elementary education to prevent parents from being swayed by unnecessary private education marketing.Of course, concerns surrounding the introduction of AI grading persist. The key issue is how to ensure the objectivity and reliability of evaluations. To alleviate fears of technical errors or algorithmic opacity, the principle of 'Human-in-the-loop' must be thoroughly established. AI should remain in the role of providing grading rationale and preliminary assessments, while the final grading authority must rest entirely with classroom teachers. Additionally, regularly disclosing the agreement rates between human evaluators and AI algorithms, as well as establishing multiple infrastructures for monitoring and re-evaluating anomalous answers, will be necessary to gain social approval.We must also prepare meticulously for the irregular expansion of the private education market. It is not an exaggeration to say that once written and essay-type evaluations are introduced, customized tutoring focused on standardized writing techniques will flourish. The fundamental solution to prevent these side effects is to shift the focus of evaluation from 'simple submission of results' to 'process-oriented assessment within classroom instruction.' By reducing the grading workload through AI utilization, teachers can concentrate on providing individualized feedback and designing discussion and writing lessons with the time they have gained. If the government can implement an 'AI-based public essay feedback system' in schools nationwide, it will not only curb reliance on private education but also help alleviate educational disparities between regions.The ultimate goal of introducing written and essay-type evaluations and intelligent grading is not merely to enhance the differentiation of college entrance exams. It is to fundamentally change the landscape of classrooms and the learning habits of children. Just as evaluation systems define curricula, when college entrance exams move toward measuring the competencies we aspire to, classrooms can be revitalized into spaces for discussion and project-based learning.AI grading technology is not an omnipotent tool that provides answers but a useful bridge that helps us transition to the 'competency-based education' we have long sought. Educational authorities must proceed cautiously and gradually, moving beyond superficial institutional changes to enhance teachers' evaluation expertise and establish reliable technology foundations. The future of our children depends on ending the era of passive answer-seeking and embarking on a true educational transformation that encourages them to ask questions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:04:10
  • KREAM Sees 90% Surge in Beauty Transactions, Expanding Beyond Fashion
    KREAM Sees 90% Surge in Beauty Transactions, Expanding Beyond Fashion Consumers are rapidly increasing their searches for perfumes, makeup, and skincare on the trend trading platform KREAM. The demand for high-end niche perfumes at relatively lower prices has led to a broader expansion of purchases across cosmetics, establishing beauty as a new growth pillar for KREAM.According to KREAM, beauty transaction volume in the first half of this year rose by approximately 90% compared to the same period last year. During the same timeframe, transaction volume increased by 106%, and the number of buyers grew by 107%. The repurchase rate also saw an increase of about 8%.Perfumes have been the key drivers of this growth. KREAM analyzed that consumers are attracted by the ability to purchase high-end niche perfumes, such as Jo Malone, Le Labo, and Byredo, at prices lower than their retail launch prices.A KREAM representative stated, "The average transaction price for the top 10 active niche perfumes was about 33% lower than their launch prices." As a result, the transaction volume for fashion perfumes surged by 163% in the first half of the year compared to the previous year. The transaction volume and value for niche perfumes also increased by 66% and 68%, respectively.Additionally, customers drawn in by perfumes are quickly expanding their purchases to other beauty products. In the first half of the year, the transaction volume for eye makeup increased by 366%, while skincare transactions rose by 332%. Men's beauty sales also jumped by 175%. This trend is attributed to customers who initially sought specific perfumes on KREAM broadening their purchases to include lip products, base makeup, and skincare.Services enhancing delivery convenience are also contributing to the growth of beauty transactions. From May to July, about 70% of beauty category transactions utilized fast delivery, which is 11 percentage points higher than the overall average of 58% across KREAM's categories.A recently introduced shopping bag option aimed at gift demand has also received positive feedback. In a pilot program for overseas shipping products, more than half of the buyers opted for the shopping bag option. Since its introduction, the transaction volume for these products has increased by approximately 80%.The KREAM representative added, "Recently, the range of purchased products has rapidly expanded to include fashion perfumes, makeup, and skincare. We will continue to enhance our product offerings and services to allow customers to conveniently purchase a variety of beauty products in a trustworthy environment."Meanwhile, Naver plans to invest 130 billion won in KREAM in the second half of this year. Naver will participate in KREAM's capital increase by acquiring 38,681 common shares.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:04:10
  • Banking Sector Launches Marketing Campaigns for 81st Liberation Day
    Banking Sector Launches Marketing Campaigns for 81st Liberation Day 은행권이 광복절을 앞두고 다양한 마케팅을 선보이고 있다. 15일 금융권에 따르면 KB금융그룹은 독립유공자 후손 소상공인을 지원하는 ‘명품가게’ 2차년도 사업 참여자를 모집한다. 이번 2차 사업에서는 기존 환경개선 지원에 경영 컨설팅을 더해, 소상공인의 경영 역량을 높이고 안정적인 자립 기반을 마련할 수 있도록 지원을 강화한다. KB금융은 'KB 소상공인 컨설팅센터'와 연계해 선정 점주의 경영 현황과 금융 수요를 진단하고, 자금관리와 사업 운영 등 현장에서 실질적으로 필요한 맞춤형 컨설팅을 제공한다. 이를 통해 점주가 안정적으로 생업을 이어가고 지속가능한 경영 기반을 다질 수 있도록 지원할 방침이다. 명품가게는 독립유공자 후손이 운영하는 점포와 주거환경을 개선하고 안정적인 생업을 돕는 사업이다. 올해는 시설 개선뿐 아니라 경영·금융 컨설팅도 연계해 지원한다. 새롭게 선정되는 소상공인 점포는 5곳이다. 이와 함께 KB금융은 광복절을 기념해 국민 참여형 캠페인도 선보였다. 국민의 목소리로 함께 노래하는 '함께 부르는 대한이 살았다' 국민 참여 챌린지를 실천했다. 하나은행은 군 장병과 청년을 위한 ‘나라사랑 815 광복 이벤트’를 진행한다. 오는 17일까지 ‘하나 나라사랑카드’와 ‘나라사랑 하나통장’을 새로 발급하면 버거킹 와퍼세트 모바일 쿠폰을 제공한다. 두 상품은 군 복무 기간뿐 아니라 전역 이후에도 금융·생활 관련 혜택을 제공한다. 우리은행은 백범 김구 선생 탄생 150주년과 광복절을 기념해 ‘우리의 소원 정기예금·적금’을 출시했다. 고객이 자신의 소원을 남기면 우대금리를 받을 수 있는 참여형 상품이다. 정기예금의 최고금리는 연 3.60%, 적금은 최고 연 8.29%다. 정기예금은 1조원 한도로 오는 31일까지 판매한다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:04:00
  • My Mermaid Swims in Cheonggyecheon: A Summer Night Media Art Experience
    My Mermaid Swims in Cheonggyecheon: A Summer Night Media Art Experience The mermaid you create on your smartphone swims along the waters of Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. A unique summer night scene unfolds as visitors can design their own characters and participate in the media art experience. On August 15, the Seoul Tourism Foundation announced the launch of new content titled 'Mermaid Swimming Night' as part of the media art exhibition 'Cheonggye Soul Ocean' on the night of August 14. The highlight of this content is the direct involvement of visitors in the creation process. By scanning a QR code on-site with their smartphones, attendees can access a website to design their desired mermaid. The completed mermaids will appear in the media art set against the backdrop of Cheonggyecheon. They will swim alongside other mermaids created by different visitors in an underwater landscape inspired by coral and the deep sea. Each time a visitor participates, the characters on the screen change, creating unique scenes even in the same space. To coincide with the new content launch, a social media event will take place from August 15 to 30, offering prizes to participants at various stages. The event may end early if all prizes are claimed. 'Cheonggye Soul Ocean' is an exhibition that presents Seoul's seasons, ecology, and history through media art, adding new content each month rather than showcasing a single piece for an extended period. The exhibition will continue until December 31, taking place under the Gwanggyo Bridge and in the Gwanggyo Gallery area. It will be open daily from 7 PM to 10 PM until the end of August, with hours shifting to 6 PM to 10 PM starting in September. Operations may be temporarily suspended if access to Cheonggyecheon is restricted due to rain. The nearest subway station to the exhibition is Jonggak Station on Line 1, located about 300 meters from Exit 5. Details regarding the exhibition and events can be found on the official Instagram page of 'Cheonggye Soul Ocean.' Jeong Byeong-ho, head of the Tourism Festival and Event Team at the Seoul Tourism Foundation, stated, "Cheonggyecheon will transform into a constantly changing space through audience participation, providing an enjoyable experience as a cultural space completed by citizens and tourists together." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:04:00
  • Samsung Life Launches One-Time Premium Pension Insurance for Retirement Savings
    Samsung Life Launches One-Time Premium Pension Insurance for Retirement Savings Samsung Life has announced the launch of its digital-only product, 'Samsung One-Time Premium Pension Insurance,' designed for individuals looking to prepare for retirement by making a single lump-sum payment. The product requires a one-time premium payment upon enrollment, which must be maintained for a minimum of five years before receiving pension benefits. As of August 2026, the initial five years will feature a guaranteed annual interest rate of 4.13% (before tax and after deducting business expenses). After this period, the accumulated funds will be managed based on a monthly variable interest rate that reflects the company's asset management returns and market interest rates. The product is available in two types: the basic plan and the enhanced pension plan. The enhanced plan allows policyholders to increase their pension funds by adding a retention bonus of 7.3% of the basic premium if the contract is maintained for five years. For example, a 40-year-old male who enrolls in the enhanced plan with a one-time premium of 100 million won can expect an accumulated amount of approximately 120 million won after five years. Assuming the current declared interest rate of 2.67% remains stable, the accumulated amount could reach about 136 million won after ten years. Enrollment is open to individuals aged 20 to 85, with coverage amounts ranging from 2 million won to 100 million won. Interested customers can sign up through Samsung Life Direct and the integrated Samsung Financial app, 'Monimo.' If the policy meets tax law requirements, interest income on insurance benefits may be exempt from taxation. Policyholders can also make partial withdrawals from their accumulated funds without canceling the contract, provided that the remaining amount exceeds 30% of the basic premium.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-15 09:04:00