AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

&
""
Latest by
  • South Korea to End Special Rental Program, Expand Long-Term Private Rentals
    South Korea to End Special Rental Program, Expand Long-Term Private Rentals The South Korean government will end the special rental program for cooperative landlords by the end of this year, shifting its focus to expanding long-term private rentals operated by real estate investment trusts (REITs) and corporations for over 20 years. This marks a significant shift in rental policy from supporting individual landlords to promoting large-scale, long-term supply by professional operators.On August 13, the government announced a plan to expedite housing supply, which includes expanding public-supported private rental models that operate for more than 20 years. This initiative aims to encourage the supply of private rental housing by providing financial support to rental operators and broadening the exceptions to mortgage regulations.Kim Yoon-deok, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, “We will introduce a public-supported private rental model that operates for over 20 years and launch tailored long-term mortgage products to promote the supply of long-term private rental housing.”Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Ok-won added, “We will enhance financial support needed at various stages of supply, including relocation loans, operating funds for rental businesses, and financing for non-apartment operators.”The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on August 3 that the special rental program for cooperative landlords will end on December 31. This program allowed landlords who raised rents by no more than 5% compared to the previous contract to be exempt from certain tax requirements when selling the property after maintaining the lease for a specified period.The government determined that, with the implementation of the rent cap limiting rent increases to 5% upon contract renewal, the need for additional tax exemptions had diminished. The decision also reflects concerns that excessive benefits were being granted to single-home landlords who do not reside in their properties.In lieu of tax benefits for individual landlords, the government plans to increase the supply of privately operated rental housing that is stable and long-term. This includes expanding financial support for rental operators and broadening the exceptions for mortgage regulations.The government will also diversify the supply methods for public rental housing. It plans to introduce a universal public rental housing model with relaxed income and asset criteria, as well as a universal lease rental system aimed at young people.Approximately 15% of public housing units will be offered through a shared-equity model, allowing buyers to pay for their homes over an extended period, and a profit-sharing model that divides the profits from property sales between the public and private sectors. This initiative aims to broaden housing options for young people and newlyweds based on their financial circumstances.If these policies are successfully implemented, they are expected to reduce the risk of rental properties being sold or security deposits being returned due to the financial situations of individual landlords. However, concerns remain that transitioning the rental market from individual landlords to professional operators may take considerable time, and delays in expanding long-term private rentals after the end of the cooperative landlord program could weaken incentives to control rent increases during the transition period.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:20:00
  • Export-Import Bank Makes First Venture Investment in Defense and Supply Chain
    Export-Import Bank Makes First Venture Investment in Defense and Supply Chain The Export-Import Bank of Korea is making its first direct investment in a venture capital fund since its establishment. The bank will invest 20 billion won in a fund supporting venture companies in the defense and supply chain sectors, along with a separate investment in a medical artificial intelligence (AI) company.On August 13, the Export-Import Bank announced that it will select a management company for the 'LP Growth Fund' aimed at supporting venture companies in the defense and supply chain sectors, in collaboration with the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund.Both the Export-Import Bank and the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund will each contribute 20 billion won, with a total target fund size of 112.5 billion won. The fund will operate as a blind fund, meaning it will not pre-select investment targets but will seek out opportunities after the fund is established.The fund plans to invest in companies involved in finished defense products, parts, and materials, as well as advanced technology firms in the defense sector, including those working with drones, robots, and AI, along with companies related to key supply chain items.The Export-Import Bank will collaborate with BNK Financial Group, which has strengths in regional investments, and the Korea Venture Investment Corp., which has experience in managing venture funds. Earlier, the bank signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Busan Bank, and Kyongnam Bank in April to support small and medium-sized enterprises and promote regional investments.The investment project will be announced on the Export-Import Bank's website on August 14, and the final selection of the management company will occur after approval from the Minister of Economy and Finance in the second half of this year.Additionally, the Export-Import Bank has decided to invest in the medical AI venture company Airs Medical. The bank will invest 7.5 billion won in a 30 billion won project fund being established by Samho Green Investment.Airs Medical develops software that uses AI technology to reduce MRI scan times by up to 50%. In just eight years since its founding, the company generates over 90% of its total revenue from overseas.Through this investment, the Export-Import Bank plans to support Airs Medical in expanding its overseas sales network and securing local regulatory approvals.This investment became possible following amendments to the Export-Import Bank Act and the Supply Chain Stabilization Act earlier this year, which expanded the investment targets for the Export-Import Bank and the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund to include venture capital funds.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:20:00
  • AI Chat Logs Expose Personal Data, Prompting Concerns for Call Centers and Chatbots
    AI Chat Logs Expose Personal Data, Prompting Concerns for Call Centers and Chatbots Research has revealed that personal data could be exposed through inference logs from companies that have built AI services for call centers and internal automation using APIs from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google.A paper titled "Stealing Inference Traces from Proprietary LLM APIs," published on Hugging Face on August 12, identified structural flaws in the 'encrypted inference' blocks returned to clients by the frontier models of the three companies.Encrypted inference is a method where the AI model transmits its internal thought process in an encrypted form to the client, preventing competitors from observing this process to train their own models and ensuring that the reasoning process is not exposed to users. All three companies adopted this approach for security reasons.The issue arises from the fact that these encrypted blocks are interoperable across the same AI models. When a higher model requests to decrypt an encrypted block from a lower model, it is returned in plaintext. The paper demonstrated this flaw through an experiment where an encrypted block generated by Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.8 was decrypted by the relatively weaker Claude Haiku 4.5. Similar structural flaws were confirmed in OpenAI's GPT series and Google's Gemini series.The research team decrypted 315,320 inference block encryptions from 6,708 actual agent operation records available in public repositories. Among these, they identified 367 instances of personal identifiable information (PII) and 182 instances of authentication information, such as API keys and passwords. Given that this data was extracted from publicly available logs, the implications are significant.Domestic companies utilizing the APIs from the three firms are also at risk of personal data exposure. Many South Korean AI service companies are integrating the APIs from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google for call center consultations and internal automation.Samsung Electronics has implemented ChatGPT-based APIs across software development, product development, and marketing. Other companies, including LG Electronics, LG CNS, Samsung SDS, Krafton, and Toss, are also using ChatGPT-based APIs for internal automation. The financial sector, including Shinhan Bank, is increasingly automating call center consultations through AI contact centers (AICC).Particularly vulnerable are multi-turn chatbots and agent-type services that require maintaining conversational context, as they inherently exchange encrypted inference blocks in each session. This vulnerability necessitates a review of session log storage and sharing practices, along with the development of response measures by relevant authorities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:16:00
  • Possibility of Back-to-Back Rate Hikes Increases as Bank of Korea Sets Conditions
    Possibility of Back-to-Back Rate Hikes Increases as Bank of Korea Sets Conditions The Bank of Korea has shifted to a tightening stance following a rate hike last month, raising interest in the possibility of back-to-back rate increases. With the second quarter economic growth rate exceeding expectations and domestic recovery continuing, inflation and household debt are also contributing to pressure for further rate hikes.According to financial sources on August 13, the market initially anticipated that the Bank of Korea would pause after raising rates in July and consider another hike around October. However, recent comments from Bank of Korea Vice Governor Yoo Sang-dae, stating that "the likelihood of an additional hike is high unless there is a significant shock," have renewed speculation about consecutive increases at this month's monetary policy committee meeting.One key variable in the August rate decision will be the revised economic outlook to be announced this month. As the economic performance this year has significantly outpaced initial forecasts, there is a growing possibility of an upward revision to the growth rate. Previously, the Bank of Korea projected a growth rate of 2.6% for this year in May, and there are expectations that this forecast may be raised again.In fact, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter, far exceeding the Bank of Korea's forecast of 0.2%. Strong domestic demand and robust exports, particularly in semiconductors, have continued the growth trend following a 1.8% increase in the first quarter. The growth rate for the first half of the year stands at 3.8%, the highest level recorded in four and a half years since the second half of 2021 (4.5%).As the South Korean economy continues to surprise with its growth in the second quarter, major international investment banks have also raised their growth forecasts for the year. At the end of July, eight major investment banks projected an average real GDP growth rate of 3.2% for South Korea, up 0.2 percentage points from the end of June (3.0%). These banks have revised their growth forecasts upward for four consecutive months since April (2.4%).Domestic consumption trends are also improving. Credit card usage, a key indicator of domestic consumption, increased by about 20% in June compared to the previous month, combining both individual and corporate spending. In July, consumer spending likely improved further due to vacation season expenditures.However, the ongoing increase in household debt is another factor the Bank of Korea is considering. Despite stringent lending restrictions from banks, household loans, particularly mortgage loans, appear to have continued to rise in July. Earlier, Bank of Korea Governor Jin Hyun-sung noted that "the high volatility in financial and foreign exchange markets, along with the renewed rise in housing prices in the metropolitan area, poses risks of financial imbalances." Inflationary pressures are also increasing the need for further rate hikes. Vice Governor Yoo recently stated, "We need to consider the Bank of Korea's growth outlook and inflation trajectory going forward." The core consumer price index for July was 116.43, reflecting a 2.3% increase compared to the same month last year, marking the highest growth rate since December 2023. If supply-side factors such as international oil prices and exchange rates, along with domestic demand pressures, continue to rise, this could provide justification for additional tightening.Some analysts in the securities industry are also raising the likelihood of a rate hike in August. Jo Yong-gu, a researcher at Shin Young Securities, stated, "Given the second quarter GDP and GDI, as well as the July consumer price index, the conditions for back-to-back hikes are in place. While headline and living costs have slowed, the rise in core prices is a material concern that could indicate upward pressure from chip inflation and demand." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:12:00
  • Seoul defends nuclear submarine plan against Pyongyangs warning
    Seoul defends nuclear submarine plan against Pyongyang's warning SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - South Korea's planned nuclear-powered submarines will carry only conventional weapons and sit entirely within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday, rejecting North Korea's warning that the program will set off a nuclear domino across the Asia-Pacific. The position rests on a document the Ministry of National Defense released on May 26, the first time Seoul set out publicly how it intends to build and operate the boats. Named the Jangbogo-N project, the plan commits the navy to low-enriched uranium fuel, to designing and building the submarines at home, and to launching a first boat in the mid-2030s. It also states that South Korea will hold no nuclear weapons of any kind, and that it will work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to design a safeguards system that can be applied to a submarine reactor. Park Doo-soon, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular briefing that the program is a justified and defensive answer to a rapidly changing security environment on the Korean Peninsula, citing North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capability and its construction of a nuclear-powered submarine of its own. South Korea has met its treaty obligations faithfully, he said, and will stay in close contact with the agency on the basis of transparency as the program moves ahead. He said the government would put the same case to every country with a stake in it. Asked whether it had already explained itself to China or Russia, and whether the subject would come up when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Seoul later this month, he said he had nothing to offer. North Korean state media carried the statement that prompted the question on Wednesday, under the name of Jang Kum-chol, first vice foreign minister and director of the Workers' Party of Korea's 10th Bureau, which handles South Korean affairs. Jang said the submarine plan had entered its execution phase and was deepening instability in the region. He argued the ambition was not new, claiming Seoul had secretly advanced a nuclear submarine project from 2003, and repeated the North's position that holding unmatched retaliatory power is the responsible choice for deterrence. The submarines became possible only after Washington agreed to them. President Lee Jae Myung raised the subject with US President Donald Trump at their summit in Gyeongju on Oct. 29 last year, telling him that South Korea's diesel-electric boats have limited endurance underwater, which restricts their ability to track North Korean and Chinese submarines, and that South Korean nuclear boats would lighten the load on US forces in the region. Lee said what he wanted was fuel, not weapons. Trump announced his approval the following day in a post on Truth Social, writing that South Korea could build a nuclear-powered submarine in place of what he called its old and far less nimble diesel fleet, and adding that the work would be done at a shipyard in Philadelphia. A joint fact sheet the two governments released on Nov. 14 confirmed approval for a nuclear-powered attack submarine, along with US support for civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing within the terms of the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement and US law. It named no construction site. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said afterward that the leaders had talked throughout on the premise that the boats would be built in South Korea, and that the request to Washington concerned fuel alone. What a reactor buys is endurance. A diesel-electric submarine runs on batteries while submerged and has to rise close to the surface to run its engines and recharge, the moment at which it is most easily found. A reactor needs no air and no refueling for years, so a boat can stay down as long as its crew holds out, cross an ocean at speed, and follow a target without ever showing itself. South Korea builds some of the finest conventional submarines in the world and not one of them can do that. Nothing in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) bars a country without nuclear weapons from using a reactor to drive a warship. The treaty governs weapons, not propulsion. The difficulty lies in the inspection system run by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose safeguards agreements allow a state to withdraw nuclear material from routine inspection when it goes to a military use that is not explosive. That provision was written decades ago and has never been carried through to a completed arrangement. Australia is working the same question with inspectors for its own submarine program. No verification model exists for fuel sealed inside a reactor that spends months at sea, and the May plan commits South Korea to designing one with the IAEA. The fuel itself remains unsettled. South Korea cannot enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel under its nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, and widening those rights requires the consent of the US Congress. Delegations from both governments met in Seoul on June 2 and 3 for the first working session on the submarine, enrichment and reprocessing, with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker leading the American side and First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo the South Korean side. North Korea has been building a nuclear submarine of its own. State media reported on Dec. 25 that Kim Jong Un had inspected construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered vessel designed to launch strategic guided missiles, disclosing its displacement and publishing an image of the full hull for the first time. Standing at the site, Kim said South Korea's plan "seriously infringes upon the security and maritime sovereignty of our state," calling it "an aggressive act" and "a security threat that must be answered." --- AJP Takeaways ● Park Doo-soon, the South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a regular briefing Thursday that the country's planned nuclear-powered submarines will carry only conventional weapons and comply fully with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and that Seoul will work with the International Atomic Energy Agency on transparency as the program advances. ● Jang Kum-chol, North Korea's first vice foreign minister, said in a statement carried by state media Wednesday that the South Korean program had entered its execution phase and would set off a nuclear domino across the Asia-Pacific, claiming Seoul had secretly pursued nuclear submarines from 2003. ● Donald Trump approved South Korean construction of a nuclear-powered attack submarine in a Truth Social post on Oct. 30 last year, and a joint fact sheet released on Nov. 14 confirmed the approval without naming a build site. Neither the approval nor the May 26 basic plan behind the ministry's position was raised at the briefing, and both were established through separate reporting. ● Kim Jong Un inspected construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine designed to launch strategic guided missiles, North Korean state media reported on Dec. 25, calling the South Korean plan an aggressive act and a security threat that must be answered. 2026-08-13 15:11:57
  • Fashion Industry Embraces Resale Market as Secondhand Sales Surge
    Fashion Industry Embraces Resale Market as Secondhand Sales Surge Clothing that was once sold is becoming a new revenue source for the fashion industry. As the market for 'recommerce' expands, fashion companies that previously focused on new product sales are now broadening their business to include secondhand transactions.Some companies are incentivizing customers to return used items by offering payment in the form of store points, encouraging them to make new purchases and keep them within the company's ecosystem.According to industry reports, LF's secondhand fashion platform, Elimarket, launched in September 2022, saw its transaction volume in the second quarter of this year grow approximately 2.5 times compared to its initial launch period.Elimarket allows consumers to sell used clothing, handling collection, inspection, storage, and resale, while providing sellers with 'Elie Rewards' that can be used like cash on LF Mall.There is also a noticeable trend of secondhand sales leading to new purchases. The transaction volume from Elie Rewards used for repurchases on LF Mall increased by about 80% in June compared to September of last year, establishing a circular structure where selling used clothes leads to new consumption on LF Mall.The number of sellers and brands has rapidly increased as well. The cumulative number of sellers has grown 5.4 times since the launch, and the number of brands available for sale has expanded from about 15 to over 170 within six months, now including contemporary brands as well as golf and outdoor apparel.Musinsa is also accelerating its expansion in the recommerce market. The transaction volume for its secondhand fashion service, Musinsa Used, in July of this year was approximately 12 times higher than in its first month of operation in September 2022.Musinsa is also expanding its offline presence. At the Musinsa Outlet in Lotte Mall Eunpyeong, which opened in March, sales exceeded 2,300 transactions within the first four days.The fashion industry's interest in recommerce is driven by more than just secondhand sales. By keeping the second transaction within their platforms, brands aim to maintain customer engagement and link it back to new purchases.Using Money from Selling Secondhand to Buy New ClothesIn the past, the secondhand market was dominated by peer-to-peer platforms like Danggeun Market and Bunjang. From a brand perspective, it was difficult to track where and at what price their products were being resold after the initial sale. Recommerce allows brands and fashion companies to reclaim this second transaction.Kolon FnC was one of the early movers in the fashion industry, launching the 'OLO Relay Market' in 2022, where customers receive points for selling used items, which can then be used on Kolon Mall.Initially focused on Kolon Sports and other in-house products, the company has significantly broadened its acquisition targets to include both domestic and international fashion brands this year.In the first half of this year, transaction volume in the OLO Relay Market grew about 4.4 times compared to the second half of 2022, with the number of sellers increasing by 5 to 6 times since its launch.Last month, Kolon FnC also released a separate mobile application to strengthen the connection between new purchases and secondhand sales within a single consumer process.Ultimately, fashion companies aim for a circular structure of 'sale → use → collection → resale → new purchase.' By retaining customer and product data without losing secondhand items to external platforms, and by offering rewards in the form of store points, they can expect a 'lock-in' effect that brings consumers back.This approach also has implications for brand value management. By directly involving themselves in inspection and product grading, companies can reduce uncertainties regarding quality compared to peer-to-peer transactions. They can also monitor the resale prices of their products in the secondhand market, allowing for better management of residual value.Global Secondhand Clothing Market Expected to Reach $393 BillionThe expansion of recommerce is not limited to South Korea. According to the '2026 Resale Report' released by global secondhand fashion platform ThredUp, the global secondhand clothing market is projected to grow from approximately $289 billion this year to about $393 billion by 2030.It is expected to grow nearly twice as fast as the overall clothing market over the next five years. Generation Z (born in the mid-1990s to early 2010s) and millennials (born in the early 1980s to mid-1990s) are anticipated to drive 71% of the market growth by 2030.As inflation persists, consumers are increasingly price-sensitive, making the opportunity to purchase brand-name products at lower prices appealing. The prices of secondhand items sold on LF Elimarket typically range from 20% to 40% of the original retail price, depending on the brand and condition.However, recommerce is not without its challenges. The condition of secondhand products varies, requiring individual handling for collection, inspection, cleaning, repairs, photography, storage, and shipping.It is difficult to achieve operational efficiency compared to new products, and as secondhand sales grow, there is a risk that some customers may choose used items over new ones, leading to self-cannibalization.The value of recommerce operated directly by brands may be more pronounced in indirect effects, such as strengthening customer relationships and reducing quality uncertainties, rather than in the profits from secondhand sales alone.An industry insider stated, “Recommerce is now seen as a key touchpoint that goes beyond simple secondhand transactions, allowing for the accumulation of customer data and encouraging repurchases. As integrated models that encompass both online and offline become established, the competitive landscape among retailers will shift from new product sales to the entire circular consumption ecosystem.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:08:10
  • South Korea Increases Household Loan Capacity Amid Ongoing Real Estate Regulations
    South Korea Increases Household Loan Capacity Amid Ongoing Real Estate Regulations The South Korean government plans to alleviate financial bottlenecks in housing supply and occupancy by increasing household loan capacity by approximately 30 trillion won and significantly expanding support for real estate project financing (PF). The initiative aims to ensure that loans for actual housing needs, such as moving costs, interim payments, and final payments, are not hindered by total loan regulations, while also increasing public guarantees for normal PF projects to support construction.On August 13, the Financial Services Commission announced a comprehensive financial plan aimed at stabilizing the real estate market. While maintaining key regulations such as the loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and the debt service ratio (DSR), the focus is on easing funding for housing supply and actual demand.Initially, the target for the total household debt increase for this year was set at 1.5%, but it has now been raised to 3%. This adjustment will provide the financial sector with an additional capacity of about 30 trillion won for household loans. The government plans to prioritize this funding for moving costs related to reconstruction and redevelopment, as well as for interim and final payments for new housing complexes and youth housing stability.However, some experts have raised concerns that doubling the total target so soon after setting it may indicate that the original 1.5% target was overly stringent. The previous total loan regulations had unintended consequences, restricting loans for actual housing needs, which ultimately led to the need for this adjustment.Loans related to housing supply, such as moving costs and interim and final payments, will be managed separately from total loan regulations. This aims to prevent delays in occupancy or maintenance projects for homes that have already been purchased. The confusion surrounding final payment loans for upcoming complexes, such as 'The D.H. Bangbae' in Seoul and 'Maegyo Station Palusid' in Suwon, is expected to be largely resolved.The challenge remains whether the government can effectively manage the newly created 30 trillion won in loan capacity as intended. If the allocation process among financial institutions and for various purposes shifts towards general housing purchase demand, the expansion of total loans could be interpreted as a signal for regulatory relaxation.Shin Jin-chang, head of the Financial Services Commission's Secretariat, stated, "Through consultations with the financial sector, the overall level of total loan management will be clarified, and we expect immediate improvements in on-site inconveniences."Support for PF financing will also be expanded. To prevent delays in construction for normal projects due to funding issues, the support scale will increase from the current 26.3 trillion won to over 47.8 trillion won. Public guarantees for normal projects will be expanded to an average of 28.7 trillion won annually over the next three years, which is 2.2 times the previous three-year average of 13.1 trillion won.In 2027, when the planned construction volume is expected to be the lowest, 33 trillion won will be concentrated for supply. The guarantee ratio for residential projects will be temporarily increased from the existing 90-95% to 100%, and the 30% reduction in PF guarantee fees will be extended until the end of 2027.Funding for the resolution of troubled PFs will also be increased. A new support fund for normalizing PFs will be established with over 3 trillion won, and syndicate loans from banks and insurance companies will be expanded from 1 trillion won to 5 trillion won. The financial sector's own normalization fund will also increase from 7.3 trillion won to 10 trillion won.PF exposure decreased from 231.1 trillion won at the end of 2023 to 169.8 trillion won by the end of March this year. The government recognizes that normal projects are facing difficulties in securing funding during the restructuring process. However, a key challenge will be to avoid signaling that the viability of less profitable projects is being prolonged or that PF restructuring is becoming lax due to the significant increase in guarantees and liquidity supply.Nam Hyuk-woo, head of the real estate research institute at Woori Bank, noted, "The main reason projects fail to transition from permitting to construction is funding issues. This will provide relief for maintenance projects that have been stalled due to rising financial costs and construction expenses." 2026-08-13 15:08:00
  • Mayor Lee Min-keun Aims to Develop Competitive Marine Healing Model for Ansan
    Mayor Lee Min-keun Aims to Develop Competitive Marine Healing Model for Ansan Mayor Lee Min-keun stated on August 12 that he aims to create a competitive marine healing model tailored to the conditions of Ansan.During a visit to the marine healing center in Saint-Malo, France, he presented a concrete blueprint for Ansan's marine healing model.On this day, Mayor Lee and his delegation visited the Les Thermes Marins de Saint-Malo to explore healing programs utilizing marine resources and examples of health management services. They sought ways to connect citizen health, tourism, and the local economy through Ansan's marine resources.One key aspect that caught Mayor Lee's attention was Saint-Malo's approach to integrating healing, relaxation, accommodation, and tourism into a comprehensive service, rather than limiting marine healing to a simple health management program.The Saint-Malo marine healing center operates various medical and health management programs, including thalassotherapy that utilizes Atlantic seawater, seaweed, and marine climate.Notably, it has established a marine healing tourism model that allows for long-term stays while managing health, linking an 'aquatonic pool' that utilizes seawater pressure and flow with accommodation facilities.Mayor Lee and his team experienced the aquatonic program firsthand, carefully examining the functions of each facility, user pathways, program composition, and the operational system of specialized personnel.Following this, they held discussions with Karin Guillard, the center's Chief Operating Officer, and other officials to share insights on developing and operating marine healing programs, as well as the structure of specialized personnel and the French thalassotherapy system.Mayor Lee signed a 'letter of intent for friendly exchange and cooperation' with the Saint-Malo marine healing center.The letter outlines plans to expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including culture, sustainable development, and the economy, while continuously sharing operational experiences and information in the marine healing sector. It also positively considers establishing a friendly cooperative relationship between the two cities in the future.Through this visit, Mayor Lee focused on applying overseas advanced cases to the realities of Ansan.The marine healing initiative in Ansan is expected to be promoted in a way that connects health and relaxation infrastructure that citizens can readily experience with tourism and the local economy.Citizens are particularly interested in this aspect. They believe that rather than facilities aimed solely at attracting external tourists, there is a need for a marine healing space that allows Ansan residents to enjoy health management and relaxation close to the sea, accessible to various demographics, including families, office workers, and the elderly.Moreover, there is optimism that if the marine healing center connects with existing marine tourism resources, accommodations, food, and tourism content, it could increase the length of stay for local visitors and boost sales for small businesses, thereby revitalizing the local economy.Mayor Lee emphasizes that rather than directly importing the Saint-Malo model, he aims to create a unique 'Ansan marine healing model' that reflects Ansan's sea, islands, tourism resources, and citizen demand.He noted that his focus during the European visit was on how to create a virtuous cycle that integrates citizen health, tourism, and the local economy.Mayor Lee stated, "By observing the healing programs and operational systems utilizing Saint-Malo's marine resources, I was able to clarify the direction of Ansan's marine healing model." He added, "We will develop a competitive marine healing model by adapting advanced European cases to the conditions of Ansan."In addition, based on the results of this visit, Mayor Lee plans to comprehensively analyze the marine healing programs, facility operation methods, specialized personnel composition, and examples of healing tourism connections to reflect them in the future establishment and operational strategy of the Ansan marine healing center.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:08:00
  • Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Japan Protests
    Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Japan Protests Russian President Vladimir Putin's historic visit to the Kuril Islands, a region disputed with Japan, has drawn strong protests from Tokyo.On August 13, local time, Putin visited the Kuril Islands while on a tour of Siberia and the Far East. During his visit, he inspected local seafood processing plants, hospitals, and schools. Prior to his trip to the Kuril Islands, he observed military exercises aboard the Pacific Fleet's missile cruiser Varyag near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin Island.This marks the first time Putin has visited the Kuril Islands. Although Dmitry Medvedev, then Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, visited the area in 2010 during his presidency, Putin had not made a direct visit until now.The Kuril Islands, home to approximately 20,000 residents, are rich in mineral resources such as gold and silver, as well as abundant marine resources. The Soviet Union, Russia's predecessor, occupied the islands at the end of World War II in 1945, expelling around 17,000 Japanese residents and establishing military control.Japan refers to four islands in the southern Kurils—Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan, and Habomai—as its Northern Territories, leading to ongoing territorial disputes with Russia.In response to Putin's visit, Japan immediately lodged a strong protest. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a statement asserting, "The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law, and the Japanese government strongly protests this visit." 2026-08-13 15:04:00
  • Rising Population of Children with Developmental Disabilities Amid Declining Birth Rates
    Rising Population of Children with Developmental Disabilities Amid Declining Birth Rates 저출생으로 전체 학령인구가 급감하는 상황에서도 지적 장애와 자폐성 장애 등 발달장애 아동 인구는 늘어나고 있다. 이러한 역설적 장면이 펼쳐지는 것은 국가적 차원의 대비책 마련이 시급하다는 방증이다. 최근 한국장애인개발원이 발표한 통계에 따르면, 지난 10년간 전체 아동 인구(18세 미만)는 약 227만 명 감소했으나 등록 장애 아동 중 지적·자폐성 장애 아동은 오히려 2만 명 이상 증가한 것으로 집계됐다. 전체 아동 인구의 절벽 현상 속에서 발달장애 아동의 절대 수치와 비중이 동시에 증가하는 이른바 ‘통계적 역설’이 던지는 메시지는 명확하다. 우리 사회가 발달장애 지원 체계를 근본적으로 재설계해야 한다는 엄중한 경고등이 커지고 있는 것. 발달장애 아동의 증가라는 통계 수치 이면에는 매일 사투를 벌이는 당사자 가정과 열악한 특수교육 현장의 그늘이 짙게 깔려 있다. 한국장애인개발원 자료에 따르면, 18세 미만 등록 장애 아동 가운데 지적·자폐성 장애 비율은 80%를 넘는다. 교육부가 국회에 제출한 최근 자료를 들여다봐도 특수학교 재학생의 고충을 엿볼 수 있다. 특수교육 신청자의 희망 학교 배치율은 87.5%에 그쳐 10명 중 1명 이상이 제때 배정받지 못하며, 특수학교 재학생의 8.2%는 편도 1시간 이상의 원거리 통학을 감수해야하는 실정이다. 일반 학교 내 통합학급에 배치되더라도 전문 특수교사 부족으로 맞춤형 교육이 이뤄지지 못해, 돌봄 부담이 전적으로 가정에 전가되고 있다. 숫자가 가리키는 사회적 함의는 이렇다. 늘어나는 발달장애 아동 수를 고려할 때, 이러한 현실에 대응하는 것은 국가와 사회의 당연한 의무이자 책임이다. 조기 진단 정착 등으로 장애 발견율이 높아진 것은 이들 아동에게 더 많은 사회적 자원을 배분해야 할 당위성을 입증한다. 발달장애에 대한 오해와 편견을 거두고, 단순한 동정을 넘어 사회 구성원으로 함께 살아가는 통합 기반을 구축해야 한다. 전문가들의 목소리도 이러한 진단과 궤를 같이 한다. 이들은 발달장애 아동 정책이 단편적 지원에 그치지 않고, 영유아기 조기 개입부터 성인기 자립까지 연결되는 생애주기별 맞춤형 지원 체계로 전환되어야 한다고 지적한다. 특히 초등 진학 전 치료비 지원 확대와 특수교육 인프라의 획기적 확충이 시급하다. 해외 선진 사례도 중요한 시사점을 제공한다. 장애 아동 지원이 파편화된 한국과 달리, 교육과 복지가 원스톱으로 연동되는 점에 주목해야 한다. 일례로 영국은 교육·보건·돌봄을 하나로 묶은 ‘EHC(Education, Health and Care) 플랜’을 통해 아동과 가족이 한 번의 신청으로 필요한 복합 서비스를 통합 지원받도록 시스템화했다. 지적 장애와 자폐성 장애 아동의 증가는 개별 가정의 비극이나 사적인 돌봄 부담으로 치부될 문제가 결코 아니며, 사회 전체가 응답해야 할 공공의 책임이다. 지적 장애, 자폐성 장애에 대한 복지 및 교육 대책을 원점에서 재검토하고, 특수학교 신설과 전문 교원 확충, 생애주기별 지원망 구축을 신속히 추진해야 한다. 아이를 낳으라고 권장하기에 앞서, 태어난 모든 아이가 장애 유무와 상관없이 사회의 온전한 보호 속에서 자라날 수 있도록 만드는 것, 그것이 국가가 존재해야 하는 이유다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 15:00:20