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  • Museum Withdraws Exhibit After Misattribution to Independence Activist
    Museum Withdraws Exhibit After Misattribution to Independence Activist The National Museum of Korea has withdrawn an exhibit that was believed to be the work of independence activist Park Won-geun (1912–1950) after concerns were raised that it may actually belong to pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang (1874–1959). The museum issued an apology on August 12.In a statement on its official website, museum director Yoo Hong-jun expressed regret, saying, "We apologize to the public for the insufficient verification of the exhibit from the 'Our Dining Table' display."The disputed artifact is a piece of calligraphy titled 'Ilban Siguk-eun' (一飯是國恩), which translates to 'Even a bowl of rice is a nation's grace.' The museum had presented it as the work of Park Won-geun, a patriot from Boeun, North Chungcheong Province. Family members of Park visited the exhibit and were seen kneeling in front of the artifact, visibly emotional.However, recent reports suggested that the name 'Park Won-geun' inscribed on the calligraphy could also refer to Park Jung-yang, who held various positions during the Japanese colonial period, including a member of the Chosun Assembly and governor of North Chungcheong and Hwanghae provinces. He was also involved in suppressing the March 1st Movement.The museum reportedly acquired the artifact in 2019 from an art auction where it was presented as a work by Park Won-geun. Following the tip received on August 10, the museum promptly removed the item and initiated expert verification.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 08:20:00
  • Nexons Mintrocket to Launch Mobile Version of Dave the Diver on September 17
    Nexon's Mintrocket to Launch Mobile Version of 'Dave the Diver' on September 17 Nexon subsidiary Mintrocket will release the mobile version of the ocean adventure game 'Dave the Diver' next month.Nexon announced on the 13th that the mobile version of 'Dave the Diver' will officially launch on September 17.'Dave the Diver' is a hybrid adventure game that combines ocean exploration with sushi restaurant management. Players explore the 'Blue Hole' during the day to collect marine life and run a sushi restaurant at night. The game features elements of exploration, collection, and management.The mobile version was first released in China in February, where it sold over 1 million copies.Mintrocket has optimized the gameplay from the PC and console versions for mobile, enhancing controls and player experience. Additional convenience features tailored for mobile users have also been included.Key content from the PC and console versions will be available on mobile as well, including collaboration content with the fishing adventure game 'DREDGE' and the DLC 'In the Jungle.'Purchasers of the main game will receive a 'Cobra Boat Skin,' a 'Digital Artbook,' and an 'Original Soundtrack' as part of a free 'Digital Extra.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 08:20:00
  • Kairospace verifies satellite de-orbit device in space
    Kairospace verifies satellite de-orbit device in space SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - A South Korean startup announced it had successfully demonstrated a device designed to pull defunct satellites out of orbit faster, a modest but concrete step in the global effort to curb the growing hazard of space debris. Kairospace said Thursday that its in-house de-orbit system, dubbed DORB, had proven its performance aboard a CubeSat launched into space by South Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket, in what the company described as a full validation under real orbital conditions. The system is built to stop retired or malfunctioning satellites from lingering in low orbit for years and becoming space junk. It works by expanding a satellite's surface area to increase atmospheric drag, hastening the craft's natural descent. Stowed, it folds into a sliver measuring 0.25 units — one unit being a 10-centimeter cube — from metal-coated polymer film pleated origami-style, then unfurls into a broad structure once triggered. Kairospace fitted DORB to KSAT3U, a 3U CubeSat carried aloft on Nuri's third flight in May 2023. The satellite was tasked both with observing weather through polarized imaging of the Earth's surface and with demonstrating that it could dispose of itself to help thin the orbital clutter. After about a year of normal operation, the company deployed the device and found the satellite's rate of orbital descent had more than doubled. Other CubeSats launched alongside it now sit about 80 to 150 kilometers higher, a gap Kairospace said makes the effect plainly visible. The firm said that even the public can watch the shift themselves through the satellite's NORAD tracking number, 56746. KSAT3U remains fully operational even after the device unfurled, and in May it captured and transmitted footage of the Busan New Port area. "Space debris is a critical challenge that the entire global space industry must solve together," said Shin Gyung-woo, Kairospace's chief executive, adding that the company would channel the result into European trials and global commercialization to build "a product that can compete in world markets." AJP Takeaways • A domestically built CubeSat, launched on the Nuri rocket, has become a rare in-orbit proof point for South Korean space-debris mitigation technology, an area where global regulation is tightening but few players have flight-verified hardware. • The measured result — a doubling of descent speed, publicly trackable via NORAD ID 56746 — gives Kairospace a credible export pitch as it moves to European trials with Gyeongnam Technopark backing. • Worth watching: the company's own project page describes a hydrogen-inflated balloon rather than the folded-film mechanism in this release. Reconciling that discrepancy, and confirming the projected reduction in total de-orbit time, would strengthen any follow-up. 2026-08-13 08:14:05
  • KB Securities Raises Target Price for Pumtech Korea Amid K-Beauty Demand
    KB Securities Raises Target Price for Pumtech Korea Amid K-Beauty Demand KB Securities announced on August 13 that it has raised its target price for Pumtech Korea from 55,000 won to 74,000 won, an increase of 34.5%, citing the resolution of uncertainties related to the expansion of its fourth factory and ongoing demand growth driven by the global spread of K-Beauty. The investment recommendation remains a 'buy.'Seong Hyun-dong, a researcher at KB Securities, stated, "The issues surrounding the expansion and operation of the fourth factory that had been weighing on the stock price in the first half of 2026 have been resolved sequentially, alleviating uncertainties regarding long-term growth." He also noted that the company has positively managed the rising prices of key raw materials, such as resin, due to the war, by passing those costs onto consumers.Pumtech Korea reported consolidated revenue of 116.8 billion won and an operating profit of 21.7 billion won for the second quarter, marking increases of 10.8% and 11.4%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The operating profit reached a record high for a quarter, exceeding both KB Securities' estimates and market consensus. The growth in revenue was attributed to increased demand from the global expansion of K-Beauty and the supply boost from the factory expansion, benefiting both major cosmetics companies and indie brands.Looking ahead, KB Securities anticipates continued improvement in performance for the second half of the year, projecting revenue of 249.6 billion won and operating profit of 43.3 billion won. The price increase in the pump division, which began in June, is expected to be fully reflected, and the addition of assembly equipment is likely to resolve production bottlenecks. The sixth factory is expected to be completed in the third quarter and operational in the fourth quarter, which should gradually reduce the gap between orders and actual performance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 08:08:00
  • Trumps Youngest Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt, to Depart at Months End
    Trump's Youngest Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt, to Depart at Month's End Caroline Levitt, the White House Press Secretary, will step down at the end of this month to spend more time with her two children. After her departure, she will continue to serve as an external advisor to President Donald Trump and support the Republican midterm elections.Trump announced Levitt's resignation on social media platform Truth Social on August 12.“She will now have more time to spend with her family,” Trump said, adding, “I fully understand and respect this decision.” He also noted that Levitt would remain involved as a senior external advisor to help secure victories for the Republican Party in the upcoming midterms.Levitt explained on X (formerly Twitter) that after returning to the White House in May following the birth of her second daughter, she found it challenging to balance her duties as Press Secretary with raising her two children, leading to her decision to resign.Levitt served in the Trump administration's first term in the White House Press Office and was the spokesperson for Trump's campaign during the 2024 election. She made history as the youngest White House Press Secretary at the age of 27 after Trump’s re-election.No announcement has been made regarding her successor.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 07:52:00
  • Seoul plants 7 tech seeds for post-AI growth
    Seoul plants 7 tech seeds for post-AI growth SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) -South Korea is placing seven long-term bets on technologies from small modular reactors and fusion power to quantum computing and brain-computer interfaces to secure new growth engines for the 2030s and beyond, as demographic decline and slowing investment threaten to deepen structural low growth. The government on Wednesday unveiled the seven SEED projects at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, laying out development and commercialization targets spanning clean energy, frontier technologies and critical supply chains. "The government's direction is clear. We have to get ahead of other countries in future advanced industries," President Lee Jae Myung told the gathering. "We must become a leader, not a follower." Cabinet ministers and presidential aides joined about 60 participants, including researchers from universities, institutes and companies, science and engineering students and entrepreneurs. SEED stands for Strategic Emerging Engines for Disruptive Innovation. The projects are intended to cultivate technologies that could become major industries 10 to 20 years from now, beyond the government's existing mega projects in semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers. The Ministry of Science and ICT said Korea's potential growth rate has slipped into the 1 percent range as the working-age population shrinks and investment weakens, making reliance on existing manufacturing strengths increasingly difficult. The seven projects fall into three groups: clean energy to meet rising power demand from AI while cutting carbon emissions; frontier technologies including quantum, space and biotechnology; and critical minerals and materials underpinning advanced manufacturing. Nuclear energy forms one of the most ambitious parts of the program. Korea plans to commercialize its light-water innovative SMR in Gijang, Busan, by 2035 while developing non-light-water reactors through public-private special-purpose companies. The government also plans a technology-neutral, performance-based licensing system by 2030 and wants SMRs deployed beyond conventional power plants, including industrial complexes, ships, defense and space. It will seek uranium-supply partnerships with countries including the United States and Britain while developing longer-term spent-fuel recycling capabilities. Fusion development will proceed on a similarly compressed timetable. Korea plans to use an AI-based virtual fusion reactor to speed design and plasma-control work, with a 100-megawatt demonstration reactor targeted for power production from 2039. Commercial reactors would follow in the 2040s. The quantum program seeks to turn Korea's semiconductor manufacturing strength into an advantage in the next computing platform. A proposed K-Quantum Foundry, led by major chipmakers through a public-private venture, would build domestic quantum-chip production capacity alongside a Korean full-stack quantum computer. Space ambitions range from lunar exploration to communications infrastructure. Korea plans lunar missions in 2030 and 2032 and wants its own low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network by 2035, while supporting Korean companies seeking roles in next-generation commercial aircraft development. In biotechnology, AI and robotics will be used to accelerate drug discovery and biological manufacturing, while brain-computer interface technology is targeted for commercial use by 2035. The seventh project addresses a weakness closer to the present: Korea's dependence on foreign critical minerals and components despite its strength in finished manufacturing. The government plans to double maximum strategic stockpiles to 365 days for selected resources and invest 10 trillion won in materials, components and equipment technologies through 2030. A separate 5 trillion won program will link major manufacturers with suppliers in 15 joint development projects. The strategy also calls for changes to the country's research system, including institution-level funding for universities, mission-oriented government research institutes and an investment-style R&D scheme that allows the state to take equity in companies and recycle returns into new research. A public-private task force headed by the deputy prime minister for science and technology will coordinate the projects and review their roadmaps, funding and regulatory hurdles. The longer-term concept is to reinvest capital generated by today's semiconductor and AI industries into emerging technologies, turning some of the seven SEEDs into Korea's next generation of mega industries. 2026-08-13 07:49:01
  • Lionel Messi Reflects on Fathers Passing in Emotional Message
    Lionel Messi Reflects on Father's Passing in Emotional Message Lionel Messi shared a heartfelt message following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi.On August 11, Messi posted on his social media, saying, "I still can't believe that Dad is gone. It's hard to imagine that I can no longer see or talk to him. There was still so much left for us to enjoy together, and he left too soon."He added, "Dad asked me to make sure to play in the last World Cup," but noted that "his condition worsened just days before the tournament began."Messi recalled telling his father, "We will make it to the final, and you can come then." He waited for his father's messages after each match, realizing the seriousness of the situation only later. "I wanted to buy time somehow so that Dad could see at least one game in person," he said.However, Jorge was unable to attend the matches. Messi expressed, "I wanted to win and bring the trophy to Dad and show him a new one, but I couldn't. This time, I tried to fight against physical limitations, but it was impossible. My legs had no strength."When he visited his father after the World Cup, Messi recounted, "When I arrived, Dad thought we had lost in the final by penalty shootout. I couldn't tell him everything that had happened. He couldn't enjoy anything."Messi reflected, "Dad doesn't know how much we enjoyed every game. Once again, he was right. I should have been there, and I should have played in the World Cup."He also expressed uncertainty about his future without his father, saying, "I don't know what to do or how to keep going without him. I just played soccer, but now I'm not sure if I can continue this for much longer."Messi lamented, "You were with me from the beginning, and there was so little time left. Why couldn't you hold on a little longer to finish this together?"Jorge Messi passed away on August 8 at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 07:40:00
  • Mirae Assets Q2 Profit Approaches 2 Trillion Won, Outpacing Shinhan Financial
    Mirae Asset's Q2 Profit Approaches 2 Trillion Won, Outpacing Shinhan Financial Mirae Asset Securities reported a nearly 2 trillion won net profit for the second quarter, significantly surpassing its competitors. The firm achieved a net profit of 1.9052 trillion won for the second quarter, marking a 369.4% increase from the same period last year and a 90.2% rise from the previous quarter.In the first quarter, the company recorded a net profit of 1.0019 trillion won, making it the first in the securities industry to exceed 1 trillion won in net profit for two consecutive quarters. For the first half of the year, the cumulative net profit reached 2.9072 trillion won, a 337.8% increase year-on-year, while pre-tax profit soared to 3.8863 trillion won, up 348.6%.Mirae Asset's performance outstripped that of its rival, Korea Investment & Securities, which reported a net profit of 1.7311 trillion won for the first half, leaving a gap of 1.1761 trillion won. In terms of second-quarter results, Mirae Asset also surpassed major banks, including Shinhan Financial Group (1.8201 trillion won) and the five largest banks: Shinhan Bank (1.3015 trillion won), Kookmin Bank (1.1240 trillion won), Hana Bank (1.0213 trillion won), and Woori Bank (842.7 billion won).The key driver behind this impressive performance was the evaluation profit of 1.6242 trillion won from its investment in SpaceX, which accounted for 64.2% of the second-quarter pre-tax profit. This investment has been credited with giving a significant boost to the company's overall results.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 07:32:00
  • U.S. Stocks Rise on AI Investment Hopes; SK Hynix ADR Jumps 9%
    U.S. Stocks Rise on AI Investment Hopes; SK Hynix ADR Jumps 9% The U.S. stock market rose, driven by strong performances from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure companies and inflation data that met expectations. As concerns about a slowdown in AI data center investments eased, semiconductor stocks like Nvidia and Micron showed strength, with SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADR) soaring over 9%.On August 12, the S&P 500 index closed up 20.30 points (0.26%) at 4,748.50. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 143.04 points (0.54%) to finish at 26,588.49. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 21.58 points (0.04%) to close at 33,770.27.Strong earnings from AI infrastructure firms fueled the rise in tech stocks. According to Reuters, AI cloud company CoreWeave reported second-quarter results that exceeded market expectations and raised its revenue and capital expenditure forecasts for the year, leading to a stock surge of over 19%. AI server company Supermicro also provided a revenue outlook for fiscal year 2027 that surpassed market predictions, resulting in a nearly 19% jump in its stock.As expectations grew for continued investment in AI data centers, semiconductor stocks rallied across the board. Nvidia rose 3.0%, while Micron increased by 4.9%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index also climbed approximately 2.5%.SK Hynix's ADR, which has drawn significant interest from domestic investors, surged over 9%, reaching the $154 range. This increase is seen as a response to renewed expectations for expanded investments in AI servers and data centers, following a recent significant correction in memory stocks.Inflation data also supported investor sentiment. The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July rose 0.1% from the previous month, aligning with market expectations. The year-over-year increase was 3.4%, down from 3.5% in June.Excluding food and energy, the core CPI rose 0.2% from the previous month and 2.5% from the same month last year, both in line with market forecasts.With inflation not exceeding expectations, concerns about the Federal Reserve implementing an additional rate hike in September have diminished. The market is increasingly reflecting the possibility of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintaining the current interest rate in September.Among the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, eight saw gains. The real estate and information technology sectors rose by over 1%. The Chicago Board Options Exchange's volatility index, known as the fear gauge, fell to 14.45.International oil prices rose slightly amid ongoing uncertainty in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Brent crude traded at $88.98 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) closed at $83.27.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 07:16:00
  • Musk Predicts AI Revenue Will Soon Surpass Starlink and Space Operations
    Musk Predicts AI Revenue Will Soon Surpass Starlink and Space Operations Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has projected that the company's artificial intelligence (AI) revenue will exceed the combined revenue of its Starlink and space operations as early as next month. He also announced plans to train the company's AI model, Grok, using various information held by SpaceX.According to Business Insider on August 12, Musk stated during an all-hands meeting, "AI is a very important part of SpaceX's future," and added, "AI revenue will definitely be greater than the total revenue from the rest of the business next month." He anticipates that the gap will widen further in the fourth quarter.Currently, the most lucrative segment for SpaceX is its communications division, primarily driven by Starlink. In the second quarter, the company reported total revenue of $7.8 billion, with the communications sector contributing $4.291 billion, accounting for more than half. The AI segment generated $2.561 billion, while the rocket launch and spacecraft business brought in $962 million.If Musk's predictions hold true, AI will soon surpass the communications sector to become SpaceX's largest business.Musk plans to utilize SpaceX's proprietary information to enhance Grok's learning. He told employees, "We will train Grok based on all the information SpaceX has," and referred to them as the 'parents of AI,' explaining that their thoughts, ideas, and beliefs will also influence the AI. However, he did not disclose which employee information would be used in the actual training.Musk also forecasted that within the next five years, the amount of internet data exchanged by AI will reach 1,000 times the amount generated by humans.On the same day, SpaceX's stock showed strong performance. According to Barron's, shares rose approximately 11% during trading on August 12, reaching $148.44.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-13 07:08:00