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  • Minister Kim Jung-kwan Discusses Exceptions to 52-Hour Workweek in Mega Special Zones
    Minister Kim Jung-kwan Discusses Exceptions to 52-Hour Workweek in Mega Special Zones Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan stated on August 12 that discussions are ongoing regarding various forms of labor systems, including the white-collar exemption from the 52-hour workweek.During a meeting of the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, and Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Kim responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Won-ii about whether the special law for mega special zones would include exceptions for working hours. He noted, "Labor hours and environments have changed as industrial conditions have evolved."He emphasized that the government, labor, and industry are currently engaged in close discussions. Kim also acknowledged that there are differing views with the Ministry of Employment and Labor regarding the application of the 52-hour workweek exemption. In response to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Seo Ji-young about Employment Minister Kim Young-hoon's statement that the exemption is not possible, he said, "From the Minister of Labor's perspective, that may be a valid viewpoint."Kim reiterated his belief that the system should not undermine the aspirations and determination of those who work hard to achieve success. He also mentioned that discussions regarding the relaxation of the 52-hour workweek regulation were raised during a public-private joint meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung. Previously, on August 10, the government held a second public-private joint inspection meeting at the Blue House with representatives from companies involved in mega projects, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. 2026-08-12 13:28:00
  • Samsung Securities liable for phantom-share losses, top court rules
    Samsung Securities liable for phantom-share losses, top court rules SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - South Korea's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Samsung Securities was vicariously liable for employee negligence behind its 2018 "phantom-share" debacle, broadening the legal basis for compensation while leaving a 1.87 billion won ($1.3 million) award to the National Pension Service unchanged. A four-justice panel of the Supreme Court, with Justice Oh Kyeong-mi as the justice in charge, rejected appeals from both sides and upheld a lower court ruling that partially favored the National Pension Service, or NPS. The court said employees responsible for processing the dividend could have foreseen that shares mistakenly credited to staff accounts might be offered and sold through the market. It therefore found a sufficient causal link between the employees' negligence and the NPS's losses, holding Samsung Securities vicariously liable under the Civil Act. That marked a departure from the lower courts, which held the brokerage directly liable for deficiencies in its systems and internal controls but rejected the NPS's separate claim of employer liability. The Supreme Court said that part of the lower court's reasoning was incorrect but concluded that recognizing the additional basis for liability would not alter the damages or the company's share of responsibility. The accident occurred on April 6, 2018, when a Samsung Securities employee mistakenly processed a cash dividend of 1,000 won per share as a distribution of 1,000 shares per share to 2,018 members of the company's employee stock ownership association. The error credited 2.81 billion nonexistent shares, worth about 112 trillion won at the previous day's closing price and more than 30 times the brokerage's outstanding shares, to employee accounts. Twenty-two employees submitted orders to sell 12.08 million shares over a 31-minute period, with trades for 5.01 million shares offered by 16 employees ultimately executed. The wave of selling pushed Samsung Securities shares down as much as 11.68 percent to 35,150 won from the previous close of 39,800 won. The NPS, which held about 11.23 million Samsung Securities shares before the accident, sold roughly 940,000 shares that day and 3.57 million shares through Sept. 28. The pension agency sued Samsung Securities in 2019, seeking about 29.9 billion won for losses it said resulted from the price collapse. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in August 2024 that Samsung Securities had failed to establish adequate procedures and risk controls for dividend processing and had been too slow to notify employees and block sell orders after discovering the error. Relying on an expert assessment, the court limited recoverable losses to about 1.66 million shares sold between the accident and April 10, finding that the incident's direct effect on the share price had dissipated by the following trading day. It calculated losses of about 3.86 billion won by comparing the estimated price that would have prevailed without the accident with the prices at which the NPS sold its shares. The court then limited Samsung Securities' responsibility to 50 percent, citing the combination of an unintended processing error and individual wrongdoing by employees who sold the shares. After deducting gains the NPS made by purchasing shares at depressed prices on the day of the accident, the compensation was set at 1.87 billion won plus interest. The Seoul High Court upheld the award in January, prompting both sides to take the case to the Supreme Court. The Financial Services Commission separately suspended Samsung Securities from taking on new equity-trading clients for six months and imposed a 144 million won fine in 2018 over failures in internal controls, emergency planning and the safe processing of electronic transactions. ___________________________________________________________________________________ AJP Takeaways The Supreme Court upheld a 1.87 billion won compensation award to the NPS over Samsung Securities' 2018 phantom-share accident. Unlike the lower courts, the top court recognized the brokerage's vicarious liability for its dividend-processing employees' negligence. Compensation covered losses from the first three trading days after the accident, with Samsung Securities' responsibility limited to 50 percent. 2026-08-12 13:25:44
  • Nvidia Develops 1 Trillion Parameter AI Model to Compete with China
    Nvidia Develops 1 Trillion Parameter AI Model to Compete with China Nvidia is developing a massive open artificial intelligence (AI) model with over 1 trillion parameters. This initiative aims to catch up with Chinese companies in the open AI market while expanding its AI model ecosystem to boost demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs).According to IT media outlet The Information on August 11, the largest model in Nvidia's next-generation series, 'NemoTron4,' is expected to have at least 1 trillion parameters, targeting performance that can compete with the world's leading open AI models.NemoTron4 is approximately twice the size of the previously largest model, 'NemoTron3 Ultra,' which was unveiled in June. The number of parameters is a key indicator of the size of an AI model.However, in terms of size, Chinese companies still lead the market. Moonshot AI's 'Kimi K3' boasts 2.8 trillion parameters, Alibaba's 'Q1 3.8-Max' has 2.4 trillion parameters, and DeepSeek's 'V4-Pro' is reported to have 1.6 trillion parameters.Having a high number of parameters does not necessarily guarantee superior performance. Nvidia is enhancing its technology to achieve high performance with smaller models while also increasing the size of its models.On the same day, Nvidia unveiled a lightweight model, 'NemoTron3.5 Lightning,' which has 30 billion parameters. This model utilizes 'distillation' technology to transfer the capabilities learned by larger models to smaller ones, allowing for high performance with fewer computing resources. It can be used for coding, security checks, and AI program applications.Nvidia has significantly increased its investment in developing its own AI models. It is securing large-scale computing resources by renting AI servers from cloud companies that purchase its AI chips. As of late April, the multi-year cloud service contract amount reached $30 billion (approximately 42 trillion won).The company is also expanding collaborations with external AI firms. It is sharing AI training data and technology through the 'NemoTron Alliance,' which includes Reflection AI, Cursor, Thinking Machines Lab, and Mistral AI. Naver Cloud joined the alliance in June.As Nvidia's own AI model performance improves, the likelihood of competing with major clients like OpenAI and Nvidia-invested startups also increases.Nevertheless, Nvidia anticipates that as the number of open AI models grows, the demand for GPUs necessary for training and operation will also rise. The company aims to expand its influence beyond AI semiconductor sales to include models and software, thereby growing its AI ecosystem centered around its platform.Details regarding the specifications and release schedule for NemoTron4 have not yet been finalized. The final training is still underway, and it is expected to be completed by late fall at the earliest.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 13:20:00
  • JW Pharmaceutical Shares Surge 15% Following Successful Phase 3 Gout Drug Trial
    JW Pharmaceutical Shares Surge 15% Following Successful Phase 3 Gout Drug Trial JW Pharmaceutical is experiencing a surge of over 15% in its stock price following the announcement of positive results from a multinational Phase 3 clinical trial for its gout treatment candidate.As of 1:07 PM on August 12, the Korea Exchange reported that JW Pharmaceutical's shares rose by 4,100 won (15.62%) to 30,350 won. At one point during the trading session, the stock reached 31,650 won.On the previous day, JW Pharmaceutical confirmed the efficacy of its gout treatment candidate, efapiminurad, at the primary development dose of 6 mg in the Phase 3 trial. The company plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) aiming for domestic approval in 2027.The trial involved 612 gout patients across 52 institutions in five Asian countries and regions, including South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. The treatment response rate for the 6 mg efapiminurad group was 50.0%, surpassing the 38.3% response rate of the standard treatment group receiving 40 mg febuxostat.Efapiminurad is an oral gout treatment candidate that selectively inhibits the human urate transporter 1 (hURAT1), reducing uric acid reabsorption in the kidneys and promoting its excretion.However, the 9 mg dosing group did not meet the statistical non-inferiority criteria compared to the 80 mg febuxostat group for the primary efficacy endpoint.Based on the clinical results, JW Pharmaceutical will further review the direction for pursuing high-dose approvals.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 13:12:10
  • Hancoms Agentic OS Integrated into Firefighting Robots, Expanding into Physical AI Market
    Hancom's Agentic OS Integrated into Firefighting Robots, Expanding into Physical AI Market Hancom is expanding its business into the physical artificial intelligence (AI) market by integrating its self-developed Agentic operating system (OS) into firefighting robots.On August 12, Hancom announced that its subsidiary, Hancom Life Care, has signed a five-year exclusive sales and technology development agreement with French robotics company Shark Robotics for the domestic market.The exclusive sales agreement covers the large firefighting and rescue robot 'Colossus' and the fire door blocking robot 'Rhino Protect.' For the next five years, Shark Robotics will not be able to sell these products through other distributors in South Korea.Hancom Life Care has also secured domestic sales rights for other robot products from Shark Robotics. This agreement marks a significant expansion for Hancom Life Care, which has previously supplied personal protective equipment and other firefighting and safety products, into the realm of robotics.Notably, the Colossus and Rhino Protect will be equipped with Hancom's Agentic OS. This operating system goes beyond utilizing individual AIs, integrating and managing multiple AI agents within a single framework. The two companies aim to collaborate on technology integration of the Agentic OS into the two robots by December 31.Once the Agentic OS is applied to the robots, they will be able to analyze information collected on-site in real-time, organizing data on hazardous areas and entry routes to relay to command systems. The goal is to reduce the time firefighters spend verifying and assessing data collected by the robots, thereby enhancing on-site response capabilities.Hancom is developing software, interfaces, and integrated modules related to the Agentic OS and holds rights to this technology. Shark Robotics will provide technical documentation, specifications, interface information, and technical support for the robots.Hancom plans to expand its business scope from its AX business, which has focused on corporate office environments, to include the operation and management of industrial robots as an AI platform company.Kim Yeon-soo, CEO of Hancom, stated, “Hancom is declaring its transition to an Agentic OS company and is poised to become an AX partner for domestic and international businesses. We expect that Hancom's Agentic OS will not only innovate work environments but also serve as an AI platform responsible for the operation and management of intelligent hardware, including robots.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 12:56:10
  • SK HYPER CEO Seok-geun Jeong: Customers Will Demand Tokens Beyond Data
    SK HYPER CEO Seok-geun Jeong: Customers Will Demand Tokens Beyond Data "In the future, customers will demand 'tokens' beyond data. If we have the infrastructure to create these tokens and the technology to optimize them, the Artificial Intelligence Data Center (AIDC) will not only be a new business but also a new growth engine for the telecommunications industry," said Seok-geun Jeong, CEO of SK HYPER and head of SKT AI CIC and the AIDC Integration Promotion Team, during a briefing at the company newsroom on August 12.He explained that the role of telecommunications companies, which have traditionally provided data based on their networks, will expand in the AI era to include offering computing resources and tokens based on AIDC.To this end, SK Group is elevating the AIDC business to a core initiative at the group level. The AI CIC at SK Telecom is designing the business direction, while the newly established SK HYPER is responsible for developing and investing in the AIDC business. The AIDC Integration Promotion Team will consolidate related capabilities within the group to accelerate business execution. Jeong emphasized, "It is important for each of the three organizations to perform their roles smoothly." Jeong pointed to the growing importance of infrastructure in AI competition as a key reason for expanding the AIDC business. He noted that as algorithms and data for creating AI models rapidly standardize, the ability to secure sufficient power and servers has become a competitive differentiator.He explained that AIDC, which aggregates large-scale Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in one location, requires more power and computing resources than traditional data centers. While existing data centers focused on Central Processing Units (CPUs) and storage, AIDC will incorporate large-scale GPUs. Given the high power consumption of GPUs and the performance benefits of clustering multiple GPUs, securing large-scale infrastructure is crucial.Jeong also forecasted that AIDC could evolve into a new national infrastructure, similar to how the construction of highways and high-speed internet spurred growth in related industries. He stated, "When highways and the internet were established, not only did they have construction and economic growth effects, but they also fostered the development of industries such as automotive, oil refining, gaming, search, and telecommunications. I believe that once AI data centers are built, there will be significant economic ripple effects both upstream and downstream." He added, "Our goal is to make South Korea an 'Asia AI Infrastructure Hub,' and it is essential for AI CIC, SK HYPER, and the AIDC Integration Promotion Team to perform their respective roles effectively."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 12:52:00
  • Cosmax Shares Surge Over 14% Following Record Q2 Earnings
    Cosmax Shares Surge Over 14% Following Record Q2 Earnings Cosmax has seen its shares rise over 14% during trading today, following the announcement of record earnings for the second quarter of this year and subsequent upgrades to target stock prices by analysts.As of 12:39 PM on the Korea Exchange, Cosmax's stock was trading at 241,000 won, up 31,000 won (14.76%) from the previous trading day.On August 11, Cosmax reported that its consolidated operating profit for the second quarter reached 73.7 billion won, a 21.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Revenue for the same period rose 27.5% to 794.9 billion won, while net profit surged 129.0% to 50 billion won. Both revenue and operating profit marked the highest quarterly figures in the company's history.For the first half of the year, cumulative revenue totaled 1.4769 trillion won, up 21.8% year-on-year, with operating profit increasing by 13.0% to 126.8 billion won. Growth from key overseas subsidiaries in countries such as China, the United States, and Southeast Asia contributed significantly to these results.Analysts predict that the growth trend will continue in the second half of the year. NH Investment & Securities raised its target price for Cosmax from 260,000 won to 300,000 won.Jung Ji-yoon, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities, stated, "Export growth rates remain high in July and August, and the factors that previously pressured margins for standalone subsidiaries are easing. The strong growth of our subsidiaries in China and the United States also supports positive expectations for third-quarter results."She added, "The valuation merits are also high, and we recommend buying." Following the upgrades in target prices, several securities firms have adjusted their forecasts. LS Securities set a target price of 350,000 won, while Kyobo Securities set it at 310,000 won. Korea Investment & Securities and Hyundai Motor Securities both set their target prices at 300,000 won, SK Securities at 290,000 won, and Eugene Investment & Shinhan Investment Securities at 280,000 won. Yuanta Securities adjusted its target price to 273,000 won, and Hanwha Investment & Samsung Securities set it at 270,000 won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 12:52:00
  • Na Young-seok Leads New Netflix Show Featuring Unwilling Hikers
    Na Young-seok Leads New Netflix Show Featuring Unwilling Hikers "My ambition is to create a next-generation group that will lead Korean entertainment for the next 10 years." (Na Young-seok)Na Young-seok has returned, leading a group of young stars into the rugged mountains. His new Netflix variety show, 'Why Are We Hiking?' captures the raw survival experiences of four reluctant hikers who have spent their lives avoiding the outdoors.On August 12, a production presentation for 'Why Are We Hiking?' (referred to as 'Dae-dung-why') was held at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Na Young-seok, fellow producer Park Hyun-yong, singer Car the Garden, Day6's Do-woon, actor Lee Chae-min, and All Day Project's Tarzan.Set to premiere on August 18, the 10-episode series follows four individuals who have never shown interest in hiking as they embark on their first winter mountain expedition. This real hiking variety show promises to deliver authentic experiences.Na Young-seok expressed his excitement about the new project and his strong trust in the cast. He stated, "Every time I launch a new program, I feel both excited and worried, but I believe that the essence of variety shows lies in the characters. It’s a great fortune to work with this new crew of four."'Dae-dung-why' features a fresh combination of cast members, including Car the Garden, Do-woon, Lee Chae-min, and Tarzan, which has generated buzz since the planning stages. Na explained his casting choices, saying, "I wanted to find hidden gems among new faces that no one has touched before, eliciting reactions like, 'Did that person have such a sense of humor?'Initially, the production team planned a typical variety show with light games and travel. However, after conducting pre-interviews, they recognized the cast's hidden potential and character, prompting a shift in the program's direction.Na noted, "I was curious about the chemistry that would emerge in a more challenging environment, which can only be experienced at this youthful age, so I chose hiking as the theme."Co-director Park Hyun-yong also highlighted the unexpected changes in relationships that arise from forced hiking. He shared, "I once went hiking with Na Young-seok under the influence of writer Lee Woo-jung, and I found that enduring a tough experience together led to more conversations and stronger bonds. I even hid the hiking aspect from the cast when I recruited them. I wanted to capture the genuine struggles of young people facing the harsh winter mountains."Under the meticulous planning of the production team, the cast began their journey with a climb of Seoraksan in temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius, followed by early morning hikes on Taebaeksan and a trek on Hallasan, tackling some of South Korea's most challenging mountains. Na believes that this rugged backdrop will provide fresh viewing experiences for global audiences. He remarked, "It's rare to find such steep and treacherous terrain, along with blizzards, anywhere else in the world. Domestic viewers will resonate deeply, while international audiences will be curious about Korea's captivating mountains."Park also pointed out that the culture of enjoying kimbap and ramen at the mountain summit is a unique aspect of Korean hiking culture, which serves as another highlight of the program.The candid hiking experiences of the four reluctant hikers brought laughter to the event. Instead of romanticizing the allure or sense of achievement in hiking, they shared their honest feelings about the physical challenges they faced, hinting at the genuine reactions that will be featured in the show.As the eldest and leader of the group, Car the Garden humorously stated, "Every time I climbed, my only thought was, 'I just want to get down quickly.'" Day6's Do-woon echoed this sentiment, saying, "I wanted to descend immediately upon arrival, and the way down felt endless. It was a uniquely charming hiking experience."The youngest member, Lee Chae-min, reflected on moments of brief inspiration amid physical pain. He shared, "I thought it would be really tough from the start, but it was so exhausting that I couldn't even express how heavy my legs felt. However, I will always remember the moment I reached the summit of Hallasan and saw the sea of clouds. It was a special gift, but I still wanted to get down just like the others." Tarzan added, "I endured the climb thinking about the food I could eat at the summit. That sincerity alone helped me finish the hike."The contrast between the producers' romantic expectations and the cast's reality became a strong asset for 'Dae-dung-why.' Na expressed satisfaction with how the cast broke traditional variety show norms in the mountain setting.He said, "I secretly hoped that the four misfits would start off grumbling but gradually discover the joy of the mountains and bond deeply at the summit. However, times have changed. Car the Garden, despite being the leader, embodied the 'modern person' who only thought of himself without any leadership qualities."He continued, "In past variety shows, participants would cry tears of emotion while watching a majestic sunrise, but these friends shouted, 'I don’t want to see that.' I believe that genuine reactions like these reflect the codes of today's generation. I take pride in the unique variety show that has emerged from their raw experiences."At the end of the presentation, the cast shared witty remarks to entice potential viewers.Car the Garden said, "If you all watch diligently and Na PD decides to send us hiking again, I won’t be able to refuse. For those who dislike me, this is the perfect program to enjoy while lounging at home and laughing at others' struggles."Do-woon reflected, "It was tough to climb, but the filming team captured the visuals beautifully. It was a learning experience about what professionalism is." Lee Chae-min added, "The beautiful snowy mountain scenery will surely cool you down on a hot summer day when watched from a cool room." Tarzan also commented, "Watching four transparent guys climbing snowy mountains will be genuinely entertaining. I’ll try to avoid hiking next time, but I hope for your continued support."The Netflix variety show 'Why Are We Hiking?' intertwines the unfiltered survival stories of youth with the stunning scenery of snowy mountains, premiering for global audiences on August 18.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 12:32:00
  • China Dominates Global Ship Orders in July, South Korea Holds 16% Share
    China Dominates Global Ship Orders in July, South Korea Holds 16% Share Global ship orders in July saw a significant decline of over 50% compared to the previous month, with China capturing more than 80% of the total orders. South Korea, focusing on selective orders for high-value vessels, recorded a 16% market share.According to Clarkson Research, a UK-based maritime market analysis firm, the total global ship orders in July amounted to 3.57 million CGT (137 vessels), a 56% decrease from 8.03 million CGT in June and a 22% drop from 4.55 million CGT in the same month last year.By country, China secured 2.9 million CGT (111 vessels), accounting for 81% of the total, while South Korea obtained 570,000 CGT (21 vessels), achieving a 16% market share.In terms of cumulative orders for the year, China continued to show strength. From January to July, global cumulative orders reached 50.93 million CGT (1,778 vessels), a 65% increase from 30.95 million CGT (1,296 vessels) during the same period last year.Of this, China received 38.02 million CGT (1,394 vessels), holding a 75% market share, which is a 107% increase compared to the previous year. South Korea secured 8.7 million CGT (218 vessels), representing a 17% market share and a 61% increase from the previous year.The order backlog also continued to rise. As of the end of July, the global order backlog stood at 211.75 million CGT, an increase of 2.32 million CGT from the previous month. Among this, China accounted for 140.22 million CGT, or 66% of the total, while South Korea recorded 38.23 million CGT, representing 18%.Compared to the previous month, South Korea's order backlog decreased by 480,000 CGT, while China saw an increase of 3.61 million CGT. Year-on-year, South Korea's backlog increased by 3.03 million CGT, while China's rose by 34.64 million CGT.Ship prices also continued to rise. At the end of July, Clarkson's newbuilding price index recorded 185.49, up 0.34 points from June's 185.15. This marks a 29% increase compared to July 2021, when the index was at 143.95.By vessel type, the newbuilding prices were $248.5 million for LNG carriers, $130.5 million for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), and $259.5 million for ultra-large container ships in the 22,000 to 24,000 TEU range. 2026-08-12 12:28:00
  • Job Creation Transforms Society: 10 Senior Empowerment Projects Yield $71 Million in Social Value
    Job Creation Transforms Society: 10 Senior Empowerment Projects Yield $71 Million in Social Value Senior job programs, once seen merely as income support, are now filling gaps in community care and addressing environmental issues, generating significant social value. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has reported that ten leading model projects utilizing seniors' expertise have achieved social outcomes equivalent to 128.3% of their budget, opening new horizons for senior employment initiatives.On August 12, the Ministry released the results of the 'Senior Empowerment Leading Model Project Social Impact Assessment,' conducted to objectively confirm the contributions of senior jobs to community problem-solving.The assessment, carried out by an external agency from October to November last year, was based on the international Impact Management Project (IMP) framework. It analyzed various outcomes from the ten projects launched last year, converting employment, social services, and environmental impacts into monetary values.The results showed that the total budget of 5.548 billion won for the ten projects generated effects worth 7.116 billion won, representing a 128.3% return on investment, or approximately 12.8 million won in social value for every 100 million won spent. Additionally, the projects provided quality jobs for 942 seniors.In terms of impact types, 'income enhancement' through direct employment of seniors accounted for 4.227 billion won, or 59.4% of the total impact. This was followed by 'social service provision' for seniors and children at 2.823 billion won (39.7%), and 'environmental improvement' initiatives, such as waste recycling and greenhouse gas reduction, at 65.37 million won (0.9%).Notably, the projects were praised for their close collaboration with local governments, public institutions, and private enterprises, effectively linking community resources with the expertise of the new senior generation, thereby enhancing the impact of public funding and contributing to local problem-solving.Among the projects, the 'Grandparent-Grandchild Care Program' in Gyeongsangbuk-do achieved the highest impact at 3.41576 billion won, followed by the 'LH Living Care Service' from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation at 2.81147 billion won. These initiatives significantly contributed to filling care gaps for children in dual-income families and elderly individuals living alone over the age of 80.In terms of efficiency, the 'Senior Taste Keeper' program, which teaches multicultural families how to prepare Korean food, recorded an impressive 287.5% social impact relative to its budget, demonstrating the highest efficiency. The 'Coffee Grounds Recycling Project,' which creates deodorants from discarded coffee grounds for vulnerable groups, also achieved a high impact of 177%, validating the value of resource recycling models.The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to continue developing successful projects into standard models and actively support their expansion in communities based on social impact. They also aim to expand senior empowerment job models linked to community needs and the expertise of the new senior generation, while strengthening ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) collaboration with private enterprises to enhance social investment.Choi Bong-geun, Director of the Ministry's Senior Policy Division, stated, "This social impact assessment has objectively confirmed that senior jobs create various social values beyond simple income support, addressing community care gaps and improving the environment. We will continue to discover and disseminate senior job models that meet community needs and enhance social value that citizens can feel."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-12 12:12:00