Latest by
-
Prime Minister Kim Calls for Urgent Attention to Youth Voting Rights Prime Minister Kim Min-seok stated on June 9 that he recently met with representatives of university students who expressed concerns about the shortage of voting papers. He emphasized that voting rights are fundamental to democracy and urged the National Assembly, political parties, and relevant agencies to take the youth's concerns seriously. During his opening remarks at a meeting on youth policy held at the Government Seoul Complex, Kim called for the entire government to approach this issue with heightened awareness and urgency. Reflecting on his meeting with student representatives on June 7, Kim expressed his embarrassment over the situation, stating, "It is regrettable that we have not been more sensitive and responsive to such issues. We must act more swiftly to find solutions, and this has strengthened my sense of responsibility." Additionally, Kim proposed exploring various measures to address the challenges faced by young people, particularly in housing, finance, and taxation, which often disadvantage them when starting families. He also highlighted the importance of providing incentives to companies that create jobs, especially in a context where youth unemployment and job shortages in small and medium-sized enterprises coexist. He noted that linking youth employment to sectors vulnerable to artificial intelligence transitions is significant for alleviating industrial polarization. Furthermore, Kim pointed out that while young people receive free medical treatment for injuries sustained during military service, they may suffer from lingering effects after discharge. He called for an expansion of military service-related injury insurance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 17:18:00 -
Korean Textile Industry Chief Expands K-Fashion Cooperation in Europe The Korea Textile Industry Association announced on June 9 that President Choi Byung-oh will visit France, Italy, and Belgium from June 10 to 15 to meet with key representatives from local textile and fashion organizations. According to the association, Choi will meet with Olivier Ducatillon, President of the French Textile Industry Association (UIT), Pierre-François Le Roux, President of the French Clothing and Fashion Industry Association (UFIMH), and Yann Libourel, President of the French Women's Ready-to-Wear Association (FFPAPF) in Paris on June 11. The discussions will focus on cooperation between the textile and fashion industries of both countries, particularly in areas such as sustainability, digital transformation, and industrial innovation. On June 12, Choi will attend a business meeting in Rome alongside Hyewon Choi, CEO of Hyungji I&C. He will then meet with Silvana Pezzoli, Vice President of the Italian Textile and Fashion Industry Association, to discuss ways to enhance exchanges between companies in both countries. From June 13 to 14, Choi will visit Brussels, Belgium. During this time, he is scheduled to meet with Dirk Vantyghem, Secretary General of the EU Textile and Fashion Federation, and Paul Lombard, Secretary General of the EU Eco-Design Regulation (ESPR) Joint Research Center, Centexbel. They will review the implementation status of the EU's 'Sustainable Textile Strategy' related to ESPR textile readiness research. Additionally, discussions will cover topics of interest to the domestic industry, including the Forced Labor Prevention Act, supply chain transparency policies, EU trade policies, and strategies for expanding textile manufacturing between South Korea and the EU. A representative from the association stated, "This tour of France, Italy, and Belgium will accelerate K-Fashion's entry into the European market and serve as a significant opportunity to enhance cooperation between Korea and Europe." Meanwhile, the association announced the appointment of Byung-man Byeon, former policy planning director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as the new executive vice president.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 17:15:00 -
Kakao to stage first-ever strike as pay dispute deepens SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - The labor union at Kakao, South Korea's dominant messaging and fintech operator, will hold its first walkout in the company's history, marking a turning point in a protracted dispute over performance-based pay. The action is the first since the founding of IweLab, Kakao's predecessor, in 2006, the union said. It comes after a second round of mediation at the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission collapsed in late May, granting the union the legal right to strike. According to the IT industry, labor circles and police, the union will stage a partial strike of about five hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and rally near Kakao's Pangyo office in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Members are expected to condemn what they call management failures and demand job security. With wage and collective-bargaining talks deadlocked, the union is also seeking an overhaul of a compensation system it says rewards executives while leaving rank-and-file pay opaque despite improving earnings. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., members will march about 800 meters from the Pangyo office to the U space building, around one kilometer away. The union initially notified police that some 2,000 members would gather from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but officers estimate about 600 will turn out. Police plan to deploy one company of about 80 officers for traffic safety, anticipating a peaceful march. The walkout is unlikely to seriously disrupt flagship services such as KakaoTalk, used by about 40 million people monthly, or Kakao Pay, as essential staff remain on duty and core systems are automated. Analysts caution, however, that a prolonged strike could erode the company's ability to respond to sudden outages. The firm responded that it would keep services running, adding that it would establish the necessary response system. 2026-06-09 17:14:19 -
Special Prosecutors Seek Arrest Warrants for Four Officials, Including Kim Myung-soo, Over Insurrection Allegations The Special Prosecutors' team has requested arrest warrants for four officials, including Kim Myung-soo, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over allegations of involvement in insurrection during the military's deployment in December 2023.On June 9, the second Special Prosecutors' team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, announced that they had filed for arrest warrants against Kim and three others: Jeong Jin-pal, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Kim Heung-jun, former Director of the Army Policy Office; and Lee Jae-sik, former Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Operational Readiness Inspection.The officials are accused of failing to prevent military forces from being deployed to the National Assembly and other locations shortly after the declaration of martial law, while also participating in the establishment of the martial law command.During the investigation, the Special Prosecutors reportedly uncovered evidence that a proposal to withdraw troops was communicated to Kim after the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the lifting of martial law.Additionally, the Special Prosecutors believe that Kim issued a brief order to the Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command to prioritize martial law operations, which they view as further evidence of his involvement in the insurrection. A brief order is defined as a concise operational directive that conveys changes in unit missions or tactical situations.Since its establishment on February 25, the Special Prosecutors' team has been investigating allegations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff leadership's involvement in the martial law implementation, designating it as their first major case.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 17:06:00 -
Hanyang Cyber University and Hanyang Women's University Collaborate to Support Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Hanyang Cyber University (President Lee Gi-jeong) announced that its Career Development Center has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University Job Plus Center at Hanyang Women's University (President Na Se-ri) to support youth employment and entrepreneurship and establish regional governance. The agreement, signed on June 8 at Hanyang Women's University, aims to enhance youth employment in Seongdong-gu by leveraging the unique capabilities of both institutions as the only operational hubs in the area. The MOU emphasizes the integration of Hanyang Cyber University's remote education infrastructure and expertise with the offline resources of Hanyang Women's University's Job Plus Center. As a result of this partnership, Hanyang Women's University will be able to utilize its established career and employment content through Hanyang Cyber University's online system, allowing local youth and students who face challenges attending in-person events to access high-quality employment support services easily. Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate on various initiatives, including promoting youth employment and entrepreneurship programs, sharing and cross-utilizing existing career and employment content developed by Hanyang Women's University, jointly hosting high-cost programs such as employment consulting and job fairs, and sharing a pool of alumni instructors from diverse fields. Jo Jun-ho, head of the University Job Plus Center at Hanyang Women's University, stated, "We will develop a model of exemplary cooperation by integrating the excellent infrastructures of both universities and provide practical employment services to students and local youth." Kim Ji-hyun, head of the Career Development Center at Hanyang Cyber University, also noted, "Through our partnership with Hanyang Women's University, we will expand employment support programs and actively assist youth in their job searches through joint initiatives." The most significant expected outcome of this MOU is the organic combination of Hanyang Cyber University's remote education infrastructure and Hanyang Women's University's offline Job Plus Center. This will allow for the cross-utilization of high-quality career and employment content, enabling local youth and students who are balancing work and study or cannot participate in face-to-face events to easily access superior employment support services. Additionally, the two institutions plan to jointly host and operate high-cost, high-efficiency programs like employment consulting and large-scale job fairs, which are challenging to organize individually. This collaboration is expected to maximize budget efficiency and enhance the quality of programs. The practical cooperation of sharing a diverse pool of alumni instructors from various fields is also noteworthy. Mentoring and job training from experienced alumni active in various industries will provide practical guidelines for youth preparing for employment and entrepreneurship. This multifaceted collaboration is anticipated to serve as a model for improving the youth employment environment in the broader Seongdong-gu community, going beyond mere exchanges between the two universities. It aims to increase the success rate of youth in employment and entrepreneurship, helping them settle in the local community and ultimately fostering promising startups and revitalizing the local economy. Meanwhile, Hanyang Cyber University is currently recruiting new students for the second semester of the 2026 academic year. Graduate programs for master's and doctoral degrees are open for applications from May 18 to June 19, while undergraduate new and transfer students can apply from June 1 to July 16 through the university's admissions support center website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 17:03:00 -
Germany courts Samsung, SK hynix for Eastern Germany semiconductor hub SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - Germany is actively wooing South Korean semiconductor giants, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, to invest in its eastern region, pitching its robust microelectronics and photonics ecosystem as a key to global supply chain resilience. During an investment briefing hosted at The Plaza Hotel Seoul on Tuesday, Elisabeth Kaiser, Minister of State to the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, emphasized the strategic potential for bilateral synergy. "By establishing modern semiconductor manufacturing in Eastern Germany, we can combine Korea's technological strength with Germany as an industrial and research hub," Kaiser said. Noting that companies like Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Samsung Foundry set global standards in process and design technologies, she added that closer cooperation could accelerate the pace of innovation on both sides. The push aligns with Europe's broader goal of achieving technological sovereignty amid growing global uncertainties. Kaiser highlighted that such investments are not only economically attractive but also make a critical contribution to the stability of global supply chains. German officials also underscored the foundational role their domestic optics industry plays in the advanced semiconductor value chain. German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Wilfried Schmidt pointed out the complexities of the supply chain, noting that leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers like ASML rely heavily on German photonics and optical precision components, such as those from ZEISS. Dr. Roman Kleindienst, head of the Microoptics business unit at ZEISS, echoed this sentiment during a subsequent panel discussion. Highlighting current limitations in semiconductor data transfer, Kleindienst stated that the bottleneck "can only be resolved by optics". "Investing in optics and photonics is really investing in resilience and in the future," Kleindienst added. The event, co-hosted by Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), the State Development Corporation of Thuringia (LEG Thüringen), and the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), aimed to showcase Eastern Germany—particularly the state of Thuringia—as a specialized, innovation-driven springboard for Korean high-tech firms seeking to expand their European footprint. 2026-06-09 17:02:38 -
Healthcare-themed event kicks off in central Seoul SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - A healthcare-themed event kicked off in central Seoul on Tuesday, bringing together industry workers and health-conscious visitors. Now in its fourth year, the three-day event at Seoul Plaza showcases the latest trends in health-related industries and displays of medical devices, wellness equipment, and other smart technologies. The event also offers a wide range of health-related programs, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences, allowing visitors to explore various healthcare products and services, as well as take part in health checkups and workouts. Highlights of the opening day included various programs such as a jazz concert and jump rope activities, while a special session on Thursday will provide information on diabetes and other topics related to disease prevention and health management. 2026-06-09 16:57:48 -
Bank of Japan Expected to Raise Interest Rate to 1% This Month, Highest in 31 Years The Bank of Japan is set to raise its policy interest rate to 1.0% during its monetary policy meeting this month. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on June 9, the Bank plans to make this decision at its monetary policy meeting scheduled for June 15-16, increasing the current rate from 0.75%. If approved, this would be the first rate hike since December of last year and the highest level since 1995. Nikkei reports that Governor Kazuo Ueda and the executive board are expected to propose the rate hike during the meeting, with the nine-member policy committee likely to approve it with a majority vote. Concerns are rising within the Bank regarding the potential for increased oil prices due to tensions in the Middle East, which could lead to broader price hikes across various goods. There is also an expectation that the underlying inflation rate, excluding temporary fluctuations, may rise. Excluding the impact of government subsidies for electricity and gas, the Bank's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.8% in April compared to the same month last year, up from a 2.5% increase in March. A Bank official told Nikkei, "The pace at which companies are passing on costs is accelerating. If we miss the timing, we may be forced into a significant rate hike later on." Nikkei also noted that the assessment of limited economic downside risks from Middle East tensions is bolstering the case for a rate increase. There is a growing sentiment within the Bank that proactive measures are needed to address inflationary pressures. Earlier, Governor Ueda indicated the need to discuss the appropriateness of a rate hike even amid uncertainties in the Middle East during a speech on June 3, hinting at the possibility of an increase this month. However, in light of instability in the bond market, plans to reduce government bond purchases are expected to be moderated. The Bank is coordinating to halt its current quarterly reduction of bond purchases after April 2027. Under the current plan, the Bank will continue to reduce its bond purchases by 200 billion yen (approximately $1.9 billion) each quarter until January-March 2027, and then maintain monthly purchases of 2.1 trillion yen (approximately $19.9 billion) starting in April of that year. Recently, the Japanese bond market has shown instability due to concerns over inflation and fiscal expansion. In May, the yield on newly issued 10-year government bonds, a key indicator of long-term rates, briefly rose to around 2.8%, marking the highest level in 29 and a half years. Additionally, the yen has continued to weaken, surpassing the 160 yen per dollar mark for the first time in a month. If the Bank of Japan proceeds with the rate hike, it is expected to create policy friction with the government of Sanae Takaichi, which is pursuing an expansionary fiscal policy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:57:00 -
Global scholars gather in Gochang for annual conference to discuss longevity SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - Global scholars and researchers from about a dozen countries on Tuesday gathered in South Korea's southwestern town of Gochang to discuss longevity and healthy aging as the world becomes increasingly toward a super-aged society. About 50 global scholars and researchers from a dozen countries gathered in South Korea's southwestern town on Tuesday to discuss longevity and healthy aging as the world increasingly moves toward a super-aged society. Their gathering includes research teams from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.S. and comes as the 30th annual meeting of the International Centenarian Consortium (ICC) began its four-day run in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. The ICC is a global academic network of research groups studying centenarians, aging and life expectancy. This year's host venue of Gochang is known as one of South Korea's areas with the highest longevity, as the small county has a population of just 50,148, with people aged 60 or older accounting for 50.3 percent, while 6,927 residents are octogenarians and 1,220 are nonagenarians. Among the highlights of the meeting will be findings from South Korean researchers who have conducted a long-term study of the country's centenarians over the past 25 years, examining various factors including genetic traits, diseases, living environments, eating patterns, diet and nutrition, and social networks. They have also studied the area's so-called "longevity belt," which covers Damyang, Gurye, Gokseong, and Sunchang to assess relative longevity among residents there, citing factors such as strong community life and social solidarity, as well as the frequent consumption of fermented foods such as kimchi and soybean paste. Yousin Suh, a professor from Columbia University known for her work on aging and longevity, is set to deliver her keynote speech, while French demographer Jean-Marie Robine will discuss global trends in human longevity. Researchers from Japan, which is known for the longest longevity in Asia, are also expected to present long-term follow-up research on those aged 105 and older. "The life stories of centenarians and relevant longevity data compiled by Chonnam National University Hospital would offer valuable insights for super-aged societies around the world," said Park Sang-chul, vice chairman of Genosis AI Healthcare, who serves as advisory chair of this year's ICC. 2026-06-09 16:51:28 -
Game Industry Expands AI Frontiers, Reassessing Technological Assets in the Physical AI Era The South Korean gaming industry is reassessing its technological assets, which have been developed for enhancing game creation and in-game experiences, in light of the emerging era of physical artificial intelligence (AI) represented by robotics and autonomous driving. According to the gaming and information technology sectors on June 9, the recent visit of Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, has sparked discussions about how the virtual world implementation technologies possessed by domestic game companies could serve as key infrastructure in the physical AI era. While companies in manufacturing, robotics, and automotive sectors are typically recognized as physical AI enterprises, experts believe that gaming companies are poised to become significant technological partners in this ecosystem. This is due to their ability to create virtual environments and behavioral models for AI agents to learn and validate before being deployed in real-world physical settings. Another advantage is the extensive use of various AI technologies. In the game development process, AI is utilized to enhance productivity in coding, translation, quality assurance, and the creation of graphics, sound, and animations. Within games, technologies are advancing to improve player experiences through non-player characters (NPCs), AI companions, real-time interactive characters, user behavior analysis, and matchmaking. Additionally, game developers possess unique expertise in creating real-time 3D spaces where characters and objects move, as well as in developing game engines that adhere to realistic physical laws. They are optimized for implementing digital twins. Online gaming companies can leverage vast amounts of user behavior data and live service operation experience, which can serve as key assets for virtual environments used in robotic learning. NCSOFT has been enhancing its AI research capabilities alongside game development and content services since 2011. This has led to the introduction of technologies for content video production and summarization. Last year, the company launched its AI subsidiary, NC AI, and plans to expand its collaboration with NVIDIA to include sophisticated physics-based computing, AI-driven interaction technologies, and real-time simulations. NC AI is developing a physical AI solution for autonomous welding in collaboration with Hanwha Ocean and is jointly developing a robot foundation model (RFM) for cognitive and decision-making tasks with POSCO DX. Additionally, it is working with Hyundai Rotem on a digital twin simulator and world model for multi-robot control in defense applications, broadening the scope of physical AI in industrial and defense settings. Krafton's partnership with NVIDIA includes discussions on game title optimization and robotics. Earlier this year, Krafton established a physical AI subsidiary, Ludo Robotics, to focus on humanoid robot AI research. The CPC (AI NPCs or AI companions within games) and multimodal reinforcement learning technologies being researched by Krafton aim to enable AI characters to understand situations and act alongside users. While they are not directly manufacturing robots, they are designing the situational awareness and decision-making structures necessary for physical AI. Nexon has also expanded its organization, Intelligence Labs, to focus on AI, big data, and machine learning technologies since 2017, accumulating extensive user behavior data and operational automation techniques for in-game interactions. A representative from the gaming industry stated, "The recent attention on domestic gaming companies in physical AI stems from their experience in implementing virtual environments and behavioral simulations, rather than direct robot manufacturing. The technologies accumulated during the game development process, such as real-time 3D spaces and user behavior data, are being reassessed as possessing differentiated capabilities in robotic learning simulations and digital twin applications."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:51:00