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Cellbiotech's DuoLac Sees Growth in Domestic Sales and Exports, Achieving 15.8 Billion Won in Revenue Cellbiotech reported increases in both revenue and operating profit for the second quarter of this year, driven by the expansion of its health supplement brand DuoLac in the domestic market and growth in exports.The company announced on August 7 that its preliminary revenue for the second quarter reached 15.8 billion won, with an operating profit of 1.6 billion won and a net profit of 3.6 billion won. Compared to the same period last year, revenue increased by 32.8%, and operating profit rose by 28%.For the first half of the year, cumulative revenue totaled 30.4 billion won, a 31.4% increase from the previous year. Operating profit for the period was 4.8 billion won, marking an 82.6% rise. The net profit for the second quarter stood at 3.6 billion won.Exports also continued to grow. Cellbiotech exports its probiotics products to 55 countries, including Denmark, Turkey, Russia, and Mexico. According to the company, it accounts for approximately 50% of the total cumulative exports of probiotics from South Korea, which have reached 538.5 billion won over the past 13 years, with Cellbiotech's share at 26.88 billion won.A representative from Cellbiotech stated, "We will strengthen the brand competitiveness of DuoLac based on our dual-coating technology and expand the presence of Korean probiotics in the global market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-07 15:04:00 -
South Korea shares AI forensic know-hows with Tajikistan SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - South Korean police and forensic specialists trained about 30 Tajik law enforcement officials in Dushanbe this week in methods for investigating phone scams, deepfake fraud and crimes committed through cryptocurrency. The program targeted a category of crime that has grown alongside Tajikistan's reliance on money sent home by migrant workers. The World Bank put remittance inflows at about 49 percent of gross domestic product in 2024, up from 39 percent the previous year and the highest share of any economy in the world. Fraud built around fake overseas job placements and visa processing has spread with that dependence. "This seminar can contribute not only to the response to sharply increasing cybercrime in Tajikistan, but also to the protection of our residents and nationals there," said Jeon Sung-sik, South Korea's ambassador to Tajikistan. He described the program as the first policing cooperation between the two countries and said he expected it to solidify their public safety and law enforcement networks. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) organized the seminar through its Dushanbe office. Its delegation drew experts from the Korean National Police Agency, the National Forensic Service and the consulting firm KOFO. Tajik participants came from the interior ministry, the police and the border guard service. Before the sessions opened, the visiting experts spent Monday at the Tajik interior ministry's digital forensics center and at border management facilities, examining the conditions local investigators work in. Lectures ran Tuesday through Thursday. Specialists from the Korean National Police Agency, the Korean National Police University and the National Forensic Service presented South Korean research on using artificial intelligence to detect voice phishing calls and deepfakes, which are video or audio recordings altered to impersonate a real person. Further sessions covered tracing crimes carried out with cryptocurrency, analyzing digital evidence drawn from Telegram and large language models, authenticating collected evidence, and pulling data from mobile phones and internet-connected devices. KOICA also held a joint workshop on Tuesday with the International Organization for Migration, where officials from both countries reviewed recent patterns in online fraud aimed at migrants and people seeking work abroad. The program closed Friday with a discussion of international coordination, joined by the British and United States embassies in Dushanbe, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Electronic evidence in online fraud, digital sex crimes and virtual asset cases frequently sits on servers outside the country where the crime was reported, which makes such cases difficult to prosecute without agreements between governments. Ismonalizoda Mavluda, a senior professor in information security and digital technology at a Tajik police training institute, attended the sessions. "KOICA and the experts from these institutions shared Korea's advanced technology and capability in digital crime, a field where response has been difficult until now," she said. "I hope the cooperation continues." 2026-08-07 15:02:02 -
Deputy Minister Lee Ho-hyun Inspects Heatwave Relief Facilities and Vulnerable Households 이호현 기후에너지환경부 제2차관이 폭염 대응시설과 취약계층 가구를 찾아 냉방 지원 현황을 점검한다. 지방정부와 유관기관에는 폭염 취약계층이 에너지 이용에서 소외되지 않도록 지원 사각지대를 최소화해 달라고 당부할 예정이다. 기후부는 이 차관이 7일 오후 서울 영등포구 문래근린공원과 인근 취약계층 가구를 방문한다고 밝혔다. 이 차관은 조유진 영등포구청장과 함께 문래근린공원에 설치된 폭염 대응시설인 '물길쉼터'의 운영 현황과 폭염 저감 효과를 살펴보고 현장 관계자들의 의견을 들을 예정이다. 물길쉼터는 기후위기 취약계층 지원사업을 통해 조성됐다. 기후부는 2024년 해당 사업을 통해 영등포구 내 공원 7곳에 물길쉼터와 쿨링포그 등을 설치했다. 기후부는 극심해지는 폭염에 대응하기 위해 2022년부터 야외 노동자 등 기후위기 취약계층을 위한 폭염 쉼터 128곳을 운영하고 있다. 올해 8월 말까지 전국 24곳에 쉼터를 추가로 조성할 계획이다. 이 차관은 이어 올해 에너지효율개선 사업을 통해 고효율 에어컨을 지원받은 취약계층 노인 가구를 방문해 냉방 환경과 에너지 이용에 어려움이 없는지 점검한다. 현장에 동행한 한국에너지공단과 한국에너지재단 등 유관기관 관계자에게는 지방정부와 적극적으로 협력해 취약계층 에너지 지원의 사각지대를 최소화해 달라고 당부할 예정이다. 기후부는 지난달 말까지 취약계층 1만9000가구와 복지시설 500곳에 에너지소비효율 1등급 에어컨 설치를 완료했다. 냉방비 부담을 덜어주기 위한 에너지바우처도 지난달 1일부터 지급하고 있다. 올해 에너지바우처 신규 신청은 오는 12월 31일까지 전국 읍·면·동 행정복지센터와 복지로 누리집에서 받는다. 지원액은 가구당 평균 36만7000원이다. 전년도 수급자 가운데 올해 자격 변동이 없는 가구는 별도 신청 없이 자동 등록된다. 이 차관은 "최근 기후위기로 폭염이 일상화되는 상황에서 취약계층의 건강과 안전을 지키는 것이 무엇보다 중요하다"며 "생활 속 폭염 쉼터 조성과 냉방 환경 개선, 에너지바우처 등의 지원을 지속해서 강화하겠다"고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-07 15:00:20
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Meta Faces $1 Billion in Damages Over Child Protection Lawsuit Meta has received the largest additional damages ruling in history from a U.S. court for failing to fulfill its child protection obligations.The court determined that Meta's platforms exposed minors to harmful content and the risk of sexual crimes, classifying it as a "public nuisance." According to the BBC on August 7, Judge Brian Biedscheid of the First Judicial District Court in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million (approximately 800 billion won). Combined with the previously recognized $375 million from the same case, the total amount Meta is liable for reaches $942 million (about 1.3 trillion won).This represents the largest financial penalty imposed on Meta regarding child safety issues to date. The judge likened Meta to a factory, stating, "If advertising and content are products, the psychological harm and sexual exploitation experienced by children are social ills akin to factory pollutants." He further noted, "The harm caused on Meta's platforms does not remain online but spreads into real society, placing a significant burden on children, families, schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies." The court mandated that the funds provided by Meta be used to establish a special fund for prevention and treatment of harm. Of this, $420 million will be allocated for psychological therapy and behavioral health programs for affected children, while the remaining budget will be directed toward training and prevention programs for teachers and medical personnel.This ruling is the second judgment in a lawsuit filed by New Mexico in 2023. At that time, prosecutors held Meta accountable for its recommendation algorithms that effectively connected teenage users to sexually explicit content and sexual offenders.In the earlier ruling, it was determined that Meta repeatedly violated New Mexico's consumer protection laws, and this latest judgment recognized that such actions have reached the level of a "public nuisance" that jeopardizes the health and safety of society as a whole.In addition to financial compensation, the court ordered significant improvements to how the platform operates. Meta is now prohibited from recommending accounts of users under 18 to adults and must block the ability for adults to send direct messages to minors.Furthermore, the transmission and reception of explicit material by minors is banned, and a "one-strike policy" must be implemented, permanently banning adult users who are caught engaging in child sexual exploitation after just one incident.Additionally, the display of "likes" for users under 18 will be removed, and push notifications must be suspended from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following day. During the school year, notifications must also be limited from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, excluding weekends. A monthly usage limit of 90 hours (approximately 3 hours per day) across Instagram and Facebook is also mandated.Meta has immediately pushed back against the ruling. The company stated in a release, "We disagree with the ruling and will appeal. We have continuously worked to ensure the safety of our platform and are confident in our achievements in protecting youth. We will continue to respond legally to claims that distort the facts." Meta is currently facing thousands of lawsuits across the United States regarding child safety and privacy issues. Next week, another large-scale child privacy lawsuit initiated by attorneys general from over 30 states will begin in California.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-07 14:52:00
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YG Entertainment shares rise on new album revenue SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) — Shares of YG Entertainment rose Friday after the K-pop agency reported a 31 percent jump in second-quarter operating profit, driven by new releases from its groups TREASURE and BABYMONSTER. As of 1:42 p.m., shares of the company were trading 1.11 percent higher at 41,050 won, after rising as much as 3.20 percent to an intraday high of 41,900 won. Operating profit for the April-June period rose 31.2 percent from a year earlier to 10.97 billion won ($7.3 million), according to a preliminary earnings filing with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Friday. Revenue rose 27.2 percent on year to 127.76 billion won, while net income fell 32.8 percent to 7.55 billion won. YG attributed the stronger results to album releases by TREASURE and BABYMONSTER, which also boosted sales of related merchandise, alongside continued demand for the artists’ digital content. Looking ahead, the company expects the growth trend to continue in the second half, supported by major artists as well as newer groups. BIGBANG, one of the best-known second-generation K-pop groups, will mark its 20th anniversary with a world tour spanning 33 shows across 19 cities, beginning with three concerts at Goyang Stadium, northwest of Seoul, from Aug. 21 to 23. BABYMONSTER is on its second world tour, covering South America, Oceania and Europe, while TREASURE is planning further overseas performances, including a Hong Kong show in September. YG also plans to debut a new boy group in September to support further growth. AJP Takeaways • YG Entertainment's second-quarter 2026 operating profit rose 31.2 percent year on year to 10.97 billion won ($7.3 million), while revenue increased 27.2 percent to 127.76 billion won. • YG Entertainment shares traded 1.11 percent higher at 41,050 won as of 1:42 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2026, after reaching an intraday high of 41,900 won. • YG Entertainment said releases from TREASURE and BABYMONSTER, related merchandise sales and demand for digital content helped drive second-quarter earnings growth. • BIGBANG will begin its 20th-anniversary world tour on Aug. 21, 2026, with the tour scheduled to span 33 shows across 19 cities. • YG Entertainment plans to debut a new boy group in September 2026 as it looks to sustain growth alongside ongoing activities by BABYMONSTER and TREASURE. 2026-08-07 14:44:25 -
Korea braces for record power demand as mercury nears 40 C SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) -South Korean authorities stepped up monitoring of the nation's electricity grid on Thursday as power demand approached record levels amid what has become the country's longest and most intense summer heat wave on record. Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-whan visited the Korea Power Exchange headquarters in Naju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, to review electricity supply conditions for August and inspect the operational status of power plants, transmission lines and substations. Officials also examined emergency response plans and the availability of reserve generating capacity to ensure a stable power supply in the event of an unexpected surge in electricity demand or simultaneous outages at multiple power plants. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast afternoon highs of between 31 C and 39 C nationwide, with Seoul expected to reach 39 C, Incheon and Gwangju 38 C, and Daejeon and Daegu 37 C. Temperatures in Seoul and Incheon had already exceeded 30 C by 8 a.m. after another sweltering night prevented heat accumulated during the day from dissipating. The prolonged heat has also taken a growing toll on public health. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 2,441 heat-related illness cases were reported between May 15 and Aug. 4, including 21 presumed deaths. Of the deaths, 13, or 62 percent, involved people aged 80 or older. Peak electricity demand reached 95.044 gigawatts on Thursday, up about 2 percent from the previous day, according to the Korea Power Exchange. The supply reserve margin stood at 10.4 percent, slightly above the 10 percent level generally considered necessary for a stable power supply. Electricity demand could climb further next week as factories resume normal operations following the summer holiday period while households and businesses continue to rely heavily on air conditioning. The ministry said demand could surpass the current national record of 97.1 GW, set on Aug. 20, 2024, if the heat wave and tropical nights persist. The government had earlier prepared for maximum demand of up to 98.8 GW this summer and secured total supply capacity of about 107 GW.Jeju Island has already set a regional record. Its electricity demand reached an all-time high of 1.1863 GW at 7 p.m. on Tuesday as residents and tourists increased their use of cooling equipment. The ministry said stable reserve levels could be maintained unless demand increases beyond projections or a series of power plant failures occurs. Electricity authorities are inspecting vulnerable facilities and maintaining emergency repair systems to minimize the risk of disruptions caused by extreme heat, heavy rainfall or equipment failures. Kim called on power companies to closely analyze changing weather conditions and electricity consumption rather than relying solely on previous summer patterns. He also urged operators to protect workers at power facilities by adjusting outdoor working hours and ensuring adequate rest during the heat wave. South Korea has experienced increasingly frequent and prolonged periods of extreme heat. The weather agency said the country averaged 18.3 heat-wave days annually during the decade from 2016 to 2025, more than double the 8.3-day average recorded from 1973 to 1982. The average number of tropical nights tripled over the same comparison period, rising from 4.1 to 12.2 days. 2026-08-07 14:42:44 -
Lee Seong-yoon's Comments on Honam Spark Backlash from Pro-Lee Jae-myung Faction Lee Seong-yoon, a candidate for the Supreme Council of the Democratic Party, faced strong backlash from the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction after posting on August 6 about the sentiment in Honam, stating, "During the day, Kim Min-seok; at night, Jeong Cheong-rae." Notably, Song Young-gil, the party's longest-serving candidate with six terms, criticized the remarks as "pathetic."On August 7, Song expressed on Facebook, "Living without contributing, lacking historical awareness, and treating party members as mere tools for votes, this is the mental state reflected in such comments." He added, "It is truly horrifying that someone with such a pathetic level of understanding is running for the Supreme Council again. I urge party members to judge this with their votes."Im Mi-ae, another candidate for the Supreme Council, also criticized Jeong Cheong-rae, saying, "The candidate treats Honam party members as if they are still unawakened, claiming, 'The enlightened citizens of Yeongnam are coming to Honam.' What does 'daytime Kim Min-seok, nighttime Jeong Cheong-rae' even mean?"She further questioned, "Are you comparing the painful history of Honam party members, who had to navigate threats from guerrillas during the day and communists at night?" Im emphasized the need to respect party members, stating, "No matter how urgent the situation, there must be respect for party members. How can a candidate who claims to support party sovereignty show no respect for members?"Kim Yong, another candidate for the Supreme Council, remarked, "After the Yeosu-Suncheon incident and during the Korean War, Honam residents had to change their flags between day and night to survive. The blood and tears of the people remain throughout Honam, from Jirisan to the Seomjin River."He urged Lee to retract his comments, stating, "Have you trivialized this tragic history into a factional election joke with 'daytime Kim Min-seok, nighttime Jeong Cheong-rae'? You must delete the post immediately and apologize to the citizens of Honam and the families of the victims. The tragedy of Honam is not your election tool."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-07 14:40:00
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KIA's Jeong Hae-young and Samsung's Lee Seung-hyun Among 11 Players Selected for Military Service Eleven professional baseball players, including KIA Tigers' key reliever Jeong Hae-young and left-handed pitcher Lee Seung-hyun of the Samsung Lions, have been selected to serve in the Army.According to Yonhap News on August 6, the Military Athletic Corps has confirmed the list of players accepted into the Army baseball team and has individually notified the athletes.KIA's Jeong Hae-young, along with right-handed pitcher Han Jae-seung and infielder Yoon Do-hyun, received acceptance calls.From the Lotte Giants, three players will also enlist: right-handed relievers Choi Jun-yong and Lee Min-seok, and infielder Lee Ho-jun, who will join the military after the current season.Samsung's Lee Seung-hyun, along with outfielder Ham Soo-ho and infielder Shim Jae-hoon, has been accepted, while Doosan Bears pitcher Choi Ji-kang and Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Won Seong-jun will also serve in the Army.No players from the LG Twins, Hanwha Eagles, SSG Landers, NC Dinos, or kt wiz were selected.The accepted players are set to enlist in December of this year and will serve until June 2028.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-07 14:40:00
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Hanmi Group Owner Calls for Full Investigation into Corporate Card Usage Allegations 송영숙 한미그룹 회장의 법인카드 사용 의혹 제보자가 처음 언론에 모습을 드러내고 "카드 사용 내역을 전수조사해야 한다"고 주장했다. 신동국 회장 등 특정 세력과의 연계설에 대해서는 "신 회장을 위해 일하는 사람이 아니다"라며 관련 의혹을 전면 부인했다.김태호 전 큐어세라퓨틱스 대표는 7일 서울 중구 코리아나 호텔에서 기자회견을 열고 송 회장 일가의 법인카드와 법인 자산 사용 의혹과 관련해 회사 차원의 전수조사와 이사회·감사위원회의 검증을 요구했다.그는 "제보한 법인카드 내역은 일부에 불과하다"며 "전체 계열사를 대상으로 송 회장과 임주현 한미사이언스 부회장의 법인카드 사용 내역을 점검하고 그 결과를 감사위원회와 이사회에 보고해야 한다"고 말했다.김 전 대표가 제시한 자료에는 서울 강남구 신사동의 한 항노화 전문병원에서 약 6800만원, 치과에서 약 140만원을 결제한 내역이 포함됐다. 병원과 약국에서 사용한 법인카드 비용이 회사의 복지 혜택에 해당하는지 관련 사내 규정과 이사회 승인 절차가 있었는지를 확인해야 한다는 게 김 전 대표의 주장이다.한미사이언스 측은 이와 관련해 송 회장의 무릎 관절 치료와 관련해 회사가 제공할 수 있는 복지 혜택이라는 취지로 설명한 바 있다. 이에 대해 김 전 대표는 "건강검진을 제외한 치료비와 약제비를 회사 비용으로 처리할 수 있는지 다른 임원들에게도 같은 기준이 적용됐는지를 회사가 밝혀야 한다"고 지적했다. 다만 해당 자료 제공자의 구체적인 소속이나 전달 과정 등에 대해서는 구체적으로 밝힐 수 없다고 선을 그었다. 그는 "한미를 걱정하는 전·현직 직원들로부터 자발적으로 전달받은 자료"라며 "회사에서 자료 유출자를 찾고 있다고 들어서 구체적으로 말하기 어렵다"고 설명했다.김 전 대표가 언론을 통해 제공한 송 회장 일가의 법인카드 사용 내역이 최근 자료가 아닌 과거 자료를 공개한 이유에 대해서는 "최신 자료는 보안이 매우 철저하다"고 말했다.신동국 한양정밀 회장, 임종호 전 한미약품 부사장 등의 인사와 함께 제보에 나선 것이라는 일각의 추측에 대해서도 전면 부인했다.김 전 대표는 "신 회장님을 알고는 있지만 1년 전쯤 처음 만나서 한미가 어떻게 정상화돼야 하는지 의견을 나눈 정도"라며 이번 제보가 특정 주주의 이해관계를 대변한 것은 아니라고 선을 그었다. 그러면서 "한미약품그룹의 준법 경영과 경영 정상화를 논의하고자 하는 것"이라고 강조했다.한편 1968년생인 김 전 대표는 1996년 한미약품에 입사했다. 이후 한미약품 경영진 비서실 소속 직원으로 근무하며 창업주인 임 선대 회장을 보좌했다고 한다. 이후 2017년 면역치료제 전문 바이오텍 큐어세라퓨틱스를 설립했다. 큐어세라퓨틱스는 2024년 폐업한 것으로 알려졌다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-07 14:36:00
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Daewoo E&C moves closer to Mozambique LNG megaproject SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) -Daewoo Engineering & Construction has taken a major step toward securing one of Africa's largest energy projects after receiving a letter of intent to lead engineering, procurement and construction work on the first phase of Mozambique's Rovuma LNG development, reinforcing South Korea's presence in the global race to expand liquefied natural gas capacity. The company said Friday that ExxonMobil Mozambique, the project operator, selected the SMDC joint venture—comprising Daewoo E&C, Italy's Saipem, U.S.-based McDermott and China's CPECC—as the preferred EPC contractor for the project's midstream LNG liquefaction facilities. The letter of intent authorizes the consortium to begin front-end engineering refinement, procurement preparation and constructability reviews ahead of a final investment decision, which ExxonMobil aims to complete by the end of this year. A full EPC contract is expected to follow if the project receives final approval. The Rovuma LNG Phase 1 project will develop the giant Area 4 offshore gas field in northern Mozambique and build an LNG liquefaction complex capable of producing 18.6 million metric tons annually, together with a large gas-fired combined-cycle power plant and related infrastructure. The project is designed as an electrically driven LNG facility that replaces conventional gas turbines with electric motors to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. Commercial operations are targeted for 2031. The project is owned by Rovuma Venture, a consortium led by ExxonMobil, Italy's Eni and China's CNPC through Mozambique Rovuma Venture, alongside Mozambique's state energy company ENH, Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS) and Abu Dhabi's XRG. For South Korea, the project extends its footprint in global LNG infrastructure beyond gas imports. KOGAS already holds a 10 percent stake in the development, while Daewoo E&C's selection as a prime contractor strengthens Korea's role across both upstream investment and downstream engineering. The appointment also reinforces Daewoo E&C's standing in one of the world's most technically demanding construction markets. LNG liquefaction plants require specialized cryogenic technology capable of processing natural gas at temperatures below minus 162 degrees Celsius, a market historically dominated by a handful of global contractors including Bechtel, McDermott, Saipem and Japan's JGC. Daewoo E&C became the first South Korean builder to join that group as a prime contractor through Nigeria LNG Train 7 in 2020. Its selection for Rovuma LNG further establishes the company as one of the few Asian contractors capable of leading large-scale LNG liquefaction projects rather than serving only as a subcontractor. The project also comes as demand for LNG infrastructure is expected to remain robust despite the global energy transition. Rapid growth in artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centers and electricity consumption has revived interest in natural gas as a lower-carbon transition fuel capable of supporting increasingly power-intensive economies. If the final investment decision proceeds as planned later this year, Rovuma LNG would become one of the largest new LNG developments launched globally in recent years and a significant overseas order for South Korea's engineering industry. At 02:12 p.m. Friday, shares of Daewoo E&C were trading 3.26 percent lower at 16,330 won. 2026-08-07 14:25:51