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  • Nexon Signs MOU with Daegu Digital Innovation Center to Foster Local Gaming Industry
    Nexon Signs MOU with Daegu Digital Innovation Center to Foster Local Gaming Industry Nexon announced on August 6 that its IP open license project, 'Nexon Replay,' has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Daegu Digital Innovation Center to promote the local gaming industry. Under this agreement, Nexon and the Daegu Digital Innovation Center will jointly pursue the 'NEXON REPLAY IP-linked game development support project' as part of the '2026 Daegu Global Game Center Game Content Production Support Project.' Eligible participants are game developers based in Daegu or those who can relocate within a month. Selected companies will enter into revenue-sharing and confidentiality agreements under the same conditions as Nexon Replay partners and will receive the rights to use one of the IPs from 'Dark Legend' or 'Asgard' along with essential development resources such as images and sounds. Nexon plans to participate directly in the evaluation process to ensure high-quality new titles are discovered. Through 'Nexon Replay,' the company aims to expand IP collaboration with local game developers, enhancing the competitiveness of the regional gaming industry on the global stage. 'Nexon Replay' is an open license project designed to provide creators with opportunities for secondary creation based on Nexon's diverse IP assets, exploring new possibilities for Nexon IP. Since the beta service launched in December last year, Nexon has been signing contracts with multiple partners based on major IPs such as 'Everplanet,' 'Tactical Commanders,' 'Illyansia,' and 'Dark Legend,' with the goal of showcasing the first results as early as this year, depending on development progress. Um Jeong-hyun, head of Nexon Live Division, stated, 'Through this collaboration, we hope that capable game companies in the Daegu region can present successful new titles based on Nexon IP. We will continue to build a flexible cooperation structure that allows more local developers to take on new challenges and grow together with Nexon IP.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:16:10
  • Supreme Court Confirms Prison Sentence for Former Aide of Song Young-gil
    Supreme Court Confirms Prison Sentence for Former Aide of Song Young-gil The Supreme Court has upheld the prison sentence for Park Yong-soo, a former aide to Song Young-gil, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party.According to the legal community on August 6, the Supreme Court's third division, led by Justice Lee Suk-yeon, confirmed the lower court's ruling on July 24, sentencing Park to a total of 1 year and 2 months in prison and a fine of 92.4 million won for violations of the Political Fund Law.The court found Park guilty of covering the costs of a 92.4 million won opinion poll related to the 2020 primary using funds from the 'Institute for Peace and Livelihood Issues' (Meoksa-yeon), which was affiliated with Song. He was also convicted of preparing false estimates and ordering the replacement of a hard drive amid controversies surrounding the so-called 'Pro-Moon Gate' incident.However, Park was acquitted of charges related to the distribution of cash envelopes during the 2021 Democratic Party convention, as the evidence from the recorded files that initiated the investigation was deemed inadmissible. Both the first and second trials found him not guilty, and the prosecution's withdrawal of the appeal confirmed his acquittal. Song also received a similar ruling of not guilty in February.Park, who received a prison sentence in this trial, has previously served as a close aide connecting Song with President Lee Jae-myung. He worked in the Administrative Support Division of Seongnam City during Lee's tenure as mayor from 2014 to 2018, before moving to serve as an aide in Song Young-gil's office, managing the former leader's political activities and campaign finances.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:16:10
  • Kakao Enterprise Appoints Lee Jae-han as New CEO
    Kakao Enterprise Appoints Lee Jae-han as New CEO Kakao Enterprise announced on August 6 that it has appointed Lee Jae-han as its new CEO during an extraordinary shareholders' meeting and board of directors meeting.Lee is recognized for his deep understanding of technology, having previously served as the head of the cloud infrastructure and digital transformation division, as well as the business division. He has been credited with driving the growth of Kakao Enterprise by effectively linking strategy formulation to commercialization. Before joining Kakao Enterprise, he was a systems engineering leader at Kakao, responsible for designing and operating the infrastructure architecture of KakaoTalk.As CEO, Lee plans to maintain business continuity, particularly in AI infrastructure and hybrid GPUaaS, while enhancing the company's capabilities in AI transformation to build trust with corporate and institutional clients and establish a foundation for sustainable growth.Lee stated, “We are at a significant turning point where AI data centers, cloud infrastructure, and AI platforms are becoming increasingly important in the new paradigm created by AI. During this critical time of change, I will do my utmost to lead AI transformation based on Kakao Enterprise's cloud expertise and technological capabilities, driving change across the industry.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:16:00
  • Busan to Select 550 Public School Teachers for 2027, 30% Decrease from Last Year
    Busan to Select 550 Public School Teachers for 2027, 30% Decrease from Last Year Busan's Education Office announced on August 5 that it will select 550 public school teachers for the 2027 academic year. This number represents a decrease of 234, or 29.8%, from the 784 teachers projected at the same time last year.The planned selection includes 191 teachers for early childhood, elementary, and special education (9 for kindergarten, 173 for elementary, 2 for special kindergarten, and 7 for special elementary). For secondary education, a total of 359 teachers will be selected (292 for secondary subjects, 20 for health, 6 for librarians, 16 for counseling, 7 for nutrition, and 18 for special secondary education). Detailed subject-specific selection numbers can be found on the education office's website.The most significant reduction occurred in the elementary teacher category, where the planned selection dropped from 276 last year to 173 this year, a decrease of 103. In special education, the number of teachers for kindergarten and elementary levels decreased to 2 and 7, respectively, while the number for secondary education increased to 18 compared to last year. "Retirement and student enrollment changes impact selection...waiting list also a factor"The education office cited teacher retirements, changes in student enrollment, and the Ministry of Education's direction on teacher supply as reasons for the reduced selection numbers.An official from the education office stated, "Other cities and provinces are also reducing their elementary teacher numbers, indicating a general trend of decreased teacher selection. However, it is difficult to quantify the exact impact of each factor." The significant drop in elementary teachers is largely attributed to the accumulation of existing waiting list candidates.The official added, "There are still candidates waiting for placement from last year's hiring, which has resulted in fewer selections this time." Regarding concerns about a backlog in teacher appointments, the official noted that teacher allocations are determined according to Ministry of Education standards, limiting the education office's autonomy in decision-making.The confirmed schedule for the employment exam will be posted on the education office's website: for early childhood, elementary, and special education teachers on September 9, and for secondary teachers on September 30. The announced selection numbers may be adjusted based on the Ministry of Education's final allocation results in the second half of the year.Applications will be accepted through the 'Online Teacher Recruitment System.' Early childhood, elementary, and special education teachers can apply from September 28 to October 2, while secondary teachers can apply from October 12 to 16. The first written exams will take place on November 7 for early childhood, elementary, and special education teachers, and on November 28 for secondary teachers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:16:00
  • DB HiTek Transfers MEMS Equipment to MoaFab, Supporting National NanoFab Processes
    DB HiTek Transfers MEMS Equipment to MoaFab, Supporting National NanoFab Processes DB HiTek is transferring micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) processing equipment to MoaFab, a national integrated platform for nano fabrication. The move aims to expand the prototype production capabilities of research institutions and small fabless companies by providing manufacturing equipment previously used by the company.On August 6, DB HiTek announced that it signed an agreement for the transfer of semiconductor equipment at its Sangwoo Campus in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, with officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT and MoaFab.MoaFab is an integrated platform that supports semiconductor research and prototype production by connecting national nano fabs across regions. It focuses on reducing the inconvenience of researchers having to find necessary equipment and processes at different institutions while increasing equipment utilization among fabs.DB HiTek is transferring three pieces of MEMS processing equipment, including one high-temperature thermal processing unit and two etching machines. The equipment will be installed at the Nano Convergence Technology Institute and the Nano Comprehensive Technology Institute, both participants in MoaFab, and will be used for research and prototype production.MEMS technology integrates sensors and micro-mechanical structures using semiconductor processes. Its application range is broad, covering automotive, mobile devices, medical equipment, and industrial sensors, highlighting the importance of public infrastructure for initial prototype production.This equipment transfer is a tangible outcome of the MoaFab support agreement signed in March 2022 by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and DB HiTek.The national nano fab serves as a foundation for universities and research institutions, as well as fabless companies and materials, components, and equipment firms without their own production facilities, to validate process technologies. The addition of this equipment is expected to reduce the testing period required for process development and product commercialization in the MEMS field.DB HiTek plans to go beyond just transferring equipment by also providing consulting on semiconductor manufacturing technology and fab operations. The company aims to share its process management experience accumulated in production settings with public research infrastructure to broaden support for the system semiconductor ecosystem.A DB HiTek official stated, "Through the donation of MEMS processing equipment, we will expand support for the national nano fab and will continue to provide consulting on semiconductor manufacturing technology and fab operations."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:12:20
  • President Lee Calls for Accelerated Youth Policies Focused on Education, Employment, and Marriage
    President Lee Calls for Accelerated Youth Policies Focused on Education, Employment, and Marriage President Lee Jae-myung stated on August 6 that "youth are becoming increasingly vulnerable," directing various ministries to reorganize youth policies to align with the life stages and actual needs of young people, focusing on education, employment, income and assets, housing, and marriage.During the 42nd senior advisory meeting held at the Blue House, President Lee emphasized that one of the key areas requiring accelerated action among national tasks is youth policy.He specifically instructed that universal support should lower barriers to allow more young people to benefit, while areas requiring tailored assistance should have a more robust support system. He also proposed the establishment of an online system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to proactively identify and guide eligible individuals without requiring them to seek out policies themselves.President Lee urged that policies should be meticulously organized to match the actual needs and life stages of young people, maximizing the synergy between support policies across core areas of life such as education and employment, income and assets, and housing and marriage.He called for different designs in support methods based on the nature of the policies. "In areas where universal support is needed, we should lower barriers so that more young people can benefit, and in areas requiring tailored support, we need to design a more robust support system," he said.As a means to enhance policy accessibility, he suggested a proactive guidance system using AI. This aims to address criticism that only those who are aware of various youth policies and programs across different ministries are able to benefit.President Lee stated, "We should not just wait for applicants to come forward; we need to proactively guide eligible individuals to encourage as many applications as possible," adding that an AI online system would be beneficial.Regarding recent confusion among some applicants due to incorrect guidance during the review process for the Youth Future Savings program, he ordered relevant authorities to respond thoroughly.He emphasized the need to closely monitor the situation to prevent unjust harm to applicants and to ensure accurate information is provided when introducing new systems. "We must continuously improve and refine systems from the perspective of young people, who are the demanders and beneficiaries, rather than from the supplier's viewpoint," he stressed.In light of the completion of the second government work report the previous day, he directed an increase in the speed of policy implementation. "The work report is over, but what truly matters is from now on," he said, stressing that sincere efforts and prompt actions to genuinely change the lives of citizens are more important than grand designs or flashy blueprints.He added, "With about 1,400 days left in the government term, let’s tighten our shoelaces once more and do our utmost to achieve national outcomes that the public can feel."President Lee also highlighted that all national achievements are evaluated by the sovereign citizens. He pointed out that even well-intentioned policies are ineffective if citizens do not feel their impact or if they cause harm.He stated, "We need flexible and proactive administration that constantly examines all issues from the perspective of the citizens and actively corrects any problems without any sacred cows."He also called for active responses to incorrect reports and false or manipulated information both domestically and internationally. President Lee instructed, "Do not overlook even the smallest instances of incorrect reporting or malicious information; the ministries must take responsibility to correct them."He emphasized the need for strict responses to acts of disseminating false or manipulated information aimed at distorting or manipulating public opinion, stating, "For citizens to make correct judgments, the government’s information must first be objective and accurate."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:12:20
  • Kakao Reports Record Q2 Revenue and Operating Profit, Eyes AI Monetization Next Year
    Kakao Reports Record Q2 Revenue and Operating Profit, Eyes AI Monetization Next Year Kakao has achieved record quarterly results, driven by growth in its advertising and financial sectors. The company also announced plans to launch a delivery order and payment service in collaboration with Coupang Eats, aiming to enhance profitability through user-centric services on KakaoTalk, despite the AI sector not yet generating significant revenue.On August 6, Kakao reported consolidated revenue of 2.98 trillion won and operating profit of 277 billion won for the second quarter of 2026, marking increases of 9% and 36%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Both revenue and operating profit are the highest ever recorded for a quarter, with an operating profit margin of 13%, up 3 percentage points.The improvement in performance was led by the platform division, particularly the TalkBiz advertising and commerce business, which saw revenue rise 17% to 1.23 trillion won. TalkBiz advertising and subscription revenue increased by 14% to 399.9 billion won, setting a new quarterly record.Display advertising revenue on KakaoTalk grew by 28%, driven by the rise of feed-type ads. Excluding Bizboard, display advertising revenue tripled, expanding its share of total display advertising to 45%. Business message revenue also grew by 20%.The company views the current period as one where the growth of existing advertising and commerce is beginning to offset the investment burden in AI. Shin Jong-hwan, Kakao's Chief Financial Officer, stated, “Currently, AI is in a stage where investment precedes revenue contribution.”Kakao's proposed AI revenue model includes transaction fees from agent commerce, subscription fees for AI services, and AI-based advertising. The company plans to enter the relatively weak search advertising market by understanding user interests and purchase intentions during conversations and searches.Kakao CEO Jeong Shin-a said, “We aim to lay the groundwork for AI popularization by the end of this year and begin full-scale monetization next year. By 2028, AI will become a major revenue source for TalkBiz.”In the second half of this year, the focus will be on establishing a user and transaction base for AI. The 'ChatGPT for Kakao' service has already attracted approximately 13 million cumulative subscribers as of Q2. Kakao plans to increase the number of monthly active users (MAU) utilizing AI services on KakaoTalk to over 10 million by the end of the year.The first collaboration to establish a transaction base will be with Coupang Eats. Kakao has formed an A2A partnership with Coupang Eats to connect the AI agents of both companies, enabling services that handle food recommendations, orders, and payments within the KakaoTalk chat window.CEO Jeong emphasized, “This is not just about adding a food ordering feature to KakaoTalk; it’s the first step in connecting user intent to actual actions and transactions through AI, creating new user habits.” The two companies are discussing the service structure and operational methods to link AI experiences within KakaoTalk to real transactions.Kakao has stated it will focus on business-to-consumer (B2C) services rather than infrastructure projects like AI data centers and GPU clouds. Instead of investing heavily in infrastructure, the company aims to apply AI to user touchpoints within KakaoTalk and expand collaborations with external businesses.CEO Jeong remarked, “The area where Kakao can create the highest competitiveness in the AI era is not the infrastructure layer. We will concentrate our capabilities on creating AI services that users continuously use in their daily lives.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:12:20
  • Danuri Captures SpaceX Falcon 9 Rockets Lunar Impact in Historic First for South Korea
    Danuri Captures SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket's Lunar Impact in Historic First for South Korea The Korea Aerospace Research Institute announced that the country's lunar orbiter, Danuri (KPLO), captured images of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage before and after its impact on the lunar surface on August 5 at 3:34 p.m.According to the institute, Danuri began its observations at 3:01 p.m., 30 minutes before the impact, and continued to take a total of eight images, including seven after the collision. All imaging was completed by 7 a.m. the following day.After the rocket's upper stage collided with the moon, Danuri passed over the impact site, using its high-resolution camera (LUTI) to capture images of the surface just before and after the impact. The distance from Danuri to the impact site was approximately 340 to 350 kilometers, flying at a speed of 1.5 kilometers per second at an altitude of 150 kilometers above Seoul, similar to the conditions during the impact in Busan, according to the institute. A wide-field polarimetric camera (PolCam) also captured images of the same area to observe changes in the surface's polarization characteristics.The observational data revealed changes in the terrain near the impact site and traces of ejected material. Earlier, on July 9, Danuri had conducted two preliminary imaging sessions around the expected impact site to gather baseline data.The institute described this observation as a significant case of monitoring a predicted artificial lunar impact from orbit. Previously, observations of artificial impacts on the moon typically involved assessing surface changes long after the event. However, Danuri has secured both pre-impact baseline images and post-impact images, allowing for a focused analysis of the changes caused by the collision.The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to observe the impact area in the future, and the data collected by Danuri will be used in international collaboration to inform NASA's imaging plans.The observational data will undergo scientific analysis by relevant research institutions, leading to detailed results on the size and shape of the impact crater, the distribution of ejected material, and changes in surface reflectance and polarization characteristics. The analysis results will be utilized as international collaborative research materials in cooperation with NASA and others, contributing to studies on lunar surface properties using artificial impacts and the interpretation of natural meteorite impacts.Oh Tae-seok, head of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, stated, "Danuri's capture of the scenes before and after the artificial impact on the moon demonstrates South Korea's lunar exploration capabilities, including orbital control and mission operation. The data secured from this observation will serve as a crucial foundation for future lunar research and space exploration strategies."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:12:10
  • HD Construction Machinery Expands Renewable Energy Procurement, Aiming for RE100 by 2040
    HD Construction Machinery Expands Renewable Energy Procurement, Aiming for RE100 by 2040 HD Construction Machinery is accelerating its efforts to achieve RE100 by increasing the use of renewable energy at its facilities.On August 6, the company announced that it has signed multiple power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy producers for a total capacity of 12.4 megawatts peak (MWp) at its Incheon plant.As a result of this agreement, the share of renewable energy used at the Incheon facility is expected to rise from 19% to 43.9% by January 2027. The company is also expanding its renewable energy usage at other major domestic sites, with projections of 42% in Ulsan and 53.1% in Gunsan during the same period.The overall share of renewable energy used across all domestic sites of HD Construction Machinery is anticipated to increase from the current 22% to 40.3%. This shift is expected to result in an annual reduction of 22,155 tons of greenhouse gases, equivalent to planting approximately 3.36 million 30-year-old pine trees.RE100 is a global campaign initiated in 2014 by the Climate Group and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), aiming for companies to transition to 100% renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.An official from HD Construction Machinery stated, "Expanding the use of renewable energy is a key task for securing sustainable manufacturing competitiveness. We will continue to enhance external renewable energy procurement and self-generation to meet our RE100 goal by 2040 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050."In the second quarter of 2026, HD Construction Machinery reported revenues of 2.4342 trillion won and an operating profit of 248.9 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:12:10
  • Nearslab Targets Global Defense Market with Physical AI Drones, Set for KOSDAQ Listing
    Nearslab Targets Global Defense Market with Physical AI Drones, Set for KOSDAQ Listing Nearslab, an AI-based industrial drone solution company, is set to enter the global defense industry market by leveraging its autonomous flight technology developed in the wind power sector. The company plans to expand its production capacity and research and development (R&D) investments, accelerating the growth of its physical AI-based drone business in conjunction with its KOSDAQ listing.On August 6, Nearslab held a press conference for its initial public offering (IPO) at the 63 Square in Yeouido, Seoul, to announce these plans.Founded in 2015, Nearslab develops physical AI-based autonomous flight technology that enables drones to perceive and assess their surroundings to carry out missions. The company provides autonomous flight drone solutions for wind turbine inspections, industrial safety, and defense sectors based on its core technology, 'Aerial Intelligence.'Nearslab was the first to apply this technology in the wind power sector. To date, it has inspected over 100,000 wind turbine blades across more than 40 countries, achieving a success rate of over 99% for autonomous flight missions. Building on its accumulated operational data and flight experience, the company is now expanding into the defense sector.Key products include the KAiDEN, a counter-drone defense system, and the XAiDEN, a swarm suicide drone. The XAiDEN platform allows a single operator to control up to 10 drones simultaneously and secured its first major contract in the defense market last year, winning a project worth approximately $10 million. The KAiDEN has also completed exports to Southeast Asia and is pursuing additional contracts based on pilot projects in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and domestic military trials.The expansion into the defense sector has led to improved financial performance. For the second quarter of this year, Nearslab reported preliminary revenues of 16.9 billion won and an operating profit of 500 million won, marking the first quarterly profit since its establishment. This is attributed to the revenue from overseas projects secured last year. While the company expects to record losses on an annual basis this year and next, it aims to achieve profitability by 2028 based on its defense business expansion.CEO Choi Jae-hyuk stated, "With the IPO, we will expand our production infrastructure and R&D investments and begin global supply of KAiDEN and XAiDEN. We aim to lead the global autonomous flight drone market based on our physical AI technology."Nearslab plans to use the funds raised from the IPO for building production facilities, R&D, and expanding its global business. A total of 910,000 shares will be offered, with a target price range of 30,000 to 41,200 won. The general subscription will take place on August 12-13, with the KOSDAQ listing scheduled for August 24.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 18:12:00