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Gwachon City Corporation Hosts Community Safety Campaign at Government Gwachon Office Station Gwachon City Corporation, in collaboration with Gwachon City, the Gwachon Fire Station, and the Gwachon Disaster Safety Council, conducted a joint public-private safety campaign on August 4. According to the fire station, this campaign was organized in conjunction with the 'Gwachon City Safety Inspection Day,' which takes place on the 4th of every month, and was based on discussions from the practical council of the Gwachon Disaster Safety Council. About 40 officials from related organizations participated in the event, providing citizens with information on safety rules for underground stations and practical safety measures for daily life. At the site, informational materials were distributed covering topics such as heatwave prevention, flood response in underground spaces, escalator safety rules, and emergency procedures for cardiac arrest. Additionally, safety experience booths were set up where participants could practice using fire extinguishers, performing CPR, and operating automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Citizens who participated in the safety training expressed their understanding of the importance of safety education as they learned how to respond in emergencies. Many showed particular interest in the CPR and AED training sessions. Others took the opportunity to review safety rules for daily life by examining the informational materials provided. A representative from the corporation stated, "We organized this campaign to inform citizens about safety rules that can be easily practiced in daily life and to provide hands-on educational opportunities." He added, "We plan to continue promoting citizen participation in safety activities in collaboration with related organizations."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:52:00 -
Minister Jeong Dong-young Responds to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's 'Idealism' Remarks Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young responded on August 6 to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's characterization of the ministry's plan for a 'peace regime on the Korean Peninsula' as 'idealism,' stating, "One must have ideals to change reality."On his way to the Government Seoul Complex, Cho told reporters, "We must cooperate with each other to assist the government."During a briefing following a report to President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Blue House on August 5, Cho remarked that the Unification Ministry's plan for a 'transition to a peace regime and a four-party meeting' should be viewed as an idealistic statement and suggested it be discounted.Some analysts find it unusual for a minister from another department to publicly downplay the operational plans of a fellow minister.Meanwhile, Jeong emphasized that President Yoon had stated, "Peace is food, peace is the economy," and urged patience in continuing the policy of peaceful coexistence, despite the challenges faced by the Unification Ministry.He added that the President expressed a strong commitment to supporting the Unification Ministry with encouragement and motivation.When asked whether President Yoon's comments about referring to North Korea as 'Joseon' (the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) indicated a call for a slowdown in policy, Jeong replied, "I will clarify the Unification Ministry's position through a spokesperson."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:52:00
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KOSPI heads back south on overnight Wall Street tech retreat SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) — The roller-coaster ride in Seoul headed back south Thursday, as South Korean stocks tracked an overnight pullback in U.S. tech shares that spread across the region's semiconductor sector. The KOSPI fell 4.13 percent to 6,325.82 as of 10:08 a.m. local time, with losses deepening as the session wore on. Foreign investors were the biggest sellers, offloading a net 1.14 trillion won ($798 million) in shares. Retail investors bought a net 995.6 billion won, while institutions added 117.8 billion won. The junior KOSDAQ slipped 1.04 percent to 791.27. Retail investors bought a net 180.1 billion won ($126 million) worth of shares, while foreign and institutional investors sold 169.0 billion won and 10.9 billion won, respectively. Semiconductor stocks led the decline after weakness in U.S. chip shares overnight. SK hynix plunged 8.27 percent to 1,530,000 won, following a 2.17 percent drop in its U.S.-listed ADR. Samsung Electronics fell 4.47 percent to 235,000 won. The weakness spread across the broader AI supply chain. SK Square tumbled 10.81 percent to 998,000 won, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics slid 9.81 percent to 1,223,000 won. Elsewhere, Hyundai Motor slipped 1.24 percent to 399,500 won, and Samsung Life Insurance fell 4.76 percent to 280,000 won. Samsung Biologics was unchanged at 1,491,000 won. LG Energy Solution and KB Financial were among the few gainers, rising 0.45 percent to 337,000 won and 0.41 percent to 171,400 won, respectively. On the KOSDAQ, losses were concentrated in semiconductor equipment and battery-related shares. AI drug developer Alteogen slipped 0.36 percent to 276,000 won. Battery materials makers EcoPro and EcoPro BM fell 0.36 percent and 1.38 percent, to 82,000 won and 100,300 won. AI robotics developer Rainbow Robotics edged up 0.21 percent to 485,000 won, while semiconductor equipment makers Jusung Engineering and Wonik IPS dropped 5.95 percent and 7.37 percent, to 134,400 won and 90,500 won. Among biopharmaceutical stocks, HLB fell 0.57 percent, ABL Bio rose 0.75 percent, Peptron climbed 4.37 percent, and chip substrate maker Simmtech jumped 5.73 percent to 108,900 won. Wall Street's mixed finish overnight dampened sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.49 percent, but the S&P 500 slipped 0.17 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.83 percent as investors took profits in technology shares. Chipmakers were among the weakest performers on Wall Street. Advanced Micro Devices tumbled more than 7 percent after its outlook disappointed investors, while Nvidia bucked the trend, rising 3.44 percent on hopes that its AI infrastructure partnership with SpaceX could support future demand. Weak economic data added to the cautious mood. U.S. private employers added just 44,000 jobs in July, well below expectations of 75,000, and growth in the services sector also fell short of forecasts. In currency markets, the Korean won strengthened to 1,417.30 against the dollar, from the previous session's close of 1,426.50. In the wider region, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.73 percent to 65,153.65 as weakness in U.S. technology shares and profit-taking weighed on semiconductor and electronics stocks. AJP Takeaways • KOSPI dropped 4.13 percent to 6,325.82 as of 10:08 a.m., with foreign investors selling a net 1.14 trillion won ($798 million) in shares. • Semiconductor stocks led the losses, tracking an overnight slump in U.S. chip shares; SK hynix fell 8.27 percent and Samsung Electronics dropped 4.47 percent. • KOSDAQ fell 1.04 percent to 791.27, dragged down by semiconductor equipment and battery makers. • Wall Street closed mixed overnight — the Dow rose but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell — after AMD's disappointing outlook and weak U.S. jobs data hit tech shares. • The won strengthened to 1,417.30 against the dollar, while Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.73 percent on similar tech weakness. 2026-08-06 10:50:50 -
Baek Seung-joo and Yoon Nan-sil Nominated as Gwangju's Deputy Mayors Baek Seung-joo and Yoon Nan-sil have been nominated as deputy mayors of Gwangju.Hwang Gi-yeon, chair of the Gwangju Personnel Committee, announced on August 6 in a briefing at the Gwangju government office, "Former Mayor Min Hyung-bae has nominated Baek Seung-joo for the fields of industry, jobs, economy, labor, and advanced key industries, while Yoon Nan-sil has been nominated for citizen sovereignty, youth population policy, health and welfare, and gender equality."Baek Seung-joo, 62, is from Jangseong. He graduated from Dongshin High School and Seoul National University with a degree in economics. He has served as the director of the Planning and Coordination Office and the director of the Fiscal Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He is currently a distinguished professor at Suncheon University and was the vice-chairman of the Transition Committee for the new mayor.Yoon Nan-sil, 61, who has been nominated for the deputy mayor position focusing on citizen sovereignty, youth population policy, health and welfare, and gender equality, hails from Gangjin. She has served as a member of the 4th Gwangju Metropolitan Council and held positions as the institutional reform secretary at the Office of the President under Moon Jae-in and as the chair of the Innovation Local Government Committee, which is directly under the President. She also chaired the Citizen Sovereignty Committee in the mayor's transition team.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:48:20
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Baek Seung-joo and Yoon Nan-sil Nominated as Gwangju's Deputy Mayors Baek Seung-joo and Yoon Nan-sil have been nominated as deputy mayors of Gwangju.Hwang Gi-yeon, chair of the Gwangju Personnel Committee, announced on August 6 in a briefing at the Gwangju government office, "Former Mayor Min Hyung-bae has nominated Baek Seung-joo for the fields of industry, jobs, economy, labor, and advanced key industries, while Yoon Nan-sil has been nominated for citizen sovereignty, youth population policy, health and welfare, and gender equality."Baek Seung-joo, 62, is originally from Jangseong. He graduated from Dongshin High School and Seoul National University with a degree in economics. He has served as the director of the Planning and Coordination Office and the director of the Fiscal Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He is currently a distinguished professor at Suncheon University and has also served as vice-chair of the Gwangju Transition Planning Committee under former Mayor Min.Yoon Nan-sil, 61, who has been nominated for the roles related to citizen sovereignty, youth population policy, health and welfare, and gender equality, hails from Gangjin. She has previously served as a member of the 4th Gwangju City Council and held positions as the institutional reform secretary at the Office of the President under Moon Jae-in and as the chair of the Innovation and Local Autonomy Committee under the Presidential Committee on the Era of Local Government.The city plans to request a personnel hearing for the nominees from the Gwangju City Council. Following the hearing process, the two deputy mayors are expected to be appointed later this month.There will be a total of four deputy mayors, including two local political deputy mayors and two national administrative deputy mayors. The administrative deputy mayors are not subject to the personnel hearing. 2026-08-06 10:48:00
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Microsoft's AI Revenue Heavily Dependent on OpenAI About 70% of Microsoft’s (MS) artificial intelligence (AI) revenue is estimated to come from OpenAI. While MS is expanding its own AI business, it remains significantly reliant on OpenAI for actual revenue.According to Bloomberg on August 5, MS disclosed that it generated $24.1 billion in revenue related to OpenAI for the fiscal year ending in June 2026. This is the first time MS has specifically reported annual revenue generated from OpenAI.OpenAI utilizes MS's cloud computing resources for AI model development and service operations, compensating MS for these services. The $24.1 billion includes fees for cloud usage and revenue sharing agreements.MS did not disclose its total AI revenue for the same period. However, Bloomberg estimates that MS's overall AI revenue for the last fiscal year was approximately $34 billion, based on previously announced growth rates in its AI business.Based on this calculation, revenue related to OpenAI accounts for about 70% of MS's total AI revenue. It is important to note that this 70% figure is an estimate derived from Bloomberg's analysis of publicly available data, not an official MS announcement.To reduce its dependence on OpenAI, MS is developing its own AI models and investing in competitors like Anthropic. Investors are particularly interested in how much of MS's AI revenue comes from general corporate clients and its own AI products, rather than OpenAI.Market analysts emphasize the importance of the composition of revenue related to OpenAI. The more revenue generated from actual services provided, such as cloud and software, rather than revenue sharing with OpenAI, the more stable the business is perceived to be.Jackson Ader, an analyst at KeyBanc, stated, “If revenue related to OpenAI comes more from service provision than from investment returns, it would be viewed more positively.” 2026-08-06 10:48:00
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BMW Selects Hankook Tire's iON for New i7 Electric Model Hankook Tire & Technology announced on August 6 that it will supply three types of its electric vehicle tire brand, iON, as original equipment (OE) for BMW's new all-electric i7 model in the 7 Series.The BMW 7 Series is the brand's flagship sedan, showcasing the latest in design, driving, digital, and electrification technologies.The i7, a pure electric model, offers the quietness and powerful performance characteristic of electric vehicles. The supplied products include the iON Evo AS, iON Icept, and iON Supreme, available in 20, 21, and 22-inch sizes, covering a full lineup from all-season to winter and ultra-high-performance tires.Hankook Tire developed the electric vehicle-specific tires optimized for the i7 based on its long-term collaboration with BMW. The products have received the 'Star' mark, an official certification indicating they meet BMW's quality and performance standards.iON is Hankook Tire's dedicated brand for electric vehicles, incorporating its proprietary EV-specific technology, 'iON Innovative Technology.' This technology balances efficiency, grip, mileage, low noise, and low rolling resistance to provide optimized driving performance for electric vehicles.The all-season iON Evo AS offers stable grip and handling performance across various climates and road conditions. The winter iON Icept ensures excellent braking and grip on snowy and wet surfaces.The ultra-high-performance tire, iON Supreme, is designed for high-speed stability and enhanced handling on both dry and wet roads.Meanwhile, Hankook Tire reported a consolidated revenue of 5.3139 trillion won and an operating profit of 506.9 billion won for the first quarter of this year, marking increases of approximately 7% and 43%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The second quarter's operating results will be announced on August 11.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:48:00
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China Dominates New Strategic Asset: Optical Modules in U.S.-China Tech Rivalry The United States is considering a ban on imports of Chinese optical modules, but China remains unfazed, believing the U.S. will not follow through. Following rare earths, optical modules have emerged as a new front in the U.S.-China tech rivalry.Optical modules are essential components that connect GPUs and servers at high speeds in AI data centers. Even with a large supply of AI semiconductors, a shortage of optical modules can hinder a data center's performance. In the AI industry, optical modules are becoming as critical as semiconductors.China has already established a dominant presence in this market. According to industry sources, seven of the top ten global optical module manufacturers are Chinese, holding approximately 70% of the market share by shipment volume. Leading companies include Zhongji Xuchuang, Xinyi Technology, and Tianfu Communication, which are currently mass-producing high-speed optical modules with specifications of 800G and 1.6T to support the AI data center construction of major U.S. tech firms.The competitiveness of Chinese companies is not solely due to lower prices. The optical module industry requires a complex supply chain that integrates materials, optical chips, packaging, assembly, and testing. China has built an industrial ecosystem that spans from securing indium raw materials to producing indium phosphide (InP) wafers, optical devices, and optical modules. With a mass production system in place, Chinese firms can also rapidly develop customized products. While U.S. companies possess advanced technology, Chinese firms have overwhelming advantages in production scale and supply chain.Particularly noteworthy is indium phosphide, a key material for lasers and photodetectors used in high-speed optical communications. Most optical modules used in AI data centers, including those with 800G and 1.6T specifications, rely on indium phosphide-based optical devices. China is the world's largest producer and refiner of indium, giving it significant influence over the indium phosphide supply chain. This is a major concern for U.S. companies.In fact, during a May visit to China by U.S. President Donald Trump, Jim Anderson, CEO of the U.S. optical communications company Coherent, was part of the economic delegation. Reports indicated that Coherent aimed to secure its indium phosphide supply chain by accompanying the president. Michael Hurlston, CEO of another U.S. optical communications firm, Lumentum, recently warned that a shortage of indium phosphide could become the biggest bottleneck for the AI industry, potentially causing a situation more severe than the memory semiconductor shortage.Chinese industry insiders, fully aware of this situation, believe that the U.S. will ultimately be unable to implement a ban on Chinese optical modules. A research team from a Chinese securities firm stated, "The likelihood of such measures being realized is almost nonexistent."In response to U.S. technology sanctions and high tariffs, China previously targeted the U.S. with rare earths, a resource crucial to the renewable energy, electric vehicle, and advanced weapon industries.As the AI industry evolves, AI data centers have become pivotal to national competitiveness, and once again, China holds the key. Optical modules and indium phosphide are new strategic assets firmly in China's grasp.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:44:10
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NS Home Shopping Launches Everfit Pop-Up Store in Hongdae to Support Partners NS Home Shopping is expanding offline opportunities for consumers to experience products from its small partner companies, which have primarily been sold online. The company announced on August 6 that it will operate a pop-up store featuring its partner product, 'Everfit Diet,' at the Beauty Play location in Hongdae, Seoul, until September 30. At the pop-up, visitors can sample the Everfit Diet products, which are designed for easy consumption by dissolving in water. The products are sold in packs of six, each containing 20 tablets, at a 23% discount from the regular price. By scanning a QR code available on-site, customers can access detailed product information and purchase directly from NS Mall. Items ordered can be delivered for free to a location of the customer's choice, eliminating the need to carry them home. This initiative aims to enhance brand awareness for partner products in the bustling Hongdae area and address the lack of experiential opportunities that often limits online sales. By allowing consumers to try the products firsthand, the event provides promotional and sales opportunities for the partners. Beauty Play is an open beauty experience space supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and operated by the Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute. NS Home Shopping has been expanding its support for small partner companies since launching its first Beauty Play location in Myeongdong in 2022, followed by Hongdae in 2024 and Busan this year. At the Beauty Play Busan location, which opened in June, NS Home Shopping established an 'NS Brand Zone' showcasing 19 brands from 13 partner companies, allowing consumers to experience products and purchase them via QR code. The program also includes follow-up support initiatives such as consultations with overseas buyers and live commerce. Yoo Dae-hee, head of NS Home Shopping's Customer Support Division, stated, "We hope this event provides consumers with the opportunity to experience our partners' products directly while offering partners new customer engagement and sales opportunities. We will continue to provide practical support that integrates online and offline channels." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:44:10
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Construction Begins on South Korea's Largest Solar Power Plant in Haenam 전남 해남에 단일 부지 기준 국내 최대 규모인 400㎿급 태양광발전단지가 들어선다. 연간 13만 가구가 사용할 수 있는 전력을 생산하고 사업 기간 총 1500억원 규모의 발전수익을 지역사회에 환원할 계획이다. 기후에너지환경부는 오는 7일 오후 전남 해남군 태양광발전 예정부지에서 '해남 재생복합단지 태양광 발전사업' 착공식을 개최한다고 6일 밝혔다. 이번 사업은 염해간척지 등 유휴부지 약 479만㎡에 400㎿ 규모의 태양광발전단지를 조성하는 프로젝트다. 2028년 준공을 목표로 하며, 전체 설비 가운데 10㎿는 태양광 발전과 농사를 병행하는 영농형 태양광으로 추진한다. 태양광 모듈과 셀, 인버터 등 주요 기자재에는 국산 제품을 사용한다. 활용도가 낮았던 대규모 유휴부지를 이용해 사업비 부담을 줄이고 발전단가를 낮춘다는 구상이다. 발전사업자는 지역 주민이 사업에 참여하고 수익을 공유하는 주민참여·이익공유 체계를 마련한다. 사업 기간 총 1500억원 규모의 발전수익이 지역사회에 돌아가도록 하고, 설계·조달·시공과 유지관리 과정에서도 지역 기업과 주민의 참여를 확대할 방침이다. 준공 이후 예상 발전량은 연간 529GWh로 약 13만 가구가 사용할 수 있는 규모다. 생산된 전력은 재생에너지 100% 사용(RE100)을 추진하는 기업과 산업단지 등에 공급된다. 공급 대상에는 SK하이닉스와 솔라시도 인공지능(AI) 국가컴퓨팅센터 등이 포함된다. 이번 사업은 기후부가 지난 4일 대통령 업무보고에서 제시한 재생에너지 중심의 전력 공급능력 확충 계획의 하나다. 정부는 대규모 태양광 보급과 함께 국산 기자재 사용, 발전단가 인하, 주민 이익공유를 추진한다는 방침이다. 김성환 기후부 장관은 "유휴부지를 활용한 대규모 재생에너지 보급을 확대해 발전단가를 낮추고 지역과 산업이 함께 성장하는 재생에너지 전환모델을 만들어 나가겠다"고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-06 10:44:00