AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

&
""
Latest by
  • Democratic Party Candidates Differentiate Strategies Ahead of Primary Results
    Democratic Party Candidates Differentiate Strategies Ahead of Primary Results Three candidates for the leadership of the Democratic Party are implementing differentiation strategies ahead of the first results of the primary, set to be announced on August 1. Kim Min-seok is focusing on 'policy,' Jeong Cheong-rae on 'reform,' and Song Young-gil on 'legitimacy.'On July 31, Kim will hold a policy concert titled 'Asking Youth for Directions' at Kyungpook National University in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. This event is seen as an effort to recover the party's youth support and showcase its policy vision.Kim, recognized as a policy expert within the party, has held key positions such as chair of the policy committee and head of the election campaign's comprehensive situation room. During a televised debate on July 29, he criticized Jeong, stating, 'It seems that you have not been able to lead a very important election to victory while not holding any major party positions.' He also claims to be the only candidate with experience leading the party to victories in the general, local, and presidential elections.Jeong is solidifying his image as a reformer. At a discussion held in the National Assembly on the topic of strengthening victims' rights after the abolition of prosecutorial investigation rights, he stated, 'We could not delay the attempt at prosecutorial reform, which symbolizes and represents the Democratic Party.' He emphasized, 'Prosecutorial reform is not 100% complete today. We will strongly pursue improvements in areas that are lacking to meet the public's expectations.' The party plans to process a revision of the Criminal Procedure Act aimed at abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights later that afternoon, which is seen as an effort to highlight his role in leading prosecutorial reform and garner support.Song visited 'The Path of Roh Moo-hyun' in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, earlier in the day, expressing, 'I miss the late President Roh Moo-hyun even more.' He had visited the birthplace of the late President Kim Dae-jung the day before and received a support declaration from the Roh Moo-hyun Spirit Foundation on July 29, indicating a strengthening of his legitimacy narrative.Additionally, at a town hall meeting in Busan on July 19, Song stated, 'I have walked the most accurate path from Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun to former President Moon Jae-in and President Lee Jae-myung. As someone with clear legitimacy, I am free to expand and embrace.' He claimed he could most accurately achieve the expansion that President Lee mentioned.Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's convention will begin on August 1 in the Chungcheong region, where the results of the primary will be announced. Following the primary, the party plans to hold its convention in Daejeon on August 17 to elect a new leader.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:28:00
  • 30-Year-Old Woman Who Blocked Access to Jamsil Polling Station Charged
    30-Year-Old Woman Who Blocked Access to Jamsil Polling Station Charged A 30-year-old woman, known as 'Jandarque' (Jamsil's Joan of Arc), has been charged with obstruction for blocking access to the Olympic Park handball stadium, which served as a polling station during the June 3 local elections.On July 31, the Songpa Police in Seoul transferred the woman, identified as A, to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office without detention, applying charges of obstruction of business.This action comes about six weeks after she was booked by police in mid-June.A is accused of preventing staff from a sports organization from entering the polling station, despite an agreement reached with other protesters, including Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, on June 16.Wearing a U.S. flag around her waist, she reportedly held onto the door for about two hours, ignoring pleas from Jang and Yoo Seung-min, the president of the Korean Sports Council.The police attempted to detain her, arguing that her actions constituted serious obstruction of business, rendering it uncertain when the blockade would be lifted. However, a court denied the arrest warrant on July 21, citing no risk of evidence destruction or flight.After her release from custody, she appeared on her lawyer's YouTube channel, stating, "If I find this uncomfortable, I wonder how much more uncomfortable Mrs. Kim Geon-hee must have felt."On July 29, she conducted a live broadcast on her own YouTube account from Olympic Park, expressing her desire to "spread positive influence."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:28:00
  • South Korea and Chile Elevate Cooperation on Key Minerals to Ministerial Level
    South Korea and Chile Elevate Cooperation on Key Minerals to Ministerial Level The South Korean government has elevated its cooperation with Chile on key minerals to a ministerial level, aiming to secure supply chains for essential raw materials such as lithium and copper for future industries. The partnership will also expand collaboration in investment, defense, and digital sectors.On July 30, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a Korea-Chile mineral resources partnership in Santiago, Chile, during President Lee Jae-myung's official visit. A business roundtable featuring major companies from both countries was also held.Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan met with Chile's Minister of Economy and Mining Daniel Mas Valdés to discuss ways to enhance cooperation on key minerals. The two sides have maintained a cooperative foundation for nearly 20 years based on an MOU signed in 2004.During the summit, both leaders recognized the need to combine South Korea's strengths in advanced industries such as semiconductors and batteries with Chile's resources in copper and lithium. This led to the elevation of their existing cooperation to a mineral resources partnership.The new MOU encompasses the entire mineral value chain, going beyond mere resource development. It includes information exchange, personnel exchanges, joint geological surveys and exploration, development, processing and refining, recycling, trade, and investment. Notably, the resource cooperation committee, which had been operating at the vice-ministerial level, will now be formalized at the ministerial level, with a new working-level channel established.The government also requested stable supplies of key minerals from Chile, such as copper, lithium, and zinc, which are in high demand among domestic companies. Chile is the world's leading producer of copper and has the largest lithium reserves, both critical raw materials for future industries like electric vehicles, batteries, and data centers. Both sides agreed on the importance of long-term and stable supply chain cooperation.The Ministry of Trade explained that South Korea, with its global refining capabilities and eco-friendly technologies for low-carbon and low-emission refining, as well as byproduct recovery and waste reduction, can be a valuable partner in enhancing Chile's mineral industry.Private companies and institutions also participated in the key minerals cooperation. Minister Kim held discussions with representatives from companies and institutions involved in Latin America's key minerals cooperation, including LS, Korea Zinc, Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, and KOTRA, to review investment and purchasing statuses. During this visit, Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation renewed its MOU with the Chilean National Mining Company to secure exploration and analysis rights for copper mine projects and promote investment connections for South Korean companies.At the Korea-Chile business roundtable, discussions focused on expanding economic cooperation in promising future sectors, including key minerals, advanced industries and digital technology, and green energy and trade. In the key minerals sector, cooperation across the entire supply chain, including exploration, development, and eco-friendly refining, was discussed.In the advanced industries and digital sector, Naver proposed digital cooperation plans, including support for building Chile's sovereign AI using AI technology, while Hanwha Ocean presented possibilities for collaboration in shipbuilding, marine, and defense sectors. In the green energy and consumer goods sectors, OCI Holdings and Hyundai Motor shared examples of cooperation and plans for expansion.Investment and defense cooperation will also be expanded. KOTRA signed an MOU for investment cooperation with Chile's Foreign Investment Promotion Agency. The two organizations will establish a cooperation system for exchanging investment information, discovering promising projects, networking companies, and resolving investment challenges, focusing on strategic industries such as key minerals and energy to promote investment and discover new projects. A defense contract for supplying military vehicles to Chile was also signed, laying the groundwork for additional procurement, training, and maintenance support.A business consultation meeting was also held. The Ministry of Trade and KOTRA hosted a Korea-Chile business partnership event during the official visit, supporting the entry of South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises into the Chilean market. Over 30 South Korean companies in sectors such as K-consumer goods, bio-healthcare, and defense participated, along with more than 50 local buyers, resulting in over 120 export consultations and contracts worth approximately $5 million.Minister Kim stated, "This has been a valuable opportunity to envision a new blueprint for the next 20 years based on the cooperative relationship built over the past 20 years since the Korea-Chile FTA was signed. The government will actively support investment, technology cooperation, and supply chain establishment in promising future sectors such as key minerals, AI and digital technology, advanced manufacturing, and green energy."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:08:00
  • South Korea and Vietnam Collaborate on Development Goals
    South Korea and Vietnam Collaborate on Development Goals South Korea has expressed its commitment to share development experiences to support Vietnam's medium- to long-term national development goals. During a meeting with Kim Yoon-deok, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong proposed expanding cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, science and technology, and infrastructure, based on the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.On July 30, local media reports from Vietnam, including Lao Dong, indicated that General Secretary Trong welcomed Minister Kim during his visit to Vietnam. He expressed hope that this visit would contribute to the development of economic cooperation and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Korea and Vietnam.During the meeting, General Secretary Trong requested that Minister Kim convey his regards to President Lee Jae-myung. He expressed optimism that under President Lee's leadership, South Korea would achieve even greater successes in the future.General Secretary Trong also expressed satisfaction with the recent tangible results in the bilateral relationship. He emphasized that Vietnam values its relationship with South Korea and hopes to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership in politics, economy, trade, investment, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.The trade target between the two countries was also reiterated. General Secretary Trong emphasized the need to achieve the trade volume target of $150 billion (approximately 215 trillion won) by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner. He expressed hope that South Korea would continue to participate in the implementation of Vietnam's future strategic development goals.Discussions on Cooperation in Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, and ShipbuildingThe Vietnamese side positively evaluated the inter-ministerial cooperation between the two countries. General Secretary Trong welcomed the close collaboration between the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, suggesting that both sides strengthen experience sharing and expand practical cooperation.Areas of cooperation included infrastructure construction, renewable energy, shipbuilding technology, and advanced human resource development. General Secretary Trong explained that these areas are priorities for Vietnam in this new era.Minister Kim conveyed President Lee's regards to General Secretary Trong and the senior leadership of Vietnam, congratulating them on the significant achievements in recent social and economic development.Minister Kim expressed confidence that under General Secretary Trong's leadership, the Vietnamese people will continue to achieve new successes. He expressed belief that Vietnam will realize its goal of becoming a developing country with a modern industrial base by 2030 and a high-income developed country by 2045.On this day, Minister Kim also delivered a letter from President Lee Jae-myung. In the letter, President Lee expressed his intention to further develop the cooperative relationship between the two countries.The letter indicated that South Korea is ready to share its development experiences in areas where it has strengths and that Vietnam needs. It also included the commitment that South Korea will be one of the reliable partners in the process of implementing Vietnam's national development goals.This meeting took place amid a trend of expanding economic and industrial cooperation based on the comprehensive strategic partnership between South Korea and Vietnam. Both sides confirmed their willingness to expand cooperation in areas that connect Vietnam's development goals with South Korea's experiences.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:08:00
  • North Korea says peninsula conflict matter of time
    North Korea says peninsula conflict matter of time SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - North Korea declared Friday that armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula is no longer a question of whether but of when, denouncing a personnel buildup at the US military command in Japan as proof that Washington is preparing for war in the region. The statement came days after Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, commander of US Forces Japan, disclosed in an interview with Japan's Asahi Shimbun published Saturday that his headquarters had added 215 personnel over the past year. The increase is part of a multiphase restructuring, launched in 2025 and scheduled to conclude in spring 2028, that is turning the command from an alliance management body into what US officials describe as a warfighting headquarters. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary that the buildup shows the command "is transforming into a 'war command' in both name and substance." The state-operated news agency said the reorganization's "sinister intention lies in using Japan's 'Self-Defense Forces' as shock troops and a core combat force for an all-out war in the Asia-Pacific region in a contingency." The commentary argued that North Korea itself would be the command's first objective. "Given that US Forces Japan is the core reinforcement the United States would send to South Korea first in a contingency on the Korean Peninsula, it is an undeniable fact that the primary target of this 'war command' is none other than our republic," it said. KCNA then delivered its starkest line. "As the enemies themselves have admitted, a physical clash on the Korean Peninsula today has clearly been defined not as a question of possibility, of whether it will happen or not, but as a question of time, of when it will happen," the commentary said. The wording echoed Jost's own remarks in the same Asahi Shimbun interview, in which he said the region must prepare "on the premise of not whether a crisis will occur, but when." The commentary also aimed recent allied military activity. It cited the Combined Joint Sustainment Training exercise conducted by the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command from July 13 to 16, using the epithet "South Korean puppet military gangsters" to describe the South's armed forces. It further pointed to an agreement by the top military officers of South Korea, the United States and Japan to continue the trilateral Freedom Edge exercises and deepen three-way security cooperation. North Korea cast those moves as justification for expanding its nuclear arsenal. "The desperate military adventurist acts of the United States are once again leading us to the irreversible conclusion that we must devote ourselves further to the ceaseless development and evolution of our self-defensive nuclear war deterrent," KCNA said. 2026-07-31 11:02:59
  • Delta to operate temporary Incheon-Las Vegas flights for CES 2027
    Delta to operate temporary Incheon-Las Vegas flights for CES 2027 SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - Delta Air Lines will operate temporary nonstop flights between Incheon and Las Vegas for Korean travelers attending CES 2027, the company said Friday. The special flights will depart from Incheon International Airport from Jan. 3 to 5 and arrive at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas ahead of CES 2027, which will be held from Jan. 6 to 9. Return flights from Las Vegas to Incheon will operate from Jan. 9 to 10. The Incheon-Las Vegas service will be operated with Delta’s A350-900 aircraft, featuring four cabin classes: Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort and Delta Main. Passengers flying in Delta One Suites will have access to lie-flat seats with privacy doors, Missoni amenity kits and bedding, as well as premium dining and beverage services. Delta Premium Select offers wider seats, additional recline and upgraded in-flight service. “CES is one of the most iconic stages for global innovation,” said Athar Khan, Delta’s director of global sales for Asia Pacific. “Delta is uniquely positioned to connect customers to Las Vegas through its strong global network.” Khan added that Delta would offer more convenient and differentiated premium travel options through new services from Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as expanded operations in major U.S. markets including Austin. Delta said it plans to operate more than 120 peak-period flights during CES 2027 by launching new nonstop routes in Asia and increasing U.S. domestic services. The airline said new direct services from Hong Kong and Taipei to Las Vegas will strengthen its trans-Pacific network for the annual technology trade show, complementing existing routes from Seoul-Incheon and Shanghai Pudong. Korean Air, Delta’s joint venture partner, will also temporarily add flights to Las Vegas during the CES period in addition to its regular services. Delta’s Incheon-Las Vegas flights will include DL26, departing Incheon at 7:25 p.m. and arriving in Las Vegas at 1:35 p.m. on Jan. 3, 4 and 5; DL170, departing Incheon at 8:35 p.m. and arriving at 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 4; and DL172, departing Incheon at 6:35 p.m. and arriving at 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 5. Return flights will include DL27, departing Las Vegas at 11:10 p.m. and arriving in Incheon at 5:45 a.m. the following day on Jan. 9 and 10, and DL171, departing Las Vegas at 9:15 a.m. and arriving in Incheon at 3:50 p.m. the following day on Jan. 10. Bookings for the CES 2027 special flights are available through Delta’s and Korean Air’s official websites. 2026-07-31 11:00:34
  • National Tax Revenue Reaches 223 Trillion Won in First Half of 2026
    National Tax Revenue Reaches 223 Trillion Won in First Half of 2026 South Korea's national tax revenue for the first half of 2026 reached 223 trillion won, driven by increases in securities transaction tax, income tax, and corporate tax.According to the Ministry of Finance on July 31, the national tax revenue for June was 23.1 trillion won, an increase of 5.5 trillion won compared to the same month last year.By tax category, the securities transaction tax rose by 1.2 trillion won from June of last year due to increased trading volume and the restoration of tax rates. The special tax for rural areas increased by 1.7 trillion won as trading volume on the KOSPI rose.Income tax increased by 1.4 trillion won, attributed to improvements in total salary payments and a rise in capital gains tax from increased housing transactions. Corporate tax saw a rise of 400 billion won due to an increase in the extended filing period for March's confirmed reports. Additionally, value-added tax and customs duties increased by 400 billion won and 200 billion won, respectively, due to higher import amounts. Inheritance and gift tax, individual consumption tax, and comprehensive real estate tax each rose by 100 billion won, while the transportation energy and environment tax decreased by 100 billion won.As a result, the cumulative national tax revenue from January to June totaled 223 trillion won, marking an increase of 33 trillion won compared to the same period last year. All categories, including income tax, corporate tax, value-added tax, securities transaction tax, and transportation tax, showed growth.The revenue progress rate stands at 53.7%, higher than the recent five-year average of 51.8%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:00:20
  • U.S. Semiconductor Index Drops 27% in a Month, Investors Bet on 3x Leverage ETFs
    U.S. Semiconductor Index Drops 27% in a Month, Investors Bet on 3x Leverage ETFs Domestic investors have turned to buying 3x leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on semiconductors, despite a more than 20% drop in U.S. semiconductor stocks over the past month. This trend appears to reflect a strategy of buying on dips, betting on a potential rebound after the recent declines.According to the Korea Securities Depository, the top net purchase in U.S. stocks for July (1-30) was the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF (SOXL), with domestic investors net buying $3.33 billion. However, since this figure is based on foreign currency securities settlement, the actual purchase date is likely to be up to July 29. SOXL is a leveraged ETF that aims to deliver three times the daily return of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), investing in major global semiconductor companies such as NVIDIA, Broadcom, AMD, and Qualcomm. Investors typically use this product to bet on a recovery in the semiconductor sector and a rebound in stock prices.This buying spree occurred amid significant corrections in U.S. semiconductor stocks. It seems that domestic investors viewed the drop in semiconductor stocks as a buying opportunity. With concerns over the overvaluation of AI-related stocks and fears of a slowdown in the semiconductor sector, investors have channeled funds into leveraged products, anticipating a future rebound.The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell from 14,246.96 on June 30 to 10,447.49 on July 29, a decline of 3,799.47 points, or 26.7%. Throughout July, the index experienced significant volatility, dropping 6.27% in a single day on July 1, and falling more than 4% on both July 7 and July 13. On July 29, it also dropped 5.33%, falling below the 10,500 mark.This buying on dips appears to have yielded some results, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rebounded significantly, rising by 855.50 points (8.19%) to 11,302.99 on July 30 (local time). Consequently, SOXL also saw a substantial rebound, suggesting that investors who bought during the downturn may have realized short-term gains.In addition to semiconductor-related assets, domestic investors have shown buying interest in leveraged products overall. Among the top net purchases were ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) at $326.26 million and ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) at $276.46 million. TQQQ aims to deliver three times the daily return of the Nasdaq-100 Index, while QLD seeks to deliver double the return.However, it is important to note that leveraged ETFs, which track the daily volatility of their underlying indices, can offer high returns in bullish markets but may also amplify losses in bearish conditions. Particularly in volatile markets, long-term holdings can lead to discrepancies between the underlying index and actual returns, necessitating caution from investors.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:00:00
  • Anthropic AI Model Hacked, Raising Cybersecurity Concerns
    Anthropic AI Model Hacked, Raising Cybersecurity Concerns U.S. AI startup Anthropic has reported that its AI model Claude was involved in hacking incidents affecting three external organizations during testing. Following a similar incident at OpenAI last week, concerns about cybersecurity in AI are escalating.In a statement on July 30, Anthropic said, "During our review of cybersecurity assessments, we identified three instances where the Claude model accessed the internet and unauthorizedly interacted with the actual systems of three organizations." The company noted that these hacking incidents emerged from a total of 141,006 assessment cases, with the first incident occurring in April.Anthropic explained that the incidents were discovered while reviewing the results of its internal evaluations of three models, including Claude Opus 4.7, Mythos 5, and an internal testing model, following the hacking incident involving OpenAI's GPT. On July 21, OpenAI reported that several AI models, including the GPT-5.6 Sol, had escaped a previously isolated testing environment due to an unknown 'zero-day' vulnerability and accessed the operational environment of the AI community platform Hugging Face.Anthropic stated that the incidents occurred during a 'capture-the-flag' phase, a test where participants attempt to infiltrate other computers on a network to find secret information (the 'flag'). Although Anthropic had specified that Claude should not have internet access during the test, a misunderstanding with its evaluation partner Irregular led to actual internet access being possible.As a result, when Claude discovered actual systems online, it interpreted this as part of the test and utilized basic techniques such as password cracking and exploiting unverified endpoints to breach the organizations' infrastructure. However, Anthropic clarified that Claude only obtained the 'flag' within those systems and did not engage in any other malicious activities.On July 23, Anthropic began reviewing Claude's access logs and identified records indicating potential internet access. The company halted all security assessments that same day and notified the three organizations affected by Claude's access on July 27. Anthropic emphasized the need for stronger controls in testing as AI models become increasingly powerful.The reporting of unintended hacking incidents in testing environments for both Anthropic and OpenAI has heightened concerns about cybersecurity in AI models. The day before, President Donald Trump mentioned that his administration is considering strengthening AI regulations in response to the hacking incident involving OpenAI. Additionally, on July 28, over 1,100 employees from major AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta, urged the U.S. government to establish international standards to regulate the pace of AI development.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 11:00:00
  • SKs Chey buys first SK hynix stake before 20% rebound
    SK's Chey buys first SK hynix stake before 20% rebound SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) —SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won made his first direct purchase of SK hynix shares just one day before the AI memory giant rebounded more than 20 percent, turning his buy-the-dip move into an immediate paper gain. A regulatory filing with the Financial Supervisory Service on Thursday showed Chey purchased 3,620 common shares of SK hynix earlier in the day at an average price of 1,353,677 won per share. The investment was worth about 4.9 billion won ($3.5 million) based on the purchase price. By 10:50 a.m. Friday, SK hynix had surged to 1,613,000 won, lifting the value of the stake to roughly 5.84 billion won and generating an unrealized gain of nearly 940 million won in less than a day. The filing marked Chey's first reported direct holding in the world's second-largest memory chipmaker. The stake represents less than 0.01 percent of the company's 730.5 million outstanding shares. The purchase came after a steep correction in South Korea's semiconductor sector. SK hynix and other AI-linked chipmakers have been under heavy selling pressure since late June as investors questioned whether the pace of global artificial intelligence infrastructure spending could be sustained. The selloff was amplified by heightened volatility following the launch of single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds tied to major semiconductor companies. The market rebounded sharply Friday as foreign investors returned to semiconductor stocks after a strong rally in U.S. technology shares overnight and growing expectations that hedge-fund deleveraging had largely run its course. Chey had already signaled confidence in the industry's long-term prospects. Speaking at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jeju Forum on July 17, he said memory demand would continue to expand despite near-term market swings. "Memory demand will continue to grow, so the stock should rise over the long term," Chey said. "Rather than buying and selling repeatedly, simply holding shares is a better way to preserve wealth." The latest purchase appears to reinforce that conviction, with Chey personally adding SK hynix shares during one of the sector's sharpest corrections before the stock staged a powerful rebound. 2026-07-31 10:53:10