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Homeplus Employees Tighten Their Belts as Restructuring Efforts Intensify Homeplus management and labor unions have agreed to implement stringent measures to delay salary payments and reduce certain employee benefits as part of efforts to normalize operations and facilitate corporate restructuring.On July 31, Homeplus announced that its two labor unions, the Homeplus Mart Union and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Homeplus General Labor Union, along with the employee representative body Hanmaeum Council, have committed to working together to expedite the normalization of operations and ensure the smooth execution of the ongoing restructuring plan.Earlier, on July 27, the labor and management held a meeting to discuss alleviating the company's liquidity burden and securing funds for operational normalization. They agreed to temporarily adjust the timing and method of payments for certain employee benefits.Specifically, the regular bonuses scheduled for payment in September will be distributed in six equal installments. Salaries will also be delayed by two months until March of next year, meaning that July salaries will be paid in September.The employment stability payment, which was previously up to 12 months of base salary for employees at closed stores, will no longer be provided. Additionally, the transition compensation for employees reassigned from closed stores will be paid in six installments.Homeplus plans to prioritize the use of 200 billion won in emergency operating funds for stabilizing product supply, normalizing operations, employee salaries, and essential operating costs.A Homeplus official stated, "Despite the company being in a very difficult situation, both labor unions and employees have made tough decisions for normalization. We will focus all our efforts on restoring operational stability and corporate value to ensure that employees' sacrifices and cooperation are not in vain." 2026-07-31 10:12:20 -
LG CNS Q2 profit falls despite higher revenue on cost pressure SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - LG CNS posted a 9.2 percent drop in second-quarter operating profit, as rising costs outweighed steady sales growth at the South Korean IT services provider. According to a preliminary regulatory filing released Friday, operating profit fell to 127.9 billion won ($89.1 million) in the April to June quarter from 140.8 billion won a year earlier, even as revenue climbed 4.2 percent to 1.52 trillion won. Net income rose 19.9 percent to 118.7 billion won. The firm said that the revenue gain was driven by expanding external contracts across all business lines, particularly in artificial intelligence and cloud services, which the firm has flagged as its core growth engine. In its cloud business, LG CNS said it had won more than 1 trillion won in large-scale data-center contracts and cemented its position as the country's top operator of hyperscale AI data centers under the design, build and operation model. "External sales rose across every division and led our top-line growth," the company said, adding that it recently signed a roughly 190 billion won physical-AI infrastructure deal with affiliate LG Electronics to supply humanoid-robot training platforms and GPU-based systems. For the first half, revenue rose 6.1 percent to 2.84 trillion won and operating profit edged up 1.1 percent to 222.1 billion won, with AI and cloud accounting for about 59 percent of total sales. Shares of LG CNS traded at 63,700 won per stock at 10:02 a.m., 9.45 percent higher than the previous session. 2026-07-31 10:05:15 -
KB Life Explores Solutions to Care and Isolation Issues from Youth Perspectives KB Life Foundation has released the 'KB Social Lab Report,' which outlines solutions to social blind spots related to care, isolation, and senior issues, developed in collaboration with 29 university students. The foundation announced the results of the first phase of the 'KB Life Social Lab' on July 30 at the KB Life Tower in Seoul. Participants conducted field interviews and research on various topics, including the psychological struggles of young caregivers, the social reintegration of isolated youth, educational exclusion of students with borderline intellectual functioning, childbirth and parenting challenges for at-risk pregnant women, emotional poverty among elderly residents in care facilities, and the declining housing options for the elderly. Based on their findings, six teams redefined these social issues from the perspective of those affected and included solutions at the policy, corporate, and civil society levels in their report. Park Min-ha, Executive Director of the KB Life Foundation, stated, “We will strive to ensure that the outcomes created by the participants can be utilized to drive real social change.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 10:04:00
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KGM Finalizes Wage Agreement, Marking 17 Years of No Disputes KG Mobility (KGM) has finalized its wage and collective agreement for this year, continuing a streak of 17 consecutive years without disputes.KGM announced on July 31 that the tentative agreement reached on July 29 was approved by union members, concluding the 2026 wage negotiations.The negotiations began in June and included 18 rounds of discussions, resulting in a tentative agreement that includes a basic salary increase of 75,000 won and a total payment of 3.6 million won, including production incentives.With this agreement, KGM has maintained a no-dispute record in wage negotiations since 2010. The company and the union plan to focus on expanding sales and improving profitability based on stable production and global market strategies.A KGM representative stated, "This year's negotiations recognized that the company's growth leads to a virtuous cycle of welfare expansion. We were able to resolve differences based on the company's long-term development and stability."Meanwhile, KGM is the second among the five domestic automakers to finalize a labor agreement, following Korea GM. Hyundai, Kia, and Renault Korea have yet to reach agreements.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 10:00:00
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South Korea opens door to three more tech firms on KOSDAQ SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) — South Korea moved three more technology companies a step closer to the stock market after the Korea Exchange approved their preliminary applications for a KOSDAQ listing. The Korea Exchange's KOSDAQ Market Division said Thursday that Melcon, a manufacturer of precision temperature and humidity control equipment, Lablup, an artificial intelligence infrastructure software developer, and MBD, a medical device company, had passed the exchange's listing eligibility review after approval by the Kosdaq Listing Committee. The companies will now move forward with initial public offering (IPO) procedures ahead of their market debut. Founded in 2003, Melcon makes temperature and humidity control equipment used in semiconductor and display production. The company supplies its equipment to major semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. It reported 41.8 billion won ($30.1 million) in revenue and 6.16 billion won in operating profit last year. The offering will be led by Daishin Securities, one of South Korea's leading securities firms. Lablup, established in 2015, develops software that helps companies build, manage and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) applications by simplifying AI infrastructure and computing resources. Its platform is designed to support users ranging from small development teams to large organizations running extensive AI systems. The company posted 6.72 billion won ($4.8 million) in revenue and 679 million won in operating profit last year. NH Investment & Securities, another major South Korean brokerage is leading its IPO process. Medical device developer MBD also secured preliminary approval despite remaining in the red, underscoring the junior market's efforts to support growing companies. Founded in 2015, the company develops 3D cell culture platforms that use patient-derived tumor cells to support cancer research, drug development and treatment testing. The technology is designed to help predict how patients will respond to cancer therapies while reducing reliance on animal testing in preclinical research. It reported 1.52 billion won ($1.1 million) in revenue and an operating loss of 5.63 billion won last year. Hana Securities is serving as the lead manager for the offering. 2026-07-31 09:58:56 -
KOSDAQ Semiconductor Stocks Surge Amid Global Market Rally KOSDAQ has rebounded sharply, driven by a global surge in semiconductor stocks, leading to increased buying across the semiconductor value chain. Following a recent decline, there has been a notable influx of bargain buying in semiconductor equipment and component stocks.As of 9:40 a.m. on July 31, the KOSDAQ index rose by 52.31 points (8.11%) to reach 697.09, according to the Korea Exchange. Major semiconductor-related stocks in the KOSDAQ also showed strong upward trends.Jusung Engineering, a company specializing in semiconductor front-end equipment, saw its shares soar by 27.06%. Wonik IPS also experienced a significant increase of 24.90%. Jusung Engineering supplies atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment, while Wonik IPS provides equipment for deposition and thermal processing in semiconductor manufacturing.PSK, another semiconductor equipment manufacturer, recorded an increase of over 28%. The company produces dry strip equipment used in photoresist removal processes and is expected to benefit from increased investments in advanced processes. EoTechnics, which manufactures laser-based semiconductor equipment, also joined the upward trend with a rise of more than 19%.Stocks related to semiconductor components and back-end processes also showed strength. Lino Industrial, which produces test sockets and probe pins used in semiconductor testing, rose by 14.49%, while Simtek, a manufacturer of semiconductor package substrates and PCBs, surged by over 28%. Fabless company Padu, which designs SSD controller semiconductors for data centers, also reflected the overall rebound in the semiconductor sector with a rise of around 23%.The strength of semiconductor stocks on this day is attributed to a significant rise in global semiconductor stocks in the U.S. market overnight. Improved investor sentiment in technology stocks followed strong earnings from Microsoft and expectations for Amazon's performance, with major semiconductor companies like Micron (up 18.4%) and SanDisk (up 26.0%) seeing substantial gains. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix also led the KOSPI's rebound with increases of over 20%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 09:52:10
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BTS Declares Boycott of Grammy Awards, Sparking Industry Debate The group BTS has announced its refusal to submit entries for the Grammy Awards, drawing attention from both the K-pop industry and fans. This decision is seen as a challenge to the global music industry's practice of categorizing K-pop by 'region' and 'language.'On July 29, BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook shared on their social media accounts, "We have decided not to submit for this year's Grammys." They added, "We hope music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language."This decision comes in light of the Grammy Awards' announcement to introduce a new category, 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance,' starting next year. This category will include K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and other Asian popular music. However, some critics argue that classifying Asian music into a separate category could create barriers to entry for major awards.BTS's statement is interpreted as a subtle critique of this categorization. By mentioning 'region or language,' they appear to question the Grammy's approach to grouping Asian music.Fans reacted swiftly, with BTS's song 'Aliens' from their fifth studio album 'ARIRANG' reaching the top of the iTunes 'Top Songs' chart in 78 countries. The song reflects the identity and aspirations of Korean artists on the global stage, and its success coincides with BTS's message of boycotting the Grammys, leading to increased streaming support from fans.Support from notable figures followed. Tablo from Epik High expressed his support for BTS's decision, while Maggie Kang, director of the Netflix animated film 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' also voiced her backing on social media. American music producer Mike Will Made-It, who worked on BTS's tracks 'Aliens' and '2.0,' showed his support by posting, "BTS ALIENS."International media outlets have covered this decision extensively. Billboard and the Associated Press analyzed BTS's refusal to submit as closely related to the Grammy's new Asian pop category. The Guardian noted that BTS's message contained a soft yet clear critique.The Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammy Awards, stated that it respects BTS's decision but emphasized that the Asian pop category was created to honor the diversity and excellence of Asian pop music. However, within the K-pop industry, there is a growing sentiment that this issue reflects a broader debate about how global award shows classify and evaluate non-English music.BTS has maintained a tense relationship with the Grammys over the years. From 2021 to 2023, they were nominated for a Grammy three consecutive times, aiming to become the first K-pop group to win, but they did not secure a win. Despite their global streaming success and fan influence, the lack of a Grammy win has sparked ongoing discussions about the conservative judging structure and barriers faced by non-English artists.This refusal to submit may mark a significant moment where BTS questions the very standards of the Grammys rather than conforming to them. Given BTS's symbolic status in the global music market, other K-pop artists and agencies are likely to approach their Grammy submission strategies with caution in the future.As K-pop has established itself as a major pillar of global popular music, the debate surrounding the Grammy's new Asian pop category is expected to continue. Industry observers are keenly watching whether BTS's distancing from the Grammys will reshape the relationship between K-pop and global award shows.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 09:52:10
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Han Byeong-do Criticizes Jang Dong-hyuk as a Dictator, Warns Against Involving Lee Jae-myung Han Byeong-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, on July 31, calling him a "dictator" for continuing unprecedented disciplinary politics aimed at protecting his party leadership. He also warned against dragging President Lee Jae-myung into political disputes.During a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Han stated, "Jang has lost his reason and continues to make outrageous remarks."He added, "Jang is suggesting that the new criminal justice system is intended to cancel President Lee's trial, and he is distorting facts regarding constitutional amendments while even mentioning the impeachment of President Lee." He further explained that adding grounds for dismissal in the Criminal Procedure Law amendment is merely a matter of legal codification.Han pointed out, "It has become difficult to distinguish whether Jang is the leader of the main opposition party or an extreme right-wing YouTuber. He is only hindering the future of South Korea with incitement, fabrication, outrageous remarks, and curses. As a politician, he should be concerned about the future of South Korea and provide hope to the people."Meanwhile, the sudden addition of provisions expanding grounds for dismissal in the Criminal Procedure Law amendment has sparked controversy. The People Power Party criticized this move, stating that the "expansion of grounds for dismissal is a blatant declaration to completely eliminate President Lee's trial and a legislative rush."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 09:52:00
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Hyundai Engineering & Construction Releases 2026 Sustainability Report, Enhancing ESG Disclosure Credibility Hyundai Engineering & Construction announced the release of its '2026 Sustainability Report' on July 31, detailing its sustainability achievements and global ESG disclosure strategies.The report faithfully reflects major domestic and international sustainability disclosure standards, including the Korea Sustainability Standards Board (KSSB), the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standards 2021).To enhance the reliability and accuracy of sustainability information, Hyundai has established an internal control process covering the entire ESG data lifecycle, from collection and verification to reporting and disclosure. The company has standardized data management criteria and significantly improved data integrity and management efficiency through its ESG IT system, 'H-SYNC.'The report highlights three key issues identified through a Double Materiality Assessment: industrial safety, quality management, and climate change response. It outlines management systems and performance related to these issues, including increased investments in safety management, improved customer satisfaction in quality, and the implementation of a carbon neutrality roadmap by 2045, along with associated risk and opportunity factors and response strategies.Specific achievements in various sectors are also presented. In the environmental sector, the company is expanding its business portfolio into future energy areas such as offshore wind, pumped storage, hydrogen and ammonia, nuclear power, and small modular reactors (SMR). Additionally, it is strengthening its eco-friendly investment capabilities through the issuance of 310 billion won in green bonds and promoting green procurement worth 779.7 billion won.In the social sector, Hyundai is advancing smart safety technology and enhancing its safety and health management systems. Through community-focused social contribution activities, it has received the highest grade (S) for three consecutive years in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'Community Contribution Recognition System.' In the governance sector, the company has improved board independence through the introduction of a senior independent director system and independent board operations, achieving an excellent (AA) rating for two consecutive years in the Fair Trade Compliance Program (CP) and maintaining stable operations of its anti-corruption management system (ISO 37001) and information security management system (ISO 27001).As a result of these efforts, Hyundai has been recognized for its outstanding ESG performance, receiving a comprehensive A rating from the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS) for eight consecutive years, being inducted into the CDP Korea Hall of Fame for eight years, being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for 16 consecutive years, and achieving an A rating in the MSCI ESG assessment.A Hyundai representative stated, "This report focuses on proactively responding to changes in the global sustainability disclosure environment and enhancing the reliability and transparency of ESG information. We aim to create a sustainable future based on the realization of a low-carbon society and building trust with stakeholders."Meanwhile, Park Se-ra, a researcher at Shin Young Securities, noted, "With the implementation of the U.S. Investment Special Law, we expect specific developments in U.S. nuclear power investments. Ahead of the November midterm elections, we anticipate results related to the swift nuclear investment emphasized by the Trump administration. Hyundai is preparing for the main contract of the Palisades SMR-300 project with Holtec in the third quarter, and its large-scale nuclear power project pipelines in Vietnam (Team Korea) and Bulgaria remain intact, with an increased likelihood of project realization." 2026-07-31 09:52:00
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KAIST develops technologies to cut AI sensory hallucinations SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - South Korean researchers have developed two technologies that stop artificial intelligence from claiming to hear sounds that were never recorded or see objects that do not exist, a step toward AI systems reliable enough for self-driving cars, rescue robots, and hospitals. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said Friday that a team led by Professor Ro Yong-man from the institute's School of Electrical Engineering developed techniques to address two persistent weaknesses in multimodal AI, systems that process text, images, and sound together. One teaches AI to correctly read specialized sensors, such as thermal cameras and X-rays. The other prevents the system from confusing what it sees with what it hears. Neither requires retraining the AI from scratch, which the institute said makes both fast and cheap to deploy in industry. The problem the team set out to solve is known as hallucination, the tendency of AI models to generate confident but false output. In multimodal systems the errors take a particular form. Shown silent security footage of a passing car, existing models often report hearing an engine, simply because a car is visible on screen. The first technology, which the team calls Diverse Negative Attributes (DNA), addresses how AI misreads sensors that measure signals other than visible light. A person looking at a thermal image knows the bright areas are hot. Conventional AI, trained mostly on ordinary photographs, tends to interpret the brightness as light. The team developed a training method that repeatedly feeds the model examples it gets wrong, teaching it the physical meaning behind thermal, depth, and X-ray imagery. The result is a system that recognizes objects more accurately in darkness and smoke, using only a small amount of additional data. The second technology, Modality-Adaptive Decoding (MAD), tackles the crossed wires between sight and sound. Before answering a question, the AI first asks itself whether the answer should come from the video or the audio, then concentrates on the relevant channel while suppressing interference from the other. Because the method works at the moment the AI generates its answer, it can be added to existing models like a software plug-in, with no retraining at all. KAIST said the technologies could serve autonomous vehicles that must spot pedestrians at night or in fog, rescue robots searching for survivors in smoke-filled buildings, drones carrying thermal cameras, airport security systems that analyze X-ray scans, and medical AI that reads CT, MRI, and X-ray images together. "For multimodal AI to be used in real environments, it is important that it accurately understands the characteristics of various sensors and does not confuse different sensory inputs," Ro said. "This research lays the groundwork for multimodal AI that can be trusted in daily life and industrial settings by reducing sensory bias and hallucination without large-scale retraining." Doctoral student Chung Sang-yun served as first author on both studies, with Yoo Young-jun joining as co-first author on the DNA research. The MAD study was presented in June at the Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), the top international venue in the field, and the DNA study was published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Image Processing. (Reference Information) Journal/Source: IEEE Transactions on Image Processing and IEEE / CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Title: Enhanced Vision-Language Models for Diverse Sensor Understanding: Cost-Efficient Optimization and Benchmarking MAD: Modality-Adaptive Decoding for Mitigating Cross-Modal Hallucinations in Multimodal Large Language Models Link/DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2412.20750 / 10.48550/arXiv.2601.21181 2026-07-31 09:51:43