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  • BTS Declares Boycott of 2027 Grammy Awards Amid Controversy
    BTS Declares Boycott of 2027 Grammy Awards Amid Controversy South Korean group BTS has announced that it will not submit entries for the 2027 Grammy Awards, sparking controversy over the Recording Academy's response. Some fans have expressed outrage after noticing that certain BTS performance videos were removed from the Grammy's official YouTube channel following the boycott announcement.However, high-view count performance videos uploaded on BTS's official channels remain available.On July 29, all members of BTS shared a statement on their Instagram accounts, declaring their intention to boycott the 2027 Grammy Awards.The members stated, "We have decided not to submit for this year's Grammys. We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank ARMY and everyone who has always supported us."This decision coincides with controversy surrounding the Recording Academy's newly established category, 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance,' which will be introduced at the 2027 Grammys. This category is aimed at pop music from Asia, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, and requires meaningful use of Asian languages as a qualification.Some fans and netizens have criticized this move, suggesting it categorizes globally influential artists like BTS into a separate regional category. BTS's statement also directly referenced the terms "region" and "language," expressing a desire for music not to be classified by its origin or language.One netizen commented, "Billboard has been incredibly racist, and they have just given a reason for it," while another remarked, "Isn't this just saying, 'We'll give you an award for being Asian, so go away'?"Responses included comments like, "This is ridiculous, regardless of whether you like or dislike BTS. It ultimately seems to be a racial issue."Previously, the Recording Academy announced the introduction of the 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category ahead of the 2027 Grammy Awards. This category is intended for pop music that originated in or is widely recognized in the Asian market, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop.BTS has been nominated multiple times at the Grammys but has yet to win. This decision to abstain from submission raises broader questions about how non-English-speaking artists are perceived in the global music market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:36:10
  • Hyangji Restructures Real Estate Assets to Boost Senior Tech Investments
    Hyangji Restructures Real Estate Assets to Boost Senior Tech Investments Hyangji Fashion Group is restructuring its major real estate assets in Songdo and Busan to secure investment funds and foster future growth in senior tech and other emerging sectors.On July 30, Hyangji announced its plans for a strategic rebalancing of its real estate holdings. The company aims to enhance the utilization of non-core assets to increase cash liquidity, which will be redirected into new business ventures.The rebalancing includes the Hyangji Global Fashion Complex in Songdo and the Busan Art Mall. The Hyangji Global Fashion Complex spans approximately 64,000 square meters and combines office and retail spaces, located near Incheon University Station.The Busan Art Mall features eight underground floors and 17 above-ground floors, offering a mixed-use lifestyle space for shopping, dining, culture, healthcare, and wedding services. It recently underwent a major renovation to enhance its competitive edge and asset value.Additionally, the Hyangji Square in Saha District, the Hyangji Gaepo Building and Hyangji Gangnam Vision Center in Gangnam District, and land in Yongin and Hwaseong are also included in the efficiency drive.Hyangji has begun selecting a professional advisory firm for asset sales and restructuring. The company expects to secure liquidity worth billions of won through this rebalancing, given the inclusion of key landmark properties.The funds raised will be invested in five key growth areas: wearable robots, physical humanoid clothing, advanced functional materials and smart textiles, global research and development collaboration, and AI-based fashion and distribution platforms, as well as digital transformation and international market expansion.In particular, the company plans to develop senior tech as a core new business, anticipating increased demand due to the aging population. Wearable robots that assist the elderly with mobility and rehabilitation will be positioned as a next-generation growth driver.Previously, Hyangji Robotics, a subsidiary focused on robotics, signed a technology collaboration and exclusive domestic commercialization agreement with Shanghai Zhongshuai Robot Co., Ltd. in China. The two companies had entered into a joint research and development agreement for senior-customized wearable robots in January and are now preparing for domestic distribution and sales.A Hyangji representative stated, "We will concentrate the secured investment capacity on five key future growth areas, including wearable robots and smart textiles, to establish a sustainable foundation for next-generation growth."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:36:10
  • Samsung Welstory Confirms Improvements from Blood Sugar Management Program Linked to Cafeteria Meals
    Samsung Welstory Confirms Improvements from Blood Sugar Management Program Linked to Cafeteria Meals Samsung Welstory announced improvements in participants' blood sugar and physical indicators through a blood sugar management program linked to cafeteria meal records and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.The healthcare solution from Samsung Welstory analyzes health data and meal records of cafeteria users to provide customized meal plans and coaching. Since its introduction in 2024 as a weight loss and strength enhancement program, the solution has expanded and advanced into the blood sugar management area to meet the chronic disease prevention needs of client company employees.In May, Samsung Welstory conducted a 7-week blood sugar management program for over 100 employees at a large catering business in the metropolitan area. Participants wore continuous glucose monitors, recorded their meals, and completed a daily mission of walking 8,000 steps. The related data was linked to Samsung Welstory's mobile app, 'Wellstory Plus,' allowing real-time tracking of blood sugar changes through graphs.The collected data was analyzed by an artificial intelligence (AI) coach and sent to participants as individual reports, while weekly one-on-one consultations with clinical dietitians provided personalized coaching to assist with meal choices and lifestyle improvements.After 7 weeks, the overall participants' fasting blood sugar decreased by as much as 52 mg/dL, with average daily blood sugar dropping by up to 37 mg/dL. Among the 29 participants whose fasting blood sugar levels were above the diabetes diagnosis threshold (126 mg/dL) at the program's start, the average fasting blood sugar decreased by 13.2 mg/dL, with 16 of them improving to pre-diabetes levels. However, the company clarified that these figures are based on continuous glucose monitor readings and do not indicate a medical diagnosis or cure for diabetes.Physical indicators also showed improvement. Participants' average weight decreased by 2.1 kg, body fat percentage dropped by an average of 1.2 percentage points, and waist circumference reduced by an average of 3.0 cm. All participants reported that the process of monitoring real-time blood sugar changes helped them manage their weight and improve their eating habits. Samsung Welstory analyzed that the program positively influenced the formation of healthy habits, such as choosing foods that raise blood sugar less and walking after meals.A Samsung Welstory representative stated, "We will continue to enhance our data-driven healthcare solution through the cafeteria to support the establishment of healthy eating habits among client company employees."Meanwhile, Samsung Welstory operates healthcare services that combine clinical dietitian coaching and customized care meal plans, centered around its mobile platform 'Wellstory Plus' and healthcare brand 'DAYCLE.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:36:00
  • Chinese GPU Company Cambrian Expects Revenue of 13 Trillion Won by 2028
    Chinese GPU Company Cambrian Expects Revenue of 13 Trillion Won by 2028 Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor company Cambrian (Hanwuj, 寒武紀) has projected that it will achieve revenue of 13 trillion won by 2028.Cambrian announced its stock option plan through a disclosure on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, revealing its revenue forecast, according to Chinese IT media outlet Kuai Ke Ji on July 30.In the disclosure, Cambrian stated that its revenue for this year is expected to reach at least 13.5 billion yuan, more than double last year's revenue of 6.5 billion yuan. Cambrian's revenue last year surged by 453.2% compared to the previous year. The company also recorded a net profit of 2 billion yuan last year, marking its first profitable year since its establishment.Cambrian further indicated that its revenue for next year is projected to be at least 27 billion yuan, and it aims to reach 59.5 billion yuan (approximately 13 trillion won) by 2028. This suggests that Cambrian anticipates maintaining an annual growth rate of over 100% until 2028.Cambrian is recognized as a leading AI semiconductor fabless company in China. The two main companies shipping GPUs in large quantities in China are Huawei's subsidiary HiSilicon and Cambrian. With NVIDIA's AI chips not being sold in China, Cambrian, along with Huawei, is filling the gap left by NVIDIA.Founded in 2016 in Beijing, Cambrian was established by brothers Chen Tianshi and Chen Yunzhai, both of whom are researchers in computer architecture from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Notably, Chen Tianshi is regarded as a key figure in China's AI chip sector due to his research on AI-specific instruction sets and processor architecture.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:36:00
  • Samsung Electronics: Mobile Sales Expected to Struggle Despite New Product Launches
    Samsung Electronics: Mobile Sales Expected to Struggle Despite New Product Launches Samsung Electronics announced during its second-quarter earnings conference call that while smartphone demand has decreased due to a shortage of memory supply, the overall revenue has increased thanks to a rise in premium sales. However, the company noted that rising component costs have led to a decline in business profits.The company projected that smartphone market demand would continue to slow in the second half of the year, resulting in an overall decrease in annual shipments.To overcome these challenges, Samsung plans to expand sales of its high-end models, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Z Fold 8 Ultra, focusing on premium form factors to drive revenue and profits.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:36:00
  • LG Energy Solution Reports 77% Drop in Q2 Operating Profit Without Subsidies
    LG Energy Solution Reports 77% Drop in Q2 Operating Profit Without Subsidies LG Energy Solution successfully transitioned to profitability in the second quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter; however, it remains in the red when excluding North American production subsidies. Despite growth in revenue and a return to profit, the company still faces challenges in restoring profitability in its core operations.On July 30, LG Energy Solution announced that its consolidated operating profit for the second quarter was 113.3 billion won, a 77% decrease from the same period last year.During the same period, revenue reached 7.56 trillion won, up 24.8% from 6.06 trillion won a year earlier and 15.3% from 6.55 trillion won in the previous quarter. While operating profit fell 77% compared to the previous year (492.1 billion won), it marked a return to profit compared to the previous quarter (20.78 billion won). The amount of North American production subsidies reflected in the second-quarter results was 241 billion won.Lee Chang-sil, Chief Financial Officer of LG Energy Solution, stated, "Revenue increased by 15% compared to the previous quarter, driven by higher shipments of mid-range products for electric vehicles (EVs) and cylindrical batteries, as well as expanded production capacity for North American energy storage systems (ESS). Notably, ESS shipments grew by over 30% compared to the previous quarter, particularly in North America and Europe, demonstrating significant growth." The growth of the ESS business has been particularly notable. EV revenue grew 4.6 times year-on-year, and its share of total revenue expanded to the high 20% range. In the first half of the year, the company secured over 3 trillion won in new contracts, including projects for hyperscale AI data centers.LG Energy Solution anticipates continued growth in the ESS market due to the expansion of AI technology and increased investment in data centers, which will drive stable demand for power supply.In response to the rapid growth in North American power demand, LG Energy Solution plans to steadily expand its production capacity for pouch LFP-based ESS this year and aims to secure production lines for prismatic batteries next year, enhancing its position as a leading ESS supplier to maximize customer benefits from the Investment Tax Credit (ITC).On the same day, LG Energy Solution announced key initiatives for the second half of the year to accelerate growth, including improving ESS profitability and expanding order momentum, securing EV order opportunities, and enhancing product sophistication and next-generation battery preparations.In the ESS sector, the company will focus on stable operations at its five North American production sites and expand production capacity for packs and links while actively pursuing contracts for large-scale renewable energy projects and data center power infrastructure.In the EV sector, LG Energy Solution is preparing to operate its Arizona 46-series production line, which has improved equipment efficiency by 50% compared to previous models, by the fourth quarter of this year. The company plans to enhance production efficiency in both the U.S. and Europe through gradual increases in the operating rates of its North American joint plants and expanded shipments of mid-range solutions from its Polish factory.In the next-generation battery field, LG Energy Solution plans to respond to the BBU and robotics markets with its new high-output tabless 2170 product and aims to ship samples of sodium-ion batteries to ESS and automotive customers next year. Additionally, the company plans to prepare a pilot line applying dry electrode processes for the demonstration production of competitively priced solid-state batteries within the year.However, industry experts point out that the potential reduction of North American production subsidies and the pace of recovery in EV demand remain key variables affecting performance. While ESS has established itself as a new growth axis, it may be challenging to completely move away from subsidy dependence without a recovery in EV business profitability. 2026-07-30 10:36:00
  • Hyundai Motor Group Hires AI Expert Kwon Jeong-hyun from Samsung Electronics
    Hyundai Motor Group Hires AI Expert Kwon Jeong-hyun from Samsung Electronics Hyundai Motor Group has hired Kwon Jeong-hyun, an artificial intelligence (AI) expert from Samsung Electronics and NVIDIA.On July 30, Hyundai Motor Group announced the appointment of Kwon as the head of its AVP Division's Autonomous Driving Development Center. Kwon previously served as a vice president at Samsung Electronics, where he led the development of intelligent robots. Before that, he was recognized as an expert in autonomous driving AI, responsible for software development and productization at NVIDIA.In his new role, Kwon will oversee the development of AI technologies used in autonomous driving, including recognition software, deep learning, machine learning, and computer vision. He will lead the development and productization of core autonomous driving technologies within the group, leveraging his experience in commercialization.Kwon, born in 1980, graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in mechanical engineering and obtained his Ph.D. from the same institution. He has worked at SAIC and Ricoh before joining NVIDIA in 2018, where he was responsible for computer vision and autonomous driving software development. In 2023, he moved to Samsung Electronics, where he served as both a senior managing director and vice president, leading the development of intelligent robots.With this hiring, Hyundai Motor Group aims to enhance its technological competitiveness in the autonomous driving sector and accelerate the execution of its future mobility strategy. The group has recently been actively recruiting key talent in software-defined vehicles (SDV) and autonomous driving to strengthen its physical AI capabilities.Earlier this month, the group appointed Kim Dong-wook, who led wireless communication system development for iPhones, vehicles, and humanoid robots at global companies like Apple and Tesla, as the head of the SDV Platform Development Center. Additionally, Jeremy Ma, who has experience in robot and autonomous driving software development and commercialization at Apple, Toyota, and NVIDIA, was brought on as the head of the Silicon Valley office for the AVP Division.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:32:20
  • Hope Faces Challenges as Spider-Man 4 Dominates Box Office
    'Hope' Faces Challenges as 'Spider-Man 4' Dominates Box Office 나홍진 감독의 영화 '호프'가 400만 관객 돌파를 앞두고 예상치 못한 변수를 맞았다. 영화 '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'가 개봉과 동시에 박스오피스 1위에 오르며 흥행 구도에 변화를 만든 데다, 주연 배우 황정민의 사생활 의혹까지 불거지면서 작품 안팎의 부담이 커진 모양새다. 30일 영화관입장권 통합전산망에 따르면 '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'는 개봉 첫날인 29일 하루 동안 68만여 명의 관객을 동원하며 전체 박스오피스 1위에 올랐다. 누적 관객 수는 68만9076명이다. 출발부터 압도적이다. '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'는 개봉 첫날 '아바타: 물의 길'의 35만9031명, '겨울왕국 2'의 60만6618명을 모두 넘어섰다. 2025년과 2026년 사이 개봉한 국내외 작품 가운데 최고 오프닝 기록도 세웠다. 개봉 이후에도 예매량 74만장대를 유지하고 있어 첫 주말 흥행세에 관심이 쏠린다. 반면 개봉 3주 차에 접어든 '호프'의 일일 관객 수는 주춤했다. '호프'는 지난 28일 10만148명을 동원했으나, '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'가 개봉한 29일에는 8만7942명을 기록했다. 누적 관객 수는 370만명을 넘기며 400만 고지를 눈앞에 두고 있지만, 여름 극장가 최대 기대작 중 하나인 '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'와 본격적인 관객 경쟁에 들어가면서 흥행세 유지가 과제로 떠올랐다. 작품 외적인 이슈도 변수다. 최근 온라인 커뮤니티와 사회관계망서비스(SNS) 등에는 황정민의 사생활과 관련한 주장이 담긴 게시물이 잇따라 게재됐다. 작성자는 메신저 대화 캡처본과 통화 내역 등을 근거로 내세우며 황정민과 연인 관계였다고 주장했다. 이에 황정민 소속사 샘컴퍼니는 29일 공식 입장을 내고 강하게 반박했다. 소속사는 "황정민 씨 관련 악성 게시물 작성자는 황정민 씨를 지속적으로 괴롭힌 스토킹 범죄 피의자"라고 밝혔다. 소속사에 따르면 황정민은 해당 작성자를 형사 고소했다. 샘컴퍼니는 "법원은 피의자에 대해 3차례에 걸쳐 접근금지 등의 잠정조치를 부과했고, 스토킹 혐의를 인정해 벌금 300만원의 약식명령을 내렸다"고 설명했다. 이어 "샘컴퍼니는 악의적으로 편집된 게시물에 대해 추가 법적 조치를 할 예정"이라며 "이와 같은 일로 심려를 끼쳐드려 죄송하다"고 전했다. '호프' 입장에서는 장기 흥행을 이어가야 하는 시점에 대형 경쟁작의 등장과 주연 배우를 둘러싼 논란이 동시에 겹친 셈이다. 다만 '호프'는 N차 관람 수요와 IMAX, 돌비시네마, 4DX 등 특수관 관객, 무대인사 등을 통해 관객몰이를 지속하며 400만 돌파 가능성을 열어두고 있다. 400만 돌파를 앞둔 '호프'가 잇단 변수 속에서도 흥행 동력을 유지할 수 있을지 주목된다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:32:00
  • Koreas Privacy Commission Fines KT 54 Billion Won for Data Breach
    Korea's Privacy Commission Fines KT 54 Billion Won for Data Breach The Personal Information Protection Commission has imposed a fine of 53.979 billion won on KT for violating privacy laws. This action follows a data breach linked to inadequate management of femtocells, which resulted in the exposure of personal information and actual financial losses.On July 29, the commission held its 15th plenary meeting, where it decided to fine KT and issue corrective orders, recommendations for improvement, and a public announcement of the findings. The commission also plans to file charges against KT for obstructing the investigation by submitting false documents and deleting relevant logs. Additionally, it will refer LG Uplus to law enforcement for destroying related servers before the investigation began.According to the commission's investigation, hackers replicated the certificates of lost KT femtocells and installed them on their own devices to access KT's mobile network. They intercepted information transmitted between user devices and the internal network, exploiting it for unauthorized mobile payments.As a result, personal information, including phone numbers and subscriber identification numbers of 16,647 KT users, was leaked. Among them, 368 users suffered unauthorized mobile payment losses totaling approximately 240 million won.The commission found that KT neglected basic access control management by setting the validity period of femtocell certificates to 10 years and failing to restrict access IPs. The lack of a system to detect and block unauthorized femtocell access allowed hackers to access KT's internal network for about 11 months without detection.It was also confirmed that KT recognized a separate malware infection incident but failed to report it to the government and did not adequately analyze whether personal information had been leaked. Furthermore, KT deleted some server logs and initially provided false statements during the investigation, later submitting the relevant materials.The commission has ordered KT to strengthen safety measures, including vulnerability assessments of wireless communication equipment like femtocells and blocking unauthorized access. It also recommended clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the personal information protection officer and expanding the scope of certification for personal information management systems to include mobile network systems.Moreover, the commission plans to push for amendments to privacy laws to penalize actions that conceal or destroy evidence related to data breaches before investigations begin. Proposed penalties include fines equivalent to 3% of total revenue for evidence concealment and daily fines of 0.3% of daily revenue for non-cooperation with investigations or failure to comply with corrective orders.Meanwhile, LG Uplus has been found to have reinstalled the operating system of its servers or destroyed them after evidence of personal information leaks involving employees and partners was confirmed. The commission stated that this has made it difficult to ascertain the exact circumstances of the leak and any additional damages, leading to a referral for investigation on charges of obstructing official duties.Song Kyung-hee, chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated, “This decision should serve as an opportunity to enhance the security capabilities of the telecommunications industry, which provides essential services to the public. We will improve the system so that actions to conceal or downplay incidents result in significant disadvantages for companies.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:32:00
  • Hwachuns Rural Basic Income Application Rate Reaches 72.8%, Population Grows by 438
    Hwachun's Rural Basic Income Application Rate Reaches 72.8%, Population Grows by 438 Hwachun County in Gangwon Province is seeing significant interest from residents as it approaches the first payment of its rural basic income program, with an application rate of 72.82%. Since being selected as a pilot area, the population has increased by 438 residents in just over 50 days, indicating the policy's positive impact.As of July 30, Hwachun County reported that 16,247 residents had applied for the rural basic income since applications opened on July 13.The population growth is notable. When Hwachun was designated as a pilot area on June 11, the registered population was 22,312. By July 29, that number had risen to 22,750, reflecting an increase of 438 residents. The county believes that the upcoming basic income implementation is attracting new residents, as inquiries about rural living and returning to farming have also risen.Eligible applicants are residents who have lived in Hwachun for at least 30 days. Applications can be submitted online via a smartphone app or in person at local agricultural cooperatives and credit unions. Minors, residents with mobility issues, and those without smartphones can obtain prepaid cards at administrative centers.The basic income will be distributed as Hwachun Love gift certificates worth 150,000 won each month. Residents of Hwachun can use these at all participating local businesses, while those in rural areas can use them at designated stores, with a monthly limit of 50,000 won at gas stations, convenience stores, and rural markets. The certificates must be used within 90 days for Hwachun residents and 180 days for rural residents, or the unused balance will expire.Starting at the end of August, Hwachun County expects that over 110 million won in gift certificates will circulate daily, providing a boost to local businesses and stimulating the economy.Residents have responded positively to the program. One resident stated, “I feel good knowing money is coming in,” adding that it would significantly help with living and dining expenses. Another remarked, “It seems like I will have more leisure for hobbies,” noting that the amount is substantial for Hwachun and will invigorate the local economy.This rural basic income initiative is a key policy of Hwachun County's 9th elected administration, led by County Mayor Kim Se-hoon, who has prioritized income-focused governance. With high application rates, population growth, and increased consumer expectations, the initial effects of the policy are becoming evident. The actual increase in consumption and sales for small businesses will be crucial indicators of the program's success moving forward.Mayor Kim Se-hoon stated, “We are enhancing our outreach to ensure all residents receive the rural basic income. We aim to create a virtuous cycle of income growth and increased local consumption to strengthen the regional economy.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 10:32:00