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Genesis backs Marilyn Monroe short film ahead of Venice premiere SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - South Korean carmaker Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis is backing a 17-minute short film marking the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth. The project will make its world premiere at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival in September. Genesis said Wednesday that the company played a vital role in the production of "Flesh Impact," by collaborating with Authentic Brands Group, which owns and manages the Marilyn Monroe estate. The film presents two interpretations of the world-famous actress, with Dakota Johnson portraying the actress at the height of her fame and Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn playing an imagined version of Monroe who lived into old age. Actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal directed the project, while Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi round out the cast. The company also unveiled the film's first promotional images. The film will premiere at a festival where Gyllenhaal is serving as president of this year's jury and Burstyn is set to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The project is the latest in Genesis' series of cultural partnerships, following collaborations with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and London's Tate Modern. Its Manhattan flagship, Genesis House, has also hosted a range of exhibitions and artist collaborations since opening in 2024, including an immersive floral installation with designer Jeff Leatham and a Korean folklore-themed exhibition created with actress Ashley Park last October. Genesis' Marilyn Monroe centennial campaign began earlier this year with "Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon," an exhibition developed with Authentic Brands Group at Genesis House. Running from June 1 through Aug. 2, the exhibition explores Monroe's life and legacy through personal archives, photographs and immersive installations. 2026-07-29 10:47:44 -
KAMCO to Sell Additional 1.1 Trillion Won in Long-Term Delinquent Loans 캠코(한국자산관리공사)가 새도약기금에 7만6000명의 1조1000억원어치 장기 연체채권을 추가 매각한다고 29일 밝혔다. 이번 추가 매각은 지난해 10월 1차 매각(22만9000명, 3조7000억원)의 후속 조치다. 당시 법적 절차 진행 등의 사유로 협약상 매각 대상에서 제외됐던 채권에 관해 추가 협의를 거쳐 매각을 확정했다. 이번 추가 매각으로 지난해 1차 매각 이후 새도약기금 전체 매각 규모는 30만5000명, 4조8000억원으로 불어나게 됐다. 이번 매각 대상 채무자는 채권이 새도약기금으로 이전되는 즉시 추심 대상에서 제외된다. 이후 새도약기금의 상환능력 심사를 거쳐 채무 소각 또는 맞춤형 채무조정 절차를 밟게 돼 신속히 정상적인 경제활동으로 복귀할 수 있게 된다. 캠코는 20년 이상 연체채권 특별소각과 소멸시효 관리 기준 개선 등 장기연체채권을 단계적으로 정리하기 위한 다양한 제도 개선도 지속 추진 중이다. 정정훈 캠코 사장은 "이번 추가 매각은 그동안 제도 적용을 받지 못했던 장기연체채무자들에게 새로운 출발의 기회를 제공하기 위한 후속 조치"라며 금융당국과 긴밀히 협력해 국민의 경제적 재기를 돕는 정책 집행기관의 역할을 충실히 수행하겠다고 밝혔다. 2026-07-29 10:42:00 -
Annual women's film festival in Seoul to return with record lineup next month SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - The annual Seoul International Women's Film Festival (SIWFF) will open next month, organizers said Wednesday. Now in its 28th year, the weeklong festival will run from Aug. 20 to 26. It received a record number of submissions this year, with 4,115 films from 125 countries across competitive and noncompetitive sections. In the festival's main competition section for international features, eight films from China, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mexico, Pakistan and South Korea were selected for screening out of 462 entries submitted from 84 countries. This year's SIWFF will broaden its appeal through programs exploring artificial intelligence, female representation and connections between cinema and other forms of cultuure, while expanding on last year's theme built around words beginning with the letter "F" such as film, fellowship and festival. "The Station," directed by Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sarah Ishaq, will raise the festival's curtain. Set at a women-only gas station in war-torn Yemen, the film, which was also invited to the Cannes Film Festival in May, portrays the struggles of everyday life alongside the resilience and solidarity of women. The festival will also revisit the history of South Korean cinema focusing on women with a retrospective program honoring late actress Kim Ji-mee where three of her notable works: "Fire Butterfly" (1965), "A Promise of the Body" (1975) and "Ticket (1986)" will be screened. Launched in 1997, the SIWFF is one of Asia's leading film festivals dedicated to women filmmakers and films that explore women's lives from their perspectives. 2026-07-29 10:37:49 -
Private investment in Korean port projects rises 17.5% in first half SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - Private investment in South Korea’s port development projects reached 252.3 billion won ($173.44 million) in the first half of this year, up 17.5 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Monday. The figure came from 78 projects approved by 10 regional oceans and fisheries offices and five local governments, including solar power facilities, logistics facilities and seafood distribution centers. Privately led port development projects allow companies or other private entities to build, expand, repair or maintain port facilities with approval from port authorities. The ministry said the system helps meet private-sector demand for port facilities while easing pressure on limited government budgets. By facility type, low-carbon facilities such as solar power systems accounted for the largest number of approvals, with 21 projects. Auxiliary facilities, including security posts, fishery port amenities, parking lots and power supply infrastructure, also accounted for a significant share, with 14 approvals in each category. The biggest project was a 67 billion won dried seaweed processing and distribution center planned by the Mokpo Fisheries Cooperative. Other sizable projects included a 43.6 billion won seasoned seaweed processing plant by the Mokpo Orion Fisheries Cooperative, a 24 billion won warehouse at Pyeongtaek Port and an 18.4 billion won modernization project for a fish auction facility at Hallim Port on Jeju Island. The ministry said demand remains strong for projects that add new functions to port areas, such as solar power facilities and upgraded seafood distribution centers, even as overall construction investment has stayed weak since 2021. “We will continue to seek support measures so that private investors can face lower entry barriers and actual users can secure port facilities on time, improving their investment competitiveness,” Gong Du-pyo, director general of the ministry’s port bureau, said. 2026-07-29 10:31:43 -
Gimpo Mayor Lee Gi-hyung Attends All 14 Residents' Meetings, Uncovers 56 Local Issues Gimpo Mayor Lee Gi-hyung visited all 14 residents' meetings held since June, where he listened to community members discuss locally identified issues and expressed his commitment to support the implementation of projects and budget allocations that address problems overlooked by the administration.According to the city on July 29, the 14 community councils in Gimpo held their '2026 Residents' Meetings' from June 13 to July 27. During these meetings, they shared results from last year's activities and the status of this year's community empowerment projects, ultimately deciding on the priorities for the 2027 community plan through resident voting.The residents' meetings serve as a core process of community governance, where councils identify local issues and necessary projects, explain them to residents, and determine actionable agendas through advance and on-site voting. Gimpo City is currently establishing community councils across all 14 districts to promote local initiatives.This year's meetings included reports on the 2025 activities of each community council and the status of 2026 projects, followed by explanations of the 2027 community project plans reflecting local characteristics, such as improving living conditions, traffic safety, culture, welfare, and community revitalization.A total of 23,338 votes were cast by residents, leading to the identification of 56 local issues based on discussions and voting results. These issues will undergo a review and deliberation process for future community empowerment projects.The city plans to confirm actual projects after reviewing related laws, project costs, land acquisition, safety, and potential overlaps with other initiatives, ensuring that tasks residents can feel are actively reflected in the 2027 city plan and budget process.Mayor Lee visited all 14 districts where the meetings were held to verify the activities of the community councils and the issues raised by residents and council members. He instructed relevant departments to address administrative support for projects requiring it.Gimpo City aims to go beyond merely conducting residents' meetings as internal decision-making events. It plans to enhance the feasibility of resident proposals by linking them with departmental reviews and consultations, ensuring that selected issues lead to administrative plans and budget allocations.Previously, Gimpo amended relevant ordinances to strengthen the autonomy and accountability of community councils and recruited members for the fourth term of the councils in each of the 14 districts. The selected members will be responsible for hosting residents' meetings, identifying local issues, and promoting resident-led projects from 2026 to 2027.Mayor Lee stated, "While administration must operate within the confines of systems and regulations, residents are the first to identify issues that the administration may overlook in their daily lives and can create practical alternatives. We will actively support projects proposed by residents to lead to tangible changes in the community."He added, "The opinions of citizens gathered at the residents' meetings will serve as an important criterion for the future operation of Gimpo's administration. We will continue to communicate to ensure that community governance does not remain a formal participation process but becomes a system where residents directly determine the future of their community."Meanwhile, Gimpo City plans to conduct reviews and deliberations for the 56 issues selected through the residents' meetings, sharing the final project implementation status and budget allocation results with the community councils. The city aims to ensure resident participation throughout the project implementation process, establishing a community governance system that encompasses proposal, decision-making, execution, and performance verification.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 10:30:00
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Jung Il-woo Signs Exclusive Contract with Galaxy Corporation 배우 정일우가 갤럭시코퍼레이션과 전속계약을 체결했다.갤럭시코퍼레이션은 29일 정일우와 전속계약을 체결했다고 밝혔다. 정일우는 이번 계약을 통해 드라마와 영화 활동을 비롯해 AI 기반 콘텐츠, 글로벌 팬 플랫폼, 브랜드 협업 등 다양한 영역으로 활동을 넓힐 예정이다.정일우는 2006년 MBC 시트콤 ‘거침없이 하이킥’으로 데뷔했다. 이후 드라마 ‘해를 품은 달’, ‘야경꾼 일지’, ‘신데렐라와 네 명의 기사’ 등에 출연하며 활동을 이어왔다.정일우는 웨이보 팔로워 1450만명을 비롯해 글로벌 SNS에서 팬층을 보유하고 있다. 일본, 베트남 등 아시아 지역에서도 팬덤을 구축하며 한류 배우로 활동해왔다.최근에는 지난 17일 전 세계 동시 공개된 아마존 프라임 오리지널 시리즈 ‘범죄자’에 출연했다. 그는 극 중 미스터리한 인물 타키가와 역을 맡았다.갤럭시코퍼레이션은 AI와 피지컬 AI, 로봇 기술을 엔터테인먼트와 결합하는 엔터테인먼트 기업이다. 아티스트 IP를 AI 콘텐츠, 피지컬 AI 콘텐츠, 로봇 엔터테인먼트, 글로벌 팬 플랫폼, 커머스, 브랜드 비즈니스 등으로 확장하는 사업 모델을 구축하고 있다.최용호 갤럭시코퍼레이션 대표는 “정일우 배우는 오랜 시간 아시아 전역에서 사랑받아온 글로벌 한류 배우이자 경쟁력 있는 IP”라며 “갤럭시코퍼레이션은 단순한 매니지먼트 회사를 넘어 정일우 배우와 함께 콘텐츠, 기술, 브랜드 비즈니스가 결합된 새로운 글로벌 엔터테인먼트 모델을 선보이며 세계 시장에서 새로운 시너지를 만들어가겠다”고 밝혔다.한편 갤럭시코퍼레이션에는 지드래곤, 송강호, 태민, 김종국, 류준열, 이정후 등이 소속돼 있다. 정일우의 합류로 글로벌 IP 라인업을 강화하게 됐다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 10:30:00
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KOSPI regains ground after chip-stock sell-off, but recovery remains fragile SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - Seoul stocks opened higher on Wednesday after the previous day's rout, but gave up most of their early gains within the first hour, leaving the rebound looking less convincing. The KOSPI climbed back above 6,200 in early trade before fading to 6,078.77, up 0.9 percent. Samsung Electronics led the recovery, rising 3.9 percent to 228,500 South Korean won (US$157), while SK hynix barely moved, edging up 0.1 percent to 1,551,000 won. That divergence shaped the session, as local brokerages cut memory-sector targets this week amid concerns over a demand peak and potential supply shocks from China, with traders viewing SK hynix's weaker-than-expected performance as reflecting pressure on the pure memory chip maker. The split ran through the market. The large-cap KOSPI 200 rose 1.1 percent to 956.49, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ fell 1.5 percent to 695.04, moving the other way from the main index in Seoul. Foreigners net bought 264.1 billion won and institutions 836.3 billion won on the main board, against 1.11 trillion won of individual selling, according to intraday exchange data. Advancers led decliners 521 to 337. Buying spread well beyond chips. Hyundai Motor rose 3.6 percent to 377,000 won and KB Financial gained 2.1 percent to 168,600 won, while defensives led the sector board, with tobacco and food both up more than 3.7 percent. Hanwha Aerospace fell 1.1 percent to 865,000 won, while LG Energy Solution dropped 0.3 percent to 313,000 won. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1 percent. The won traded at 1,455.00 per dollar, slightly stronger than the previous session. 2026-07-29 10:29:51 -
Ruling Party to Present Criminal Procedure and National Assembly Law Revisions The Democratic Party announced plans to present and process amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law, which aims to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, along with revisions to the National Assembly Law and a special investigation law for the National Election Commission during the National Assembly's plenary session scheduled for July 30.Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, spoke to reporters after a Supreme Council meeting on July 29, stating, "Tomorrow's plenary session is scheduled. We plan to present and vote on the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law, the National Assembly Law, and the special investigation law for the election commission."Kang explained that the National Assembly Law amendment aims to shorten the fast-track procedure. Currently, the process takes a total of 330 days, including 180 days in relevant National Assembly committees, 90 days in the Legislative Judiciary Committee, and 60 days in the plenary session. The proposed amendment would reduce this to 60 days in the committee and 30 days in the Legislative Judiciary Committee, allowing the bill to be processed in the first plenary session after being presented.Regarding the special investigation law for the election commission, Kang noted that some agreement has been reached between the ruling and opposition parties on the investigation personnel and duration, but discussions are ongoing regarding the specific targets and scope of the investigation.Additionally, the Criminal Procedure Law amendment that Kang announced is expected to be presented to the plenary session following a full meeting of the Legislative Judiciary Committee that began earlier in the day.On July 28, the Legislative Judiciary Committee held a subcommittee meeting and passed the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law, which focuses on abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights.After the subcommittee's decision, Kim Seung-won, the subcommittee chair and ruling party member, told reporters, "We have made investigations more responsible while enhancing victim protection. The key is to ensure that the exercise of prosecution rights is more equitable."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 10:27:00
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FIFA Plans to Establish World Cup Operations Subsidiary, Potential Trump Family Investment The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is moving to establish a subsidiary to manage the commercial and event operations of the World Cup, with plans to sell a portion of its stake to private investors. This initiative comes amid FIFA's recent closeness to U.S. President Donald Trump, raising concerns about potential investments from Trump's family.According to the Financial Times on July 28, FIFA is set to create a new company called 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' (FFE) and is in discussions with U.S. investment bank JP Morgan to raise up to $4.2 billion this year. The new entity will oversee FIFA's commercial operations and major events like the World Cup, with an estimated corporate value of around $20 billion.Discussions are reportedly underway for a fund managed by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, to lead the investment. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been showcasing a close relationship with Trump, particularly in the context of the 2026 North American World Cup, which has drawn attention to the potential involvement of investors connected to the Trump family.The Times of London also reported that FIFA is considering establishing a company to oversee the commercial operations of both the men's and women's World Cups, as well as the Club World Cup.Draft discussions between FIFA officials and potential investors indicate that FIFA intends to retain a majority stake in the new company. Private investors are expected to inject billions of dollars to secure a 20-30% stake, while the 211 member football associations of FIFA would collectively hold about 20% of the shares.This plan is seen as an effort by Infantino, who has transformed FIFA into a large commercial organization, to attract private capital for further growth.FIFA, a non-profit organization composed of 211 member football associations, enjoys tax-exempt status in Switzerland. Projected revenues for 2022-2026 are estimated at $15 billion, primarily from broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and ticket sales for the men's World Cup.'Pro-Trump' FIFA Moves Spark ControversyHowever, UEFA has immediately opposed FIFA's plans to sell private stakes. In a statement, UEFA declared, "Football is neither a possession nor a commodity," criticizing the move as crossing a line that football governing bodies should never breach.Concerns have also been raised that private investors' involvement in FIFA's core operations could lead to pressures to expand the scale of the World Cup or shorten the current four-year hosting cycle. The Times reported that some potential investors have described the deal internally as akin to buying FIFA.Infantino's future role is also a topic of speculation. The Times suggested that he might take on the role of 'Commissioner' or CEO of the new company after his FIFA presidency ends in 2031, potentially earning a substantial salary.FIFA denied any discussions regarding Infantino's future position, stating, "Such matters have never been discussed." However, FIFA emphasized that if the plan is approved, it must continue to control the subsidiary in accordance with FIFA regulations that prioritize member interests, asserting that the FIFA president and executive board must play a leading role in the new company.The commercialization controversy surrounding FIFA is intertwined with Infantino's efforts to expand his political influence. The New York Post reported on July 23 that President Trump is considering Infantino as a candidate for the next UN Secretary-General.Infantino has maintained a close relationship with Trump, notably awarding him the inaugural 'FIFA Peace Award' during the preparations for the North American World Cup. As FIFA pushes for commercialization and Infantino seeks to enhance his political clout, concerns about FIFA's independence and governance structure are growing. 2026-07-29 10:24:00
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Marketing Expert Yu Tae-young Releases New Book on Persuasion Structures Marketing funnel design expert Yu Tae-young released his new book, Structure of Persuasion, on July 10. The subtitle is 'Designing a Bias-Transition Funnel to Uncover Consumer Prejudices and Raise Product Awareness,' which analyzes the consumer decision-making process and presents an effective persuasion structure.This book is the result of Yu's analysis of hundreds of marketing funnels he has built over 15 years across various industries. He noted that funnels achieving high performance across different sectors, products, and market environments exhibited similar patterns, which he systematized under the concept of 'bias-transition funnel' and summarized into a six-step cognitive design formula.In the book, Yu argues that the reasons consumers do not purchase products or services are not merely due to a lack of information. He identifies established mindsets and perception systems as key barriers to purchase decisions. Drawing on the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and Daniel Kahneman's System 1 theory, he explains that persuasion is not about adding information but rather about changing existing perceptions.The proposed persuasion structure begins by helping consumers recognize problems on their own. It then guides them to understand the principles of solutions, identify the limitations of existing methods, and reinterpret the causes of failures. Following this, it builds trust through real-life examples and storytelling, presents new perspectives, and leads to purchase decisions by offering proposals that share the risk with the seller. Yu emphasizes that this sequence aligns with the human belief formation process, making it difficult to arbitrarily omit or alter.The book also includes insights from Yu's business experiences. After a business failure in 2008, he developed the marketing automation solution 'LeadGen.' In 2019, he published Choice Design Marketing, introducing the concept of funnel marketing in South Korea. Subsequently, his company’s online store, 'Sangsang Market,' achieved annual sales of 20 billion won through a single funnel strategy, which he used to establish a practical framework applicable in various companies and educational programs.Structure of Persuasion utilizes a range of examples from modern marketing, Aristotle's rhetoric, religion, and Apple to elucidate the principles of persuasion within a unified structure. The book consists of six parts, 19 chapters, and 448 pages, and includes a 'Master Pack for Designers' featuring bias-transition funnel design diagrams, practical workbooks, checklists, case analysis materials, and a recommended reading list for marketing.In the prologue, Yu states, 'Persuasion is not about luck or intuition; it is a process of designing a structure,' emphasizing that the choice of design methods applied moving forward will determine outcomes more than past failures.Industry experts anticipate that this book will serve as a new practical guide for businesses and practitioners aiming to establish marketing strategies based on consumer perception structures, especially in an environment where simply increasing advertising budgets is insufficient for achieving results.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 10:21:00