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Korea Legacy Committee marks 10 years of tackling elderly poverty with anniversary gala SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - The Korea Legacy Committee (KLC) will mark its 10th anniversary with a gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on October 25. The event will reflect on the group’s work over the past decade while pointing to the continuing problem of elderly poverty in South Korea. Founded in 2015, KLC is a nonprofit set up to confront the country’s high elderly poverty rate through direct services, community programs, and youth engagement. Based in Seoul and operating also in Incheon and Chuncheon, the organization has provided hundreds of thousands of meals while building connections between younger and older generations. One of its main efforts is Legacy Kitchen, which now produces more than 1,000 meals a month. The model goes beyond food distribution. Volunteers check in with recipients by phone, help with housing needs, and provide care services when required. A central feature of the group’s work is its reliance on young volunteers. Every weekend, students and young professionals prepare meals, manage deliveries, and spend time with elderly participants. The approach has been credited with helping younger South Koreans see social responsibility as something personal rather than abstract. Nearly half of the country’s elderly population still lives in poverty, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). KLC says that reality underscores the need for sustained programs. “Ten years ago, we couldn’t accept that elderly citizens in one of the world’s most prosperous nations were going hungry,” the organization’s leadership said. “Today, we’ve proven that young people, when given meaningful opportunities to serve, can create lasting change. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back—it’s about recommitting to the work ahead.” The October event will bring together supporters, volunteers, and beneficiaries, highlighting personal stories behind the statistics and the role of food security in preserving dignity and community. 2025-09-25 14:38:59 -
HD Hyundai discusses shipbuilding cooperation with Saudi Arabia SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - HD Hyundai is expanding its cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the shipbuilding sector, strengthening ties through joint ventures and technology partnerships tied to the kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative. The company said Thursday its vice chairman, Jeong Ki-seon, met with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Seoul to discuss the progress of a joint shipyard and engine plant under construction in Saudi Arabia. The talks also covered plans to establish a supply chain for shipbuilding materials. The meeting was attended by Sulaiman Al-Babtain, chief executive of Sofon, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned shipbuilding company, and Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ special ship division. Discussions included possible cooperation on naval projects. A roundtable followed to explore broader investment and collaboration in shipbuilding, company officials said. Saudi Arabia has made the development of a domestic shipbuilding industry a priority under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 strategy, and it has actively sought investment and expertise from South Korean companies. HD Hyundai is building the IMI Shipyard and Makin Engine Plant at the King Salman Shipyard Complex in Jubail, with full operations expected in 2026 and 2027. When completed, the facilities will include three large docks, four giant cranes and seven berths, with the capacity to build up to 40 ships a year. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-25 14:26:33 -
India's information minister meets Krafton executives in Seoul SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Logesh Rajendran Murugan, visited Krafton’s headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday, marking the first visit by an Indian central government minister to the South Korean game publisher. Krafton said Thursday the meeting highlighted India’s importance as a strategic market and provided an opportunity to discuss policy cooperation and business collaboration. Murugan, who also serves as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, acknowledged Krafton’s role in India’s gaming industry through investments and the success of Battlegrounds Mobile India. The talks covered Krafton’s expansion in India, its investments in startups and the Indian government’s approach to the gaming sector. Participants included Krafton Chief Executive Kim Chang-han and Son Hyun-il, head of the company’s India operations. Murugan expressed appreciation for Krafton’s contribution to India’s gaming ecosystem and noted potential areas for cooperation in education, technology and media. Kim said in a statement that the discussion was “meaningful” and reaffirmed Krafton’s commitment to the Indian market. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-25 14:16:49 -
KAIST turns 3D printing upside down to make custom brain chip SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) have developed a new way to build custom 3D brain chips that could change how scientists study the brain and treat neurological diseases. Traditional brain chips, used to study nerve cells grown outside the body, are usually built with semiconductor processes. These methods are expensive and flat in design, which makes it hard to create realistic 3D structures. Even with newer 3D printing methods, the process still follows the same order as chipmaking: lay down conductive materials first, then add insulation, then open electrode spots. That meant the design freedom was still limited. KAIST said in a press release on Thursday that the team, led by Professor Nam Yoon-ki in the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, decided to do the opposite. They first used a 3D printer to create a hollow skeleton made of insulating material. Inside this skeleton, they designed tiny tunnels. Instead of trying to fill those tunnels with metal lines manually, they allowed electrically conductive ink to flow in naturally through capillary action, like water soaking into a sponge. This simple switch created a scaffold packed with microelectrodes arranged in complex 3D patterns. The new platform can make chips in many shapes, such as probe-style, cube-like, or modular versions. It also works with different conductive materials, including graphite, conductive polymers, and silver nanoparticles. Because of this flexibility, the chips can capture nerve signals from multiple directions at once, letting researchers study how brain cells connect and interact in much greater detail. The technology could be used to explore the roots of brain diseases, to design cell-based biosensors, or even to advance bio-computing, which tries to use living cells to process information. “This study shows how combining 3D printing with capillary action can give researchers much more freedom in making brain chips,” Nam said. “We expect it will help both basic neuroscience and applied fields like drug testing and bio-computing.” The first author of the study is Dr. Yoon Dong-jo, also from KAIST. The results were published online in Advanced Functional Materials on June 25. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea through its Mid-Career Researcher Program and Global Research Laboratory Program. 2025-09-25 14:10:18 -
Naver moving to acquire Korea's top cryptocurrency exchange operator SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - South Korean internet and tech powerhouse Naver Corp. is moving to integrate the nation's leading cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, into its ecosystem by acquiring Upbit's operator, Dunamu Inc. The core of the proposed deal is a comprehensive stock swap between Naver's fintech subsidiary, Naver Financial, and Dunamu. The news, which marks a major convergence between South Korea's dominant internet portal and the country's largest crypto exchange, caused Naver’s stock to soar by 9.21 percent to 249,000 won as of 1:49 p.m. on Thursday. Naver officially acknowledged the discussions in a regulatory disclosure, stating that Naver Financial is in talks with Dunamu regarding "various collaborations, including stablecoins and unlisted stock transactions, in addition to a stock swap." However, the company noted that "nothing has been finalized regarding additional cooperation items or methods." Naver Financial and Dunamu are reportedly preparing to approve the comprehensive stock exchange proposal at their respective board meetings as early as next month. The proposed deal is expected to create a formidable financial technology force. By linking Naver Financial's payment platform, Naver Pay, with Upbit's digital asset infrastructure, the combined entity aims to launch a service that seamlessly integrates simple payment, shopping, and virtual asset trading for a vast user base. This strategic integration signals Naver's ambition to create a dominant "super app" covering all aspects of e-commerce and digital finance. The comprehensive stock swap is a corporate action where Naver Financial exchanges its newly issued stock for all outstanding shares of Dunamu, sources from Naver said. This process will position Dunamu as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Naver Financial. Both Naver and Dunamu have reportedly established separate task forces to conduct the necessary valuations and preparations required to execute the stock exchange. Naver currently holds approximately 75 percent of Naver Financial's shares. Key shareholders in Dunamu include its founders: Chairman Song Chi-hyung with 25.5 percent and Vice Chairman Kim Hyung-nyeon with 13.1 percent. Kakao Investment holds a 10.6 percent stake. 2025-09-25 14:04:51 -
US command ship docks in Busan SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - The USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, arrived on Thursday in South Korea's southern port city of Busan to replenish supplies and provide rest for crew members. According to the Navy, the ship will carry out activities aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two allies. "The arrival of the Blue Ridge will strengthen exchange and cooperation between the U.S. and South Korean navies," said a Navy officer. Commissioned in 1970, the Blue Ridge commands aircraft carriers, Aegis destroyers, and submarines of the 7th Fleet. Measuring 194 meters long and 33 meters wide, it accommodates more than 1,000 crew members and fleet staff. The Blue Ridge participated in last week's trilateral exercise with South Korea and Japan in international waters south of Jeju Island. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-25 13:28:57 -
BlackRock's Samsung stake surpasses Lee family as KOSPI soars SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Co. remains a top pick for BlackRock Inc., which has reaped outsized gains from its bullish bet on the KOSPI — this year's best-performing major equity index globally. The world's largest asset manager now holds a larger stake in Korea's chip titan than the controlling Lee family. BlackRock owns 5.07 percent of Samsung Electronics, a position valued at 25.4 trillion won ($18.1 billion) based on Tuesday's closing price of 85,400 won per share. By comparison, the combined holdings of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and other Samsung family members are worth 24.6 trillion won. In its latest disclosure to the Financial Supervisory Service, BlackRock reported ownership of more than 5 percent in 10 listed companies, including Korea's four major financial holding groups, representing 1.1 percent of total KOSPI market capitalization. Crossing the 5 percent threshold grants the firm voting rights in shareholder decisions. During the 2024 to 2025 proxy season, BlackRock Fund Advisors supported about 89 percent of management proposals but backed only 90 percent of director appointments, signaling more assertive shareholder engagement, particularly on board independence. The U.S. asset manager has also drawn attention in Korea by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Science and ICT on artificial intelligence investment — a move that could lead to multibillion-dollar projects in the country. 2025-09-25 11:36:19 -
Busan Museum to showcase Shakespeare First Folio and Harry Potter first edition in special exhibition SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - The Busan Museum, located in South Korea's second-largest city, will open a major international exchange exhibition, "Writers Revealed: From Shakespeare to 500 Years of Literature and Art," on September 30, bringing together rare treasures from the canon of English literature. The show will run until January 18, 2026. The exhibition features 140 works spanning five centuries, including portraits of 78 celebrated authors, handwritten manuscripts, letters, and first editions. Among the highlights is the Shakespeare First Folio, the playwright's first collected volume of plays, which will be showcased in South Korea for the first time. Only about 230 copies of the First Folio remain in existence worldwide. First published in 1623, it contains many of Shakespeare's greatest works, such as "Macbeth" and "Twelfth Night." Other rare items on display include Shakespeare's only lifetime portrait, a first edition of "Pride and Prejudice," a poetry collection published under pseudonyms by the Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens' handwritten manuscript of "Great Expectations," Arthur Conan Doyle's original manuscript of "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger," letters by Oscar Wilde, and a Harry Potter first edition containing J.K. Rowling's notes. More recent works will also be featured, including the manuscript of the 2019 Booker Prize-winning novel "Girl, Woman, Other" by Bernardine Evaristo. The museum said the exhibition is designed to provide a multifaceted look at the lives and creative journeys of the writers behind some of the most enduring works in the world of literature. Busan Museum Director Jeong Eun-woo said the exhibition represents "a meaningful opportunity to encounter the great writers of world literature in one place." 2025-09-25 11:11:51 -
Park Chan-wook's latest film draws over 300,000 on opening day SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" attracted over 331,000 moviegoers on its opening day, instantly climbing to the top spot at the box office. The Korean Film Council on Thursday said the thriller starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin topped the box office upon its release the previous day, setting the highest opening record among his previous hits like "Decision to Leave" in 2022 and "The Handmaiden" in 2016. Park's 12th feature, an adaptation of American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "The Ax," revolves around a man who believes he has achieved everything in life until he is suddenly laid off and must find a new job to support his family. It also served as the curtain-raiser for this year's Busan International Film Festival in the southern port city, which wraps up on Friday. Riding on the hype, the film is expected to continue to draw hordes of moviegoers, as it was released in time for this year's long Chuseok holiday, which begins next week. 2025-09-25 11:06:13 -
Hanmi Global expands in Middle East with Kuwait, Saudi contracts SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Hanmi Global announced on Thursday that it had secured a series of construction management contracts in the Middle East. The company won three construction supervision contracts from Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare, valued at about 31 billion won, or roughly $22 million. In Saudi Arabia, it secured a separate deal worth 16 billion won to provide project management services for part of the kingdom’s vast Green Riyadh initiative. Together, the contracts amount to about 47 billion won, or $34 million, equal to nearly one-fifth of the company’s overseas revenue last year. In Kuwait, Hanmi Global will oversee projects in Abdullah City, a sprawling development southwest of Kuwait City that includes 1,600 housing units and related infrastructure such as roads and lighting. The city has become a showcase for South Korea’s smart city technology, the product of years of collaboration between the two governments. Since 2017, Korea Land and Housing Corporation has been in charge of the city’s master plan and design, while Hanmi Global joined the effort last year as a program management partner. The new contracts further cement Hanmi Global’s foothold in Kuwait, where it has steadily built its presence by handling multiple aspects of the Abdullah City project. The deal also coincides with the 50th anniversary of construction cooperation between South Korea and Kuwait, a relationship often described by officials as a model of public-private partnership. In Saudi Arabia, Hanmi Global will manage work in Zone 7 of the Green Riyadh program, one of the world’s largest urban greening projects. Launched in 2019 by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the initiative is a centerpiece of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 development plan and carries a total budget of about $10 billion. Zone 7 alone covers 22 square kilometers. “The Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, presents abundant opportunities for global construction firms,” the company said in a statement. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-25 10:54:08