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Trump Advocates for AI Progress with Jensen Huang's Support as Regulation Debate Intensifies Debate over the pace and safety of artificial intelligence (AI) development is intensifying in the United States. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has voiced support for President Donald Trump, who opposes AI regulation, arguing that fears surrounding AI lack scientific basis. As discussions about AI safety mechanisms and regulatory measures grow, the technology is likely to become a significant issue in the upcoming November midterm elections.According to Bloomberg, Huang criticized the notion of slowing AI development during a technology conference, the All In Summit, held in Los Angeles on September 14. He stated, "Scientific predictions about the future are less valid because they are not based on science," referring to claims that AI could lead to human extinction as lacking scientific support.During the conference, Huang received a call from President Trump, which he put on speakerphone for a five-minute conversation. Huang agreed with Trump’s opposition to AI regulation, stating, "The recent debate about AI risks is framing it as if there is a choice between innovation and safety." He added that companies could voluntarily slow down or halt AI development if they feel they are losing control.Trump dismissed the AI risk narrative during the call, asserting, "Robots will not take over the world." He claimed there is a "terrible conspiracy" targeting AI and data centers, suggesting that only China would welcome such actions. He reiterated that the only necessary control for AI is a "strong and smart president," criticizing the push for increased regulation.Vice President JD Vance also criticized calls for stricter regulations in the AI sector, likening them to a "Trojan horse" that could create barriers to market entry, ultimately benefiting established AI companies.One of the main reasons the Trump administration is cautious about AI regulation is competition with China. There are concerns that slowing down AI development in the U.S. could allow China to gain an advantage.Recently, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, called for a slowdown in AI development and stronger safety measures. This sentiment has been echoed by Elon Musk, CEO of XAI, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, as industry debates over AI risks continue to grow. According to Reuters, Trump is expected to meet with leaders of AI companies this week or early next week to discuss corporate responsibilities regarding AI safety and the government's role.Amid these developments, a coalition is forming in U.S. politics around AI regulation. According to the Financial Times, a "Pro-Human Assembly" event in Washington on September 15 will feature prominent progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and far-right activist Steve Bannon, both advocating for stronger regulations to mitigate AI's negative impacts. Despite their opposing political views, they share common ground on the issue of AI regulation.Senator Sanders has recently called for a permanent ban on the development of "superintelligent AI" and the establishment of a new federal regulatory agency dedicated to AI. Bannon has aligned with this stance, using it to criticize the lax AI policies of the Trump administration among his populist supporters.In Congress, there is a growing bipartisan push for enhanced AI safety measures and oversight, with proposals for legislation that includes a ban or temporary halt on superintelligent AI development and mandatory "kill switches" for high-performance AI systems. The rising number of AI data centers and their associated energy costs have also become contentious, prompting legislation to prevent the burden of infrastructure investment from falling on regular electricity ratepayers.However, achieving consensus on comprehensive AI regulation in Congress is expected to be challenging. The House is entering its final session before the November 3 midterm elections, but Republican leadership has indicated a reluctance to rush comprehensive regulations, citing concerns about hindering U.S. AI competitiveness. Additionally, the Trump administration's cautious approach to AI regulation suggests that substantial legislative action is unlikely before the midterms.As the midterm elections approach, AI regulation and data center issues are emerging as critical topics directly affecting voters' lives. Both Republican and Democratic supporters in the U.S. express concerns about AI, and there is growing opposition to the rapid construction of AI data centers. A recent NBC poll indicated that about two-thirds of Americans believe AI poses a high or very high level of risk to society. 2026-09-15 10:20:00 -
South Koreans Traveling to Japan for Affordable Weight Loss Drug Reports indicate that South Koreans are traveling to Japan to obtain the weight loss drug Mounjaro at a lower cost.According to Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi, there have been multiple instances of South Koreans receiving prescriptions for Mounjaro at various medical facilities in Japan. Posts on South Korean social media have been sharing information about Japanese hospitals that prescribe Mounjaro at relatively low prices, referring to them as 'holy sites.'A woman in her 30s living in Seoul told TV Asahi, "I found out that there was a hospital in a rural city in Japan that prescribes Mounjaro, and it turned out to be the cheapest in the country."Some reports suggest that even when factoring in the cost of airfare, it is still cheaper than purchasing the drug domestically. A man in his 30s from Seoul purchased a four-month supply of Mounjaro for approximately 850,000 won while in Fukuoka last August. He told Sankei Shimbun, "Even at the lowest price in Seoul, it would cost over 1.7 million won. Considering the round-trip airfare of about 350,000 won, I was able to save a significant amount."Mounjaro and Wegovy are classified as harmful medications by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, meaning that without a recommendation letter confirming exemption from import requirements, their entry into South Korea is prohibited regardless of quantity. This indicates that the usual import limits for personal use medications do not apply.According to the Korea Customs Service, there were 4,155 cases of illegal imports of weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy detected from January to June this year, nearly 3.5 times the 1,189 cases recorded for the entire previous year. Of these, 3,489 cases involved international mail, while 656 were from travelers' personal belongings. However, this figure does not solely account for Mounjaro imported from Japan.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:20:00
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YTN Hits Upper Limit Following Audit Findings on KCC's Involvement in Sale YTN recorded an upper limit increase in early trading. This surge is attributed to improved investor sentiment following the audit results indicating improper involvement by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) in the sale process to Eugene Group.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:37 a.m. on the 15th, YTN shares were trading at 2,635 won, up 605 won (29.80%) from the previous trading day. YTN began trading at 2,135 won and quickly reached the upper limit.The day before, the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed in its findings on the 'Management of Public Institution Assets' that there was improper involvement by the then KCC Chairman and the Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy in the sale of YTN shares by Korea Electric Power Corporation KDN and the Korea Racing Authority in 2023.According to the audit, KDN and the Korea Racing Authority, which held YTN shares, entered into a joint sale agreement to sell only 29.99% of their combined 30.95% stake to avoid restricting bids from large corporations.However, from late August to early September of the same year, former KCC Chairman Lee Dong-kwan demanded the complete sale of the shares from Vice Minister A of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Subsequently, the KCC's operational department was directed to send an official document to the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stating that it would be preferable to consolidate and sell all shares.The audit pointed out that this interference not only violated the autonomy of decision-making by KDN and the Korea Racing Authority, which had legitimately entered into the agreement, but also resulted in only three companies participating in the bidding, excluding large corporations. The audit has forwarded reference materials regarding former Chairman Lee and Vice Minister A to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:16:00
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Man Sentenced for Entering Women's Bathhouse Under False Pretenses A man in his twenties has been sentenced to prison for entering a women's bathhouse and changing area while pretending to be a woman, where he secretly observed women undressing.According to Yonhap News, Kim Mi-kyung, a judge at the Daegu District Court, sentenced the man, identified as A, to eight months in prison on September 14 for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes. The court also mandated that he complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and imposed a three-year employment restriction in institutions related to children, teenagers, and individuals with disabilities.A was accused of entering a sauna in Daegu's Jung District in April 2022, where he deceived staff into believing he was a woman and stayed for about an hour while watching women undress.In November of the same year, he entered another women's bathhouse in Daegu's Dong District, where he remained for approximately three hours and was additionally charged for observing multiple women undressing.A also has a prior record, having received a juvenile protection order for a sexual violence crime in 2016.The court considered that A entered the women's bathhouse twice to satisfy his sexual desires and that there were numerous women present at the time. The fact that he committed the offense again while awaiting trial for the previous incident was viewed as an aggravating circumstance, leading to the prison sentence.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:16:00
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South Korean Prime Minister Calls for Price Stability Ahead of Chuseok 한성숙 국무총리는 15일 중동 정세 불안과 국제유가 상승으로 추석을 앞둔 국민의 물가 부담이 커지고 있다며 성수품 공급과 불공정행위 점검 등 관계부처의 적극적인 대응을 주문했다.한 총리는 이날 오전 정부서울청사에서 열린 제40회 국무회의 모두발언에서 “민족 최대 명절인 추석이 열흘 앞으로 다가왔지만 중동전쟁 긴장이 다시 고조되면서 국제유가가 가파르게 상승하는 등 물가 부담이 커지고 있다”고 밝혔다.한 총리는 “정부는 역대 최대 규모의 성수품 공급을 포함한 추석 민생안정대책을 발표했다”며 “성수품 할인지원에 900억원을 추가로 투입하는 등 추석 물가 안정에 최선을 다하고 있다”고 말했다.이어 재정경제부와 농림축산식품부 등 관계부처를 향해 “정부 대책을 국민께 소상히 알려드리고 성수품이 제때 공급되는지, 표시가격 위반 등 불공정행위는 없는지 현장 상황을 세심하게 살펴달라”고 당부했다.한 총리는 송전망 조기 구축을 위한 지역주민 지원 방안도 강조했다. 이날 국무회의에서는 송전망 건설에 대한 주민 수용성을 높이기 위한 방안이 논의됐다.그는 “대한민국 대도약을 위한 대형 사업의 성공은 전력의 적기 공급과 송전망의 조기 구축에 달려 있다고 해도 과언이 아니다”며 “송전망 확충 원칙은 흔들림 없이 지키면서 주민 부담을 최소화하고 실질적인 혜택을 드릴 방안을 다각적으로 강구하고 있다”고 설명했다.기후에너지환경부에는 시행령 등 후속 조치를 꼼꼼히 챙기는 한편 지역주민과 진정성 있게 소통해 달라고 주문했다.예년보다 일찍 확산하고 있는 인플루엔자 등 급성 호흡기 감염병에 대한 선제적 대응도 지시했다. 보건당국은 지난 11일 인플루엔자 유행주의보를 조기에 발령했다.한 총리는 “감염병 관리는 선제적인 대응이 무엇보다 중요하다”며 보건복지부와 질병관리청에 백신을 충분히 확보하고 수급 상황을 고려해 예방접종 일정을 탄력적으로 검토하라고 당부했다. 특히 영유아와 고령층, 만성질환자 등 고위험군이 제때 예방접종과 진료를 받을 수 있도록 조치해 달라고 강조했다.한편 한 총리는 현재 진행 중인 제1차 한·중앙아시아 정상외교와 관련해서는 “중앙아시아는 우리와 역사적·인적 유대가 깊고 풍부한 광물과 에너지 자원을 보유한 공급망 다변화의 핵심 협력 대상”이라고 평가했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:12:00
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Lee So-young: Restoring Trust in the KOSDAQ Market and Reducing Structural Burdens Lee So-young, the nominee for Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, announced plans to shift the paradigm for policies affecting small businesses and self-employed individuals to enhance industrial competitiveness. She aims to implement a comprehensive roadmap to reform the chronic high-cost structure faced by small business owners.During her opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held on the 15th by the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, and Energy Committee, Lee stated, "Eight out of ten workers in South Korea are employed by small and medium enterprises, and there are 8.11 million small business owners facing a critical juncture due to high interest rates, inflation, changes in distribution structures, and the transition to AI. I will be a minister who prepares for the future together, beyond just providing support to address immediate difficulties."Her first key policy initiative is to open a new era of national entrepreneurship through bold regulatory rationalization. She emphasized, "New challenges must be welcomed for growth. If there are regulations that hinder corporate challenges, I will seek solutions from the perspective of businesses and citizens, regardless of the relevant ministries. If necessary, I will persuade and communicate directly with other ministers."Lee also expressed her commitment to reforming the capital market, vowing to restore trust in the KOSDAQ market, which is essential for the growth of venture and small businesses, and to represent their voices to facilitate capital inflow.She promised to support the connection with large national projects and the transition to new technologies. Lee stated, "We must specify the concrete roles and special provisions for small businesses from the planning stages of the three major national mega-projects, including semiconductors and AI data centers, as well as the five-polar three-special growth engine strategy. I will significantly increase support for research and development (R&D) and facility transitions to respond to AI transitions in small manufacturing sites and global carbon regulations such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)."Regarding small business owners and the self-employed, she emphasized the need for 'structural cost reform.' Lee remarked, "Merely providing subsidies to help them endure temporarily is insufficient. I will systematically quantify unsustainable expenditure burdens such as rent, interest, delivery app fees, and advertising costs, and establish a 'cost structure improvement roadmap' to reduce these burdens."On delivery app policies, she stated, "I will create new competitiveness and alternatives that consumers can actually choose." She also proposed strengthening the social safety net by expanding health care costs for self-employed individuals, as well as enhancing industrial accident and employment insurance, and supporting re-challenges after business closures.Lee concluded, "It is unfair to demand innovation while leaving the environment for self-employed individuals, who work hard yet see no returns, unchanged. I will prove the government's responsibility to create an environment where innovation can be pursued and where efforts yield results."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:12:00
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2026 National Park Golf Festival Finals Kick Off in Hwacheon The finals of the '2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo National Park Golf Festival,' the largest of its kind in South Korea, began on September 15 in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. Athletes who qualified through regional preliminaries will compete for a prize of 30 million won and a green jacket awarded to the male and female Most Valuable Players (MVPs). According to Hwacheon County, the Hwacheon County Sports Council will host the finals from September 15 to 18 at the first and second courses of the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Park Golf Course. The competition will be held in a stroke play format. Players will complete a total of 144 holes over four days, playing 36 holes each day, with the final rankings determined by the lowest cumulative scores. The finalists advanced through eight rounds of preliminaries held from August 18 to September 9. This year, over 3,200 participants registered for the preliminaries, leading to an early closure of applications due to high interest. The total prize money for the tournament is 122.4 million won. Each MVP will receive 30 million won, a green jacket, and a gold-plated trophy. In addition, the top three finishers in the men's and women's general and senior divisions will receive 5 million won, 3 million won, and 2 million won, respectively. Event-specific prizes are also available. Now in its fifth year, the tournament, which started in 2022, has established itself as a major event in the domestic park golf scene, thanks to its scale, prize money, and the format of eight preliminary rounds followed by a 144-hole final. The tournament's operational model connects sports events with local consumption. The entry fee for the finals is 60,000 won per person. Participants will receive 40,000 won in Hwacheon Love gift certificates and local agricultural products worth 20,000 won. Hwacheon County expects that athletes, their families, and tournament officials from across the country will utilize local accommodations, restaurants, and tourist attractions, thereby benefiting the local economy. Kim Se-hoon, the mayor of Hwacheon County, stated, “As top park golf players from across the nation gather in Hwacheon, we will do our utmost to ensure the best conditions for the athletes to showcase their skills. We aim to promote Hwacheon through park golf and expand sports marketing to foster growth in sports, tourism, and the local economy.” The tournament is organized by the Hwacheon County Sports Council, with support from the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Park Golf Association and the Hwacheon Park Golf Association, and is sponsored by Hwacheon County and the Korea Park Golf Association.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:08:00
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Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Show Resilience After U.S. Market Shock Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are fluctuating in a narrow range in early trading. Despite a sharp decline in semiconductor stocks on the U.S. market overnight, perceptions that some negative factors were already priced in due to previous declines have led to an influx of bargain buying.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:57 a.m. on September 15, Samsung Electronics was trading at 250,000 won, up 1,000 won (0.40%) from the previous trading day. At the same time, SK Hynix was up 5,000 won (0.29%), trading at 1,702,000 won.U.S. markets fell across the board overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 dropped by 0.29% and 0.48%, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.56%.The surge in international oil prices was driven by concerns over supply disruptions following Saudi Arabia's closure of the key East-West pipeline. Additionally, ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note surpassed 5%, putting pressure on investor sentiment.Concerns about the pace of growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector also weighed on technology stocks. Nvidia and Micron Technology saw declines of 3.36% and 5.25%, respectively, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plummeted by 5.86%. SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) also fell by 7.60%.However, there is a perception that the external negative factors have already been largely reflected in the stock prices of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which had already experienced significant declines the previous day. The influx of bargain buying due to the expanded drop has resulted in a lack of clear direction in early trading.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:08:00
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Ruling and Opposition Parties Agree on 32 Livelihood Bills On September 15, the policy committees of the ruling Democratic Party and the opposition People Power Party held a joint meeting at the National Assembly, agreeing to process 32 livelihood bills, including the Emergency Medical Law and the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. They also decided to establish a 'Livelihood Issues Responsibility Council' for one-on-one communication between party leaders, which will discuss contentious issues such as real estate policy and tax reform.Kwon Chil-seung, chair of the Democratic Party's policy committee, stated, "Since the last joint meeting, both parties have quickly engaged in practical discussions and confirmed that there are no significant disagreements on many livelihood issues." He added, "We have identified 32 livelihood bills that both parties will jointly propose and promote, including the Emergency Medical Law, the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, and a special law on housing care for the elderly."He continued, "With the bills organized, the goals of both parties' policy committees have become clearer. I hope the leadership of both parties and each standing committee will respect the spirit of the joint meeting and expedite the passage of these livelihood bills."In addition to the Emergency Medical Law and the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, the agreed-upon 32 bills reportedly include criteria for raising the preliminary feasibility study standards for social overhead capital (SOC) for balanced regional development, a special law for small and medium-sized enterprise succession, and the introduction of mandatory public purchase systems to protect minority shareholders. However, they have not yet narrowed their positions on raising the floor area ratio for private redevelopment and reconstruction from 1.2 to 1.3.Im Yi-ja, chair of the People Power Party's policy committee, proposed the activation of the Livelihood Issues Responsibility Council to discuss contentious bills. This approach, involving regular meetings between responsible parties, is expected to yield more practical results.Im noted, "Finding common ground on shared pledges is relatively easier. The challenge lies in major issues where the parties have differing views, such as real estate policy, tax reform, police reform, pension reform, and amendments to the Yellow Envelope Law (revised labor union law articles 2 and 3)."He added, "We cannot let livelihood issues remain unresolved simply because there are disagreements. I propose that each party designate one policy vice-chair as a responsible party for each major issue, creating a dedicated communication channel for ongoing discussions on real estate, tax, and social policy matters."In this regard, Kwon explained, "Since this proposal was made today, we need to coordinate on who the responsible vice-chairs will be, how to set the agenda, and whether to expand discussions to include the secretaries of the relevant standing committees."Meanwhile, both parties plan to expedite discussions and processing of the agreed-upon bills at the committee level.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-15 10:04:00
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South Korea to Consolidate Public Institutions Under Science Ministry The Ministry of Science and ICT will reduce the number of its public institutions from 21 to 17.On September 15, the ministry announced plans for a "public institution function reform" aimed at streamlining similar and overlapping functions and enhancing inter-agency connectivity.First, the Korea Data Agency (K-DATA) will merge with the National Information Society Agency (NIA). The integration aims to combine NIA's data policy support capabilities with K-DATA's expertise in promoting the data industry and facilitating data utilization and distribution.Additionally, four major science centers will be consolidated. The independent corporations of these regional science centers will be merged to establish a new entity, tentatively named the National Science Museum Foundation. Currently, functions such as science content exhibitions and educational program operations are carried out separately, but the merger will allow for joint planning of exhibition content and shared use of collections to enhance services.The plan also includes incorporating the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning into the Korea Research Foundation as a subsidiary. This move aims to identify outstanding research outcomes from basic and fundamental research projects and promote the utilization and dissemination of these results through technology transfer and commercialization.Furthermore, the ministry will pursue the unification of functions to improve the efficiency of research and development special zones, including regional autonomous R&D projects. Facility management and cleaning tasks for the R&D special zone will be transferred to the Science and Technology Facility Management Agency, a subsidiary of a government-funded research institution, while security and guidance duties will be handed over to the Science and Technology Security Management Agency, enhancing the management efficiency of local operations.The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "We plan to promote the necessary legal amendments and revisions for the integration and will continuously communicate with relevant ministries, local governments, and labor unions to ensure employee job security and existing treatment during the integration process, while adequately addressing any concerns raised." 2026-09-15 10:00:20