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KAIST and Yoshua Bengio develop breakthrough to make AI diffusion models 100 times faster SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - A research team at South Korea’s prestigious research institution KAIST, in collaboration with renowned artificial intelligence scholar Yoshua Bengio from the University of Montreal, has developed a technique that significantly accelerates the performance of AI diffusion models while maintaining high output quality. The new method addresses one of the biggest barriers to deploying diffusion models in real-time applications such as robotics and decision-making systems. KAIST said on Sunday that the project was led by Professor Ahn Sung-jin from KAIST’s School of Computing was carried out through the KAIST-MILA Prefrontal AI Joint Research Center collaboration project. Diffusion models, widely used in AI for tasks like image and text generation, are known for their slow inference speed, which has limited their real-world utility in time-sensitive systems. The research team tackled this issue by introducing an inference approach based on Monte Carlo Tree Search, a strategy often used in game AI to explore decision paths. By modeling the generation process as a tree and strategically narrowing down the most promising paths, the method was able to produce high-quality outputs using limited computational resources. It also achieved a 100 percent success rate in a large-scale maze-solving task, a benchmark that previous models consistently failed to complete. The study was presented as a Spotlight paper at the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), held in Vancouver from July. 13 to 19. Spotlight papers are selected from the top 2.6 percent of all submissions, reflecting the technical significance and novelty of the work. While the initial version of the model demonstrated impressive accuracy, its speed remained a challenge. To address this, the team conducted follow-up research to parallelize the tree search algorithm, dramatically boosting its efficiency. The revised model achieved inference speeds up to 100 times faster than previous versions, with no loss in performance. "This study fundamentally breaks through the high computational cost barrier of conventional diffusion models," said Ahn Sung-jin. "We expect the technique to serve as a core technology across various domains, from intelligent robotics and simulation-based planning to real-time generative AI." The research was led by Ph.D. candidate Yoon Jae-sik, with contributions from Cho Hyeon-seo, Baek Doo-jin, Bengio, and Ahn. The results were published in two papers. The first, titled Monte Carlo Tree Diffusion for System 2 Planning, was authored by Yoon Jae-sik, Cho Hyeon-seo, Baek Doo-jin, Yoshua Bengio, and Ahn Sung-jin. The second paper, Fast Monte Carlo Tree Diffusion: 100x Speedup via Parallel Sparse Planning, was co-authored by Yoon Jae-sik, Cho Hyeon-seo, Yoshua Bengio, and Ahn Sung-jin. Both were posted on the preprint server arXiv. The study was supported by the National Research Foundation of South Korea. 2025-07-20 14:58:57
Torrential rains leave dozens dead or missing, thousands displaced SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Torrential downpours across the country have left at least 14 people dead and 12 others missing, while forcing thousands to flee their homes, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on Sunday. As relentless heavy rain battered mostly southern part of the country for about a week since last Wednesday, flooding and landslides caused casualties in Osan, Gyeonggi Province; Seosan and Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province; and Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, while several others remain missing. Around 13,000 residents from 9,694 households have evacuated across 14 cities and provincial areas. As many small towns and villages were submerged, some 9,504 homes were damaged and about 4,000 facilities and rice paddies were destroyed. South Gyeongsang Province was hit hardest, with Sancheong seeing 793.5 mm of rainfall in cumulative precipitation, followed by 699 mm in Hapcheon, 621.5 mm in Hadong, 600 mm in Changnyeong, 584.5 mm in Haman, and 578.3 mm in Seosan. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), a sweltering heat wave accompanied by tropical nights, when temperatures do not drop below 25 degrees Celsius, is expected to return with a vengeance in the coming week as the monsoon season ends, despite some sporadic downpours in some mountainous areas. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung instructed officials to swiftly designate areas affected by heavy rains as special disaster zones, according to his spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Special disaster zones are entitled to disaster relief for damage recovery, as well as tax benefits and other forms of support. 2025-07-20 10:39:52
South Korea's special prosecutor indicts impeached president on martial law charges SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - South Korea's special prosecutor team on Saturday indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges related to his failed attempt to impose martial law last December, marking the third time the embattled leader faces prosecution. The special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, said it filed formal charges against Yoon while he remains in detention, including abuse of power and obstruction of rights. The charges stem from his brief declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, which sparked nationwide protests and ultimately led to his impeachment. The indictment alleges Yoon violated cabinet members' deliberation rights, ordered the retroactive drafting of martial law documents, and issued false public statements about the emergency decree. Prosecutors also accuse him of instructing the deletion of encrypted phone records and obstructing the execution of arrest warrants. Notably absent from Saturday's charges were allegations of foreign exchange law violations, which remain under active investigation. The special prosecutor's office indicated it would pursue those charges separately as the probe continues. This marks Yoon's third indictment since the martial law crisis began, following earlier charges by the prosecution's special investigation headquarters for leading an insurrection in January and abuse of power in May after his removal from office. Yoon began boycotting all criminal justice procedures after an arrest warrant was issued early on July 10 on charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power. He skipped a scheduled insurrection trial that morning citing deteriorating health and ignored the prosecution's summons for questioning on July 11. When Yoon refused to leave his solitary cell at Seoul Detention Center on Monday, the special prosecution team ordered forced extraction. However, detention center officials declined to use physical force against the former president, citing his previous presidential status. The team's next forced extraction attempt on Tuesday also failed due to the detention center's passive response. Prosecutors subsequently summoned detention center officials to investigate the circumstances of the failed attempts. On Wednesday, prosecutors visited Seoul Detention Center again to forcibly question Yoon directly, but postponed the attempt when Yoon filed an appeal against his detention. The court rejected Yoon's detention appeal on Friday, dismissing his legal team's claims about double jeopardy and health conditions, paving way for prosecutors to proceed with forced questioning. While some observers speculated that the special prosecution team would attempt forced extraction again for direct questioning of Yoon, prosecutors determined that further investigation attempts would be meaningless and opted for early indictment without extending the detention period. The decision also appears to be based on the judgment that prosecutors secured some statements related to the charges during Yoon's direct remarks at the detention appeal hearing. Park Ji-young, a deputy to Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, said the team decided to file charges following internal discussions after the detention appeal rejection. "We determined that sufficient additional investigation and evidence collection from witnesses and others had been conducted since the arrest warrant was issued, and that extending the detention period would not guarantee effective questioning of former President Yoon," Park said. He added that the prosecution regrets that related investigation of Yoon could not be conducted after the arrest warrant was issued. "Former President Yoon's behavior during the investigation process will be presented at trial and reflected in sentencing," Park said. 2025-07-19 15:54:39
Lee administration's first cabinet hearings draw criticism over lack of scrutiny SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - South Korea's first cabinet confirmation hearings under President Lee Jae Myung concluded Friday amid widespread criticism that the process lacked proper verification of ministerial nominees. The five-day ‘super week’ hearings examined 16 cabinet nominees from July 14 to 18, but opposition lawmakers and critics described the proceedings as ineffective and superficial. The ruling party focused on defending candidates while the opposition struggled with internal conflicts and special prosecutor investigations. The main opposition People Power Party labeled five nominees as "unqualified" and demanded their withdrawal, including Kang Sun-woo for gender equality, Chung Dong-young for unification, Lee Jin-sook for education, Kwon Oh-eul for veterans affairs and Kim Young-hoon for labor ministries. However, all nominees appear likely to be confirmed without withdrawals. Both parties reached consensus on five nominees, adopting hearing reports for Bae Kyung-hoon for science and technology, Koo Yun-cheol for economy and finance, Cho Hyun for foreign affairs, Kim Jung-kwan for trade and industry, and Yoon Ho-jung for interior ministries. The unanimous decisions came after the opposition agreed to cooperate on trade negotiations with the United States. Yoon Ho-jung's report was adopted on the hearing day itself due to concerns about disaster response gaps following recent flooding. Justice Minister nominee Jung Sung-ho's report was adopted through a party-line vote after partisan clashes, including only the ruling party's assessment of qualification. At Friday's floor leaders' meeting, ruling Democratic Party leader Kim Byung-kee said all nominees should proceed without withdrawals, stating there were "no disqualifying issues." The ruling party treated confirmations as foregone conclusions throughout the hearings, while the opposition showed resistance against the legislative majority. Some nominees adopted a strategy of avoiding direct answers during questioning. Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook was later found to have notes suggesting she avoid direct answers and give evasive responses to difficult questions. Gender equality Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo repeatedly apologized for staff abuse allegations, becoming emotional during testimony. However, additional controversies emerged regarding false explanations and property disclosure omissions. Health Minister nominee Jeong Eun-kyeong's hearing received less attention despite opposition attacks, with the ruling party defending her while dismissing alleged criticism of profiting from trading stocks related to the COVID-19 as "fake news." Three more confirmation hearings remain scheduled, including the Constitutional Court Chief Justice nominee Kim Sang-hwan on July 21 and Land Minister nominee Kim Yun-duk and Culture Minister nominee Chae Hwi-young on July 29, with real estate and wealth controversies expected to dominate discussions. 2025-07-19 13:41:08
South Korea braces for fourth day of torrential rains as casualties mount SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - Torrential rains that began pounding South Korea's central regions four days ago continued to wreak havoc across the nation, with casualties and infrastructure damage mounting. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported Saturday morning that the death toll remained at four, with two people still missing. The fatalities occurred in Gyeonggi Province's Osan city and South Chungcheong Province's Seosan and Dangjin cities, while two residents remain unaccounted for in Gwangju's North District. Infrastructure damage surged dramatically as floodwaters paved destruction across the peninsula. Public facilities took massive blow with 729 reported incidents, including 388 flooded roads, 133 cases of soil erosion, and 57 collapsed river structures. Private property damage reached 1,014 cases, encompassing 64 flooded buildings and 59 inundated agricultural areas. The relentless downpour forced around 7,000 residents from nearly 5,000 households across 72 municipalities in 13 provinces to flee their homes temporarily. Of those evacuated, about 2,800 people from roughly 2,000 households remained unable to return home as of Saturday morning. The transportation network buckled under the assault as well, with seven major railway lines suspended including the Gyeongbu line connecting Seoul to Busan and the Honam line linking Daejeon to Mokpo. Rail authorities halted services on additional routes spanning the peninsula's key arteries. Road networks faced widespread disruption as floodwater submerged 57 riverside roads, 12 underground passages, and 302 small bridges. Authorities also restricted access to 255 riverside areas, 170 riverside parking lots, and 22 camping sites. "Currently, heavy rain advisories and warnings are in effect across most of the nation, with very intense rainfall of 30 to 80 millimeters per hour expanding and intensifying the alerts," the disaster headquarters said. 2025-07-19 10:13:08
[[K-Tech]] EV sales surge in South Korea, signaling shift toward mass adoption SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - Electric vehicle sales in South Korea soared by more than 40 percent in the first half of 2024, a surge that analysts say signals the country's EV market is beginning to break through the so-called “chasm” separating early adopters from the mainstream. A total of 93,569 new electric vehicles were registered between January and June, up 42.7 percent from 65,557 during the same period last year, according to data released Friday by the automotive data platform Car Is You. The increase of over 28,000 units year-on-year marks one of the strongest six-month performances for the industry to date. Analysts attribute the rapid expansion to a combination of demographic shifts, government subsidies, and a significant buildout of charging infrastructure. The growth was largely driven by buyers in their 30s and 40s — a key indicator that EVs are no longer confined to a niche segment. Consumers in their 40s accounted for the largest portion of private EV ownership, with 22,532 units, or 35.3 percent of total registrations. Drivers in their 30s followed with 16,130 vehicles, making up 25.2 percent of the market. Even drivers in their 20s showed increasing interest, registering 3,531 vehicles. The generational appeal of newer models was evident in the popularity of Kia’s compact electric SUV, the EV3. The vehicle ranked first among EV buyers in their 20s with 910 units sold, second among those in their 30s with 1,920, and also second among drivers in their 40s, who registered 2,218 EV3s. Industry observers point to a range of government incentives and infrastructure upgrades as key catalysts. Several local governments have increased financial support for EV purchases this year, helping to offset upfront costs. At the same time, the expansion of both slow and fast-charging stations has eased concerns about convenience and range. As of June, South Korea had 417,437 EV chargers in operation, nearly 1.5 times the number available two years ago, according to data released Friday by the Ministry of Environment. Analysts say the latest figures suggest that South Korea's EV market has entered a new phase — one characterized not by curiosity or novelty, but by widespread consumer buy-in. 2025-07-18 16:11:12
Kakao Pay abandons SSG Pay acquisition, pivots to AI investment SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - Kakao Pay has scrapped its planned acquisition of SSG Pay and Smile Pay, two mobile payment services owned by Shinsegae Group, as its parent company Kakao Group pivots sharply toward artificial intelligence-focused investments, according to industry sources on Friday. The decision marks a significant shift in Kakao Group’s broader strategic direction, which has seen the tech firm prioritize funding for its growing AI ambitions over expanding its fintech footprint. Kakao Pay, a leading mobile payment platform in South Korea, had been in talks with Shinsegae Group since early this year in a bid to better compete with rival Naver Pay. The two sides had finalized key terms, including pricing and corporate valuation, but the deal fell apart as Kakao Group reallocated capital toward its AI initiatives. The move comes just weeks after Kakao Group sold approximately 430 billion won ($310 million) worth of shares in SK Square, a move widely viewed as an effort to raise funds for large-scale AI investments. The now-abandoned acquisition was seen as part of Kakao Pay’s efforts to consolidate its position in South Korea’s highly competitive digital payments market. Shinsegae’s SSG Pay and Smile Pay are embedded within the group’s robust retail ecosystem, including Shinsegae Department Store and e-commerce platform SSG.com. Shinsegae Group said it remains committed to strengthening its payments business independently, pledging to enhance service stability and boost competitiveness across its digital commerce operations. 2025-07-18 16:05:53
INTERVIEW: How literature is bringing South Korea and Poland closer together SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - For many South Koreans, Poland once seemed like a distant European country, often known only for legendary figures such as pianist Frédéric Chopin and Nobel laureate chemist Marie Curie. But the Slavic country in central Europe has drawn closer to South Korea in recent years thanks to a burgeoning appreciation for its rich literary tradition and cultural heritage. "Although South Korea and Poland are geographically far apart and have had relatively few opportunities for mutual exchange or interaction, literature can serve as a bridge to help the two countries, which share cultural and historical similarities, build a deeper connection," said Lee Dang-kweon, director of the Korean Cultural Center in Warsaw, in a recent interview with AJP. Indeed, Poland has long been regarded as one of Europe's most renowned countries for literature. With five Nobel Prize laureates from Henryk Sienkiewicz in 1905 to Olga Tokarczuk in 2018 and other internationally acclaimed authors, literature is truly a beloved part of Polish culture. Particularly famed for its poetic brilliance, Polish literature, deeply intertwined with the country's turbulent history along with pride its cultural heritage, much like South Korea's, has served as a powerful form of resistance and cultural endurance, resiliently preserving and shaping national identity through language and storytelling. "The center, which opened in 2010 as the first of its kind in central Europe, has been offering diverse literature-themed programs, as I believe literature has the power to connect people and deepen relationships beyond cultural and territorial boundaries," Lee said. Among these activities, the regular gatherings of book lovers and literature enthusiasts, which began late last year, stand out the most, quickly gaining popularity from locals. "In the beginning, only a small circle of people gathered to share their thoughts on literature," Lee recalled. "But now each session attracts a large crowd." Such interest grew even stronger when writer Han Kang became South Korea's first Nobel Prize recipient in literature last year, ushering in a new chapter of cultural exchange between Seoul and Warsaw. In particular, Han's biographical collection of essays "HYNN" instantly stole Polish readers' hearts. Set in post-World War II Warsaw and written during her stay there, the book exemplifies Han's distinctive style of "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life," which was cited as the reason for awarding her the prestigious prize. Another boost to this growing interest came in May, when South Korea was selected as the Guest of Honor at this year's Warsaw International Book Fair, becoming the first Asian country to serve the role. "The center received a warm response and enthusiastic support from visitors when it first presented South Korean literary works at the fair in 2023, which soon led to an invitation to fulfill this year's honored role," Lee recalled, sharing his joy at achieving such a meaningful milestone at one of the largest annual literary events in Europe, which brings together numerous publishers and participants from around the world every year. Following the success of the fair, which drew even greater attention to South Korea, the center is expanding its efforts to promote the country's literature and culture by planning a variety of additional programs. It also seeks to create more opportunities for South Korean authors and writers by connecting them with various literary events and book fairs held across Poland. "More and more Polish people here are rediscovering South Korea through literary works and have even started organizing events to learn more about the country on their own," Lee said. "We will continue to support them and help more people in Poland connect with Korean culture through books." 2025-07-18 16:03:45
[[K-Tech]] Hanwha Q Cells joins US petition to curb solar panel imports from Chinese-controlled firms SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - A coalition of solar manufacturers, including Hanwha Q Cells and First Solar, petitioned the U.S. Commerce Department on Friday to impose tariffs on solar panels imported from Indonesia, India and Laos, accusing Chinese-owned firms of circumventing existing trade restrictions by routing products through third countries. The petition, filed by the American Solar Manufacturing and Trade Coalition, alleges that Chinese manufacturers are exploiting lower-cost production facilities in the three countries to flood the U.S. market with underpriced solar panels, undermining domestic producers. The move comes just a year after a similar petition led to new tariffs on solar imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Following that decision, imports from Indonesia and Laos surged, filling the gap left by the newly restricted countries. The case underscores the ongoing volatility in the global solar supply chain and the intensifying trade tensions between the United States and China. While the companies at the center of the complaint are based in Indonesia, India and Laos, the petition claims they are ultimately owned or controlled by Chinese parent firms, which are seeking to evade existing U.S. tariffs. “The domestic industry continues to be harmed by dumped and subsidized solar products entering through alternative channels,” the coalition said in a statement. “These measures are necessary to level the playing field.” If the Commerce Department agrees to initiate an investigation, it could result in new anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar products from the three nations, potentially reshaping sourcing strategies for U.S. solar developers and installers. 2025-07-18 16:00:34
Lotte chairman orders sweeping overhaul as conglomerate confronts deepening crisis SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - Shin Dong-bin, the chairman of South Korea’s Lotte Group, has ordered a sweeping business overhaul, calling for structural reform and long-term innovation as the retail-to-chemicals conglomerate faces what analysts describe as the most serious crisis in its history. The directive came during a rare two-day forum that concluded Thursday at the Lotte Human Resources Development Center in Osan, south of Seoul. The meeting brought together some 80 senior executives, including Shin’s eldest son, Executive Vice President Shin Yoo-yeol, in what insiders say was the most comprehensive top-level review since the group’s founding. At the center of Lotte’s woes is its petrochemicals arm. Lotte Chemical’s operating profit plunged nearly 64 percent year-on-year — from 2.59 trillion won ($1.9 billion) in 2023 to 916.8 billion won in 2024 — amid a sharp downturn in demand, rising raw material costs, and intensifying competition from Chinese producers. The group has begun liquidating non-core assets to ease financial pressure. It has reportedly pledged its iconic Lotte World Tower as collateral and sold its operations in Pakistan. It is also considering a merger of its naphtha cracking center with HD Hyundai Chemical to achieve cost synergies. “CEOs must anticipate how the business environment will evolve over the next decade and act with speed and precision,” Shin told executives, emphasizing a shift toward what he termed "PEST perspective management" — a framework focused on political, economic, social and technological change. The restructuring plan calls for Lotte Chemical to significantly reduce its reliance on low-margin basic materials, which currently account for more than 60 percent of revenue. The company will instead prioritize the expansion of high-value-added products, which now make up roughly 30 percent of sales. Lotte’s retail division is also set for a strategic overhaul. As legacy department stores and supermarkets lose ground to online platforms and a surge in competition from Chinese players, the company will pursue a “selection and concentration” strategy — focusing on core assets while exiting or consolidating weaker units. “The fatal mistake in corporate management is ignoring known problems — or worse, failing to recognize problems at all,” Shin said. “We must be prepared for the world five to ten years from now.” 2025-07-18 15:15:25