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Korea exports AI statistics know-how to Kazakhstan SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - The agency that counts Kazakhstan's people, prices and harvests signed an agreement Monday to rebuild how it does that work with South Korean help, putting artificial intelligence and government administrative records at the center of the effort. South Korea's Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) signed the memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan's Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the government complex in Daejeon. Minister Ahn Hyung-jun and the bureau's head, Maksat Turlubayev, attended along with officials from both agencies. The signing came two days before the first Korea-Central Asia Summit opens in Seoul, and on the same day President Lee Jae Myung began a run of bilateral meetings with the five Central Asian leaders traveling to the capital. Under the agreement, the two agencies will work together on digitalizing the production of official statistics and share cases in which administrative records, big data and AI have been used to generate them. They also agreed to exchange statistical methodology and to hold training visits, bilateral meetings and seminars. MODS said it would pass on the innovations South Korea has built into its own statistical system and help Kazakhstan bring its statistics up to international standards. That alignment has been under way for years. Experts from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Eurostat and the European Free Trade Association have run a global assessment of Kazakhstan's national statistical system, and Turlubayev has represented the bureau at the OECD committee where the heads of national statistical offices meet. MODS took part in that committee's 23rd meeting in Paris in June, where the discussion turned on how the spread of AI is forcing changes in the way statistical quality is managed. Turlubayev has led the bureau since 2023 and has pushed Kazakhstan's official statistics toward AI and real-time analysis. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Seoul National University and began his career in Kazakhstan's economy ministry in 2008. In 2025 the bureau started using anonymized mobile operator records to track tourist movement, which it said made Kazakhstan the first country in the Commonwealth of Independent States to fold telecom data into official tourism figures. What South Korea brings is a statistical system built largely on records the government already holds, including a register-based census that leans on administrative data rather than door-to-door enumeration alone. Ahn has said the ministry is now building metadata that AI systems can read directly and introducing homomorphic encryption and synthetic data so analysts can work with sensitive records without exposing them. Ahn, who has led the ministry since it was elevated to report directly to the prime minister in October 2025, said the memorandum develops cooperation between the two countries into "tangible results in the data and statistics field." Kazakhstan is the third Central Asian statistical office to sign such an agreement with South Korea. Cooperation with Uzbekistan dates to a memorandum signed in 2011, followed by annual bilateral meetings, and MODS signed a similar agreement with the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic at the same Daejeon complex in August 2025. MODS said it is also working with the Asian Development Bank on development assistance aimed at strengthening statistical capacity across the region. The summit runs Sept. 16 and 17, weighted toward critical minerals, energy and supply chains, with AI, digital cooperation, climate response and water management added to a framework that has run at ministerial level since 2007. Turlubayev said Kazakhstan rates South Korea's record in building official statistics highly, and that he expected the memorandum to widen "practical cooperation" between the two agencies on data use and the development of statistical systems. 2026-09-14 17:03:46
Interim coach seeks to impress as he unveils 1st roster for upcoming friendlies SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea's new head coach Robert Moreno on Monday unveiled a 30-man roster for a series of football friendlies scheduled for later this month and early October. The Spanish coach, who arrived in South Korea the previous day, began his stint as interim head coach of the national football team with a press conference in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, where he unveiled the roster. The roster included most of key players playing for overseas clubs including captain Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, Lee Kang-in of Spanish La Liga club Atlético Madrid, Kim Min-jae of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, and Hwang Hee-chan of Bundesliga club Schalke 04. It also included Oh Hyeon-gyu of Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş, Cho Gue-sung of Danish Superliga club Midtjylland, and Song Min-kyu of Portugal's Nacional. But the highlight of the roster was the strong presence of domestic players, with 12 of the 30 making up the list. They included FC Seoul's midfielder Jeong Seung-won, goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun and defender Choi Jun. Three newcomers such as midfielder Kim Min-su of Rangers FC, midfielder Park Tae-jun of Gimcheon Sangmu and defender Kim Gun-hee of Incheon United joined the roster for the first time. Some young players were unavailable to make the roster due to other commitments including Yang Hyun-jun of Scottish club Celtic and Bae Jun-ho of England's Stoke City, as they are participating in this year's Asian Games, which kick off later this week in Nagoya, Japan. Moreno's contract for his interim tenure included an option to remain in charge through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next January, with his fate hinging on the outcomes of six upcoming friendlies, starting with matches against Ecuador in Suwon on Sept. 24 and Uruguay in Seoul on Sept. 28. South Korea will then face Venezuela at a match in Ulsan on Oct. 2 and another one against Uzbekistan in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on Oct. 6, ahead of two additional friendlies scheduled for November. AJP Takeaways - Robert Moreno unveiled a 30-man South Korea roster on September 14, 2026, featuring overseas stars including Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae and Hwang Hee-chan. - Twelve domestic-based players were selected, including first-time call-ups Kim Min-su, Park Tae-jun and Kim Gun-hee. Yang Hyun-jun and Bae Jun-ho were unavailable due to Asian Games commitments. - Moreno's future depends on six upcoming friendlies, beginning with Ecuador on Sept. 24, 2026, and Uruguay on Sept. 28, 2026. His contract includes an option to stay through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. 2026-09-14 17:02:39
Public Housing: Beyond Supply to Community Support as SH, GH, and iH Collaborate As South Korea faces challenges from an aging population, low birth rates, and an increase in single-person households, discussions are underway to expand the role of public housing beyond mere supply to include care and community support.The Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) announced that it will host a joint seminar with the Gyeonggi Housing and Communities Corporation (GH) and the Incheon Housing Corporation (iH) on September 18 at 3 p.m. in the Ferum Hall on the third floor of the Ferum Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul. The seminar, organized by the Korea Housing Service Society, will focus on the theme, 'Beyond Public Housing Providers: Becoming Community Designers.'This seminar is part of a collaborative research initiative involving SH, GH, and iH, aimed at discussing the role of public housing in community support and housing services. Key topics will include public housing policies and operational strategies to address care gaps and social isolation resulting from the aging society, low birth rates, and the rise of single-person and elderly households.Presentations will cover strategies for enhancing community spaces within public housing and operating community services to support continued residency in local areas. Professor Kim Young-wook from Sejong University will present on 'Urban and Residential Development Strategies Based on Space Structure Analysis for Community Activation.'Following this, Kim Young-guk, a senior researcher at the SH Urban Research Institute, will discuss 'Operational Strategies for Public Housing Community Services to Realize Aging in Community,' while Park Seok-kyu, head of the iH Urban Research Team, will present on 'iH's Family and Senior Community-Friendly Housing Model in Response to Low Birth Rates and Aging.'After the presentations, Lim Kwang-bin, head of the GH Urban Housing Research Department, will moderate a discussion featuring senior researchers from various institutions, including Gi Yun-hwan from the Incheon Research Institute, Nam Won-seok from the Seoul Research Institute, Park Gi-deok from the Gyeonggi Research Institute, Cho Seung-yeon from the LH Land and Housing Research Institute, and Kwon O-jung, co-representative of the Korea Housing Service Society, to explore community support strategies in public housing.SH President Hwang Sang-ha stated, 'As we face an aging society, low birth rates, and an increase in single-person households, the importance of care and community within multi-family housing is growing. We will continuously review public housing's housing services and community support strategies based on the discussions from this seminar.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 17:00:20
Korea Railroad Corporation Invites Private Proposals for Development of Idle Land The Korea Railroad Corporation has partnered with the private sector to discover innovative development plans.On September 14, the corporation announced it will solicit private proposals to utilize idle railway land near Centum Station and Geoje Station, aiming to promote local revitalization.The targeted sites include approximately 6,600 square meters in Jae-song-dong, Haeundae District, Busan, and about 7,500 square meters in Geoje-dong, Yeonje District, Busan. The corporation plans to explore various development plans that leverage the unique characteristics of each site and the surrounding development conditions.The Centum Station site will consider development plans in light of the construction of a new Haeundae District Office and the renovation of aging residential areas. The Geoje Station site is expected to improve local parking conditions through the development of dedicated parking structures.This solicitation allows private developers to propose plans that either combine or separate the characteristics of each site. For Centum Station, options to develop the underground and above-ground idle land separately have been included, expanding the choices for private development methods.The proposal period runs from today until November 12. More details can be found on the Korea Railroad Corporation's website.Jung Jin-hyuk, the director of the Korea Railroad Corporation, stated, "We hope to uncover creative development plans and will actively support efforts to enhance the value of the idle railway land near Centum Station and Geoje Station, transforming it into a new vibrant space for the community."Meanwhile, the Korea Railroad Corporation has previously developed the 'Haeundae Blue Line Park' by utilizing the abandoned railway section from Mipo to the old Songjeong area for an eco-friendly coastal tourism train and walking paths, as well as the 'Gyeongui Line Forest Trail,' which transformed the above-ground section of the Gyeongui Line into a linear park.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 17:00:20
LG bets on home-grown AI with factory-floor data edge SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea's LG Group is preparing to put its homegrown artificial intelligence to work across production lines stretching from hair-loss materials research to home appliances, betting that industrial know-how can matter as much as sheer computing power. Its AI control tower, LG AI Research, has built the EXAONE ecosystem around models that can be tailored to specific industries, run at lower computing costs and, when necessary, operate inside corporate networks using proprietary data that general-purpose models cannot easily access. The strategy puts real-world deployment at the center of LG's AI push, targeting manufacturers, hospitals, financial institutions and research labs where security, speed and domain expertise can matter as much as raw intelligence. At the LG AI Talk Concert 2026 held Monday at LG Science Park in Seoul, the research arm put what it calls “Expert AI” at the center of that strategy, showcasing industry-specific models and applications spanning manufacturing, finance and scientific research. “The fundamental difference in the Expert AI we pursue is that the actual field and AI technology meet,” Lim Woo-hyung, co-president of LG AI Research, said. LG's argument is that industrial AI confronts problems fundamentally different from those faced by general-purpose chatbots. Factories generate vast amounts of proprietary data on production conditions, equipment and product quality. Hospitals and financial institutions handle highly sensitive information. In such settings, producing a plausible answer is not enough. “To solve problems in the field, we needed AI capable of understanding and making judgments on countless variables and even the 1 percent of exceptional cases,” Lim said. LG says its advantage lies in combining foundation-model technology with data and expertise accumulated at actual industrial sites. Across businesses ranging from electronics and components to chemicals and manufacturing, the group has access to domain-specific data, documents and know-how rarely available in public datasets. Models can be applied to those problems, refined with feedback from the field and deployed again, creating a loop between AI development and industrial operations. Since its establishment in December 2020, LG AI Research said it has tackled more than 100 industrial problems, including battery-life and capacity prediction, product-quality inspection and production and materials planning. The institute has also had 368 papers accepted by major global AI conferences and filed 1,080 patents at home and abroad. Built for the factory, not just the benchmark One of the clearest examples is EXAONE Tabular, a foundation model designed to understand relationships in structured data and make predictions from the kinds of tables widely used in industry. The model can analyze variables such as production conditions and quality measurements and make predictions even when relatively little data are available for a new task. LG says the more important distinction lies in how the model was built. Rather than simply scaling it up to maximize benchmark scores, LG focused on cutting the computing resources needed to run it while preserving enough performance for industrial use. The company said a competing tabular model from Google near the top of the same benchmark can take two to three minutes to return a result because of heavier computing requirements. EXAONE Tabular, by comparison, was designed to run on relatively modest GPU infrastructure and return results within seconds when installed on a company's own servers, although performance varies by task. The model ranked first in classification and multiclass prediction and second overall on TabArena, a global benchmark for tabular models, according to LG. For companies trying to move AI from pilot projects into everyday factory operations, those differences can translate directly into infrastructure costs and response times. The calculation is becoming more important as advanced GPUs remain scarce and costly and companies look to deploy AI at scale. George Cameron, co-founder of independent AI benchmarking firm Artificial Analysis, said the market is already moving beyond a race based solely on intelligence. “You don't just have to have the most intelligent frontier Model in the world to be useful in contributing to the ecosystem,” Cameron said. As AI moves into large-scale commercial use, efficiency is becoming increasingly important alongside intelligence, he said. LG is betting that equation will matter particularly in manufacturing, where companies may also be reluctant to send sensitive production data to outside cloud services. For security-sensitive customers, LG plans to offer on-premise deployment, allowing models to run within a company's own infrastructure. Customers prioritizing easier access can instead use cloud-based application programming interfaces, or APIs. LG said Korean companies have shown stronger interest in on-premise systems, while overseas customers tend to prefer cloud-based access. From LG factories to outside customers LG is now preparing to take its industrial AI beyond its own affiliates. EXAONE Tabular was first applied at LG Innotek, but LG AI Research said it has since drawn interest from unnamed global companies as well as pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and energy businesses. One possible use is analyzing streams of vital-sign data from intensive-care patients to predict what could happen next. Pharmaceutical manufacturers could similarly use production data to anticipate changes in drug-manufacturing processes. LG said even domestic rivals could become customers. “If Samsung wants it, we are of course willing to provide it,” Lee Hwa-young, head of AI business development at LG AI Research, said during a press briefing. Lee said LG wants the technology used more widely across Korean industry, with domain knowledge generated through broader adoption ultimately feeding back into improvements in the underlying AI. At LG Innotek, the company said its AI technology has already sharply reduced the time needed to adapt models to changing manufacturing conditions. A process that previously required more than 300 hours, or about 14 days, of retraining was cut to roughly 50 hours, an 85 percent reduction. LG is also developing EXAONE Omni-Inspect, a visual-inspection foundation model designed to cope with changes in products and manufacturing environments without requiring a new model to be trained from scratch each time. The company plans to apply the technology to an actual inspection process this year and eventually develop AI agents capable of adapting more autonomously to changing factory conditions. An AI scientist that cuts months to a day LG is applying the same domain-focused approach to scientific research. EXAONE Discovery, its AI-for-science platform, screened more than 420,000 candidate substances and identified Rhamsydil, a potential hair-care ingredient, in a single day through a project with LG Household & Health Care. LG said the conventional process of developing a new cosmetics material can take around 22 months. The company is also working with D&D Pharmatech on next-generation oral peptide drugs, while research with Vanderbilt University Medical Center is using AI to analyze pathology images, genetic information and drug-response data for cancer research. LG ultimately wants to build autonomous laboratories where AI predicts and designs new materials, robotic systems conduct experiments and the resulting data are fed back into AI to decide what experiment should come next. The same cycle — prediction, action, data collection and improvement — underpins LG's longer-term physical AI strategy. AI that reads the market In finance, LG is using EXAONE Business Intelligence to analyze both structured information such as market data and unstructured information including text. The platform analyzes roughly 8,000 listed companies in South Korea and the United States each day and generates scores predicting their share-price direction over the following four weeks, along with commentary explaining the reasoning behind the forecasts. LG launched a U.S. equity forecasting service with London Stock Exchange Group earlier this year and later expanded the technology to the Korean market with Koscom. Arman Sahovic, APAC head of Data Platform Solutions at LSEG, said one distinction is the ability to combine types of financial data investors have traditionally analyzed separately. “So this is the first time that our customers can mix both and get actionable insight,” Sahovic said. Finance, however, also raises the bar for accountability as AI becomes more deeply embedded in investment decisions. “Now as the financial world does it more and more the difference is that it has to be auditable It has to be traceable There can be no hallucinations,” Sahovic said. “If there is an insight about a particular investment you have to be able to trace back where the data is coming from.” 'Sufficiently intelligent' AI LG is not abandoning the race to build increasingly powerful general-purpose models. Its K-EXAONE series is aimed at developing frontier-level intelligence and reasoning capabilities, and executives acknowledged Monday that gaps remain between LG's current models and leading global Big Tech systems on some performance measures. But Honglak Lee, co-president and chief AI scientist at LG AI Research, said building the world's smartest model first is not LG's sole objective. The more practical question, he said, is whether AI can be sufficiently intelligent, affordable to operate and customizable for the work its users actually need done. That distinction goes to the heart of LG's strategy. The world's largest AI companies can spend billions of dollars training frontier models. LG's potential advantage lies somewhere else: decades of industrial data, manufacturing processes and specialized knowledge that cannot simply be scraped from the internet. The approach also carries a strategic dimension for South Korea, which has world-class manufacturing and semiconductor capabilities but remains dependent on foreign AI technology in many areas. Lee said the continued availability of overseas open models, including those from China, cannot be taken for granted as AI capabilities advance and cybersecurity concerns grow. Maintaining domestic AI capabilities therefore matters not only for companies but also for areas tied to national strategic interests, he said. LG's longer-term ambition is to carry that industrial intelligence into the physical world. The company is developing robot foundation models capable of understanding physical environments, making decisions and taking action, with the eventual goal of moving beyond the automation of individual machines toward factories that operate as integrated intelligent systems. In such a factory, a human could set production and quality targets while AI coordinates robots, inspection equipment and optimization systems across the plant. LG is betting that years of manufacturing data and industrial know-how can give EXAONE something even the world's largest general-purpose models cannot easily replicate: experience from the factory floor. For LG, the next stage of the AI race may therefore be less about who builds the biggest brain than whose AI can actually get the job done. AJP Takeaways - LG is betting that industrial data and domain expertise can give its EXAONE AI an edge over larger general-purpose models. - Its Expert AI strategy focuses on real-world deployment, with industry-specific models designed for computing efficiency, customization and secure on-premise use. - LG is expanding EXAONE beyond its own affiliates into manufacturing, healthcare, finance and scientific research, while remaining open to outside customers — including Samsung. 2026-09-14 17:00:20
How to Profit from Inflation? Who Benefits from Inflation?=Shin Hwan-jong, Forest Books. Shin Hwan-jong, a financial expert with over 20 years of experience in the bond and credit markets, argues in his book Who Benefits from Inflation? that the focus should not be on "how much will prices rise?" but rather on "who benefits from inflation?" Inflation is often likened to a 'silent thief.' While the numbers in bank accounts remain the same, the purchasing power of that money gradually diminishes. For instance, a cup of Americano at Starbucks in Gangnam cost 4,100 won in 2019, but it has risen to 5,500 won in 2026, an increase of about 34% over seven years. In contrast, the nominal wage growth for Korean workers during the same period was only about 22%. Not everyone becomes poorer when prices rise. In the 1970s, gold and commodities thrived; in the 1980s, bonds and stocks; in the 2000s, cash and bonds; and in the 2020s, big tech stocks have emerged. Those who capitalized on these trends accumulated wealth. The author traces the movement of money during periods of inflation throughout economic history. Shin particularly focuses on the years 2026 to 2030. While AI may enhance productivity and potentially lower prices in the long run, he warns that during this transition, factors such as AI investment, geopolitical conflicts, and digital finance could lead to a 'complex inflation' that raises prices simultaneously. With significant investments in AI infrastructure, such as power generation, coupled with labor shortages due to population decline and increased demand for raw materials, production costs are likely to rise. He predicts that by the late 2020s, a 'moderate inflation' rate of 2-4% could become the new norm. In the latter part of the book, he presents investment strategies based on these forecasts. He asserts that the traditional investment rule of 60% stocks and 40% bonds is no longer valid. However, he does not foresee high inflation persisting indefinitely. As AI boosts production and newly established facilities in the U.S. come online, there could be an oversupply leading to strong disinflation around 2030. "Ultimately, the inflation of the coming era will not simply be a result of excessive money supply, but rather a structural and chronic issue created by an unprecedented supply-demand imbalance where 'the state must build factories, and AI requires physical infrastructure, yet the workforce has left the traditional labor market.'" (p. 454) Marketing Brain in the AI Era=Kim Ji-heon, Galmaenamu "Have a break and then... ask a question." The chocolate brand KitKat has incorporated the advice to "take a moment before asking AI" into its long-standing slogan, "Have a break, Have a KitKat." This campaign has garnered over 3.5 billion impressions. Author Kim Ji-heon, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, explains that the success of this campaign lies not in "effectively utilizing AI," but in "understanding the people who use AI." He emphasizes that the campaign successfully read the changes in human behavior and psychology brought about by technology. Therefore, he argues that the question should not be, "How much can AI replace marketers?" but rather, "What aspects of marketing can humans do better than AI?" Kim asserts that the essential skills for marketers include the ability to define problems and understand people. It remains the responsibility of humans to decide which solutions proposed by AI to adopt and which issues to address. In an era where anyone can produce above-average results using AI, he warns, "It is now more dangerous to blend in than to make mistakes. While AI can help generate above-average results more easily, it also means that everyone ends up with similar answers." He advises that to truly assist customers and create lasting impressions, marketers must continuously ask questions. "The future capabilities of marketers will likely be evaluated not by how quickly they can obtain answers using AI, but by whether they can find more fundamental reasons in collaboration with AI. This is not difficult. A simple prompt can initiate a conversation with AI: 'Do not provide an immediate solution to my question. First, question the assumptions and definitions of the problem in my question. Help me identify what I am taking for granted and reframe the problem from a completely different perspective.'" (p. 30) * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 17:00:00
Families of Missing Persons in Nepal Express Discontent Over Rescue Efforts Following the deployment of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to Nepal, which was affected by severe flooding, some families of missing persons expressed dissatisfaction with the team's efforts. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to resolve misunderstandings.On September 14, Lee Gyu-ho, the head of the KDRT, stated at the Ministry's office in Jongno, Seoul, "We consulted with the Nepalese military regarding the areas the families wanted searched, but we received a response that it was too dangerous due to the mountainous terrain." He added, "We had no choice but to conduct limited searches within the scope supported by the Nepalese military."Lee expressed regret, saying, "We failed to locate or rescue any missing Koreans. It is quite unfortunate." During their mission, the KDRT successfully rescued one Chinese survivor and discovered three bodies, recovering one. However, they were unable to find the whereabouts of nine missing Koreans.Earlier, on September 8, some families of the missing persons held a press conference in Nepal, criticizing the government for an early withdrawal before completing the promised ten-day mission. They pointed out that the team had not conducted any substantial ground searches and had declared the search concluded, citing safety concerns.In response, President Lee Jae-myung was informed of the difficulties faced by the families of the missing Koreans and reportedly instructed officials to listen to their concerns and consider their wishes as much as possible.However, the second KDRT team, which effectively replaced the first team, is also expected to face limitations in their search efforts. The Ministry announced that the second team, led by Yoon Joo-seok, arrived in Kathmandu on September 12 and is scheduled to operate until September 17. The second team is working to continue search and rescue operations within the safety parameters set by the Nepalese government and military.Unlike the first team, which was dispatched for search and rescue purposes, the second team is focused on reconstruction and relief efforts. Their mission duration is shorter, set at seven days compared to the first team's ten days, and their size has been significantly reduced from 44 members to just eight. Additionally, the advanced equipment brought by the first team was returned to South Korea when they departed. 2026-09-14 17:00:00
Vietnamese Woman Who Defrauded 11 Job Seekers in Korea Arrested After Fleeing to Dubai A Vietnamese woman who defrauded 11 job seekers by promising them seasonal work in South Korea has been arrested after fleeing to Dubai. The woman, identified as N, reassured her victims that they could depart for South Korea within three to four months, collecting large sums of money for personal use. When she found herself unable to return the money, she reportedly fled to Dubai and cut off contact with the victims.According to local media reports on September 14, Can Tho police charged N, born in 1988, with fraud and misappropriation of property on September 12. She had been residing in Can Tho.N approached job seekers with false claims that she could handle the necessary paperwork and departure procedures for seasonal work in South Korea. Police investigations revealed that N needed money for personal expenses, prompting her to commit the fraud.In April 2024, N told 11 individuals seeking seasonal work in South Korea that they could proceed with the departure process for a fee of 55 million dong (approximately $2,850) each. She instructed them to pay an initial amount of 20 to 30 million dong (about $1,030 to $1,570) upfront, with the remaining balance to be paid after arriving in South Korea.N promised the victims that they could leave for South Korea in about three to four months, and they believed her, handing over a total of 264 million dong (approximately $13,700).However, N failed to process the promised paperwork and departure procedures. She used the money for personal purposes and subsequently lost the ability to return it. N eventually left Vietnam for Dubai, severing contact with the victims. In response, the victims reported her, prompting authorities to gather evidence and track her whereabouts.During the investigation, it was revealed that N had gained the victims' trust by leveraging her frequent overseas travel experience. She had previously visited countries such as South Korea, Malaysia, China, Dubai, Thailand, and Cambodia, using this background to convince victims that she could manage the overseas employment process.Can Tho police confirmed that N was scheduled to return to Vietnam on March 9 of this year. They coordinated with relevant agencies to detain her at the airport upon her arrival and transferred her to investigative authorities.Can Tho police warned the public to be cautious of individuals or companies that request advance payments under the guise of handling paperwork or guaranteeing departures for overseas employment. They emphasized the importance of verifying the legal qualifications and capabilities of individuals or organizations receiving payments, as well as ensuring that they are authorized to conduct overseas employment activities.Additionally, police advised that if any individual or organization repeatedly requests money without providing specific information or avoids formal contracts, transactions should be halted immediately. To prevent further victimization, they urged individuals to report such cases to local police and requested that victims or related parties provide necessary information and evidence for the investigation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 16:56:10
Interest Rate Hikes and AI Development Slowdown Hit Semiconductor Stocks, KOSPI Falls 3.26% Domestic stock markets plummeted as concerns over interest rate hikes, rising international oil prices, and discussions about slowing artificial intelligence (AI) development converged. Foreign selling focused on semiconductor stocks, causing the KOSPI to drop more than 3% during trading. On September 14, the Korea Exchange reported that the KOSPI closed at 6,684.37, down 225.54 points (3.26%) from the previous trading day. At one point, it fell to 6,654.82, marking a decline of 3.69%. The KOSDAQ also ended down 13.85 points (1.69%) at 806.79. Foreign investors sold a net 3.2996 trillion won in the KOSPI, contributing to the index's decline. Institutional investors also sold a net 1.1715 trillion won. In contrast, individual investors bought a net 2.9722 trillion won, seizing the opportunity for bargain purchases. The semiconductor sector experienced significant losses. Samsung Electronics closed down 4.05% at 249,000 won, while SK Hynix fell 6.35% to 1,697,000 won. Samsung Electronics' preferred shares also dropped by 5.12%. The market was pressured by concerns over U.S. interest rates and oil prices, along with the emergence of discussions about slowing AI development over the weekend. The U.S. core Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August exceeded market expectations, increasing the likelihood of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike scheduled for September 17. Additionally, international oil prices were under pressure, with Brent crude rising above $108 per barrel amid news of a delay in a meeting regarding the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the suspension of operations on Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline. The spread of discussions about slowing AI development has also chilled investment sentiment in the semiconductor sector. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, expressed the need to slow the pace of AI model performance improvements, a sentiment echoed by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Elon Musk. In South Korea, Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, remarked at the Ulsan Forum on September 11 that if large resources are invested in AI without a solid path to profitability, concerns about a bubble may arise. Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities' FICC Research Department, stated, "The key factor in today's sharp decline is the controversy over slowing AI development. The combination of interest rate and oil price pressures, along with discussions about AI speed regulation, led to foreign selling and program-driven sell-offs." He noted that attention should be paid to whether the KOSPI can hold above the 6,600 level, emphasizing that the resumption of the Hormuz meeting and the direction of U.S. 10-year Treasury yields after the FOMC will be crucial variables for a market turnaround. However, analysts caution that it remains to be seen whether this adjustment will lead to a slowdown in the AI investment cycle. The discussions about slowing AI development are more about regulating the pace and ensuring safety rather than halting development altogether. Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, remarked, "The discussions about slowing AI development could act as a volatility factor for domestic and international AI and semiconductor stocks, but the current discourse leans more towards regulating the pace and safety verification of development rather than stopping it." She added, "Interpreting this as a slowdown in the AI investment cycle should be avoided, as the key issue is whether it will connect to downward revisions in capital expenditure guidance from hyperscaler companies and weak memory demand."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 16:56:00
Korea Exchange opens after-market for KOSPI, KOSDAQ stocks from 4 to 8 PM The Korea Exchange (KRX) After-Market is open at the KRX headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Sept. 14, 2026. Starting Monday, the KRX operates the After-Market for KOSPI- and KOSDAQ-listed stocks from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-09-14 16:54:56