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Yanggu County Receives Awards for Life Donation and Reading Culture Yanggu County is being recognized for its efforts in life donation and reading culture. On September 14, the Yanggu County Health Center received a Minister's Award from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for its contributions to promoting organ donation. Additionally, Yanggu County is set to receive the 'Reading Municipality Award' on September 15.According to Yanggu County, the Health Center was honored at the 9th Life Donation Week ceremony held at the L Tower in Seoul. The award was given for its role in promoting organ and tissue donation, including efforts to register donors at local events, provide consultations to residents, and conduct campaigns. The county also amended related ordinances to enhance the recognition of donors and their families.This year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare recognized 34 individuals and five organizations as exemplary contributors to life donation.On September 15, Yanggu County will be awarded the 'Reading Municipality Award' at a ceremony held at Myongji University in Seoul, marking its second consecutive year receiving this honor. The award is organized by the Korea Reading Culture Promotion Association.The county has implemented various reading programs, including a reading communication program for public officials and a reading management university for soldiers of the Army's 21st Division. The Youth Cultural Center in Dongmyeon and Bangsan-myeon has also conducted reading discussions and recording programs. An online self-development course for residents has also been established.These two awards reflect the Health Center's activities in promoting donation participation and honoring donors, as well as the county's initiatives in operating reading programs across different demographics.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 15:52:20 -
Seoul's Housing Market Sees 85-to-1 Demand, While Gangwon and Chungnam Struggle The disparity in the housing subscription market between Seoul and regional areas is widening. Last month, the average competition ratio for general supply in Seoul reached 84.8-to-1, while Gangwon and Chungnam recorded only 0.02-to-1. While Seoul experiences competition rates in the dozens to hundreds, some regions are seeing applications fall significantly short of available units.According to an analysis of data from the Korea Real Estate Agency's subscription home, a total of 19,154 applications were submitted for 226 units in Seoul during the general supply subscription held in August, resulting in an average competition ratio of 84.8-to-1. In Gyeonggi, the ratio was 1.3-to-1, while Daegu stood at 0.4-to-1 and Jeonbuk at 0.3-to-1.The 'Ssyangyong The Platinum Seodaemun,' which held subscriptions from August 24 to 27, saw 1,112 applications for 28 general supply units, yielding an average competition ratio of 39.7-to-1. For the 59㎡A units, which had only 2 available, 481 applications were submitted, pushing the competition ratio to 240.5-to-1.In the case of the 'The Sharp Singil Central City,' 8759 applications were received for 31 units, resulting in a competition ratio of 282.5-to-1. Similarly, 'Summit Clavion' attracted 5,543 applications for 83 units, leading to a competition ratio of 66.8-to-1.However, it is important to note that the total supply in Seoul was limited to 226 units, with the Singil Central City accounting for 45.7% of all applications, indicating that the scale and conditions of individual projects significantly influenced the average competition ratio.In contrast, Gangwon had only 7 applications for 302 units, and Chungnam received just 14 applications for 620 units, resulting in competition ratios of 0.02-to-1 each. Daegu had 136 applications for 340 units, while Jeonbuk had 80 applications for 290 units.This stark difference is attributed to the varying market conditions and pricing pressures in different regions. In Seoul, limited new supply combined with lower prices than surrounding market rates has led to heightened demand for subscriptions. Conversely, in regional areas, a stagnant existing housing market and rising prices have diminished the incentive to apply for new subscriptions.If the sluggish subscription rates lead to unsold inventory and delays in contract payments, it could increase financial burdens for regional construction companies. Concerns about unsold inventory may prompt builders to delay sales schedules or reduce new projects, potentially impacting housing supply in those areas.Seojin Hyung, a professor at Kwangwoon University’s Department of Real Estate Law, stated, “The key factor in subscriptions is the potential for price increases after sales, and consumers perceive that the likelihood of price increases is concentrated in the metropolitan area. If subscription demand continues to concentrate in Seoul while unsold inventory accumulates in regional areas, it could lead to deteriorating business conditions for construction companies, ultimately becoming another burden for the government.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 15:52:00
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Kim Seong-soo Apologizes for Controversy Over Brother-in-Law's Apartment Kim Seong-soo, the nominee for the Supreme Court, officially apologized for allegations that he lived in a brother-in-law's apartment in Gangnam at below-market rates to evade gift taxes, stating, "I am in the process of paying the taxes." During a National Assembly hearing on September 14, Kim responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Chae Hyun-il regarding the gift tax controversy, saying, "I recently learned during the preparation for the hearing that this could be considered a 'deemed gift.' As a legal professional, I believe it is inappropriate not to have known this. I am sorry for not considering it at the time." Earlier, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo pointed out that Kim had been living in a 43-pyeong apartment in Dogok-dong, Gangnam, owned by his brother-in-law since June 2021 under a lease agreement of 350 million won. Joo claimed that given the brother-in-law signed a lease for over 1.5 billion won, Kim was living at an unreasonably low price to avoid gift taxes. He also raised concerns that Kim had agreed to pay 800,000 won monthly as rent but had failed to make payments from November 2023 to August 2026. In response, Kim stated, "At that time, I had no intention of receiving a gift, and I held some of the security deposit claims already paid to my brother-in-law. The overdue 800,000 won has been paid recently, and after consulting with my tax advisor, I am in the process of paying the taxable amount." Regarding the arrangement with his brother-in-law, Kim explained, "It was suggested by my mother-in-law that we sell the apartment in Yeoksam-dong and move to a larger space together." The hearing saw clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over sensitive judicial issues. The Democratic Party launched attacks on Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's political neutrality. Lawmaker Chae criticized the Supreme Court for its lukewarm response during the state of emergency and for overturning a ruling related to President Lee Jae-myung's election law case just nine days after it was referred to the full bench. Kim acknowledged that the procedural handling was "somewhat unusual" but refrained from commenting on the appropriateness of the specific case's judgment. Conversely, the People Power Party focused on the need for a swift trial in the Lee Jae-myung case and the resumption of proceedings. Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo criticized Kim, stating, "You are providing answers that align with the powers that be regarding a trial that has dragged on for two years and two months." Fellow party member Yoon Yong-geun emphasized that if there is no legal basis for halting a criminal trial initiated before the president's inauguration, the trial against Lee Jae-myung should resume immediately. Kim responded, "The court has suspended the proceedings after completing legal reviews," providing a general answer. The absence of witnesses and references during the hearing also sparked debate. After the ruling party rejected the inclusion of witnesses such as Kim's brother-in-law, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyung-dong criticized, "A hearing without witnesses has become the new normal." In response, independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin remarked, "A wealthy brother-in-law suggested that his brother-in-law stay at his home when he was assigned to Seoul due to high housing prices. The issue is the cost of housing in Seoul. I would do the same." Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan added, "In fact, families can live this way. It is just everyday life for the public," defending Kim.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 15:52:00
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Merger Rumors Between China's FAW and GAC Could Create Auto Giant Rumors of a merger between China's two major state-owned automotive companies, FAW (First Automobile Works) and GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group), have emerged, with projections suggesting the creation of an automotive giant capable of annual sales exceeding 5 million vehicles.On September 14, GAC announced a temporary suspension of its stock trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, citing the need to disclose important information. According to the 21st Century Business Herald, GAC officials indicated that a significant announcement was expected after the market closed, prompting the urgent trading halt. While specific details of the announcement remain undisclosed, the market is leaning towards the possibility of a merger between the two companies.On September 13, the Chinese economic media outlet Caixin reported that FAW is pursuing a stake acquisition in GAC, hinting at the potential establishment of a joint venture. Caixin noted that the collaboration is being driven by pressure from the Chinese government for restructuring.Market speculation suggests that FAW has already secured a stake in GAC, making it the second-largest shareholder, and rumors are circulating that an FAW affiliate may join GAC's board of directors.FAW and GAC represent the northern and southern regions of China, respectively, with headquarters in Changchun, Jilin Province, and Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. FAW collaborates with global automakers such as Volkswagen, Audi, and Toyota, while GAC partners with Toyota and Honda. A merger could significantly impact their joint ventures with these international companies.The merger rumors arise amid a backdrop of oversupply and fierce competition in the Chinese automotive market, which has led to poor performance for both companies. GAC reported a loss of approximately 8.8 billion yuan (about $1.76 billion) last year and over 4.4 billion yuan in losses in the first half of this year, raising concerns about continued significant losses. FAW also experienced a more than 15% decline in revenue in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.As the transition to electric vehicles accelerates in China, both companies are struggling to compete in the new energy vehicle sector. Analysts suggest that restructuring is becoming essential to enhance the competitiveness of state-owned automotive enterprises in response to intensifying price competition in the market.The 21st Century Business Herald predicts that if the merger is successful, the combined entity could surpass BYD and SAIC, becoming the largest automotive group in China with annual sales exceeding 5 million vehicles.In fact, discussions about a merger between FAW and GAC have been ongoing since 2025. This latest speculation aligns with the Chinese government's strategy to promote mergers and acquisitions among state-owned enterprises.On September 11, the National Development and Reform Commission, which oversees China's macroeconomic planning, held a joint press conference announcing its commitment to actively support the reform of large enterprises and facilitate mergers and acquisitions through market-oriented and legal approaches. The commission emphasized the need for core companies to effectively integrate research and development and production resources to avoid homogenization in product design and technology development.However, the process of linking the shares of a central government-owned enterprise (FAW) with a local government-owned enterprise (GAC) involves various interests, and significant challenges are anticipated before any actual implementation. Last year, the Chinese government attempted to facilitate the merger of Dongfeng Motor and Changan Automobile, but ultimately, both companies maintained their independent status. 2026-09-14 15:48:10
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South Korean Prime Minister Comments on Yoon Hye-in's Resignation 한성숙 국무총리는 14일 용혜인 성평등가족부 장관 후보자의 자진 사퇴에 대해 “청문회 과정을 거치면서 본인의 생각들이 정리되는 부분이 있었을 것”이라며 후보자 스스로 내린 결정이라는 입장을 밝혔다. 한 총리는 이날 국회 교육·사회·문화 분야 대정부질문에서 서범수 국민의힘 의원의 질의에 이같이 답했다. 서 의원은 앞서 낙마한 이진숙·강선우 장관 후보자에 이어 용 후보자도 물러난 점을 거론하며, 후보자들이 각 부처가 지켜야 할 핵심 가치에 부합하지 못한 것 아니냐고 따졌다. 이에 한 총리는 “후보자 본인들에 의한 판단”이라며 “청문회 과정을 거치면서 의혹에 대한 많은 문제 제기를 받았고, 마지막 결정은 본인이 하는 부분”이라고 말했다. 용 후보자 제청에 대해 사과할 의향이 있느냐는 질문에는 사퇴가 본인의 판단이라는 입장을 재확인하면서도, 관련 절차가 마무리되면 제청 과정에서 문제로 지적된 부분을 살펴보겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다. 최근 지지율 하락이 인사 논란에 대한 국민의 평가라는 지적에는 “국민들께서 주시는 민심의 소리는 지지율을 통해 잘 듣고 있다”고 답했다. 한 총리는 “그 부분에 대해 굉장히 엄중하고 무겁게 생각하고 있다”며 “총리직을 맡아 어디까지 제가 더 많이 잘하고 최선을 다해야 하는지 정말 엄중하게 생각하고 있다”고 강조했다. 총리실 직원이 신분을 밝히지 않은 채 한동훈 무소속 의원의 기자회견에서 질문한 일에 대해서는 재차 사과하고 후속 대책을 약속했다. 한 총리는 “지난 대정부질문에서 명확히 사과드렸고 국민들께도, 한동훈 의원께도 송구스럽다고 사과했다”며 “개인이 벌인 일이긴 하지만 필요한 재발 방지책은 마련하겠다”고 말했다. 서 의원은 국민이 납득할 만한 조치가 나올 때까지 총리실 관계자의 국회 출입을 제한하는 방안을 검토해 달라고 조정식 국회의장에게 요청했다. 김승원 법무부 장관 후보자에 대한 지명 철회 요구에는 “청문회 과정을 통해 본인의 소명을 하고 다음 단계로 넘어가는 과정에 있다”며 선을 그었다. 한 총리는 “후보자가 청문회까지 가는 과정에서 의혹에 대한 문제 제기가 있었고, 이에 대해 본인이 답하기도 했다”며 “청문회에서 의원들이 주시는 질문을 통해 답을 드릴 것”이라고 말했다. 경찰청장과 검찰총장의 장기 공석을 둘러싼 우려에는 “형사사법체계 개편에 따라 적합한 인물이 임명될 것”이라며 “인사는 이제 빠르게 진행될 것이라고 생각한다”고 밝혔다. 김장겸 국민의힘 의원이 “국정 동력을 회복하기 위한 획기적 방안이 없냐”는 질문에 한 총리는 “말씀 나오고 있는 것들이 있다. 대통령께서 말씀하실 부분들이 있어 보인다”며 “저는 총리로서 추석 물가와 관련해 최선을 다하고 국민이 불편함이 없으시도록 하는 일들을 챙기고 있다“고 말했다. 김 의원이 ‘민생지원금 살포 계획이 있나’라고 물은 데 대해 한 총리는 "민생 지원금이 작년 소비를 진작시키는 데 의미가 있었고, 이 부분에 대해서는 많은 해외 언론과 조사 기관에서도 말씀드려 주신 바 있다”고 말했다. ‘인사 라인이 김현지 (대통령실) 부속실장으로 지목되고 있다’는 김 의원의 지적에 한 총리는 “전혀 사실이 아니다”라고 답했다. 최민희 더불어민주당 의원이 지지율 하락에 대해 헌급한 것과 관련해 한 총리는 “올라갈 때도 있고 내려갈 때도 있는데, 내려갈 때 어떤 메시지를 주시는지 잘 알아듣고, 저희가 가졌던 초심으로 다시 돌아갈 단계라고 생각한다”고 말했다. 2026-09-14 15:48:10
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National University Hospitals Fail to Meet Disability Employment Quotas, Paying 23 Billion Won in Penalties National university hospitals, which are expected to lead public healthcare, are falling into a chronic moral hazard by financially compensating for their social responsibility of employing people with disabilities. Over the past four years, most of the 14 national university (dental) hospitals have failed to meet the legally mandated disability employment quotas, resulting in a staggering total of 23 billion won in penalties. According to data submitted to Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, the failure to meet disability employment quotas has been a recurring issue at the 14 national university (dental) hospitals under the Ministry of Education (now under the Ministry of Health and Welfare as of August this year) from 2022 to 2025. The mandatory disability employment rate for public institutions, as stipulated in the Act on the Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disabilities and Vocational Rehabilitation, is set at 3.6% for 2022-2023 and 3.8% for 2024-2026. However, these hospitals have collectively paid a total of 23.053 billion won in penalties over the four years due to their failure to meet these employment rates. A year-by-year analysis of the disability employment compliance at national university hospitals reveals a serious situation. In 2022, only one hospital, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, met the 3.6% employment rate, while the other 13 hospitals fell short, incurring a total penalty of 6.7 billion won. Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital recorded the lowest rate at 2.17%, while Seoul National University Hospital achieved only 2.58%. The situation worsened in 2023, with all 14 hospitals failing to meet the mandatory employment rate, marking an unprecedented total failure. Seoul National University Dental Hospital recorded the lowest rate at 1.72%, followed by Kyungpook National University Hospital (2.19%), Chonnam National University Hospital (2.20%), and Chungbuk National University Hospital (2.28%), resulting in a total penalty of 6.2 billion won. Despite the increase in the mandatory employment rate to 3.8% in 2024, the employment performance of national university hospitals did not significantly improve. In both 2024 and 2025, 11 hospitals recorded employment rates that were either marginally above or significantly below the required threshold. In 2024, Kyungpook National University Hospital had the lowest rate at 2.22%, with Chonnam National University Hospital (2.62%), Jeonbuk National University Hospital (2.63%), and Seoul National University Hospital (2.98%) also falling short, leading to a total penalty of 5.2 billion won. In 2025, Jeonbuk National University Hospital (2.36%), Kyungpook National University Hospital (2.41%), and Seoul National University Hospital (2.85%) were among the 11 hospitals that failed to meet the quota, incurring a penalty of 4.9 billion won. Notably, Seoul National University Hospital, which prides itself on being one of the top medical institutions in the country, paid a total of 9.365 billion won in penalties over four years, with amounts of 2.803 billion won in 2022, 2.364 billion won in 2023, 2.054 billion won in 2024, and 2.144 billion won in 2025, epitomizing the practice of compensating with money instead of fulfilling its obligations. Under current law, institutions that fail to meet the disability employment rate must pay penalties proportional to the number of unfilled positions. However, national university hospitals have been criticized for using the unique structure of their workforce (which consists largely of medical professionals) as an excuse to avoid proactive job development and hiring efforts, instead opting to pay these fines as a matter of course. Rep. Seo Mi-hwa stated, "As institutions responsible for public healthcare, national university hospitals should set an example in employing people with disabilities. They must move away from the practice of paying penalties amounting to billions of won each year in lieu of meeting employment quotas." She urged these hospitals to actively promote hiring and improve working conditions to ensure stable employment for individuals with disabilities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 15:48:00
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Korea Credit Guarantee Fund Still Owes 200 Billion Won for COVID-19 Guarantees The Korea Credit Guarantee Fund has yet to repay 200 billion won borrowed from the general guarantee account to cover losses from COVID-19 small business guarantees. The net assets of the guarantee account have improved to 2.947 trillion won, but the timing of repayment is still under discussion with relevant agencies.According to the National Assembly and financial sector on September 14, the small business guarantee program was introduced to quickly provide funds to small businesses that experienced a sharp decline in sales due to the pandemic. To expedite financial support, the program simplified the review process and applied a high guarantee ratio. However, as principal repayments began, the burden of defaults and subrogation quickly escalated.As of 2024, the default rate for small business guarantees stands at 16.7%, more than four times that of general guarantees at 3.6%. The subrogation rate is also at 19.7%, significantly higher than the 3.2% for general guarantees. The National Assembly pointed out that this large-scale default and subrogation have led to the erosion of net assets in the guarantee account and a shortage of cash resources.To address the immediate crisis, the Credit Guarantee Fund utilized resources from other accounts. It borrowed 200 billion won from the general guarantee account to cover the shortfall in subrogation resources for the small business guarantee account. The general guarantee account is used for credit guarantees for general small and medium-sized enterprises.As a result, the net assets of the small business guarantee account have improved to 2.947 trillion won, indicating it is no longer in a state of erosion. However, the 200 billion won borrowed from the general guarantee account has not yet been repaid, and the Credit Guarantee Fund is negotiating the repayment timeline with relevant agencies.The National Assembly has expressed concern that if the general guarantee resources are used for an extended period to cover losses in the small business guarantee account, it could reduce the capacity to provide guarantees to general small and medium-sized enterprises. The Credit Guarantee Fund also utilized an estimated balance of about 200 billion won from the low-interest refinancing guarantee account for small businesses in 2025 as resources for the small business guarantee account.While the small business guarantee account has recovered from asset erosion, the burden of recovering subrogation claims remains. The scale of subrogation that has already occurred is significant, and it takes time to recover claims and secure resources again. As of August this year, the recovery rate for claims under the general credit guarantee was only 2.9%. The average time taken to recover claims after subrogation is 8 years and 5 months, with 11,890 claims, amounting to 1.345 trillion won, remaining unrecovered for over 10 years.In this context, the government and financial sector are significantly increasing new policy financing for small businesses this year. The Industrial Bank of Korea and the Credit Guarantee Fund plan to provide 35.3 trillion won to small businesses and others this year. Funding for small businesses, including bank guarantee agreements, is also being pursued on a large scale.A political source stated, “It is necessary to establish principles on how to address the losses incurred from past COVID-19 guarantees and to clarify plans for normalizing accounts and sharing resources to prevent the resource shortages of specific guarantee accounts from burdening others.” 2026-09-14 15:44:00
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AI time-out calls grow just as Korea readies AI jolt SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - After years of acceleration and frenzied infatuation with generative artificial intelligence, U.S. creators and users are suddenly shouting time-out, with debate spreading among incumbent and former presidents, Silicon Valley and beyond over warnings of a Frankenstein moment and even doomsday for humanity. The sober reckoning, raised most dramatically by former OpenAI and Anthropic researchers, has arrived just as the latest generation of models pushes closer to artificial general intelligence, or AGI. Even the people running the race are beginning to question its speed. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei, after years of competing fiercely with OpenAI and other frontier laboratories, called for greater restraint. "Over the last few months, I have become convinced that fully addressing the risks requires even more prudence—not just investing in risk prevention, but pacing the rate of capabilities advancement so that risk prevention has time to keep up," Amodei wrote Saturday. OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman quickly backed stronger independent evaluation. Elon Musk of xAI responded, "Dario is right," while Google DeepMind Chief Executive Demis Hassabis also lent his support. Their convergence is striking because all four are competing to build increasingly powerful AI. U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has put beating China at the center of its AI strategy, was clearly unhappy with the interruption. Trump said the United States was leading China and that "whoever wins AI wins." "We can put guardrails, we can do this and that, but I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that ... shouldn't be bringing it up, and they're bringing up things that won't happen," Trump told reporters Sunday during a weekend trip to Ireland. Former President Barack Obama took almost the opposite position at a closed-door Democratic fundraiser in New York on Sept. 10. The technology is "moving very fast in private hands," he said, and could become dangerous if it is not brought under control. For South Korea, however, the argument is no philosophical exercise. Seoul is only now preparing its biggest push into AI after starting late against the United States and China. Slowing down could widen that gap. Racing ahead without stronger safeguards could leave Korea repeating mistakes that the companies at the technological frontier are only beginning to confront. South Korea's 2027 budget bill raises spending on AI and three related flagship industrial projects by 97.2 percent to 21.3 trillion won ($15.8 billion). The National AI Computing Center planned for Solasido is targeting 15,000 GPUs by 2028, while Nvidia agreed late last year to supply 260,000 GPUs to Korean buyers. Korea, in other words, is preparing to sprint at precisely the moment some of the world's fastest runners are asking whether the race itself has become dangerous. Trump's reaction nevertheless exposes the other half of Seoul's dilemma. Countries already running behind can hardly afford a breather, much less a moral reconsideration, if their competitors keep moving. China has continued rolling out increasingly capable models, while Washington increasingly treats AI leadership as a matter of economic and national security. "The government should hold its own center of gravity and not be rattled by a single remark from Trump," said Moon Hyoung-nam, professor of interdisciplinary studies at Sookmyung Women's University. "The United States has spent 2026 institutionalizing this, down to fast-tracking AI for national security and locking in AI talent," Moon said. "Korea needs to execute infrastructure, talent and industrial application at the same time, rather than issue declarations." AI debate in Korea has largely centered on catching up — computing capacity, sovereign models, data centers, talent and industrial adoption — rather than on what happens when increasingly autonomous systems become difficult to control. It has institutionalized risk management now being debated in Silicon Valley. The AI Basic Act, in force since Jan. 22, requires lifecycle risk management for systems meeting three conditions simultaneously, including cumulative training compute above 10^26 floating-point operations. No known domestic developer currently reaches that threshold. Korea has introduced rules for frontier-scale AI before producing much frontier-scale AI of its own, while massive public and private investment is rapidly expanding the computing infrastructure that could eventually bring Korean systems within reach of those rules. But the casualty has become visible in Korea's youth job market. Youth employment fell by 285,000 between June 2022 and June 2026, and industries with high exposure to AI accounted for 268,000, or 94 percent, of the decline, according to a Bank of Korea study released this month. Employment among young people fell 31.4 percent in information services, 27.4 percent in publishing, 16.6 percent in computer programming and 11.6 percent in professional services. The question is therefore not whether Korea should abandon its AI push. It is whether safety, cybersecurity and evaluation can be built into the expansion before Korea reaches the scale at which failures become harder and more expensive to contain and whether the country can absorb the labor-market disruption already emerging as AI begins to erode the entry-level jobs. Some Korean experts acknowledge the trade-off to some extent. "If you build AI at that kind of pace, the security gives way later," said Kong Duk-jo, professor of AI policy and strategy at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. "It is like stretching chewed gum. Holes open up in the middle." The answer is not to cut investment, Kong said, but to change strategy. "Securing a general-purpose model is close to intractable, because it has to stay open to everyone," Kong said. "Korea could build enough AI usage cases through actual security attack and defense training, and we just might be able to stand on equal terms with the United States." Korea cannot realistically stop running while Washington and Beijing are still way ahead in the game. It also has little reason to reproduce an American development model whose own architects increasingly say has allowed capabilities to run ahead of safeguards. For Korea, the immediate danger is not necessarily Skynet. It is arriving late to the AI race and then running so hard to catch up that it ignores the warning signs being raised by those already ahead. Trump, asked whether the industry should slow down or face greater regulation, allowed that some rules might eventually be needed but named none. He answered after watching a golfer tee off. AJP Takeaways - South Korea is sharply accelerating its AI investment just as leading U.S. researchers and executives are warning that capability development may be outrunning safety and control. - The 2027 budget allocates 21.3 trillion won ($15.8 billion) to AI and three related flagship projects, while Korea is rapidly expanding computing capacity through the National AI Computing Center and large-scale GPU purchases. - Korea already has frontier-AI risk rules, but no known domestic developer currently meets the legal threshold, giving Seoul a window to strengthen security and evaluation before domestic systems reach much greater scale. - The Korean dilemma is not simply whether to slow down. Falling further behind the United States and China carries strategic costs, but racing ahead without stronger safeguards could import the same problems Silicon Valley is now confronting. 2026-09-14 15:42:18 -
Italy-Korea Sports Day Celebrated at Italian Embassy in Seoul The Italian Embassy in South Korea successfully hosted the "3rd World Italy Sports Day" on September 13 at its residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul. This event, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to promote the internationalization of Italian sports and related industries, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding between Italy and South Korea through sports.During the opening ceremony, Yook Dong-han, the mayor of Chuncheon, delivered a speech. Chuncheon will host the 2026 Chuncheon World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships from September 16 to 20, where the Italian national Taekwondo team, affiliated with the Italian Taekwondo Federation (FITA), will participate as special guests of the embassy's event.The participation of Italian national athletes in Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, showcases how sports can transcend language and cultural barriers, connecting individuals, communities, and nations.Following the opening ceremony, a panel discussion featuring athletes and sports officials from Italy and South Korea took place, along with Taekwondo demonstrations by the Italian national team and the Chuncheon Taekwondo demonstration team. Additionally, attendees enjoyed various activities, including a mini soccer match organized by Seoul Calcio FC, a football team composed mainly of Italians residing in South Korea.Emilia Gatto, the Italian Ambassador to South Korea, stated, "We aim to celebrate the deep friendship between Italy and Korea through sports. I am very proud to welcome the leaders and athletes of the Italian Taekwondo national team, who are here to participate in the Chuncheon World Championships." She added, "Sports diplomacy plays a crucial role in showcasing the exceptional capabilities of Italian sports. This event reminds us of the fundamental values of effort, perseverance, and respect inherent in sports. I hope these values will further enrich the relationship between Italy and Korea."Italy is renowned for its competitive edge in various sports, including soccer, fencing, cycling, skiing, and tennis, and the sports industry is a significant pillar of its economy. The added value of the sports-related industry amounts to €32 billion (approximately $49.8 trillion), accounting for about 1.5% of Italy's GDP and creating around 421,000 jobs. The export value of sports goods also reaches approximately €4.7 billion (about $7.3 trillion).Moreover, Italy is strengthening its position as a host for major international sporting events. In February of this year, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics were held, and on September 3, the Taranto Mediterranean Games took place successfully. Next year, Naples will host the 38th America's Cup international yacht race.This year marks the 142nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Italy. Following the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to South Korea in January and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's visit to Italy in June, the relationship between the two countries has been elevated to a "special strategic partnership." In this context, the Italian Embassy in South Korea is hosting various friendly events to enhance exchanges between the two nations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 15:40:00
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Inje Autumn Flower Festival to Open on September 24 The 2026 Inje Autumn Flower Festival will take place from September 24 to October 11 in the Yongdae Tourist Area of Inje County, Gangwon Province. This year, a garden commemorating the 100th anniversary of poet Park In-hwan will be established, enhancing the flower viewing experience with forest activities and visits to nearby attractions.According to Inje County on September 14, the festival grounds will feature four distinct areas utilizing flower fields, waterfront walking paths, and pine forests. The 'Happiness' area will showcase approximately 20,000 chrysanthemums and Korean asters, along with landscape sculptures inspired by Park In-hwan's works and literary world.The largest flower field, named 'Love,' spans about 31,000 square meters and will include various autumn flowers such as marigolds, cockscombs, and sunflowers, as well as photo zones and a chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition.Visitors can also enjoy the festival outside the flower fields. The 'Communication' waterfront walking path will feature a slow mail box, while the 'Healing' pine forest area will offer tree climbing and forest experiences for young children. The festival is designed to sequentially present flowers, literature, waterfront, and forest experiences.Additionally, routes connecting to other tourist sites in Inje will be established. During the festival, city tours will operate on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, linking the autumn flower festival site with the Yeocheo Calligraphy Museum and Baekdamsa Temple. There will be no tours on September 25, the day of Chuseok, and reservations can be made through Inje County's tourism platform, 'Now, Here, Inje!'The festival will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is free, although some activities may require a fee. Busking performances and local agricultural product sales will also be featured.Inje County reported that last year's festival attracted over 300,000 visitors. This year, the city tour aims to encourage festival attendees to explore nearby tourist attractions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-14 15:40:00