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  • Interest Rate Hike Signals Shift in Investment Strategies
    Interest Rate Hike Signals Shift in Investment Strategies 한국은행이 금리를 인상함에 따라 하반기 투자전략에도 변화가 예상된다. 금리 상승으로 기업들의 자금조달 비용과 밸류에이션 부담이 커질 것으로 예상되는 가운데 건설·바이오 등 금리 민감 업종은 부담이 커지는 반면 은행과 보험 등 금융주는 대표적인 수혜주로 꼽히고 있다. 19일 금융투자업계에 따르면 지난 16일 한은은 기준금리를 연 2.50%에서 2.75%로 0.25%포인트 인상하고 추가 긴축 기조를 이어가겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다. 시장에서는 이번 긴축 사이클의 최종 기준금리가 연 3.25~3.50% 수준에 이를 것으로 전망하고 있다. 금리 인상기에는 차입 의존도가 높거나 미래 성장성을 바탕으로 기업가치가 평가되는 업종일수록 부담이 커진다. 건설 업종은 프로젝트파이낸싱(PF)과 회사채 조달 비용이 늘어나고 주택 거래 둔화 가능성도 커질 수 있다. 바이오 업종 역시 연구개발(R&D) 투자 비중이 높고 미래 실적을 반영해 기업가치가 형성되는 만큼 할인율 상승에 따른 밸류에이션 조정 압력이 불가피하다는 분석이다. 유통 등 내수 업종도 소비심리 위축과 금융비용 증가가 실적 부담으로 작용할 수 있다. 다만 증권가에서는 이번 기준금리 인상은 이미 시장에 상당 부분 반영된 만큼 증시에 미치는 직접적인 영향은 제한적일 것이라는 분석도 나온다. 강진혁 신한투자증권 연구원은 "한국은행이 기준금리를 25bp(1bp=0.01%포인트) 인상한 것은 이미 프라이싱(가격이 반영)된 재료인 만큼 주식시장에 미치는 영향은 제한적"이라고 말했다. 반면 금융주는 긴축 국면의 대표적인 수혜 업종으로 거론된다. 통상 은행주는 금리가 오르면 시중은행 순이자마진(NIM)이 개선될 수 있어 수혜 업종으로 분류된다. 보험사 또한 고객에게 받은 보험료를 채권 등 안전자산으로 운용하기 때문에 금리 인상기의 대표적 수혜주로 꼽힌다. 교보증권은 국내 주요 금융지주와 은행들의 2분기 실적도 개선될 것으로 전망했다. 김지영 교보증권 연구원은 “절대적인 대출 규모가 유지되는 가운데 시장금리 상승으로 순이자마진(NIM)이 전 분기보다 소폭 반등하며 이자이익이 견조한 흐름을 이어갈 것”이라고 분석했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 14:36:00
  • Xi Jinping Leads Global AI Governance Efforts at WAIC
    Xi Jinping Leads Global AI Governance Efforts at WAIC China has unveiled two key strategies at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC): achieving self-reliance in AI technology and asserting leadership in international AI governance. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony for the first time since the conference's inception in 2018, marking a direct challenge to the U.S.-led AI order by launching an intergovernmental organization with participation from 29 countries.According to industry sources, the 2026 WAIC and a high-level meeting on AI global governance, themed "Intelligent Partners, Creating the Future Together," commenced on July 17 at the Shanghai Expo Exhibition Center and two other venues.The event will run until July 20, covering an exhibition area of approximately 100,000 square meters, featuring over 1,100 companies showcasing more than 3,000 products, including around 300 world premieres. There will be more than 140 forums, with approximately 1,400 international attendees.A key highlight was Xi's message during his keynote address. He emphasized the importance of ensuring AI is controllable and expressed opposition to the broad application of national security concepts in the AI sector.Xi also called for the swift establishment of a global governance framework based on broad consensus and announced plans to provide AI training opportunities for 5,000 individuals from developing countries over the next five years. He outlined plans to build international AI application cooperation centers targeting ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, and BRICS nations, positioning China against U.S. semiconductor and AI export controls by advocating against "technological blockades" and seeking to rally support from the Global South.Institutional measures were also activated. On July 16, a signing ceremony for the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) took place. WAICO, an independent intergovernmental organization adhering to the purposes of the UN Charter, will be headquartered in Shanghai and has been signed into existence by representatives from 29 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The opening ceremony featured notable attendees such as Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, effectively turning the event into a platform for "AI diplomacy."From an industrial perspective, achievements in technological self-reliance were prominently displayed. Huawei unveiled its Ascend chip-based AI computing supernode system, the "Atlas 950 Superpod," for the first time. Instead of competing on single-chip performance due to U.S. regulations, the company aims to find breakthroughs through large-scale chip clustering. Numerous humanoid robots and AI agent terminals from companies like Unitree were also showcased. The National Development and Reform Commission of China reported that the country's AI-related industry surpassed 1 trillion yuan last year and is expected to grow by over 30% this year.However, market perspectives are mixed. While the U.S. focuses on regulatory easing and speed, China emphasizes establishing standards and norms, leading some to view this conference more as a display of power than a platform for substantive governance agreements. 2026-07-19 14:28:00
  • Chinas AI Startup MoonshotAI Unveils Kimi K3, Challenging U.S. Dominance
    China's AI Startup MoonshotAI Unveils 'Kimi K3', Challenging U.S. Dominance China's AI startup MoonshotAI has unveiled its latest model, 'Kimi K3', shaking up the competitive landscape dominated by U.S. firms. Following last year's DeepSeek, this new model demonstrates performance capabilities that can rival top-tier American models. Concerns are growing over the rapid pace of China's technological advancements, raising questions about whether the significant investments made by U.S. tech giants in AI will yield substantial returns.According to major international news outlets on July 18, Kimi K3 features an unprecedented 2.8 trillion parameters and is classified as a large open-weight model. Open-weight models allow other developers to download and modify the AI for their own use. MoonshotAI describes Kimi K3 as the world's largest open-weight model.Kimi K3 has achieved competitive results in various performance evaluations against leading U.S. models. The independent evaluation agency ValsAI ranked Kimi K3 second overall. Artificial Analysis noted that it demonstrated performance similar to key models from OpenAI and Anthropic. However, it has not surpassed U.S. models in every category.International media have focused not only on Kimi K3 itself but also on the rapid growth of China's AI industry. Reuters reported that companies like MoonshotAI, Z.ai, and MiniMax are releasing affordable yet high-performance models, narrowing the gap with U.S. firms. The Financial Times characterized the emergence of Kimi K3 as evidence of the diminishing technological divide between the U.S. and China in cutting-edge AI.The Wall Street Journal analyzed that these developments are shaking the market's confidence in the technological superiority of U.S. AI companies and their large-scale investments. With the introduction of high-performance AI models from China following DeepSeek, investor skepticism has increased regarding whether the substantial investments by U.S. tech giants will translate into equivalent profits.These concerns have added pressure to semiconductor stocks, which were already experiencing a downturn. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell 1.6% on July 17, marking three consecutive days of decline. Compared to its peak on June 22, the index has dropped 20%, entering a bear market. The weekly decline of approximately 10% is the largest since April 2025.However, Kimi K3 did not trigger the semiconductor stock drop from the outset. The sector was already declining due to high stock prices and concerns about the sustainability of AI investment growth. Analysts suggest that the arrival of Kimi K3 has further dampened investor sentiment. The 20% drop in the SOX index compared to its peak reflects a cumulative adjustment that began before the Kimi K3 announcement.It is also difficult to conclude that the introduction of Kimi K3 will reduce demand for AI semiconductors. Kimi K3's large scale requires significant computing resources for operation. Experts cited by Reuters indicate that running this model with 2.8 trillion parameters could require equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. As competition in high-performance AI model development intensifies in China, the demand for computational resources may also increase.Market observers are focusing on the implications of Kimi K3's impact, noting that the rapid advancement of China's capabilities could undermine the expected technological edge of U.S. companies. As China's pursuit accelerates, the scrutiny over whether the massive AI investments by U.S. tech giants will lead to actual revenue and profits is likely to intensify. 2026-07-19 14:20:00
  • Chinese AI Company Launches Major Model as Google Delays Release
    Chinese AI Company Launches Major Model as Google Delays Release On the day Google postponed the launch of its next-generation AI model, Gemini 3.5 Pro, Chinese company Moonshot AI unveiled its largest open-weight model, Kimi K3, and achieved the top spot in a global coding evaluation. This shift suggests a changing landscape in the global AI competition, traditionally dominated by U.S. closed models.According to the IT industry on July 19, Moonshot AI released Kimi K3 on July 17 (local time), featuring 2.8 trillion parameters, making it the largest open-weight model ever disclosed. Open-weight models allow users to download, modify, and utilize the model's weights (parameters).Kimi K3 supports a context window of 1 million tokens and multimodal text and image processing, with the total weight set to be revealed on July 27.The model's performance is competitive with top U.S. models. Within hours of its release, Kimi K3 ranked first in the frontend code category on the evaluation platform Arena, achieving a 76% win rate against Anthropic's latest model, Claude Fable 5. While it did not surpass Fable 5 or OpenAI's GPT-5.6 in overall rankings, it outperformed Claude Opus 4.8 and GPT-5.5 in coding and agent evaluations. Bank of America noted that despite limited access to advanced chips, Moonshot AI made significant progress through improvements in its training and design methods.In contrast, Google failed to deliver its highly anticipated model. The release of Gemini 3.5 Pro, initially expected on July 17, was delayed again due to its coding and complex reasoning performance falling short of competing models. Following this news, Alphabet's stock dropped by about 4%. Google had previously scrapped its existing base model in June and restarted pre-training, but reports indicate that the second version also did not meet the standards of Fable 5 and GPT-5.6. As of now, Google has not disclosed any official model cards, pricing, or benchmarks.The market reaction echoed the 'Deep Seek Shock' from early last year. Following the launch of Kimi K3, shares of Chinese AI competitor Z.ai plummeted by as much as 30% during trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, marking its largest drop since its listing in January. Minimax fell by 16%, and Alibaba's shares dropped by 4%. Despite TSMC announcing a 77% increase in operating profit for the second quarter compared to the previous year, its stock fell by 7% on July 17, while SoftBank, often seen as a proxy for OpenAI, also saw a 9% decline.Moonshot AI's new model comes ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), China's largest AI event. On July 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address at WAIC in Shanghai, stating, "The development of AI should not be a solo act by one country but a symphony of international cooperation." He announced the launch of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), based in Shanghai, with 29 founding member countries, including Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan. Xi also pledged to provide AI training opportunities for 5,000 individuals in developing countries over the next five years and to open China's AI meteorological systems to 30 countries. 2026-07-19 14:20:00
  • Coupang Provides Relief Supplies and Meals to Residents and Firefighters After Incheon Warehouse Fire
    Coupang Provides Relief Supplies and Meals to Residents and Firefighters After Incheon Warehouse Fire Coupang has initiated emergency support for local residents displaced by a fire at its Incheon warehouse and for firefighters engaged in overnight operations. The company is providing mattresses and essential supplies to evacuation centers and regularly supplying masks and snacks to firefighters on-site. On July 19, Coupang announced that it is supporting the temporary evacuation center set up at Shinhyeon Elementary School following the fire at its warehouse in Seongnam-dong, Incheon. Since the previous evening, the company has delivered 100 mattresses, over 100 sets of underwear, hundreds of bottles of water, toilet paper, tissues, and 500 cups of instant noodles to the evacuation center. On July 19, meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are also planned for the residents. Coupang has prepared additional relief supplies nearby, moving 200 sets of emergency supplies from its Sejong fulfillment center to a storage facility close to the evacuation center. The relief supplies include comforters, pillows, towels, socks, wet wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and foldable three-layer mattresses. The focus is on ensuring hygiene, warmth, and comfort for residents temporarily staying at the evacuation center. The company plans to provide additional supplies as requested by residents and local authorities. The fire broke out at 6:54 a.m. on July 18 on the sixth floor of the Coupang 32 warehouse in Seongnam-dong, Incheon, spreading to the seventh floor along the building's exterior. A total of 121 personnel from the warehouse evacuated on their own, and one firefighter was transported to the hospital after inhaling smoke during the firefighting efforts. The fire department has declared a Level 2 response and issued a national firefighting mobilization order, deploying personnel and specialized equipment from across the country to combat the blaze. Coupang is coordinating with local authorities, including the Incheon Seongnam District Office, to continue providing necessary support to residents and firefighters. Jung Jong-cheol, CEO of Coupang Fulfillment Services, stated in a press release the previous day, "We will prioritize the safety of firefighters and actively support firefighting operations while cooperating with the investigation by relevant authorities. We will also actively assist local residents affected by the fire."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 14:16:00
  • Controversy Erupts Over Deposit Fees for Youth Candidates in Democratic Party
    Controversy Erupts Over Deposit Fees for Youth Candidates in Democratic Party Jeong Min-cheol, a youth politician and vice chair of the Democratic Party's policy committee, has expressed concerns over the burden of political deposit fees amid a controversy surrounding potential violations of political funding laws. This comes as he announced his candidacy for the party's supreme council.On July 19, Kim Min-seok, a former Prime Minister and candidate for party leadership, criticized the increased deposit fees for youth and disabled candidates, stating on Facebook, "I cannot understand this at all. Youth and disabled candidates must pay 30 million won more for party leadership and 17.5 million won more for supreme council positions than during Lee Jae-myung's leadership."He added, "Without any explanation, what is this? If there are concerns about chaos, we should consider other qualifications. This is simply unacceptable. The party must take practical measures. We are the world's leading mass party aiming for public ownership."Another candidate for party leadership, Song Young-gil, also voiced his concerns, stating, "The Democratic Party is going backward. How can a party that raises deposit fees for youth claim to be a youth party? What we need now is not higher deposit fees but broader opportunities. True innovation means competing based on skills and vision, allowing anyone to challenge themselves."Lee Geon-tae, a member of the National Assembly, questioned whether the party's leadership and supreme council elections are only accessible to those with money. He pointed out that while sitting lawmakers can receive donations, political newcomers must fund their own deposits, as they cannot establish support groups before registering as candidates. He noted, "Although there is a 50% reduction for those under 39, even to enter the preliminary election, one must pay 10 million won. In 2024, during Lee Jae-myung's leadership, the deposit fees were 40 million won for party leader and 15 million won for supreme council members, but now they have increased to 100 million won and 50 million won, respectively, marking a 150% and 233% increase in just two years."He urged the party to revert the deposit fees to the levels during Lee Jae-myung's leadership and called for an immediate review of the current deposit fee issue, proposing improvements in line with the principles of public election funding.Lee Geon-tae also criticized the party's decision to approve a preferential voting system while ultimately rejecting the separate election of supreme council members, highlighting the role of former supreme council member Lee Seong-yun in that decision. He stated, "It is problematic that he created the rules for a game he is participating in while blocking opportunities for youth. This is a serious case of self-serving politics that obstructs youth political participation and uses the authority of the supreme council for personal gain, especially by significantly raising the deposit fees for youth candidates while paving the way for his own re-election."President Lee Jae-myung also weighed in on the controversy, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "It is sad that one cannot run for election due to financial constraints, as it also increases the temptation for corruption. Current lawmakers, especially from the conservative side, have less burden due to political funding, but for those outside the party, particularly youth, the burden is significant. Given that the party's finances are not in distress, it may be worth considering reverting the deposit fees to previous levels to address the challenges faced by youth and the need for policy consideration."In response, Jeong Min-cheol thanked President Lee for empathizing with the struggles of youth politicians. He emphasized, "No matter the deposit fee, I will not back down. However, I hope that the next generation of youth will start with a lighter burden than I did. I will prove that this party can be one where money does not create barriers and where youth compete not as beneficiaries but as empowered individuals in this convention."Previously, Jeong Min-cheol shed tears during a live broadcast on his YouTube channel, 'Is This True, Jeong Min-cheol?' on July 18, as he addressed the controversy over political funding laws. He had revealed his personal bank account to raise funds for his deposit, but after concerns were raised about potential violations of political funding laws, he stated he would return the funds as he had not conducted proper legal reviews. 2026-07-19 14:16:00
  • Eight Out of Ten Major Corporations Plan to Freeze Investments in Second Half of 2026
    Eight Out of Ten Major Corporations Plan to Freeze Investments in Second Half of 2026 Eight out of ten major corporations are considering freezing their investments in the second half of 2026. Only one company indicated plans to increase investment compared to the first half of the year. While urgent investments are needed to secure future growth drivers such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced industries, a combination of high interest rates, high exchange rates, and concerns over a global economic slowdown continues to hinder corporate investment.According to a survey conducted by the Korea Economic Association (KEA) through the polling agency Monoresearch, which targeted the top 500 companies by revenue, 79.2% of the 106 responding companies stated they would maintain investment levels similar to the first half of the year.In contrast, 15.1% of respondents indicated plans to increase investment, while 5.7% said they would reduce it.The primary reason companies are considering expanding investments is to secure future growth drivers such as AI and advanced industries (33.3%). Other factors include enhancing competitiveness through proactive investments (29.2%) and improvements in market conditions and demand increases (20.8%).Reasons for contemplating investment reductions include: high exchange rates and raw material cost burdens (38.9%), declining profitability and funding challenges (22.2%), and global economic slowdown and weak demand (16.7%).Additionally, one in four major corporations is considering expanding investments in regional areas within the next three years, aligning with recent government policies aimed at promoting regional investment. Meanwhile, 51.9% of respondents indicated they have no plans for regional investments, and 20.7% were uncertain.When deciding on new investments in regional areas, companies identified the need for financial support such as tax reductions and subsidies (36.2%) as the most critical factor. Other considerations included building industrial ecosystems with partners (18.2%), expanding logistics and transportation networks (13.2%), and enhancing industrial infrastructure such as power and water supply (12.9%).This year, companies rated the domestic investment environment at 58.3 out of 100, a slight increase from last year's score of 57.2, though the KEA noted that the improvement was minimal.Companies cited the most significant investment challenges as: rigidity in the labor market and uncertainty in labor relations (44.0%), tax and quasi-tax burdens (20.8%), investment-related permits and location regulations (16.4%), and regulations related to the environment, safety, and ESG (11.6%).Key policy measures the government should prioritize include: easing investment regulations such as permits and location restrictions (24.5%), stabilizing interest rates and improving funding conditions (19.8%), revitalizing domestic demand (19.2%), and expanding tax support for investment and R&D (13.8%).Lee Sang-ho, head of the KEA's Economic Division, stated, "Companies continue to feel regulatory burdens during the investment process, and concerns over recent interest rate hikes are leading to demands for improved funding conditions. Despite challenging circumstances, companies are striving to maintain their investment momentum, so it is essential to create a tangible investment environment through regulatory improvements and stable funding conditions."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 14:16:00
  • Seouls Rental Market Faces Shortage as Prices Rise
    Seoul's Rental Market Faces Shortage as Prices Rise In Seoul's rental market, listings in mid-low price areas are rapidly disappearing, limiting options for tenants. The shortage is particularly pronounced in outer districts like Nowon, Jungnang, and Guro, contrasting with the high-priced rentals in Gangnam.According to real estate platform Asil, as of July 16, the number of rental listings for apartments in Jungnang dropped to 84, a 78.7% decrease from 412 a year ago. Nowon saw a decline from 1,086 listings to 304, a 72.1% drop, while Guro experienced a 71.5% reduction.Geumcheon reported a 71.2% decrease in rental listings, with Dongdaemun down 65.6%, Gwanak down 65.0%, and Dobong down 62.3%. Given that the overall decline in rental listings across Seoul is about 16% over the past year, the drop in mid-low price areas is particularly significant.These areas have historically served as a 'buffer zone' in Seoul's rental market. According to the Seoul Real Estate Information Plaza, the average rental price for apartments in Seoul last month was 660.15 million won. In contrast, the average rental prices were significantly lower in Nowon at 340.60 million won, Guro at 423.23 million won, and Jungnang at 438.71 million won.The average rental price in Nowon is about half of the citywide average, while Guro's average is only 64.1% of the average. The rapid decline in listings in these price ranges is affecting newlyweds, young people, and households without homes who cannot afford the higher rents in Gangnam or the city center.As a result, the rental crisis is being felt first in mid-low price areas rather than high-priced regions. Tenants are finding fewer options to move to lower-priced rentals within Seoul. The disappearance of mid-low rental listings may increase pressure to switch to monthly rentals or move to the outskirts in Gyeonggi or Incheon.One factor contributing to the decline in rental listings is the expansion of land transaction permission zones, which imposes a residency requirement. The government expanded these zones across Seoul as part of its housing market stabilization measures last October. Consequently, buyers in newly designated districts are now required to reside in the property for two years.The difficulty of gap investments, where buyers purchase homes while renting them out, has made it increasingly common for buyers to move in directly, reducing the number of properties available for rent. This trend is particularly pronounced in mid-low price areas where both investment and actual residency demand have been strong.Additionally, the increase in lease renewals among existing tenants is exacerbating the shortage of rental listings. An analysis by Zigbang of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's real transaction disclosure system found that the proportion of new rental contracts in Seoul dropped from 52.6% in January to 45.0% last month. Conversely, the share of lease renewals rose from 47.4% to 55.0%.A real estate industry insider noted, "In a situation where rental prices are rising, tenants are opting to extend their existing contracts rather than search for new rentals. New contracts reflect the increased market rates immediately, while renewals often negotiate based on the previous deposit amount."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 14:12:00
  • President Lee Proposes Returning Election Deposit for Youth Candidates to Previous Levels
    President Lee Proposes Returning Election Deposit for Youth Candidates to Previous Levels President Lee Jae-myung suggested on July 19 that the Democratic Party of Korea consider reverting the election deposit amounts for candidates back to previous levels. He expressed concern that the recent increase in deposits, particularly for youth candidates, has made it difficult for them to participate in elections. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Lee stated, "It is sad that financial constraints prevent people from running for office, as it also increases the temptation for corruption." He highlighted that one of the key reforms initiated by former President Roh Moo-hyun was the introduction of a public election system, noting that during his time as party leader, he had proposed reducing deposit amounts significantly to prevent a proliferation of candidates. He acknowledged that sitting lawmakers might have less financial burden due to their access to political funds, but emphasized that those outside the National Assembly, especially young candidates, face greater challenges. "Given that the party's finances are not in dire straits, and considering the need for policy support for youth, I suggest we think about returning the deposit amounts to previous levels," he said. Additionally, President Lee expressed a desire to support youth candidates by promoting their fundraising accounts, stating, "As someone who has faced financial struggles in my youth and overcome numerous challenges, I want to help promote their support accounts." He also addressed potential criticisms of his involvement in party matters, clarifying, "Some may see this as interference in party affairs, but under current laws and party regulations, the president, as a party member, is allowed to express opinions on party matters, so I hope there are no misunderstandings." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 14:04:00
  • Four Korean Teams Advance to DEF CON CTF 34 Finals, Showcasing K-Cybersecurity
    Four Korean Teams Advance to DEF CON CTF 34 Finals, Showcasing K-Cybersecurity Four teams from South Korea are among the 12 finalists in the DEF CON CTF 34, an international hacking competition. As cyber threats evolve with the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the skills of South Korean white-hat hackers are gaining recognition on the global stage.According to the security industry, the finals will take place from August 7 to 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring the top 12 teams that advanced from the preliminary rounds. Among these, four teams include participants from South Korean companies and institutions: SK Shieldus EQST, Naver Cloud, Samsung Research, Tiori, Toss, ENKI Whitehat, Raon Secure, KR Security, and Korea University.Notably, SK Shieldus EQST formed an international team called 'The Seoul Sauna Shogunate' with Naver Cloud, Ruby Lab, Finland's H-T8, and Japan's TPC to reach the finals. This marks the first time SK Shieldus has advanced past the DEF CON CTF preliminaries.DEF CON CTF, which began in 1993, is regarded as the world's premier international hacking competition, often referred to as the 'Hacking Olympics' or 'White Hat World Cup.' It evaluates not only the ability to find vulnerabilities but also skills in attack and defense, system operation, and vulnerability research.This year's preliminaries were held online over 48 hours in June. Reflecting advancements in generative AI, many challenges were designed to be difficult to solve using AI alone. While AI can assist in identifying vulnerabilities, successfully executing an attack requires complex analysis, experience, and the ability to design attack scenarios, thereby assessing participants' practical skills.In fact, the team that included SK Shieldus solved complex problems involving data recovery, network packet analysis, and web hacking over approximately 30 hours. They had to restore corrupted hexadecimal data to reconstruct network packets, which were then used to tackle subsequent web hacking challenges. This highlighted the importance of not only individual skills but also teamwork and information sharing.The finals will simulate real-world corporate security environments. Competing teams will operate provided servers while simultaneously attacking vulnerabilities in other teams' servers and defending their own. Success in attacks and the stable operation of services will both be evaluated. Additionally, events such as 'Live CTF,' where representatives solve problems in real-time, and 'King of the Hill,' which tests the most efficient attack techniques, will also take place.The security industry views this achievement as a testament to the growth of the domestic white-hat hacker ecosystem and the competitive edge of practical security talent required in the AI era. With teams formed by companies, universities, and international researchers competing against some of the world's top security experts, this event is expected to showcase South Korea's cybersecurity capabilities. 2026-07-19 14:04:00