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  • Samsung remains South Koreas only global top 10 tech brand amid heated AI race
    Samsung remains South Korea's only global top 10 tech brand amid heated AI race SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics remained the only South Korean company among the world's top 10 technology brands, as intensifying competition driven by artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the global technology industry. According to the latest report on major global technology companies released by British consulting firm Brand Finance, Samsung's brand value reached US$97.42 billion (about 145 trillion won), up 9 percent from $89.42 billion a year earlier. But the semiconductor giant's ranking slipped one notch from seventh place last year, as Nvidia, which ranked eighth last year, climbed three spots to fifth on the back of growing demand for AI-related technologies and was named the world's "fastest-growing technology brand." Despite the decline in ranking, Samsung maintained its position as South Korea's top technology brand and the country's only company in the global top 10. Five South Korean companies, including Samsung, made the global top 100, with SK hynix ranking second at No. 28, followed by LG at No. 44, Coupang, which was classified as a South Korean company, at No. 49 and Naver at No. 95. The U.S. continued to dominate the ranking, with 46 companies among the top 100. Apple ranked first with a brand value of $607.64 billion, followed by Microsoft, Google and Amazon. China ranked second with 25 companies, followed by Japan with nine and South Korea with five. However, South Korea ranked third in terms of combined brand value, accounting for 3.7 percent, behind the U.S. at 77.7 percent and China at 12.6 percent. Meanwhile, the total value of the world's top 100 tech brands was estimated at $3.7 trillion, up 15 percent from a year earlier. 2026-07-19 12:33:36
  • Supreme Court to Rule on Kim Geon-hees Case This Week; Verdict in Choi Tae-won and Noh So-youngs Property Dispute Also Expected
    Supreme Court to Rule on Kim Geon-hee's Case This Week; Verdict in Choi Tae-won and Noh So-young's Property Dispute Also Expected The Supreme Court is set to deliver its ruling this week on Kim Geon-hee, who faces charges related to stock manipulation involving Deutsche Motors. A verdict is also anticipated in the property division case between Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, and Noh So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi. According to legal sources on the 19th, the Supreme Court's second division, led by Justice Park Young-jae, will announce its decision on Kim's case concerning violations of the Capital Markets Act on the afternoon of the 24th.Kim is accused of receiving a 62 million won diamond necklace and two Chanel bags worth 20 million won from former Unification Church leader Yoon Young-ho, through Jeon Seong-bae, from April to July 2022, in exchange for soliciting support for the church.Additionally, from October 2010 to December 2012, she allegedly participated in stock manipulation at Deutsche Motors, gaining 810 million won in illicit profits. Between June 2021 and March 2022, she is also accused of colluding with former President Yoon Suk-yeol to receive polling results worth 27 million won from political broker Myung Tae-kyun.In the first trial, the court found her guilty of some charges related to the Unification Church and sentenced her to 1 year and 8 months in prison. However, the appeals court overturned this, ruling all charges as guilty and sentencing her to 4 years in prison along with a fine of 50 million won. The polling charge was deemed not guilty, consistent with the first trial.The Supreme Court was initially scheduled to announce its ruling on the 16th. However, the special prosecutor's team for Kim requested a delay to review the ruling from the Seoul Central District Court, which found Yoon guilty as an accomplice in the polling case. Consequently, the ruling was postponed to the 24th.On the same day, the Seoul High Court's Family Division will also hold a ruling on the property division case between Choi and Noh.Choi and Noh, who married in September 1988 and have three children, have been embroiled in a legal battle for nine years since Choi filed for divorce in 2017.In December 2022, the first trial court ordered Choi to pay Noh 100 million won in alimony and 66.5 billion won in property division.The appeals court, in May 2024, increased the alimony to 2 billion won and the property division amount to 1.38 trillion won, determining that Choi's shares in SK Corporation were subject to division due to contributions from former President Roh Tae-woo's slush fund of 30 billion won and Noh's efforts.The Supreme Court ruled last October that even if Roh's slush fund was deemed illegal and flowed into SK, it could not be considered a contribution from Noh in the property division, sending the case back for reconsideration.The retrial court held its first hearing on January 9 but referred the case for mediation after three months. However, mediation failed due to unresolved key issues, such as whether SK shares were subject to property division.Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 22 will deliver a verdict on Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, on the 22nd regarding allegations of violating political funding laws.Oh is accused of receiving polling results from Myung on ten occasions before the April 7, 2021, Seoul mayoral by-election and having businessman Kim Han-jeong pay 33 million won on his behalf. He was indicted in December of last year.The special prosecutor for Kim Geon-hee sought a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison and a fine of 33 million won, stating that as a prominent politician, he should have adhered to political funding laws but allowed polling costs to be paid by a third party.Oh has denied the allegations, calling the prosecution's case excessive.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:32:00
  • Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho Marks One Year in Office with Focus on Major Crimes
    Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho Marks One Year in Office with Focus on Major Crimes Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho has reported significant achievements in combating serious crimes that threaten public safety during his first year in office, including the recovery of approximately 380 billion won in criminal proceeds and the repatriation of 135 fugitives. On July 19, the Ministry of Justice stated that it has focused its policy efforts on ensuring the daily safety of citizens and revitalizing the national economy. The ministry explained that it concentrated its investigative resources on three major types of serious crimes that threaten public safety: voice phishing, financial and virtual asset crimes, and drug offenses. Specifically, the Eastern District Prosecutor's Office's Voice Phishing Crime Joint Investigation Team has apprehended a total of 471 individuals and arrested 169 from July of last year to May of this year. Compared to the previous three years, the average number of cases filed per month increased by 87%, and the number of arrests rose by 66.7%. The Southern District Prosecutor's Office's Financial and Virtual Asset Crime Joint Investigation Team also filed cases against 304 individuals involved in financial, securities, and virtual asset crimes and arrested 25 from June of last year to May of this year. As a result, they secured the recovery of criminal proceeds amounting to 381.4 billion won. The Joint Investigation Team for Drug Crimes, established in the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office, has filed a total of 264 cases, including eight drug organizations, and arrested 125 key figures as of last month. In the first half of this year, 135 fugitives, including a romance scam couple, the so-called 'drug kingpin of the Philippines' Park Wang-yeol, and leaders of overseas hacking organizations, were forcibly repatriated to South Korea. This figure is a significant increase from 180 repatriations in 2024, with 135 occurring in just the first half of this year. The ministry also highlighted its achievements related to drug offenders. By expanding rehabilitation programs, the recidivism rate for drug offenders has decreased by 15.9 percentage points over the past five years. Additionally, to prevent recidivism through treatment and rehabilitation, the ministry established 13 dedicated rehabilitation units for drug offenders within correctional facilities and secured 61 specialized personnel for drug rehabilitation. During Minister Jeong's tenure, 38 public safety and welfare bills were passed in the National Assembly, marking a 65% increase compared to the same period last year. The Ministry of Justice stated, "This is the highest achievement among all government ministries, establishing the status of a 'working Ministry of Justice.'" The ministry has also made progress in practical legal administration to support economic revitalization, ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations, and innovating legal practices to address past issues while looking toward the future. Minister Jeong Seong-ho stated, "Over the past year, I have focused the center of legal administration on a 'Ministry of Justice that works for the people' and a 'Ministry of Justice that grows for public safety and welfare,' seeking answers in the field. I have laid the groundwork to elevate South Korea's rule of law paradigm, from healing the wounds of state violence to responding to international investment disputes, designing advanced immigration and foreigner policies, and alleviating overcrowding in correctional facilities."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:28:00
  • Kyochon 1991 School Attracts Foreign Tourists to Experience K-Chicken
    Kyochon 1991 School Attracts Foreign Tourists to Experience K-Chicken Located just over 50 minutes by car from Seoul, the Kyochon 1991 School is drawing international visitors eager to experience Korean chicken culture. Once the headquarters of Kyochon F&B, this site has transformed into a space dedicated to K-Chicken, attracting approximately 9,600 tourists from 77 countries within less than a year of its official opening.On July 15, I visited the Osan Education Center to participate in the Kyochon 1991 School program. This educational experience allows participants to make and taste Kyochon Chicken while learning about Korean chicken culture.The program began in the second-floor exhibition hall, showcasing Kyochon’s journey from a small chicken shop in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, established in 1991. It also introduced other brands under the Kyochon Group, including the traditional liquor brand 'Fermentation Workshop 1991,' craft beer brand 'Moon Bear,' and chicken radish manufacturer K&P Food.After touring the exhibition, we moved to the classroom for the main session. Dong Min-soo, the team leader of Kyochon 1991 School, posed the question, "Why did a chicken company create this experience center?" He explained the program's purpose.According to Dong, as of late last year, there were approximately 39,500 chicken specialty stores in South Korea, comparable to the number of McDonald's locations worldwide. He noted that chicken has been recognized as a representative Korean dish by foreigners for three consecutive years. With growing interest in Korean chicken, Kyochon aimed to create a space where people could experience Korean chicken culture firsthand.In April 2023, Kyochon opened the Kyochon 1991 School at the Osan Education Center. After a trial run, the center began attracting foreign tourists in earnest from December of last year, with visitors from the United States, Japan, China, and 74 other countries. In just six months of official operation, the center has drawn nearly 10,000 global tourists to Osan.Following the lecture, we proceeded to the cooking practice. Dong demonstrated the entire process of making Kyochon Chicken. He explained that the chicken, which weighed 1,036 grams before cooking, was soaked in a thin batter made of water, flour, and starch, then fried at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. After a shaping process to refine the batter, it was fried again for two minutes. He emphasized that no additional seasoning is added to the chicken or batter to preserve Kyochon’s unique sauce flavor.After the first frying, the chicken's weight dropped to around 730 grams, and after the shaping and second frying, it weighed approximately 650 grams. This method effectively removes excess oil and moisture, resulting in a light and crispy texture unique to Kyochon.The highlight of the experience was applying the sauce with a brush. Dong introduced the '3-3-3 rule,' which involves dipping the brush into the sauce to collect domestic garlic particles, then applying the sauce to each side of the chicken at least three times. While it may seem simple, evenly coating the chicken with garlic particles and a consistent amount of sauce proved to be more challenging than expected. The chicken, seasoned by participants, was then tasted alongside Moon Bear craft beer, allowing us to fully experience Korea's 'chimaek' culture.In a corner of the classroom, we also observed a smart kitchen utilizing cooking robots. Behind a glass wall, the robots smoothly executed the first and second frying and shaping processes. Currently, Kyochon operates 33 of these robots across 25 franchise locations, with plans to commercialize a sauce application robot as the final step in chicken preparation.Kyochon aims to develop the Osan Education Center into a K-Food tourism hub. While the current focus is on programs for foreign tourists, there are plans to expand to domestic tourists and introduce additional experiences, such as making chicken radish and traditional liquor. The center has set a goal to attract 1,000 visitors monthly and over 10,000 annually. It has also been selected as a target site for the K-Chicken Belt project this year.Dong stated, "We plan to grow the Kyochon Osan Education Center into a representative experience space for K-Chicken, collaborating with the government and tourism organizations to develop gourmet tourism content that appeals to both foreign and domestic visitors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:16:00
  • Ruling Party Concludes Rule War Amid Factional Conflicts Ahead of Convention
    Ruling Party Concludes 'Rule War' Amid Factional Conflicts Ahead of Convention The Democratic Party of Korea is set to hold its party convention on August 17, as factional conflicts intensify. Although the so-called 'rule war' over the introduction of a preference voting system and the failure to establish a youth supreme council member has concluded, strategic choices among factions in the preliminary and final elections are expected to determine the outcome.According to political sources on July 19, the Democratic Party will begin preliminary elections on July 21 to narrow down candidates for party leader and supreme council members. Currently, there are five candidates for party leader and 14 candidates for supreme council member, but the plan is to reduce this to three party leader candidates and eight supreme council member candidates through the preliminary elections.Insiders suggest that among the party leader candidates, Kim Min-seok, a former prime minister aligned with the pro-Lee faction, Song Young-gil, a member of the National Assembly, and Jung Cheong-rae, a former party leader aligned with the pro-Jung faction, are likely to advance to the final round.The preference voting system is expected to be a key factor in the final election. This system allows voters to list their top three preferred candidates on a single ballot. If a candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes in the first round, they will be declared the winner. However, if no candidate achieves a majority, subsequent choices will be counted to determine the winner. Some have criticized this method as advantageous to the pro-Lee faction, while the pro-Jung faction has opposed it, claiming it violates party rules.Additionally, the supreme council member elections, which will determine the running mates for the party leader candidates, are also under scrutiny. Even if a candidate is elected as party leader, their leadership will be influenced by how many allies they can secure on the supreme council.The pro-Lee faction includes lawmakers Park Sung-jun, Seo Mi-hwa, and Lee Geon-tae, as well as Kim Yong, a former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute. The pro-Song faction includes members Kim Young-ho and Park Sun-won. Other notable figures in the pro-Lee faction include lawmakers Im Mi-ae, Kim Hyung-nam, deputy policy chair Jung Min-cheol, and Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won.The pro-Jung faction includes lawmakers Lee Sung-yoon, Choi Min-hee, and Han Min-soo. Former lawmaker Shin Gye-ryun, who served four terms, is classified as part of the pro-Roh faction.During this party convention, a total of five supreme council members will be elected. If no women are elected, the female candidate with the highest votes will take the place of the fifth highest vote-getter. Predictions suggest that if votes are split between pro-Lee members Seo and Im, pro-Jung member Choi could benefit from this division.Since both the party leader and the floor leader can participate in supreme council decisions, the party leader must ensure that at least two allied supreme council members are elected to secure a decisive advantage in decision-making. 2026-07-19 12:16:00
  • Government to Enforce Strict Oversight on Delayed Power Projects
    Government to Enforce Strict Oversight on Delayed Power Projects The government is set to implement strict oversight on power generation projects that have received permits but are not actively being developed. The capacity recovered through inspections will be prioritized for allocation to other operators to enhance the efficiency of power grid usage.The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and Korea Electric Power Corporation announced on July 19 that a revised regulation on the use of electric facilities for transmission and distribution will take effect on July 20. This revision aims to maximize the efficient use of the national resource of the power grid by prioritizing allocation to operators capable of actual project implementation, especially in regions like Honam where the power system is lacking.Previously, project progress was assessed two years after the power grid usage contract was signed. This left operators who did not sign contracts for extended periods or did not apply at all in a management blind spot.The new regulation will eliminate this oversight. From now on, operators who do not apply for power grid usage within one year of obtaining a power generation permit or who do not sign a contract within one year of applying will be subject to inspection. The ministry plans to sequentially review the progress of approximately 30GW of power generation projects that have been in the management blind spot by September of this year.A tailored management approach will also be introduced, particularly for offshore wind projects that require a longer timeline. A new intermediate inspection stage will be established, requiring environmental impact assessments to be completed five years before the start of power grid usage and securing fixed-price contract bids three years prior.However, operators will be given ample opportunity to explain any unavoidable circumstances. Those who receive a notice of contract termination for power grid usage can file an objection within 30 days of the notification.Through this inspection, any power grid capacity deemed unfeasible for actual project implementation will be promptly reallocated to operators capable of moving forward. The ministry aims to improve the efficiency of power grid usage through this initiative.Lee Jae-sik, the director of power grid policy at the ministry, stated, "As the power grid is a limited national resource, it must be systematically managed to prevent long-term occupation without actual project implementation. We expect that the capacity recovered through inspections will significantly enhance the efficiency of power grid usage for actual operators."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:08:00
  • South Korean Government Launches Contest to Showcase Successful Use of National Learning Card
    South Korean Government Launches Contest to Showcase Successful Use of National Learning Card The South Korean government is hosting a contest with a total prize pool of 12 million won to find exemplary cases of the National Learning Card's usage.On July 19, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the '2026 National Learning Card Excellent Case Essay and Video Contest' to support continuous skill development among citizens and to disseminate outstanding achievements.This contest aims to identify success stories of individuals who have participated in vocational training through the National Learning Card, particularly in the context of the growing influence of AI technology.This year's contest will focus on four categories: employment in AI and digital industries, AI-based productivity enhancement and problem-solving, AI and digital technology-based entrepreneurship, and strengthening employment capabilities. Any citizen who has achieved results using the National Learning Card can participate by submitting essays or videos by August 23.A total of 30 winners will be selected through a judging process, with a total prize of 12 million won awarded. The grand prize winner will receive a certificate of commendation from the Minister of Employment and Labor along with a cash prize of 2 million won. The selected cases will be used to create various promotional content, including webtoons, card news, and YouTube videos, to highlight the value of vocational training.Park Do-in, Director of the Ministry's Vocational Competency Policy Bureau, stated, 'About 700,000 people benefit from opportunities for skill development each year through the National Learning Card. We will do our utmost to ensure that all citizens can access skill development opportunities suitable for the 'digital and AI era,' from basic AI competency training to nurturing AI talent.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:08:00
  • Two Years of Virtual Asset Protection Law: Over 30 Cases of Unfair Trading Detected
    Two Years of Virtual Asset Protection Law: Over 30 Cases of Unfair Trading Detected Financial authorities have reported that over the past two years since the implementation of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, they have investigated more than 40 cases of unfair trading in virtual assets, leading to over 30 cases being referred to law enforcement.On July 19, the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service announced the results of their investigations into unfair trading in the virtual asset market, coinciding with the second anniversary of the law's enactment.In line with the law's implementation in July of last year, the financial authorities established a dedicated organization for investigating unfair trading and set up a system for continuous monitoring of unusual trading on exchanges. They have also enhanced their investigative capabilities through the introduction of digital forensics and the operation of a penalty system.As a result, they have completed investigations into over 40 cases of unfair trading, with more than 30 cases reported to law enforcement.The majority of the detected cases involved market manipulation. These included tactics such as 'racehorse' schemes, where prices are artificially inflated within a specific timeframe to attract investors, and 'cage' schemes that exploit deposit and withdrawal restrictions on certain exchanges. Additionally, cases of market manipulation using API keys and large-scale manipulation linked to issuing foundations or foreign exchanges were also uncovered.Instances of fraudulent trading were also identified. Notable examples include individuals associated with virtual asset issuances spreading false information via social media to lure investors, as well as exploiting price differences between different markets within exchanges.The average illicit gain per case was estimated at approximately 1.4 billion won (about 1.4 million USD). In terms of the scale of illicit gains, there were eight cases with gains between 500 million won and 5 billion won, and one case exceeding 5 billion won. A total of 25 individuals were implicated, with an average of eight different assets involved in each case due to the nature of short-term market manipulation.To date, the financial authorities have imposed penalties amounting to 125% to 165% of the illicit gains in two cases: one for fraudulent trading and one for market manipulation.The financial authorities stated, "To restore trust in the virtual asset industry and ensure sustainable development, it is crucial to eliminate unfair trading that disrupts market order. We will thoroughly investigate all illegal activities and take strict measures to create a fair and transparent market that users can trust."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:04:00
  • Refund Policies for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Packages to Change
    Refund Policies for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Packages to Change 앞으로 피부과나 성형외과에서 패키지 시술 등을 미리 결제한 뒤 개인 사정으로 중도 해지할 경우, 병원이 환불을 거부하거나 과도한 위약금을 부과하는 관행이 사라질 전망이다. 공정거래위원회는 톡스앤필, 오라클 피부과 등 15개 의원의 선납진료 이용 약관을 심사한 결과 계약 해제·해지 제한, 과도한 손해배상액 예정 등 6개의 불공정 약관 조항을 시정했다고 19일 밝혔다. 선납진료는 피부과, 성형외과에서 패키지 시술을 위해 진료비를 사전에 지급하는 것이다. 우선 선납진료 계약의 해제 제한 조항이 사라진다. 그동안 일부 피부과와 성형외과는 계약일로부터 일정기간이 지나면 환불이 불가하다는 조항을 고수했다. 공정위는 이를 고객의 해제·해지권 제한으로 보고 단순 변심이더라도 시술 횟수만큼 정산하고 소비자분쟁해결기준(위약금 10%)에 따라 남은 금액을 환불하도록 시정했다.과도한 손해배상액 예정 조항도 바뀐다. 공정위는 계약 중도 해지 시 결제금액의 20~30%를 위약금으로 부과하던 과도한 손해배상 조항도 삭제하고 소비자분쟁해결기준인 10% 수준으로 조정하도록 했다.의료진 변경과 관련된 소비자 보호 조치도 강화됐다. 기존에는 지정한 의사가 퇴사하면 환불이 불가능한 경우가 많았으나, 앞으로는 대체 의료진 배정에 동의하지 않으면 계약 해지 및 환불을 요청할 수 있게 된다.아울러 시술 전후 사진 촬영을 거부한다는 이유로 민·형사상 법적 대응을 금지하거나, 사업자의 고의·과실 여부와 상관없이 모든 손해배상 책임을 면제해주던 불공정 약관도 삭제됐다. 이제 소비자는 의료진의 과실로 부작용 등이 발생할 경우, 정당한 권리 구제 절차를 밟을 수 있다.이와 함께 '본인 외 양도 불가' 원칙을 내세워 양도를 일절 금지했던 관행도 개선돼 소비자는 선납 진료권을 타인에게 자유롭게 양도할 수 있게 됐다.공정위 관계자는 "정보 비대칭성이 높은 의료분야의 '선납진료' 이용약관을 점검함으로써 소비자 권익을 보호하고 의료분야에서의 공정하고 투명한 거래질서 확립에 중요한 계기가 될 것"이라며 "향후 관련 분야의 표준약관 제정도 검토할 계획"이라고 밝혔다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:04:00
  • Government Launches Contest for Best Practices Using Water Quality Monitoring Data
    Government Launches Contest for Best Practices Using Water Quality Monitoring Data 정부가 수질원격감시체계(TMS) 데이터를 활용해 물환경 보전에 기여한 우수사례 발굴에 나선다.기후에너지환경부는 한국환경공단과 함께 오는 20일부터 9월17일까지 '2026년 수질원격감시체계 데이터 활용 우수사례 공모'를 실시한다고 19일 밝혔다. 이번 공모는 수질오염 예방과 공정 운영 개선, 운영비 절감 등 수질원격감시체계 데이터를 활용해 물환경 보전에 기여한 우수사례를 발굴하기 위해 마련됐다. 수질원격감시체계는 공공하수 처리시설 및 폐수배출사업장의 방류수 수질을 24시간 실시간으로 측정하는 시스템으로, 현재 전국 하·폐수 방류량의 97% 이상을 관리하고 있다.정부는 수질원격감시체계가 관리 감독을 넘어 오염 예방과 공정 최적화 등 과학적 수질관리의 핵심기반으로 확대되고 있는 만큼 이번 공모를 통해 데이터 활용 사례를 발굴할 방침이다. 지난해까지 58건의 우수사례가 이 같은 과정을 거쳐 전국에 공유됐다. 참여를 희망하는 개인이나 팀은 수질원격감시체계 데이터를 활용해 시설을 개선한 사례 등을 작성해 전자우편으로 제출하면 된다. 서면 및 대면 심사를 거쳐 총 4건(대상 1건·최우수상 1건·우수상 2건)이 최종 선정될 예정이다. 선정된 우수작은 오는 11월 합동 토론회에서 시상하고 전국으로 공유된다.김은경 기후에너지환경부 물환경정책관은 "수질원격감시체계는 단순한 감시 시스템을 넘어 데이터를 활용한 과학적 수질관리의 핵심기반으로 자리 잡고 있다"며 "올해는 더욱 창의적이고 우수한 사례가 발굴돼 데이터 기반 물환경 관리문화가 현장 전반에 확산되기를 기대한다"고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-19 12:04:00