AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

&
""
Latest by
  • Hanwha Vision Implements AI CCTV System at Incheon Facility for Disabled Infants
    Hanwha Vision Implements AI CCTV System at Incheon Facility for Disabled Infants Hanwha Vision announced on July 16 that it has established an artificial intelligence (AI)-based video security system at the Dongshimwon facility for disabled infants in Incheon.This initiative is part of Hanwha Vision's social contribution project, 'Vision Zone.' The Vision Zone aims to support accident prevention and safety management in facilities housing vulnerable groups, including disabled infants, by utilizing AI CCTV and other video security equipment.Dongshimwon, which opened in 2001, currently cares for over 30 infants and children with intellectual disabilities, autism, and brain disorders.Hanwha Vision has installed approximately 30 security cameras, monitors, and video storage devices at Dongshimwon. The AI cameras monitor the facility's interior and alert administrators if a user falls or exhibits unusual behavior.Outside the facility, AI pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras have been deployed to identify and track objects even in low-light conditions. Hanwha Vision will also provide free post-installation maintenance for the equipment.On July 8, Hanwha Vision and Dongshimwon held a ceremony to unveil the Vision Zone plaque.Yoon Ok-sun, the director of Dongshimwon, stated, "The video security system allows us to monitor the facility more closely and respond to incidents more effectively."Dongshimwon is the second Vision Zone established, following the installation of a video security system at the 'Choroknamu' facility for disabled infants in Changwon, Gyeongnam, in May.Hanwha Vision plans to expand the Vision Zone project to other facilities for disabled infants in the future.A representative from Hanwha Vision remarked, "We will continue to support vulnerable groups through the use of video security technology."Earlier in May, Hanwha Vision launched the Vision Zone project to build safety infrastructure for disabled infants.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 09:08:00
  • Government to Announce Youth Employment Recovery Plan in Q3, Training 200,000 in Advanced Industries
    Government to Announce Youth Employment Recovery Plan in Q3, Training 200,000 in Advanced Industries The government will announce a 'Youth Employment Recovery Plan' in the third quarter to address the stagnation in youth employment. The plan aims to train over 200,000 skilled workers in advanced industries and preferred sectors by 2030, while also creating more than 200,000 quality jobs in both the private and public sectors.On July 16, a joint meeting of the job task force was held at the Government Seoul Building, attended by Lee Hyung-il, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Kwon Chang-jun, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, to discuss employment trends for June and adjustments to the youth employment recovery plan.In June, the number of employed individuals increased by 63,000 compared to the same month last year, marking a turnaround in employment after a month of decline. Analysts attributed this recovery to reduced uncertainties following the resolution of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.By sector, the increase in employment in the service industry expanded from 248,000 in May to 307,000 in June. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector saw a decrease of 97,000 jobs, a reduction from a loss of 140,000 jobs in the previous month.Conversely, employment in the construction sector worsened, with job losses increasing from 43,000 in May to 67,000 in June.The employment situation for young people remains challenging. The youth employment rate fell by 1.7 percentage points compared to the same month last year, while the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points.The government recognizes that ongoing employment difficulties for young people and in sectors like manufacturing and construction, along with potential escalations in tensions in the Middle East, could pose further risks. As a result, they have decided to respond comprehensively through the job task force.To facilitate youth employment recovery, the government plans to swiftly establish the 'Youth Employment Recovery Plan.' This plan will include three major mega-projects, training over 200,000 skilled workers in advanced industries and preferred sectors, and creating more than 200,000 quality jobs in both the private and public sectors.It will also incorporate measures to strengthen incentives at various stages of labor market participation, including job searching, hiring, and career growth. The government intends to finalize detailed policy tasks and announce them in the third quarter after consultations with relevant ministries.For sectors experiencing employment stagnation, such as manufacturing and construction, the government will analyze sector-specific trends and underlying issues, mobilizing available policy tools to devise response strategies. Future discussions and announcements of sector-specific measures will take place through the job task force and economic ministers' meetings.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 09:04:00
  • Lotte Innovate Unveils Customized AI Agents for Retail, Food, and Chemical Industries
    Lotte Innovate Unveils Customized AI Agents for Retail, Food, and Chemical Industries Lotte Innovate is accelerating the Lotte Group's AI transformation (AX) by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) agents tailored for various sectors, including retail, food, and chemicals.On July 16, at an AI exhibition held at Lotte World Tower in Songpa, Seoul, Lotte Innovate unveiled over 10 AI agents developed for practical application in the field, ahead of the 'Second Half Lotte VCM.'The newly introduced AI agents are designed to support operations across diverse industries. In the food and retail sectors, they offer functionalities such as price monitoring, raw material and product demand forecasting, and store competitiveness assessments through consumer review analysis. In the chemical sector, the agents analyze global market trends for petrochemicals and the electric vehicle and battery industries.The Lotte Group is positioning AI as a core component of its future competitiveness and is expanding AI utilization across its subsidiaries. Lotte Innovate is developing AI agents tailored to the specific operational characteristics of each subsidiary to support innovation and enhance productivity.A notable example is the voice translation service based on the AI platform 'iMember,' which accurately recognizes workers' voices in noisy construction sites and translates them into multiple languages. This service, developed to incorporate specialized construction terminology, was implemented at Lotte Engineering & Construction last year and has also been adopted by Daewoo Engineering & Construction as of May this year.The AI agents utilize large language model (LLM)-based generative AI and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology. They analyze internal corporate data to provide real-time information and support interactive features using speech recognition (STT) and text-to-speech (TTS). In the future, there are plans to enhance these agents into an agentic AI form linked with corporate systems such as groupware and ERP to increase the level of work automation.Lotte Innovate offers end-to-end AI services that combine AI, cloud, and data center operations. The company aims to support the Lotte Group's AX while also expanding its enterprise AI business to various industrial clients.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 09:04:00
  • Big Ocean and Korea Tourism Organization Launch Barrier-Free Travel Program
    Big Ocean and Korea Tourism Organization Launch Barrier-Free Travel Program Travel companions communicating in sign language have helped lower the travel barriers that have long been invisible in our society.The Korea Tourism Organization, led by President Park Seong-hyeok, announced on July 16 that it has launched a barrier-free travel program in collaboration with Big Ocean, a three-member idol group of hearing-impaired individuals serving as honorary ambassadors for open tourism.This program aims to promote barrier-free infrastructure that reduces physical obstacles and to spread the value of 'open tourism,' which allows everyone, regardless of ability, to enjoy travel.The first itinerary began in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Participants, including both deaf and hearing individuals, walked together along the fortress trail from Hwaseong Yeonmudang to Banghwasuryujeong, followed by experiences in traditional archery and hand-painted pottery.During the visit to Hwaseong Haenggung, a professional sign language docent accompanied the group to assist hearing-impaired participants. Meals and travel routes were designed to prioritize barrier-free establishments, enhancing convenience for wheelchair users.The next day's activities continued in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. A total of 36 participants, including those from vulnerable tourism groups and volunteers, engaged in an environmental cleanup (plogging) at the renowned open tourism site, Yeongok Beach and Solhyanggi Camping Ground.Participants concluded their journey by visiting the Gangneung Art Museum and enjoying an outdoor mini-concert by Big Ocean against the beach backdrop. The Gangneung Barrier-Free Tourism Center provided accessible transportation, including specially equipped vehicles, to ensure safe travel for participants throughout the event.Moon Ji-young, head of the open tourism content team at the organization, stated, “This trip was a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate that disability should not be a barrier to travel. We will produce promotional videos capturing this journey to widely promote open tourism that everyone can enjoy.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 09:04:00
  • U.S. Military Strikes Iran Twice in One Day, Targeting Oil Tanker
    U.S. Military Strikes Iran Twice in One Day, Targeting Oil Tanker The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against Iran on July 15, marking the fifth consecutive day of attacks. On this day, two strikes were carried out, one during the day and another at night, as the U.S. intensified military pressure on Iran by targeting an oil tanker that violated maritime blockade.The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced via its official X account that the first strike precisely targeted coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch facilities on the island of Abu Musa. The operation lasted about 90 minutes, starting at 6 a.m. Eastern Time.Approximately nine hours later, a second airstrike commenced. This marked the first time U.S. forces attacked Iran twice in one day since the series of strikes began on July 11. CENTCOM described the operation as aimed at degrading Iran's military capabilities that threaten vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.The enforcement of the maritime blockade also escalated. In a separate announcement, CENTCOM stated that U.S. aircraft fired Hellfire missiles at the Curaçao-flagged oil tanker 'M/T Belma' after it ignored repeated warnings while heading toward the Iranian oil export hub of Kharg Island.Since resuming the maritime blockade on July 14 at 4 p.m., U.S. forces have neutralized one tanker and turned back two other commercial vessels within 24 hours. The blockade targets ships traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.The U.S. military is simultaneously ramping up airstrikes against Iranian military facilities and enforcing the maritime blockade under the direction of President Donald Trump.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 08:56:00
  • NH Bank Launches NH Credit On Alliance to Support Alternative Credit Assessment
    NH Bank Launches 'NH Credit On' Alliance to Support Alternative Credit Assessment NH Nonghyup Bank announced the establishment of 'NH Credit On' on July 16. This initiative is an alternative credit assessment alliance aimed at supporting financially marginalized groups, involving NH Nonghyup Bank, NH Nonghyup Capital, Agile Soda, Honest AI, Kakao Pay, Korea Credit Bureau, Crepas Solution, and Korea Evaluation Information, among others. The participants plan to jointly explore ways to enhance alternative credit assessments for those lacking financial information, including young people and small business owners. Key areas of collaboration include sharing alternative data such as platform usage, consumption history, and information based on the National Tax Service, quantifying unstructured data using generative artificial intelligence (AI), and developing and pre-validating a joint alternative credit assessment model. In particular, NH Bank aims to develop an AI-based credit assessment report agent that will also suggest ways to improve credit scores. The bank plans to actively align with the financial authorities' guidelines for 'improving the credit assessment system' as part of a broader shift toward inclusive finance and will continue practical discussions on the matter. Kang Tae-young, president of NH Nonghyup Bank, stated, "We will combine the competitive edge of alternative information, modeling capabilities, and innovative AI technology to establish a fair and differentiated alternative credit assessment system. We are committed to ensuring that no customer is marginalized due to a lack of financial history, thereby realizing true inclusive finance."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 08:56:00
  • Boston Dynamics Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Training of Atlas for World Cup Performance
    Boston Dynamics Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Training of Atlas for World Cup Performance Boston Dynamics, a robotics subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, has released behind-the-scenes footage of its humanoid robot Atlas in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime performance.On July 15, Boston Dynamics shared videos and content detailing the development process and technical significance of Atlas's World Cup halftime show through its official social media channels and technology blog.The company explained that it applied various technologies to respond to the unpredictable environment of the stadium.Seth Davis, senior program manager at Boston Dynamics, stated, "To deploy a robot from the lab to a real stadium, we had to consider not only the robot's performance but also the communication environment, ground conditions, and interactions with surrounding people."Previously, on July 5, Atlas showcased a performance during the halftime of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, reenacting goal celebrations of world-class soccer players and delivering a soccer ball to the referee. The performance was praised for demonstrating stable movements in a real stadium environment, proving its potential for practical use.In a stadium filled with tens of thousands of fans, stable control was challenging with existing Wi-Fi-based communication, prompting the establishment of a dedicated communication channel. The control system and software were also improved to ensure reliable operation in strong sunlight and high outdoor temperatures.Adapting to the grass environment was another major challenge. While the original Atlas had been trained on flat indoor surfaces, the unevenness and variability of soccer field grass increased the risk of slipping or tripping.To address this, Boston Dynamics added technology to model the interaction between the robot's feet and the grass, conducting repeated training in a local park's soccer field.Additionally, to naturally execute goal celebration and ball delivery movements, the company combined retargeting technology, which adapts human movements to the robot's structure, with reinforcement learning and full-body control techniques to enhance response speed and balance control performance.Boston Dynamics emphasized that this demonstration is not just a performance but a process to validate core technologies required in manufacturing environments. The full-body control, balance maintenance, and environmental adaptation skills necessary for kicking or delivering a ball could be applied in various industrial settings, including material handling, component manipulation, and production tasks.Seth Davis noted, "The most important aspect of developing Atlas is to enable the robot to perform virtually any task. Our goal is to intuitively show what robots can do for people and what roles they will play in the future."Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics plans to continue advancing related technologies to develop Atlas as a key element in actual manufacturing environments. 2026-07-16 08:56:00
  • Market Preview: U.S. Stocks Rise on Easing Inflation, KOSPI Faces Semiconductor Volatility
    Market Preview: U.S. Stocks Rise on Easing Inflation, KOSPI Faces Semiconductor Volatility The U.S. stock market closed higher, buoyed by a decline in the Producer Price Index (PPI) and strong performances from major tech companies. However, with U.S. semiconductor stocks showing weakness and a sharp drop in SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), domestic markets are expected to experience continued volatility, particularly in semiconductor shares.On July 15, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 150.37 points (0.29%) to close at 52,658.64. The S&P 500 gained 28.81 points (0.38%) to finish at 7,572.40, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite increased by 162.22 points (0.62%) to end at 26,269.23.The U.S. PPI for June fell by 0.3% compared to the previous month, falling short of market expectations and easing concerns about interest rate hikes. Strong earnings from major financial firms like BlackRock and Morgan Stanley also supported investor sentiment. Tech giants such as Apple (up 4.01%), Alphabet (up 3.60%), and Amazon (up 3.02%) contributed to the market's gains.In contrast, semiconductor stocks faced declines. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped by 2.08%, and SK Hynix's ADR fell sharply by 9% after a previous surge. International oil prices also rose amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil increasing by 0.33% to $79.60 per barrel, and Brent crude rising by 0.26% to $84.95 per barrel.Despite the rise in U.S. markets, domestic stocks are expected to be influenced by the adjustments in semiconductor shares.As of 8:40 a.m., in the NXT pre-market, Samsung Electronics was down 5.5%, and SK Hynix fell 7.9%. SK Square (-8.4%) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-7.1%) also showed weakness, while HLB (up 12.3%) and Hanwha Ocean (up 6.4%) performed well.Market analysts note that while the macro environment has improved due to easing inflation in the U.S., the supply-demand fluctuations and earnings events surrounding semiconductors will remain key variables for the market in the near term.Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "The decline in the U.S. June inflation indicators has alleviated inflationary pressures, and the surge in SK Hynix's ADR along with forecasts of memory supply shortages signal positive trends for the semiconductor industry. However, variables such as ASML and TSMC's earnings and the normalization of leveraged supply must be confirmed, indicating that short-term supply volatility may continue."He added, "Given that the domestic market has undergone significant adjustments beyond the financial crisis, the valuation burden has been greatly reduced. Therefore, rather than focusing on further corrections, it is essential to consider the potential for recovery. A strategy of gradually increasing positions in semiconductor and AI infrastructure-related stocks, which have seen the largest corrections, is advisable."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 08:52:00
  • Barun Law Firm Hosts Seminar on Survival Strategies for Listed Companies Amid Regulatory Changes
    Barun Law Firm Hosts Seminar on Survival Strategies for Listed Companies Amid Regulatory Changes Barun Law LLC (led by attorneys Lee Dong-hoon, Lee Young-hee, and Kim Do-hyung) announced on July 16 that it held a seminar on July 15 at its auditorium on the 15th floor of the Barun Building in Gangnam, Seoul. The seminar focused on 'Survival Strategies for Listed Companies Amid Regulatory Changes – Legal Risks and Practical Responses Following the Delisting System Reform.'The event attracted numerous employees and practical staff from listed companies, reflecting a strong interest in the enhanced delisting regulations.The seminar aimed to analyze the legal risks that listed companies may face and to propose strategies for maintaining listings and enhancing corporate value based on practical case studies. The revised listing regulations have been in effect since July 1.Since February, the exchange has designated a concentrated management period from now until June 2027 and has activated a 'Delisting Concentrated Management Team' led by the exchange's vice president. The KOSDAQ review process has been strengthened with four teams comprising 20 members, and the maximum improvement period for substantial reviews has been reduced by one year. The Barun Delisting Response Team analyzed that as the speed and density of reviews have increased, planning based on past processing speeds could lead to significant risks.Attorney Choi Seung-hwan (39th Judicial Research and Training Institute) presented on 'Legal Response Strategies for Listed Companies Following the Implementation of the Delisting System for Stocks Below 1,000 Won,' dissecting the practical application of the delisting criteria that took effect on July 1.Choi emphasized the need to clearly distinguish between the price and trading days that determine the closing price, as well as the criteria for designating and lifting management items. He particularly noted the limitations of responses through stock consolidation and capital reduction. The revised regulations define repeated consolidations and consolidations exceeding a 10-to-1 ratio as separate grounds for delisting, indicating that attempts to formally evade these rules could actually lead to delisting.He advised that even after stock consolidation, the reasons for delisting related to stock price, market capitalization, and distribution structure remain, urging legal teams to manage articles of incorporation, par value, and total issued shares, while disclosure and stock affairs teams should monitor closing prices and continuous shortfall days. The planning and finance teams should manage theoretical prices based on consolidation ratios and post-consolidation market capitalization, establishing a collaborative response system across departments. He stressed that stock consolidation should not be viewed as an isolated price adjustment task but as a comprehensive decision-making process that addresses listing maintenance, finance, audit, and disclosure risks.Attorney Lee Hyung-jin discussed 'Enterprise-wide Risk Management to Prevent Delisting,' categorizing the risks associated with delisting into legal and management risks. He explained that legal risks could include damage claims from minority shareholders, securities-related class actions, investigations by financial authorities due to false disclosures, and potential criminal penalties and administrative sanctions against executives, including fines and recommendations for dismissal.The management implications are even broader. Lee noted that capital market funding through rights offerings and corporate bonds could be effectively blocked, leading to credit rating downgrades, increased interest rates, and refusals to extend maturities. He warned that there could be reluctance to maintain or extend contracts with business partners, disadvantages in international partnerships and bidding qualifications, and even the loss of talented employees. He emphasized that preventing delisting should be treated as an enterprise-wide risk management task.Advisor Yoon Gi-jun (former head of the KOSDAQ market listing department at the Korea Exchange) highlighted in his presentation on 'Changes and Significance of the Delisting System' that the key takeaway for listed companies from this reform is the emphasis on 'early warning' rather than 'strengthened standards.' Yoon pointed out that the requirement for stock price and market capitalization to recover for 45 consecutive trading days makes short-term reactive measures difficult, and the periods for recovery and improvement are not lengthy.He proposed establishing a 'CFO Dashboard' that encompasses market (daily stock price, market capitalization, trading days), finance (monthly self-capital and potential complete capital erosion), cash flow, funding plans, and pre-consultation on audit issues. He suggested using a weekly management situation board to check stock price and disclosure issues, reporting capital, cash, and audit issues in monthly risk meetings, and bringing matters to the board for approval of capital transactions and disclosure actions when approaching critical thresholds.Yoon stated, 'What is needed now is not post-explanation and damage control, but early warning and proactive response for each company,' adding, 'Listing maintenance risks should be managed as ongoing management indicators, not just year-end tasks.'Attorney Lee Dong-hoon remarked, 'The recent reform aimed at the swift exit of failing companies has significantly increased the legal risks faced by listed companies.' He added, 'The Barun Delisting Response Team will support the establishment of an integrated response system encompassing finance, disclosure, investor relations, and compliance to help companies achieve the dual goals of maintaining their listings and enhancing corporate value.'The Barun Delisting Response Team is a specialized organization composed of experts with practical experience in financial regulatory agencies such as the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, and the Korea Exchange, providing comprehensive advice on legal risks and practical responses related to the enhanced delisting system, including the delisting of stocks below 1,000 won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 08:48:00
  • IBK Securities Projects Record Annual Performance for Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Raises Target Price by 66.7%
    IBK Securities Projects Record Annual Performance for Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Raises Target Price by 66.7% IBK Investment & Securities announced on July 16 that it expects Samsung Electro-Mechanics to achieve record annual performance in 2026, driven by growth in flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA) substrates for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors and multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC). The firm raised its target price for Samsung Electro-Mechanics from 1,050,000 won to 1,750,000 won, an increase of 66.7%, while maintaining a 'buy' rating.Kim Un-ho, a researcher at IBK Investment & Securities, analyzed that the recent buying trend from foreign investors reflects Samsung Electro-Mechanics' growth potential. He stated, "Even as AI-related companies reduce their shareholdings, Samsung Electro-Mechanics continues to see sustained buying interest, indicating a strong outlook for FC-BGA and MLCC growth."IBK Investment & Securities anticipates that large-scale facility investments to meet the growing demand for AI semiconductors will begin in earnest. It also expects that the ongoing supply shortage of high-performance MLCC products will lead to improved performance. Consequently, the firm projects operating profit to rise to 1.8 trillion won in 2026 and 2.9 trillion won in 2027.This year, operating profit is expected to increase by 93% compared to 2025, reaching an all-time high. The package division is anticipated to lead this growth. Estimated operating profits by segment include 463.2 billion won for the package division, more than triple the amount from 2025, 1.1423 trillion won for the components division, an increase of 84.6%, and 158.5 billion won for the optical division, a 5.6% rise.In particular, the expansion of server applications is expected to drive growth in MLCC, while the package division will benefit from increased orders for server and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The package division's operating profit is projected to reach 1.7 trillion won by 2028. Kim noted, "The improvement in operating profit is expected to continue from 2023, which is seen as a low point, reaching 4.8 trillion won by 2028."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-16 08:48:00