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Baemin Launches Discount Event Featuring Traditional Market Products Baemin, operated by Woowa Brothers, is hosting a discount event in collaboration with traditional markets.On July 15, Baemin announced that it is conducting a "National Special Price Traditional Market Exhibition" in partnership with the National Merchants Association to help expand online sales for traditional markets.This exhibition features a total of 36 products from participants including the Bucheon Jungdong Love Market Cooperative, the Chungnam branch of the National Merchants Association, and the Ulsan Suam Shopping Market. The traditional market exhibition is available on the Baemin app under "National Special Price." National Special Price is Baemin's commerce service where sellers deliver products via courier.The Bucheon Jungdong Love Market Cooperative is offering 18 products, including meal kits for tteokbokki, stir-fried pork, mackerel stew, and spicy fish soup, at discounts of up to 60%.The Chungnam branch of the National Merchants Association is selling four processed products made from local specialties, such as apple juice from Yesan and bellflower syrup from Nonsan, at discounts of up to 11%. The Ulsan Suam Shopping Market is offering 14 products, including puffed rice and nostalgic snacks.Baemin has been consistently collaborating with traditional markets and merchant associations. In a previous exhibition at the Bucheon Jungdong Love Market last December, sales increased by approximately 600% compared to the previous month, while an exhibition of Chungnam specialties in October recorded an average daily sales figure 29 times higher than usual.Last month, Baemin, in partnership with Home & Shopping, provided mobile gift certificates as prizes as part of a "Traditional Market Revitalization Project" at the Yeonggwang Terminal Market in Jeollanam-do.During the event, which runs until July 27, Baemin is offering coupons for discounts of 3,000 won on purchases over 10,000 won and 15,000 won on purchases over 25,000 won, available on a first-come, first-served basis.Kim Joong-hyun, head of the Sustainable Management Office at Woowa Brothers, stated, "We hope this opportunity allows customers to enjoy the warm foods of traditional markets comfortably at home while providing practical support to market merchants. We will continue to pursue various collaborations that benefit small business owners."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:56:00 -
BK Holdings Faces Delisting as Market Value Plummets 61% in a Year BK Holdings, a subsidiary of the Bokwang Group, was once listed on the KOSDAQ as a semiconductor materials company, Phoenix Materials. The company changed its name in 2022 and exited the semiconductor business, shifting its focus to advertising. However, continued poor performance has seen its market capitalization shrink to below 10 billion won. The stock price is also on a downward trend, with the company increasingly leaning toward delisting.According to the Korea Exchange, BK Holdings issued a warning on June 16 regarding its designation as a management issue due to its market capitalization falling below 15 billion won. As of July 14, the company's stock price was 383 won, with a market capitalization of approximately 9 billion won. Over the past year, the stock price has dropped by 60.7%, significantly diminishing the company's value.BK Holdings originated as Phoenix Materials, which was listed on the KOSDAQ in 2004 and produced solder balls and metal pastes used in semiconductor packaging processes. After undergoing business restructuring, the company now primarily focuses on advertising production and media agency services. However, the results of this restructuring have been disappointing. Last year, the consolidated revenue was 7.4 billion won, a 41.4% decrease from the previous year, with an operating loss of 3.6 billion won and a net loss of 3.9 billion won. The return on equity (ROE) was recorded at -29.35%, and total assets decreased from 28.9 billion won in 2022 to 14.4 billion won last year. The ongoing poor performance has led to a decline in stock prices, with BK Holdings seeing a drop of over 60% in the past year.During this period, the largest shareholder has attempted to stabilize the company, but efforts have been insufficient. In May, BK Holdings conducted a third-party allocation of new shares to raise operating funds, with the largest shareholder, Korea Culture Promotion, investing about 3 billion won to acquire 3.75 million new shares at 800 won each. As a result, Korea Culture Promotion's stake increased from 25.13% to 37.06%. However, the market's response has been cold, with the stock price falling to around 300 won, less than half of the issuance price (800 won).Investors are expressing frustration, as there seems to be no clear path forward despite the largest shareholder's capital increase. A securities industry official noted, "The concerns about designation as a management issue due to market capitalization shortfall have materialized, and the delay in performance improvement following the business transition is evident. Whether there are additional measures to recover corporate value will be a key factor in maintaining the listing in the future." 2026-07-15 14:56:00
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Rumors of Breakup Surround 'I Am Solo' Couple Youngja and Youngcheol SBS Plus and ENA's 'I Am Solo' couple Youngja and Youngcheol are facing breakup rumors.On July 15, posts circulated on online communities stating that "all photos of husband Youngcheol have disappeared from Youngja's Instagram feed."Currently, Youngja's Instagram account shows that all photos with Youngcheol have been deleted, and the comments section is closed, leading to speculation about their divorce. However, Youngcheol's account still contains photos of Youngja.In response, netizens commented, "After appearing on Lee Ho-sun's counseling show, did they ultimately break up?" and "They reportedly went through cycles of breaking up and getting back together; perhaps they couldn't overcome that even after marriage."Previously, Youngja and Youngcheol appeared together on the special episode of 'I Am Solo' for single parents, where they developed a romantic relationship that led to marriage.After their wedding, Youngja expressed on social media, "Looking back, there were many difficult times, and moments when I was afraid to start over, but my meeting with Youngcheol on 'I Am Solo' quietly but clearly taught me that 'love can come again.' Thank you for holding my hand until now and showing your love through actions rather than words and attitudes."However, their recent situation was revealed unexpectedly through a program. The couple appeared on tvN STORY's 'Lee Ho-sun's Counseling Center' in March, where they candidly discussed conflicts arising from rumors of infidelity, pregnancy, and miscarriage.On that day, Youngcheol mentioned regarding the infidelity rumors, "My wife wanted to check the 'divorce adjustment document,' but at that time, I was hurt."Regarding the circumstances that led to their quick marriage, Youngja stated, "We got married due to pregnancy while still unable to resolve our anxieties," and Youngcheol added, "If my wife hadn't been pregnant, we wouldn't have rushed into marriage like this."Youngja also revealed that when she learned about the pregnancy before marriage, she considered breaking up based on Youngcheol's reaction. She said, "When I took the pregnancy test, I hoped I was pregnant. I wished he would say, 'That's great. Let's raise the child,' but his response was ambiguous." Due to her uncertainty, Youngja had informed Youngcheol of her decision to break up.Youngcheol explained, "When I heard she was pregnant, I felt really good, but I couldn't show it. I thought it might be a burden, so I said, 'I'm really happy, but I respect your thoughts and decisions.' However, she said, 'I can't have it,' which hurt me, but I couldn't show it. She cried a lot, saying she felt anxious because I didn't give her certainty."The couple also faced financial conflicts. Youngja noted, "Youngcheol participates in a band hobby, but the costs of performing as a pianist are much higher than his hobby. It costs about 2 million won each time, and I don't know his monthly income details."In response, Lee Ho-sun advised, "Money and trust are everything in marriage. To reduce anxiety, you should not just consider each other but ask questions. You should open your bank accounts and hold a monthly financial meeting to reach an agreement." 2026-07-15 14:56:00
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Financial Supervisory Service Strengthens Response to Unauthorized Payments Following ChatGPT Incident The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is enhancing its online fraud prevention and response system for electronic payment service providers (PG companies) in light of the unauthorized payment incidents involving ChatGPT. Following the activation of a joint response hotline with credit card companies, the FSS is now expanding its collaborative efforts to include PG companies that facilitate online transactions.On July 15, the FSS and the Korea Fintech Industry Association announced the establishment of an 'Online Fraud Response Committee' involving major PG companies, the Financial Security Institute, and experts from academia and security fields.The formation of this committee is a follow-up to a report by this outlet on June 24, which highlighted a series of suspected unauthorized payment cases related to ChatGPT. In response, the FSS decided to activate a joint hotline with the Korea Credit Finance Association and credit card companies.At that time, the FSS aimed to consolidate complaints, approval records, and status of damage recovery related to unauthorized payments across different card companies to determine if the same fraudulent methods were spreading throughout the industry. The dispute resolution departments and fraud detection system (FDS) teams of the card companies were instructed to quickly share similar cases with the Korea Credit Finance Association and the FSS.Now, the response scope has been broadened to include PG companies. The FSS identified a structural vulnerability where transactions flagged by financial companies' FDS were not being blocked by PG companies, leading to actual fraudulent payments. It noted that individual responses from card companies and PG companies made it difficult to detect recurring patterns of suspicious transactions across various payment channels.The committee includes major PG companies such as Naver Financial, Kakao Pay, Viva Republica, Danggeun Pay, Hectopay, and Kukon. The committee plans to divide into FDS and anti-money laundering (AML) subcommittees to share experiences and response cases related to suspicious transactions and establish common response standards for the industry.The FSS and the Fintech Industry Association aim to analyze the current status and issues of fraud response based on industry cases by October, drafting a preliminary version of the 'Standard Practical Guidelines for Fraud Prevention and Response.' After gathering feedback, the final guidelines are expected to be confirmed in November, followed by a seminar to announce the results. 2026-07-15 14:52:00
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ASML Reports Strong Q2 Earnings Driven by AI Semiconductor Demand The world's largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer, ASML, reported second-quarter results that exceeded market expectations, driven by demand for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors.According to Reuters, ASML's revenue for the second quarter of this year was €9.33 billion (approximately $16 billion), surpassing the median market forecast of €8.8 billion compiled by financial information provider LSEG. The company's net income also reached €2.92 billion, exceeding the market estimate of €2.62 billion.ASML CEO Christoph Hocke stated in a press release, "Customers are continuing to accelerate their plans to expand production capacity, which is increasing visibility for long-term demand."ASML is the only company in the world that produces extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment necessary for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Major clients include TSMC, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, all of which are expanding their advanced semiconductor production capabilities in response to rising AI semiconductor demand. Reuters noted that these AI-related investments have offset uncertainties in the Chinese market.CEO Hocke also mentioned that Intel plans to use ASML's High-NA EUV equipment for some production of its next-generation semiconductors, known as 'Panther Lake.' The application of High-NA equipment in Intel's Panther Lake production is expected to mark the first instance of this technology being used in actual advanced semiconductor manufacturing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:52:00
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Protinah Shares Surge 11% on News of Collaboration with Onconic Therapeutics Protinah is experiencing a surge in its stock price following the announcement of a joint research initiative with Onconic Therapeutics focused on next-generation cancer drugs.As of 2:36 PM on July 15, Protinah shares were trading at 25,000 won, up 2,550 won (11.36%) from the previous trading day.The increase in investor sentiment is attributed to Protinah's announcement that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Onconic Therapeutics to collaborate on the research and development of next-generation cancer therapies.Under this agreement, the two companies will work together on a new drug based on molecular glue technology, which is a form of targeted protein degradation (TPD). They also plan to collaborate in the area of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADC).Protinah aims to enhance the efficiency and success rate of candidate drug discovery by combining its antibody design technology with Onconic Therapeutics' expertise in cancer drug development. This partnership is expected to expand Protinah's platform beyond its existing drug pipeline and artificial intelligence (AI) antibody design business into the realm of next-generation modality drug development.Yoon Tae-young, CEO of Protinah, stated, "The success of molecular glue and next-generation ADCs depends on how accurately we can interpret interactions. I hope that the combination of Protinah's platform and Onconic Therapeutics' experience in cancer drug development will lead to tangible candidate substances."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:52:00
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Ulsan Labor Board Rules Hyundai Must Negotiate with Certain Contract Workers Hyundai Motor Company is required to negotiate directly with contract workers in its cafeterias and security personnel, but it is not obligated to negotiate with sales representatives from dealerships, according to a ruling by the Ulsan Regional Labor Board.On July 15, the Ulsan Labor Board delivered its decision to both parties, citing a request for correction of the 'notification of bargaining demand' filed by the Korean Metal Workers' Union against Hyundai.This ruling addresses the scope of 'employer status' for subcontracted unions and the issues that can be negotiated following the implementation of the 'Yellow Envelope Law' (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act).The Ulsan Labor Board determined whether the work of subcontracted employees is under Hyundai's substantial control and whether their tasks are essential to the primary business operations of the company. For instance, workers at Hyundai's Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan plants, although employed by partner companies, work in facilities owned by Hyundai and cannot change their working conditions without the company's approval, thus establishing employer status.Similarly, cafeteria workers and factory security personnel, who are employed by external firms but operate within Hyundai-owned facilities and must adhere to the company's hygiene and security standards, were also deemed to fall under the negotiation obligation.In contrast, sales representatives (car masters) at dealerships were not recognized as having employer status because the dealerships operate as independent businesses, managing their own recruitment, staffing, and compensation.While the Ulsan Labor Board ruled that Hyundai must engage in negotiations with subcontracted workers, cafeteria staff, and security personnel, it also concluded that not all issues raised by the union are subject to negotiation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:48:00
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Bank Chatbots Fall Short Compared to ChatGPT in Customer Service "I earn 100 million won a year; how much will my overdraft limit be?"When this question is posed to a bank chatbot versus ChatGPT, the responses differ significantly. The bank chatbot typically suggests product information or connects the user to a consultant, while ChatGPT asks additional questions about credit scores, employment duration, and existing loans, providing a range for the expected limit.As generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and Gemini become more widespread, user expectations for financial consulting services are rising. However, evaluations indicate that the practical application of bank chatbots remains limited.According to the financial sector on July 15, major banks are implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in customer service, but their chatbots primarily handle standardized tasks such as product information, procedural guidance, and interest rate inquiries. For personalized questions, like potential mortgage limits or overdraft amounts, chatbots often provide product descriptions or recommend in-person consultations instead of specific answers.This limitation arises from the differing types of AI technology. Generative AI operates on large language models (LLMs) trained on vast amounts of publicly available data. It synthesizes information from news reports, government documents, and public financial data to understand user intent and formulate responses through follow-up questions.In contrast, banks typically utilize machine learning technology, which relies on pre-registered scenarios based on internal operational guidelines and financial product information. Additionally, regulations such as data separation rules, consumer protection laws, and AI fundamental laws restrict the use of internal data for training external AI models.However, placing blind trust in ChatGPT's information can be dangerous. Information like actual loan limits or interest rates is determined by internal bank assessments and can only be approximated, with the risk of presenting incorrect information due to hallucinations. Unlike banks, generative AI does not bear the responsibility for regulatory obligations or suitability principles.The financial sector anticipates that if data separation regulations are relaxed and AI technology advances, the application of generative AI in banks will gradually expand. There is hope that a financial AI with natural conversational abilities comparable to ChatGPT can be developed while safely utilizing internal data, significantly alleviating current limitations.A representative from a major bank stated, "The competitiveness of bank AI lies not in the variety of information provided but in the accuracy and reliability of that information," adding that efforts are underway to enhance services, including the development of generative AI-based consulting services to improve chatbot limitations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:44:00
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AI Revolution in Disease Control: Predicting Future Pandemics The COVID-19 pandemic left a painful lesson for South Korea: responding to infectious diseases after they emerge is too late. A delay of just one day can lead to exponential spread, causing significant social and economic shocks. The management of diseases now requires a new paradigm. Artificial intelligence (AI) opens new possibilities for analyzing the spread of infectious diseases, detecting early warning signs, and predicting future pandemics. This marks a shift from treatment-centered disease management to prediction-centered approaches. At the forefront of this initiative is Im Seung-kwan, the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control Agency (KDCA). The question is clear: Can South Korea become the world's leading AI-driven disease control nation, predicting the next pandemic and safeguarding its citizens' lives? Transitioning from Treatment to Prediction in Disease Management What is the primary goal of disease management? While treating patients and preventing infectious diseases are crucial, we must advance further in the age of AI. Instead of responding after an outbreak, we need to identify risks before they occur. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitations of infectious disease response. Epidemiological investigations only began after cases were reported and infections spread. Securing hospital beds and developing vaccines became a race against time. Future infectious diseases may spread even more rapidly due to increased international exchanges and the movement of people and goods, allowing diseases from abroad to enter the country in a short time. Im Seung-kwan emphasizes the importance of AI. AI learns from vast amounts of infectious disease data, identifies anomalies, and analyzes the potential for disease spread. It can detect risk signals that are difficult for humans to find. In the AI era, disease management should not be limited to identifying patients. It must evolve into a national safety agency that proactively protects public health. Disease Data as South Korea's New Vaccine The effectiveness of AI is determined by data. The KDCA has accumulated extensive data on infectious disease occurrences, vaccinations, chronic diseases, quarantine, genomics, and epidemiological investigations. However, if data is scattered across different agencies, AI cannot learn effectively. This is the core of the KDCA's 'Disease Data ON' initiative. The goal is to connect data on infectious diseases, vaccinations, chronic diseases, and research into a single platform. Building quality data, connecting it, and allowing AI to learn from it will enable the prediction of new risks. Simply having a lot of data does not make AI smarter; accurate and standardized data is essential. The KDCA must transform from merely storing data to utilizing it to protect citizens' lives. In the AI era, data can become a national asset as vital as vaccines. Can AI Detect the Next Pandemic Early? In infectious disease response, time is of the essence. The outcomes differ significantly between responding after hundreds of infections occur and acting when the first case is identified. AI can analyze information on overseas outbreaks, quarantine data, and domestic medical records. It can identify regions showing unusual signs and analyze patient movement patterns to predict the potential for disease spread. Based on this information, the government can strengthen quarantine measures, and healthcare institutions can respond proactively. While AI cannot completely prevent pandemics, advancing response times by even one day can save countless lives. The key to AI-driven disease control is speed over accuracy. It provides citizens with more preparation time. AI Transforming Epidemiological Investigations When an infectious disease emerges, the first step is to trace its transmission routes: who has contacted whom, where they have traveled, and how the infection has spread. Epidemiological investigations require analyzing vast amounts of data. AI can quickly analyze movement data, test results, and contact records to identify transmission routes. What would take humans days to analyze can be done much faster with AI. Epidemiologists review the results generated by AI, identify high-risk areas, and assess the potential for further infections. AI does not replace epidemiologists; it supports faster and more accurate decision-making. The final judgment and responsibility remain with humans. This is why a new disease control system that combines AI and experts is necessary. AI Enhancing Quarantine Measures South Korea is a nation connected to the world, with countless individuals arriving from abroad daily. Infectious diseases cross borders. Quarantine measures must evolve. AI can analyze real-time information on infectious disease outbreaks worldwide, combining it with data on incoming travelers. It can predict which countries are becoming higher risk. Efficiently deploying quarantine personnel is essential. The quarantine systems at airports and seaports should advance into smart quarantine measures utilizing AI. It is crucial to identify risks at the border rather than waiting for infectious diseases to enter the country. AI Accelerating Vaccine and Treatment Development Responding to infectious diseases involves more than just prevention; the speed of vaccine and treatment development is also critical. AI can analyze vast life sciences data to identify new candidate substances, offering possibilities faster than traditional research. It analyzes genomic information, predicts virus mutations, and discovers candidate substances, reducing researchers' time and accelerating development. For South Korea to become a bio powerhouse, it must advance both AI and biotechnology. The KDCA should actively support research in this area. AI Managing Chronic Diseases The KDCA's role extends beyond infectious diseases; chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are also significant national challenges. AI can analyze health check-up data, lifestyle habits, and medical information to predict the likelihood of disease occurrence. It can provide tailored health management services to citizens. This represents a shift from treating diseases after they occur to preventing them before they develop. AI can become a crucial tool for increasing the health span of citizens. Disease management must transition from a treatment focus to a prevention focus. AI Combatting Misinformation The pandemic has not only spread viruses but also misinformation. During COVID-19, numerous fake news stories heightened public anxiety. AI can analyze online information to detect the spread of false information early and provide accurate information to the public quickly. In disease control, information is also a vaccine. Rapidly providing trustworthy information to citizens is a vital role of the state. AI opens new possibilities in combating infodemics. The Disease Control Agency's AI Transformation The KDCA must not only utilize AI but also transform into an AI-driven organization. AI will analyze vast administrative and research data, automating repetitive tasks so that public officials can focus on policy decisions and field responses. AI consultation services could also be implemented, allowing citizens to easily access vaccination and infectious disease information, while researchers can quickly find the data they need. AI does not replace administration; it enhances it, making it faster and more accurate. The KDCA must evolve from a digital disease control agency to an AI-driven one. Can South Korea Become a Leader in AI Disease Control? In the wake of COVID-19, the world is rebuilding its disease control systems. The competition now lies in who can predict infectious diseases more quickly. South Korea possesses excellent medical personnel, advanced ICT, and world-class digital infrastructure. By combining these with AI and disease data, new possibilities emerge. Predicting infectious diseases, preventing their spread, developing vaccines, and protecting citizens—AI can become a new safety net for public health. The KDCA must evolve from a treatment-centered agency to a prediction-centered one. In the AI era, disease management is akin to national security in protecting citizens' lives. The task assigned to Commissioner Im Seung-kwan goes beyond merely responding to infectious diseases. It is about fundamentally transforming South Korea's disease management system through AI. Initiatives like Disease Data ON, AI disease prediction, smart quarantine, and AI epidemiological investigations all aim toward a single goal. To shift from a nation that treats diseases to one that predicts them. AI analyzes vast data, identifies risks early, enables proactive government responses, and provides citizens with more preparation time. This is the essence of the AI revolution in disease control. South Korea has the potential to build the world's best public health safety net by integrating its advanced medical infrastructure and digital technology with AI. Transforming from a nation that responds to infectious diseases after they occur to one that predicts them in advance. The most powerful vaccine for protecting citizens' lives may very well be AI. This is the starting point for the AI revolution in disease control that Im Seung-kwan must lead. Im Seung-kwan, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control Agency: Im Seung-kwan is an infectious disease specialist with extensive experience in COVID-19 response and public health. Since taking office as Commissioner, he has prioritized innovations in disease management based on AI and data. Through initiatives like Disease Data ON, AI-based disease prediction, innovations in epidemiological investigations, smart quarantine, and the KDCA AX, he is focused on transforming the treatment-centered disease control system into a prediction-centered public health system. The core task assigned to Im Seung-kwan is to create a world-class AI disease control nation that can predict future pandemics early and protect the lives and health of its citizens.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:44:00
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Ex-first lady's final ruling on multiple charges delayed until next week SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Former first lady Kim Keon Hee's final ruling on multiple allegations against her has been postponed until next week after the Supreme Court on Wednesday delayed its scheduled decision. Kim, who faces several charges including the acceptance of luxury handbags and jewelry in exchange for favors, involvement in stock manipulation, and interference in candidate nominations for the 2022 local by-elections, was supposed to receive the ruling later this week. However, the top court postponed its scheduled ruling to next Thursday after prosecutors requested more time to review the case following the sentencing of Kim's husband, disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol, to two years in prison for one of the charges he shares with Kim, receiving opinion polls from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun. The disgraced couple allegedly received about 270 million South Korean won (about US$180,000) worth of opinion polls for free from Myung from June 2021 to March 2022. Prosecutors said a careful review and sufficient deliberation are needed in Kim's case, as Yoon's prison-term sentence ran counter to the lower-court rulings, in which she was found not guilty of the poll-related charges in both her first and second trials. Separately, Kim was found guilty of parts of the charges related to the Deutsche Motors’ stock manipulation case, as well as bribery allegations involving luxury handbags and jewelry received in exchange for favors from the Unification Church, a secretive religious sect better known as the Moonies. In April, an appellate court sentenced her to four years in prison and fined her 50 million won. 2026-07-15 14:40:16