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KakaoTalk Launches Sixth Update with Message Summaries and ChatGPT Integration Kakao announced on July 15 that it has implemented the sixth regular update for KakaoTalk. The update features enhancements to the user experience with artificial intelligence (AI), including message summaries for chat rooms and an expanded PC version of 'ChatGPT for Kakao.'The latest update (v26.6.0) introduces a message summary feature that allows users to quickly grasp missed messages within individual chat rooms. By clicking the 'Conversation Summary' button, users can view key points from accumulated messages at a glance, enabling them to catch up and participate in conversations even after a long absence.Additionally, the PC version of KakaoTalk now incorporates ChatGPT for Kakao. Users can continue their mobile conversations on PC without needing to re-enter settings or repeat questions.A new feature also allows users to regenerate images shared in chat rooms using ChatGPT Image 2.0. By selecting an image and clicking 'Create with AI' in the upper right corner, users can apply desired image templates such as 'Anime Style' or 'Colored Pencil Drawing.' This feature enables users to easily transform shared images into new formats like cartoons or illustrations without needing to save the photos separately. It is also accessible through posting new content on their profile.Open chat rooms have also integrated a beta chatbot feature, allowing users to access various bots for information without leaving the chat. Room administrators can invite chatbots they wish to use, enabling users to ask questions about weather, stock prices, and more directly within the chat.For KakaoTalk channels, a new feature has been added that allows users to delete messages within 24 hours of sending. The new features included in this update will be available for KakaoTalk v26.6.0 and above.A Kakao representative stated, “We have expanded the user experience to make it easier and more convenient for users to utilize AI in various conversation environments on KakaoTalk. We will continue to enhance our services based on user feedback to ensure that communication and AI experiences are seamlessly integrated into daily life.”Kakao has been gradually expanding AI usage points since launching ChatGPT for Kakao in the chat tab of KakaoTalk last October. As of May, the cumulative number of subscribers exceeded 11 million. This update strengthens the integration of AI features directly into the KakaoTalk conversation process, connecting the ChatGPT experience from mobile to PC, along with message summarization and image regeneration, as well as open chatbots.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:52:00 -
DeepSeek Plans IPO Application This Year, Aiming for 2027 Listing in China Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is reportedly considering submitting its initial public offering (IPO) application as early as this year, with plans to list on the mainland Chinese stock market in 2027.On July 14, Bloomberg News cited sources familiar with the matter, stating that DeepSeek has recently begun preparations for its listing on the mainland stock exchange.According to the report, the company is currently discussing the listing process with advisory firms, including accounting firms and investment banks. DeepSeek plans to finalize its financial reports necessary for the IPO by the end of December. Depending on the status of its financial statements, the company is expected to submit its IPO application either by the end of this year or early next year.Before the IPO, DeepSeek is also seeking to attract additional investments in the private market. This comes just weeks after securing $7 billion in funding.Sources indicate that DeepSeek is negotiating with new investors to achieve a pre-investment valuation of at least 480 billion yuan (approximately $105 billion). The company aims to secure a minimum of 10 billion yuan in additional funding, with the total amount potentially increasing depending on the number of participating investors.This valuation is over 40% higher than the approximately $50 billion valuation during its first external funding round earlier last month, which included investments from major players such as Tencent, the largest internet company in China, CATL, the world's largest battery manufacturer, and the state-led National AI Industry Investment Fund.However, the timeline for the IPO and the additional funding plans have not yet been finalized. Sources noted that the schedule and scale could vary based on market conditions and DeepSeek's performance.Founded in 2023, DeepSeek is owned by the Chinese hedge fund Zhejiang High Flyer Asset Management. The company has been recognized for developing high-performance AI models with relatively limited computing resources, demonstrating that Chinese firms can compete with leading Silicon Valley companies despite U.S. export restrictions on advanced semiconductors.DeepSeek is expected to invest the funds it secures into expanding its computing infrastructure and AI research. The company's management has previously stated that they prioritize innovative AI research over short-term profitability for potential investors.Liang Yuanfeng, founder and CEO of DeepSeek, has also expressed a commitment to continue developing open-source AI models while pursuing the goal of achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). Recently, DeepSeek has expanded its business into the field of 'agentic AI,' where software can make decisions and perform tasks autonomously without human intervention.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:52:00
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TWS's Debut Track 'First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned' Surpasses 200 Million Streams on YouTube Music Group TWS's debut song 'First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned' has surpassed 200 million streams on YouTube Music.According to their agency, Pledis Entertainment, the title track from TWS's first mini album 'Sparkling Blue' recently exceeded 200 million cumulative streams on YouTube Music.TWS is the only fifth-generation K-pop boy group to achieve 200 million streams on this platform. The song doubled its streaming count from 100 million, which it reached in the same month last year.Released on January 22, 2024, 'First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned' has continued to perform well on both domestic and international music platforms. It became TWS's first song to reach over 100 million streams on Spotify, surpassing 115.73 million streams as of July 12.The song has also maintained a steady presence on domestic music charts. Upon its release, it entered major daily charts such as Melon, Genie Music, and Bugs, and has remained on those charts since.'First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned' captures the excitement and uncertainty of a first encounter, expressed through TWS's unique fresh and vibrant sensibility. Its bright and upbeat melody, along with easy-to-follow choreography, has resonated with listeners, showcasing TWS's boyhood pop style.The song topped the Melon annual chart in 2024 and was recognized by Billboard and NME as one of the 'Best K-Pop Songs of 2024.' Billboard described it as the song that made TWS the top rookie of 2024.Meanwhile, TWS is currently on their first Asia tour '24/7: FOR: YOU.' Their concert at the KSPO DOME in Seoul last month attracted around 18,000 fans and sold out. Their recent performance in Macau also sold out.TWS is set to release their second Japanese single 'SODA SODA' on August 4. Following that, they will continue their tour starting in Fukuoka from August 28 to 30, with additional performances planned in Hyogo, Kanagawa, Macau, Bangkok, Singapore, and Kaohsiung.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:48:00
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Song Young-gil Calls Jeong Cheong-rae a Traitor Over Controversial Remarks Song Young-gil, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party, emphasized on July 15 that his comments labeling former leader Jeong Cheong-rae as a traitor stem from the importance of the Lee Jae-myung administration.During an appearance on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Song stated, "Jeong's remark that 'the regime is short-lived, but the people are eternal' is something a party leader says when attacking the president."He added, "Wasn't the public horrified during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration? We almost faced war due to foreign exchange issues," expressing his shock that a leader of the ruling party would make such a statement. He continued, "It pains me deeply because this is a regime that was built even with a hammer to the head."Earlier, at a meeting of the National Honam Association on July 14, Song criticized the situation, saying, "It is absurd that we see 'Myeongcheong War' on the front page of newspapers every day," and remarked that in the past, such actions would have warranted severe consequences for treason.In response, Jeong took to Facebook to criticize Song, stating, "Is running for party leadership a matter of life and death? It is chilling and frightening."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:48:00
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Korea's youth and manufacturing hiring subdued despite June job recovery SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - South Korea's youth and job-sensitive manufacturing and construction hiring remained subdued despite headline payroll increase in June, data showed Wednesday. The number of employed people aged 15 and older rose by 63,000 from a year earlier to 29.154 million in June, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The increase reversed a decline of 40,000 in May. The recovery, however, remained uneven. Employment among people aged 15 to 29 fell by 197,000 from a year earlier to 3.428 million, although the decline narrowed from May's 255,000 drop, the steepest since January 2021. The youth employment rate fell 1.7 percentage points to 43.9 percent, while the youth unemployment rate rose 0.9 percentage point to 7.0 percent. Manufacturing employment also remained under pressure. The sector shed 97,000 jobs from a year earlier in June, marking a 24th consecutive month of declines, although the pace improved from May's 140,000 loss. Construction employment fell by 67,000, extending its contraction to 26 consecutive months and worsening from a decline of 43,000 in May. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries also lost 95,000 jobs, extending the sector's decline to a 15th straight month. The weakness in goods-producing industries was partly offset by continued hiring in services. Health and social welfare services added 214,000 jobs, followed by arts, sports and recreation with 55,000 and transportation and storage with 48,000. Despite the increase in overall employment, labor market indicators remained soft. The employment rate for people aged 15 and older stood at 63.4 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. The employment rate for people aged 15 to 64, the OECD's standard measure of working-age employment, slipped 0.1 percentage point to 70.2 percent and was unchanged from May. On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment rose by 66,000 from the previous month to 28.809 million, while the employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 62.6 percent. The unemployment rate stood at 2.8 percent, unchanged from a year earlier and down from 2.9 percent in May. The number of unemployed people increased by 10,000 from a year earlier to 834,000. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate eased to 2.7 percent from 2.8 percent in May. The composition of employment also remained fragile. The number of regular employees increased by just 16,000 from a year earlier, while temporary and daily workers declined by 51,000 and 45,000, respectively. Meanwhile, the economically inactive population—people who were neither employed nor actively seeking work—rose by 181,000 from a year earlier to 16.009 million. The increase was driven mainly by people attending school or training programs and those engaged in housework, while the number of people outside the labor force because of childcare declined. 2026-07-15 09:46:06 -
Umun Dam Enters 'Severe' Drought Stage; Alternative Water Supply Expanded in Daegu and Gyeongsan 경북 청도군 운문댐이 가뭄 '심각' 단계에 진입했다. 정부는 대체 용수 공급을 확대하는 등 용수 확보 대책을 강화하기로 했다.기후에너지환경부는 15일 0시를 기해 운문댐의 가뭄 단계를 기존 '주의'에서 '심각'으로 상향했다고 밝혔다. 이에 따라 댐 저수량 확보를 위한 긴축 운영 체제를 유지한다.올해 운문댐 유역에는 평년보다 적은 비가 내렸다. 올해 누적 강우량은 371㎜로 평년의 약 64% 수준에 머물렀다. 특히 홍수기인 지난 6월 21일부터 7월 14일까지 내린 비는 18㎜에 불과해 예년 같은 기간 평균 강우량의 8% 수준에 그쳤다.댐 저수량도 감소세가 이어지고 있다. 현재 운문댐 저수량은 4774만t으로 평년의 약 61% 수준이다. 하루 평균 29만t의 용수를 공급하는 반면 유입량은 16만t 수준에 머물면서 저수량 감소가 계속되고 있다.이에 정부는 운문댐에서 공급하던 생활·공업용수 일부를 다른 수계로 전환해 댐 부담을 줄일 계획이다. 대구시는 낙동강을 활용한 대체 공급량을 현재 하루 5만t에서 최대 10만7000t까지 늘리고 경산시는 금호강을 통한 공급량을 하루 4000t에서 최대 6000t으로 확대한다.가뭄이 장기화돼 운문댐 수위가 추가로 하락할 경우에는 금호강 비상공급시설도 탄력적으로 운영한다. 이를 통해 생활·공업용수를 하루 최대 12만t까지 추가 공급할 수 있도록 대비한다는 방침이다.정부는 수계 전환과 하천유지용수 조정 등을 통해 현재 생활·공업용수 공급에는 차질이 없을 것으로 보고 있다. 다만 운문댐 용수를 공급받는 대구시와 경산시, 영천시, 청도군, 칠곡군에는 생활·공업용수 가뭄 단계를 '경계'로 발령하고 용수 관리체계를 강화하기로 했다.송호석 기후부 수자원정책관은 "저수량과 용수 공급 상황을 지속적으로 점검하면서 필요한 대응 조치를 신속히 시행해 국민 생활과 산업 활동에 차질이 발생하지 않도록 관리하겠다"고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:44:00
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VERDY to Engage with Children on Final Day of Exhibition Global graphic artist VERDY, based in Japan, will engage with visitors on the final day of his exhibition.The Lotte Museum announced on July 15 that VERDY will participate in a children's educational program, 'Kids Atelier,' on the closing day of the exhibition 'I Believe in Me' on July 19.VERDY has expanded the exhibition experience by directly communicating with visitors of various ages, culminating in a final celebration on the closing day.'Kids Atelier' is an interactive program where children can create their own T-shirts featuring their unique typography and graphics after viewing the exhibition. On that day, VERDY will share the creative process with the children and discuss the thoughts behind his works as the exhibition concludes.'I Believe in Me,' which opened in April, marks VERDY's first solo exhibition at a museum. The exhibition features over 250 works, including more than 100 crayon drawings and 24 large-scale three-dimensional pieces. It showcases his artistic journey from graphic design to various media such as drawing, sculpture, and installation, capturing the interest of young audiences.Throughout the exhibition, the artist has met with visitors of all ages. He shared insights into his creative world and philosophy during artist talks and revealed his working process in a creative session in collaboration with Apple, utilizing digital devices.The exhibition 'I Believe in Me' will run until July 19 at the Lotte Museum. Details on how to participate in 'Kids Atelier' can be found on the Lotte Museum's official website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:40:00
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South Korea's Military Academy Considers Four-Year Integrated Education at Daejeon Jowon Base The Ministry of National Defense is reportedly considering the establishment of a four-year integrated education institution at the Daejeon Jowon Base, which would combine the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies into a single National Military Academy. According to military sources on July 15, the Ministry is exploring the creation of the National Military Academy at Jowon Base, where students would undergo four years of integrated education. Located in Yuseong District, Daejeon, Jowon Base is home to a concentration of military education and training facilities, including the Army University, Navy University, Air Force University, and the Joint Military University. Initially, the Ministry had considered a '2+2 model' where cadets would be selected for common education in their first two years at the National Military Academy and then receive specialized training in their respective branches during their final two years. However, the integrated four-year education plan at Jowon Base has gained traction due to considerations for enhancing joint capabilities. The plan is to have cadets reside at Jowon Base for four years, with specialized military education introduced for upperclassmen to strengthen expertise in their respective branches. The Ministry is also reportedly examining a long-term vision to integrate other educational institutions, such as the National Military Nursing Academy and the Defense Advanced Technology Academy, into the National Military Academy, aiming to develop it into a comprehensive university encompassing various colleges.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:40:00
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SK hynix shares rally on bullish Barclays report despite ADR premium SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) -Shares of SK hynix zoomed higher at the opening bell in Seoul on Wednesday, recovering from this week's earnings and valuation-driven selloff after a bullish report from Barclays reignited optimism over the AI memory cycle. As of 9:30 a.m., shares of the Korean chipmaker were up 12 percent at 2,139,000 won, extending an overnight 27.3 percent rally in its Nasdaq-listed American depositary receipts (ADRs) and Tuesday's gain of more than 3 percent in Seoul. The rebound followed Barclays' initiation of coverage on SK hynix's newly listed ADRs with an Overweight rating and a $330 price target, implying about 70 percent upside from Tuesday's close. Analyst Simon Coles said the memory industry was entering a prolonged supply shortage as artificial intelligence investment continued to outpace supply growth, allowing SK hynix to maintain strong pricing power over the next several years. Barclays expects supply shortages to deepen through 2027 and remain tight into 2028, arguing that the market continues to underestimate both high-bandwidth memory pricing and SK hynix's earnings potential. The bank also said SK hynix could hold cash equivalent to more than 40 percent of its current market capitalization by the end of 2027, providing ample room for additional share buybacks that could further lift earnings per share. It dismissed concerns over China's memory industry as a near-term threat, saying Chinese DRAM would have only a limited impact on the global market unless major cloud service providers begin deploying it in AI data centers. The report helped lift sentiment after SK hynix shares came under pressure earlier this week on concerns that the stock had run ahead of fundamentals following its record ADR listing and the broader correction in AI-related semiconductor shares. The optimism was reflected even more strongly in New York, where SK hynix's ADRs continued to trade at a hefty premium over the Seoul-listed shares. The ADR closed at $193.92 overnight after surging 27.3 percent, putting it at roughly a 45 percent premium to the equivalent value of the common shares in Seoul. The gap has widened sharply from about 3 percent when the ADRs were priced at $149 last Friday. Analysts attributed the unusually large premium to limited arbitrage opportunities, as the ADRs cannot be freely converted into Korean-listed shares, allowing strong U.S. demand to drive prices higher. The premium has also been supported by the launch of options trading on the ADRs, opening the stock to a broader pool of institutional investors and hedge funds in the world's largest derivatives market. The Nasdaq debut has also sparked strong interest among Korean retail investors. According to brokerage industry data, about 84,000 Korean investors bought roughly 1.36 million ADRs worth 338.9 billion won ($245 million) through nine major domestic brokerages on the July 10 listing day alone. Including other brokerages, the number of investors is estimated to have approached 100,000, with holdings exceeding 400 billion won. Retail investors also continued buying SK hynix shares in Seoul, betting the U.S. listing would support a higher global valuation despite recent volatility. SK hynix raised $26.5 billion through its ADR offering, making it the second-largest equity issuance in U.S. market history after SpaceX and the largest ever by a foreign company. The strong recovery in both Seoul and New York suggested investors remain convinced that the AI-driven memory upcycle has further room to run despite recent concerns over valuations. 2026-07-15 09:37:42 -
Shinhan Card Launches Exclusive Card for 350,000 Chung-Ang University Alumni Shinhan Card announced on July 15 that it has partnered with the Chung-Ang University Alumni Association to launch the exclusive 'Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' for alumni.The card is designed under the concept of 'Pride of Chung-Ang in a Card' and is available in three types: The BEST-XO, Discount Plan+, and PLi.The 'The BEST-XO Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' offers premium benefits. It includes a My Shinhan Points accumulation option for points earned at domestic and international merchants, as well as a SkyPass option for accumulating Korean Air miles.The 'Discount Plan+ Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' features discounts tailored to consumer patterns. It provides up to 20% off on food and beverage discounts by time of day, everyday shopping discounts at supermarkets, regular payment discounts for apartment management fees, and annual spending discounts for car maintenance.Lastly, the 'PLi Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' is a practical option that offers a 0.9% discount at all domestic merchants without monthly spending requirements or discount limits. It also includes four additional discount coupons per month and a personalized service that rewards My Shinhan Points based on usage frequency at the most frequented merchants from the previous month.Annual fees are set at 297,000 won for the domestic-only My Shinhan Points version of The BEST-XO card and 300,000 won for the international version. The SkyPass version costs 317,000 won and 320,000 won, respectively. The Discount Plan+ card has an annual fee of 50,000 won for both domestic and international use, while the PLi card costs 15,000 won for domestic use and 18,000 won for international use.Alumni can apply for the card through the Chung-Ang University Alumni Association's website after verifying their alumni status.A Shinhan Card representative stated, "This will strengthen the connection among the 350,000 Chung-Ang University alumni and we will continue to expand customer-based services that reflect the characteristics of the university and alumni community, leveraging the synergy of Shinhan Financial Group."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:36:00