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Lotte Expands in Vietnam, Targeting Local Markets Shin Dong-bin, chairman of Lotte Group, is accelerating the company's strategy in Vietnam, which he has identified as a key overseas market. Lotte Mart has opened a new store in Tay Ninh, expanding its operations into regional cities for the first time in three years, while the group is also enhancing its retail competitiveness to support growth in Southeast Asia.According to industry sources, Lotte Mart opened its Tay Ninh store on July 9, marking its 16th location in Vietnam and its first new store since the Westlake Hanoi location in 2023. The move is significant as it shifts focus from major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to regional areas with high growth potential.This opening follows Shin's directive earlier this year to expand Lotte's business in Vietnam. In April, he visited the Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi and emphasized that "Vietnam is a core country for the group's global operations," urging for strengthened competitiveness in the food and retail sectors. The Tay Ninh store features a proven grocery store model, with approximately 88% of its 2,165 square meters dedicated to food, enhancing its offerings in fresh and ready-to-eat products.The store's signature section, "Cooking Kitchen," offers over 300 deli items, including K-food such as kimbap, tteokbokki, and chicken gangjeong, as well as sushi and local dishes. A dedicated "K-Food Zone" showcases Korean noodles and processed foods, targeting the growing demand for Korean cultural products. Lotte Mart is also expanding its direct sourcing of fresh products through its own brand, Fresh 365, to differentiate itself from local competitors.Lotte is developing Vietnam as a key overseas hub, with various subsidiaries including Lotte Mart, Lotteria, Lotte Department Store, hotels, and shopping malls operating locally to create synergies between retail and service sectors. The Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi, a mixed-use complex combining shopping, hotels, and offices, has become a symbolic base for Lotte's operations in Vietnam. Lotte Mart Vietnam is reportedly considering the opening of its first supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City, covering 300 pyeong, in the second half of the year.Performance has been steadily improving, with Lotte Mart Vietnam reporting sales of 426.6 billion won and an operating profit of 40.5 billion won last year. In the first quarter of this year, sales reached 134.3 billion won, with an operating profit of 16.9 billion won, marking increases of 15.3% and 34.8%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Since turning a profit in 2022, the company has consistently improved its profitability, driving growth in its overseas operations.Industry analysts suggest that as the domestic retail market matures, Vietnam is becoming a central growth pillar for Lotte, driven by high economic growth rates, a young population, and increased consumer spending linked to the spread of K-content.Shin Joo-baek, CEO of Lotte Mart Vietnam, stated, "The Tay Ninh store is a small-to-medium-sized model that consolidates Lotte Mart's K-food and grocery capabilities in the Vietnamese retail market. We will accelerate our territorial expansion across Vietnam, including the opening of the Park Jang store in the second half of the year." 2026-07-12 13:56:00
LG Uplus to Establish International Standards for Quantum Security Communication Quality LG Uplus is set to create international standards for service quality management in communication environments utilizing next-generation security technologies such as Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The aim is to systematically manage the increased latency during the encryption process while maintaining the quality level of existing communication services.On July 12, LG Uplus announced that it recently proposed the development direction of next-generation security communication quality management technology, co-developed with IoT Communication Tech, at the International Telecommunication Union's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) SG13 meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland.The ITU-T is an international organization that establishes global communication technology standards, and SG13 is a group that researches future networks and service quality. This technology was adopted as an ITU-T international standardization project in February and will be developed into an international standard after consultations among member countries and companies.PQC is a mathematics-based encryption technology that is difficult to decrypt even under attacks from quantum computers, while QKD is a technology that securely transmits encryption keys using principles of quantum mechanics. Both technologies are considered essential for implementing next-generation secure communications. However, applying them to communication networks may increase latency due to the additional processes of encryption, decryption, key generation, distribution, and management. This has been identified as a challenge for the telecommunications industry, which aims to enhance security while maintaining the quality of existing communication services.In light of this, LG Uplus proposed latency-related quality management standards that can maintain the quality level of existing services even in encrypted communication environments. For latency-sensitive services like voice calls, the target standard is set at approximately 0.15 seconds (150 ms), a level at which users do not experience discomfort.They also presented a plan to manage transmission delays in the communication network alongside delays arising from encryption processing. This comprehensive management of various delay factors during communication aims to maintain the perceived call quality and service stability for customers while applying next-generation security technologies.If this technology is confirmed as an international standard, global telecommunications operators, equipment manufacturers, and security companies will use it as a basis for applying next-generation security technologies to communication networks and managing encryption service quality. LG Uplus plans to accelerate the establishment of next-generation secure communication environments through the development of international standards.Kim Jong-cheol, head of wired technology at LG Uplus, stated, 'In the next-generation secure communication environment, not only security but also the quality perceived by customers is important,' adding, 'We will strengthen our technological competitiveness in the global telecommunications market through the development of international standards.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-12 13:56:00
Lotte Chilsung Accelerates ESG Management to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Enhance Sustainability Lotte Chilsung Beverage is making strides in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, focusing on reducing plastic and greenhouse gas emissions.On July 12, Lotte Chilsung announced that it reduced plastic emissions by approximately 3,000 tons and greenhouse gas emissions by about 6,400 tons last year through innovations in packaging technology and process improvements.In 2024, Lotte Chilsung established a '2030 Plastic Reduction Roadmap' with a goal to cut the use of petroleum-based new plastics by 20% compared to 2023 by 2030. Key strategies include lightweighting plastic containers and increasing the use of recycled materials.Last year, the company introduced the 'ET-CAP' with a lower height for water bottle openings, lightweighted PET preforms, and transitioned to aseptic PET, resulting in a reduction of about 2,700 tons of plastic. The ET-CAP application made water bottles up to 12% lighter, achieving a reduction of approximately 810 tons, while the weight of PET preforms for beverages and soju was decreased by up to 5 grams per container, saving around 1,650 tons.In terms of expanding the use of recycled materials, Lotte Chilsung launched the 'Chilsung Cider 500ml' made from 100% recycled plastic last year, and this year, it has extended this to products like 'Isis', 'Pepsi Zero Sugar Lime', and alcoholic beverage 'Saro 640ml'. The company plans to produce about 300 million 100% recycled PET bottles this year, using over 6,000 tons of recycled materials and achieving a cumulative recycled material introduction rate of 15%.Process innovations aimed at reducing greenhouse gases are also yielding results. In line with its '2040 Carbon Neutral' declaration, Lotte Chilsung reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7% last year compared to the previous year. The biogas power generation facility at its Gunsan plant contributed to a reduction of about 5,000 tons, while solar power generation at five major sites across the country accounted for approximately 460 tons. At the Daejeon plant, the company replaced liquefied natural gas (LNG) with landfill gas (LFG), saving about 380 tons. The transition of company vehicles to electric has resulted in a reduction of about 550 tons of greenhouse gases, with a total of 630 vehicles converted. This year, the target is to reduce emissions by over 10,000 tons.A Lotte Chilsung representative stated, "We will continue to integrate these efforts into our business strategy to benefit the environment and society to the best of our ability."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-12 13:52:00
LS Electric Reaches Non-Negotiated Labor Agreement for Second Consecutive Year LS Electric has successfully concluded its labor and management agreement (LMA) without negotiations for the second consecutive year. The company aims to focus on enhancing future investments and business competitiveness instead of labor disputes during a period of market growth driven by increased global investment in power infrastructure. On July 10, LS Electric held a ceremony at the LS Yongsan Tower in Seoul, attended by Chairman Koo Ja-kyun, CEO Chae Dae-seok, and Union Chairman Lee Ho-jung, among others, to commemorate the delegation of the LMA and the achievement of $1.2 billion in exports. With this delegation, LS Electric has completed its LMA for the second year in a row without negotiations, following its first non-negotiated agreement last year. The company explained that the increase in demand for electrical equipment, driven by the global power industry supercycle and expanded investments in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, has led both labor and management to align on future growth strategies. Chairman Koo expressed gratitude to the labor union and employees for their decisive actions, stating, "I appreciate the labor union and employees for making a significant decision again this year. We will continue to strengthen our competitive edge and invest in future strategic businesses such as direct current (DC) to lead the global power market." LS Group has emphasized a partnership approach, using the term 'labor-management' instead of the traditional 'labor' terminology, and has formalized the use of 'workers and management' to reflect a culture that respects workers as partners in management. Union Chairman Lee noted, "The result is based on the genuine communication from management and the trust in a culture that respects workers, allowing us to consider the company's future together." CEO Chae also stated, "We will work together under the same goals to leverage the booming global power market as a growth opportunity and secure competitiveness in key future industries."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-12 13:40:00
China, North Korea celebrate 65th anniversary of mutual defense treaty SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) -China and North Korea pledged to deepen strategic coordination and expand practical cooperation as the two countries marked the 65th anniversary of their mutual defense treaty, according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency. Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the remarks during talks in Beijing on Saturday with North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song, who is leading a three-day delegation to China commemorating the signing of the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The treaty remains Beijing's only formal military alliance and obliges both countries to provide military assistance if either comes under attack. Li said China is prepared to uphold the treaty by maintaining high-level exchanges, strengthening political mutual trust and expanding practical cooperation across trade, healthcare, education and connectivity, Xinhua reported. He also called for closer strategic coordination to safeguard the two countries' common interests amid what he described as a rapidly changing international environment. Pak reaffirmed Pyongyang's support for China on its core interests and expressed North Korea's willingness to broaden cooperation in trade, science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges, while calling for closer coordination on international affairs, according to Xinhua. North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency separately said the two premiers discussed implementing agreements reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to expand exchanges and cooperation across multiple sectors. KCNA quoted Pak as saying the increasingly complex international environment requires the two socialist neighbors to further strengthen unity and cooperation under the spirit of the treaty. The meeting followed Xi's talks with Pak on Friday, during which the Chinese leader urged both countries to carry forward what he described as the "friendship forged in blood" and strengthen strategic coordination. The talks came only weeks after Xi's state visit to Pyongyang, his first trip to North Korea in seven years, which signaled a renewed momentum in bilateral ties. The renewed diplomatic exchanges come as China seeks to reinforce its traditional relationship with North Korea while Pyongyang simultaneously expands military and economic cooperation with Russia. Beijing remains North Korea's largest trading partner and principal economic lifeline despite international sanctions imposed over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. 2026-07-12 13:30:03
Editorial: From NATO to Mongolia: Seoul seeking strategic depth Viewed in isolation, President Lee Jae Myung's attendance at the NATO summit and his subsequent state visit to Mongolia may appear to belong to different diplomatic tracks. Together, however, they reveal a more coherent strategy. At NATO, Seoul sought to anchor South Korea more firmly within the emerging architecture of transatlantic defense cooperation. Discussions on expanding industrial cooperation and Seoul's negotiations toward a procurement framework with the alliance underscored how South Korea is increasingly exporting not only weapons but also industrial capacity, technology and supply-chain resilience. Days later in Ulaanbaatar, the emphasis shifted from security to economic resilience. Yet the strategic logic remained remarkably similar. If NATO represents South Korea's western strategic frontier, Mongolia increasingly represents its northern continental frontier. The two summits addressed different vulnerabilities exposed by an increasingly fragmented world. NATO focused on strengthening defense production, interoperability and industrial cooperation as geopolitical tensions intensify. Mongolia addressed another strategic challenge: securing critical minerals, diversifying supply chains, expanding digital cooperation and reducing dependence on any single economic partner. Taken together, they illustrate an evolution in Seoul's diplomacy from reacting to crises toward constructing strategic depth. That concept extends well beyond military alliances. Modern national security increasingly depends on secure semiconductor supply chains, access to rare earths, energy transition, artificial intelligence, cyber resilience and trusted industrial partners. The agreements reached with Mongolia on critical minerals, AI, digital transformation and energy therefore complement—not compete with—South Korea's expanding security cooperation with NATO. The symbolism is equally noteworthy. For decades, South Korea's diplomacy revolved largely around four powers—the United States, China, Japan and Russia. The past fortnight suggests Seoul is beginning to think more like other middle powers that diversify partnerships across multiple regions rather than relying on a handful of strategic relationships. Mongolia occupies a unique place in that strategy. Wedged between China and Russia yet pursuing its long-standing "Third Neighbor" policy, it offers Seoul something increasingly valuable in the age of economic security: political trust, abundant strategic resources and room to build long-term partnerships without becoming entangled in great-power rivalry. Whether these diplomatic initiatives truly inaugurate the "golden era" proclaimed by the presidential office will ultimately depend not on the number of joint declarations or memorandums signed. The measure of success will be whether South Korea can convert summit diplomacy into durable strategic networks that strengthen its resilience in an era where economics, technology and security have become inseparable. In that sense, the journey from The Hague to Ulaanbaatar was more than a sequence of overseas visits. It was an early glimpse of a foreign policy that seeks to expand South Korea's strategic geography—from the Euro-Atlantic security community to the Eurasian heartland—and position the country as a connector of alliances, supply chains and advanced industries rather than merely a participant in them. 2026-07-12 13:13:28
Alvarez's Extra-Time Goal Sends Argentina to World Cup Semifinals Defending champion Argentina advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in a hard-fought quarterfinal match.Argentina won the match held at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri on July 12, finishing regulation time tied at 1-1 before scoring two goals in extra time.Argentina took the lead in the 10th minute when Lionel Messi's corner kick was headed in by Alexis Mac Allister. Although Messi did not score, he recorded an assist.Switzerland equalized in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye scored with a right-footed shot inside the penalty area after receiving a pass from Ricardo Rodriguez.The match shifted when Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent off. Initially, the referee issued a yellow card to Leandro Paredes for a collision with Embolo. However, after a video review, it was determined that Embolo had fallen before making contact with Paredes. The yellow card for Paredes was rescinded, and Embolo received a yellow card, leading to his dismissal due to accumulation of cautions.With a numerical advantage, Argentina was unable to score again in regulation, and the match went into extra time. Despite being down a player, Switzerland's defense, led by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, managed to hold off Argentina's attacks.The deadlock was broken in the 117th minute when Julián Álvarez scored with a curling shot from outside the penalty area, giving Argentina a 2-1 lead.Argentina sealed the victory in stoppage time of extra time when Lautaro Martínez scored, pushing the final score to 3-1.This marks Argentina's second consecutive trip to the World Cup semifinals, following their appearance in the 2022 Qatar tournament. Meanwhile, Switzerland, which reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years since hosting the tournament in 1954, was unable to overcome their numerical disadvantage.Argentina will face England in the semifinals. England defeated Norway 2-1 in their quarterfinal match, which also went into extra time.The semifinal match is scheduled for July 16 at 4 a.m. at Atlanta Stadium, with France and Spain competing on the opposite side of the bracket for a spot in the final.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-12 13:12:00
Navy Crew Member Missing During Patrol in East Sea, Search Underway A crew member from a Navy vessel went missing on July 12 while on patrol in the northern East Sea, prompting military authorities to initiate a search operation.The Navy reported, "This morning, a crew member (soldier) from a Navy vessel performing patrol duties approximately 50 kilometers east of Gojin in the East Sea went missing."The missing soldier is identified as a private first class, and the vessel involved is a frigate. It is understood that the North Korean side was also notified of the incident through international maritime communication channels accessible to them.The Navy stated, "We are currently conducting a joint search with the Coast Guard, deploying ships and aircraft to locate the missing individual. We have also communicated the situation to fishing boats and nearby commercial vessels to assist in the search efforts."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-12 13:04:00
Seoul mulls nationwide sick pay program in H1 2027 SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - South Korea plans to roll out a nationwide sick pay program in the second half of next year, extending income support to all eligible workers who are unable to work because of illness or injury outside the workplace, after four years of pilot projects that paid more than 20 billion won in benefits. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has begun consultations with labor groups, medical professionals and other stakeholders ahead of the nationwide launch, which would make South Korea one of the last OECD members to introduce a statutory sickness benefit system. The expansion comes as policymakers seek to strengthen the social safety net by guaranteeing workers the right to recover without losing their income, an issue that gained urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic when many employees continued working while ill for financial reasons. Sick pay provides income replacement for workers who are temporarily unable to work because of illnesses or injuries unrelated to their jobs. Unlike industrial accident compensation, the benefit covers ordinary illnesses and non-work-related injuries. Among the OECD's 38 member states, South Korea and the United States remain the only countries without a nationwide sick pay scheme. Switzerland and Israel do not operate separate statutory sickness benefit programs but instead require employers to provide paid sick leave and protect employees from dismissal during illness. The legal basis already exists under Article 50 of the National Health Insurance Act, which authorizes sickness benefits as an additional health insurance benefit. The government argues the system serves multiple policy goals beyond income support. It helps prevent households from falling into poverty following illness, encourages early diagnosis and treatment by reducing fears of lost wages, limits productivity losses caused by employees working while sick, and reduces the spread of infectious diseases in workplaces and communities. The ministry first launched pilot projects in July 2022 across six municipalities before expanding them in 2023 and 2024 to a total of 14 regions under different payment models designed to compare policy effectiveness. As of the end of May this year, the pilot program had paid a combined 20.37 billion won ($14.7 million) to 14,141 recipients. Each recipient received benefits for an average of 30.4 days, amounting to roughly 1.44 million won per person. Workers in their 50s accounted for the largest share of recipients at 40.3 percent, followed by those in their 40s with 23.8 percent and workers in their 60s with 20.8 percent. Regular employees enrolled in the National Health Insurance system represented nearly three-quarters of recipients at 72.7 percent, while 2,730 self-employed workers and 1,128 workers covered by employment or industrial accident insurance also received payments. The current pilot allows eligible workers who are unable to work for more than seven consecutive days because of illness or injury to receive benefits after a seven-day waiting period, with coverage lasting up to 150 days depending on the program model. The scheme generally pays 60 percent of the minimum wage, while some later pilot models link benefits for salaried workers to 60 percent of their recent average earnings, subject to minimum and maximum payment limits. Eligibility currently depends on employment status, insurance coverage and, in some pilot regions, household income. Public officials, recipients of overlapping welfare benefits, workers on ordinary leave and several other groups are excluded. Financing remains the biggest obstacle. The government expects the full-scale program to cost between 273.7 billion won and 785.3 billion won annually, depending on the waiting period, benefit duration and payment formula adopted. Officials intend to finance the program through the National Health Insurance system, following the practice of many OECD countries that operate sickness benefits through social insurance rather than general taxation. According to the National Assembly Budget Office, the National Health Insurance reserve fund could be exhausted by 2029 under current healthcare reform spending plans, two years earlier than previously projected. Labor unions have called for a separate funding mechanism dedicated to sick pay rather than relying solely on health insurance finances. Medical groups have also urged the government to increase direct fiscal support, arguing that existing state contributions to the health insurance system should be supplemented to finance the new benefit. 2026-07-12 13:01:08
South Korea bakes as 'life-threatening' heat warning debuts SEOUL, July 12 (AJP)-Sweltering South Korea activated its highest-level heat alert on Sunday for the first time, as temperatures and heat indices surged to levels authorities described as life-threatening, marking the inaugural issuance of the newly created Heat Wave Emergency Warning 18 years after the country's heat alert system was introduced. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety issued the emergency warning at 11 a.m. for the southeastern cities of Pohang and Gyeongsan in North Gyeongsang Province, where the maximum apparent temperature was forecast to exceed 38 degrees Celsius following two consecutive days above 35 degrees. The unprecedented alert comes as much of the country swelters under temperatures above 33 degrees, with inland cities such as Wonju and Icheon already recording around 34 to 35 degrees by midday. Seoul reached 33.3 degrees around noon, while most metropolitan areas remained under heat wave advisories or warnings. The Heat Wave Emergency Warning is a new top-tier category added this year to the country's two-stage heat advisory system of advisories and warnings, reflecting increasingly frequent and intense summer heat driven by climate change. Unlike a conventional heat warning, which is issued when the daily maximum apparent temperature is expected to remain above 35 degrees for at least two consecutive days, the emergency warning can be triggered after just one day if the apparent temperature is forecast to reach 38 degrees or the actual air temperature 39 degrees in an area already under a heat warning. Authorities said such conditions pose an exceptionally high risk of heatstroke, dehydration and fatalities even among healthy adults, not only vulnerable groups such as the elderly or outdoor workers. The government immediately activated an all-of-government emergency response system, with ministries and local governments instructed to expand cooling shelters, increase monitoring of vulnerable residents and prepare for surging electricity demand. Officials are urging residents in affected regions to follow what they call the three-step survival rule: Stop outdoor activities, Move to a cooler place and Check on family members, neighbors and other vulnerable people. "The first issuance of a Heat Wave Emergency Warning means that life-threatening heat is no longer a future possibility but an immediate reality," KMA Administrator Lee Myeong-sun said during a nationally televised briefing. She urged the public to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, stay hydrated and remain vigilant even after sunset as tropical nights continue to prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat. The KMA has also expanded its newly introduced tropical night advisory, warning that persistently high overnight temperatures can significantly increase health risks by disrupting sleep and reducing physical recovery. Heat wave warnings remained in effect Sunday across most of the country, including large parts of Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan and Sejong, while advisories covered many of the remaining regions. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 535 heat-related illnesses and two deaths nationwide as of Friday, with officials warning the toll could rise as the current hot spell is forecast to continue through at least Tuesday. Meteorologists said the emergency warning could be expanded to additional regions if temperatures continue climbing early next week, underscoring how South Korea's summers are entering what officials increasingly describe as an era of extreme heat rather than occasional heat waves. 2026-07-12 12:26:36