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Toss Partners with Global Blockchain Firms to Validate Won-Based Stablecoin Infrastructure Toss, operated by Viva Republica, is collaborating with global blockchain technology companies to validate next-generation digital financial infrastructure, including a won-based stablecoin. The goal is to establish a blockchain-based payment and settlement environment that meets regulatory and security standards equivalent to those of traditional finance.On July 8, Toss announced that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Optimism and Sunnyside Labs to explore the development of a won-linked stablecoin.The three companies will conduct a proof of concept (PoC) over the next three months to assess the feasibility of applying Optimism's core technology, the 'OP Stack,' to South Korea's blockchain-based digital financial infrastructure.The key focus of this validation is to determine whether the regulatory and security levels required by financial institutions can be implemented in a blockchain environment. Specifically, they will examine whether financial institutions can directly control the payment and settlement processes, whether customer verification (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) systems can be technically applied, and whether transaction information can be securely protected on a public blockchain network.Toss plans to gradually evaluate the potential for building blockchain-based financial infrastructure through this collaboration. The company aims to explore whether it can expand into digital financial infrastructure applicable in payment and settlement areas, including a won-based stablecoin.Currently, Toss is expanding its financial platform business, leveraging a subscriber base of approximately 30 million and over 500,000 online and offline payment infrastructures. The strategy involves combining existing financial services with blockchain technology to create a new digital financial ecosystem.Kim Kyu-ha, Chief Business Officer (CBO) of Toss, stated, "For Web3 technology to be successfully integrated into traditional finance, strict regulatory compliance and robust privacy protection are essential. We will validate the potential for building a compliance-based digital financial infrastructure optimized for the Korean market using the OP Stack."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:36:00 -
Furiosa AI Partners with Equinix to Target European AI Infrastructure Market AI semiconductor startup Furiosa AI is collaborating with global data center company Equinix to penetrate the European AI infrastructure market.Furiosa AI announced a strategic partnership with Equinix to build RNGD (Renegade)-based AI inference servers at the Equinix LS2 data center in Lisbon, Portugal.The newly established servers will operate as an evaluation environment where European companies can directly verify the performance, energy efficiency, and operational convenience of RNGD using their own AI models and workloads.Industry experts anticipate a rapid increase in demand for inference AI semiconductors as European countries expand their own AI infrastructure to secure AI sovereignty.Furiosa AI will strengthen customer support through its local subsidiary established earlier this year in Lisbon. Local engineers will assist throughout the entire process of implementing RNGD, including large language model (LLM) operation, agent-based AI deployment, system configuration, and software application.RNGD is an AI inference accelerator for data centers developed by Furiosa AI. It features HBM-based AI semiconductors that successfully entered mass production earlier this year, offering improved energy efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to GPUs. It can operate in existing air-cooled data centers without additional cooling equipment.Furiosa AI plans to participate in the 'RAISE Summit 2026' this week in Paris, France, to showcase RNGD and its AI software stack while expanding collaborations with European clients and sovereign AI projects.Baek Jun-ho, CEO of Furiosa AI, stated, "Through our collaboration with Equinix, we aim to support European companies in verifying the performance and economic viability of RNGD in real-world environments, enabling them to build AI services more rapidly."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:36:00
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Kakao expands AI assistant's place recommendation, booking features SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Kakao announced that it has upgraded the place recommendation and booking functions of its AI assistant, Kanana in KakaoTalk, broadening the service well beyond its original restaurant focus. The update revealed Tuesday extends Kanana's reach into tourism and lodging, exhibitions, performances and cinemas, as well as everyday conveniences such as gas stations, convenience stores and auto repair shops, the company said. Users can now chat with Kanana about weekend plans or gatherings and receive context-appropriate suggestions, then explore, share and book venues within the same conversation. A discussion about weekend activities, for instance, can prompt Kanana to suggest exhibitions, pop-up events and nearby outings. When a visit to a particular area is registered with Kanana, its daily morning briefing adds details such as nearby restaurants, parking and menu information, and the assistant also proposes likely follow-up questions. Kakao plans further updates that would bring the multi-category recommendations of Kanana in KakaoMap to Kanana in KakaoTalk, letting the assistant bundle lodging, sightseeing and dining suggestions for trips such as an overnight getaway, and is reviewing a feature to map time-based itineraries through KakaoMap. The company said it intends to deepen ties with internal services while expanding external partnerships. "We will gradually expand agentic AI that interprets user intent and judges and combines the necessary functions on its own, moving beyond search that simply answers questions," said a Kakao spokesperson. 2026-07-08 08:32:50 -
U.S. Strikes Iran in Response to Attacks on Ships, Tehran Promises Retaliation The United States launched airstrikes against Iran following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to warn of retaliation. This escalation threatens to disrupt the ceasefire established in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two nations.On July 7, the U.S. Central Command reported that three commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz were attacked by Iran, leading to the initiation of airstrikes against Iranian targets.The U.S. military characterized the Iranian attacks as not only dangerous but also a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.In addition to military action, the U.S. has resumed economic pressure on Iran by revoking temporary sanctions exemptions that allowed for the sale of Iranian oil.Iran condemned both the airstrikes and the withdrawal of sanctions exemptions as violations of the MOU. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated, "We will take necessary measures to protect our national interests and security." Following the airstrikes, multiple explosions were reported in southern Iran. Iranian media indicated that explosions were heard near the islands of Qeshm, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas, all located close to the Strait of Hormuz.According to Reuters, citing Iranian media, six projectiles landed near the Taherui dock area in Sirik. The U.S. has not disclosed specific details regarding the targets of the strikes.This latest conflict has raised concerns about navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a significant point of contention in ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. With both sides accusing each other of violating the MOU, the potential for further military clashes has increased.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:32:00
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Dunamu Launches First Offline Upbit Customer Desk Outside Seoul Dunamu announced on July 8 that it will operate a pilot Upbit customer desk on the 8th floor of The Hyundai Daegu in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, until September 23.This marks the first offline customer desk operation outside of Seoul. The initiative aims to reach digital underserved populations and attract local customers.The customer desk will provide one-on-one consultations and guidance for new users interested in Upbit. It is designed to assist customers who may not be familiar with online services, allowing them to receive direct support on-site. Dunamu plans to evaluate the pilot program and consider further expanding customer engagement points based on the results.During the operation period, various on-site events will also take place. Customers who sign up for Upbit for the first time at the customer desk will receive a Bitcoin exchange voucher worth 10,000 won. Additionally, three new customers will be randomly selected each month to receive Bitcoin exchange vouchers worth 1 million won. The first 100 visitors will also receive Upbit branded merchandise.A Dunamu representative stated, "We established the customer desk to broaden our connection with local customers and to communicate more closely. We encourage those curious about Upbit services or digital assets to visit without hesitation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:24:00
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Korea's record C/A surplus overshadowed by $31 bn foreign stock sell SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - South Korea posted another record current account surplus in May, but the windfall was overshadowed by the largest foreign exodus from the country's stock market on record, exposing a widening disconnect between the economy's external strength and global investors' appetite for Korean assets — a divergence that has helped keep the won stubbornly weak. The Bank of Korea said Wednesday the current account surplus widened to a record $38.61 billion in May, driven by booming semiconductor exports and investment income. At the same time, foreign investors sold a record net $31.05 billion worth of Korean equities, resulting in a $24.65 billion decline in foreign portfolio investment in domestic markets. The May current account surplus surpassed the previous record set in March and rising sharply from $28.29 billion in April and $9.91 billion a year earlier. For January-May, the black stretched to $141.28 billion, more than four times $33.9 billion a year-ago period. The goods account, the main driver of the overall surplus, also logged a record surplus of $37.86 billion. Goods exports rose 62.9 percent from a year earlier to $94.34 billion, while imports increased 22.2 percent to $56.48 billion. Exports under the balance-of-payments framework reached a fresh high, slightly topping the previous peak in March. Imports were not at a record high and edged down from $56.70 billion in April, widening the goods surplus sharply. The services account remained in deficit, but the shortfall narrowed to $1.09 billion from $2.42 billion a month earlier. The travel account swung to a small surplus of $50 million, while deficits continued in other business services and manufacturing services. The primary income account recorded a surplus of $2.17 billion, led by dividend income, while the secondary income account posted a deficit of $330 million. For the first five months of the year, the current account surplus reached $141.28 billion. The goods surplus over the same period stood at $145.96 billion. Customs-cleared trade data included in the Bank of Korea (BOK) release showed how heavily the export rebound depended on semiconductors. Exports on a customs basis rose 53.4 percent from a year earlier to $87.82 billion in May. Semiconductor exports jumped 167.7 percent to $37.29 billion, accounting for more than 40 percent of total customs-cleared exports. The increase in semiconductor exports alone accounted for roughly three quarters of the overall export gain from a year earlier. Exports of electrical and electronic products more than doubled to $47.61 billion, while information and communications devices rose 103.9 percent to $6.59 billion. Outside the technology sector, petroleum product exports rose 49.1 percent to $5.44 billion, while chemical and steel products posted moderate gains. But the recovery remained uneven, with passenger cars, auto parts and machinery all declining from a year earlier. Passenger car exports fell 7.5 percent to $5.49 billion, while auto parts declined 7.8 percent to $1.48 billion. Machinery and precision equipment exports also dropped 4.9 percent to $5.59 billion. By destination, exports to China rose 80.8 percent to $18.89 billion, while shipments to Southeast Asia increased 74.4 percent to $29.02 billion. Exports to the United States climbed 59.4 percent to $16 billion. Exports to the European Union rose only 3.2 percent, while shipments to the Middle East fell 7.5 percent. Imports on a customs basis rose 20.7 percent to $60.79 billion in May. Raw material imports increased 22.1 percent, while capital goods imports rose 28 percent. Consumer goods imports gained only 1.8 percent. Crude oil imports rose 24.8 percent in value terms, even as import volume fell 22.9 percent, as the average import price of crude oil surged 61.9 percent from a year earlier. Semiconductor-related imports also remained strong. Semiconductor imports rose 61.1 percent, while imports of chipmaking equipment increased 54.9 percent. The financial account recorded a net asset increase of $31.08 billion. Portfolio investment rose by $30.89 billion as South Korean residents purchased a net $6.24 billion of overseas securities, mainly equities, while foreign investors sharply reduced their holdings of Korean assets. For the first five months of the year, foreign investors dumped a total $74.67 billion of Korean equities - more than seven times $10.16 billion net sales in the same period last year. Korean investors bought $41.03 billion of overseas stocks during the period, resulting a cascade of capital outflow that has helped keep the won above 1,500 per U.S. dollar on average this year for the first time since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. Direct investment remained positive, with Korean companies investing $4.56 billion overseas and foreign direct investment into South Korea increasing by $2.69 billion. Reserve assets fell by $1.73 billion during the month. Reserve assets decreased by $1.73 billion in May. 2026-07-08 08:23:35 -
LS Securities Lowers HYBE's Target Price Amid Deteriorating Investor Sentiment LS Securities assessed on July 8 that HYBE's stock price has undergone excessive adjustments due to recent deterioration in investor sentiment. As a result, the firm has lowered its target price from 380,000 won to 350,000 won while maintaining a 'buy' rating.Park Seong-ho, a researcher at LS Securities, projected that HYBE's consolidated revenue for the second quarter will reach 1.1672 trillion won, a 65.4% increase compared to the same period last year, with operating profit expected to rise by 113.1% to 140.4 billion won.Park noted, "The second quarter is when the effects of BTS's comeback will be fully reflected in the consolidated results," adding that the concert and merchandise (MD) businesses will drive performance improvements.The concert business is expected to grow by approximately 99% year-on-year, bolstered by 24 BTS concerts and an expansion of performances in Japan, the United States, and Europe, which will increase the average ticket price (ATP). Additionally, the depreciation of the won in the first half of this year is seen as a positive factor. Performances by SEVENTEEN, &TEAM, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) are also anticipated to contribute to the results.Furthermore, the MD and music industries are expected to continue their positive trends. Park stated, "BTS's LP sales in the U.S., the success of rookie group Cortis's new release, and the expansion of 'Merch Band' sales combining albums and goods will support performance. Additionally, tour MD, pop-up MD, and collaborative product sales are expected to maintain a solid flow." However, he explained that due to the increase in pre-order sales, some revenue will be recognized in the second half of the year.The growth of new artists following BTS is also viewed positively. Park remarked, "Cortis has secured a North American tour less than a year after debuting, indicating rapid expansion of its fandom," and added, "Cat's Eye is also continuing its growth in the North American market, with its new song re-entering the Billboard Hot 100."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:16:00
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Next-Generation Medium Satellite CAS500-4 Successfully Communicates with Korea The CAS500-4, a next-generation medium satellite, successfully established its first communication with the Korean Peninsula after being launched aboard a SpaceX rocket.According to the Korea Aerospace Agency, the satellite made contact with the ground station at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute in Daejeon at 10:50 PM KST on July 7, approximately 6 hours and 38 minutes after its launch.During the initial communication, the Daejeon ground station confirmed the successful deployment of the satellite's solar panels and checked for any anomalies in the satellite's status information. Future communications will include tests of the X-band antenna deployment and the activation of the attitude control system.Following its initial operations, CAS500-4 is set to begin its mission in 2027, providing data for agricultural and forestry observations, as well as disaster response related to wildfires and other emergencies.CAS500-4 is the first domestically developed satellite specialized for agricultural and forestry monitoring. Weighing 514 kg, over 75% of its components, including the main body and payload, are domestically produced. The satellite features a wide-area electro-optical camera with a resolution of 5 meters and a 120 km observation width, allowing it to capture images of the entire Korean Peninsula every three days, enabling precise monitoring of crop flooding, growth conditions, and wildfire damage. 2026-07-08 08:12:00
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Switzerland Defeats Colombia in Penalty Shootout to Reach World Cup Quarterfinals Switzerland defeated Colombia in a penalty shootout to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup.On July 8, in a Round of 16 match held at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, Switzerland and Colombia ended regulation and extra time in a 0-0 draw before Switzerland triumphed 4-3 in the shootout.Both teams were unable to score during the match. Colombia made a substitution in the second half, bringing on Juan Fernando Quintero for James Rodríguez, while Switzerland introduced Rubén Vargas late in the second half, but neither team could break the deadlock.In extra time, Colombia created significant chances. In the first half of extra time, John Lucumí's header hit the crossbar, and in the second half, Jaminton Campas missed a one-on-one opportunity by shooting over the goal. Switzerland also threatened with a shot from Jaki Amduuni, but Colombia's goalkeeper Camilo Vargas made the save.The penalty shootout saw contrasting fortunes. Colombia's Juan Fernando Quintero, Jaminton Campas, and Luis Díaz converted their kicks, but Davinson Sánchez hit the crossbar, and Cuco Hernández's shot was saved by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.Switzerland found success with Granit Xhaka and Jaki Amduuni scoring their penalties. The final kicker, Rubén Vargas, calmly found the net to seal the victory.With this win, Switzerland reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years, since 1954. They will face Argentina in the quarterfinals, after Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 to advance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:08:00
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KATSEYE's 'Beautiful Chaos' Marks 53 Weeks on Billboard 200, a Record for Girl Groups KATSEYE, the global group formed by HYBE and Geffen Records, continues to make waves on the U.S. Billboard charts.The group's second EP, 'Beautiful Chaos,' has reached No. 128 on the latest Billboard 200 chart, marking its 53rd week on the chart.'Beautiful Chaos' previously achieved 52 consecutive weeks on the chart as of July 4. This marks the first time a girl group album has remained on the Billboard 200 for a year since The Pussycat Dolls' debut album 'PCD' in 2005.The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on sales, streaming, and downloads. KATSEYE is being recognized for establishing a long-term presence in the U.S. pop market with 'Beautiful Chaos,' beyond its initial buzz.The group has also seen success on the singles chart, with several tracks entering the Billboard Hot 100. 'Gabriela' peaked at No. 21, 'PINKY UP' reached No. 28, 'Internet Girl' hit No. 29, and 'Gnarly' landed at No. 82.In June, KATSEYE released the collaboration single 'ICONIC BY MISTAKE' with fellow HYBE label groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT. The song reached No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the highest position for a K-pop girl group song on the chart this year. KATSEYE has now placed five songs on the Hot 100.The group has also achieved recognition outside the charts. KATSEYE was nominated for 'Best New Artist' and 'Best Pop Duo/Group Performance' at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. At the American Music Awards held in May, they won three awards, including 'New Artist of the Year.'KATSEYE is expanding its presence on global festival stages, performing at events such as Lollapalooza Chicago and South America, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and Governors Ball.Starting in September, KATSEYE will embark on its first North American and European tour, 'THE WILDWORLD TOUR.' The tour sold out all shows within 48 hours of ticket sales and will take place in 27 cities across 10 countries.KATSEYE is a global girl group formed through the audition project 'The Debut: Dream Academy' by HYBE and Geffen Records. While based on Korea's production and training system, the group's member composition, music, and activities are tailored for the global market, including the U.S.The long chart run of 'Beautiful Chaos' and its success on the Hot 100 exemplify HYBE's 'multi-home, multi-genre' strategy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-08 08:08:00