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  • Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute Passes Air Quality Proficiency Test
    Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute Passes Air Quality Proficiency Test The Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute announced that both its main and eastern branches received a 'satisfactory' rating in all categories during the National Institute of Environmental Research's regular proficiency test for indoor air quality and odors. The institute confirmed the accuracy and quality control of its testing and analysis in the fields of indoor air quality and odors on September 9. Proficiency tests are a quality control system designed to objectively evaluate the testing and analysis capabilities of environmental testing and inspection agencies. Each agency analyzes standard samples and compares the results to reference values to assess accuracy and reliability. The evaluation for indoor air quality included seven items: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and formaldehyde. In the odor category, the analysis capabilities for complex odors, four types of aldehydes, and three types of volatile organic compounds were assessed. Both the main and eastern branches of the Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute received satisfactory ratings in all evaluated categories. Accurate measurement and analysis of pollutants are essential for indoor air quality, especially in public facilities where citizens spend extended periods. Similarly, odor measurement is crucial for addressing community complaints and managing business operations, making the objectivity and accuracy of test results vital. Lee Jeong-il, head of the Environmental Investigation Division at the Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, "The satisfactory ratings across all categories confirm our analytical capabilities and the reliability of our test results. We will continue to provide accurate environmental measurement services through ongoing quality control and enhancement of our analytical capabilities." Meanwhile, proficiency tests are a system for continuously managing the accuracy of analytical results produced by testing and inspection agencies, evaluating measurement capabilities by comparing results from similar samples against reference values. The Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute plans to maintain quality control in environmental testing for indoor air quality and odors based on the results of this evaluation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 09:04:00
  • Government Exceeds Annual Direct Job Creation Target, Plans Additional Hiring
    Government Exceeds Annual Direct Job Creation Target, Plans Additional Hiring The government’s direct job creation program has surpassed its annual target, with 1,343,000 positions filled as of the end of August. The government plans to assess the execution status of each program by year-end and will pursue additional hiring if resources allow.On September 9, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Employment and Labor held a joint task force meeting at the Government Seoul Building, led by Deputy Minister Kang Gi-ryong and Employment Policy Director Lim Young-mi, to review the current status of direct job creation and preparations for next year’s employment initiatives.The direct job creation program, aimed at supporting employment stability for vulnerable groups, has hired 1,343,000 individuals by the end of August. This figure exceeds the initial target of 1,271,000 for August by 72,000 and the annual goal of 1,288,000 by 55,000, achieving approximately 104.3% of the annual target.The government will continue to monitor the execution status of each program until the end of the year and plans to pursue additional hiring if resources are available. It also aims to continuously identify and expand productive public jobs that contribute to social benefits through inter-agency collaboration.During the meeting, officials noted that while the overall employment growth trend is recovering, conditions remain challenging for youth and certain sectors.In August, the number of employed individuals increased by 184,000 compared to the same month last year. This marks the third consecutive month of growth, following increases of 63,000 in June and 108,000 in July.The decline in manufacturing employment decreased from 68,000 in July to 38,000 in August, while construction jobs fell from 57,000 to 32,000. Conversely, the agricultural, forestry, and fishery sectors saw a larger decline, from 80,000 to 109,000 during the same period.The drop in the youth employment rate compared to the same month last year narrowed from 1.6 percentage points in July to 1.0 percentage point in August. The number of youth who were 'inactive' has also decreased for seven consecutive months, but the government assessed that challenges in youth employment persist.The government believes that rising tensions in the Middle East and a base effect from last September, when employment increased by 312,000, could act as constraints on future employment growth.In response, the government plans to strengthen the preparation and promotion of key employment projects reflected in the 2027 budget proposal. A core task of the recently announced 'Youth Job Recovery Plan' is to ensure that young people are informed about support systems ahead of next year’s budget confirmation, allowing them to apply and participate in advance.The government will also expedite the collaboration plans among departments and agencies for the 'Youth Playground,' set to be established next year. This platform aims to connect manpower with jobs, facilitating the matching of trained youth with available work opportunities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 09:00:20
  • Samsung Electro-Mechanics Leads with 2.5D Technology as LG Innotek Pursues AI PCB Market
    Samsung Electro-Mechanics Leads with 2.5D Technology as LG Innotek Pursues AI PCB Market Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek showcased their competing 'AI PCB strategies' at the KPCA Show 2026, held from September 9 to 11 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, already supplying AI accelerator and server PCBs, is advancing next-generation packaging technology with its 2.5D, 2.1D, and glass PCBs. Meanwhile, LG Innotek introduced its first AI accelerator PCB exceeding 100mm, transitioning its FC-BGA business from a PC focus to high-performance AI applications.Both companies are exhibiting next-generation semiconductor packaging solutions at the event. The rise of generative AI is leading to an increase in the number of chips and memory in accelerators, resulting in larger PCBs with denser circuits.Samsung Electro-Mechanics emphasized its 2.5D and 2.1D packaging solutions. The 2.5D PCB incorporates technology to suppress warping and reliably transmit high-speed signals in large, multilayer structures. The 2.1D PCB connects chips without a silicon interposer, targeting high integration and process efficiency for AI semiconductors. The company also unveiled glass PCB technology that utilizes glass as a core material to reduce warping and signal loss.In contrast, LG Innotek's highlight is the debut of its FC-BGA for AI accelerators. The new product features a large PCB exceeding 100mm on one side, showcasing samples that increase the area by approximately 40% compared to the existing 85mm x 85mm products. LG Innotek aims to begin mass production of high-value FC-BGA for AI learning and inference applications by 2027.The current market positions of the two companies differ significantly. Samsung Electro-Mechanics began mass production of server FC-BGA in 2022, supplying products for AI accelerators and server CPUs to major global tech firms. In contrast, LG Innotek is transitioning from a PC chipset-focused FC-BGA to producing AI accelerator products by 2027.Both companies are also focusing on glass PCB technology for next-generation solutions. Samsung Electro-Mechanics is showcasing a key process that creates fine connection pathways in glass and fills them with metal. LG Innotek aims for mass production of glass PCBs by 2028 and has introduced 'chip embedding' technology, which reduces connection distances by embedding chips within the PCB. While both companies target the AI market, Samsung Electro-Mechanics emphasizes advanced packaging structures, whereas LG Innotek is rapidly expanding its business scale through larger formats and new production methods.The significance of AI PCBs is reflected in their financial performance. Samsung Electro-Mechanics' package solution division reported second-quarter sales of 771.6 billion won, a 37% increase from the previous year. LG Innotek's package solution business recorded sales of 935.6 billion won and an operating profit of 99.6 billion won in the first half of the year, with a goal to grow this division's operating profit to 1 trillion won by 2031.Joo Hyuk, Vice President of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' Package Solution Division, stated, "We will enhance our large-area, high-layer, and ultra-fine circuit technologies to respond to the high-end semiconductor packaging market." Cho Ji-tae, Executive Director of LG Innotek's Package Solution Division, remarked, "We will lead a paradigm shift in the PCB market with innovative products."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 09:00:00
  • Shinhan Securities Lowers Alteogen Target Price After Novartis Clinical Setback
    Shinhan Securities Lowers Alteogen Target Price After Novartis Clinical Setback Shinhan Investment Corp. announced on September 9 that it has lowered its target price for Alteogen from 540,000 won to 520,000 won after one of Novartis' antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOC) failed to meet primary endpoints in a Phase 3 clinical trial. The firm maintained its 'buy' rating and its preference for the stock within the sector.Research analyst Eom Min-yong stated, "On September 2, Novartis signed a technology transfer agreement worth 4.4 trillion won, and as a result of this outcome, the number of confirmed products for subcutaneous (SC) transition has changed from three to two." He added, "There are no changes to the terms of the Novartis contract due to this result."Eom explained that among the three AOC products secured by Novartis, Del-desiran, a treatment for myasthenia gravis type 1 (DM1), did not achieve its primary endpoint in the Phase 3 trial. Although Del-desiran was initially considered a candidate for SC development based on its administration method of intravenous (IV) dosing every eight weeks for 54 weeks, its future development strategy remains uncertain, leading to its exclusion from the list of expected transition products.However, he assessed that the development of the remaining AOC products is progressing well. Eom noted, "Del-zota, for which FDA approval has been applied, is on track for approval in the first half of 2027, and there are no changes to the SC development plan." He also mentioned that Del-Brax is being developed with a revenue target of up to $4 billion, and the SC development value of the two AOC substances continues to be reflected.He projected that the impact on the contract itself would be limited, stating, "There will be no return of contract fees or reductions or changes to the existing contract due to the failure of Del-desiran," and he confirmed that the estimated outlook for the development of a total of 10 products, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies, remains unchanged.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 08:56:10
  • Busan Company Awesome Star and Metavision Partner to Build AI Sportswear System
    Busan Company Awesome Star and Metavision Partner to Build AI Sportswear System Awesome Star, a performance sportswear company based in Busan, has announced a partnership with Metavision, a provider of enterprise AI transformation (AX) services. Starting next month, they will transition core operations such as ordering, inventory, and settlement to an AI system.The first phase, the commerce AX system, is currently under development and is set to be implemented gradually beginning in October.According to the agreement, the two companies will first work on integrating scattered data related to orders, sales, inventory, purchasing, logistics, advertising, marketing, customer management, and settlement.This new structure aims to reduce repetitive data entry and verification tasks, allowing for streamlined management of orders, inventory, and sales information.Under the agreement, Awesome Star will provide operational data and on-site standards accumulated during the production and ordering processes, while Metavision will oversee the design, construction, automation, and operation of the AX system.The actual impact of the system will be assessed after its implementation. Both companies noted that it is too early to quantify reductions in order and production times or costs, as the system is still in the development phase.Custom sportswear requires extensive information to be confirmed during the ordering process, including team-specific designs, sizes, quantities, and markings.By reducing repetitive communication and data entry tasks, they expect to shorten the time from order receipt to design confirmation and production handoff. They plan to collect data on work hours, order processing times, error rates, and inventory turnover to measure the effectiveness of the implementation.Following the automation of commerce operations, a 3D custom builder will be integrated. This system will allow customers or sports teams to select designs, colors, and detailed options for uniforms and sports equipment online, and view the finished products in 3D before placing orders.Notably, Awesome Star will directly connect the online 3D ordering function to its existing custom sportswear production system.The goal is to create a structure that links customer selection information directly to the ordering and production processes, rather than merely displaying designs on a screen.Awesome Star believes that its experience in producing custom products will be beneficial during the implementation of the 3D builder. Since they have already established processes for design, consultation, ordering, and production, connecting these to a digital ordering system is expected to enhance operational efficiency.They have also established principles for protecting personal information related to athlete and team data. Data collection will be limited to what is necessary for service provision, and personal identification information will be strictly separated from product and order data.When utilizing data for marketing or new services, they will follow procedures for prior notification and consent, and the system will be designed to restrict data access based on specific purposes.They are also considering applying the same system to international operations. Awesome Star is currently in discussions with local sports teams and distribution partners, primarily in Europe.Previously, domestic staff manually processed overseas orders, but the long-term plan is to establish a global 3D custom infrastructure that allows local customers to view products online and select designs and options for ordering.An Awesome Star representative stated, "In the sportswear industry, not only product quality but also the speed and accuracy of custom responses, as well as data management for customers and teams, are becoming increasingly important. We plan to create an environment where repetitive tasks are handled by AI and systems, allowing employees to focus on product development and customer service."A Metavision representative added, "The core of AX is connecting the data and business processes that companies possess to enhance actual productivity. We plan to build a system tailored to Awesome Star's commerce and custom sportswear business characteristics and support their business expansion."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 08:56:00
  • UPDATE: Koreas youth employment falls for 46th month in Aug
    UPDATE: Korea's youth employment falls for 46th month in Aug *Updated with comments from a Ministry of Data and Statistics briefing and additional data SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - Youth employment in South Korea fell for a 46th straight month in August and manufacturing jobs declined for a 26th month despite stronger overall hiring. The number of employed people aged 15 to 29 fell by 143,000 from a year earlier to 3.428 million. Their employment rate dropped 1.0 percentage point to 44.1 percent. "Youth employment remained weak as jobs declined in information and communications and manufacturing, industries where younger workers are heavily represented," said Bin Hyun-jun, director general of social statistics at the Ministry of Data and Statistics. People in their 20s accounted for most of the decline, with employment falling by 164,000 from a year earlier. The youth employment rate has now fallen for 28 consecutive months. The youth labor force participation rate also dropped 0.8 percentage point to 46.6 percent, the lowest August level since 2020. The youth unemployment rate rose 0.5 percentage point to 5.4 percent, the highest August level in four years, while the overall unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.0 percent. Bin said the increase in youth unemployment partly reflected stronger job-seeking activity during the survey period, including civil service applications, expanded public-sector hiring and an increase in new job openings. The number of young people classified as “resting,” a category within the economically inactive population, fell by 51,000 from a year earlier. The ministry said some young people appeared to be moving from inactivity into active job searches and therefore being counted as unemployed. Factory employment also remained under pressure. Employment in mining and manufacturing fell by 37,000 from a year earlier, including a decline of 38,000 in manufacturing. Manufacturing employment fell for a 26th consecutive month, though the decrease narrowed from 68,000 in July. Construction employment fell by 32,000 and remained in decline for a 28th straight month. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries lost 109,000 jobs. Accommodation and food services shed 61,000 jobs, marking their first decline in four months and the largest decrease since July last year. Bin attributed part of the decline to a high comparison base created by consumption vouchers issued from August last year, saying the losses were concentrated in restaurants and drinking establishments. The weaker youth and factory figures contrasted with an improvement in overall employment. South Korea added 184,000 jobs from a year earlier in August, bringing the number of employed people aged 15 and older to 29.151 million. The increase widened from 108,000 in July and was the largest in five months. The employment rate for people aged 15 to 64, the OECD comparison standard, rose 0.5 percentage point to 70.4 percent, the highest level recorded for August since comparable data began in 1989. The employment rate for people aged 15 and older remained unchanged at 63.3 percent. Job gains were concentrated among older workers and service industries. Employment among people aged 60 and older increased by 191,000 from a year earlier. Employment also rose by 91,000 among people in their 30s and by 62,000 among those in their 50s. Jobs among people in their 40s fell by 17,000. By industry, health and social welfare services added 186,000 jobs. Arts, sports and recreation services gained 73,000 jobs. Business facilities management and support services added 45,000. Regular employees increased by 180,000 from a year earlier. Temporary employees declined by 50,000, while daily workers fell by 17,000. The number of unemployed people fell by 4,000 to 588,000. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate eased to 2.7 percent from 2.8 percent in July. The economically inactive population increased by 77,000 to 16.297 million, even as the number of people classified as resting fell by 89,000 to 2.551 million. AJP Takeaways - South Korea's youth employment fell by 143,000 in August for a 46th straight month, while the youth employment rate extended its decline to 28 months. - South Korea's manufacturing employment fell by 38,000 for a 26th consecutive month, while construction jobs declined for a 28th month. - South Korea's overall employment increased by 184,000, with gains concentrated among older workers and health and social welfare services. - South Korea's employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 rose to 70.4 percent, the highest August level since comparable data began in 1989. 2026-09-09 08:52:47
  • TNC Foundation Operates Bapmeokcha at Gochang Happiness Center, Providing Snacks to 150 Children
    TNC Foundation Operates 'Bapmeokcha' at Gochang Happiness Center, Providing Snacks to 150 Children The TNC Foundation announced on September 9 that it operated the 'Bapmeokcha' program at the Gochang Happiness Center on September 8.This event was part of the 'Healers, Heal Us!' initiative, which aims to support social workers who often put their own well-being aside while caring for others. The TNC Foundation's program encourages these dedicated professionals.In its third year, 'Healers, Heal Us!' will select 20 social workers to receive a free trip to Jeju Island. Among them, one 'Empathy King' will be chosen to receive a food truck from the foundation's 'Bapmeokcha' initiative at their workplace.This year's Empathy King is Hwang Young-cheon, a social worker at the Gochang Happiness Center. On September 8, the TNC Foundation brought the Bapmeokcha food truck to the center, providing a special day for the children. In total, 150 children from the Gochang Happiness Center and nearby facilities were invited to enjoy snacks from the food truck.Hwang Young-cheon expressed his feelings about being named Empathy King, stating, "I was very happy to hear the news, especially knowing that I could offer our children a new experience. Seeing the joy on their faces made me feel that I made the right choice in this profession."Meanwhile, the TNC Foundation, as a public interest foundation, promotes the development of 'empathy talents' through scholarship, education, welfare, and empathy projects.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 08:52:10
  • Coinone Expands Collaboration with Korea Investment & Securities to Provide Cryptocurrency Prices
    Coinone Expands Collaboration with Korea Investment & Securities to Provide Cryptocurrency Prices Coinone is now providing cryptocurrency price information through the Korea Investment & Securities application. This marks the second collaboration following the introduction of a stock investment connection service in July. On September 9, Coinone announced the launch of its 'cryptocurrency price' service via the Korea Investment & Securities app. Users can access a dedicated service page by clicking on the cryptocurrency price tab within the app. They can view real-time prices and fluctuations of cryptocurrencies supported by Coinone. The service also offers real-time rankings in five categories, including trading volume, market capitalization, price increases, price decreases, and popular cryptocurrencies. By selecting individual cryptocurrencies, users can check detailed price information, including price change charts over different periods and liquidity. Additional resources such as cryptocurrency whitepapers, official websites, key information summaries, and guides are also available to assist in investment decisions. Since May, when Coinone and OKX Ventures made a strategic investment to become shareholders of Korea Investment & Securities, the two companies have continued their collaboration. In July, a new menu was added to the Coinone app, allowing users to navigate to Korea Investment & Securities' web trading system (WTS). Cha Myung-hoon, CEO of Coinone, stated, "We will enhance the convenience of moving between our services and expand collaborative synergies, including mutual customer inflow."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 08:52:00
  • Eight Hikers Rescued After Being Stranded in Seoraksan National Park
    Eight Hikers Rescued After Being Stranded in Seoraksan National Park Eight hikers were rescued after becoming stranded in the swollen waters of the Towang Valley in Seoraksan National Park, located in Sokcho, Gangwon Province.According to Yonhap News and the Seoraksan National Park office, a total of 17 members from the park's special rescue team and the 119 rescue team responded to the emergency call and successfully rescued the hikers after approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.The area where the hikers were stranded is a restricted zone. They had been climbing and requested assistance after heavy rain caused the valley waters to rise. Some of the hikers reported symptoms of hypothermia.Choi Seung-cheol, head of the Disaster Safety Division at the Seoraksan National Park office, stated, "Seoraksan has deep valleys and steep slopes, making it easy to become isolated during heavy rain when the valleys can swell rapidly. Even if a hike is planned, it is essential to abandon it and quickly descend to a safe location if it starts to rain."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 08:52:00
  • LG Innotek Unveils First AI Accelerator FC-BGA, Aims to Lead Next-Gen Substrate Market
    LG Innotek Unveils First AI Accelerator FC-BGA, Aims to Lead Next-Gen Substrate Market LG Innotek is making strides to secure its position in the semiconductor packaging market by showcasing key technologies for next-generation substrates. The company is participating in the KPCA Show 2026, the largest PCB and semiconductor packaging exhibition in South Korea, held at the Incheon Songdo Convensia starting September 9. At the event, LG Innotek is unveiling its high-performance 'Flip Chip-Ball Grid Array' (FC-BGA) designed for artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators. This large-area substrate, exceeding 100mm on one side, integrates core technologies for ultra-fine circuit implementation and high-layer stacking. The company plans to begin mass production of this high-value FC-BGA for AI learning and inference in 2027. Also featured is the chip embedding technology, which incorporates chips within the substrate, achieving both reduced power loss and improved signal transmission performance. Additionally, LG Innotek is introducing its glass substrate technology, currently under development with a target for mass production in 2028. This next-generation solution minimizes warping and circuit distortion by replacing the core layer with glass. In the package substrate sector, the company is displaying its global-leading RF-SiP substrate and FC-CSP substrate. The Cu-Post (copper pillar) method applied to communication semiconductor substrates has reduced the spacing between solder balls by approximately 20%, enhancing circuit integration. The use of high thermal conductivity copper has also significantly improved heat dissipation issues. In the tape substrate zone, LG Innotek is showcasing display substrates such as COF and 2-metal COF, along with the smart IC substrate 'ECONOVA.' ECONOVA has received acclaim in the European market for its environmentally friendly new material that achieves high performance without precious metal plating processes. George Tae, head of the Package Solutions Division, emphasized, "We will change the paradigm of the substrate market with innovative products. This exhibition allows attendees to intuitively see LG Innotek's substrate technology across various industries, including AI, smartphones, and mobility."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 08:48:00