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  • Seoul National University and Finance Ministry Unveil Private AI Ecosystem Strategy
    Seoul National University and Finance Ministry Unveil Private AI Ecosystem Strategy As artificial intelligence (AI) transitions from a simple algorithmic competition to a phase where it controls factory equipment and influences battlefield decisions, a strategy for a 'national private AI ecosystem' that integrates key strategic areas of defense, manufacturing, and next-generation encryption and security technologies has been unveiled. On September 7, the Seoul National University 10-10 Private AI Initiative and the Finance Ministry's Strategic Economic Advisory Group jointly hosted a forum titled 'Defense + Manufacturing + Security in the AI Era' at the Sangsan Mathematics Hall of Seoul National University, attended by key stakeholders from academia, government, military, and industry. The forum focused on building a trust-based private infrastructure that utilizes data without exposure. The blueprint aims to elevate South Korea to a true 'AI superpower' and a leader in defense by integrating encryption computing technology as a foundational infrastructure, particularly in sectors where data leaks or contamination could have catastrophic consequences. Park Young-sun, chair of the Finance Ministry's Strategic Economic Advisory Group and former Minister of SMEs and Startups, emphasized in her opening remarks, "The past few years have been the 'first act' of AI, where we confirmed what generative AI can do. Now, the 'second act' asks where we connect AI and how we will make the real world move with it. AI must transform manufacturing, which in turn enhances defense competitiveness, while security must maintain the trust of this entire AI ecosystem." She added that national competitiveness in the AI era stems not from a single technology but from a strategic economy that weaves together semiconductors, power, data, and security. Kim Joo-han, Vice President for Research at Seoul National University, highlighted in his welcoming address that the nation's competitiveness in the AI era relies on the 'safe utilization of sensitive data without leaks.' He noted that global leaders in defense AI are emerging, with companies like Palantir becoming market focal points. "AI competitiveness is not determined solely by faster and larger computing power. It requires the systematic acquisition of high-quality data in the field and ensuring safety through thorough verification without external leaks, which will ultimately shape the nation's industry and future competitiveness," he stated. Kim also mentioned that Seoul National University has been focusing on core technologies that can safely handle sensitive national and industrial data by breaking down the barriers between mathematics, AI, policy, and industry. He pledged that the university would continue to lead in establishing standards for 'trustworthy AI' and in deriving policy tasks and creating new innovation ecosystems. "Encrypted Computing Must Become the Default for National Infrastructure... Immediate Restoration of Intergovernmental Safety Links Needed" As AI becomes more deeply integrated into defense and manufacturing, security emerges as a critical prerequisite. The security session highlighted the need to establish homomorphic encryption (HE) and primary data protection technologies (PETs) as foundational elements of national infrastructure. Cheon Jeong-hee, a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Seoul National University and head of the Crypto Lab, pointed out in his presentation on 'Encrypted Computing and AI Security' that a critical flaw in existing security systems lies in the 'in-use data' that is decrypted when data is computed in memory. He explained that the tacit knowledge of manufacturing processes and classified defense data have been actively withheld from sharing due to the potential for external leaks, which could threaten the existence of companies and the nation. Cheon presented the homomorphic encryption search technology (HEracles) that performs SQL searches and AI learning without decryption, advocating for the establishment of protective and usable encrypted computing as the 'default' for national AI infrastructure. He noted that homomorphic encryption is no longer just a theoretical technology; it has already been demonstrated in defense experimental projects, police data, and the Korean Manufacturing-X platform. He stressed that while AI's power comes from connecting data, national trust arises from not exposing that data. He called for the design of a security layer that encompasses defense, manufacturing, and public safety as a common national foundation to be rapidly disseminated as procurement standards. Ryu Geun-kwan, an emeritus professor in the Department of Economics at Seoul National University and former head of the Statistics Korea, presented on 'National Data Safety Linkage System (Hub & Spokes) and Security,' proposing a method for integrating statistical and administrative data. He stated, "To establish evidence-based precise policies, longitudinal and cross-sectional data integration is essential. Blocking data to avoid risks is a misguided solution that eliminates the evidence for policy." He suggested a 'hub and spoke' model where the central statistical registry (hub) connects with various departments and agencies (spokes) without exposing original data. Ryu particularly urged the immediate resumption of R&D projects based on internationally recognized privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs: homomorphic encryption, differential privacy, synthetic data) for safe linkage. He noted that the pilot project for homomorphic encryption by Statistics Korea has already been included in the 2023 UN PET guidelines and recognized as a model innovation case in reports from Germany's Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He warned that repeating the information strategy plan (ISP) while having already completed global demonstrations of the encrypted linkage system is a serious waste of time and a setback for national competitiveness. He called for the immediate transition of the R&D project, which faced budget cuts, to a main project centered on national data processing and urged for expedited pilot construction to safeguard both data sovereignty and policy quality in the AI era. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 19:40:00
  • Residents Demand Review of Medical School Selection After 36-Year Wait
    Residents Demand Review of Medical School Selection After 36-Year Wait “Comprehensive review of medical school selection.”On September 7, at 7 p.m., Mokpo Peace Square was filled with citizens raising signs that read, ‘Comprehensive review of medical school selection.’ As the sun began to set, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.The ‘Mokpo University Medical School Preservation Emergency Committee’ hosted the ‘Total Rally for the Preservation of Mokpo University Medical School,’ which drew an estimated 2,000 residents from the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do.This gathering was not merely about attracting a university; it reflected a deep-seated concern for the community. Residents of all ages, including those in wheelchairs, seniors, youth, and local stakeholders, came together to demand a thorough re-evaluation of the selection process for the new national medical school.Above all, the rally encapsulated the 36-year-long aspiration of the southwestern region for a national medical school.The demand for a national medical school stems from the region's healthcare realities. For residents, the establishment of a medical school and university hospital is not just about expanding educational institutions; it is a matter of ensuring timely treatment for critically ill and emergency patients, addressing the right to life, and reducing healthcare disparities.Consequently, the recent controversy surrounding the selection results for the new national medical school has not subsided.In particular, residents and Mokpo University officials argue that the fairness of the evaluation process, the criteria used, and the feasibility of securing land for the university and hospital must be reassessed.Given that the evaluation results were decided by a narrow margin, there is a call for greater transparency in the detailed evaluation process and scoring criteria, as well as objective verification of the raised concerns.The demands of the residents gathered in the square echoed this sentiment.They are not simply asking for the results to be overturned; they seek a fair review of whether the evaluation process was conducted legally and equitably, one that the community can accept after 36 years of waiting.Signs and banners reading ‘Comprehensive review of medical school selection’ and ‘Stop unfair and unjust evaluations of the national medical school’ were prominently displayed. Residents raised their signs high in response to chants.Moreover, voices from the southwestern region emphasize that this issue should not be viewed merely as a competition between Mokpo University and other institutions.If the goal of establishing a national medical school is to improve healthcare access in medically underserved areas and to address regional healthcare imbalances, then it is essential to critically assess which location aligns best with these policy objectives.It is also crucial to evaluate whether the university can successfully establish a medical school and hospital, and how realistically prepared they are in terms of land, facilities, faculty, and clinical education systems.Furthermore, Mokpo University and the southwestern community have raised concerns regarding the composition of the evaluation committee, the evaluation methods, land acquisition, and the feasibility of the project, demanding a re-examination of the selection process. Any discrepancies in these claims should be clarified through the disclosure of relevant documents and verification by the appropriate authorities.Thus, the cries from the Peace Square were increasingly urgent.Thirty-six years is a long time, enough for a generation to grow into adulthood. Throughout this period, residents of the southwestern region have awaited the establishment of a national medical school, holding onto the hope that one day they would receive adequate care for severe and emergency medical needs.The demands of the residents who gathered that day ultimately reflect a call for a fair response to their long wait.The establishment of a national medical school is not a contest determining victory or defeat for any region. If a national medical school is to be funded by taxpayer money, the principles of addressing healthcare vulnerability, improving access, and ensuring the feasibility of establishing educational and hospital facilities must be at the forefront of decision-making.If evaluations were conducted according to these principles, the government and relevant agencies should transparently explain the rationale. Conversely, if any issues are objectively confirmed in the procedures or evaluation process, it is also the responsibility of the administration to rectify them.The 2,000 residents gathered at the Peace Square ultimately seek that answer.“What we want is not special treatment, but a fair opportunity.”Residents of the southwestern region, who have waited 36 years, took to the streets once more. Whether in wheelchairs, holding signs, or accompanied by family, they all looked in the same direction.As darkness fell over the Peace Square, the calls for ‘comprehensive review’ grew louder.At the end of the roar created by the 2,000 participants lay a single, urgent question.Should the dream of a national medical school, which the residents of southwestern Jeollanam-do have waited 36 years for, end here without even a chance for a fair evaluation?It is now time for the government and relevant agencies to respond to that question.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 19:36:00
  • KB Kookmin Bank Extends Partnership with Bithumb for One Year
    KB Kookmin Bank Extends Partnership with Bithumb for One Year KB Kookmin Bank has agreed to extend its partnership with the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb for an additional year.According to the financial sector on September 7, Kookmin Bank and Bithumb have recently decided to extend their real-name account partnership and have applied for approval from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Once the related procedures are completed, the partnership will be extended until the end of September next year.As the existing contract is set to expire at the end of this month, Kookmin Bank has been discussing the renewal terms with Bithumb. In June, the bank conducted an on-site inspection of Bithumb, and has since been reviewing the results of the inspection and internal evaluations to consider the contract extension.Particularly, interest in the renewal was heightened following a major Bitcoin overpayment incident at Bithumb earlier this year. However, it appears that Kookmin Bank has decided to maintain the partnership after assessing Bithumb's response and internal control systems following the incident.The decision to renew the partnership is also believed to be influenced by the potential for expanding deposit bases and enhancing platform activity through the collaboration with Bithumb. As of the end of the first half of this year, Kookmin Bank's demand deposit balance stood at 176.8 trillion won, an increase of 25.3 trillion won compared to 151.5 trillion won at the end of 2024. During the same period, the monthly active users (MAU) of Kookmin Bank's mobile app, KB Star Banking, rose from 13.03 million to 14.06 million.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 19:28:00
  • Dyson Expands Global Customer Support with Never Without Your Dyson
    Dyson Expands Global Customer Support with 'Never Without Your Dyson' Dyson announced on September 7 that it has unveiled a new global customer support policy called 'Never Without Your Dyson.' The initiative focuses on integrating intelligent diagnostics, proactive product management, and expert assistance into a single service framework.According to Dyson, customer service requests in South Korea have decreased by approximately 90% over the past three years, with the average service processing time reduced from over 10 days to about 2.5 days. The insights and experiences gained in South Korea have been incorporated into this global policy.Online support will also be expanded. Customers can access 24/7 assistance for product usage, troubleshooting, and maintenance through an AI chatbot on the website and app. By connecting the 'MyDyson' app with connected products, users can monitor product status and maintenance schedules.For first-time users, Dyson offers a 'Dyson Concierge' service. This includes one-on-one online consultations with Dyson experts to guide customers through installation, product setup, and feature utilization. Currently, this service is available for select robotic vacuum models.In offline support, Dyson is enhancing diagnostic and repair services provided by professional engineers. If repairs cannot be completed within 72 hours, customers will receive a free loaner product until their repairs are finished. To date, approximately 43,000 products have been loaned through this program in South Korea, which is the first customer support service of its kind trialed globally by Dyson.Dyson will also gradually introduce the 'Dyson Total Restore' service in South Korea, which helps customers maintain their products for long-term use. This service includes product condition checks, thorough cleaning, airflow and battery inspections, and replacement of genuine parts when necessary.Tom Moody, Dyson's Chief Customer Officer, stated, "Insights gained from our customers in South Korea have played a crucial role in extending customer support from purchase through usage and maintenance. We aim to implement this globally so that customers can receive the support they need anytime, anywhere."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 19:08:10
  • Dispute Arises Over Purchase Contract for Jukdo Island in Busan
    Dispute Arises Over Purchase Contract for Jukdo Island in Busan A dispute has emerged over the purchase contract for Jukdo Island, acquired by Gijang-gun in Busan. The lack of a record confirming the owner's intent to sell, along with multiple procedural flaws, has prompted the county to request an audit from the Board of Audit and Inspection and to file a missing person report for the original owner.On September 7, Gijang-gun Mayor Woo Seong-bin held a press conference to disclose issues related to the purchase contract with Sinangchon. Although payment for the purchase has already been made and future national funding is planned, serious defects were identified from the very beginning of the contract process.According to an internal investigation by the Gijang-gun Task Force on Corruption and Waste, the letter of intent to sell submitted to the county on March 2, 2023, was not from Park, the second leader of Sinangchon and the actual owner of Jukdo, but from a third party, the CEO of Sinangchon Food Co., Ltd. Furthermore, there is no record of the responsible officials directly confirming the owner's intent to sell through in-person meetings or phone or video calls, and the contract was conducted with individuals claiming to be representatives.Numerous flaws were also found in the contract-related documents. The seller's power of attorney was missing the owner's identification, and the power of attorney for the seal certificate issued by the representative was not written by the owner. Notably, instead of the required 'seal certificate for sale,' a 'general seal certificate' was submitted, and the representative's signature was absent from the contract, which is essential for finalizing the agreement.Three law firms consulted by Gijang-gun (Shinseong, International, and Seongan) advised that the owner's intent to sell should be confirmed in person or through any means, but this was not followed. Additionally, these facts and legal advice were not included in the basic materials for the establishment of the management plan for public property and the Gijang-gun council's deliberation process. Concerns have also been raised that the signature of the landowner on the appraisal documents may not be in their handwriting.As a result, Gijang-gun is moving forward with a missing person report to clarify the owner's status and ability to express their intent. If the owner is unable to indicate their intent to sell, the validity of the agency's authority and the contract itself must be re-evaluated from the ground up.Mayor Woo stated, "We cannot delay measures to manage the taxpayer money invested in the Jukdo purchase contract and the future national funding. We will clarify the issues in the contract process to ensure that taxpayer money is not wasted."This announcement is based on Gijang-gun's internal investigation, and Sinangchon has yet to release an official statement.The upcoming audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection is expected to focus on the owner's actual intent to sell, the establishment of agency authority, and the responsibilities of the officials involved in the approval process.If the audit concludes that the contract is invalid, Gijang-gun will need to recover the payment already made and initiate procedures to restore ownership registration, with a significant likelihood of a complete adjustment to the related national project schedule.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 19:00:00
  • CI Gaps Exposed by Tiv-ing Data Breach Prompt Regulatory Action
    CI Gaps Exposed by Tiv-ing Data Breach Prompt Regulatory Action In a recent data breach involving Tiv-ing, 19.04 million linked information (CI) identifiers, generated during verification processes through external portals like Google and Naver, were leaked, raising new security concerns.Current laws do not provide a procedure for invalidating or replacing leaked CIs. The Broadcasting and Communications Commission (BCC) is reportedly working on measures to address this issue.On September 7, a BCC official stated, "We are comprehensively reviewing whether we can invalidate or replace the leaked CIs at a practical level. While we have not finalized specific methods or targets for changes, we expect to have results soon."The CI data from the Tiv-ing incident was used to estimate the number of actual victims. According to a report released by a joint public-private investigation team on September 3, the number of accounts with leaked CIs was 19.04 million. After removing duplicate accounts, the actual number of users affected was approximately 13.24 million.However, about 20.4 million accounts without CIs make it difficult to confirm whether the same individual holds multiple accounts, leaving the total number of victims undetermined.Although the leaked CI values cannot be used by hackers to steal accounts or conduct financial transactions, the issue arises from multiple businesses using the same CI. If an attacker possesses a leaked database that includes the same CI as other data they hold, they can combine scattered information such as names, contact details, and services subscribed to identify individuals.Choi Kyung-jin, a professor at Gachon University, noted, "While the CI itself is not inherently dangerous, it can be used to identify individuals when combined with other data for malicious purposes. The risk increases when multiple datasets are merged."In the system, each individual is assigned a single CI value. Even if a new verification process is undertaken, the same value will be assigned. However, there is currently no procedure to stop or replace leaked values, unlike credit card numbers or passwords.Professor Choi explained that CIs are not technically unchangeable. He emphasized, "While the system has operated without changing CIs until now, it is permissible to change them. We should restore the function of temporary identifiers as originally intended and implement expiration dates for the currently permanent CIs."Issuing new values when the expiration date is reached or a breach occurs could reduce the risk of existing CIs being used as long-term links between various datasets, he added.Professor Choi also mentioned that since the BCC currently generates and provides CIs through designated verification institutions, revising related regulations could facilitate the introduction of expiration dates and replacement systems.In June, the BCC initiated an urgent inspection of Tiv-ing to verify the purpose of CI processing, the encryption of storage and transmission processes, and the response plans for security incidents. The implementation date for the mandatory separation of resident registration numbers and CIs is also being pushed forward from May to January of next year.A BCC official stated, "While the schedule for discussions has not yet been set, there is little time left for discussions related to the regulatory revisions, and they are expected to take place within this month."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 18:56:00
  • LG Innoteks Corporate Tax Burden Soars Amid Semiconductor Boom
    LG Innotek's Corporate Tax Burden Soars Amid Semiconductor Boom LG Innotek's corporate tax expense for the first half of this year has exceeded 81.6 billion won, more than six times the amount from the same period last year. As Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix report improved earnings due to the semiconductor boom, the electronic components industry is also experiencing increased tax burdens due to rising profits.According to LG Innotek's semi-annual report released on September 7, the company's corporate tax expense for the first half of this year was 81.6 billion won, a 523% increase from 13.1 billion won in the same period last year. This marks a 6.2-fold increase in just one year, surpassing last year's total corporate tax expense of 49.1 billion won by 1.6 times.The increase is significant compared to trends over the past few years. LG Innotek's corporate tax expense for the first half was 135.7 billion won in 2022, dropping to 3.2 billion won in 2023 and 2.4 billion won in 2024. After rising to 13.1 billion won last year, it jumped to 81.6 billion won this year, reaching the highest level for the first half since 2022.The rise in corporate tax burden is attributed to improved performance. The company's revenue for the first half reached 1.1 trillion won, surpassing 1 trillion won for the first time. The recovery of its core optical solutions business and increased supply of high-value semiconductor substrates significantly boosted profits. Despite the seasonal off-peak period, demand for mobile camera modules from major clients like Apple continued, and strong sales of high-value semiconductor substrates, such as FC-BGA (Flip Chip Ball Grid Array), supported profitability.In particular, increased demand for substrates due to expanded investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and growth in the memory semiconductor market contributed to the improved performance. LG Innotek's packaging business recorded sales of 935.6 billion won and operating profit of 99.6 billion won in the first half, marking increases of 18% and 94%, respectively, compared to the previous year. The operating rate for semiconductor substrates rose from 75.7% in 2024 to 80.8% last year, reaching 94.0% in the first half of this year. In response to the demand for AI and memory semiconductor substrates, LG Innotek is making additional investments in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, and Vietnam. The company plans to invest 600 billion won in Gumi by the end of this year and approximately 1 trillion won in Vietnam by 2028.The increase in corporate tax burdens is also evident across the electronics and semiconductor industries. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have seen significant profit increases due to the AI-driven memory semiconductor boom, with their corporate tax payments totaling 11 trillion won in the first half of this year alone. The rise in memory prices and the expansion of high-value products like high-bandwidth memory (HBM) have led to improved profitability.The benefits of the AI and semiconductor boom appear to be spreading beyond memory manufacturers to materials and components companies. LG Innotek's positive performance is expected to continue into the second half of the year. The second half is traditionally a peak season with major clients launching new products, and demand for AI and memory semiconductor substrates is anticipated to remain strong. The contribution of high-value semiconductor substrates to profits is increasing within the company's business structure, which has primarily focused on smartphone camera modules. The company has set a goal to grow its packaging solutions business revenue to over 3 trillion won by 2030 and to achieve an operating profit of around 1 trillion won by 2031.Meanwhile, the government expects that corporate tax revenue from the semiconductor boom will exceed 200 trillion won next year. Ryu Deok-hyun, a senior economic advisor at the Blue House, stated on September 2, "We expect that corporate tax revenue from the semiconductor boom will exceed 200 trillion won next year," adding, "Even if only 100 trillion won comes in, it would be considered a 'windfall,' but based on tax revenue forecasts, corporate tax is expected to exceed 200 trillion won."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 18:44:00
  • Musinsa Files for Preliminary Review for KOSPI Listing, Initiating IPO Process
    Musinsa Files for Preliminary Review for KOSPI Listing, Initiating IPO Process Fashion platform Musinsa has filed for a preliminary review to list on the KOSPI, marking the start of its initial public offering (IPO) process.On September 7, Musinsa announced that it submitted its application for the preliminary review to the Korea Exchange.Musinsa stated, "The purpose of this preliminary review is to assess the feasibility of the listing as a funding option for growth into a global company. We plan to evaluate whether we meet the listing requirements and the benefits of going public through this review."The number of shares expected to be listed is 227,829,016, with 26.6 million shares planned for public offering. The par value per share is 100 won.As of the application date, Musinsa's shares are held by CEO Jo Man-ho and 26 others, who collectively own 54.2% of the company.The Korea Exchange is required to review the eligibility for listing and notify the applicant of its decision to approve, defer, or reject the application within 60 days (45 trading days) from the filing date.Founded in June 2012, Musinsa reported a consolidated revenue of 821.7 billion won in the first half of this year, a 22.5% increase compared to the same period last year, marking its highest revenue for the first half. However, its operating profit decreased by 11.2% to 52.3 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 18:40:10
  • South Korea and France Adopt Lumiere Declaration Emphasizing Film as a Public Good
    South Korea and France Adopt 'Lumiere Declaration' Emphasizing Film as a Public Good 이재명 대통령은 에마뉘엘 마크롱 프랑스 대통령과 공동의장을 맡은 뤼미에르 서밋에서 인공지능(AI) 시대 영화·영상산업의 미래 원칙을 담은 ‘뤼미에르 선언’을 채택했다. 뤼미에르 선언은 작품을 산업의 중심에 두고 인간의 창작과 지식재산권을 보호하는 한편, 콘텐츠 다양성·극장 경험·창작의 자유·영상교육을 지켜야 할 공동의 가치로 제시했다. 각국 대표와 영화·방송·게임 산업 지도자, 창작자·예술인, 영화제 및 문화기관 대표들은 7일(현지시간) 프랑스 생폴드방스에서 열린 뤼미에르 서밋에서 영상 분야의 다자주의를 위한 토대를 마련하기로 했다. 선언문은 AI가 창작 환경을 바꾸고 관객이 이야기를 향유하는 방식도 달라지는 상황에서 영상물이 경제적 가치뿐 아니라 문화적 가치 측면에서도 지속적으로 성장해야 한다고 밝혔다. 이를 위해 각국과 산업 관계자들은 작품을 중심에 두는 원칙을 확인했다. 선언문은 “영상물은 공공재”라며 영상물이 감정과 기억, 지식을 전달하고 개인의 자립과 공동체의 변화를 담아내는 공유 문화의 매개체라고 규정했다. 콘텐츠 공급이 어느 때보다 풍부해진 상황에서도 높은 포부와 분명한 의도를 담은 작품은 대체될 수 없으며, 상상력과 공동의 이야기를 형성하고 새로운 관점과 미래의 지식재산을 만들어낸다고 평가했다. 산업의 미래는 어떤 작품을 창작하고 지원할지에 달려 있다는 것이다. 관객의 관심을 단순히 확보해야 할 자원으로만 보는 시각에도 선을 그었다. 특히 청년 세대가 화면과 맺는 관계는 산업의 활력뿐 아니라 미래 세대의 발전과 안녕에 직결된다고 지적했다. 전문 창작자와 제작자, 배급자는 작품의 품질과 책임성, 접근성을 바탕으로 서사를 개발·제작·관리해야 하며, 관객의 관심은 “사로잡아야 할 자원이 아니라 존중해야 할 신뢰”라고 강조했다. 서사가 책임 있는 주체에 의해 창작·선별·유통될 때 관객은 매력적인 이야기뿐 아니라 신뢰할 수 있는 환경을 마주할 수 있다는 설명이다. 새로운 창작과 산업의 쇄신에 대한 투자도 강조했다. 영상산업의 활력은 새로운 목소리와 인재, 서사, 지식재산, 기술, 비즈니스 모델을 통해 끊임없이 새로워지는 역량에 달려 있다는 것이다. 공공 지원은 창작자의 실험과 초기 단계 개발을 가능하게 하고, 방송사·플랫폼·배급사 등 민간 주체의 역할을 보완할 수 있다고 밝혔다. 작품의 유통과 활용을 통해 이익을 얻는 주체들도 차세대 창작의 발전에 책임을 지는 동시에 직접적인 이해관계를 가진다고 했다. 작품의 예산·언어·장르·형식·지리적 배경의 다양성은 산업 경쟁력의 토대로 규정했다. 문화적 다양성이 다양한 서사와 관점의 발전을 가능하게 하고 창작 생태계의 활력과 회복력, 매력을 강화한다는 이유다. 아울러 시청각 산업이 문화·사회적 가치를 넘어 경제성장의 동력이기도 하다고 평가했다. 기업 투자를 유도하고 일자리를 창출하며 고숙련 인력을 양성하고 혁신을 촉진하는 산업인 만큼, 경쟁력 있고 지속 가능한 생태계를 조성하기 위해 노력하기로 했다. 콘텐츠가 관객에게 도달할 수 있도록 ‘발견가능성’을 높여야 한다는 원칙도 담겼다. 콘텐츠가 풍부해질수록 작품이 다양한 상영·유통 공간과 플랫폼을 통해 균형 있게 유통되고 관객에게 발견되는 것이 창작만큼 중요해졌다는 판단이다. 특히 에이전틱 AI의 확산으로 작품에 대한 접근이 자동화된 에이전트에 의해 매개될 가능성에 주목하면서 고유한 특성을 지닌 작품이 관객에게 가시적이고 접근 가능한 상태로 제공돼야 한다고 밝혔다. 극장 관람 경험의 가치도 재확인했다. 영화관은 창작물을 집단적 경험으로 전환하고 공동체를 형성하는 고유한 공간이며 문화적·경제적·사회적 가치를 창출한다고 평가했다. 선언문은 극장 상영을 지속하는 것이 영상 분야 전체의 공동 이해관계라며, 다양성이 꽃피기 위해 영화관이 필요하고 영화관이 문화적·경제적·사회적 역할을 다하기 위해서는 다양성이 필요하다고 강조했다. 국제 공동제작과 매체 간 협력도 확대하기로 했다. 오늘날 서사가 형식과 국경을 넘어 이동하는 만큼 국제 공동제작이 위험을 분산하고 작품을 풍부하게 하며 산업 생태계를 연결한다는 것이다. 기존 시장과 신흥 시장 간 협력과 교류를 심화하고, 각 지역의 창작 역량을 지원해 세계의 다양한 서사가 세계의 스크린에 닿도록 하겠다고 밝혔다. 불법복제에 대한 국제적 대응도 약속했다. 불법복제가 창작의 가치와 창작자에 대한 보상, 미래 작품을 위한 재원을 잠식한다며 모든 형태의 불법복제에 대응하기 위한 협력을 강화하기로 했다. AI와 지식재산권에 대해서는 기술을 포용하되, 인간의 창작을 산업의 토대로 삼아야 한다는 원칙을 제시했다. 영화가 기술과 예술의 만남에서 탄생한 것처럼 AI도 창의성·혁신·작품 유통을 강화할 수 있지만, 인간이 창작한 작품은 여전히 전 세계 관객에게 영감과 지식을 전달하는 서사와 캐릭터, 문화적 경험의 원천이라는 설명이다. 선언문은 “인간의 창작은 언제나 작품의 중심이자 토대로 남아야 한다”며 지식재산권에 대한 존중이 영상산업의 지속 가능성을 위한 근간이라고 밝혔다. 창작의 자유와 성별 균형, 안전, 포용을 증진해야 한다는 내용 역시 포함됐다. 세계 여러 지역에서 창작자들이 정치적·경제적·사회적 압력에 직면하고 있는 만큼 위기에 처한 목소리를 보호하고 예술적 표현의 조건을 지키는 국제적 연대가 필요하다고 했다. 영상산업이 사회의 대표성을 형성하고 변화시킬 수 있는 힘을 지닌 만큼 모두가 안전하고 공정하며 포용적인 환경에서 산업에 기여할 수 있도록 노력해야 한다고 강조했다. 영상물 유산의 보존과 지속 가능한 제작도 공동 과제로 제시했다. 영상 유산의 상당 부분이 이미 소실됐거나 시간이 지나며 훼손될 가능성이 있는 만큼 각국 정부와 기록보존기관, 재단·자선기관 간 국제적 연대와 지속적인 투자가 필요하다고 밝혔다. 양국은 제작·유통·상영 과정에서 환경을 고려할 수 있도록 지속 가능한 제작 방안과 실용적인 기준, 도구를 개발하기로 했다. 영상교육은 ‘21세기 문해력’으로 규정했다. 문자에 대한 보편적 문해력을 추구했던 과거와 마찬가지로 이미지의 시대에도 영상에 대한 체계적인 이해와 교육이 필요하다는 의미다. 선언문은 영상교육이 독립적인 판단력을 기르고 화면과 건강하고 능동적인 관계를 형성하도록 하며, 높은 포부를 지닌 작품과 만날 수 있는 길을 열어준다고 밝혔다. 영화관이 개인의 화면이 꺼지고 사람들이 다시 함께 보는 법을 배우는 공간이라는 점도 강조했다. 이어 유네스코 및 협력국들과 함께 영상교육을 보편적 목표로 인정하고 전 세계적으로 증진하기 위한 국제 이니셔티브를 출범시키는 방안을 지지한다고 밝혔다. 이러한 노력은 초기 교육 프로그램에서부터 시작하기로 했다. 참석자들은 선언에 담긴 원칙을 지속적으로 실천하고 공동의 노력을 이어가는 한편, 그 성과를 함께 점검해 나가기로 했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 18:40:00
  • Texas Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant Likely First U.S. Investment Project
    Texas Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant Likely First U.S. Investment Project The U.S. gas combined cycle power plant in Encinada, Texas, is being considered as the first investment project by the South Korean government in the United States. The government plans to finalize and announce the project following consultations with the U.S. side and a report to the National Assembly. On September 7, Park Jeong-sung, head of the Trade Negotiation Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the working negotiation team reported the progress of the U.S. investment negotiations to members of the Democratic Party in the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee and the Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Enterprises Committee. According to the Special Act on U.S. Investment, the government must report the outline, scale, and future procedures of the negotiation results to the National Assembly before concluding the negotiations. This report is seen as a step to comply with domestic procedures before confirming the U.S. investment project. The Encinada gas combined cycle power plant project in Texas is being discussed as the first U.S. investment project. It is reported that the U.S. and South Korea are in the final stages of negotiations regarding the project costs, investment structure, and profit distribution methods. The project may be pursued by establishing a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that oversees the total investment, with separate special purpose companies (SPCs) for individual projects. The investment from South Korea will be funneled through an investment SPV (I-SPV) into individual projects, with profits distributed according to an agreement between the two countries. There are also expectations that additional investment projects may be announced alongside the first project. Given that Japan has announced U.S. investment projects in two phases, South Korea may outline further projects to expedite tariff negotiations with the U.S. Potential candidates for subsequent projects include energy and infrastructure initiatives such as nuclear power plant construction in the U.S. and LNG development in Alaska. The demand for electricity is surging in the U.S. due to the expansion of AI data centers and semiconductor factories, increasing the need for new nuclear plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). The Alaska LNG development project involves transporting natural gas produced from gas fields in northern Alaska through a 1,300-kilometer pipeline to Nikiski in the south, with plans to export it to Asia, including South Korea. The total project cost is estimated at around $44 billion. However, the government has clarified that both the first project and subsequent initiatives are still under negotiation between South Korea and the U.S. A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official stated, "As discussions are ongoing between South Korea and the U.S., we cannot confirm specific details. The government plans to finalize and announce the project following the necessary domestic procedures and consultations with the U.S. side." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-07 18:40:00