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  • Neosapience to Go Public on KOSDAQ, Targeting AI Market with Typecast
    Neosapience to Go Public on KOSDAQ, Targeting AI Market with Typecast Neosapience, which operates the generative AI content creation service Typecast, is set to debut on the KOSDAQ market.The Korea Exchange announced on September 17 that it has approved Neosapience's listing on the KOSDAQ. Trading will commence on September 21, with an initial offering price of 10,000 won. Daishin Securities is the lead underwriter for the listing.Founded in 2017, Neosapience is a software development and supply company. It has developed and operates Typecast, a voice generation service based on its proprietary generative AI foundation model and TTS (text-to-speech) technology.Since its launch in November 2019, Typecast has gained users in 226 countries worldwide. As of March this year, the total number of registered users surpassed 3 million.The company's financial performance has shown improvement. Neosapience's revenue increased from 6.4 billion won in 2024 to 10.7 billion won last year. For the previous year, the consolidated revenue was 10.649 billion won, with an operating loss of 2.676 billion won. The operating loss decreased from 7.9 billion won in 2024 to 2.7 billion won last year.However, in the first half of this year, the company recorded revenue of 6 billion won, while the operating loss expanded to 3.4 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:52:00
  • Simsangcheol Overcomes 4th Lane to Win Seoul Olympic Anniversary Race
    Simsangcheol Overcomes 4th Lane to Win Seoul Olympic Anniversary Race Simsangcheol (7th class, A1) won the Seoul Olympic 38th Anniversary Race, overcoming the disadvantage of starting from the 4th lane. According to the Korea Racing Authority, Simsangcheol crossed the finish line first in the final held on September 17, showcasing bold maneuvering and experienced race management. Park Won-kyu (14th class, A1) finished in 2nd place, while Lee Joo-young (3rd class, A1) took 3rd. The race determined its finalists through two preliminary heats held the day before. In the first preliminary heat, Kim Wan-seok (10th class, A1) secured 1st place from the 3rd lane with a strong maneuver, while Simsangcheol and Park Won-kyu advanced to the final in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. In the second preliminary heat, Kim Hyo-yeon (2nd class, A1) took 1st place from the 1st lane, with Kim Do-hwi (13th class, A1) and Lee Joo-young finishing 2nd and 3rd to secure their spots in the final. In the final, Kim Wan-seok was assigned the 1st lane, Kim Hyo-yeon the 2nd, Kim Do-hwi the 3rd, Simsangcheol the 4th, Lee Joo-young the 5th, and Park Won-kyu the 6th lane. As the race began, the competitors rushed toward the first turn mark, with Kim Wan-seok expected to take an early lead from the inside lane. However, he struggled at the start and lost momentum during the turn, falling behind in the lead competition. Seizing the opportunity, Simsangcheol made a bold maneuver from the 4th lane, taking control of the lead. He maintained a steady pace, preventing any challengers from closing in and securing the victory. This win for Simsangcheol came after a challenging path through the preliminaries. In the first preliminary heat, despite being assigned the 1st lane, he finished 2nd behind Kim Wan-seok's strong maneuver, which led to his assignment of the 4th lane in the final. However, he demonstrated his seasoned race management skills with a bold choice at a critical moment. Having faced disappointing results in recent finals, this victory reaffirms Simsangcheol's competitiveness on a big stage. It also marks his first win of the season in a major race. Lee Joo-young, who finished 3rd in the second preliminary heat, performed well by securing 2nd place in the final, while Park Won-kyu overcame the disadvantage of the 6th lane to finish 3rd, continuing his strong performance this season. After the race, Simsangcheol expressed, "I am happy to win, especially under the challenging conditions of the 4th lane. Park Won-kyu from the 6th lane had a good start and attempted a maneuver, but my quicker response with the steering was effective." He added, "I will strive to leverage this victory in the Kurihara Cup and Grand Prix to achieve further success." 2026-09-17 20:40:00
  • Details Emerge on Stabbing Incident at Bucheon Convenience Store
    Details Emerge on Stabbing Incident at Bucheon Convenience Store Details have emerged regarding a stabbing incident at a convenience store in Bucheon, South Korea, linked to prior death threats, as well as a worker's death at a construction site in Jangseong.On September 17, MBC's 'Real Story Investigation' will trace the stabbing incident that occurred in August at a convenience store in Bucheon.A man in his 30s, identified only as Choi, entered the store shirtless and attacked a female employee with a knife. The victim suffered a deep stab wound to her left arm, damaging an artery and putting her life at risk due to excessive bleeding.The production team of 'Real Story Investigation' noted that there were several warning signs leading up to the attack. Four days before the incident, Choi had demanded to buy alcohol on credit at the store. When the employee refused, he returned shortly after with coins but was turned away again due to insufficient funds. He then caused a disturbance, shouting obscenities and lying in front of the entrance, prompting police to be called.The next day, during the victim's shift, Choi returned and threatened, 'Should I stab you with a sashimi knife?' Three days later, he carried out the actual stabbing.During this time, the victim reported Choi's repeated threats to the police three times and formally filed a complaint after the specific death threat. The day after the complaint was filed, when Choi returned to the store, the victim expressed her fear to the investigating officer, requesting swift action. The officer advised her to call 112 for immediate assistance.The broadcast will explore whether more proactive measures, such as victim protection or suspect investigation, could have been taken given the repeated threats and specific death threats.The second segment will investigate a worker's death at a construction site in Jangseong, where a 64-year-old laborer, identified as Jang Dong-jun, died after being crushed by a forklift while transporting a small livestock pen.Five months after the incident, the family of the deceased has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the accident, as the exact details remain unclear. The police report from the day of the accident stated that 'the forklift struck Jang when the front wheel came off while moving forward.' However, during the investigation, construction officials claimed that there was no driver in the forklift at the time, suggesting it moved without a driver and then struck Jang when the front wheel detached.Conversely, the driver, identified as Kim, insisted that he was operating the forklift at the time and had never left the driver's seat. He stated that he was following the signals of a person directing traffic on-site.With conflicting accounts, the production team recreated the scene using a forklift of the same model involved in the accident. Will they uncover the truth behind that day?'Real Story Investigation' airs today at 9 PM.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:32:00
  • Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% Amid Inflation Concerns
    Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% Amid Inflation Concerns The Bank of England (BOE) decided on September 17 to maintain its base interest rate at 3.75%, but indicated that it may raise rates again if inflationary pressures from rising energy prices persist. According to Reuters, the BOE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to keep the interest rate steady, marking the sixth consecutive meeting this year where rates have not changed since a 0.25 percentage point cut in December. This decision aligns with market expectations. However, only 6 of the 9 committee members supported the freeze, while 3 argued for a 0.25 percentage point increase to 4.00%. There has been growing speculation about further rate hikes due to inflationary pressures stemming from rising energy costs. BOE Governor Andrew Bailey stated, "So far, the impact of rising global energy costs on UK prices and wage decisions has been limited." He added, "The longer the volatility lasts, the greater the impact on inflation, and the likelihood that we will need to raise the base rate to return to our 2% inflation target increases." The UK's consumer price inflation rate for August was 3.1%, exceeding the BOE's target of 2%. The BOE warned that if energy prices remain volatile at high levels, inflation could surpass 4% early next year. Recently, major central banks around the world have been tightening their monetary policies. The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 3.75% to 4.00% the previous day, and the European Central Bank also increased its three key rates by 0.25 percentage points on September 10. As a result, while the BOE has not raised rates immediately, the market is closely watching for potential future increases based on energy prices and inflation trends. Reuters reported that financial markets are reflecting the possibility of a rate hike in November.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:32:00
  • President Lee: Its better to act now than wait for perfect solutions as abortion pill introduced after 7 years
    President Lee: 'It's better to act now than wait for perfect solutions' as abortion pill introduced after 7 years The government has decided to gradually introduce abortion pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks, with President Lee stating, "It's a better decision to do what we can now rather than wait for a perfect solution." The government plans to manage the abortion pill within the national healthcare system following approval and review procedures.On September 17, President Lee expressed his stance on the introduction of abortion pills on X (formerly Twitter), noting, "It has been seven years since the Constitutional Court ruled the abortion law unconstitutional."He added, "During this time, women have had to rely on overseas purchases or illegal transactions to obtain safe abortion pills, risking their safety in the process."He further explained, "While fixing a leaking roof, the floor still gets wet," emphasizing that the decision to gradually introduce abortion pills, made during a national policy coordination meeting yesterday, was based on this reasoning. He stressed, "The most important thing is the health and safety of women," and assured that the safety management system would be thoroughly examined during the introduction process, while also listening to voices from the medical field.Earlier, on September 16, the government discussed the introduction of abortion pills during the 14th National Policy Coordination Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety agreed to gradually introduce the pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks and manage them within the national healthcare system.The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is currently reviewing the safety, efficacy, and quality of the abortion pills under consideration for import approval, based on their use within 63 days of pregnancy, or nine weeks. They are also reviewing application materials related to drug risk management plans.In the initial two years of introduction, the pills will be dispensed through medical institutions where doctors will handle both prescriptions and dispensing. After evaluating side effects and the safety of the drug use environment, the government plans to consider expanding the process to allow dispensing at pharmacies following a doctor's prescription.The government explained that this measure aims to address the legislative and institutional gap that has persisted since the Constitutional Court's ruling on the abortion law in 2019. Given that abortion pills have been circulating informally without formal approval in the country, the goal is to ensure safety through regulation and management within the national healthcare system.Additionally, the government plans to push for legal and institutional reforms related to abortion. They intend to participate in discussions on amending the Maternal and Child Health Act and the Criminal Code to address related legislative gaps. However, formal distribution of the pills in the country will still require the approval and review process from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:20:00
  • National Assembly Approves Multiple Prosecutorial Reform Bills
    National Assembly Approves Multiple Prosecutorial Reform Bills On September 17, the National Assembly passed a series of bills aimed at reforming the prosecutorial system, including a law that assigns the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) to handle supplementary investigations into seven major crimes affecting vulnerable populations. This legislative action comes ahead of the planned dissolution of the Prosecutors' Office and the establishment of the SCIA and the Public Prosecutors' Office on October 2.During the session, the National Assembly voted on 51 bills related to prosecutorial reform, including amendments to the SCIA's organizational law. The ruling People Power Party opposed the bills, with lawmaker Park Hyung-soo criticizing the rushed process. He stated, "Can we truly call this a proper reform when we are hastily processing these changes just two weeks before overhauling a 70-year-old criminal justice system? Today's vote will undoubtedly be evaluated by history in the future."The amended SCIA law allows prosecutors from the Public Prosecutors' Office to request supplementary or re-investigations from the SCIA specifically for the so-called 'seven major crimes' involving vulnerable groups, which include sexual violence, crimes against children and adolescents, stalking, child abuse, abuse of the disabled, elder abuse, and domestic violence.In addition to the prosecutorial reform bills, 19 livelihood-related bills were also passed. These include amendments to the Saemaul Geumgo Act, allowing the use of statutory reserves to cover losses, standardizing the term of office for central committee chairs elected through by-elections to four years, shortening the payment deadline for suppliers under the Large-Scale Distribution Business Act, and extending the validity period for contributions from financial companies to the Korea Financial Services Agency from five years to 15 years under the Financial Services Act.Meanwhile, the appointment confirmation bill for Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo was approved with 227 votes in favor, 28 against, and 13 abstentions out of 268 present. If President Yoon Suk-yeol endorses the appointment, Kim will begin a six-year term.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:04:00
  • Seongnam Mayor Questions Priorities of Postpartum Support Amid North Korea Aid
    Seongnam Mayor Questions Priorities of Postpartum Support Amid North Korea Aid Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin criticized the prioritization of government budgets on September 17, questioning, "We have no postpartum support for our children, but is there a budget for North Korean infants?"In a post on his Facebook page, Mayor Shin highlighted the absence of the 500,000 won postpartum support for local families while pointing out the 155.8 billion won allocated for North Korean infant aid.His comments suggest a need to reassess budget priorities in response to the low birth rate crisis.Shin stated, "While the low birth rate is a national disaster that has everyone talking, our children are being overlooked," referring to the recent decision by Gyeonggi Province to halt postpartum support due to financial constraints.Gyeonggi Province plans to stop providing 500,000 won in local currency to families with newborns after September 30, citing that this year's budget only covers nine months of support.In contrast, Mayor Shin pointed out that the central government has allocated 155.8 billion won for aid programs targeting North Korean infants.This year's total budget for North Korea-related support is 667.6 billion won, which includes 112.23 billion won for humanitarian aid and 555.38 billion won for civilian cooperation, with 155.81 billion won specifically for North Korean infants.Shin emphasized, "Central government funds and local budgets are different, but if the system is flawed, it should be fixed. If the structure is different, the flow of the budget should be redirected; that is the role of the state."He further asserted, "The top priority of the national budget should be our children, not North Korea on paper."Shin's remarks align with his ongoing efforts to enhance Seongnam's childbirth and parenting support policies.To alleviate the financial burden on families, he has expanded postpartum support. Starting in 2024, in addition to the existing 500,000 won from Gyeonggi Province, families with incomes at or below 80% of the median will receive up to an additional 500,000 won, bringing the total support to 1 million won.Moreover, Mayor Shin believes that addressing the low birth rate issue requires not only encouraging childbirth but also providing tangible support that families can truly feel. 2026-09-17 20:00:20
  • Leadership Candidates Present Visions for Seoul National University Amid Challenges
    Leadership Candidates Present Visions for Seoul National University Amid Challenges Seoul National University (SNU) is facing multiple challenges, including stagnation in global university rankings, fierce competition from rival institutions, and a high dependency on government funding that has accumulated over 15 years since its transition to a corporate structure in 2011. As the university approaches its centennial in 2046, the race for the 29th president has officially begun. The first public presentation, organized by the SNU Presidential Recommendation Committee, took place on September 17 from 2 PM to 5 PM at the College of Medicine auditorium on Yeonkeun Campus. This event served as a platform for candidates to diagnose the current state of SNU and propose improvement strategies. The four candidates—Kang Jun-ho, Choi Hae-cheon, Lee Jae-young, and Kim Hyun-chul—each presented their prepared pledges and engaged in a Q&A session, showcasing their distinct strategies and visions. Crisis at Yeonkeun Campus—Addressing Poor Educational and Research Environments and Dental School Enrollment The first public presentation took place at Yeonkeun Campus, where the candidates addressed the chronic issues of space and research infrastructure shortages, as well as the need for reform in the dental school enrollment system. Regarding the restoration of the dental school's enrollment cap of 45 students, Kang Jun-ho stated that recovering the enrollment would require amending the Ministry of Education's enforcement decree and negotiating with other colleges. He pledged to lead negotiations with the government and other colleges if an internal agreement is reached. Lee Jae-young noted that there had been historical allocations of 10 students each from the College of Humanities, College of Social Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, and 5 from the College of Business, emphasizing the need for decisive action rather than leaving it to zero-sum battles between colleges. He promised to be a COO president who would facilitate negotiations with the government for integrated operations of undergraduate and graduate programs. In contrast, Choi Hae-cheon expressed a general stance that restoring the six-year dental program would be desirable and that he would work hard to persuade the government. Kim Hyun-chul argued that under a system dominated by campaign-affiliated appointees, it would be impossible to adjust enrollment due to vested interests, asserting that a president without a campaign team would persuade colleges directly through collective intelligence from the newly established higher organization. The candidates also presented differing views on the poor educational and research environments at Yeonkeun Campus. Kang Jun-ho expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity for a significant deal on the Yongsan Railway Bureau site, proposing to gradually acquire surrounding buildings and establish a biomedical cluster connecting Yeonkeun, Gwanak, and Siheung campuses. Choi Hae-cheon stated he would fully support any decisions made by the members regarding expansion of surrounding areas. Lee Jae-young promised to establish a 'Future Space Strategy Committee' led by the administration to mediate space conflicts among the nursing, medical, and dental colleges and prevent chaotic development by considering the utilization of nearby Korea National Open University spaces. Kim Hyun-chul emphasized a long-term comprehensive campus master plan connecting Gwanak and Yeonkeun campuses, stating that he would directly address administrative regulations and height restrictions to provide basic, AI, and integrated research spaces and shared offices for Yeonkeun researchers within the Gwanak campus.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 19:56:00
  • SK On and L&F Form Alliance for LFP Supply Chain to Strengthen ESS Market Response
    SK On and L&F Form Alliance for LFP Supply Chain to Strengthen ESS Market Response SK On and L&F are collaborating to establish a domestic supply chain for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery materials, enhancing their response capabilities in the energy storage system (ESS) market.On September 17, SK On signed a supply contract for LFP cathodes with L&F at its headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul.Under this agreement, SK On will receive LFP cathodes worth 160 billion won from L&F for the production of ESS batteries over the next three years, from 2026 to 2028.The two companies plan to discuss extending the supply contract for up to three additional years after 2028, based on market conditions, supply performance, and customer demand.SK On intends to use the LFP cathodes secured through this contract in its production lines for ESS LFP battery cells at its factories in Seosan, South Korea, and Georgia, USA.With a stable supply chain for non-Chinese LFP cathodes, SK On expects to further solidify its competitive edge in the domestic and U.S. ESS markets.In fact, SK On demonstrated its business competitiveness by securing over half of the total 565 MW in the second ESS central contract market bid in February, winning 284 MW (approximately 50.3%). In August, it expanded its ESS business by signing a supply contract for LFP battery cells with U.S. company NeoVolta Power.To accommodate the increased orders, SK On is also accelerating the reconfiguration of its production lines. The Seosan plant will convert 3 GWh of its total 7 GWh capacity to produce ESS LFP batteries, with deliveries expected to begin in the first half of next year. The Georgia plant will also convert some lines for exclusive LFP battery production.L&F completed a dedicated LFP cathode factory in the Daegu Dalseong Industrial Complex in May. After stabilizing production and verifying quality, L&F shipped its first mass-produced LFP cathodes from its production line at the end of July. The cathodes supplied to SK On are high-density third-generation LFP cathodes that achieve higher energy density compared to standard LFP cathodes.Kim Seong-tan, head of raw material procurement at SK On, stated, "As the global ESS battery market begins to diversify its supply chains away from China, we have proactively secured high-quality domestic LFP cathodes through this long-term supply contract. This agreement will significantly enhance SK On's competitiveness in LFP battery materials."Lee Byeong-hee, COO of L&F, remarked, "This contract is a recognition of L&F's competitiveness in LFP products, customer responsiveness, and early mass production capabilities. We will continue to expand our customer base in the ESS and affordable EV markets based on stable mass production capabilities and differentiated product competitiveness, aiming to become a leading supplier of core materials in the global non-Chinese LFP supply chain."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 19:56:00
  • Shinhan Bank Retains Incheon City’s Primary Treasury Management for 20 Years
    Shinhan Bank Retains Incheon City’s Primary Treasury Management for 20 Years Shinhan Bank has successfully retained its role in managing Incheon City’s primary treasury, a position it has held for nearly 20 years, overseeing approximately 15 trillion won in city funds for the next four years.On September 17, Incheon City announced the selection of Shinhan Bank as its primary treasury manager during a treasury designation review committee meeting. The selection process saw Shinhan Bank and Hana Bank compete for the role. Despite Hana Financial Group recently relocating its headquarters to Incheon’s Cheongna area to strengthen its local presence, Shinhan Bank maintained its position as the incumbent treasury manager.Shinhan Bank has managed Incheon City’s primary treasury since 2007. With this selection, it will continue in this role until the end of 2030. The funds managed by the primary treasury are estimated at 14.4527 trillion won based on the 2026 budget, which includes general accounts, special accounts for public enterprises, and various funds.The review committee, composed of 11 members including university professors, lawyers, certified public accountants, tax accountants, and city council members, evaluated the proposals and presentations from the applying financial institutions.Evaluation criteria included the financial institution's creditworthiness and financial stability, interest rates for loans and deposits to the city, convenience for citizens, treasury management capabilities, contributions to the local community, and collaborative projects with the city, across six categories with 20 specific items. Shinhan Bank received the highest score in this evaluation.NH Nonghyup Bank was selected as the secondary treasury manager. In this case, Nonghyup Bank applied alone after Incheon City reissued the call for applications, but no additional applicants came forward. Consequently, the review committee evaluated and ultimately selected Nonghyup Bank according to relevant regulations.Incheon City plans to notify the financial institutions of the selection results and finalize the next treasury management agreement next month. The new treasury management period will run from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2030.A Shinhan Bank representative stated, "Based on our stable treasury management experience and financial capabilities, we will further enhance financial convenience for Incheon citizens and continue to contribute to the economic growth and regional development of Incheon."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 19:52:00