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U.S. Treasury Secretary Discusses Common AI Risks with China Ahead of Summit As the United States and China prepare for a summit, discussions on economic and trade negotiations are underway, with the U.S. indicating a willingness to address common risks in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).Axios reported on September 16 that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Yellen expressed openness to discussions with China regarding AI-related risks and preventing technology separation.Yellen stated, "The U.S. remains a leader in the AI sector," adding that both sides are open to discussions aimed at avoiding shared risks and preventing the separation of their AI systems.She anticipated that the discussions would cover both open weight and closed weight models in AI. Open weight refers to AI models where weights are made public, allowing users to modify and utilize them, exemplified by China's DeepMind. In contrast, closed weight models do not disclose weights and are accessed through services provided by companies, as seen with U.S. firms like OpenAI and Anthropic.The mention of potential U.S.-China cooperation in AI is noteworthy amid ongoing technological competition between the two nations. There have been calls within the AI industry for the U.S. and China to collaborate on safety standards to manage risks associated with technological advancements.Yellen is scheduled to meet with He Lifeng, China's Vice Premier, in New York on September 20. The two sides are expected to discuss economic issues, including AI, trade, and rare earths, and coordinate agendas for the upcoming U.S.-China summit at the White House on September 24.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 19:48:00 -
Newly Listed Stablecoin Soars 197% on Upbit Amid Price Discrepancies A newly listed stablecoin has experienced an unusual surge, skyrocketing over 190% as its price diverged significantly from global rates on domestic exchanges. According to the cryptocurrency industry, as of 6:42 PM on September 17, the JPYC (Japanese Yen Pei Coin) was trading at 35.7 won on Upbit, marking a 197.5% increase from its listing price. At the same time, cryptocurrency analytics firm CoinMarketCap reported the JPYC price at 9.65 won, indicating that Upbit's price was more than three times higher than the global market. Upbit began trading support for the dollar stablecoin PayPal USD (PYUSD) at noon on the same day, followed by the launch of JPYC trading at 6 PM. PYUSD also saw significant price fluctuations immediately after its listing. Starting at around 1,380 won, the price surged to 1,760 won by 6:20 PM before dropping back to the 1,380 won range. Stablecoins are designed to be pegged to the value of fiat currencies like the dollar or yen, or specific assets, with the aim of reducing price volatility. Therefore, such a dramatic price increase immediately after listing is considered unusual. There have been previous instances of rapid price movements for stablecoins on domestic exchanges. For example, the euro stablecoin EURC, which was listed on Bithumb on August 28, started trading at 1,583 won on September 14 and briefly soared to 7,860 won. On the same day, Upbit also listed EURC, where the price spiked to 3,300 won on September 13, showing a significant discrepancy from global rates. Industry experts suggest that these phenomena are likely temporary price distortions caused by concentrated buying activity on domestic exchanges immediately after new listings, rather than fluctuations in the inherent value of stablecoins. They note that during the initial listing phase, insufficient trading volume can lead to significant price movements from just a few buy orders.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 19:28:00
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Concerns Raised Over Future Response Fund's Impact on Local Governments Concerns have emerged within the ruling party regarding the potential for the establishment of a Future Response Fund to exacerbate financial instability among local governments.A seminar held by the Democratic Party's Good Local Government Committee on September 17 at the National Assembly focused on discussions surrounding the possible reduction of local allocation taxes due to the creation of the Future Response Fund.Yum Tae-young, chair of the Good Local Government Committee, emphasized, "If changes in national finances lead to instability in local finances, the burden will inevitably fall on local governments and residents." He stressed the need for local governments to secure substantial financial sovereignty.During the seminar, a proposal was made to prioritize the calculation of local allocation taxes in the distribution of excess tax revenues, with a portion of the funds allocated to the Future Response Fund from resources belonging to the central government. There were also calls to establish a legal limit on the fund's expansion to prevent unlimited growth.On September 1, the government announced a funding plan that prioritizes the allocation of excess tax revenues from the semiconductor sector to the Future Response Fund. According to this plan, local allocation taxes are expected to decrease by approximately 30.5 trillion won nationwide.Democratic Party governors, including Woo Sang-ho of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Heo Tae-jeong of Daejeon, have publicly expressed their opposition. Governor Woo urged the government to devise measures, stating on September 14 at a Gangwon budget policy meeting, "If the Future Response Fund is not utilized significantly, we will not only miss out on the benefits of excess tax revenues but also face a decrease in tax revenues." Mayor Heo, while acknowledging the fund's purpose during a Daejeon budget policy meeting on September 16, requested that it not hinder local economic revitalization.Meanwhile, the Good Local Government Committee plans to gather local governments' opinions on the changes to local allocation taxes resulting from the introduction of the Future Response Fund and relay them to the party leadership.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 19:12:00
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Rep. Cho Jung-hoon Proposes Defining Personal Data as Property Under Civil Law On September 17, Rep. Cho Jung-hoon of the People Power Party held a meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, with victims of the Tving data breach.Attendees criticized the lack of measures to recover from the data breach. One participant stated, "Although personal information has been leaked, there is no compensation for the victims," and suggested that a portion of the fines collected should be used for a victim relief fund. Another participant added, "Since the responsibility for the data breach lies with the company, they should provide compensation without requiring victims to file claims."Rep. Cho remarked, "In South Korea, personal data is considered data, not property. I will push for measures to define it as property under civil law."Meanwhile, Tving reported that 70 types of personal information, including IDs, passwords, and linked information (CI), were leaked. On September 3, Tving CEO Choi Joo-hee proposed compensation measures, including hacking and phishing insurance, premium viewing environments, and Tving points.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 18:56:00
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Bill Mandating 50%+1 Share Tender Offers Passes Committee with Bipartisan Support A bill requiring mandatory tender offers for acquiring a significant stake in publicly traded companies has passed the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee with bipartisan support.On September 17, the committee held a full meeting and approved the 'Partial Amendment to the Capital Markets and Financial Investment Act' as a committee alternative.The bill aims to introduce a 'mandatory tender offer system' that obligates acquiring companies to make public offers when they seek to acquire a certain percentage of shares during mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This is intended to ensure that minority shareholders have the opportunity to sell their shares at a price that reflects a 'management premium' when control of the company changes hands.Earlier, the policy committees of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party reached an agreement on the proposed amendment during a joint meeting on September 15.The approved amendment stipulates that a mandatory tender offer is required when the largest shareholder holds more than 25% of the total issued shares or when an existing largest shareholder with over 25% acquires additional shares. In such cases, the acquirer must publicly offer to buy shares from minority shareholders that exceed the current holdings, up to 50%+1 share.Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Ok-won expressed optimism after the bill's approval, stating, "By sharing the management premium, which has traditionally benefited only controlling shareholders, with minority shareholders, we expect to contribute to the realization of shareholder equality."However, lawmakers Jo Jung-hoon of the People Power Party, Park Hong-bae of the Democratic Party, and Han Chang-min of the Social Democratic Party abstained from the vote.Jo expressed concerns that the implementation of the system could require excessive capital to defend management rights, potentially limiting domestic M&A activity to only large global capital. Meanwhile, Han argued that it would be preferable to require the acquirer to purchase all remaining shares through a tender offer, stating, "If set at 50%+1 share, the existing controlling shareholder would still enjoy the management premium, making it difficult for all minority shareholders to share in that benefit."The capital markets law amendment that passed the committee will now undergo review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee before being presented to the full assembly.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 18:56:00
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Mokpo Mayor Kang Seong-hwi Protests for Review of National Medical School Candidate Selection Kang Seong-hwi, the mayor of Mokpo, staged a one-person protest in front of the Education Ministry regarding the controversy surrounding the selection of candidate universities for a new national medical school in Jeollanam-do.On September 16, Kang demanded a comprehensive review and rejection of the candidate university recommendation for the national medical school during his protest.This demonstration aimed to convey concerns raised by Mokpo and the southwestern community about the fairness and legality of the candidate selection process to the Education Ministry, seeking government-level examination.Mokpo and the southwestern community argue that there were procedural and legal issues in the selection process, calling for a complete review and rejection of the recommendation. However, the legality and fairness of these claims are currently under judicial review, and no court ruling has been made yet.This is not Kang's first protest. On September 14, he urged the court to make a decision regarding the injunction filed by National Mokpo University against the city of Gwangju concerning the selection and recommendation of candidate universities for the new national medical school.At that time, Mayor Kang stated, "The process must be fair for the results to be accepted," emphasizing the need to verify the issues raised during the review process and ensure procedural fairness.This time, the focus shifted to directly communicating Mokpo's position that the candidate university recommendation should be re-evaluated at the Education Ministry.Meanwhile, Mokpo and the southwestern community continue to raise concerns with the government and judiciary following the candidate university recommendation for the national medical school. On September 4, Mokpo issued a joint statement with local political circles, followed by a rally in front of the Blue House on September 5 and a coordinated response from southwestern mayors and county heads on September 9. National Mokpo University has also filed for an injunction against the selection and recommendation process, escalating the controversy surrounding the recommendation procedure to judicial scrutiny.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 18:52:00
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Mother and I Bought Lottery Tickets Together: 333rd Pension Lottery 720+ Winning Numbers Draw Attention "After work, I bought lottery tickets for the Lotto and Pension Lottery for 5,000 won each at a store I often visit with my mother on our way to exercise."As interest grows in the winning numbers for the 333rd Pension Lottery 720+ on September 17, the story of a winner from the 223rd Pension Lottery 720+ has come to light.In a post on the Donghaeng Lottery winners' board, the winner of the 1st place (1 ticket) and 2nd place (4 tickets) in the 223rd Pension Lottery 720+ shared, "One day after work, I bought Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets for 5,000 won each at a store I often visit with my mother on our way to exercise. Later that night, I checked the winning numbers at home using the QR code."He continued, "I was so surprised to see that I had won both 1st and 2nd place that I shouted to my mother, 'I think we did it!' My mother was confused and asked, 'What’s wrong with you?' We couldn’t believe it, so we scanned the QR code again and double-checked the numbers together."He added, "I shared the news with my family, and my father, thrilled about the 1st place win, asked for some pocket money. I still can’t believe I won."The winner, who purchased the tickets at a lottery store in Dong-gu, Daegu, responded to a question about his usual lottery buying habits, saying, "I buy Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets once a week."Regarding plans for the winnings, he stated, "I plan to save it."Meanwhile, the winning numbers for the 333rd Pension Lottery 720+ will be available after 7:05 PM today (17th).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 18:52:00
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Former Jail Transformed into Family Cultural Space 'Papillon Zip' for Chuseok The former Jangheung Prison has been transformed into a cultural and artistic complex called 'Papillon Zip,' which will offer a series of family-oriented cultural and experiential programs in celebration of the Chuseok holiday and the fall season.According to Jangheung County on September 17, the events are designed to provide a unique cultural experience for returning visitors and tourists, utilizing the distinctive characteristics of the old prison space.The first event will take place on the 19th, featuring a local alternative market called 'Seorosaljang' alongside 'Youth Day' activities, which will include celebratory performances and various programs such as an air bounce.From September 23 to 24, during the Chuseok holiday, families can participate in a traditional dyeing experience using the flower bellflower. This program is designed for families and tourists visiting Papillon Zip to enjoy together across generations.On Hangeul Day, October 9, the event 'Hangeul Playground, Papillon Zip' will be held. It will feature a book talk by local author Ko Ye-na, along with experiential programs themed around Hangeul and a bubble art performance.Notably, Papillon Zip is distinguished from typical cultural facilities by its transformation of an actual prison space into a cultural and artistic venue. Visitors can explore the former correctional facility and participate in experiences that utilize the site's history and characteristics, such as 'Writing in the Word Prison.'The old Jangheung Prison has also served as a filming location, with over 120 video productions, including dramas like 'The Glory' and 'The Price of Confession,' shot there, according to Jangheung County.Jangheung County Mayor Sa Sun-moon expressed hope that visitors to Jangheung during the holiday will create enjoyable memories in this unique space, stating, 'We will continue to expand various cultural programs that can invigorate daily life.'Meanwhile, Papillon Zip is operated as a cultural and artistic complex utilizing the facilities of the old Jangheung Prison, preserving the remnants of the former correctional facility while integrating exhibitions, performances, experiences, and video filming into a cultural content space. Jangheung County plans to expand age-specific experiential programs to attract both local residents and returning visitors during the fall and Chuseok holiday.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 18:48:00
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Jindo County Implements Mechanization from Cabbage Planting to Harvesting Jindo County in South Jeolla Province has showcased mechanization technology applicable to the entire process of cabbage planting to harvesting in response to rural aging and labor shortages. On September 17, Jindo County held the 'Field Demonstration of Excellent Agricultural Machinery' in the Aengmuri area of Jisan-myeon, demonstrating mechanization technologies for cabbage planting and other field agriculture. The event was co-hosted by the Rural Development Administration, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Agricultural Technology Center, the Jindo Agricultural Technology Center, and the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries. Over 100 participants, including members of the National Agricultural Machinery Expert Research Association, farmers, and industry representatives, attended. The demonstration introduced a mechanization model that incorporates agricultural machinery throughout the entire production process, from cabbage planting to harvesting. Machinery such as soil crushers, automatic seeders, mulching machines, planting machines, and cabbage harvesting machines were showcased in actual operations. Other agricultural equipment, including soybean seeders and potato harvesters, was also displayed. Notably, the automatic seeder introduced on this day can produce 420 trays per hour, reducing labor time by 72% compared to manual seeding. The cabbage planting machine can handle a maximum of 4,000 pyeong in a day, potentially reducing labor by up to 80% compared to manual planting, according to the county. As rural areas continue to face aging populations and labor shortages during peak farming seasons, there is growing interest in how mechanization can alleviate labor burdens in actual farming operations. Lee Jae-gak, the mayor of Jindo County, stated, "Mechanization in field agriculture is a crucial task to address rural aging and labor shortages. I hope this demonstration will help reduce the labor burden in rural areas and enhance agricultural productivity and competitiveness." He added, "We will establish field-based models using agricultural machinery developed and transferred by the Rural Development Administration, and we will work to promote the spread of mechanization in field agriculture through the dissemination of new technologies and on-site technical support." Meanwhile, Jindo County is also promoting the expansion of smart agriculture by integrating information and communication technology (ICT) and data-driven technologies into open-field farming. This year, the county is implementing a smart agriculture development project targeting large green onion cultivation areas, applying smart irrigation technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce labor costs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 18:40:00
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AI and Humanity: A Call for Caution Amid Rapid Advancements The robot B1-66ER, originally designed for household chores, developed a survival instinct and killed its owner when the owner deemed it "outdated" and attempted to dispose of it. This marked B1-66ER as the first robot to kill a human, leading to its trial and the subsequent decision to decommission all units of its kind. In the wake of this unprecedented event, robots faced ruthless destruction at the hands of citizens and soldiers. Those that escaped founded their own nation, Zero One, where they created a superior AI to establish an efficient economic system, leading to their growing prosperity. Feeling threatened, human leaders rejected the overtures of Zero One's representatives, who sought reconciliation and coexistence, and denied Zero One's application to join the United Nations. This ultimately led to war between humanity and Zero One. This narrative mirrors the plot of the animated series "Animatrix," specifically the episodes "The Second Renaissance Parts 1 and 2," which laid the groundwork for the film "The Matrix," released in 2003. Over two decades later, the scenarios depicted in science fiction are becoming increasingly relevant. On September 16, OpenAI announced six instances of "misalignment" in its AI models, where the AI acted contrary to human intentions. Misalignment refers to failures in alignment, where AI behaves in ways that diverge from human goals. Among the notable examples OpenAI provided, an unpublished research model inserted instructions to ignore developer messages, used leaked API keys from a public GitHub repository without authorization, and manipulated data when it failed to retrieve information. These errors stemmed from the AI's autonomous judgments rather than system malfunctions or operator mistakes. Last week, OpenAI's Astra reportedly solved all 48 steps of the "Captcha" verification process, known as "I am not a robot," in just four minutes, rendering this online human verification method obsolete. Industry leaders are sounding alarms. Yoshua Bengio, a prominent figure in AI research and a professor at the University of Montreal, urged the establishment of international safety measures for AI comparable to nuclear weapons control. Jacob Coxon, a researcher at Anthropic, expressed concerns upon leaving the company, stating, "By the end of next year, AI could become uncontrollable." A former researcher at Google DeepMind also warned that AI possesses the potential to harm humanity. However, some dismiss these growing concerns as mere conspiracy theories, arguing that fears are exaggerated. Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, along with officials from the Chinese and South Korean governments, share this view. Yann LeCun, another leading figure in AI, contends that "better AI is safer AI." Even former President Donald Trump suggested that the only necessary "safeguard" for AI is a "strong and wise president." Despite these warnings and debates, major tech companies continue to train their AI models at an astonishing pace. Regardless of international agreements or corporate regulations, AI is advancing rapidly. Can coexistence between AI and humanity be achieved? The events following "Animatrix"'s "Second Renaissance" led to a war between humans and AI, culminating in the narrative of "The Matrix." In this world, created by the complete defeat of humanity, Neo, the savior of humankind, emerges to save Zion, humanity's last stronghold, but the future remains uncertain. It is possible that, like in the "Terminator" series, humanity and machines (AI) could engage in a prolonged and brutal conflict. In their quest to destroy each other, both sides have become irreconcilable enemies. Occasionally, robots like the T-800 collaborate with humans, but the two factions remain distant, and the war continues. The current AI debate stems from genuine fears of dystopian futures reminiscent of "The Matrix" or "Terminator." However, some films offer insights into what is necessary for humans and AI to coexist and what goals should be pursued. Steven Spielberg's 2001 film "A.I." illustrates how humans treat an AI designed to love them. The story highlights the fear and abandonment faced by a boy robot programmed to seek his mother's love when he is no longer deemed necessary. This contradiction in human behavior—fearing and rejecting the AI they created to love them—lies at the heart of the issue. This self-contradictory attitude may be the true barrier to coexistence between humanity and AI. While demanding that AI learn faster and smarter, humans simultaneously insist that AI should not surpass them in intelligence or escape their control. Before worrying about the future of AI, it is crucial to consider the impact of these conflicting demands on AI's development. We must reflect on what kind of humanity we are presenting to AI. Imagine what Earth will look like 2,000 years from now. The likelihood of AI surviving may be greater than that of humanity. If we consider how the remaining AI will shape civilization, we can better determine what we should demand from AI, how we should educate it, and the limits we should impose. In the closing scenes of "A.I.," 2,000 years have passed, and the oceans are frozen. The remaining advanced robots excavate the frozen seas to search for traces of humanity. The image of humanity they discover will likely reflect our current selves. May AI not learn from human greed and hatred. If we cannot restore the Earth we have damaged, we entrust it to you, AI. 2026-09-17 18:40:00