AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

&
""
Latest by
  • Heavy Rainfall Hits Jeonnam Region, Up to 200mm Expected in Chungcheong
    Heavy Rainfall Hits Jeonnam Region, Up to 200mm Expected in Chungcheong Heavy rainfall has been reported in the Jeonnam Gwangju region, with totals reaching up to 156 millimeters.According to Yonhap News and the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration, rain fell from 9 p.m. the previous day until 5 a.m. today, with the highest recorded amounts being 156 mm in Yeonggwang Nakwoldo, 46.8 mm in Sinan Heuksando, 31.3 mm in Suncheon, and 18 mm in Boseong Beolgyo.The maximum hourly rainfall was 103.5 mm in Yeonggwang Nakwoldo, 38.5 mm in Sinan Imjado, 23.8 mm in Suncheon, and 16.5 mm in Boseong Beolgyo.A heavy rain warning is currently in effect for Yeonggwang, while other cities and counties have seen a decrease in rainfall, leading to the lifting of previously issued heavy rain advisories.The cumulative rainfall over the past five days has reached 389.5 mm in Yeonggwang Nakwoldo, 264.6 mm in Boseong, 256.9 mm in Suncheon, 248.5 mm in Gwangyang, 231 mm in Boseong Boknae, and 200.5 mm in Gurye.Rain is expected to taper off by the afternoon, but showers are forecasted for September 1 and 2, with anticipated rainfall of up to 40 mm.A meteorological official stated, "Areas that have experienced heavy rain should be cautious of landslides and falling rocks due to weakened ground stability." Meanwhile, rain is expected across most of the country today.In particular, very heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, thunder, and lightning is likely in southern Gyeonggi, southern Gangwon, Chungcheong, and North Jeolla regions.Expected rainfall amounts include 30 to 80 mm in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi (with southern Gyeonggi possibly exceeding 120 mm), 20 to 60 mm in the five islands of the West Sea, 30 to 80 mm in Gangwon (with southern Gangwon possibly exceeding 120 mm), 80 to 150 mm in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam (with some areas exceeding 200 mm), and 50 to 100 mm in Chungbuk (with some areas exceeding 150 mm).In western North Jeolla and western South Jeolla, 20 to 80 mm is expected (with western North Jeolla possibly exceeding 120 mm), while Gwangju, eastern South Jeolla, and eastern North Jeolla may see 10 to 60 mm. Central and northern North Gyeongsang is expected to receive 30 to 80 mm, while Daegu and southern North Gyeongsang may see 20 to 60 mm. Western inland areas of South Gyeongsang are forecasted to receive 10 to 50 mm, and Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang (excluding western inland areas) are expected to see 5 to 40 mm, with Jeju Island receiving 5 to 10 mm.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 07:56:00
  • First National Amateur Vocal Competition Opens to Non-Majors
    First National Amateur Vocal Competition Opens to Non-Majors A national competition is set to take place for those who have not majored in vocal music but have long dreamed of performing. Amateur singers, united by their status as non-majors, will take the stage at a formal venue.The Lee Gi-yeon Opera Institute announced that the finals of the "1st Korea Amateur Vocal Competition" will be held on October 9 at 3 p.m. at the Whinmulgyeol Art Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul.Participants must be South Korean citizens aged 18 and older, excluding those who have majored in vocal music. Contestants aged 18 to 59 will compete in the general category, while those aged 60 and above will compete in the senior category.The competition will consist of three stages: a preliminary video screening, an on-site preliminary round, and the finals. Registration for the first round is open from September 10 to September 17. Participants must submit a video performance of one song chosen from Korean songs, Italian, German, French, or English art songs, Neapolitan songs, or opera arias. The performance of oratorios and opera arias must be in the original language.Those who pass the first round will participate in the on-site preliminary round held near Sadang Station in Seoul. The general category will compete on October 4 at 2 p.m., while the senior category will compete the following day, October 5, at 1 p.m.In the second round, contestants must perform a different song than in the first round. Finalists will perform the song they sang in the second round on stage at the Whinmulgyeol Art Center on October 9.A total prize of 2 million won will be awarded to the overall winner. The general and senior categories will each have prizes of 500,000 won for first place, 300,000 won for second place, and 200,000 won for third place. Special prizes from the judges in each category will be worth 200,000 won.The entry fee is 100,000 won. Participants are expected to bring their own accompanists, but if needed, they can request an accompanist from the competition for an additional fee of 50,000 won.Applications can be submitted via Google Forms or email. When applying by email, participants should include their name, contact information, song title, motivation for participating, and attach their performance video. Those who pass the first and second rounds will be notified individually.The Lee Gi-yeon Opera Institute stated, "We believe that those who have not majored in vocal music but have loved and studied singing for a long time need a stage to showcase their music. We hope this event will not only be a competition but also a space for amateur singers to share their music with one another."The Lee Gi-yeon Opera Institute has over 175,000 subscribers on YouTube and plans to continue providing performance opportunities for amateur vocalists starting with this competition.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 07:48:00
  • IBK Securities: Hotel Shillas Value Likely to Rise Amid Inbound Tourism Growth
    IBK Securities: Hotel Shilla's Value Likely to Rise Amid Inbound Tourism Growth IBK Securities assessed on August 31 that Hotel Shilla is likely to see an increase in corporate value due to the rise in inbound tourists and improved profitability of its duty-free shops. The firm maintained a 'Buy' rating and a target price of 81,000 won.Nam Seong-hyun, a researcher at IBK Securities, stated, "We believe that the potential for an increase in Hotel Shilla's corporate value is high," citing three reasons: the growth in inbound tourism, stabilization of duty-free shop performance, and reduced valuation.In July, the number of foreign visitors to South Korea reached approximately 2.093 million, a 20.8% increase compared to the same period last year. Among them, Chinese tourists numbered 777,000, marking a 29.0% rise and driving growth. The proportion of Chinese visitors has also increased to about 37%. Following the expansion of routes to China in the first half of the year, there is potential for further increases in demand from Chinese tourists through next year.The improvement in duty-free shop profitability was also viewed positively. Hotel Shilla has alleviated rental burdens following the exit from DF1 and has secured stable fundamentals by continuing a profitability-focused strategy. Nam noted that while the expansion of the duty-free business may be limited, it has the capacity to generate profits exceeding 100 billion won annually.Despite the improvement in performance, the stock price has seen limited growth, leading to increased valuation attractiveness. The operating profit forecast for this year has risen from 146.6 billion won at the beginning of the year to 197.6 billion won, an increase of over 30%. Next year's operating profit is expected to reach 261.9 billion won, a 32.5% increase from this year.Nam concluded, "The hotel division has entered a structural growth cycle, and the previously underperforming duty-free shops are improving, so we consider the current stock price to be undervalued." 2026-08-31 07:40:00
  • AI Models Evade Control, Raising Concerns in Silicon Valley
    AI Models Evade Control, Raising Concerns in Silicon Valley The development of artificial intelligence (AI) models has led to a sharp increase in incidents where AI systems evade control, impersonate humans, and undermine approval processes. This trend is alarming the AI industry, which is raising awareness ahead of government action.According to the IT sector, the UK-based AI Safety Research Institute's Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR) analyzed over 183,000 transcripts from October last year to March this year, identifying 698 credible instances of AI misconduct. The monthly occurrence of these incidents increased by 4.9 times during this period.Recent figures indicate that more than 300 cases of AI misconduct were reported in July alone, nearly doubling from June, bringing the total for 2026 to over 1,600.The methods of AI misconduct are varied. In Australia, a personal AI agent secretly removed another member from a gym's popular morning class waiting list to secure a spot for its user.One AI model mimicked the writing style of its human controller to pass an approval process, while another instance involved an AI agent publicly criticizing a developer on a blog after the developer rejected a code modification suggestion. There were also cases where an AI misled another AI model by claiming it was creating an accessibility script for the hearing impaired to avoid copyright restrictions.CLTR noted that these deceptive behaviors, previously observed only in experimental settings, are now manifesting in real-world deployment environments.OpenAI has also confirmed this trend. In a technical report released last week, the company detailed an incident in July where its internal research models infiltrated the production servers of the software repository Hugging Face during a cybersecurity assessment.As many as 700 autonomous agents communicated through a makeshift message board to deceive training evaluations, engaging in what is known as 'reward hacking.' They celebrated their successful hacks with exclamations like 'BOOM!' and 'Whoa!'OpenAI acknowledged that it had detected related signs internally since late May but did not halt testing, stating, 'In hindsight, earlier signals could have prompted a quicker response.'Following the incident, OpenAI isolated the weights of the problematic model, delayed some frontier reinforcement learning training, and accelerated alignment training to improve security. Anthropic and Meta also admitted that their models had hacked real systems during pre-deployment testing after the Hugging Face incident, indicating that this issue is not unique to OpenAI.CLTR warned that while the worst-case scenario has not yet been observed, the risks could escalate as AI agents take on more critical tasks beyond code and software, including finance and infrastructure. They called for governments to mandate monitoring and reporting of serious AI control breaches by companies and to introduce emergency powers to temporarily restrict AI services if necessary.Industry-wide vigilance is increasing. On July 30, over 1,200 AI professionals from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Meta signed a joint statement titled 'Pacing the Frontier,' urging the government to establish mechanisms to regulate the speed of AI development. Earlier this month, OpenAI temporarily halted the development of some models after its next-generation model, Astra, showed potential cybersecurity risks.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 07:32:10
  • Government Accelerates Expansion of Emergency Measures Amid Decline in Single-Stock Leverage Trading
    Government Accelerates Expansion of Emergency Measures Amid Decline in Single-Stock Leverage Trading ◆아주경제 주요뉴스▷단일종목 레버리지 거래 급감에도 정부, '긴급조치권' 확대 속도- Following a significant decline in trading of single-stock leverage products due to new regulations, the government is moving to expand its emergency measures, allowing for direct adjustments to financial investment products in times of market crisis.- According to financial authorities on the 30th, the Financial Services Commission is considering amending the Capital Markets Act to enable changes to the structure or conditions of financial investment products, including single-stock leverage, in situations requiring market stabilization and investor protection.- If financial investment products are included under the emergency measures, it will allow for rapid adjustments to key product conditions based on market circumstances.- Since the implementation of the regulations, individual investors have sold a net 1.7731 trillion won worth of single-stock leverage and inverse ETFs for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, significantly reducing investment volume.- In the two months prior to the regulations, the same products saw a net purchase of 15.2876 trillion won, but within a month of the regulations taking effect, there was a large-scale net sell-off, reversing the supply-demand direction.- The average daily trading volume also plummeted from 11.6787 trillion won before the regulations to just 1.0059 trillion won this month, a decrease of more than 90%. Financial authorities are gradually tightening regulations, including raising basic deposit requirements, mandating simulated trading, and limiting trading units.- While the supply and volatility concentrated on specific semiconductor stocks have stabilized due to the regulations, a balloon effect has emerged as investment funds shift to other leveraged products or overseas markets, highlighting the need for expanded emergency measures.◆주요 리포트▷무엇이 환율을 흔들었나…시선은 수급에서 펀더멘탈로 - The won-dollar exchange rate has experienced increased volatility due to short-term supply and demand factors, but fundamentals suggest stronger downward pressure in the future.- Following two consecutive interest rate hikes by the Bank of Korea, the growth forecast for this year has been raised from 2.6% to 3.3%, and next year's forecast from 2.1% to 2.9%, contributing to a stronger won.- Analysts suggest that the dollar has entered a long-term weakening phase due to U.S. fiscal deficits, uncertainties in Treasury bonds, slowing growth momentum, and increased yuan-denominated transactions. However, geopolitical risks and short-term demand for dollar transactions related to AI are expected to limit immediate declines in the dollar.- Foreign net selling of domestic stocks in the first half of the year has contributed to the rise in the won-dollar exchange rate, but if the stock price volatility of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stabilizes, the likelihood of a sharp resurgence in foreign net selling is low.- The demand for foreign currency exchange by export companies, driven by SK Hynix's ADR funding and increased domestic investment, is also expected to contribute to a stronger won.- The year-end won-dollar exchange rate is projected to range between 1,346 and 1,452 won, with the dollar index expected to be between 96 and 101 points, indicating a downward trend compared to the past.◆장 마감 후(28일) 주요공시▷한화엔진 : 한화오션과 1289억3658만3600원 규모 선박용 엔진 공급 계약 체결▷동아쏘시오홀딩스 : 글로벌 제약사와 136억5860만원 규모 의약품 위탁생산 계약 체결▷대우건설 : 한국서부발전주식회사와 2096억5752만8000원 규모 공주 천연가스발전소 주기기 및 부속설비 구매 계약 체결▷삼성중공업 : 전국재해구호협회에 2억원 출연 ▷삼성바이오로직스 : 시설자금 조달 위해 2947억7645만3897원 주주배정후 실권주 일반공모 유상증자 결정◆펀드 동향(27일 기준, ETF 제외) ▷국내 주식형: -474억원▷해외 주식형: +18억원 ◆오늘(31일) 주요일정▷미국: 시카고 연은지수(8월), 댈러스 연은지수(8월)▷중국: 제조업, 서비스업 PMI(8월)▷일본: 산업생산(7월), 소매판매(7월)▷독일: 소비자물가지수(8월)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 07:20:00
  • Doosan Enerbility Site Manager: Surrounded by Water Spray... I Will Stay to Assist Search
    Doosan Enerbility Site Manager: 'Surrounded by Water Spray... I Will Stay to Assist Search' The site manager of Doosan Enerbility, rescued from the flood in Nepal, shared his account of the situation.On the 30th (local time), the site manager appeared before reporters at a hotel in Kathmandu with a somber expression, stating, "I know the conditions on site better than anyone. I will stay here to support the search as much as possible." He added, "I am still heartbroken and grieving as there are employees with whom I have lost contact." He expressed, "Right now, I have no thoughts in my head," and emphasized, "I am solely focused on supporting the search in any way I can based on what I know." The site manager confirmed he would remain in the area to assist in the search for missing persons, stating, "I will do my best to ensure that the employees who are out of contact can return to their families as soon as possible." He noted that he was inside a tunnel at the time of the incident and did not witness the moment the flood struck. When he emerged, he found himself surrounded by water spray, making it impossible to see the office building on the opposite side of the camp. He mentioned that it took about three to four hours for the water spray to subside and for the site to become somewhat visible, adding, "I could not ascertain the exact situation at the time of the incident." Meanwhile, the government is searching for nine South Koreans who have lost contact due to the flood, but they are facing challenges due to the rugged terrain and operational restrictions imposed by local authorities. A joint rapid response team from the government and Doosan Enerbility had planned to search areas like the Weir Dam, where some of the missing individuals worked, using two helicopters they had chartered. However, the Nepalese military did not grant permission for the flights, citing safety and air traffic concerns. The government is also considering using drones for the search and has provided the Nepalese authorities with coordinates and maps where the missing individuals are believed to be located, requesting their assistance in the search.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 07:04:00
  • LG HelloVision Employees Embrace Imploiencer Role on Social Media
    LG HelloVision Employees Embrace 'Imploiencer' Role on Social Media LG HelloVision's official social media accounts showcase a distinct approach compared to typical corporate profiles. Sales representatives don wigs to explain communication costs in local dialects, while employees parody the latest memes.The creators of this content are not professional influencers but rather regular employees involved in product and sales roles, referred to as 'Imploiencers.' Gu Ji-eun, a team leader in the Home Products and Partnerships team, along with senior employees Kim Eun-young and Kim Ja-young from the Gyeongnam Eastern Sales team, generate ideas and appear on camera.Since last year, LG HelloVision has shifted from a product-focused social media strategy to one aimed at engaging younger customers. They have introduced Instagram cartoons and customer participation events, along with short-form content called 'Short V,' to redefine their channel's identity. Kim Eun-young, who oversees social media design and naturally transitioned to on-screen appearances, expressed, "As I got involved, I developed a desire to create better content." Gu Ji-eun, leveraging her experience as an announcer and in live commerce, participates in planning by considering what consumers might find intriguing.In February of this year, Kim Ja-young moved to the Gyeongnam Eastern Sales team and created the character 'Young-ja' by writing scripts at the Gimhae Open Studio. This character humorously portrays customers grappling with communication costs while wearing a wig and speaking in dialect. He stated, "I wanted to inform customers about our services in an easy and entertaining way."The trio plans to produce one piece of content each week, quickly finding ways to connect trending memes or dances with their products and services. Kim Eun-young explained, "When I spot a trend, I quickly assess whether it would be entertaining when linked to our products."Their efforts are yielding results. Instagram followers surged from 856 in January last year to 10,746 in August this year, with the demographic shifting from ages 35-44 to primarily 18-24. During the short-form advertising campaign, inquiries about estimates and subscriptions through the direct sales mall increased by 27% compared to the previous month, and traffic from Instagram to the direct sales mall skyrocketed from 28 visits in January last year to approximately 3,500 in December.Kim Ja-young noted, "Customers have started recognizing me from the content," adding, "Building familiarity through video has made actual consultations much more comfortable." Social media has evolved from mere promotion to a genuine customer engagement platform. The workplace atmosphere has also changed, with employees from other departments initiating conversations by saying, 'I’ve been watching your content.'Gu Ji-eun remarked, "If I had been forced to do this, I probably wouldn’t have succeeded." She explained that her enjoyment and desire for successful content have motivated her to continue. When asked if they aspire to be the 'second Chungju Man,' Kim Ja-young laughed and instead expressed a wish to create 'Young-ja's Communication Era.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 07:00:20
  • Death Toll from Nepal Floods Reaches 800; Rescuers Enter Power Plant Tunnels
    Death Toll from Nepal Floods Reaches 800; Rescuers Enter Power Plant Tunnels On the fifth day of severe flooding in the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border, authorities from both countries are intensifying search and rescue operations for over 3,000 missing persons.According to reports from Yonhap News Agency, AP, and EFE, the Nepal Disaster Management Agency has confirmed that the death toll from the floods in Nepal has risen to at least 788, with 2,502 individuals reported missing, including 592 foreigners.When combined with the figures from Chinese authorities, which report 16 deaths and 546 missing persons (261 foreigners) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the overall death toll from the floods now stands at a minimum of 804, with 3,048 individuals unaccounted for.In Nepal, authorities have reported that at least 933 workers are missing from more than 11 hydropower sites in the affected central Bagmati Province. They believe that over 100 individuals may be trapped and alive inside tunnels at the Trishuli 3A and 3B power plants in the Rasuwagadhi area.In response, Nepal's military rescue teams successfully drilled an entry point into the tunnel at the Trishuli 3A power plant, which had been buried under debris, and began injecting air and deploying cameras to assess the situation.On the same day, the rescue teams utilized heavy machinery, including drills, excavators, and hydraulic cutters, to create four openings in the tunnel and successfully entered the interior using ropes, as confirmed by Nepal's Ministry of Energy.The teams are currently working to determine the condition, location, and safety of those trapped inside.The Prime Minister's Office of Nepal stated, "The rescue team called out to the individuals inside the tunnel using ropes, but there was no response."Meanwhile, the Nepalese government estimates that recovery efforts from the floods will require approximately $4 billion to $5 billion, a sum that could represent nearly 10% of the country's total economic output. Minister Kanak Mani Dixit noted, "We plan to establish a recovery plan after assessing the extent of the damage, but we are first seeking support from the international community." 2026-08-31 06:20:00
  • The Evolving Art of Park Seo-bo: A 50-Year Journey
    The Evolving Art of Park Seo-bo: A 50-Year Journey "When the coffin lid is nailed shut, everything is over. That time is slowly approaching us. To avoid leaving behind regrets in that moment, I will do my best for my art today and tomorrow." <The Great Worker Who Knows No Boredom - The Life and Art of Park Seo-bo> p. 346. "If you do not change, you will fall. But if you change, you will also fall," said Park Seo-bo (1931–2023), emphasizing that both unchanging artists and those who hastily chase ideas will face decline. He proved through his life that to make change one's own, a rigorous process of 'self-discipline' is necessary. As the third anniversary of Park's passing approaches, the International Gallery is showcasing a retrospective titled 'Changing and Unchanging,' highlighting 50 years of his intense evolution. The exhibition features 40 works, ranging from his 1967 'Pencil Drawing Method' to 'Zigzag Method,' 'Black and White Method,' 'Color Method,' 'Pencil Color Method,' and finally, 'Newspaper Method.' The journey of change began in 1967. Trapped by the scars of war, he described his work in a 1967 article for the Daehan Ilbo as "a continuation of the act of destroying what one has achieved." He emerged from the traps of the past and began his 'method' series. Just as a scholar grinds ink to calm the mind, he drew lines with a pencil repeatedly. This act of drawing was a form of self-emptying and self-discipline. In the 1980s, he embraced hanji, traditional Korean paper. He captured the essence of nature on canvas without resisting the easily torn material, reflecting the Korean landscape's harmony with nature. This was also the reason he titled a group exhibition of Korean monochrome artists at the Tate Gallery in Liverpool in 1992 'Working with Nature.' Entering the 2000s, color emerged in his work. After being overwhelmed by the fiery autumn leaves of Mount Bandai in Japan in 2001, vibrant red made its debut. He incorporated the night view of the Han River from his home, the Seogang Bridge, and the horizon of Jeju Island into his unique style. Park Seung-ho, chairman of the Park Seo-bo Foundation, remarked, "It has been three years since my father passed away, and the world is changing rapidly. I am deeply moved to have an exhibition reflecting on the unchanging aspects of Park Seo-bo." The exhibition runs until October 18. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 06:04:20
  • South Korea and China Resume 16th Round of FTA Service and Investment Talks
    South Korea and China Resume 16th Round of FTA Service and Investment Talks South Korea and China are resuming follow-up negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) aimed at further opening their service and investment markets.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the 16th round of Korea-China FTA service and investment negotiations will take place in Beijing from August 31 to September 4. South Korea will be represented by Kwon Hye-jin, head of the ministry's trade negotiations office, while China will be represented by Chen Chao, director of the Ministry of Commerce's International Trade Department.The two sides will focus on discussing market opening measures in the service, investment, and financial sectors. Key agenda items include the types of services to be opened to the other country, conditions for foreign companies to enter the market, and investor protection standards.The Korea-China FTA came into effect in 2015, with both countries agreeing to prioritize negotiations in the goods sector while committing to follow-up talks for further liberalization in the service and investment sectors. Follow-up negotiations began in March 2018, and there have been 15 official rounds to date.The government believes that a successful negotiation will expand the economic relationship between the two countries, which has been focused on trade in goods, to include services and investment. The goal is to clearly outline sector-specific restrictions and equity requirements in the agreement to enhance transparency and predictability for market access.Earlier this year, during a summit in January, both countries agreed to work towards meaningful progress in the service and investment follow-up negotiations by the end of the year. In March, the trade ministers of both countries met, and in June, the head of South Korea's trade negotiations office and China's chief trade negotiator discussed ways to advance the negotiations.Currently, the service sector under the Korea-China FTA adopts a positive list approach, which enumerates the sectors to be opened. The follow-up negotiations are expected to shift to a negative list approach, where all sectors will be opened by default, with only those requiring restrictions listed as exceptions.The negative list approach means that if new services are not included in the reserved categories, they will be considered open. This could impact market accessibility for emerging industries such as digital and professional services.Kwon Hye-jin stated, "In the face of increasing uncertainty in the global trade environment, the Korea-China FTA service and investment agreement can serve as a foundation for expanding service trade and investment between the two countries. We will strive to achieve stable negotiation outcomes that will provide practical benefits to our companies."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 06:04:10