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South Korean Prime Minister Calls for Police Reform Amid Missing Persons Case South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on August 27 that the recent discussions on police reform, triggered by the "false closure of missing persons cases," highlight the need for significant changes in the overall organizational culture of the police.During a meeting with reporters at the Government Seoul Complex, Han emphasized, "There are serious issues with the procedures, order, and methods of handling cases, and we need to address these properly."He criticized the handling of the situation from the occurrence of the false closure to the recent discovery of the victim's body, calling it "shocking" and stating, "Even as a regular citizen, it is hard to understand how the situation was managed."Han revealed that he has instructed senior police officials, including Acting Commissioner Yoo Jae-sung, to expedite improvements in systems and procedures related to missing persons cases and to take a more proactive approach to problem-solving.Previously, Han had directed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough investigation into missing persons cases, implement strict measures against any improper or illegal handling, and separate the responsibilities of those involved in case management and closure.Regarding the establishment of a police reform organization, which President Lee Jae-myung directed during a Cabinet meeting, Han expressed that it would be preferable to create this body outside the police organization. He stated, "Is it really possible to carry out reform from within? Reforms must be presented in a way that is understandable to everyone. While internal measures and changes are necessary, it may be difficult for an organization that looks at the whole to be situated internally."He also noted the significant number of reported cases and the need for guidelines for investigations, while acknowledging that the current method of handling cases individually is not appropriate.However, he addressed the perspective that links this issue to the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigative powers, stating, "This is a problem within the police's internal system. As I mentioned during the National Assembly's budget committee meeting, it is not the case that everything goes well when the prosecution handles it and that everything is problematic when the police do."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:44:00 -
FCP Proposes $4.4 Billion Acquisition of S1 from Five Samsung Affiliates Flashlight Capital Partners (FCP) has proposed to acquire the entire 20.6% stake in S1 held by five Samsung Group affiliates for approximately 4.4 trillion won, a price 45% higher than S1's current market capitalization. FCP argues that the Samsung affiliates have no business rationale for holding their shares in S1 and is urging their sale.On August 27, FCP submitted its acquisition proposal to the boards of Samsung SDI, Samsung Life, Samsung Card, Samsung Securities, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. The proposal targets 7,815,656 shares at a price of 116,000 won per share, totaling about 906.6 billion won.When converted to the total value of S1's shares, FCP's offer amounts to approximately 4.4 trillion won, which exceeds S1's highest market capitalization of 4.37 trillion won recorded in July 2016.FCP contends that each Samsung affiliate should consider selling their S1 shares. It points out that Samsung SDI requires funds for significant capital investments, while the four financial affiliates have minimal business ties to S1, which operates in the security sector.(S1 maintains key customer relationships with Samsung affiliates, suggesting that business ties could continue post-sale, making the potential for synergy a point of contention.)FCP also highlighted that S1's stock price has fallen more than 30% compared to a decade ago, with a dividend yield of only about 4%. It argues that utilizing the sale proceeds for shareholder returns or enhancing core business competitiveness would be more beneficial for shareholders than retaining the shares.In June, FCP sent a shareholder proposal to S1's board, requesting improvements in corporate value and business vision. FCP claims that the S1 board has not provided specific goals or alternatives, and it received a response indicating that the board had not conducted a separate analysis of an appropriate stock price.FCP has requested a response to its acquisition proposal from the boards of the five Samsung affiliates by September 23, citing the legal obligation of directors to act in the best interests of shareholders and demanding transparency regarding the sale decision and its rationale.Founded in 2020, FCP is a Singapore-based investment firm that emphasizes governance improvement as a key investment strategy. CEO Lee Sang-hyun has a history of acquiring ADT Caps, a competitor of S1, and later selling it to SK Telecom.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:40:00
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AI Short Video Contest for Korean and Chinese Youth Launched The Ajou Media Group and the Chinese Embassy in South Korea have jointly launched the 'AI for the Future: Korean-Chinese Youth AI Short Video Contest,' organized by Ajou Daily.Contest DetailsSubmission Period: August 26 to October 12Eligibility: Youth aged 40 and under from Korea and China (individuals or teams are welcome)Video Length: Between 30 seconds and 10 minutesContest ThemesParticipants are encouraged to share various stories related to Korean-Chinese exchanges, including experiences, misconceptions, examples of friendship, and the future of cooperation between the two countries.AwardsGrand Prize: One winner from each country (individual or team) / Approximately 3.26 million KRWExcellence Award: Three winners from each country (individual or team) / Approximately 1.08 million KRWMerit Award: Ten winners from each country (individual or team) / Approximately 320,000 KRWHow to ParticipateDownload the application form from the contest website, complete it, and submit it along with your video to the official email at ai.kshortvideo@gmail.com.For more information and to download the application formhttps://www.ajudaily.com/event/ai_contest.phpWe encourage young people interested in the cultural exchange and friendship between Korea and China to express their thoughts through AI-generated video content.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:40:00
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Two Deaths Linked to Gangnam Dental Clinic's Unsafe Practices A large dental clinic in Gangnam has come under scrutiny after two patients died within eight months, revealing a pattern of prioritizing profit over patient safety by encouraging unnecessary tooth extractions.According to MBN on the 26th, a former employee, identified as A, described the clinic's business model as targeting patients who struggle with the high costs of dental implants. A stated, "Farmers often feel guilty about spending 1 million won on a single tooth for their children," highlighting the financial burden faced by many.A further explained, "When patients come in, they extract all their teeth that day, regardless of their condition, just to see how many implants can be placed." In one instance, a man in his 60s had 17 teeth extracted and received eight implants on June 29. Tragically, he died during a follow-up procedure a month later while receiving a sixth implant.This clinic had previously been involved in a fatal incident last December when a woman in her 70s, who was scheduled to receive 11 implants, suffered an adverse reaction during surgery and died after being transferred to a university hospital.Another patient, also in her 70s, recounted her experience, stating, "They told me to extract about ten teeth to remove just two," and expressed frustration over being taken advantage of as an elderly patient.With such alarming practices, patient safety has been severely compromised. A noted, "When a patient says, 'I'm bleeding, what should I do?' the front desk tells them to ask the treatment room, and the treatment room sends them back to the front desk, creating a cycle of blame."Experts warn that the issues seen at this clinic are not isolated. Son Byeong-jin, a spokesperson for the Korean Dental Association, stated, "Similar problems are emerging across the country, and most dentists view these clinics as criminal organizations," underscoring the seriousness of the situation.In response to the recent deaths, the Gangnam District Health Center plans to propose stricter safety standards for anesthesia use to the government.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:36:00
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LG Electronics Aims to Recover 1.6 Tons of Rare Earth Magnets from E-Waste LG Electronics has developed a technology to recover rare earth magnets, a critical mineral, from discarded electronics. The company aims to expand the scope of e-waste resource recovery, which has traditionally focused on metals like iron, copper, and aluminum, to include rare earth elements, thereby stabilizing the critical mineral supply chain and promoting a circular economy.On August 27, LG Electronics announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Environment and E-Circular Governance at the Gyeonggi Yongin Resource Recycling Center for a pilot project to recover rare earth magnets from discarded electronic appliances.The project focuses on separating and recovering rare earth magnets from compressors, a key component in appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners, when they are disposed of.Rare earth elements are essential for advanced industries, including electric vehicles, industrial motors, and consumer electronics. Previously, the strong magnetic force of rare earth magnets in discarded compressors made them difficult to separate, leading to most being recycled as scrap metal after recovering only some metals like copper.To address this issue, LG Electronics has developed a proprietary demagnetization technology that utilizes magnetic fields to safely separate the magnets. Unlike traditional thermal processing methods that require high temperatures to separate magnets, this new approach does not necessitate high-temperature processes. This reduces energy consumption and minimizes the deformation and quality degradation of the recovered materials, enhancing their recycling value.Artificial intelligence (AI) will also play a role in the rare earth recovery process. LG Electronics plans to use vision AI-based image analysis technology to recognize the size and shape of discarded compressors and accurately locate the internal rare earth magnets. Based on the analysis results, optimized separation processes will be applied to improve recovery efficiency.Through this pilot project, LG Electronics estimates it can recover approximately 1.6 tons of rare earth magnets from around 40,000 discarded appliances annually. The recovered magnets will be used in the development of technologies for producing new magnets.This initiative also aims to explore the potential of utilizing discarded electronics as a new source of critical minerals. With increasing global supply chain uncertainties, securing a stable supply of critical minerals like rare earth elements has become crucial. The project envisions establishing a resource recycling system that recovers essential materials from end-of-life products for reintegration into production.Yang Hee-goo, head of LG Electronics' Production Innovation Center, stated, "We will continue to strengthen our technological capabilities in resource recycling to recover and reuse critical materials from end-of-life products, contributing to the realization of a circular economy. We will also take the lead in establishing a stable circular utilization foundation for future critical minerals."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:32:10
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Death Toll from Floods and Landslides in Nepal and Tibet Rises to 168 The death toll from floods and landslides along the Nepal-China Tibet border has risen to 168, with nearly 1,400 people reported missing.Local media, citing the National Emergency Operation Center under Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs, reported on August 27 that 165 bodies have been recovered so far in Nepal.Among the missing, 826 individuals include 579 tourists (466 foreigners and 113 Nepalese), security personnel (44 from the Nepal Army, 28 from the Nepal Police, and 13 from the Armed Police), and 162 local residents.This marks an increase from the previous night's report of 157 deaths and 484 missing persons.In addition, significant damage has occurred in the Tibet region of China due to the landslides, with state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reporting three deaths and 558 missing as of 8 a.m. local time on August 27. Among the missing in China, approximately 260 are foreign tourists.As a result, the combined death toll in Nepal and China has reached 168, with a total of 1,384 individuals reported missing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:32:10
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Recovery of Rare Earth Magnets from Old Air Conditioners and Refrigerators to Recycle 1.6 Tons Annually A project is underway to recover rare earth permanent magnets from discarded air conditioners and refrigerators for industrial recycling. The pilot program is expected to recover 1.6 tons of rare earth permanent magnets from approximately 40,000 discarded appliances each year.The Climate Energy Environment Ministry announced on August 27 that it will sign a memorandum of understanding with LG Electronics and the Circular Governance organization at the Metropolitan Resource Recycling Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, to recover rare earth permanent magnets contained in the refrigerant compressors of old air conditioners and refrigerators.Each rotor in the refrigerant compressor of discarded appliances contains about 120 grams of rare earth permanent magnets. However, due to their strong magnetic force, separating them manually has been challenging, leading to their disposal as scrap metal along with leftover rotors after copper extraction. This has limited the recovery and recycling of rare earth materials.In this pilot project, Circular Governance will separate the refrigerant compressors and rotors from the air conditioners and refrigerators, while LG Electronics will use its self-developed equipment to demagnetize and separate the rare earth permanent magnets from the rotors. The recovered magnets will be utilized in the development of technologies for producing new magnets.Since May, LG Electronics has been testing related equipment under a regulatory exception for a circular economy, with the demonstration period set to last until May 2028.The Climate Ministry estimates that this initiative could recover about 1,600 kilograms of rare earth permanent magnets from approximately 40,000 discarded air conditioners and refrigerators annually. If expanded to the estimated 3 million discarded appliances nationwide, it could potentially secure up to 120 tons of waste permanent magnets each year.Based on the results of the pilot project, the government plans to establish measures to improve recycling standards to promote the separation and recovery of permanent magnets. This initiative aims to strengthen the domestic supply chain for critical minerals, which are currently heavily reliant on imports.Kim Han-seung, the First Vice Minister of the Climate Ministry, stated, "To return rare earth materials from discarded appliances to industrial raw materials, close cooperation between businesses and the government is essential for the recovery and recycling of waste permanent magnets. We will actively promote the expansion of the recovery and recycling system and improve related regulations and technology development to establish a circular supply chain for critical minerals contained in waste resources."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-27 14:32:00
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Schneider Electric's 'Impact 2030' Achieves 50 Million Tons Carbon Reduction in First Half Schneider Electric has achieved 88% of its annual target just six months into its sustainability roadmap, 'Impact 2030.' The initiative not only focuses on reducing its own carbon emissions but also extends its decarbonization efforts to customers and the supply chain.'Impact 2030' operates on four pillars: global energy electrification, industrial innovation, talent development, and community support. Schneider Electric aims for a perfect score of 10 by 2030, having recorded a score of 3.69 in the first half of this year, with an annual target of 4.20.Carbon emissions reductions have continued, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions down 82% compared to 2017. Scope 3 emissions, which include the supply chain, decreased by 12% from 2021.The impact of customers' energy transitions has also expanded. Through Schneider Electric's solutions, customers have saved or electrified 129.5 million MWh of energy, resulting in a reduction or avoidance of over 50 million tons of carbon emissions in the first half of this year alone. Since 2018, the cumulative total has reached 913 million tons.Schneider Electric is broadening its business scope by applying energy usage and carbon emissions analysis features to 29% of its energy management software, extending its reach into post-sale energy management.In product design, sustainability standards have been strengthened. In the first half of the year, 27% of major products under design were developed using a 'future design' approach that meets circular economy and environmental standards.The 'Zero Carbon Pathway' decarbonization program has also expanded its scope to include 1,500 suppliers, adding new requirements such as measuring product carbon footprints. In the second quarter, 15 suppliers met the relevant standards.Activities in talent and community sectors have continued, with 16% of skilled employees participating in capability development and knowledge transfer programs. Since 2009, the company has supported sustainable power access for 67 million people and provided electrification and sustainability education opportunities to 1.37 million youth.Schneider Electric plans to continue its decarbonization efforts across the entire value chain, including customers and suppliers, by integrating energy management and digital technologies into its products and business operations. 2026-08-27 14:32:00
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Korea expands half-price travel subsidy to 9 more rural areas SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korea will expand a half-price travel subsidy program to nine more rural areas this fall after a first-half rollout boosted local spending, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday. The program, aimed at rural areas facing population decline, refunds half of a visitor's travel expenses through mobile local gift certificates, up to 100,000 won ($72) per person and 140,000 won for young travelers. It launched in April across 16 areas, including Pyeongchang, Yeongwol and Hoengseong in Gangwon Province, Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province, Gochang in North Jeolla Province and several counties in South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces. An assessment commissioned by the ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization found that the program generated at least 16.2 billion won ($11.7 million) in local spending through June, compared with 5.2 billion won in refunds. That amounts to local spending of more than three times the refund amount. Food and beverage accounted for 45.5 percent of spending, followed by accommodation at 32.2 percent, shopping and local products at 10.2 percent and tourism activities at 6.3 percent. Roughly three-quarters of users, or 76.4 percent, said they spent more than planned because they expected a refund. The ministry said the subsidy also created new travel demand. Among users, 31.2 percent said they took a trip they had not originally planned, while 50 percent said they switched their destination to a participating area. More than half of users, or 56.3 percent, said it was their first visit to the area. Building on those results, the ministry and the tourism organization selected nine new areas to join the program from late August: Hwacheon in Gangwon Province, Goseong, Sancheong and Hamyang in South Gyeongsang Province; Andong and Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province; Seocheon and Taean in South Chungcheong Province; and Jangheung in South Jeolla Province. Some of the original 16 areas, including Miryang, Geochang, Wando and Yeonggwang, secured additional funding to keep the program running in the second half. "The half-price travel program eases the cost burden on travelers and helps bring new visitors to areas facing population decline," Kang Jung-won, the ministry's tourism policy director, said in a statement. Details on the program are available on the Visit Korea website, and applications are handled through each participating local government's website. AJP Takeaways · Korea will add nine rural areas to its half-price travel subsidy program this fall. · The program refunds half of travel expenses through mobile local gift certificates. · Refunds are capped at 100,000 won per person and 140,000 won for young travelers. 2026-08-27 14:31:35 -
Netflix and Stella Artois to launch global campaign SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - Netflix and Belgian beer brand Stella Artois will launch a global campaign tied to the second season of "The Gentlemen: The Series," Netflix said Thursday. The campaign, titled "The Gentlemen's Serve," will run in eight countries: South Korea, the United States, Britain, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa. Netflix said it is the first brand partnership for "The Gentlemen: The Series." It is also the first campaign that Netflix and AB InBev, Stella Artois' parent company, are running together across multiple markets at the same time. The campaign features series star Theo James and Stella Artois ambassador David Beckham. The two appear in campaign content connecting the Netflix series with the beer brand. The rollout will include official social media content, experience-based events and limited-edition products in key markets. Netflix and AB InBev signed a global brand partnership last September. In South Korea, the companies previously worked together on a campaign tied to the second season of Netflix's cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" in December. Magno Herran, Netflix's vice president of global brand and marketing partnerships, said the campaign is aimed at letting fans experience the series beyond the screen. AB InBev global chief marketing officer Marcel Marcondes said the series fits Stella Artois' brand heritage and serving ritual. AJP Takeaways · Netflix and Stella Artois will launch a global campaign tied to "The Gentlemen: The Series." · The campaign, "The Gentlemen's Serve," will run in eight countries, including South Korea. · Netflix said it is the first brand partnership for the series. 2026-08-27 14:31:02