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  • Dongseo Foods Donates 1,400 Boxes of Relief Supplies to Flood-Affected Areas in Gyeongnam
    Dongseo Foods Donates 1,400 Boxes of Relief Supplies to Flood-Affected Areas in Gyeongnam Dongseo Foods announced on August 26 that it will donate a total of 1,400 boxes of relief supplies to assist recovery efforts in Gyeongnam, which has been affected by recent heavy rainfall.The supplies include coffee mix, coffee drinks, drinking water, and cereal bars. They will be delivered to the affected areas through the National Food Bank of the Korea Social Welfare Council, aimed at supporting disaster victims and recovery personnel.Dongseo Foods has been actively engaged in support activities for regions impacted by disasters. Last year, the company provided donations and relief supplies during the wildfires in Gyeongsang Province in March and the heavy rains in July.A representative from Dongseo Foods expressed, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to those enduring difficult times due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall. We hope for a swift recovery so that everyone can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:20:20
  • Nongshim Purchases 490 Tons of Wando Seaweed for Neoguri Noodles
    Nongshim Purchases 490 Tons of Wando Seaweed for 'Neoguri' Noodles Nongshim has continued its 45-year relationship with local fishermen by purchasing 490 tons of fresh Wando seaweed for its 'Neoguri' noodles this year.The company announced on August 26 that it has completed the purchase of 490 tons of Wando seaweed for use in 'Neoguri' production. This brings the total amount purchased to approximately 18,500 tons.Nongshim's connection with Wando seaweed began in 1982 when it first launched 'Neoguri.' The company included the seaweed in its product to enhance the unique flavor of its seafood udon noodles and has continued to source it locally every year since.Wando is recognized as a leading seaweed-producing region in South Korea, accounting for 66% of the nation's total seaweed production as of last year, thanks to its favorable conditions such as sunlight and wind. Nongshim has maintained its purchase volume at 490 tons this year, the same as last year.'Neoguri' contains whole seaweed rather than powdered or extracted forms, with the seaweed harvested in Wando playing a key role in delivering its seafood flavor.A Nongshim representative stated, 'Wando seaweed has been a core ingredient that has shaped the flavor of 'Neoguri' for a long time. We will continue to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with the Wando community as a partner in growth.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:16:00
  • Chinese Short Drama Platforms Expand Influence in South Korea
    Chinese Short Drama Platforms Expand Influence in South Korea Chinese short-form drama platforms operating in South Korea are rapidly expanding their influence while remaining outside the telecommunications provider registration and management system. These platforms, which offer content with high levels of suggestiveness and violence, are in a regulatory gray area, leaving the government unable to track their domestic revenue or user numbers.According to Lee Joo-hee, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, an investigation into 11 Chinese short drama platforms, including DramaBox, LilShot, and TopShot, revealed that none had registered as telecommunications providers. However, this is not considered a violation of current laws.Foreign firms providing services from abroad without a domestic entity are classified as 'cross-border service providers' and are exempt from registration requirements under the World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and free trade agreements (FTAs).While platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have registered local entities and are subject to regulatory oversight, Chinese short drama platforms operate directly through apps without a domestic presence, leading to differing regulatory treatment among foreign video platforms.The concern lies in the content offered by these unregistered platforms. With inconsistent review standards and the ability to access 15+ rated content without logging in, there are growing worries, but the government lacks effective means to manage and supervise these services.Lee Jong-kwan, a senior expert at law firm Sejong, noted, "If services are provided in a cross-border manner without a domestic entity, it may be difficult to apply domestic laws. If the telecommunications business survey does not capture these platforms, it will be hard to ascertain their revenue scale."Under the Telecommunications Business Act, the obligation to designate a domestic agent applies only to providers with an average daily user count exceeding 1 million in the previous year or a domestic traffic share of over 1%. Since the scale of these platforms is unclear, it is uncertain whether they meet this criterion. Lee added, "Even if the government requests data submission or seeks to address user harm, the lack of administrative contact domestically may hinder enforcement efforts."Amid this regulatory gap, Chinese short dramas are seeing a sharp increase in both viewing time and user numbers. According to Mobile Index, the average monthly usage time for ShortMax in June was 332 minutes, which is 88% of the time spent on Tving (376 minutes) and 72% of that on Wavve (464 minutes). DramaBox (260 minutes) and LilShot (201 minutes) also significantly outperformed Coupang Play (71 minutes).The average usage time for the three platforms—DramaBox, LilShot, and ShortMax—rose from 248 minutes in January to 264 minutes in June, while the average for domestic OTT platforms Tving, Wavve, and Coupang Play decreased from 328 minutes to 304 minutes, narrowing the gap from 80 minutes to nearly 40 minutes. Monthly active users (MAU) for LilShot surged from 64,529 in January to 389,160 in July, nearly a sixfold increase (503%), while DramaBox approached 1 million users with 919,761.This growth reflects a global trend. According to Sensor Tower, global downloads of short drama apps reached 850 million in the first quarter of this year, a 140% increase from the same period last year, with revenue from payments rising by 20% to approximately $750 million.A survey by the Korea Information Society Agency found that short-form content usage rates reached 95% among teenagers and 94.8% among adults, marking increases of 10 percentage points and 17.3 percentage points, respectively, compared to 2023. The popularity of provocative themes, such as romances between step-siblings and affairs with ex-boyfriends' fathers, has also been noted as a factor in retaining users on LilShot.Stability Chang, an adjunct professor at Chung-Ang University’s Graduate School of Communication, expressed concern, stating, "Provocative and sensational themes are driving repeat viewership among those in their 20s and 30s. If Chinese companies establish a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing content acquisition, platform operation, user data accumulation, and advertising and in-app payments, South Korea could lose not only its content consumption market but also platform leadership to foreign operators."The growing presence of Chinese short dramas outside government oversight poses an increasing challenge to South Korea's media ecosystem.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:12:20
  • China Cracks Down on Inappropriate Content in Short Dramas
    China Cracks Down on 'Inappropriate Content' in Short Dramas Concerns are growing over the lack of rating classifications for Chinese short drama platforms operating in South Korea, as they are not subject to the same self-regulatory standards as major online video services (OTT) in the country.On August 26, the Chinese short drama platform DramaBox featured the revenge drama 'The Son-in-Law Returns' among its top offerings. Meanwhile, the platform Lilshot has gained popularity with titles like 'The Temptation of the Dangerous Mafia Twins,' which focus on themes of infidelity, revenge, and violence. While some platforms label their content as suitable for viewers aged 15 and older, others do not provide any rating at all.According to the current law on the promotion of films and video materials, online videos are required to receive classification from the Video Rating Board (VRB) before distribution. Designated self-rating businesses like Netflix, Disney+, Tving, Wavve, and Coupang Play can assign their own ratings but must report the results to the VRB for post-management.In contrast, platforms like DramaBox, Lilshot, and ShortMax are not classified as self-rating businesses. They are excluded from the registration requirements for cross-border telecommunications providers, which means they do not meet the criteria to be designated as self-rating businesses. A VRB official stated, 'Currently, Chinese short drama platforms are not self-rating businesses. However, if production or distribution companies supply content that has been pre-rated by the VRB, they can display that rating on their platform.'The issue arises from the rapid distribution of provocative content on Chinese short drama platforms, raising questions about whether the current rating classification system can effectively manage it. The VRB official noted, 'When unclassified content is distributed domestically, we take action based on the severity of the legal violation, which can include blocking or reporting. Last year, we took blocking measures against 30 platforms.'Concerns about the provocative themes in short dramas are also being raised in China. According to Xinhua News Agency, the National Radio and Television Administration of China has been conducting a special crackdown on harmful and inappropriate content in short dramas since June. The crackdown targets eight categories, including harmful content for children, soft pornography, materialism, distorted views on marriage, feudalistic practices, revenge, vulgar titles, and copyright infringement. Platforms and production companies are required to conduct thorough inspections of their content and make immediate corrections or deletions if issues are found.Experts argue that as Chinese short drama platforms expand their influence in South Korea, there is a pressing need to clarify the content rating classification and post-management systems. Lee Jong-kwan, a senior expert at the law firm Sejong, stated, 'If content is not rated and moves to telecommunications review, it creates a structure where responses occur only after issues are raised, leading to relatively lax regulation. This could result in regulatory gaps for excessive or unhealthy expressions.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:12:20
  • Suh Do-hos Exhibition Explores Themes of Home and Identity
    Suh Do-ho's Exhibition Explores Themes of Home and Identity Artist Suh Do-ho, 64, often hears viewers reflect on their own lives when they see his work. At a press conference for his solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul on August 26, he stated, "Many people tell me that my work makes them think about their own lives. I want to share that positive aspect with many others." For over 30 years, Suh has built a unique artistic world on the international stage, and now he is connecting with Korean audiences. The exhibition features more than 500 pieces, including unpublished early works from his university days, representative pieces, and ongoing projects across various mediums such as drawing, sculpture, video, and installation.Growing up in Seoul, Suh moved to the United States in 1991 and has lived in various cities around the world. His experiences of relocating in unfamiliar cities have led him to explore themes of 'home,' 'memory,' 'movement,' and 'identity.'This exhibition showcases several of his 'fabric homes.' For Suh, the traditional Korean house, or 'hanok,' represents a connection to his parents. In the late 1960s, when Western-style apartments were highly sought after, his parents commissioned the last master carpenter of the Joseon Dynasty, Bae Hee-han, to build a hanok, modeled after the Yeonkyungdang in Changdeokgung Palace. Suh remarked, "At a time when no one was building hanoks, my parents chose to build one while others envied Western-style apartments."It took six years to construct that hanok, and Suh's family lived right next door, allowing him to witness the entire process. He described it as "a gift from my parents," stating, "It greatly helped me shape my identity as a Korean architecturally and spatially."The exhibition includes 'Loving/Loving: Seoul House,' which Suh describes as a self-portrait of himself and his father, as well as 'Perfect House: London, Horsham, New York, Berlin, Providence, Seoul,' which reconstructs memories and traces of homes he has lived in across various cities. Another piece, 'Nest/Rooms,' reimagines hallways, doors, and rooms from those homes as a continuous architectural space.Every doorknob and switch he has touched daily is an object infused with energy. "There’s a saying that even a rock will warm up if you hold it for three years. I believe the doorknobs I’ve touched countless times over 25 years contain my energy," he said.His concept of home evolves with his life. "Most of the works where I made homes from fabric were created when I was single. They emerged from conversations with empty rooms while I sat alone. That’s why I made the empty rooms from fabric. There was nothing between the room and me."However, after getting married and having children, people began to fill those empty rooms. "With marriage and children, home transformed from a mere physical space into a 'family.' The stories that arise from the presence of people between me and the room become part of the home. Expanding that concept leads to schools, societies, nations, and even the universe."As he transitioned from son to husband and father, these life changes influenced his artwork. The latest pieces in this exhibition emphasize 'fatherhood.' He has collected his children's clothes and belongings over ten years without discarding them, turning them into art.His thoughts on 'tradition' have also evolved. In his youth, he did not see it as his responsibility to carry on Korean traditional culture. However, as he ages, he contemplates what he will leave for the next generation.This exhibition allows him to delve deeply into his 'roots.' Suh stated, "Although I left Korea in my late twenties, I wanted to show Korean audiences the context I possess." The exhibition includes a seed bank of works from his childhood, representing the seeds that have formed his artistic world.Recently, the Buddhist concept of 'Jungsaeng Hwaehyang' has been on his mind. It embodies altruism, wishing for collective happiness rather than just accumulating merit for oneself. "I don’t know why this thought keeps coming to me. In any case, it means sharing what one has with the public," he explained.Having exhibited at major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Whitney Museum, Guggenheim Museum, and Tate Modern, Suh felt a growing sense of obligation to hold an exhibition in Korea. When the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art offered him an exhibition opportunity, he gladly accepted. This exhibition serves as a realization of his concept of 'Hwaehyang.''Hwaehyang' is also closely related to the theme of 'connection' that runs through his body of work."The foundation of Korean spiritual culture includes Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shamanism. Within that philosophical framework, we seem to feel a stronger sense of connection than Westerners do, often unconsciously. This thought naturally emerges in my work and has now become a belief of mine," he said.The exhibition will run at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul from August 27 to February 9, 2027.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:12:10
  • Hana Bank Reports 2.4 Billion Won Fraud Incident Involving Outsiders
    Hana Bank Reports 2.4 Billion Won Fraud Incident Involving Outsiders 하나은행에서 약 24억원 규모의 금융사고가 발생했다. 하나은행은 26일 외부인에 의한 사기 혐의로 24억1738만원 규모의 금융사고가 발생했다고 공시했다. 사고 발생일은 2023년 9월 18일부터 올해 3월 20일까지, 손실 예상 금액은 최대 14억1738만원이다. 이번 사고는 앞서 산업은행과 IBK기업은행에서 발생한 금융사고와 동일한 사기 사건인 것으로 알려졌다. 산업은행과 기업은행은 외부인에 의한 사기 혐의로 지난 6일과 20일 각각 583억원, 94억원 규모의 금융사고가 발생했다고 공시한 바 있다. 하나은행 관계자는 "현재 거래처 연체 없는 정상 여신 상태로 사기 여부는 향후 수사 결과에 따라 결정될 예정"이라고 말했다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:12:10
  • Koreas Ministry of Science Launches Cybersecurity-Focused AI Foundation Model Initiative
    Korea's Ministry of Science Launches Cybersecurity-Focused AI Foundation Model Initiative The Ministry of Science and ICT is set to develop a foundation model specialized in cybersecurity, following its work on general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) models. This initiative aims to enhance security expertise based on domestic AI models and diversify the model ecosystem.However, with significant investments already being made in general-purpose models, proving the performance and efficiency of specialized models is seen as crucial, given the additional computing resources required.According to the Ministry, the application period for the 'Specialized AI Foundation Model Development' project closed on August 26. SK Telecom and Naver Cloud have formed separate consortiums to support the initiative.The Ministry plans to select a final contractor after evaluations and will provide 256 NVIDIA GPU B200 units for 10 months. The goal is to develop a foundation model tailored for cybersecurity based on domestic AI technologies and models. It is also possible to enhance security expertise using existing domestic foundation models.SK Telecom aims to develop a security-focused model based on its proprietary AI foundation model. Naver Cloud has not disclosed specific details about its foundational model or development approach.The Ministry's decision to pursue the development of specialized models stems from the belief that general large language models (LLMs) have limitations in performing specialized security tasks such as malware analysis and threat detection. The initiative seeks to improve the AI capabilities in the domestic security industry by training on security data and specialized knowledge.However, there are concerns regarding the costs and complexity of developing specialized models, which can vary significantly based on the development approach.Cho Sung-bae, a professor of computer engineering at Yonsei University, noted, "Creating a foundation model from scratch has the advantage of being designed in the desired direction, but it requires vast amounts of data, time, and costs." He added, "Using 256 B200 units over 10 months to create a foundation model may be a tight timeline." He suggested that a more feasible approach might be to adjust existing open weights or open-source models toward a security specialization rather than starting from scratch.Securing performance appropriate for specialized models is also a challenge. Choi Jae-sik, a distinguished professor at KAIST, explained, "Specialized models have relatively less data compared to general models and need to incorporate specialized knowledge. They also require a higher level of accuracy in practical applications, producing results without hallucinations."Despite the challenges in developing specialized models, there is an assessment that nurturing both general models and specialized models in various fields could enhance the competitiveness of the domestic AI ecosystem in the long run.Jung Jun-hwa, a legislative researcher at the National Assembly's Legislative Research Service, stated, "It is worth reconsidering whether concentrating support on a small elite team is appropriate for enhancing the overall AI resilience of the nation in times of crisis. Both top-down approaches that derive services from foundation models and bottom-up approaches that nurture small specialized AI models in various fields should be considered."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:12:00
  • Kakao Union Opposes Corporate Split, Aims to Convince Major Shareholders
    Kakao Union Opposes Corporate Split, Aims to Convince Major Shareholders The Kakao Union is opposing the company's plan for a corporate split and aims to persuade major shareholders, including the National Pension Service, to vote against the proposal at the upcoming shareholders meeting in December.On August 26, the Kakao branch of the National Chemical Fiber and Food Industry Workers' Union held a press conference in Pangyo, Seongnam, following a declaration of a strike at Kakao Bank and the announcement of their opposition to the split. The union stated it is taking action to defeat the plan to divide Kakao into KakaoX and KakaoAI.The union is also pursuing joint negotiations to unify the entire Kakao community under a single framework, focusing on common issues such as job security, compensation, and responsible management.Kakao announced on August 21 its plan to split into a new company, KakaoAI, which will lead its artificial intelligence platform business, and a continuing entity, KakaoX, which will manage investments and subsidiaries.Seong-wook Seo, head of the Kakao branch, pointed out that the current split proposal does not address existing issues within Kakao. He stated, "The corporate split plan should include a recognition of the problems and solutions, but currently, the plan is presented first, with solutions to follow later."The union plans to focus on securing votes against the split from shareholders other than the major shareholders, as the split requires a special resolution at the shareholders meeting. They intend to explain their opposition to the National Pension Service and inform individual shareholders about the issues with the split.Seo noted, "The major shareholders hold about 24% of the shares, and even with friendly shares added, they do not reach a majority. We believe we can gather enough votes against the special resolution."The joint negotiations will be conducted at the union level, uniting the entire corporation rather than addressing KakaoX and KakaoAI separately. According to the union, discussions for joint negotiations have been ongoing since May, and they formalized this effort following Kakao's announcement of the corporate split.The joint negotiations will focus on principles of reflecting management performance in compensation, responsible management, job security, and welfare as common agendas.Concerns among Kakao employees regarding changes in employment and corporate affiliation have also emerged in light of the split. Employees are worried because the company has not clearly defined the roles of each entity and the scope of personnel movement after the split.The union reported a notable increase in membership among Kakao employees following the split announcement. There has also been a rise in membership from subsidiaries that will be incorporated under KakaoX, driven by fears of potential sales.The union cited past instances where employees did not change jobs during spin-offs, reorganizations, or sales, yet their affiliated companies changed multiple times, as a basis for distrust regarding the current split.Seo stated, "The company has not provided clear answers about the roles of KakaoX and KakaoAI. Our goal is to have as many discussions as possible before the split to make the future situation predictable."The union plans to submit a joint demand to the company and request official negotiations. They also intend to share an internal action plan against the split with union members by the end of this month. Additionally, they will raise questions about whether KakaoX, which will become the parent company of Kakao Bank after the split, aligns with the purpose of the internet-only banking system.Meanwhile, the Kakao Bank union has announced a total strike from August 31 to September 4 in response to prolonged negotiations over wages and performance compensation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:08:20
  • KIAT Awards 10.5 Million Won in Scholarships to Seven Engineering Students for Community Service
    KIAT Awards 10.5 Million Won in Scholarships to Seven Engineering Students for Community Service The Korea Institute of Advancement of Technology (KIAT) is supporting engineering students who have engaged in community service by providing scholarships and opportunities for career exploration in the industrial technology sector.On August 25, KIAT held a scholarship award ceremony for community service students, announcing that it had awarded a total of 10.5 million won to seven engineering students. Each student received 1.5 million won.The scholarship recipients were selected based on recommendations from the nonprofit organization Hope 365, which supports foreign residents and multicultural families, and were chosen from students who actively participated in community service activities. KIAT has maintained a partnership with Hope 365, which was formerly known as the Multicultural Family Happiness Sharing Center, since 2014.This year, the scholarship program was linked to the institute's efforts to cultivate talent in the industrial technology field. Recipients were chosen based on a comprehensive evaluation that included their major in engineering and participation in educational volunteer activities for local children. The number of recipients increased from six last year to seven this year, and the total scholarship amount rose from 9 million won to 10.5 million won.In addition to financial support, KIAT plans to offer opportunities for the scholarship recipients to participate in industrial technology fairs and institutional events. This initiative aims to help students understand the industrial technology sector and explore career and employment pathways.KIAT President Jeon Yoon-jong stated, "The experiences of young people who share their knowledge and time for the community are valuable assets not only for our society but also for their own growth. We will expand scholarship support and career development opportunities to help engineering youth grow into leaders in future industrial technology."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:08:10
  • NH Nonghyup Bank Resumes Face-to-Face Mortgage Refinancing
    NH Nonghyup Bank Resumes Face-to-Face Mortgage Refinancing NH Nonghyup Bank will resume face-to-face refinancing for mortgages from other banks after a three-month hiatus, following the resumption of variable-rate mortgage loans. The bank is extending the maximum term for non-metropolitan mortgages from 30 years to 40 years and lifting restrictions on joining the Mortgage Credit Guarantee (MCG) program. This move is seen as a way to lower the barriers to borrowing as the supply capacity for household loans in the banking sector has increased since the announcement of the August 13 measures.According to the financial sector on the 26th, Nonghyup Bank will restart face-to-face refinancing for mortgages from other banks on the 31st. The bank had limited this service since May 20 due to self-regulatory measures on household loans.Additionally, the loan term for non-metropolitan mortgages will be extended to a maximum of 40 years, and restrictions on the MCG program, which had been in place since mid-June, will be eased. The MCG provides guarantees equivalent to the small rental deposit deducted when calculating the mortgage limit. Utilizing the MCG allows borrowers to increase their loan limits even with the same collateral.Since the announcement of the August 13 real estate financial measures, Nonghyup Bank has been gradually easing its self-imposed restrictions on household loans. On the 20th, the bank resumed offering its variable-rate mortgage product, 'NH Housing Mortgage Loan,' for the first time in about three months, following a two-month restriction on new offerings to manage the total volume of household loans.A bank official stated, "This is a measure to strengthen support for actual demanders."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-26 18:08:10