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Government to Establish 'Special Fund' for Semiconductor Industry Amid Samsung, SK Mega Projects The government is set to establish a 'special fund for semiconductors' to enhance financial support for the semiconductor industry. As Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix pursue large-scale domestic investments, the government plans to focus its financial resources on building essential infrastructure, such as power and water supply, to support private investments.According to government and industry sources on the 25th, the ruling party and the government have agreed to create a special fund for the semiconductor industry in the 2027 budget proposal. Unlike the general budget, which is broadly used for national financial needs, this fund will be managed separately to ensure stable investment in related projects. This initiative is backed by the Semiconductor Special Act, which took effect on August 11.The government is expected to concentrate its financial support on infrastructure development, particularly in power and water supply, which companies often find burdensome during production facility investments. Plans are underway for the government to invest in Korea Electric Power Corporation and Korea Water Resources Corporation to secure these resources. Support is also anticipated to expand across the entire ecosystem, including advanced semiconductor research and development (R&D) and talent cultivation.Government support is expected to drive the large-scale domestic investments being pursued by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Both companies have announced medium- to long-term investment plans centered on advanced AI semiconductor production facilities and R&D infrastructure, leveraging the government's 'three mega projects.' As part of this, Samsung plans to begin expansion work at its semiconductor plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, a month earlier than originally scheduled next month. The government aims to maximize investment effectiveness by having the private sector handle production facility investments while supporting large-scale infrastructure development with public funds.Communication between the government and the semiconductor industry is also strengthening. President Yoon Suk Yeol recently held a private dinner meeting with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won on August 20 and is reportedly coordinating a meeting with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Key discussion topics include domestic investment plans in core industries like semiconductors and issues related to power and water supply, as well as regulatory and permitting challenges during the implementation of the three mega projects.Industry insiders are noting that the establishment of the special fund for semiconductors will create a long-term financial support system. Building a semiconductor plant requires substantial time and investment, and delays in securing power and water can disrupt companies' investment schedules. Moreover, as global investments in AI infrastructure expand, the advanced memory market, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), is rapidly growing, making the speed of investment increasingly critical. China is quickly advancing its memory technology, while the U.S. and Japan are competing to attract domestic semiconductor production facilities through subsidies and tax incentives.An industry official stated, "If the government secures stable funding through the special fund and links it with private investments from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, it will accelerate the expansion of domestic semiconductor production infrastructure. The specific scale of the special fund, the target beneficiaries, and the actual financial resources allocated for infrastructure development will determine the success of the 'K-Semiconductor Mega Project.'"* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-25 18:04:00 -
Hyundai Mobis Expands Software Talent Development for Supply Chain Competitiveness Hyundai Mobis is enhancing its collaboration with partners by expanding its focus on developing software (SW) talent, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of its automotive parts supply chain.On August 25, Hyundai Mobis announced that it is operating a software talent development program called the 'Mobius Bootcamp' to support the recruitment of talent from approximately 2,100 domestic and international partners.This initiative comes as the automotive industry rapidly shifts towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs), autonomous driving, and electrification, increasing the importance of software capabilities. The program was established to assist partners facing challenges in securing specialized talent.Since last year, Hyundai Mobis has conducted a six-month mobility software training course, resulting in the graduation of over 270 participants from the first Mobius Bootcamp in the first half of this year. The program saw a competitive application rate of 17 to 1, with some graduates securing employment with partner companies even before completing the course.The training focuses on enhancing practical skills applicable in the automotive software industry. It includes global automotive software standard education, hands-on projects, and employment consulting. The curriculum and resources were developed in consultation with partners to align with industry needs.Looking ahead, Hyundai Mobis is considering expanding the Mobius Bootcamp's training scope to include artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. This move aims to establish a talent development system that encompasses various technological fields, in line with the trend of advancing the future mobility industry centered on software and AI.Hyundai Mobis continues to support its partners in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and technology development. This includes assistance with carbon reduction, safety equipment establishment, ESG certification, consulting, joint technology development, patent applications, and funding for technology development.In the past three years, Hyundai Mobis has invested a total of 180 billion won in supporting the development of new products and technologies for domestic partners, with over 850 joint patent applications filed. Based on these co-growth efforts, Hyundai Mobis has been recognized as the top company in the co-growth index evaluation for seven consecutive years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-25 18:04:00
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E-Segment SUVs Gain Traction in South Korea's Import Car Market as Polestar and Volvo Join The E-segment sports utility vehicle (SUV) market is emerging as a new battleground in South Korea's import car sector. Sales in the first half of this year increased by nearly 15% compared to the previous year, with brands like Volvo and Polestar introducing new models to further boost market growth.According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA), a total of 20,172 E-segment import SUVs were registered in the first half of this year, up 14.8% from 17,575 units during the same period last year.E-segment SUVs accounted for 10.96% of the overall import car market, which saw 184,032 units sold in the first half. This means that more than one in ten imported cars sold in South Korea is an E-segment SUV.The E-segment is characterized by a mid-size body, spacious interiors, and premium features. The demand is growing among families and recreational users, contributing to the rapid increase in sales.German premium brands dominated the segment, with the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class leading sales at 3,680 units, followed closely by the BMW X5 at 3,464 units.In the U.S., Tesla's Model X sold 2,646 units in the first half, making it the third best-selling E-segment SUV. The availability of full self-driving (FSD) features in South Korea has heightened interest in the Model X.As the E-segment market expands, import car manufacturers are accelerating their market strategies with new models. Polestar and Volvo have introduced the Polestar 3 and EX90 E-segment SUVs in South Korea, signaling their commitment to this growing segment. Industry experts believe that consumer preference for larger SUVs and the demand for premium imports will continue to drive growth in the E-segment SUV market for the foreseeable future.Kim Pil-soo, a professor at Daelim University’s Future Mobility Department, stated, "In the past, SUVs were primarily seen as off-road vehicles, lacking the quietness and ride comfort of sedans. However, recent advancements in sedan technology have significantly improved SUVs. The domestic demand for mid-size SUVs is expected to grow even more." 2026-08-25 18:04:00
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Dongwon Prepares for Another Attempt to Acquire HMM Amid Industry Skepticism Dongwon Industries, which faced setbacks in its bid to acquire HMM three years ago, is quietly preparing for another attempt. Although there has been no public declaration of intent to acquire, the company established a task force (TF) for the HMM acquisition earlier this year and has recently been hiring several former officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.However, skepticism persists within the shipping industry. Concerns have been raised about Dongwon's ability to manage the financial burden of the acquisition and future investments, given its roots in the fishing industry and lack of operational experience in shipping.According to industry sources on the 25th, Dongwon Industries has been strengthening its human resources in the shipping and logistics sectors by hiring several former Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officials. On the 24th, the company appointed a former planning and finance officer from the ministry as the head of its business planning division, following the appointment of former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-chun as an outside director in March.Kim Young-chun, who served as the first Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017, oversaw the 'Five-Year Plan for Revitalizing Shipping' and has consistently emphasized the need for HMM's privatization.HMM is currently over 70% owned by the Korea Development Bank and the Korea Maritime Promotion Corporation, making the government's policy direction and sale method key variables in the privatization process. Dongwon's strategy appears to be aimed at enhancing its policy responsiveness by proactively hiring former ministry officials.In fact, Dongwon Industries reportedly formed a task force last year to consider resuming the sale of HMM. The TF is said to be reviewing the feasibility of acquiring HMM and exploring funding options.However, Dongwon has drawn a line connecting the hiring of former ministry officials to the HMM acquisition. The new head of business planning is part of Dongwon's marine and fisheries division, separate from its logistics subsidiaries.The acquisition of HMM is a long-held ambition of Dongwon Group Honorary Chairman Kim Jae-cheol. The company has consistently sought to enter the shipping industry, having previously participated in the bidding for Daehan Shipping. By acquiring HMM, Dongwon aims to integrate shipping into its existing fisheries, food, packaging, and logistics businesses, aspiring to become a global comprehensive logistics company.Industry observers remain skeptical. They argue that Dongwon lacks both the experience and financial resources necessary to successfully acquire HMM. To purchase all of HMM's shares held by the Korea Development Bank and the Korea Maritime Promotion Corporation, over 10 trillion won would be required.As of the end of the first half of this year, Dongwon Industries reported cash and cash equivalents of only about 443.4 billion won, indicating limitations in self-funding the acquisition. Even if external funding, such as private equity funds, is utilized, the financial burden on HMM could increase during the subsequent investment recovery process.Moreover, Dongwon's lack of experience in the shipping industry is a significant concern. While the company has a foundation in the fishing industry and experience in operating deep-sea fishing vessels, this is markedly different from the global container shipping business.Industry voices suggest that the new owner of HMM must not only secure the necessary acquisition funds but also possess a deep understanding of the shipping industry and the capability for long-term investment. Koo Kyo-hoon, president of the Korea International Logistics Association, stated, "If acquisition funds are raised through private equity or capital increases while lacking self-funding, the financial burden will inevitably grow. The acquiring company must secure at least 60% of the minimum acquisition amount in its own funds and present a concrete investment plan to grow into a global comprehensive logistics company after the acquisition." 2026-08-25 18:04:00
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Blame game grows as Korean 'ants' get burned in herd trading SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - The blame first fell on the president, who encouraged households to put their money into stocks rather than leveraged housing bets. Then came the financial regulator, criticized for allowing high-risk exchange-traded funds built around South Korea's chip supremacy. The latest to take a seat in Korea’s blame-game musical chairs are so-called finfluencers, the self-styled investment experts whose stock tips, price targets and market predictions fill YouTube and social-media feeds. “People do what YouTubers tell them. What are they, fortune tellers?” one reader complained beneath a recent stock-market article. Love them or loathe them, finfluencers have become difficult to separate from the trading habits of younger retail investors just as the Seoul market enters a more treacherous phase after its largely one-way ascent in the first half. One recent YouTube video about SK hynix carried a dramatic title warning of a “brain-freeze moment” after a sharp fall and urged viewers to watch a particular price level on Tuesday. The comments underneath showed how closely some investors were following the call. “So I should buy if it hits 1.62 million won?” one viewer wrote. Another said the video “puts my mind at ease.” “I’m going to trust this,” another commenter wrote. “Can it really rebound?” Such reactions show how easily online investment content can cross the line from entertainment or commentary into a trading signal. A price mentioned in a video can become an entry point. A bullish prediction can reassure an investor already holding a falling stock. A similar pattern emerged as the KOSPI climbed above 9,000. Kim, an office worker in his 30s at a midsized company who lives in Gyeonggi Province, said bullish forecasts seemed to be everywhere online. “Memory-chip demand was strong, semiconductor shares looked undervalued and online posts and videos kept saying the KOSPI could reach 10,000,” Kim said. “So I bought Samsung Electronics.” JY, 33, went further. In April and May, when chip shares were jumping more than 10 percent in some sessions, he put nearly all of his savings into SK hynix. He is now preparing to change jobs in hopes of rebuilding his finances after the investment turned into a loss. “I don’t understand why it started falling as soon as I bought,” he said. “At the time, almost everything on my social media and YouTube feeds was saying stocks would keep going up.” For younger retail investors, the distance between watching a market video and acting on it can be only a few taps. The algorithm rarely tells you to slow down Social-media platforms learn what users click on, watch and linger over, then feed them more of the same. A user who watches several videos about SK hynix or another popular stock can quickly find a feed crowded with similar forecasts and trading calls. When several creators point to the same price target or predict the same rebound, repetition itself can start to look like confirmation. Researchers often describe the phenomenon as a “filter bubble,” in which algorithms repeatedly expose users to information that reinforces existing interests or expectations while competing views become less visible. The effect can amplify FOMO, or fear of missing out, especially when a stock is already moving sharply. So-called “dopamine investing” can follow, with investors chasing the rush of a quick gain while paying less attention to valuation, fundamentals or risk. Yang Jun-sok, a professor of economics at the Catholic University of Korea, said such content can be particularly seductive for investors with little experience. “It can certainly be appealing to inexperienced investors,” he said. Yang said the broader concern is that finfluencers can encourage investors to chase short-term price movements rather than examine a company's fundamentals. Repeated bullish calls can reinforce an existing rally and pull more people into the same trade. The phenomenon itself is hardly new. “Even in the 19th and early 20th centuries, people tried to influence share prices by spreading stock-market news through newspapers, whether the information was true or false,” Yang said. Social media has changed the speed, reach and intimacy of that influence. A survey conducted by the Korea Financial Consumer Protection Foundation in November 2024 found that 10.5 percent of respondents who invested in products recommended by finfluencers said they had suffered losses linked to inaccurate information involving those creators. The average loss was 8.84 million won ($6,300) per person. Yang said lawmakers could consider allowing investors to seek damages when false information spread by a finfluencer causes losses. He questioned how effective such a remedy would be, however, because proving the connection between a particular claim, a trade and the resulting loss can be difficult. South Korea's Capital Markets Act already allows investors to seek compensation for losses caused by fraudulent trading. Under Article 179, a person who violates the law's prohibition on fraudulent trading can be held liable for resulting investor losses. Winning compensation remains difficult in practice. Investors generally need to establish a connection between the unlawful conduct, their trading decision and the loss they suffered — a particularly complicated task when information spreads rapidly across online platforms. Britain takes tougher action against finfluencers Britain has emerged as one of the more aggressive jurisdictions in policing illegal financial promotions on social media. Under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules, financial promotions must be fair, clear and not misleading. People who are not authorized to promote certain regulated financial products can face criminal consequences if they do so without the required approval. In February 2026, seven online personalities were sentenced after pleading guilty to promoting an unauthorized foreign-exchange trading scheme. Five were fined, while two received discharges. All seven were ordered to pay court costs. The FCA is also trying to stop illegal promotions before they spread further. In April 2026, it asked platforms to remove 120 accounts carrying 1,267 illegal financial advertisements that had reached at least 2.34 million U.K. accounts. The action formed part of a coordinated crackdown involving 17 regulators worldwide. The British approach places greater responsibility on people creating and distributing risky financial content instead of leaving investors alone to identify the dangers. In Europe, a disclaimer is not enough European regulators take a relatively broad view of what constitutes an investment recommendation. Under guidance issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in January 2026, even a public post suggesting that a stock or crypto asset is likely to rise or fall can, depending on how it is presented, qualify as an investment recommendation. The creator may therefore be subject to European Union requirements governing transparency, accuracy and conflicts of interest. The rules become stricter when advice is directed at a particular person. Telling someone what to buy, sell or hold can amount to regulated investment advice, which generally requires authorization. ESMA also makes clear that attaching a disclaimer such as “this is not investment advice” does not automatically shield a creator from responsibility. Creators paid to promote a product or security are expected to disclose that relationship. People publishing investment recommendations must present information objectively and reveal relevant interests or conflicts, including positions that could benefit from the recommendation. For South Korea, the European model raises a similar question: how much should finfluencers be required to disclose about their own holdings, sponsorships and other financial interests before recommending an investment? South Korea looks at new rules Korean regulators have already stepped up enforcement against illegal activity involving finfluencers. In March, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) launched an intensive crackdown on unfair trading linked to online investment content. One focus is a familiar scheme: buying a stock before recommending it and then selling after followers pile in. Authorities are also targeting false or misleading claims designed to encourage purchases, as well as cases in which creators work with company executives to promote fabricated business plans and drive up share prices. Existing rules already cover some conflicts of interest. A creator who conceals an existing holding or plans to sell while using a recommendation to encourage fresh buying can face scrutiny for unfair trading. In April, the FSS said it had detected suspected violations involving five YouTube channels. Four were accused of providing paid investment recommendations without registering as quasi-investment advisory businesses. Another was suspected of selling an automated stock-trading program without the required registration. “Disclosing advertising, sponsorships and conflicts of interest should be a basic requirement,” Yang said. He said standards applied to financial reporting could also help shape rules for online creators, including consequences for deliberately presenting false information as fact. “The problem is how you regulate them,” he added. Enforcement becomes particularly difficult once content crosses borders and spreads through global platforms. “With online content, especially when overseas servers are involved, enforcement is almost impossible,” Yang said. South Korean financial authorities began a broader review of finfluencer rules in May. The discussions include whether to expand regulation of quasi-investment advisory businesses and whether European rules requiring disclosure of conflicts of interest could offer a useful reference. The review also extends to financial ties that viewers may otherwise never see, including whether a creator already owns the stock being recommended or receives advertising or sponsorship payments. An analyst at Mirae Asset Securities, said such transparency is essential because investors should know whether a creator has a financial interest in the recommendation. “Investors should be able to see those interests, whether the relationship is direct or indirect,” he said. He added that while sponsored content is generally disclosed, similar transparency should extend to other financial interests that could influence a recommendation. Such disclosure requirements would address a different problem from rules that punish creators for buying shares before recommending them and selling after followers rush in. Instead of acting only after possible manipulation occurs, disclosure would give investors information about a creator's financial interests before they press the buy button. Yang said clearer rules could establish basic standards and reinforce financial education. But regulation alone can go only so far if enforcement remains difficult and investors choose to ignore the warnings. “Ultimately, Korean investors need to be more skeptical and examine things more carefully before investing,” he said. For some investors, skepticism arrives only after the loss. The debate could soon become more concrete. The FSS plans to unveil new measures by the end of September to strengthen rules governing the advertising of investment products and services. The review includes expanding the range of advertisements subject to pre-screening and tightening financial firms' internal controls over promotional content. Finfluencers did not create speculation, herd behavior or the temptation to chase a rising market. Social media has made all three faster and harder to escape. As Korea considers tougher rules, the central question is whether investors can see the risks — and the financial interests behind a recommendation — before a confident voice on a screen turns into a tap on “buy.” AJP Takeaways • South Korean regulators are reviewing tougher rules for finfluencers as social-media stock recommendations play a growing role in retail trading decisions. • Algorithms can reinforce bullish investment views by repeatedly feeding users similar stock predictions, increasing the risk of FOMO and short-term “dopamine investing.” • Britain and the European Union impose stricter requirements on financial promotions, including disclosure of conflicts of interest and limits on unauthorized investment recommendations. • South Korea's FSS plans new advertising rules by the end of September as policymakers consider broader disclosure requirements for finfluencers' holdings, sponsorships and financial ties. 2026-08-25 18:01:11 -
Extreme-heat days nearly double the average this summer in Korea SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) -South Korea has endured nearly twice the usual number of heat-wave days so far this year, with record-breaking temperatures and unusually persistent tropical nights pointing to a summer stretching well into September. The nationwide average number of heat-wave days reached 20.1 from the start of the year through Monday, almost double the seasonal average of 10.4 days, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) Tuesday. A heat-wave day is defined as one when the daily high reaches 33 degrees Celsius or above. The heat has been particularly intense in the southeastern part of the country. Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province averaged 25.6 heat-wave days, followed by Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province with 24.7 days and North Jeolla Province with 22.6 days. The nationwide average daily high in August has reached 32.1 C, 1.9 degrees above the seasonal norm of 30.2 C. Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province recorded 42.5 C on Aug. 2, the highest temperature measured in South Korea since modern weather observations began in 1904. Other southeastern cities also broke local records. Temperatures reached 41 C in Bukchangwon on Aug. 2 and in Miryang the following day, while Uiryeong climbed to 40.8 C on Aug. 3. Relief has been scarce even after sunset. South Korea recorded an average 16.4 tropical nights through Monday, the second-highest level on record after 16.8 days in 1994. It marks the country's highest tally in 32 years. The KMA defines a tropical night as one when the nighttime low remains at or above 25 C. The prolonged heat is unlikely to disappear with the end of August. The North Pacific high-pressure system covering the Korean Peninsula is strengthening, while the Tibetan high is developing again above it, creating what forecasters describe as a "double heat dome" that traps hot air over the region. Maximum apparent temperatures are expected to hover around 33 C through early September, extending the spell of late-summer heat and likely pushing this year's heat-wave and tropical-night counts still higher. South Korea has already experienced two consecutive years of unusually prolonged heat. The annual number of heat-wave days reached 30.1 in 2024 and 29.7 last year. Tropical nights totaled 24.5 days in 2024 and 16.4 days in 2025. AJP Takeaways South Korea recorded 20.1 heat-wave days through Aug. 24, 2026, nearly twice the seasonal average of 10.4 days. Yangsan reached a record 42.5 C on Aug. 2, while tropical nights climbed to 16.4 days, the second-highest tally on record. A strengthening North Pacific high and returning Tibetan high are forming a "double heat dome," threatening to extend extreme heat into September. 2026-08-25 17:56:51 -
Vibrio Testing Time Cut from One Day to One Hour A groundbreaking field diagnostic technology has been developed that reduces the testing time for a deadly food poisoning bacterium, which can be contracted through summer shellfish, from one day to under one hour.Researchers at Pukyong National University, led by doctoral student Han Won and Professor Shin Joong-ho, have created a portable paper-based diagnostic device that can confirm the presence of Vibrio vulnificus in about one hour on-site.Vibrio vulnificus can cause sepsis or tissue necrosis when ingested through contaminated seafood or enters the body through wounds. It can be particularly fatal for individuals with liver disease or weakened immune systems, making rapid detection and management essential.Currently, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits widely used for food safety are highly accurate but typically take about a day from sample cultivation to result confirmation. These tests can only be conducted in laboratories equipped with expensive machinery and skilled personnel, limiting their immediate application in the field.The diagnostic device developed by the research team automates the processes of gene amplification and detection, overcoming these limitations. A sample is collected from the gills of oysters using a swab, and after extracting DNA, the sample and buffer solution are placed on a paper pad inside the device. By winding the machine's 'spring' once, the reaction proceeds automatically. As long as the temperature is maintained around 37 degrees Celsius, results can be visually determined from the lines that appear on the paper strip after about one hour.Performance validation showed that the device could detect even a single bacterium in pure culture solutions. It also reliably identified contamination in oysters raised in seawater artificially contaminated with Vibrio and clearly distinguished it from similar Vibrio species. Additionally, the core paper reaction pads were confirmed to maintain performance with minimal degradation even when stored at room temperature for several weeks.Professor Shin Joong-ho stated, "While existing commercial PCR kits are laboratory-centered, this device focuses on automating the testing process to make it relatively easy to use in small facilities or in the field. We expect it can also be adapted for detecting various pathogens by simply changing the reagents."With excellent performance proven through pure culture and artificially contaminated samples, the device is expected to undergo practical verification in various environments, such as actual aquaculture sites and distribution channels, leading to its commercialization.Meanwhile, this research was published in the August issue of the international journal 'ACS Sensors' (IF 10.9) and was supported by the Korea Research Foundation's core research project, the Ministry of Education's academic research support project in the science and engineering fields, and the BK21 project.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-25 17:56:00
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Former Cheongju City Councilor Charged with Child Prostitution and Distribution of Exploitative Material Choi Young-jung, a former Cheongju City Councilor, has been indicted while in custody on charges of engaging in prostitution with minors and producing and distributing exploitative material.The Cheongju District Prosecutor's Office announced on August 25 that Choi has been charged with statutory rape of minors and violations of the Child and Youth Protection Law, including the production and distribution of exploitative material.According to the prosecution, Choi is accused of soliciting four minors aged 13 to 18 through a dating chat app from July 2024 to January of this year, requesting and receiving nude photos from them, some of which he shared with acquaintances.Investigations revealed that Choi had sexual relations with three of the minors in exchange for allowances or gifts. He allegedly encouraged further exploitation by telling victims, "If you bring other minors, I will give you more money," and hinted at group sexual encounters by showing them videos of sexual acts with other women. Evidence shows that he continued to exchange sexual messages with the victims until March, just three months before the local elections.During the investigation, Choi reportedly denied the charges, claiming he was unaware that the victims were minors.However, the prosecution concluded that Choi was fully aware of the victims' ages, as the encounters took place near schools and were corroborated by the victims' clothing and messenger conversations.Through digital forensics on Choi's mobile phone, the prosecution has also secured numerous exploitative materials involving other women, prompting further investigations into additional offenses. They plan to respond strictly to sexual crimes against children and adolescents.Following the shocking news of a local politician's sexual crimes, online communities and social media have erupted with criticism.Netizens expressed outrage, questioning, "How can he claim he didn't know the victim was a 13-year-old middle school student he had known for a while?" and stating, "City councilors just cause trouble and waste taxpayer money; I don't understand their purpose." Many are calling for immediate expulsion and the maximum legal penalties if the charges are proven true.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-25 17:56:00
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Trump's nuclear realism tests Seoul's denuclearization line SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - North Korea, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, is not Iran. Washington may have "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, as Trump puts it, but Pyongyang already possesses what he describes as 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons — an arsenal he appears more inclined to address through renewed diplomacy and his lingering personal rapport with Kim Jong Un. Trump's contrasting approaches to the two nuclear challenges pose a growing conundrum for Seoul, which on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to denuclearization amid a series of mixed signals from Washington. The question has gained urgency following the latest phone call between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two agreed Monday to maintain close communication and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the "resolution of North Korea's nuclear issue," according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry. Unlike previous high-level statements, however, the readout did not explicitly mention the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The U.S. State Department's separate readout was even more terse, making no mention of North Korea, its nuclear program or denuclearization. The omission alone does not mean Washington has recognized North Korea as a legitimate nuclear-weapon state. Only three months ago, South Korea, the United States and Japan submitted a joint working paper to the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference stating unequivocally that North Korea "cannot have the status of a nuclear-weapon State" under the treaty and reaffirming their commitment to its complete denuclearization. Trump's recent remarks, however, suggest a growing willingness to acknowledge North Korea's nuclear arsenal as an enduring strategic reality even if Washington stops well short of granting Pyongyang formal nuclear status. Trump said last week that he expects to meet Kim later this year and publicly estimated that North Korea possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. "He's got them," Trump said, while again emphasizing his personal relationship with the North Korean leader. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back offered an even higher range during a parliamentary hearing, citing outside estimates that put North Korea's arsenal at between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons. He did add that the South Korean military could not provide an exact figure and stressed that Seoul still does not officially recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. The increasingly explicit discussion of how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang possesses illustrates how far the policy debate has moved. The central issue is no longer whether North Korea has an arsenal. Governments are increasingly forced to consider how to deter, contain and negotiate with a state that already possesses one while preserving denuclearization as the ultimate objective. Washington still cannot simply confer recognized nuclear-weapon-state status on North Korea under the existing international nonproliferation framework. Trump's comments are therefore better understood as an acknowledgement of the arsenal North Korea already possesses rather than legal acceptance of Pyongyang as a recognized nuclear power. "The complete denuclearization of North Korea will probably remain the basic policy objective," said Ko Yu-hwan, professor emeritus of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, projecting that Trump's recent moves appear aimed in part at creating conditions for another summit with Kim. Ko said Trump's public references to North Korea's arsenal and his push for renewed dialogue could be seen as indirect attempts to accommodate some of Pyongyang's demands for talks without formally accepting North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state. Another U.S.-North Korea summit could nevertheless have the indirect effect of acknowledging North Korea's nuclear status in practice, Ko added, even if Washington continues to deny it formally. The distinction between legal status and diplomatic reality is becoming increasingly important. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty defines a nuclear-weapon state as one that manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device before Jan. 1, 1967. The definition limits recognized status under the treaty to the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China. North Korea joined the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state in 1985, announced its withdrawal in 2003 and conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Possessing nuclear weapons therefore does not give Pyongyang the same treaty status as the five recognized nuclear powers. U.N. Security Council resolutions impose additional obligations. Resolution 1718, adopted under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter after North Korea's first nuclear test, demands that Pyongyang conduct no further nuclear tests, return to the NPT and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and abandon "all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes" in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. A change in U.S. diplomatic tactics would not erase those obligations. Washington could nevertheless pursue an interim freeze, arms reduction or risk-reduction agreement with Pyongyang without first securing complete denuclearization. A U.S. president cannot unilaterally overturn existing Security Council resolutions, but Washington can still pursue diplomacy on the assumption that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. The resulting gap between legal objective and strategic reality is where Seoul's dilemma becomes more difficult. Washington could continue to support denuclearization in principle while negotiating with North Korea on the assumption that Pyongyang will retain nuclear weapons for the foreseeable future. South Korea would remain bound by the rules governing a non-nuclear state throughout that period. Article II of the NPT prohibits non-nuclear-weapon states from manufacturing or otherwise acquiring nuclear weapons. North Korea's continued possession therefore gives Seoul no automatic legal right to follow suit. The strategic imbalance could, however, strengthen South Korea's political case for demanding greater protection from Washington. "If Trump effectively tolerates North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons in that process, it could pose a threat to our security," Ko said, adding that such a development could revive calls for independent nuclear armament in both South Korea and Japan. The more immediate response, he said, would likely be demands to strengthen the credibility and implementation of U.S. extended deterrence. A U.S. shift from pursuing rapid denuclearization toward managing North Korea's nuclear risks could also encourage Seoul to seek broader strategic options, including progress on nuclear-powered submarines and greater rights involving uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, Ko said. Neither option would amount to nuclear armament. Both would, however, expand South Korea's nuclear-related capabilities and require extensive legal, technical and political coordination with Washington. Hardware may be only part of Seoul's problem. A recent Sejong Institute policy brief suggests the alliance may also need much clearer agreement over how different forms of North Korean nuclear use should be interpreted and answered. The report, written by Jo Bee-yun, a research fellow at the institute, drew on a tabletop exercise involving South Korean, U.S., Japanese and Australian participants. The exercise exposed a potentially consequential gap between Seoul and Washington over how to respond to a limited nuclear scenario. In one case, North Korea conducted a nuclear demonstration over waters near Incheon without causing casualties. South Korean participants viewed the move as crossing the nuclear threshold and favored calibrated escalation, including requesting a limited U.S. nuclear response or a demonstration of nuclear capability. U.S. participants interpreted the absence of casualties differently. They regarded the action as a possible signal that Pyongyang intended to limit further escalation and placed greater emphasis on de-escalation and ending the conflict. The difference highlights a weakness that broad declarations of extended deterrence do not necessarily resolve. Washington has long warned that any North Korean nuclear attack would result in the end of the Kim regime. A real crisis, however, may not fit neatly into a scenario involving an unmistakable large-scale nuclear attack. Pyongyang could conduct a demonstration, employ a tactical weapon, strike an isolated military target or calibrate nuclear use specifically to create uncertainty over whether Washington should respond with nuclear force. Ambiguity over such scenarios would become more consequential if U.S. policy increasingly focused on managing North Korea's arsenal instead of expecting its rapid elimination. Jo argued that the allies should develop different response packages depending on the form, target, damage and political effect of North Korean nuclear use. Possible categories would distinguish among a nuclear demonstration, limited tactical nuclear use, an attack on allied military assets, a strike on South Korean territory and a large-scale strategic attack threatening the country's survival. The report also warned that excessive reliance on case-by-case U.S. political approval could create openings for North Korean coercion. Pyongyang could conclude that competing U.S. commitments elsewhere might delay an allied response, weaken Washington's willingness to escalate or allow North Korea to isolate Seoul through limited provocations backed by nuclear threats. For South Korea, the paradox would then become sharper. North Korea could remain nuclear-armed in practice while Seoul continued to comply with the legal and political constraints of a non-nuclear state. Formal U.S. recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power is therefore not necessarily the most immediate risk. Washington could preserve denuclearization in official statements while shifting diplomacy toward freezes, arms control, risk reduction or other arrangements premised on North Korea retaining at least part of its arsenal for years. Such a shift would place far greater importance on what sits beneath the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Seoul would have stronger reason to seek deeper participation in nuclear planning, clearer agreements on responses to different forms of North Korean nuclear use and more reliable access to U.S. strategic assets and other deterrence capabilities. The language of denuclearization would still matter. The practical guarantees accompanying it would matter more. Seoul's central question may therefore no longer be simply whether Washington continues to support denuclearization in principle. The harder question is what the United States is prepared to provide South Korea if denuclearization remains the declared destination while North Korea's nuclear arsenal becomes a reality the alliance must manage for years to come. AJP Takeaways • Donald Trump's open acknowledgement of North Korea's nuclear arsenal is widening the gap between Washington's formal denuclearization policy and its potential willingness to manage Pyongyang as a long-term nuclear reality. • North Korea cannot gain recognized nuclear-weapon-state status under the NPT simply by possessing nuclear weapons, while U.N. Security Council resolutions continue to require Pyongyang to abandon its arsenal. • A prolonged period of de facto North Korean nuclear possession could increase South Korean demands for stronger U.S. extended deterrence, clearer nuclear planning and broader nuclear-related capabilities. • A Sejong Institute tabletop exercise exposed differences between South Korean and U.S. responses to limited North Korean nuclear use, highlighting the need for more detailed alliance planning as denuclearization becomes a longer-term goal. 2026-08-25 17:50:43 -
DaeRyuk Law Firm to Host 2026 Tax Reform Briefing DaeRyuk Law Firm (led by attorney Lee Gyu-cheol) announced on August 25 that it will hold a "2026 Tax Reform Briefing" on September 2 at 2 p.m. in the DaeRyuk conference room on the 12th floor of Donghun Tower in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul.The briefing aims to examine the key contents and procedures of the "2026 Tax Reform Plan" announced on August 3 and to provide effective response strategies for companies planning business succession.Previously, the government announced the "2026 Tax Reform Plan," which includes a revised taxation system for treasury stock and a reform of the evaluation of listed stocks (the anti-stock price suppression law), reflecting the amendments to the Commercial Act made last year in March.Business succession exemptions and special taxation measures for business succession have been utilized to facilitate smooth transitions while avoiding high inheritance and gift tax rates. However, confusion has arisen following the announcement of the government's tax reform plan.DaeRyuk plans to help companies accurately understand the major changes resulting from the tax reform and establish tailored business succession and tax strategies based on their individual circumstances.During the briefing, attorney Choi Woo-seok (35th Judicial Research and Training Institute) will present on "Revisions to Business Succession Exemptions and Response Strategies," while attorney Woo Ji-hoon (first bar exam) will discuss "Treasury Stock Taxation and Response Strategies."Attorney Woo has served as a consultant for the Seoul Regional Tax Office and the Central Regional Tax Office, a member of the National Tax Service's Tax Accountant Qualification Review Committee, and a lecturer at the Seoul Bar Association's Tax Training Institute. He joined DaeRyuk in 2026 after serving as a research officer in the Supreme Court's Tax Division.Attorney Choi began his career at the Ministry of Economy and Finance after completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute, working in various tax areas including income tax and corporate tax. He also served as a research officer in the Supreme Court's Tax Division and held positions as the head of the Tax Policy Division and the Customs Cooperation Division before joining DaeRyuk in 2025.DaeRyuk stated, "This will be a practical forum for companies planning business succession and stock asset adjustments to develop optimal strategies suited to their individual circumstances in response to changes in the tax environment."Attendance at the briefing is available through prior registration, and further details can be confirmed by contacting DaeRyuk's BD Headquarters at ebiz@draju.com.DaeRyuk Law Firm, established in 2009 through the merger of the law firms 'DaeRyuk' and 'Aju,' is one of South Korea's major law firms, specializing in corporate legal affairs, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), fair trade, labor and employment, finance, taxation, litigation, and corporate advisory services, and is recognized as one of the top 10 law firms in the country. 2026-08-25 17:48:00