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  • Fed Raises Interest Rate by 0.25%, Dollar Rises and Stocks Fall
    Fed Raises Interest Rate by 0.25%, Dollar Rises and Stocks Fall The U.S. Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points. The dot plot, which reflects the rate outlook of Fed officials, also indicated the possibility of another increase later this year. As a result of the stronger-than-expected tightening stance, U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar rose, while the New York stock market declined, reflecting a hawkish outcome in the financial markets.According to the International Financial Center on September 17, the Fed decided at its September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 3.75-4.00%, an increase of 0.25 percentage points from the previous level. The Fed explained that while there are some uncertainties due to geopolitical factors, the U.S. economy is expanding at a solid pace, and inflation remains high, which justified the rate hike.The outlook for future rate increases has also risen. The dot plot showed that the median forecast for the federal funds rate at the end of the year was raised from 3.8% to 4.1%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points. Among the 18 committee members, 12 expect the year-end rate to be between 4.00% and 4.25%. Considering that the current upper limit of the federal funds rate is 4.00%, this suggests the possibility of another increase this year.As the potential for prolonged tightening became apparent, the U.S. financial markets reacted immediately. On September 16, the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note rose by 2 basis points to 5.02%. The dollar index also climbed 0.70% to 100.31. In contrast, the euro and yen fell by 0.68% and 0.74%, respectively.Stock markets showed mixed results. The S&P 500 index fell 0.45% amid assessments that the FOMC outcome was more hawkish than expected. The volatility index (VIX), which reflects market anxiety, rose 14.17% to 17.16.Conversely, the European Stoxx 600 index increased by 0.46%, benefiting from easing inflation concerns due to falling oil prices. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.69%, and South Korea's KOSPI gained 1.37%. This indicates that the impact of the U.S. rate hike did not lead to a simultaneous decline across global stock markets.In the commodities market, both international oil and gold prices fell. Brent crude oil dropped 2.69% to $105.83 per barrel. Although prices remain above $100 per barrel, expectations for the normalization of oil transport in Saudi Arabia were reflected in the decline. Gold prices fell by 2.85% to $4002.4 per ounce.However, there are forecasts that the rise in interest rates may not lead to a long-term decline in U.S. stocks. Bloomberg noted that strong corporate earnings forecasts, particularly in the tech sector, are supporting the market, and liquidity indicators suggest that the stock market can withstand a certain level of rate increases.The future direction of global financial markets is expected to depend on the number of additional rate hikes by the Fed, the degree of inflation moderation, and the persistence of high oil prices. Analysts suggest that if the Fed continues tightening to control inflation, upward pressure on U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar may persist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:12:10
  • Hanwha to Develop Integrated Air Defense System with UAEs EDGE Group
    Hanwha to Develop Integrated Air Defense System with UAE's EDGE Group Hanwha is set to collaborate with the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) largest state-owned defense company, EDGE Group, to develop an integrated air defense system.On September 15, Hanwha Systems announced that it signed a key agreement with EDGE Group in Abu Dhabi regarding the UAE integrated air defense system project. The agreement outlines the direction for introducing weapon systems related to the integrated air defense system and details for phased reviews.This signing marks a significant step beyond individual weapon system supplies, establishing a foundation for Hanwha and EDGE to share a long-term project for the UAE's integrated air defense system and to further specify joint ventures in the future.The two companies plan to gradually detail project implementation strategies in line with defense cooperation directions between the two governments. They will review the establishment of a local joint venture (JV) and production and operational plans, while also promoting localization to enhance defense production and maintenance capabilities in the UAE.Hanwha aims to complete a unique integrated air defense system with superior performance by focusing on long-range and medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon systems, linking them with counter-drone systems (C-UAS) and short-range air defense systems. Additionally, Hanwha plans to develop the UAE as a strategic hub for expanding into the Middle East and other third countries.Yang Ki-won, CEO of Hanwha Systems, stated, "This is a turning point in evolving from a one-time weapon system supply relationship to a strategic and partnership-based collaboration in integrated air defense technology and industry. We will contribute to strengthening the UAE's defense base by gradually expanding technological cooperation and localization efforts."Meanwhile, Hanwha Systems has been expanding its presence in the Middle East air defense market, having exported the Cheongung-II (M-SAM) multifunction radar to the UAE in 2022 and securing related contracts in Saudi Arabia.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:12:10
  • 38.3 Million AI Training Data Sets from Magazines, Textbooks, and Academic Papers Made Public
    38.3 Million AI Training Data Sets from Magazines, Textbooks, and Academic Papers Made Public More than 38 million data sets, including books, tables, illustrations, advertisements, and photographs, will be made available to the public.The National Library of Korea announced on September 17 that it will publicly release artificial intelligence (AI) training data built from national literature for the first time.The release includes 3,974 text data sets (Hidden Text PDF, XML, TXT, JSON), 21,485 image data sets such as tables, illustrations, advertisements, and photographs, as well as 38.3 million character datasets, totaling 38.33 million items.Along with this data release, the existing project platform, 'shared library,' has been revamped to optimize it for AI training data usage. This upgrade focuses on enhancing convenience for various purposes, including AI training, academic research, service and app development, and content creation, making it easily accessible to everyone.The open data consists of digitized original texts from the National Library of Korea, including modern magazines from the 1930s and 1940s, government publications and textbooks from the 1940s to 1960s, and open access academic papers that have been authorized for AI training use. Anyone can freely browse and download the materials from the 'shared library.'The text data is provided in a refined, high-quality format that is easy for AI to recognize, allowing for immediate use in research and service development. The character datasets can be directly utilized for AI training, which is expected to benefit small and venture companies struggling to secure large-scale data for AI-based optical character recognition (OCR) and natural language processing.The revamped 'shared library' has also strengthened its features to support AI and digital humanities research and expand the use of public data. By organizing and processing the vast knowledge resources accumulated digitally into a format that AI can learn from, large-scale data-driven humanities research, which was previously challenging, is now possible. Researchers are expected to conduct digital humanities studies more easily by analyzing various materials such as literature, records, and images with AI to derive new meanings.Moreover, the significance of this initiative lies in the large-scale opening of national literature that can be directly utilized for AI training, alleviating some of the burdens of costs and copyright issues that researchers and small and venture companies have faced in securing training data.The platform's user environment has also been improved to be more user-friendly. It features an intuitive layout and a navigation structure based on material and image types, allowing anyone to easily access the data without a separate registration process, making it easy for both professional researchers and the general public to search and utilize the materials.The National Library of Korea plans to continue expanding data construction and opening, including the additional release of text data from over 300 Korean novels by the end of this year, and to enhance AI utilization services, developing the 'shared library' into a continuously growing data platform.Lee Hyun-joo, head of the Digital Information Planning Division at the National Library of Korea, stated, “We will steadily expand the scope of data openness to create a library in the AI era where all citizens can benefit from public knowledge resources.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:12:10
  • KT&G Launches Lil Tonino Lamborghini Pop-Up Store in Seongsu
    KT&G Launches 'Lil Tonino Lamborghini' Pop-Up Store in Seongsu "How long does it take to heat the Lil Tonino Lamborghini? Three seconds!"On September 15, KT&G opened a pop-up store for its new 'Lil Tonino Lamborghini' in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. Upon entering, visitors were greeted with a quiz about the product's key feature: a three-second heating time. The interior, reminiscent of a sports car, featured a large product model and a structure displaying the phrase '3sec' hanging from the ceiling, designed to help visitors remember the number.KT&G is operating the pop-up store until September 23 to celebrate the launch of its new heated tobacco product, marking the company's first consumer experience space in this format.The two-story venue includes product displays, photo zones, quizzes, voting, dart games, racing games, and a lounge. Visitors can collect stickers by completing missions for a chance to play capsule games and participate in an event to assemble limited-edition keycaps. A KT&G representative stated, "Since the product's core feature is the three-second heating time, we prepared a lot of content that intuitively communicates this, from quizzes to fast-paced games."At the venue, attendees could see five color options: Carbon Gray, Copper Brown, Wave Blue, the limited-edition Ruby Black, and the pre-release Lime Green. The device's grip was notably comfortable, fitting easily in one hand. Its exterior featured geometric patterns for a sleek look, with a color display about 2 cm in size and a single round button on the side.After inserting the dedicated stick 'NAU' and pressing the button, a vibration indicated that heating was complete in just three seconds. This is a significant improvement compared to existing heated tobacco products, which typically require over ten seconds to heat. KT&G explained that it has implemented 'Flashwave Heating' technology, achieving the fastest heating time among domestic heated tobacco products.Once heating was complete, the display showed the number '14,' indicating the number of puffs available from one stick. The device automatically tracks the number of puffs taken, decrementing the count with each use. Battery life and remaining usage time are also displayed numerically and as a percentage, providing a clear overview of the device's status.After exploring the pop-up store, many visitors naturally moved to the purchase area. They were seen examining the product's colors and designs or trying it out before joining the purchase line, with a particular interest in the limited-edition Ruby Black.The suggested retail price for the standard product is 110,000 won, while the limited-edition Ruby Black is priced at 120,000 won. For the launch, both are being sold at promotional prices of 49,000 won and 59,000 won, respectively.Many consumers took advantage of a trade-in program, receiving an additional 10,000 won discount for returning their old devices. A collection box for returned devices, positioned at waist height, was filled to about one-third capacity within half a day, indicating a strong demand for upgrading to the new product after trying it out.KT&G's decision to open its first pop-up store in Seongsu, an area known for its fashion and beauty pop-ups, aims to enhance the brand's trendy image and expand consumer engagement. A KT&G representative noted, "Seongsu attracts a diverse crowd, and we wanted to broaden our reach to our main target demographic of those in their 20s and 30s, as well as our existing user base in their 40s."Visitors of various ages, from their 20s to 40s, frequented the pop-up. One attendee remarked, "I was curious about the product, and when I heard about the pop-up, I decided to check it out. After trying it, I could really feel the difference from the previous products, which piqued my interest further."The pop-up store will remain open until September 23, with entry available through pre-registration or on-site registration, requiring an ID for age verification. The new product will also be available at convenience stores and Lil stores in the Seoul area.A KT&G representative expressed, "As this is the first pop-up store for the Lil brand, we wanted visitors to experience the brand's novelty and enjoyment beyond just seeing the product. We hope this pop-up will help consumers remember 'Lil' as an exciting brand that sparks anticipation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:12:00
  • Kim Yo-jong: Nuclear Status of North Korea is Absolute
    Kim Yo-jong: Nuclear Status of North Korea is Absolute 김정은 북한 국무위원장의 동생인 김여정 북한 노동당 중앙위원회 총무부장이 국제원자력기구(IAEA)의 북한 비핵화 촉구를 일축하며, 핵보유국 지위는 되돌릴 수 없다고 주장했다. 김 부장은 17일 조선중앙통신을 통해 발표한 담화에서 최근 제70차 IAEA 총회에서 제기된 유엔 안전보장이사회 결의 위반과 완전하고 검증 가능하며 불가역적인 비핵화(CVID) 촉구를 두고 “귀에 익은 잡소리”라고 비난했다. 그는 매년 되풀이되는 비핵화 요구를 “자동응답기에서 밤낮 울려나오는 소리처럼” 들린다며 북한의 현 지위를 바꾸려는 시도는 “한심하기 짝이 없는 망상이며 부질없는 헛고생”이라고 주장했다. 이어 IAEA와 서방이 비핵화를 거듭 요구해도 북한의 핵무력 강화 의지와 실행 능력에는 영향을 미칠 수 없다며 “조선민주주의인민공화국의 핵보유국 지위는 그 무엇으로써도 되돌릴 수 없는 절대적인 것”이라고 밝혔다. 북한의 핵 지위가 물리적·법적으로 “영구고착된 현실”이라는 주장도 폈다. 앞서 지난 14일 개막한 IAEA 총회에서 한국과 유럽 국가들은 북한 핵 프로그램이 국제 비확산 체제와 평화·안보에 중대한 위협이라고 지적하며 안보리 결의 이행 및 완전한 비핵화를 촉구했다. IAEA는 총회에 앞서 북한의 우라늄 농축 능력 확대와 원자로 가동 정황을 담은 연례 보고서도 공개했다. 양무진 북한대학원대학교 석좌교수는 “IAEA 결의가 아닌 총회 토론 과정의 비핵화 주장에까지 반발한 것은 관련 논의의 확산을 사전에 차단하고 핵보유국 지위를 더 굳히려는 의도”라고 분석했다. 이어 미국을 직접 비난하지 않은 데 대해서는 “북미대화 가능성을 염두에 두고 미국을 자극하지 않으면서도, 핵보유국 지위 인정이 대화의 선결 조건이라는 점을 우회적으로 압박한 것”이라고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:12:00
  • Korea cracks down on misleading holiday gift ads
    Korea cracks down on misleading holiday gift ads SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Online listings for toothpaste, cosmetics and medical devices were caught in 308 cases of misleading advertising and illegal distribution ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Thursday. Cosmetics accounted for 63 cases, 44 of which touted drug-like benefits such as "skin regeneration" and "anti-inflammatory" effects. Toothpaste, mouthwash and tooth whiteners, staples of holiday gift sets, drew 45 cases of false or exaggerated claims. Another 142 ads peddled illegally distributed medical devices such as blood pressure monitors, and 58 passed off ordinary goods as medical devices with claims of "pain relief." The ministry asked regulators to block the offending sites. South Koreans customarily exchange gift sets with relatives, colleagues and business partners before Chuseok, the autumn harvest holiday, and Seollal, the Korean New Year holiday. This year's Chuseok holiday runs from Sept. 24 to 26. The ministry uncovered 178 similar violations before Seollal and 214 ahead of Chuseok last year, with oral care products such as toothpaste flagged both times. AJP Takeaways - South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said on Sept. 17, 2026, that it found 308 cases of misleading ads and illegal distribution for toothpaste, cosmetics and medical devices sold online before Chuseok. - The 308 cases break down into 142 illegal medical device ads, 63 cosmetics ads, 58 ads passing off consumer goods as medical devices, and 45 oral care product ads. - The ministry found 214 violations before Chuseok in 2025 and 178 before Seollal in February 2026. 2026-09-17 09:10:55
  • Shinhan Card Launches SOL LINK Check Card to Expand Financial Ecosystem
    Shinhan Card Launches 'SOL LINK' Check Card to Expand Financial Ecosystem Shinhan Financial Group is accelerating the expansion of its 'SOL LINK' ecosystem by integrating banking, securities, and now card services.On September 17, Shinhan Card announced the launch of the 'SOL LINK Shinhan Card Point Plan Check Card,' designed specifically for SOL LINK accounts.This product is characterized by its connection between banking, securities accounts, and card services, aligning with Shinhan Financial's integrated platform strategy. In June, the company revamped its financial integration app, 'Shinhan Super SOL,' and in July, it launched the 'SOL LINK account' that combines banking and securities services.The SOL LINK Shinhan Card Point Plan Check Card offers up to 1.1% in points based on spending at domestic merchants and whether payments are made through Shinhan Super SOL. For international transactions, a flat 1% is earned regardless of the amount spent.Points are earned as follows: 0.2% for transactions under 20,000 won, 0.4% for amounts between 20,000 and 100,000 won, 0.8% for amounts between 100,000 and 500,000 won, and 1% for transactions over 500,000 won.Additional benefits are available for everyday spending, such as earning 1,000 points for each transaction over 20,000 won made through delivery apps on weekends, and a 5% reward at convenience stores like CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven, up to a maximum of 3,000 points. Users can also receive an extra 0.1% in rewards when making payments domestically through Shinhan Super SOL. 2026-09-17 09:04:20
  • 39 Foreign Artists Found to Have Failed to Report Taxes in South Korea
    39 Foreign Artists Found to Have Failed to Report Taxes in South Korea The National Tax Service has recovered 5.56 billion won ($4.7 million) from foreign artists and performance officials for failing to report taxes. This issue has come to light as the number of foreign performances in South Korea has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.According to Jeong Tae-ho, a member of the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee, the National Tax Service checked the withholding tax compliance of 110 individuals involved in foreign performances in July of last year and found 39 cases of unreported income.The National Tax Service receives quarterly recommendations from the Video Rating Board regarding foreign performances, which are used for tax purposes. Foreign artists must obtain this recommendation to perform in South Korea or to host performances featuring foreign artists.During the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, the National Tax Service did not utilize this data for taxation, but as performances have increased following the transition to an endemic phase, related tax data has also risen.The number of tax-related cases for foreign performances has surged from 682 in 2021 to 1,857 in 2022, 2,425 in 2023, and is projected to reach 2,824 in 2024, marking an increase of more than four times in three years.From 2022 to 2024, the National Tax Service has cross-referenced performance data with foreign exchange records and payment statements to identify potential cases of unreported income. Cases where the payment for performances exceeded a certain amount without the submission of payment statements for non-residents were included in the review. Additionally, applications for three or more domestic performances with significant amounts of unreported or underreported withholding tax were also scrutinized.Jeong emphasized the need to enhance the tax management system, given the confirmed cases of unreported income from foreign performers. He stated, "As renowned international artists continue to perform in South Korea, tax management for foreign performers' income must be conducted with greater diligence. The National Tax Service should closely monitor tax compliance to prevent repeated instances of unreported income and improve the management system."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:04:10
  • Kakao and LG Uplus Launch Everyones AI Accessible via KakaoTalk and Phone
    Kakao and LG Uplus Launch 'Everyone's AI' Accessible via KakaoTalk and Phone "The key to Everyone's AI is not KakaoTalk or the phone. KakaoTalk and the phone are entry points, while the agent platform and the web are the core. You can think of it as building everything on this web," said Kim Se-woong, Vice President of Kakao.Kakao and LG Uplus are collaborating on the 'Everyone's AI' consortium, which aims to use familiar channels like KakaoTalk and phone calls as entry points for AI services, while implementing the actual services on a web-based agent platform. Users will be able to access these services through KakaoTalk or phone calls without needing to install a separate application, connecting various AI services and data through the web.In an interview on September 15 at the Seoul Finance Center, Kim and Go Jin-tae, Executive Director of LG Uplus, explained their vision for implementing 'Everyone's AI.' They expressed their goal of expanding services to users who have not previously utilized AI by combining the service, model, and infrastructure capabilities of Kakao and LG Group.Users will be able to access 'Everyone's AI' on KakaoTalk without any changes to the user interface or experience. Kim stated, "It’s like adding a new friend where Kanana used to be. You can add Everyone's AI as a friend and chat with it, and you can also access it via the web on a PC. The services and records used on KakaoTalk will also be connected to the web."The decision to design services around the web was made to connect various touchpoints. Kim explained, "If a service like Government 24 wants to integrate Everyone's AI, it’s easiest to do it through the web. This allows us to deliver it to various entry points." The consortium is also considering expanding the use of Everyone's AI to other devices, such as LG Electronics products and TVs, in the future.The phone will serve as a major entry point managed by LG Uplus. Go noted, "Phone AI is one of the features that represents each consortium member. We want to ensure that tasks performed independently within the phone can flow seamlessly across channels, providing complementary roles for each channel." Users can interact with AI via phone and then transition to KakaoTalk or the web for tasks that require a screen.Each consortium member will leverage their strengths. Go mentioned, "Kakao has very strong capabilities in the application area, while we handle the integrated operation of models and GPUs." They plan to utilize both Kakao's Kanana and LG AI Research's ExaOne models, selecting the most suitable model for each service. Other participants, including LG Electronics, LG CNS, Kakao Enterprise, Shinhan Bank, and Lunit, will contribute to service implementation in their respective fields, such as devices, public services, finance, and healthcare.The beta service launch has been adjusted from September to October. Kim stated, "We are currently aiming for early to mid-October and are trying to show as much as we can." The beta will start with a basic chatbot format but aims to evolve into an agent capable of handling real tasks such as applications, reservations, and payments, beyond just answering questions.Public services are expected to be a key area for initial offerings. Kim expressed, "The most promising aspect of the Kakao consortium is in the public sector," predicting that they can demonstrate "higher completeness" in public services based on their experience with the AI National Secretary project conducted with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. They are also working on plans to unveil some services in health, medical, and senior care sectors by the end of the year.The goal for user acquisition is to reach 5 million monthly active users (MAU) at launch, 10 million by 2027, and 30 million by 2030. Kim emphasized that the 5 million target is not merely symbolic, stating that they have confirmed it as a realistic figure based on user acquisition data from other KakaoTalk services. Go also mentioned that LG Uplus will leverage its approximately 1,800 stores and LG Electronics Best Shops to help expand the user base.The ultimate vision for Everyone's AI, as described by both executives, is to evolve from merely answering questions to a 'complete AI' that can handle users' requests and perform actual tasks. Kim referred to it as an "AI that can complete tasks," while Go noted, "Ultimately, we need to ensure that even those who have never used it before will start using it."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 09:04:10
  • Korea and Tajikistan Sign Anti-Corruption MOU at Central Asia Summit
    Korea and Tajikistan Sign Anti-Corruption MOU at Central Asia Summit The Anti-Corruption Commission of Korea announced on September 17 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tajikistan's Agency for State Financial Control and Anti-Corruption (ASFCCC) on September 16 at The Grand Lotte in Seoul.This MOU aims to strengthen cooperation and support between South Korea and Tajikistan in anti-corruption efforts, coinciding with the 2026 First Korea-Central Asia Summit. Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Tajikistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the anti-corruption cooperation MOU alongside Jeong Il-yeon, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission.Under the MOU, both agencies will collaborate on sharing knowledge, information, best practices, and experiences related to anti-corruption policies and measures. They will also discuss mutual interests through invitations to international conferences, seminars, and joint research, as well as develop and implement educational programs to enhance integrity in both public and private sectors.Jeong Il-yeon stated, "Tajikistan possesses the largest water resources in Central Asia and has achieved high economic growth by developing its rich mineral resources. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, we have maintained a friendly relationship, and I expect significant potential for practical and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields moving forward."He emphasized that this MOU will provide substantial support for strengthening Tajikistan's anti-corruption capabilities and will continue to expand the cooperation network with Central Asian countries. 2026-09-17 09:04:10