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  • Youngpoongs Seokpo Refinery Confirms Clean Water Quality in Nakdong River
    Youngpoong's Seokpo Refinery Confirms 'Clean' Water Quality in Nakdong River Youngpoong's Seokpo Refinery has demonstrated the results of its extensive environmental investments over the years, as public water quality data shows. Major heavy metals are virtually undetectable in the Nakdong River system surrounding the refinery, and overall water quality remains at a clean level.According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment's water quality information system on July 28, the water quality at the Seokpo 1 to Seokpo 4 monitoring points near the refinery recorded satisfactory levels for both major heavy metals and water quality indicators. Monitoring stations are located upstream at Seokpo 1 and downstream at Seokpo 2, 3, and 4.On May 14, monitoring stations Seokpo 2 to 4 downstream from the refinery reported that cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, and copper were all below detection limits. This means the levels are lower than the minimum concentration that measurement equipment can quantitatively confirm.Key indicators of water quality were also favorable. The dissolved oxygen (DO) level at Seokpo 2 was recorded at 10.1 mg/L, indicating a 'very good' status, while the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was 2.2 mg/L and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 5.5 mg/L, confirming overall clean water quality. Similar results were observed at the Seokpo 3 and 4 monitoring stations downstream.Since establishing its 'Environmental Improvement Innovation Plan' in 2019, Youngpoong has invested approximately 540 billion won in environmental initiatives through the end of 2025. The company has focused on reducing pollutants, improving water quality, and establishing eco-friendly processes with annual investments of around 100 billion won.A notable example is the zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system, introduced in 2021 as the first of its kind in the world for a smelter. The ZLD system, built with an investment of 46 billion won, is an eco-friendly facility that reuses all process wastewater without discharging it externally. Youngpoong has also registered a patent for the ZLD technology.The ZLD system can process up to 4,000 cubic meters of process water daily, currently reusing an average of 2,000 to 2,500 cubic meters, effectively reducing annual river water intake by about 880,000 cubic meters.Additionally, the company has installed large-scale groundwater diffusion prevention facilities around the refinery and has implemented strict management of a separate rainwater storage facility that retains all initial rainfall up to 80 mm, compared to the regulatory standard of 5 mm, for reuse as process water. This effectively prevents any pollutants from being discharged into the Nakdong River system.These environmental improvement efforts have also led to changes in the ecosystem. Recently, the presence of otters, a critically endangered species, has been continuously confirmed in the Nakdong River near the Seokpo Refinery, indicating a stable river ecosystem.A representative from Youngpoong stated, "The results of our environmental investments are being confirmed through objective data and the local ecological environment. We will continue to invest in eco-friendly facilities and enhance environmental management to create a sustainable refinery that coexists with the local community."Youngpoong established the Seokpo Refinery in 1970 in Bonghwa County, Gyeongbuk, as Korea's first modern zinc smelter. For over 50 years, the Seokpo Refinery has been a key production base driving the development of the domestic non-ferrous metal industry. Based on the smelting technology and expertise accumulated here, Youngpoong founded Korea Zinc in 1974 and has supported its growth as the largest shareholder.On July 20, Youngpoong announced the publication of its '2025 Sustainability Management Report,' which summarizes specific achievements and future strategies across the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:44:00
  • K-Cruise Industry Attracts Younger Travelers with Digital Innovations
    K-Cruise Industry Attracts Younger Travelers with Digital Innovations The cruise travel industry is undergoing a transformation. Once considered a luxury for older generations due to long itineraries and high costs, the maritime tourism market is now attracting a significant number of younger travelers aged 20 to 40. Notably, Busan Port is emerging as a global cruise hub, with 430 ship arrivals scheduled for 2026 alone.As of 2024, the global marine tourism market is valued at approximately 12.4 trillion won, growing at an annual rate of 11.5%. The international ferry and cruise operator market in Asia and Korea is also experiencing a sharp increase, with a growth rate of 21.2% per year.Despite the rapid expansion of the market, the digital infrastructure supporting it remains outdated. The airline industry has operated a standardized global distribution system (GDS) for real-time bookings since 2005, exemplified by Korean Air's Amadeus. In contrast, the maritime passenger sector still relies on offline and manual booking processes, which account for over 50% of reservations. Confirming bookings can take between 24 to 48 hours, resulting in a 'digital bottleneck' that hampers the ability to meet rising demand.To address this long-standing issue, MarineBridge Co., led by CEO Lee Hyun-seok, has recently secured investment from BLTN Partners (Personal Investment Association No. 1). MarineBridge is developing a maritime passenger-specific GDS platform that integrates booking, operation, and fare data from shipping companies, ports, and travel agencies using AI and standardized APIs.Recently, the company partnered with SK Telecom's T Membership global travel service, which has around 6 million monthly users. This collaboration has introduced real-time booking services for major routes departing from Busan to Osaka, Tsushima, and Shimonoseki. To enhance accessibility for older users, a barrier-free user interface has been implemented.MarineBridge has completed API integration with leading passenger ferry companies in Busan, including Panstar Line, Busan Ferry, and Duwon Cruise Ferry. Additionally, it is collaborating with the Busan Cruise Tourism Association and the Korea Smart Tourism Association to expand the GDS ecosystem, starting from Busan Port to seven major international passenger terminals nationwide.Attorney Eom Jeong-han, co-GP of BLTN Partners, stated, "The maritime passenger industry has low automation rates, presenting a significant growth potential in this blue ocean market. MarineBridge possesses the capability for data-driven validation, a strong patent portfolio, and partnerships with major distribution channels, indicating promising growth through a combination of technology and IP strategy."MarineBridge aims to leverage this investment to complete the commercialization of the national maritime passenger GDS by 2026, integrate with major online travel agencies in Asia by 2029, and pursue a technology-based special listing by 2030. The company plans to reduce vessel vacancy rates and carbon emissions through optimized operations while promoting local tourism through destination-linked products, thereby contributing to ESG value creation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:41:00
  • National Assembly Speaker Calls for Constitutional Reform Next Year
    National Assembly Speaker Calls for Constitutional Reform Next Year Cho Jung-sik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, stated on July 28 that he plans to establish a special committee for constitutional reform through cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties, aiming to initiate discussions on the matter next year.During his first press conference since taking office, Cho emphasized, "We will pursue constitutional reform calmly and boldly, as I proposed to the public on the last Constitution Day."Earlier, in a speech commemorating the 78th anniversary of Constitution Day on July 17, Cho had suggested preparing a proposal for a people’s sovereignty constitutional amendment by 2027 and concluding the 10th amendment during the current 22nd National Assembly.The key points of the proposed amendment include: incorporating the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising into the preamble of the constitution, limiting the president's power to declare a state of emergency, restructuring the power structure, and reforming election management.Cho announced plans to launch a constitutional advisory committee directly under his office to outline a roadmap and agenda for the reform, stating, "We will establish a digital platform that allows the public to participate directly in the discussion process."He added, "Next year is an opportune time for constitutional reform since there are no elections scheduled. I aim to form the special committee soon to reach an agreement on the reform by the latter half of next year."Regarding the possibility of extending the current president's term, which has been raised by opposition parties, Cho remarked, "It is premature to discuss this matter at this stage," and noted that the issue of the president's re-election in the context of power structure reform ultimately depends on public opinion and the consensus among various political stakeholders.He further elaborated, "If the issue of power structure arises in the discussions on constitutional reform, it could become a significant topic, and opinions will likely be gathered through the advisory committee or the special committee."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:39:00
  • National Assembly Speaker Calls for Constitutional Reform Next Year
    National Assembly Speaker Calls for Constitutional Reform Next Year Cho Jung-sik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, stated on July 28 that he aims to establish a special committee for constitutional reform through cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties, with discussions set to begin next year.During his first press conference since taking office, Cho emphasized, "We will pursue constitutional reform calmly and boldly, as I proposed to the public on the last Constitution Day."Earlier, in a speech commemorating the 78th anniversary of Constitution Day on July 17, Cho had suggested preparing a proposal for a people’s sovereignty constitutional amendment by 2027 and concluding the 10th amendment during the current 22nd National Assembly.The key points of the proposed amendment include: incorporating the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising into the preamble of the constitution, limiting the president's power to declare a state of emergency, restructuring the power structure, and reforming election management.Cho announced plans to launch a constitutional advisory committee directly under his office to outline the roadmap and agenda for the reform, stating, "We will establish a digital platform that allows the public to participate directly in the discussion process."He added, "Next year is an opportune time for constitutional reform since there are no elections scheduled. I aim to form the special committee soon to reach an agreement on the reform by the latter half of next year."Regarding the possibility of extending the current president's term, which has been raised by opposition parties, Cho remarked, "It is premature to discuss this matter now. The issue of the current president's term extension ultimately depends on public opinion and the choices of the sovereign people, as well as how various political stakeholders reach an agreement."He further noted, "If the issue of power structure arises in the discussions on constitutional reform, it could become a significant topic, but opinions will likely be gathered through the advisory committee or the special committee."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:39:00
  • Hanmi Pharmaceutical Reports Record First-Half Revenue of 860.2 Billion Won
    Hanmi Pharmaceutical Reports Record First-Half Revenue of 860.2 Billion Won Hanmi Pharmaceutical reported a 116.9% increase in second-quarter operating profit, driven by global technology transfer achievements and growth in its domestic pharmaceutical business.On July 28, Hanmi announced its preliminary consolidated results for the second quarter of 2026, showing revenue of 467.2 billion won and operating profit of 131.1 billion won. Compared to the same period last year, revenue increased by 29.3%, and operating profit rose by 116.9%. The company recorded a net profit of 84.1 billion won for the quarter, a 95.5% increase. It invested 60.3 billion won, or 12.9% of its revenue, in research and development (R&D).For the first half of the year, Hanmi's cumulative consolidated revenue reached 860.2 billion won, a 14.4% increase from the same period last year, while operating profit rose by 54.6% to 184.7 billion won.Hanmi stated, "The solid growth of key products like Rosuzet, increased sales through joint marketing with global pharmaceutical companies, and the recognition of the technology transfer contract fee from Eli Lilly for sonepaglutide have driven our performance improvement. We expect to achieve the highest revenue in our history this year."According to Ubiest, the company's revenue from external prescriptions in the first half was 561.6 billion won. Hanmi has maintained its position as the top company in South Korea's external prescription sales for eight consecutive years since 2018.Hanmi's subsidiary, Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical, reported second-quarter revenue of 60.7 billion won. Due to China's centralized purchasing system, which favors the lowest bidders, revenue and operating profit decreased compared to the same period last year. The company plans to secure new growth engines through the development of non-centralized purchasing items and new drugs.Hanmi Precision Chemical, a subsidiary specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), recorded second-quarter revenue of 24 billion won, a 4.4% increase year-on-year. The growth was supported by increased exports of APIs to Japan and expanded high-profit contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) orders, leading to a 76.7% rise in operating profit compared to the previous year.The company is preparing for the commercialization of its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) obesity treatment, epeglanatide, within the year. Additionally, its next-generation obesity treatment, HM15275, is in Phase 2 clinical trials in the U.S., while HM17321, aimed at treating obesity through muscle gain, has entered Phase 1 clinical trials.Hanmi CEO Hwang Sang-yeon stated, "We will continue to enhance corporate value through responsible management and continuous innovation, creating new opportunities for growth."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:38:00
  • Korean Lawmaker Pushes for Party Discipline and Member Input in Evaluations
    Korean Lawmaker Pushes for Party Discipline and Member Input in Evaluations Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has returned to the National Assembly and is actively working to strengthen party discipline. On July 28, a task force (TF) was launched to establish new evaluation criteria for elected officials, including current lawmakers.According to the People Power Party, Jang is expected to soon announce the direction and methods for the party's reform plans that he has been developing. Additionally, the ethics committee initiated disciplinary procedures against anti-party faction lawmakers Jo Kyung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, and Jin Jong-o the previous day. This has led to predictions of inevitable clashes between factions within the party.During the first meeting of the 'Elected Officials Evaluation Innovation TF' held in the National Assembly, Jang personally presented appointment letters to the TF members, urging them to create a system where capable individuals can receive nominations. He stated, "We need to nominate those who dedicate their abilities to the public and party, rather than getting caught up in factional politics or internal disputes over nominations." He emphasized that the opinions of party members should be significantly included in the evaluation of public officials, stating, "This is the path to becoming a member-centered party."The TF plans to meet weekly to reform the evaluation system for elected officials, including current lawmakers. While evaluations will not be conducted immediately, the criteria established may influence nomination decisions in the future, suggesting potential repercussions.Political analysts suggest that Jang's move to establish new evaluation criteria for current lawmakers is a strategic step to strengthen his party leadership as he prepares to announce reform plans next month. By empowering party members, he aims to maintain control over the party and secure nomination rights for the 2028 general elections.As Jang champions a 'member-centered party,' internal turmoil seems likely, especially as this approach directly conflicts with the previously discussed concept of transitioning to a 'parliament-centered party' led by anti-party factions.In this context, Jang's resumption of 'disciplinary politics' has prompted strong backlash from anti-party factions. Jin Jong-o, one of the targeted lawmakers, stated on his Facebook, "If this is a baseless disciplinary action aimed at party centralization, I will firmly resist it," criticizing the need for the People Power Party to focus on restoring public trust rather than engaging in coercive disciplinary politics.Jo Kyung-tae also held a press conference in the National Assembly, questioning whether the disciplinary actions are legitimate or merely political retaliation to protect party leadership. He argued that the ethics committee should initiate severe disciplinary procedures against Jang, who has supported claims of election fraud and advocated for insurrection, rather than targeting him.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:36:00
  • Korean Lawmaker Pushes for Party Discipline and Member Input in Evaluations
    Korean Lawmaker Pushes for Party Discipline and Member Input in Evaluations Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has returned to the National Assembly and is actively working to strengthen party discipline. On July 28, a task force (TF) was launched to establish new evaluation criteria for elected officials, including current lawmakers.According to the People Power Party, Jang is expected to soon announce the direction and methods for the party's reform plans that he has been developing. Additionally, the ethics committee initiated disciplinary procedures against anti-party faction lawmakers Jo Kyung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, and Jin Jong-o the previous day, raising concerns about potential conflicts between factions within the party.During the first meeting of the 'Elected Officials Evaluation Innovation TF' held in the National Assembly, Jang personally presented appointment letters to the TF members and urged them to create a system that allows capable individuals to receive nominations. He stated, "We need to nominate those who dedicate their abilities to the public and party, rather than getting caught up in factional politics or internal disputes over nominations." He emphasized that the opinions of party members should be significantly included in the evaluation of public officials, stating, "This is the path to becoming a member-centered party."The TF plans to meet weekly to reform the evaluation system for elected officials, including current lawmakers. While evaluations will not be conducted immediately, the criteria established may influence nomination decisions in the future, suggesting potential repercussions.Political analysts suggest that Jang's move to establish new evaluation criteria for current lawmakers is a strategic step to strengthen his party leadership as he prepares to announce reform plans next month. By empowering party members, he aims to maintain control over the party and secure nomination rights for the 2028 general elections.As Jang promotes a 'member-centered party,' internal turmoil seems inevitable, especially as this approach directly conflicts with the previously discussed concept of transitioning to a 'parliament-centered party' led by anti-party factions.In this context, Jang's resumption of 'disciplinary politics' has prompted strong backlash from anti-party factions. Jin Jong-o, one of the targeted lawmakers, stated on his Facebook page, "If this is a baseless disciplinary action aimed at party consolidation, I will firmly oppose it," adding that what the People Power Party needs is not coercive disciplinary politics but a restoration of public trust.Jo Kyung-tae also held a press conference in the National Assembly, questioning whether the disciplinary actions are legitimate or merely political retaliation to protect party leadership. He argued that the ethics committee should initiate severe disciplinary procedures against Jang, who has supported claims of election fraud and advocated for insurrection, rather than targeting him.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:36:00
  • CXMT rise signals a new kind of challenge to Koreas memory giants
    CXMT rise signals a new kind of challenge to Korea's memory giants SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - China's first publicly traded memory chipmaker hardly poses an immediate threat to Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron Technology at the technological frontier. But ChangXin Memory Technologies' (CXMT) record-breaking stock market debut suggests something potentially more disruptive: Beijing's familiar playbook of localizing production, achieving scale and then moving up the technology ladder may finally be reaching the last major semiconductor segment still controlled by a decades-old three-company oligopoly. The DRAM industry has effectively been a closed club since Japan's Elpida Memory went bankrupt and was acquired by Micron in 2013. Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron together account for roughly 90 percent of global DRAM production, while enormous capital requirements have discouraged new entrants. Building an advanced memory fabrication plant now costs tens of billions of dollars, with leading-edge facilities requiring investments exceeding $30 billion. Against that backdrop, CXMT's spectacular Shanghai debut on Monday stood out less for the money it raised than for what that capital could enable. Shares surged nearly 466 percent on their first trading day, valuing the company at nearly 3.3 trillion yuan while raising 57.9 billion yuan ($8.6 billion) in Asia's largest IPO this year. The listing provides CXMT with substantial resources to expand manufacturing capacity and invest in next-generation memory technologies, while demonstrating that China's semiconductor ambitions are increasingly attracting market capital rather than relying solely on state funding. "The immediate impact is not HBM but conventional DRAM," said Lee Jong-hwan, professor of system semiconductor engineering at Sangmyung University. "The additional capital allows CXMT to expand DRAM production, increasing overall supply. That could eventually put pressure on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix by weakening pricing power in the broader memory market." Lee said China is expected to continue directing massive resources toward memory chips because AI semiconductors have become strategically important for both economic competitiveness and national security. A different challenger from previous Chinese entrants What makes CXMT different from earlier Chinese semiconductor challengers is not that it has closed the technology gap with the industry leaders. It has not. Rather, it has reached a manufacturing scale where volume itself is becoming a competitive advantage. Industry estimates by SemiAnalysis project CXMT's wafer capacity to rise from roughly 265,000 wafer starts per month (wspm) this year to around 350,000 by the end of 2026—approaching Micron's estimated 385,000 wspm. By 2028, the Chinese company could reach about 500,000 wspm, equivalent to roughly 17 percent of global DRAM supply. If realized, CXMT would become the first Chinese memory producer capable of emerging as a meaningful fourth player in a market that has remained largely unchanged for more than a decade. Yet investors may be looking in the wrong place. The immediate threat is not that CXMT is about to catch Samsung Electronics or SK hynix in high-bandwidth memory. Rather, China is becoming large enough in conventional DRAM to reshape the industry's supply-demand balance long before it reaches the technological frontier. That realization rippled through Seoul's stock market on Tuesday. Shares of SK hynix plunged 14 percent to close at 1,561,000 won, nearly half their peak level from around a month earlier. Samsung Electronics also fell 13 percent to 222,000 won, leaving the stock down 41 percent from its June 19 high of 374,500 won. The selloff reflected growing concern that Beijing no longer needs to win the AI memory race immediately. A scaled-up CXMT could erode pricing power in the mainstream DRAM market that still generates much of the industry's cash flow, even if Korean companies continue dominating premium AI memory. Winning the market the Big Three deprioritized Rather than attempting to leap directly into HBM, CXMT has concentrated on DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory used in smartphones, PCs, laptops and mainstream servers. The AI boom has unexpectedly worked in China's favor. As Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron redirected engineering resources and production capacity toward higher-margin HBM products for Nvidia and other AI customers, supply of conventional DRAM tightened. CXMT moved aggressively to fill that gap among Chinese smartphone makers, PC manufacturers and server vendors seeking domestically produced memory. Despite production costs estimated to remain more than 30 percent higher than those of the established leaders, elevated DDR5 prices have reportedly allowed CXMT to generate healthy margins while steadily expanding market share. Industry estimates suggest its global DRAM share has doubled to roughly 8 percent over the past year and could continue rising as new capacity comes online. Yet the comparison with Micron comes with an important caveat. Capacity alone does not determine competitiveness. The industry's fastest-growing profit pool is no longer commodity DRAM but high-bandwidth memory, the advanced stacked memory used in Nvidia's AI accelerators and other AI processors. On that front, CXMT remains well behind. Lee estimated China's technology gap at roughly one to two years in conventional DRAM but around three years in HBM. "China's strategy is to first strengthen its position in mainstream DRAM and then move into high-end HBM," Lee said. "As its competitiveness in DRAM improves, that also strengthens the technological foundation for HBM because HBM itself is built on stacked DRAM." The approach mirrors China's broader industrial playbook: localize production, achieve manufacturing scale, improve yields and then move up the value chain. That differs from earlier Chinese semiconductor ventures, many of which sought to narrow the technology gap before building enough scale to influence global pricing. Building the missing pieces Another development attracting industry attention is China's reported progress in domestic deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography systems, a critical step toward reducing dependence on foreign semiconductor equipment. Lee said DUV cannot replace the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines supplied by ASML that remain essential for the world's most advanced process nodes. However, developing indigenous DUV equipment still represents a significant milestone because lithography remains the foundation of semiconductor manufacturing. "Developing DUV equipment demonstrates that China is steadily building its own semiconductor technology base," Lee said. "Although EUV remains far more difficult, achieving DUV is meaningful because it lays the groundwork for future advances." He cautioned, however, that manufacturing equipment alone will not determine competitiveness. "The biggest challenge is achieving stable mass production and high manufacturing yields," Lee said. "Yield is what ultimately determines a semiconductor company's competitiveness. China is investing aggressively, but reaching that stage still takes time." He added that sustained investment by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will be critical to maintaining their technological lead as Chinese competitors continue narrowing the gap. For Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the lesson may be that the competitive landscape is changing in a different way than many anticipated. China is unlikely to overtake the Korean leaders in HBM anytime soon. But CXMT does not need to win the AI memory race immediately to alter the industry's competitive dynamics. If Beijing succeeds in building a fourth scaled DRAM producer, the world's last major three-player semiconductor oligopoly could gradually give way to a more competitive market—one where Korean companies remain at the technological frontier but enjoy far less pricing power in the mainstream memory business that still underpins the industry's profitability. The real question is no longer whether China can build a credible DRAM champion. It is whether Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron can preserve the pricing discipline that has defined the memory industry for more than a decade once that champion reaches global scale. 2026-07-28 16:31:47
  • Korea GM Reaches Labor Agreement Before Summer Vacation, First in Auto Industry
    Korea GM Reaches Labor Agreement Before Summer Vacation, First in Auto Industry Korea GM has finalized its wage and collective bargaining agreement before the summer vacation, becoming the first in the domestic auto industry to do so.On July 28, the Korea Metal Workers' Union Korea GM branch announced that 3,500 out of 6,513 eligible voters (56.5%) approved the tentative agreement following a two-day voting period that began on July 27.The negotiations between Korea GM and its labor union began on May 27 and included 17 sessions leading up to the tentative agreement.The key points of the agreement include a basic salary increase of 92,000 won and a one-time payment of 15 million won related to the company's performance in 2025.Regarding the production allocation for the next-generation small SUV (9BXX-2), it was agreed to finalize the details by the third quarter of next year. This marks the first time since 2018 that Korea GM has concluded wage and collective bargaining before the summer vacation.A representative from the Korea GM union stated, "We will work to ensure job security and improve rights to open a sustainable future for Korea GM."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:31:00
  • Regional Talent Selection Rate for Medical Schools Rises to 59.4%
    Regional Talent Selection Rate for Medical Schools Rises to 59.4% Approximately six out of ten new students at local medical schools are selected from the region, indicating significant success of the 'mandatory regional talent selection' system. The Ministry of Education has publicly released the selection results for the first time since the system's implementation, noting that a positive cycle is quickly establishing itself as local talent enrolls and settles in regional medical schools. On July 28, the Ministry announced the '2026 results of mandatory regional talent selection for local universities' for the first time since the system was introduced in the 2023 academic year. According to the 'Act on the Promotion of Local Universities and Balanced Regional Development,' local universities outside the metropolitan area are required to select a certain percentage of new students in medical fields (medicine, dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing) and professional graduate schools from local talent. They are also mandated to select a minimum number of low-income local students. The success of the system is most evident in medical schools, which attract top-tier students. This year, the regional talent selection rate at 26 local medical schools reached 59.4%, a 13.2 percentage point increase from 46.2% in the 2022 academic year before the mandate was introduced. This means that out of 2,079 total new students, 1,234 were selected as local talent (including 48 low-income students), demonstrating a broader foundation for local talent to pursue medical education. However, not all universities fully complied with the legal requirements. Two medical schools, Hallym University in Gangwon Province (16.5% selected/20% required) and Soonchunhyang University in Chungcheong Province (39.8% selected/40% required), did not meet the mandatory selection rate. Four medical schools (15.4%) also failed to meet the mandatory selection of low-income local talent: Kyungpook National University, Kosin University, Yonsei University’s Future Campus, and Wonkwang University. The situation is similar in other fields (dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing, professional graduate schools). Among 204 departments subject to mandatory regional talent selection, 14 (6.9%) did not comply, and among 193 departments required to select low-income local talent, 28 (14.5%) fell short of the legal requirements. The Ministry of Education explained that the noncompliance by some universities is due to the fact that compliance is judged based on 'final selection results' rather than 'selection plans.' This means that unexpected withdrawals by accepted students or failures to meet minimum academic standards can create vacancies that are difficult for universities to control. Additionally, some regions or departments face challenges in student recruitment due to geographical characteristics. The Ministry plans to receive corrective action plans from universities that did not meet the legal requirements and will continuously monitor their implementation. They also intend to analyze the causes of noncompliance by field and region to develop structural improvements to the system. Lee Joo-hee, a university support officer at the Ministry of Education, stated, "The mandatory regional talent selection system is a key foundation for creating a positive cycle where excellent local talent grows and settles in the region, and it is quickly taking root in local universities. We will transparently disclose selection results each year and identify improvement tasks to ensure the system operates effectively within local conditions."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 16:30:00