Aju Press - Asia News Hub

Journalist

Latest by

Volvo ES90: A Versatile Electric Flagship Blending Sedan Comfort and SUV Utility Can a vehicle combine the comfort of a sedan with the practicality of an SUV? Volvo's flagship electric vehicle, the ES90, answers this question through its focus on safety and comfort. Built on Volvo's renowned safety technology, the ES90 offers a quiet and smooth driving experience while providing the high body and spacious interior typical of an SUV, along with a liftback design for added utility. This model continues Volvo's identity as a brand that prioritizes safe and comfortable transportation in the electric vehicle era.On September 17, during a test drive from Seoul's COEX to Pocheon, covering approximately 110 km, the ES90 proved to be more than just a fast and efficient electric vehicle; it was designed with the travel experience of both drivers and passengers in mind.Upon entering the vehicle, the first thing that stands out is the bright and warm interior. Those expecting a cold metal and large display typical of electric cars may be surprised. The interior creates a bright and inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a quiet Nordic morning. Starting the vehicle, there is no engine noise. The ES90, a pure electric flagship, encapsulates the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of an SUV.The exterior of the ES90 deviates slightly from traditional sedans. With a length of 5,000 mm, a height of 1,545 mm, and a wheelbase of 3,102 mm, the vehicle is both long and tall. It strikes a balance between the low, stable stance of a sedan and the elevated seating position of an SUV. Sitting in the driver's seat, the elevated view from the high body is immediately noticeable. The extended body also contributes to a more spacious interior.The trunk showcases another aspect of the ES90's practicality. With a generous space that expands up to 1,445 liters, it maintains the elegant appearance of a sedan while facilitating easy loading and unloading of large items.On the road, the ES90's immediate acceleration response stands out. The twin-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers power without delay as soon as the accelerator is pressed. Starting from a standstill, the heavy body feels like it surges forward, but once in motion, the ride becomes notably smoother. There is no engine rev noise or shifting shock during acceleration, making the process seamless. Despite its larger size, the acceleration is not sluggish.The vehicle's quietness is also impressive. While electric cars typically lack engine noise, motor sounds or road noise can be more pronounced. The ES90 minimizes external noise and motor sounds through acoustic glass and soundproofing design. According to Volvo Car Korea, the measured urban driving noise level is 55.6 dB. During the test drive, even at high speeds, conversations inside the cabin remained comfortable.Key features of the ES90 include its driving range and charging performance, which are crucial for electric vehicle buyers. The twin-motor model has a maximum driving range of 520 km on a single charge, according to domestic certification standards. Using a 350 kW charger, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes.The domestic sales price of the ES90 ranges from 72.94 million won to 95.41 million won, depending on the trim and drive type. Considering the large electric flagship sedan's body, ample battery capacity, and premium features, the price is likely to be appealing to potential buyers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 00:04:00
Takaichi's First Cabinet Reshuffle Maintains Key Ministers Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi conducted her first cabinet reshuffle, retaining many key ministers to maintain the core structure of her administration. According to Japanese media reports on September 17, the Takaichi government held an extraordinary cabinet meeting in the morning, accepting resignations from ministers before summoning newly appointed or retained ministers to the Prime Minister's residence. This marks the first cabinet reshuffle since Takaichi took office in October of last year. Key ministers such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa were all retained. Additionally, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno, Minister of Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuchi, and Minister for Economic Security Kim Onoda were reappointed. In contrast, the future of Yoshimasa Hayashi, the former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, drew attention as he was excluded from the cabinet. Hayashi competed against Takaichi in the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election last October. Speculation within the LDP suggests that Hayashi may be preparing for the party's presidential election scheduled for next fall. Hisayuki Fujii was appointed as the new Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, marking his first cabinet position. Yoshihiro Seki was appointed as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Kazuo Yana as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tatsunori Ibayashi as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Hiroyoshi Sasagawa as Minister of the Environment. Notably, Seki and Yana are former members of the Abe faction and have been linked to a political funding scandal that emerged in 2023, where they reportedly failed to disclose certain amounts in political funding reports. This is the first instance of lawmakers with undisclosed amounts being appointed to the cabinet following the political funding issue. During a press conference that evening, Takaichi addressed the appointments, stating, "Just because they have gone through an election does not mean that past issues disappear," while emphasizing the importance of having ministers with necessary policy capabilities as part of the cabinet. She urged the ministers to maintain a proper mindset and fulfill their significant public duties. Takaichi also noted that the involved lawmakers had explained the related matters during an ongoing prosecution investigation and had subsequently faced the judgment of the public through elections. Takashi Yamashita, who previously held the same position, was reappointed as Minister of Justice. Toshiiharu Furukawa, a member of the House of Councillors, was appointed to the Digital Agency. This cabinet reshuffle also marks the first appointment of a member from the Japan Innovation Party, which is part of the coalition government, raising questions about its potential impact on future governance between the coalition parties.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 21:36:00
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Joins Social Dialogue on Mega Special Zones The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has decided to participate in social dialogue regarding labor exceptions in mega special zones, marking its return to the labor-management-government dialogue table for the first time in six years since the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 17, KCTU held a central executive committee meeting and announced its decision to engage in a 'one-point social dialogue' related to the special law for mega special zones. KCTU stated, "It is necessary to participate in the dialogue to directly express our opposition to the expansion of labor exceptions and the regression of labor rights." KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo expressed that during the social dialogue, the union will demand the prevention of exceptions to the 52-hour workweek and the so-called 'white-collar exemption,' as well as advocate for a 4.5-day workweek. He also mentioned plans to restrict the reasons for employing non-regular workers in mega special zones and to seek ways to return tax benefits provided to companies back to society. Earlier, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon proposed a one-point social dialogue limited to mega special zones on September 15. This initiative aims to create a separate dialogue space since KCTU does not participate in the existing Presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council. Key agenda items include eliminating the 52-hour work limit for high-income managers and research and development personnel, excluding overtime, night, and holiday work allowances from the 'white-collar exemption,' and extending the usage period of fixed-term workers from the current two years to an additional two years with worker consent, referred to as '2+2.' While the business community argues that labor exceptions are necessary to secure the competitiveness of mega special zones, labor groups oppose this, stating that easing labor regulations could lead to a general regression of labor rights. With KCTU's decision to participate, a social dialogue promoted by the government is expected to take place soon. However, it remains uncertain whether this will lead to actual agreements. KCTU participated in labor-management-government dialogue during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but internal approval fell through, preventing them from signing the final agreement. Meanwhile, KCTU discussed its potential return to the Economic, Social and Labor Council but did not reach a conclusion. KCTU has not participated in social dialogue since withdrawing from the predecessor of the council in February 1999. The union has yet to decide whether to submit this matter to a delegate conference, and Chairman Yang has unilaterally decided to convene a delegate conference early next month.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 21:20:00
Neosapience to Go Public on KOSDAQ, Targeting AI Market with Typecast Neosapience, which operates the generative AI content creation service Typecast, is set to debut on the KOSDAQ market.The Korea Exchange announced on September 17 that it has approved Neosapience's listing on the KOSDAQ. Trading will commence on September 21, with an initial offering price of 10,000 won. Daishin Securities is the lead underwriter for the listing.Founded in 2017, Neosapience is a software development and supply company. It has developed and operates Typecast, a voice generation service based on its proprietary generative AI foundation model and TTS (text-to-speech) technology.Since its launch in November 2019, Typecast has gained users in 226 countries worldwide. As of March this year, the total number of registered users surpassed 3 million.The company's financial performance has shown improvement. Neosapience's revenue increased from 6.4 billion won in 2024 to 10.7 billion won last year. For the previous year, the consolidated revenue was 10.649 billion won, with an operating loss of 2.676 billion won. The operating loss decreased from 7.9 billion won in 2024 to 2.7 billion won last year.However, in the first half of this year, the company recorded revenue of 6 billion won, while the operating loss expanded to 3.4 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:52:00
Simsangcheol Overcomes 4th Lane to Win Seoul Olympic Anniversary Race Simsangcheol (7th class, A1) won the Seoul Olympic 38th Anniversary Race, overcoming the disadvantage of starting from the 4th lane. According to the Korea Racing Authority, Simsangcheol crossed the finish line first in the final held on September 17, showcasing bold maneuvering and experienced race management. Park Won-kyu (14th class, A1) finished in 2nd place, while Lee Joo-young (3rd class, A1) took 3rd. The race determined its finalists through two preliminary heats held the day before. In the first preliminary heat, Kim Wan-seok (10th class, A1) secured 1st place from the 3rd lane with a strong maneuver, while Simsangcheol and Park Won-kyu advanced to the final in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. In the second preliminary heat, Kim Hyo-yeon (2nd class, A1) took 1st place from the 1st lane, with Kim Do-hwi (13th class, A1) and Lee Joo-young finishing 2nd and 3rd to secure their spots in the final. In the final, Kim Wan-seok was assigned the 1st lane, Kim Hyo-yeon the 2nd, Kim Do-hwi the 3rd, Simsangcheol the 4th, Lee Joo-young the 5th, and Park Won-kyu the 6th lane. As the race began, the competitors rushed toward the first turn mark, with Kim Wan-seok expected to take an early lead from the inside lane. However, he struggled at the start and lost momentum during the turn, falling behind in the lead competition. Seizing the opportunity, Simsangcheol made a bold maneuver from the 4th lane, taking control of the lead. He maintained a steady pace, preventing any challengers from closing in and securing the victory. This win for Simsangcheol came after a challenging path through the preliminaries. In the first preliminary heat, despite being assigned the 1st lane, he finished 2nd behind Kim Wan-seok's strong maneuver, which led to his assignment of the 4th lane in the final. However, he demonstrated his seasoned race management skills with a bold choice at a critical moment. Having faced disappointing results in recent finals, this victory reaffirms Simsangcheol's competitiveness on a big stage. It also marks his first win of the season in a major race. Lee Joo-young, who finished 3rd in the second preliminary heat, performed well by securing 2nd place in the final, while Park Won-kyu overcame the disadvantage of the 6th lane to finish 3rd, continuing his strong performance this season. After the race, Simsangcheol expressed, "I am happy to win, especially under the challenging conditions of the 4th lane. Park Won-kyu from the 6th lane had a good start and attempted a maneuver, but my quicker response with the steering was effective." He added, "I will strive to leverage this victory in the Kurihara Cup and Grand Prix to achieve further success." 2026-09-17 20:40:00
Details Emerge on Stabbing Incident at Bucheon Convenience Store Details have emerged regarding a stabbing incident at a convenience store in Bucheon, South Korea, linked to prior death threats, as well as a worker's death at a construction site in Jangseong.On September 17, MBC's 'Real Story Investigation' will trace the stabbing incident that occurred in August at a convenience store in Bucheon.A man in his 30s, identified only as Choi, entered the store shirtless and attacked a female employee with a knife. The victim suffered a deep stab wound to her left arm, damaging an artery and putting her life at risk due to excessive bleeding.The production team of 'Real Story Investigation' noted that there were several warning signs leading up to the attack. Four days before the incident, Choi had demanded to buy alcohol on credit at the store. When the employee refused, he returned shortly after with coins but was turned away again due to insufficient funds. He then caused a disturbance, shouting obscenities and lying in front of the entrance, prompting police to be called.The next day, during the victim's shift, Choi returned and threatened, 'Should I stab you with a sashimi knife?' Three days later, he carried out the actual stabbing.During this time, the victim reported Choi's repeated threats to the police three times and formally filed a complaint after the specific death threat. The day after the complaint was filed, when Choi returned to the store, the victim expressed her fear to the investigating officer, requesting swift action. The officer advised her to call 112 for immediate assistance.The broadcast will explore whether more proactive measures, such as victim protection or suspect investigation, could have been taken given the repeated threats and specific death threats.The second segment will investigate a worker's death at a construction site in Jangseong, where a 64-year-old laborer, identified as Jang Dong-jun, died after being crushed by a forklift while transporting a small livestock pen.Five months after the incident, the family of the deceased has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the accident, as the exact details remain unclear. The police report from the day of the accident stated that 'the forklift struck Jang when the front wheel came off while moving forward.' However, during the investigation, construction officials claimed that there was no driver in the forklift at the time, suggesting it moved without a driver and then struck Jang when the front wheel detached.Conversely, the driver, identified as Kim, insisted that he was operating the forklift at the time and had never left the driver's seat. He stated that he was following the signals of a person directing traffic on-site.With conflicting accounts, the production team recreated the scene using a forklift of the same model involved in the accident. Will they uncover the truth behind that day?'Real Story Investigation' airs today at 9 PM.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:32:00
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% Amid Inflation Concerns The Bank of England (BOE) decided on September 17 to maintain its base interest rate at 3.75%, but indicated that it may raise rates again if inflationary pressures from rising energy prices persist. According to Reuters, the BOE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to keep the interest rate steady, marking the sixth consecutive meeting this year where rates have not changed since a 0.25 percentage point cut in December. This decision aligns with market expectations. However, only 6 of the 9 committee members supported the freeze, while 3 argued for a 0.25 percentage point increase to 4.00%. There has been growing speculation about further rate hikes due to inflationary pressures stemming from rising energy costs. BOE Governor Andrew Bailey stated, "So far, the impact of rising global energy costs on UK prices and wage decisions has been limited." He added, "The longer the volatility lasts, the greater the impact on inflation, and the likelihood that we will need to raise the base rate to return to our 2% inflation target increases." The UK's consumer price inflation rate for August was 3.1%, exceeding the BOE's target of 2%. The BOE warned that if energy prices remain volatile at high levels, inflation could surpass 4% early next year. Recently, major central banks around the world have been tightening their monetary policies. The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 3.75% to 4.00% the previous day, and the European Central Bank also increased its three key rates by 0.25 percentage points on September 10. As a result, while the BOE has not raised rates immediately, the market is closely watching for potential future increases based on energy prices and inflation trends. Reuters reported that financial markets are reflecting the possibility of a rate hike in November.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:32:00
President Lee: 'It's better to act now than wait for perfect solutions' as abortion pill introduced after 7 years The government has decided to gradually introduce abortion pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks, with President Lee stating, "It's a better decision to do what we can now rather than wait for a perfect solution." The government plans to manage the abortion pill within the national healthcare system following approval and review procedures.On September 17, President Lee expressed his stance on the introduction of abortion pills on X (formerly Twitter), noting, "It has been seven years since the Constitutional Court ruled the abortion law unconstitutional."He added, "During this time, women have had to rely on overseas purchases or illegal transactions to obtain safe abortion pills, risking their safety in the process."He further explained, "While fixing a leaking roof, the floor still gets wet," emphasizing that the decision to gradually introduce abortion pills, made during a national policy coordination meeting yesterday, was based on this reasoning. He stressed, "The most important thing is the health and safety of women," and assured that the safety management system would be thoroughly examined during the introduction process, while also listening to voices from the medical field.Earlier, on September 16, the government discussed the introduction of abortion pills during the 14th National Policy Coordination Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety agreed to gradually introduce the pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks and manage them within the national healthcare system.The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is currently reviewing the safety, efficacy, and quality of the abortion pills under consideration for import approval, based on their use within 63 days of pregnancy, or nine weeks. They are also reviewing application materials related to drug risk management plans.In the initial two years of introduction, the pills will be dispensed through medical institutions where doctors will handle both prescriptions and dispensing. After evaluating side effects and the safety of the drug use environment, the government plans to consider expanding the process to allow dispensing at pharmacies following a doctor's prescription.The government explained that this measure aims to address the legislative and institutional gap that has persisted since the Constitutional Court's ruling on the abortion law in 2019. Given that abortion pills have been circulating informally without formal approval in the country, the goal is to ensure safety through regulation and management within the national healthcare system.Additionally, the government plans to push for legal and institutional reforms related to abortion. They intend to participate in discussions on amending the Maternal and Child Health Act and the Criminal Code to address related legislative gaps. However, formal distribution of the pills in the country will still require the approval and review process from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:20:00
National Assembly Approves Multiple Prosecutorial Reform Bills On September 17, the National Assembly passed a series of bills aimed at reforming the prosecutorial system, including a law that assigns the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) to handle supplementary investigations into seven major crimes affecting vulnerable populations. This legislative action comes ahead of the planned dissolution of the Prosecutors' Office and the establishment of the SCIA and the Public Prosecutors' Office on October 2.During the session, the National Assembly voted on 51 bills related to prosecutorial reform, including amendments to the SCIA's organizational law. The ruling People Power Party opposed the bills, with lawmaker Park Hyung-soo criticizing the rushed process. He stated, "Can we truly call this a proper reform when we are hastily processing these changes just two weeks before overhauling a 70-year-old criminal justice system? Today's vote will undoubtedly be evaluated by history in the future."The amended SCIA law allows prosecutors from the Public Prosecutors' Office to request supplementary or re-investigations from the SCIA specifically for the so-called 'seven major crimes' involving vulnerable groups, which include sexual violence, crimes against children and adolescents, stalking, child abuse, abuse of the disabled, elder abuse, and domestic violence.In addition to the prosecutorial reform bills, 19 livelihood-related bills were also passed. These include amendments to the Saemaul Geumgo Act, allowing the use of statutory reserves to cover losses, standardizing the term of office for central committee chairs elected through by-elections to four years, shortening the payment deadline for suppliers under the Large-Scale Distribution Business Act, and extending the validity period for contributions from financial companies to the Korea Financial Services Agency from five years to 15 years under the Financial Services Act.Meanwhile, the appointment confirmation bill for Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo was approved with 227 votes in favor, 28 against, and 13 abstentions out of 268 present. If President Yoon Suk-yeol endorses the appointment, Kim will begin a six-year term.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-17 20:04:00
Seongnam Mayor Questions Priorities of Postpartum Support Amid North Korea Aid Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin criticized the prioritization of government budgets on September 17, questioning, "We have no postpartum support for our children, but is there a budget for North Korean infants?"In a post on his Facebook page, Mayor Shin highlighted the absence of the 500,000 won postpartum support for local families while pointing out the 155.8 billion won allocated for North Korean infant aid.His comments suggest a need to reassess budget priorities in response to the low birth rate crisis.Shin stated, "While the low birth rate is a national disaster that has everyone talking, our children are being overlooked," referring to the recent decision by Gyeonggi Province to halt postpartum support due to financial constraints.Gyeonggi Province plans to stop providing 500,000 won in local currency to families with newborns after September 30, citing that this year's budget only covers nine months of support.In contrast, Mayor Shin pointed out that the central government has allocated 155.8 billion won for aid programs targeting North Korean infants.This year's total budget for North Korea-related support is 667.6 billion won, which includes 112.23 billion won for humanitarian aid and 555.38 billion won for civilian cooperation, with 155.81 billion won specifically for North Korean infants.Shin emphasized, "Central government funds and local budgets are different, but if the system is flawed, it should be fixed. If the structure is different, the flow of the budget should be redirected; that is the role of the state."He further asserted, "The top priority of the national budget should be our children, not North Korea on paper."Shin's remarks align with his ongoing efforts to enhance Seongnam's childbirth and parenting support policies.To alleviate the financial burden on families, he has expanded postpartum support. Starting in 2024, in addition to the existing 500,000 won from Gyeonggi Province, families with incomes at or below 80% of the median will receive up to an additional 500,000 won, bringing the total support to 1 million won.Moreover, Mayor Shin believes that addressing the low birth rate issue requires not only encouraging childbirth but also providing tangible support that families can truly feel. 2026-09-17 20:00:20