Battery scans read bumps as ion movement: KAIST SEOUL, September 07 (AJP) - Some of the signals that battery researchers read as ions moving inside a material are produced by nothing more than an uneven surface, a team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology found, and the correction is as simple as polishing the sample flat. The team tested the effect on single-crystal silicon, a material in which no ions travel, after machining fine trenches into its surface, and a signal resembling ion movement appeared any September 7, 2026

Krafton steers India bet toward AI, robotics SEOUL, September 07 (AJP) - Krafton will invest an additional $250 million in India over the next three to four years, pushing beyond mobile gaming into artificial intelligence, the company said after its founder met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move deepens a push that already runs through a South Korean consortium as Krafton earlier this year joined internet giant Naver and asset manager Mirae Asset to launch the $670 million Unicorn Growth Fund, an India-focused vehicle back September 7, 2026

Lee arrives in Nice ahead of summit with Macron in Paris SEOUL, September 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Nice on Sunday as part of his four-day trip to France before traveling to Paris later this week for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Lee is set to begin his itinerary by attending the Lumiere Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, an international gathering of film and audiovisual industry leaders, where he and Macron will co-chair discussions on the future of cinema and the global media landscape. The gathering September 7, 2026

CJ CheilJedang chases Asia growth with Singapore lab SEOUL, September 07 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang is racing to win Asia-Pacific food makers over to its fermented seasonings, opening a Singapore technical center as South Korea's largest food company bets on cutting salt and additives to drive its next wave of overseas growth. The facility announced Monday, located in Singapore's Biopolis research cluster, is the company's fifth Global Technical Center after sites in South Korea, Chicago, and the Dutch city of Wageningen. I September 7, 2026

'The Odyssey' crosses 10 million as Nolan phenomenon grips Korea SEOUL, September 07 (AJP) -Christopher Nolan has turned his homage to Homer’s nearly 3,000-year-old epic into a pop-culture phenomenon in South Korea, where The Odyssey has drawn more than 10 million moviegoers and sent audiences scrambling not only for IMAX seats but also for Greek classics, mythology books and museum exhibitions. The Universal Pictures release crossed the 10-million admissions mark at around 4 p.m. Sunday, according to the distributor, reaching the milestone September 7, 2026

Iran warns S. Korea against Hormuz deployment as U.S. pressure builds SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - Iran has warned that any South Korean military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz would be regarded as participation in the war, as Washington steps up pressure on Seoul to contribute. The unnamed official made the warning in an interview with Al Mayadeen, a Lebanon-based media outlet close to Hezbollah, according to a report Thursday. “If South Korea takes action against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, it will be considered direct military aggres September 6, 2026

'Busan sickness' fuels Taiwan travel boom to Busan SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - Flights between Busan and Taiwan have surged this year as a growing number of Taiwanese travelers visit South Korea’s southern port city, fueled by expanding direct routes and strong demand. A total of 6,609 flights operated between Busan and Taiwan through July, already matching the full-year total for 2024 and reaching 82.9 percent of the 7,976 flights recorded in all of 2025, according to aviation statistics from Korea Airports Corp. Passenger September 6, 2026

Lee heads to France for state visit to deepen strategic cooperation SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung left for France on Sunday for a state visit aimed at expanding cooperation in advanced industries and strengthening ties with Europe. The visit comes at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, who asked Lee during his trip to South Korea in April to co-chair the Lumière Summit, an international film and audiovisual industry gathering in southern France. Lee is scheduled to attend the summit with Macron in Sain September 6, 2026

Dementia to affect more than 1 in 10 elderly Koreans by 2040 SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - More than one in 10 South Koreans aged 65 or older are projected to have dementia by 2040 as the country’s population ages rapidly, government estimates showed Sunday. The dementia prevalence rate among people aged 65 and older is expected to reach 10.34 percent in 2040, according to projections by the Ministry of Health and Welfare based on national population forecasts and a nationwide epidemiological survey on dementia. The rate fell slightly September 6, 2026

High-priced Seoul apartments face broader property tax reach by 2030 SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - South Korea's comprehensive real estate holding tax could apply to high-priced apartments in nearly every Seoul district by 2030 if the recent pace of home price increases continues, according to a new simulation. The analysis, based on data from KB Kookmin Bank, examined 125 apartment complexes, selecting the five highest-priced complexes in each of Seoul's 25 districts. It was provided to Rep. Shin Dong-wook of the main opposition People Power P September 6, 2026