Apple's latest iPhone 16 fails to impress despite AI features

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Apple's unveiling of the iPhone 16 series, touted for its artificial intelligence capabilities, received a lukewarm response from the market. The company's stock barely moved, closing just 0.04 percent higher at $220.91, underperforming compared to the broader tech-heavy Nasdaq index. CEO Tim Cook emphasized the iPhone 16 series was “designed from the ground up” for AI. However, key AI functionalities are not fully integrated and will

September 10, 2024

Korean defense firms showcase advanced arms technologies at global AI military summit

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Korean defense firms are showcasing advanced defense technologies at a global artificial intelligence military summit in Seoul. The second REAIM Summit, an international conference aimed at enhancing the understanding of AI-based military technologies and establishing relevant international norms, is being held in Seoul on Monday and Tuesday, with participation from defense and foreign ministers, as well as other officials from about 90 countries. Duri

September 10, 2024

Coupang challenges 162 billion won antitrust fine in Korean court

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Korea's leading e-commerce platform Coupang has filed an administrative lawsuit against the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), contesting a record fine of about 162 billion won ($120 million) for alleged unfair business practices, market insiders said on Tuesday. The legal action, initiated on Sept. 5 at the Seoul High Court, seeks to overturn both the corrective order and the monetary penalty imposed by the antitrust regulator last month. The KFT

September 10, 2024

PHOTOS: Inside the IFA 2024

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - IFA 2024, Europe's largest consumer electronics show, is held from Sept. 6 to 10 in Berlin, Germany. Major electronics companies from around the world, including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, participated in the event, showcasing their latest technologies and products. Both companies focused on AI-based smart home technologies, with Samsung presenting the theme "AI for All" and LG featuring "AI Home Reimagined with Affectionate Intelligen

September 9, 2024

RSQUARE to transform shopping mall into mixed-use office space in Seoul

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - RSQUARE, a commercial real estate firm, said Monday it has been selected to carry out a project to transform a large-scale shopping mall in eastern Seoul into office space. The building, which houses Enter 6 - Park Avenue Hanyang University, was purchased by GRE Partners Asset Management for 112.1 billion won ($83.5 million) and will be repurposed from a shopping mall to office space and redeveloped into a mixed-use complex. RSQUARE was selected as th

September 9, 2024

BTS RM's collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion's new song dominates global charts

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Popular American female rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s new track "Neva Play," featuring BTS member RM, has made a notable performance on global song charts. As of Monday, the song stood at No. 13 on Spotify’s daily global chart, with more than 3.6 million streams. The song is in fifth place on Apple's iTunes Song Chart The track, dropped last Friday, is a hip-hop song with an addictive beat. Megan Thee Stallion&rsqu

September 9, 2024

Slow-paced TV variety shows captivate viewers craving countryside peace

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - TV viewership ratings reveal a growing trend among people longing to escape the hustle of urban life for a slower pace in rural areas or abroad, according to Nielsen Korea data released Monday. Leading the ratings in the first week of September was "Jinny's Kitchen 2," a tvN variety show featuring "Parasite" star Choi Woo-sik, actor Lee Seo-jin, and other celebrities running a Korean restaurant in Iceland. The show garnered a top

September 9, 2024

KAIST, NYU to launch joint degree program in AI

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and New York University (NYU) agreed Monday to establish a joint degree program in artificial intelligence. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung and NYU President Linda G. Mills signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul to initiate the groundbreaking program. The agreement follows years of cooperation between the two institutions in AI research and student exchange programs. Both instituti

September 9, 2024

Samsung, LG unveil AI home appliance ambitions at IFA

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics presented their artificial intelligence home appliance strategies at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, focusing on building smart home ecosystems powered by artificial intelligence. LG Electronics introduced its AI agent FURON and AI home hub ThinQ ON at IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics trade show, which opened Friday for a five-day run. "Customers only need to communicate with generative AI as they

September 9, 2024

Drug smuggling into Korea increases by 23% in 2023

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - The Korea Customs Service reported a 23.4 percent increase in the amount of smuggled drugs seized in 2023, according to data released Monday by the main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi. A total of 769 kilograms (1,695 pounds) of illegal drugs, valued at 61.3 billion won ($45.7 million), were confiscated by customs authorities in 2023. This marks a significant rise from the previous year and a dramatic 419 percent increase compared to t

September 9, 2024