Kookmin University professor selected for national food yeast research project SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - To address food supply instability caused by climate change, Professor Park Yong-chul was selected for a government-funded core research project to develop precision fermentation technology using food-grade yeast, Kookmin University said Tuesday. The project, titled "Development of a genetic tool kit for the food yeast Candida utilis for precision fermentation and application to food material production," is part of the 2026 Basic Research Program April 14, 2026

Seoul targets sovereign AI and AI belt in Saemangeum for new strategic funding SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) -South Korea will channel around 10 trillion won ($7.4 billion) into a new slate of strategic industries from high-value OLED displays to sovereign artificial intelligence and AI infrastructure belt along the southern coast in a bid to widen its technological edge over fast-following rivals and anchor future growth engines. The second round of “mega projects” under the 150 trillion won National Growth Fund spans six areas — next-generation b April 14, 2026

KAIST and Microsoft Research develop automated system to fix time-related AI errors SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - To reduce hallucinations, including time-based errors in large language models (LLMs), a joint team of researchers developed an automated diagnostic system that uses classic database theory to ensure AI provides up-to-date information, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Tuesday. The research addresses a common frustration for users who find that chatbots often provide outdated facts. For example, when asked about a recently appointe April 14, 2026

Civilians switch off in energy-saving drive amid prolonged Gulf crisis SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - As the Gulf crisis drags on and energy costs bite deeper, a familiar Korean instinct is quietly resurfacing — collective action in everyday life. Saemaul Undong Central Council on Monday kicked off a nationwide energy-saving campaign at Gwanghwamun Square, drawing participants who gathered not for protest, but for small, practical change. The message was simple: switch off what you don’t need, unplug what you’re not using April 14, 2026

Young Korean men squeezed out as women and AI reshape labor market SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) — Young South Korean men are being squeezed out of the labor market at a notable pace amid increased competition from women and artificial intelligence, a study by the Bank of Korea showed Tuesday. According to the central bank, the economic participation rate for men aged 25 to 34 fell from 89.9 percent in 2000 to 82.3 percent in 2025, in contrast to a steady average of around 89 percent from 1995 to 2024. The downward trend is even more pronou April 14, 2026

Energy-poor ASEAN speaks out, demands safe Hormuz reopening SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) —The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), increasingly strained by energy supply disruptions stemming from the Gulf conflict, on Monday urged the United States and Iran to reach a permanent resolution and restore safe passage through the critical shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz. ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement following a virtual meeting, calling on Washington and Tehran to intensify diplomatic efforts toward a lasting April 14, 2026

Minor party leader Cho Kuk declares bid for parliamentary seat in Pyeongtaek SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Cho Kuk, the leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party said he will run for a parliamentary seat in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province in the upcoming local elections in June. At a news conference at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Cho vowed to reform the country by rooting out insurrection forces behind disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched declaration of martial law in December 2024. Cho, who had been expected to run in one of several cont April 14, 2026

Former PPP leader to run for Busan as races for local elections heat up SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Han Dong-hoon, the former leader of the main opposition People Power Party, said he wants to devote himself to improving the lives of residents in Busan, hinting that he will run for local elections slated for early June. Calling the southern port city his "political hometown," Han, who has yet to formally declare his candidacy, said he respects what he described as Busan's role in protecting South Korea and steering the country back on track, April 14, 2026

Nobel laureates greet visitors at downtown Seoul bookstore SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Portraits of Nobel Prize laureates line the Sejong-ro entrance corridor at Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun, offering passersby a glimpse of history's greatest minds. Among the portraits displayed are novelist Han Kang, who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, and Kim Dae-jung, South Korea's 15th president and recipient of the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize. The exhibition brings the achievements of Nobel laureates into the heart of the city, making t April 14, 2026

South Korea rises as attractive offshore oil storage base for Gulf nations SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - South Korea is moving to capitalize on the prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz by leveraging its extensive oil stockpiling infrastructure to generate additional income while reinforcing its energy security. Although instinctively oil-poor, the country has quietly built one of the most sophisticated stockpiling systems among non-producing nations. Its extensive network of underground storage and refining infrastructure has turned it into an attractiv April 14, 2026