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  [K-Tech] LG key wings' 2Q performance fall short of expectations SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - LG Electronics, LG Display, and LG Innotek, the core electronics wings of South Korea’s LG Group, posted underwhelming second-quarter results, falling short of market expectations amid headwinds including U.S. tariffs, high logistics costs, and exchange rate fluctuations. However, industry analysts anticipate a rebound in the second half, aided by seasonal demand in the IT sector and a product cycle led by Apple. According to industry data released Tuesd July 30, 2025
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  Samsung chief heads to Washington as tariff talks deadline with US looms SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong left for the U.S. on Tuesday to lend a hand in ongoing tariff negotiations between Seoul and Washington, according to industry sources. Lee's trip comes just a couple of days before the tariff deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump looms later this week. Industry watchers expect Lee may offer Samsung's commitment to expanding investment in the semiconductor sector, as well as deepening cooperation in ar July 29, 2025
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  Elderly population surpasses 10 million SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - The elderly population in South Korea surpassed 10 million for the first time, Statistics Korea said Tuesday. Those aged 65 and older stood at 10.12 million as of November last year, accounting for 19.5 percent of the total population of 51.81 million, roughly one in five. That also brought the average age of the population to 46.2. Amid an aging society with a super-low birthrate, the elderly population has steadily increased in recent years from 8.71 mill July 29, 2025
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  Korean shipbuilders gain market share as US sanctions target China SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - South Korean shipbuilders saw their global market share recover to over 20 percent in the first half of 2025, benefiting from the United States sanctions on Chinese maritime industries, according to data released Tuesday by the Korea Development Bank's overseas economic research institute. South Korea's order share reached 25.1 percent in the January-June period based on compensated gross tonnage, up 8 percentage points from 17.2 percent a year earli July 29, 2025
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  [K- Tech] S. Korea's new geo-spatial AI system to undergo commercialization next month SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on Tuesday announced the completion of its spatial intelligence system known as Geo-AI, a next-generation artificial intelligence technology designed to analyze and respond to queries using spatial information such as maps, locations, environments, and moving objects. The ministry will begin full-scale research and development (R&D) in August to prepare the technology for commerciali July 29, 2025
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  UN adopts Tajikistan-led resolution on AI for sustainable development in Central Asia SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - A resolution calling for stronger regional cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) to support sustainable development in Central Asia was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly last week. The resolution, led by Tajikistan, came as a rare move of unified support for a regional approach to AI governance, laying the groundwork for the ethical, inclusive, and practical use of AI technologies while highlighting Central Asia's growing role in global July 29, 2025
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  Washington remains 'open' to talks with North Korea despite snub SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump remains 'open' to reengaging in talks with North Korea, Reuters reported on Monday. Citing a White House official, it said, Trump "remains open to engaging with to achieve a fully denuclearized North Korea." The response came shortly after Kim's sister, Yo-jong, snubbed Trump's repeated overtures for rapprochement with the isolated country. In a statement carried by t July 29, 2025
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  Yoon refuses to appear for questioning in probe involving ex-first lady SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to appear for questioning in a probe involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee, independent prosecutors said on Tuesday. Yoon, who has been detained at a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province since last month over charges related to his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year, was asked to appear for questioning on alleged election-related meddling but failed to show up, prompting prosecutors to summon hi July 29, 2025
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  [K-tech] S. Korea to acquire 13,000 advanced GPUs for AI infrastructure SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has announced that it will procure 13,000 advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) using approximately 1.46 trillion won (about $1.05 billion) from a supplementary budget. The move is part of the country's broader strategy to rapidly expand domestic AI computing infrastructure. Tech giants Naver Cloud, NHN Cloud, and Kakao have been selected as the final operating partners. This initiative aims to ensure timel July 29, 2025
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  INTERVIEW: UN OHCHR Seoul Office Chief calls for "sustainable approach" to North Korean human rights SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - South Korea needs to develop a consistent stance on human rights in North Korea instead of one that changes every time there is a new government, according to a top UN official. "There needs to be a sustainable approach to DPRK human rights," said James Heenan, Representative of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul, using the official name of North Korea. "One that doesn’t change drastically every time there’s a new admini July 28, 2025