For Gen Z, adulthood comes in small treats SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Once a week, a 28-year-old nurse working at a small hospital in central Seoul walks into a gift shop in Jongno-gu and buys herself something small. It has become a ritual since she changed jobs two years ago. She does not drink or have particularly expensive hobbies. After rent, student loan payments, food, transportation and her phone bill, she says there is little left to save. The life she once imagined for 28 looked very different. “When September 22, 2026

Hyundai Rotem taps Hyundai Motor smart factory tech for aerospace operations SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Hyundai Rotem will introduce Hyundai Motor's artificial intelligence-based smart factory technology into its aerospace production operations to improve workplace safety and manufacturing quality. The company said Tuesday it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Motor for comprehensive technology cooperation aimed at automating production processes and reducing safety risks. Under the agreement, Hyundai Rotem plans to apply Hyu September 22, 2026

When AI becomes a confidant, how much should we tell it? SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Plug in your personal details, desires, weaknesses and troubles. Artificial intelligence suddenly becomes a confession box, healer, consultant, judge, friend and even accomplice. For Jang, an office worker in his 30s from Bundang, south of Seoul, the familiarity is unsettling. "When I talk to AI about my problems, sometimes it scares me to think that it will eventually know me better than I know myself," he said. The sense of privacy and c September 22, 2026

English level tests to be banned for kindergartners in Korea SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Private crammers will be prohibited from administering level tests and other assessments to preschoolers starting next month, the Education Ministry said on Tuesday. According to the ministry, revisions to relevant rules were approved at a Cabinet meeting amid growing criticism over the widespread practice of testing even infants and toddlers at kindergartens and English-language cram schools for admission or class placement. Under the new rules taking September 22, 2026

Humanoid robots take center stage at Seoul summit Robotic hands are demonstrated at the 'Humanoid Summit Seoul 2026' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 22, 2026. September 22, 2026

Humanoid robots take center stage at Seoul summit Visitors watch a demonstration of humanoid robots at the 'Humanoid Summit Seoul 2026' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 22, 2026. September 22, 2026

Humanoid robots take center stage at Seoul summit Visitors watch a demonstration of humanoid robots at the 'Humanoid Summit Seoul 2026' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 22, 2026. September 22, 2026

Humanoid robots take center stage at Seoul summit A humanoid robot is demonstrated at the 'Humanoid Summit Seoul 2026' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 22, 2026. September 22, 2026

Naver Cloud begins building Korea's security AI SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Naver Cloud has started developing an artificial intelligence model built to shield South Korea's critical infrastructure and industrial sites from cyberattacks, the Ministry of Science and ICT said Tuesday. "As whether a nation holds frontier AI capabilities will determine its future, we must keep taking bold challenges rather than slowing down, even amid the recent debate over slowing AI," said Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Ba September 22, 2026

Ex-first lady's sentence reduced to 5 yrs in prison over bribery charges SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Disgraced former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to five years in prison by an appellate court on Tuesday, reducing the seven-year term handed down by a lower court in a case involving bribery allegations over accepting expensive gifts in exchange for various favors. The Seoul High Court found Kim guilty of most of the charges and ordered the confiscation of certain items along with the forfeiture of 20.44 million won (US$15,000). But the court o September 22, 2026