AI chat apps fall outside Korea's game law SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence character chat apps such as Zeta and Crack are unlikely to qualify as games under South Korea's game industry law, the National Assembly Research Service said Monday. The service told the office of Rep. Lee Jeong-moon of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) that open-ended conversation lacks the machinery that makes a game a game. "Free conversation does not contain rules that evaluate user input, goals that must be reached September 21, 2026

Samsung breaks ground on HVAC plant in Gwangju SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Monday broke ground on a new manufacturing line in Gwangju as it expands production of cooling equipment for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and other large facilities. The chip giant is investing 240 billion won (US$173 million) in the manufacturing complex, which will be operated by its HVAC subsidiary FläktGroup. The facility will cover 21,800 square meters and is scheduled to begin operations in early 2028. The September 21, 2026

Hanwha Qcells, POSCO team up to expand agrivoltaics in Seoul SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - Hanwha Qcells and POSCO have agreed to jointly develop and supply agrivoltaic systems in South Korea as the country prepares to implement a new law aimed at expanding solar power on farmland. The companies signed an agreement on Sept. 17 to jointly develop agrivoltaic systems using Qcells modules and POSCO structures. They also plan to build an alliance of domestic companies to provide broader agrivoltaic solutions. Agrivoltaics allows crops and solar September 21, 2026

Chip rally lifts KOSPI above 7,000 SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark index climbed back above 7,000 on Monday morning, lifted largely by chipmakers, while the broader market failed to keep pace. More stocks on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell than rose. The index gained 100.94 points, or 1.5 percent, to 6,995.17. The index touched 7,007.10 shortly after trading began, marking its first climb above 7,000 in eight sessions, before retreating. Decliners outnumbered advancers, September 21, 2026

Hundreds industry professionals learn visual effects at Netflix's annual workshop SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - About 300 professionals were trained in visual effects planning and pre-production at a workshop last week, Netflix said on Monday. The two-day workshop, in cooperation with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) was held Sept. 17-18 at the CKL Business Support Center in central Seoul. Its sessions focused on involving VFX teams from the pre-production stage including decisions on shooting methods, budgets and schedules. Netflix's VFX Manager September 21, 2026

Free flu shots begin for children amid rising influenza cases SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - Free flu shots became available across the country on Monday, with children and pregnant women among the first groups eligible, as this year's flu season began earlier than usual, according to health authorities. Children aged 6 months to 14 years and pregnant women can receive flu vaccines at local clinics and medical institutions nationwide. More children will be eligible for free flu shots this year, as the age limit was extended from 13 to 14. September 21, 2026

North Korea stays mum on missile launches over the weekend SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - North Korea on Monday still made no mention of its launches of ballistic missiles over the weekend, breaking with its usual practice of publicizing such tests the following morning through its state-run Korean Central News Agency. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it detected a missile fired from Wonsan, Kangwon Province at around 3 p.m., followed roughly three hours later by another missile. The first missile traveled approximately 450 kilometers September 21, 2026

Seoul kimchi museum marks 40th year SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - Museum Kimchikan, the country's first museum devoted to kimchi, will mark the 40th anniversary of its founding on Sept. 29 with free admission, its operator Pulmuone said Monday. The museum opened in 1986 in Pil-dong, central Seoul, and passed to Pulmuone a year later as the food company's flagship philanthropic venture. It moved to the Korea World Trade Center complex in 1988 and to COEX Mall in 2000, before reopening in the Insa-dong art dist September 21, 2026

A decade on, NCT 127 launches fifth world tour as five SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) - In the K-pop jungle, where reinvention can move almost as quickly as fast fashion, surviving a decade is something to celebrate. The latest to cross that threshold is NCT 127. Nearly every patch of shade around Seoul's KSPO Dome had been claimed three hours before NCT 127 was due onstage Sunday. Fans sat beneath trees and along concrete walls with photo cards, merchandise and lightsticks spread around them, trading collectibles and talki September 20, 2026

Chip bonuses drive a third of Korea's wage gains SEOUL, September 20 (AJP) - Semiconductor bonuses accounted for about a third of the rise in South Korean workers' average monthly pay in the first half of 2026, the Korea Enterprises Federation said Sunday. Regular employees earned an average 4.318 million won ($3,115.3) a month in January to June, up 3.1 percent from a year earlier, based on Ministry of Employment and Labor survey data. Bonuses and other special pay jumped 9.3 percent to a record 601,000 won, while base pay September 20, 2026