Spiritual Asia (9): Why Buddhist scriptures matter in the AI age This is the ninth installment of AJP’s Spiritual Asia series exploring the religious traditions, philosophical ideas and moral foundations that have shaped Asia’s civilizations. This chapter turns to Buddhism’s most influential scriptures — the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Lotus Sutra and Korea’s Tripitaka Koreana — and examines why their teachings may be more relevant than ever in the age of artificial intelligence. Looking back at the histo June 11, 2026

Spiritual Asia (8): Beyond suffering to freedom - Buddhism as Asia's spiritual pillar This is the eighth installment of AJP’s “Spiritual Asia” series exploring the religious traditions and philosophical foundations that have shaped Asia’s spiritual consciousness. This chapter turns to the ancient texts of Hinduism — the Vedas and Upanishads — and their enduring ideas on cosmos, consciousness and the nature of existence in the emerging AI era. Humanity in the 21st century is passing through the greatest civilization shift in hi June 9, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Architecture of South Korean reconciliation At exactly 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the abstract statistics of South Korea’s ninth nationwide local elections collided with physical reality. Across 258 counting centers, the seals on the first ballot boxes were broken. As millions of paper slips began feeding into automated sorting machines—the initial step before a grueling, newly mandated manual verification process—the republic stood at a critical institutional juncture. Joint exit polls released at the close o June 3, 2026

OPINION: The Strait of Hormuz Legal Aspects of the New Arrangements in Light of Aggression and Fundamental Change of Circumstances Prelude For a long period, maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz did not proceed on the basis of exercising an asserted right, but rather within the framework of an i June 2, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: US Defense Chief speech in Singapore brings tough choices for Seoul The world is changing fast, and the recent defense meeting in Singapore proved it. United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, and his words carry a heavy message. For South Korea, sitting right between major global powers, his speech is a loud wake up call. The days of relying on a system where America promises to protect everyone without asking for much in return are officially over. Washington wants friends to pay more and do much more on their June 1, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Is declaration of second national founding necessary Now? From AI Semiconductors to Physical AI, South Korea's 100-Year Strategy Physical AI and Manufacturing AX: South Korea's Second Industrial Revolution [This is the second installment of AJP’s “Asian Semiconductor Industry Analysis” series exploring the intersection of advanced chipmaking and national strategy. This piece examines South Korea's 100-year blueprint to transcend its traditional role as a semiconductor powerhouse and lead the next global June 1, 2026

Spiritual Asia (7): Encountering Korean people's spirit of heaven in era of AI This is the fifth installment of AJP’s “Spiritual Asia” series exploring the religious traditions and philosophical foundations that have shaped Asia’s spiritual consciousness. This chapter turns to the ancient texts of Hinduism — the Vedas and Upanishads — and their enduring ideas on cosmos, consciousness and the nature of existence in the emerging AI era. In the 21st century, humanity once again stands before its oldest questions. Artif May 29, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Middle East still needs 'Noah Covenant' for lasting peace SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - In May 2026, the Middle East once again reminded the world how fragile the arteries of global civilization truly are. The United States and Iran moved perilously close to direct confrontation. Financial markets trembled. Oil traders watched every movement in the Persian Gulf with mounting anxiety. Governments across Asia and Europe feared that a single miscalculation could ignite a regional war capable of sending shock waves through the entire global economy. May 24, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: The AI Semiconductor age and new strategic heart of global economy SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - In 2026, the global economy increasingly revolves around three semiconductor giants: Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and TSMC. In the 20th century, oil, automobiles, steel, and finance defined the architecture of global power. In the 21st century, however, the center of gravity is shifting decisively toward artificial intelligence and semiconductors. AI is no longer merely a technology sector. It is rapidly becoming the operating infrastructure of modern civil May 24, 2026