INTERVIEW: Pastor calls for dialogue and compassion toward LGBTQ community

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Even when minds do not change, Pastor Lee Dong-hwan believes dialogue can move hearts. “If we can at least open a conversation and listen to each other, even without changing our opinions, that itself is meaningful,” he said during an interview with AJP at his office in central Seoul. Lee recalled a three-hour phone call he had with a conservative media figure. “We didn’t end up changing each other’s minds, but we respected

April 29, 2025

INTERVIEW: Farmtastica CEO brings smart farming vision to Latin America's urban centers

SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - For Maricruz Larrea, CEO of Chilean smart farm Startup Farmtastica, farming does not involve long stretches of countryside. With the startup’s technology, crops can be grown inside closets, rooms, and small spaces. “We’re not just growing leafy greens, We’re building a more sustainable, localized food supply chain,” Larrea, the CEO and co-founder of Farmtastica, a Chilean startup focused on controlled environment agriculture, t

April 24, 2025

INTERVIEW: Start-Up Chile CEO says real startups solve real problems through technology

Javiera Araneda, CEO of Start-Up Chile, speaks during an interview with AJP at the Global Startup Center on Apr. 23. AJP Han Jun-gu SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - To Javiera Araneda, CEO of Start-Up Chile, a startup isn't just a trendy business idea or a sleek new app. At its core, she says, a real startup is about purpose—and that purpose starts with solving a problem. “In our view, a startup should be tech-based,” Araneda said in an interview with AJP at a startup pit

April 24, 2025

INTERVIEW: Seoul-based music agency connects K-pop with global market through creative works

SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - Amid the rising global popularity of K-pop, AMPLIFIED, an agency that helps artists and songwriters connect with music labels while managing their copyrights and other related matters, is expanding its reach. With a small but skilled team of around 20 international specialists with a keen ear for potential chart-toppers and global hits, it boasts its expertise in the music industry. Among them is London-based renowned team LDN Noise, which collaborated wit

April 10, 2025

INTERVIEW: ISTARI bets on S. Korea in global cyber push

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - As cybersecurity threats grow more complex and tightly interwoven with economic, political, and technological forces, experts are calling on organizations to rethink their strategies. Among them is Rashmy Chatterjee, CEO of ISTARI — a global cybersecurity firm founded by Singapore's state-owned investment company Temasek in 2020. With operations in the United States, Europe, and Singapore, ISTARI is dedicated to helping enterprises build long-te

March 31, 2025

INTERVIEW: World-OKTA committed to empowering Korean businesses to go global

SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - World-OKTA (World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations) plays a pivotal role in connecting South Korean entrepreneurs worldwide and supporting the global expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Established in 1981 by South Korean entrepreneurs working abroad to promote exports and economic growth, the organization now operates in 151 cities across 71 countries. With approximately 7,000 full members and 32,000 associate membe

February 23, 2025

INTERVIEW: AI translation startup aims for further growth with global expansion

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence-assisted services and products, crowdsourced translation startup Flitto is riding the wave of new technologies and eying for further expansion. As part of this effort, it plans to establish its U.S. subsidiary next year. Having already built a strong competitive edge, with over 70 percent of its revenue coming from the U.S. market, the firm aims to further solidify its presence by enhancing its offerings for g

February 13, 2025

INTERVIEW: Purpose-driven innovation is key for K-startups in global market

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Joo Young-sup, a professor at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Technology Management and former Administrator of the Small and Medium Business Administration (SMBA), shared his insights on the global technology landscape following CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2025 in an interview with Aju Press (AJP). Reflecting on the annual tech show held earlier this month in Las Vegas, Joo highlighted the growing emphasis on purpose-driven innovat

January 23, 2025

Actor Ji Chang-wook named ambassador to promote young scouts

SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Actor Ji Chang-wook has been appointed as a promotional ambassador for young scouts, the Korea Scout Association said on Wednesday. The appointment ceremony was held in Yeouido, Seoul on Jan. 11 where Ji was presented with a plaque and a symbolic neckerchief. "Ji, who is expanding his acting spectrum by taking on versatile roles, is expected to play a great role in not only promoting young scouts but also delivering the values of challenges and grow

January 22, 2025

Yoon's rise and fall: From star prosecutor to impeached president

SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol, who led investigations that resulted in former disgraced President Park Geun-hye's ouster in 2016, now faces a similar political fate with his own impeachment. In 2022, Yoon, then an incumbent prosecutor, was elected president by a wafer-thin margin, defeating his rival candidate Lee Jae-myung. His election victory was largely due to his resistance to pressure to fall in line under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, which

December 14, 2024