Chinese robot cleaners sweep Korean homes as data worries linger SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - "Life is so different that I classify things before and after Roborock came into our lives," said 50-year-old Korean housewife Lee Young-joo. She is far from alone. Chinese robot vacuum maker Roborock has crossed the symbolic 50 percent threshold in South Korea's robot vacuum market, overturning a long-held assumption in one of the world's most brand-conscious appliance markets: that Chinese electronics brands would remain bargain-bin alter May 8, 2026

S. Korean AI firm Upstage acquires web portal Daum to bolster sovereign AI race SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - In a bid to build South Korea's sovereign AI foundation model, Upstage, one of the country's artificial intelligence powerhouses, has finalized the acquisition of web service portal Daum for an undisclosed amount, the AI company said Thursday. Daum is South Korea's iconic web service that was launched in 1995 as an arts and entertainment service portal. The service gradually upgraded to add other services such as web search, email, online magazin May 7, 2026

New imaging technique uses LED light to map material structures in 3D SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - A joint research team has developed a new imaging technology that uses standard light-emitting diodes to look inside materials and map their complex internal structures in three dimensions. The method, called incoherent Dielectric Tensor Tomography, allows scientists to see how molecules are arranged without using high-powered lasers or destroying the sample, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Thursday. The project was a collaborative May 7, 2026

KAIST researchers develop silicon-based hardware for complex optimization problems SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a silicon-based hardware platform designed to solve complex combinatorial optimization problems, the institute said Wednesday. A joint research team led by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Professors Choi Yang-kyu and Kim Sang-hyun from the School of Electrical Engineering succeeded in implementing an oscillatory Ising machine using standard sili May 6, 2026

S. Korean researchers develop hologram technology using light properties as security keys SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a holographic technology that uses the physical properties of light as an encryption key to reveal hidden information, the university said Monday. The system manipulates how light vibrates and twists to ensure that images are only visible when viewed under specific conditions. The research team, led by ,Shin Jong-hwa, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and May 4, 2026

South Korea deploys CAS500-2 satellite in milestone for domestic space technology SEOUL, May 3 (AJP) — South Korea successfully launched its next-generation midsized Earth observation satellite on Sunday, marking a major step forward in the country’s push to strengthen homegrown space technology and private-sector satellite capabilities. The satellite, known as CAS500-2 or Next-Generation Mid-Sized Satellite No. 2, lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 4 p.m. Korea time Sunday, according May 3, 2026

KAIST researchers develop biodegradable farming film from fallen leaves SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a biodegradable agricultural mulching film using fallen leaves collected from campus grounds and nearby riverbanks. The development offers a potential solution to soil pollution caused by conventional plastic films, the institute said Thursday. Agricultural mulching films are used to suppress weeds and maintain soil moisture. However, most commercial films are made of polye April 30, 2026

Researchers develop synthetic polymer matrix to improve stem cell survival SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - South Korean researchers have developed a three-dimensional culture platform that improves the survival rate and therapeutic efficacy of stem cells, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said Wednesday. Jon Sang-yong, a professor at KAIST's Department of Biological Sciences, led a research team to create a synthetic polymer material named "poly-Z." This material coats culture plates to encourage human adipose-derived s April 29, 2026

Google DeepMind chief meets South Korean business leaders to expand AI cooperation SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind, held a series of meetings in Seoul on Tuesday with the heads of major South Korean conglomerates including Hyundai Motor and LG Group, according to industry sources. Hassabis reportedly met with Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Eui-sun earlier in the day and later met with LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo to discuss cooperation aimed at expanding partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI)-related areas. Ha April 28, 2026

Civilization designer urges transition to meaning as AI automates traditional productivity SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Captain Kang Sang-bo, a South Korean civilization designer and author of The Master Key, argues that the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into production and social structures requires a radical reassessment of human value. Speaking in a recent interview, Kang stated that the core transition of the AI era is not a matter of increasing technical skill but moving from "methods" to "meaning." He maintained that this shift is essenti April 28, 2026