News

ArirangTV partners with LG Uplus to expand global reach

2025/07/21 19:40

ArirangTV South Korea's only English-language broadcasting channel is partnering with LG Uplus to expand its global platform. Arirang TV's content will be available in North America through LG Channels a free ad-supported streaming TV service operated by Korean mobile carrier LG Uplus. This particular service a first for Arirang in North America will start on Friday that is July 25. As LG Channels continues to expand Arirang hopes to make its content available in more countries. LG Uplus will use AI technology to add multilingual subtitles and dubbing to Arirang's content. The two entities will also work to expand satellite broadcasting across Latin America and Africa.

On-point: Samsung chief cleared from legal issues after 10 years, new, bolder Samsung on the way?

2025/07/18 11:36

After nearly a decade of courtroom battles, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been acquitted by South Korea's top court, clearing the final legal hurdle that had long loomed over the tech giant. With the verdict now in, attention is turning to what this means for Samsung's future, from its core semiconductor business to emerging sectors like biotech, and how the group might navigate a shifting political landscape. For a deeper dive, we have Professor Song Soo-young from Chung-Ang University's College of Business and Economics with us this morning. Thank you for joining us, Professor. First off, while many expected this outcome following the lower court rulings, what is the broader significance of the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Lee Jae-yong? The semiconductor industry moves fast and often involves high-stakes decisions. And, many say that legal issues were in the way of Samsung Electronics' adoption of the trend, leading to a recent fall in their market share. With Lee now legally in the clear, do you expect Samsung to make bolder moves, especially in chips? Zooming out to the broader Samsung Group, biotech is emerging as a major focus. How might this ruling affect the growth trajectory of Samsung Biologics and Bioepis? Lee's acquittal also coincides with a change in the presidential office here in Korea. Do you see this political shift having any impact on the group's business environment or regulatory posture?

Eight healthy babies born with DNA from three people in an effort to avoid genetic disease

2025/07/17 13:39

Researchers in the UK published a study in The New England Journal of Medicine on July 16, reporting that eight healthy babies have been born using mitochondrial replacement therapy, which involves the use of genes from three people, and achieved a 36% success rate. Developed by Newcastle University and the Newcastle Fertility Center, the procedure transfers the nucleus from a mother's fertilized egg into a donor egg containing healthy mitochondria. The babies now carry nuclear DNA from both parents and mitochondrial DNA from a third donor. All children, aged from a few weeks to over two years, are developing normally with no signs of the inherited mitochondrial disease that they were at risk for.

S. KOREA SEEKS TOP THREE AI POWERHOUSE STANDING

2025/07/16 18:34

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of Press Perspective. It's July 16th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. So what are the prospects of South Korea ranking among the world's top three AI powerhouses? To answer that question I have Celio Fioretti with French daily La Croix. Celio it's good to have you here. I also have Professor Kim Yong-Jin at Sogang University with us virtually. Professor Kim as always it's a pleasure. Celio, before we touch upon the new administration's ambitious AI blueprint, let's briefly touch upon an outlook shared by a global investment firm that believes the local bourse will post some of the highest returns over the next ten years bolstered by the AI industry. Do tell us more. And Professor Kim, speaking as a scholar, do you see the AI industry further driving the rally of the South Korean stock market? Now then, Celio, do tell us about President Lee Jae Myung's plan to place South Korea among the world's top three AI powerhouses. Professor Kim, where does South Korea currently stand in the global AI race, and how feasible is South Korea's AI plan? Celio, President Lee Jae Myung's appointment of an AI Secretary has made headlines. Who is he, and what can we expect from him based on his past credentials? Celio, the president's nomination for Science Minister is also an AI industry insider, right? Professor Kim, how do these appointments look to advance the new administration's AI ambitions? Celio, for the sake of comparison, what can you tell us about Europe's own AI race? Professor Kim, at the start of this year, South Korea passed the AI Basic Act, which is slated to go into effect next January. What is the impact of such regulation on AI advancements? Meanwhile, Celio, late last month, a number of foreign media outlets covered SK's partnership with Amazon to build an AI data center here in South Korea. Do tell us about this joint venture and its implications. All right.

Nvidia pushes Nasdaq to record high close on Tues.

2025/07/16 13:37

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed its Tuesday trading session with another record high, thanks to gains from U.S. chipmaker Nvidia. Despite major selloffs overall on Wall Street, the Nasdaq rallied on the back of major gains from Nvidia,.. to finish the day up zero-point-1-8 percent, to close at a new all-time high of 20-thousand-677-point-8-0. Nvidia jumped more than four percent on the day to close above 170 U.S. dollars. Tuesday's gains come on the back of the company unveiling its plans to resume sales of H20 AI chips to China.

State arms agency successfully conducts live-fire tests of currently-developing marine attack helicopter

2025/07/14 19:37

The state arms procurement agency has successfully held a series of live-fire tests of the Marine Corps' locally-constructed attack helicopter which is currently under development. More than three daytime and nighttime live-fire drills of machine guns and rockets were conducted during the first half of this year. The agency has applauded the tests adding that the Marine Corps' air power in real combat situations has been well displayed. Following the prototype's first successful test flight last December the agency now aims to hold flight test evaluations focusing on live-fire capabilities of guided rocket and air-to-surface missiles. The helicopter is expected to be ready for deployment in the second half of next year.

[NEWs GEN] Burning Up: How youth are tackling climate change

2025/07/14 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Burning Up: How youth are tackling climate change [뉴젠] 118년 만에 극한 폭염... MZ들의 환경 문제 경각심

U.S. interested in S. Korea's proposal on shipbuilding, semiconductor cooperation: trade minister

2025/07/11 11:36

Seoul's top trade negotiator said Thursday that Washington has shown interest in Seoul's proposal for manufacturing cooperation during their recent talks, especially in the shipbuilding and semiconductor sectors. According to Seoul's trade minister Yeo Han-koo during his trip to Washington, he held talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, where he stressed South Korea's commitment to deepening manufacturing ties. The minister also called on the Trump administration to grant "favorable treatment" to South Korean companies when considering tariffs on imported cars, steel, and other imported goods. Yeo said the U.S. side was interested in how Korean companies can contribute to the U.S.'s goal of rebuilding its manufacturing sector.

Samsung Z Fold 7 unveiled at Unpacked event in New York

2025/07/10 23:42

On to the 2025 edition of Galaxy Unpacked. The Z Fold 7 is slimmer and lighter, while the Z Flip 7 has a flex window that allows users to do everything without flipping open the phone. Lee Seung-jae has more. The summer edition of Galaxy Unpacked 2025 was held in New York City on Wednesday, with expectations high over Samsung Electronics' latest releases. There, Samsung Electronics unveiled the latest generation of its Galaxy Z series smartphones, showcasing the company's slimmest and lightest foldable smartphones to date with their Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Along with its new physical features, the company says the new smartphone comes with an upgraded camera and artificial intelligence capabilities. "Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, they present the pinnacle of our innovation. This is more than just a new flip or fold. Galaxy AI has become your very own human-like AI companion, elevating the way you connect, create, and lead every single day." Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest model in the latest Z series. The phone measures just 8-point-9 millimeters when folded, and 4-point-2 millimeters when unfolded. It weighs just 215 grams,.. making it even lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, launched in January. Despite a reduction in size and weight, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 6-point-5 inch external display and an 8-inch main display, with the inner display 11 percent larger than the previous model. It's also equipped with a 20-megapixel wide-angle camera, with Samsung improving its AI capabilities by enhancing cooperation with external partners like Google. Meanwhile,.. the clamshell-style Galaxy Z Flip 7 upgraded its display with slightly larger screens than its previous model, and a slimmer and lighter build. And for those at the event, it was a chance to see how Samsung Electronics continues to improve in the competitive mobile phone industry. I was very excited to see the unpacked of the new Galaxy Flip 7. I'm very surprised by how elegant it looks. It's very lightweight, its pocketability. And I'm most impressed about the AI assistance. It's going to be very helpful in my everyday life." Samsung also unveiled its latest Galaxy Watch 8. According to Samsung Electronics, the new Galaxy Fold and Flip models will officially launch worldwide on July 25th. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Samsung Z Fold 7 unveiled at Unpacked event in New York

2025/07/10 19:35

On the tech front. As market pundits say "Samsung has been in the FOLDING phone market longer" than most other makers and at its latest UNPACKED event it showcased its slimmest and lightest device to date. Lee Seung-jae has highlights. The summer edition of Galaxy Unpacked 2025 was held in New York City on Wednesday, with expectations high over Samsung Electronics' latest releases. There, Samsung Electronics unveiled the latest generation of its Galaxy Z series smartphones, showcasing the company's slimmest and lightest foldable smartphones to date with their Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Along with its new physical features, the company says the new smartphone comes with an upgraded camera and artificial intelligence capabilities. "Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, they present the pinnacle of our innovation. This is more than just a new flip or fold. Galaxy AI has become your very own human-like AI companion, elevating the way you connect, create, and lead every single day." Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest model in the latest Z series. The phone measures just 8-point-9 millimeters when folded, and 4-point-2 millimeters when unfolded. It weighs just 215 grams,.. making it even lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, launched in January. Despite a reduction in size and weight, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 6-point-5 inch external display and an 8-inch main display, with the inner display 11 percent larger than the previous model. It's also equipped with a 20-megapixel wide-angle camera, with Samsung improving its AI capabilities by enhancing cooperation with external partners like Google. Meanwhile,.. the clamshell-style Galaxy Z Flip 7 upgraded its display with slightly larger screens than its previous model, and a slimmer and lighter build. And for those at the event, it was a chance to see how Samsung Electronics continues to improve in the competitive mobile phone industry. I was very excited to see the unpacked of the new Galaxy Flip 7. I'm very surprised by how elegant it looks. It's very lightweight, its pocketability. And I'm most impressed about the AI assistance. It's going to be very helpful in my everyday life." Samsung also unveiled its latest Galaxy Watch 8. According to Samsung Electronics, the new Galaxy Fold and Flip models will officially launch worldwide on July 25th. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Features reporter] Incheon i-Sea Pass allows residents travel to islands at cost of standard bus fare

2025/07/10 16:35

Summer season calls for travel to the sea and islands and some of the closest ones can be found in Incheon a city also well-known to foreign tourists, as they arrive at the airport there. Now, there is a way to travel to and from the city's offshore islands for only 1-thousand-500 Korean won, around 1 U.S. dollar and ten cents, by using the "Incheon i-Sea Pass". Cha Yun-kyung has more. Incheon Coastal Passenger Terminal is crowded with lots of people visiting the islands of Incheon from early in the morning, as the number of tourists has increased significantly. (KOREAN-) "Since the ship fare has become quite reasonable for Incheon residents, I have suggested tours of Incheon's islands to my friends and family." The "Incheon i-Sea Pass" is the city's first initiative this year, utilizing online booking and payments, that allows Incheon residents to travel to the 25 islands in the western sea for just 1-thousand-500 Korean won, equivalent to the price of the standard bus fare. Non-residents can also receive a discount of up to 70 percent of the normal ferry fares that vary depending on the islands visited, the type of ferry, and age among others. Although the number of passengers using Incheon Coastal Ferries has decreased due to higher cancellation rates than last year, the number of i-Sea Pass users has increased 10-point-3 percent, or around 16-thousand people. Among i-Sea Pass users, the number of Incheon residents increased to 1-hundred-50-thousand, up 3-point-3 percent, while the number of non-residents reached 19-thousand an increase of 27-point-6 percent. As a result, Incheon Metropolitan City expects economic stimulation for Incheon's islands through the i-Sea Pass. Incheon will also look to find ways to prevent inconvenience to the islands' residents and revise policies as the number of users increases. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

AI robot carries out autonomous surgery it learned from videos

2025/07/10 11:41

A study published on July 9 in Science Robotics by scientists at Johns Hopkins University reported that their AI-driven robot has successfully removed a pig's gallbladder completely unassisted. The AI-driven SRT-H responded in real-time to unexpected situations and verbal commands. Trained on hours of surgical videos, the system mastered the 17-step procedure of a surgery, with 100 percent accuracy across eight trials. Although slower than a human surgeon, it was even able to correct errors and adapt to changes. Researchers aim to expand trials to human surgeries within the next decade.

Nvidia becomes first company to reach US$ 4 tril. in market value

2025/07/10 11:40

AI chipmaker Nvidia became the first public company to reach a 4 trillion U.S. dollar market valuation on Wednesday, briefly peaking at 164.42 dollars per share before settling at approximately 3.97 trillion dollars at the end of trading. The company's valuation has nearly quadrupled since June 2023, far outpacing competitors such as Apple and Microsoft. The peak reflects investor confidence in Nvidia's upcoming Blackwell platform and new chip lines. The target price for the company has been raised, citing long-term momentum. The achievement makes Nvidia the world's most valuable company.

Samsung Z Fold 7 unveiled at Unpacked event in New York

2025/07/10 11:35

Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest generation of its Galaxy Z series smartphones. At the Galaxy Unpacked 2025,.. the Korean company introduced its slimmest and lightest foldable phone to date. Lee Seung-jae takes a look. The summer edition of Galaxy Unpacked 2025 was held in New York City on Wednesday, with expectations high over Samsung Electronics' latest releases. There, Samsung Electronics unveiled the latest generation of its Galaxy Z series smartphones, showcasing the company's slimmest and lightest foldable smartphones to date with their Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Along with its new physical features, the company says the new smartphone comes with an upgraded camera and artificial intelligence capabilities. "Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, they present the pinnacle of our innovation. This is more than just a new flip or fold. Galaxy AI has become your very own human-like AI companion, elevating the way you connect, create, and lead every single day." Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest model in the latest Z series. The phone measures just 8-point-9 millimeters when folded, and 4-point-2 millimeters when unfolded. It weighs just 215 grams,.. making it even lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, launched in January. Despite a reduction in size and weight, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 6-point-5 inch external display and an 8-inch main display, with the inner display 11 percent larger than the previous model. It's also equipped with a 20-megapixel wide-angle camera, with Samsung improving its AI capabilities by enhancing cooperation with external partners like Google. Meanwhile,.. the clamshell-style Galaxy Z Flip 7 upgraded its display with slightly larger screens than its previous model, and a slimmer and lighter build. And for those at the event, it was a chance to see how Samsung Electronics continues to improve in the competitive mobile phone industry. I was very excited to see the unpacked of the new Galaxy Flip 7. I'm very surprised by how elegant it looks. It's very lightweight, its pocketability. And I'm most impressed about the AI assistance. It's going to be very helpful in my everyday life." Samsung also unveiled its latest Galaxy Watch 8. According to Samsung Electronics, the new Galaxy Fold and Flip models will officially launch worldwide on July 25th. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Samsung set to unveil Galaxy Fold 7, Flip 7 in New York on Wednesday

2025/07/09 11:34

Samsung Electronics is set to unveil its latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7, at its Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in Brooklyn, New York,.. at 11 PM Wednesday, Korea time. The South Korean tech giant will showcase its brand-new lineup, including the Z Flip 7, Z Fold 7, and the base model of the Galaxy Watch 8. Samsung highlights the new Fold as its thinnest and lightest yet, with powerful AI capabilities. Also on display are other Galaxy devices, including a new smartwatch with enhanced health-tracking features.

Made in Korea: World's first recombinant anthrax vaccines ready for production

2025/07/08 22:48

South Korea has developed the world's first recombinant anthrax vaccines after around three decades of research and development. Officials say it's a major step toward vaccine self-reliance and could even pave the way for future exports. Our Park Kun-woo tells us more. Made in Korea. That's a term describing the world's first recombinant anthrax vaccine, which is set to be manufactured in a plant in Hwasun-gun County, in the southwest of South Korea, after decades of joint research between the public and private sectors. The Barythrax vaccine uses recombinant protein technology, minimizing the toxic side effects of other conventional vaccines. "For years, Korea had to rely on expensive imports for anthrax vaccines. But now, that's starting to change. This homegrown vaccine isn't just set to be made in Korea, but will be the result of nearly three decades of accumulated research and technology." The vaccine was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April and is expected to be produced later this year. The Hwasun facility alone can produce up to 10 million doses annually, helping ensure a stable supply. However, there were challenges to developing a first-of-its-kind product. "Because this was the first recombinant anthrax vaccine, there were no established guidelines. We had to create and verify the evaluation standards step by step." She stressed the importance of this immunization tool in national preparedness, especially to respond to global health crises, including bioterrorism. She added that those working in high-risk sectors, including lab researchers, military personnel, police, and firefighters, are being considered as priority groups for vaccination. While the product didn't go through a Phase 3 clinical trial due to ethical constraints, there have been concerns regarding its safety. "We couldn't go through a full Phase 3 clinical trial, but we confirmed safety through non-clinical tests with rabbits." He added that rabbits are sensitive to anthrax and require high levels of neutralizing antibodies, which adds weight to the test results. Lee also said the shot is expected to be competitively priced and rising global demand is widely opening possibilities for exports. From a country once reliant on foreign supply, Korea is now positioning itself as an exporter. And with this step toward vaccine self-reliance, expectations are rising for the future of "K-vaccines." Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Hwasun.

Made in Korea: World's first recombinant anthrax vaccines ready for production

2025/07/08 19:50

Back here on the local front. South Korean drug regulators have approved the world's first recombinant anthrax vaccine developed by researchers here. Park Kun-woo has more. Made in Korea. That's a term describing the world's first recombinant anthrax vaccine, which is set to be manufactured in a plant in Hwasun-gun County, in the southwest of South Korea, after decades of joint research between the public and private sectors. The Barythrax vaccine uses recombinant protein technology, minimizing the toxic side effects of other conventional vaccines. "For years, Korea had to rely on expensive imports for anthrax vaccines. But now, that's starting to change. This homegrown vaccine isn't just set to be made in Korea, but will be the result of nearly three decades of accumulated research and technology." The vaccine was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April and is expected to be produced later this year. The Hwasun facility alone can produce up to 10 million doses annually, helping ensure a stable supply. However, there were challenges to developing a first-of-its-kind product. "Because this was the first recombinant anthrax vaccine, there were no established guidelines. We had to create and verify the evaluation standards step by step." She stressed the importance of this immunization tool in national preparedness, especially to respond to global health crises, including bioterrorism. She added that those working in high-risk sectors, including lab researchers, military personnel, police, and firefighters, are being considered as priority groups for vaccination. While the product didn't go through a Phase 3 clinical trial due to ethical constraints, there have been concerns regarding its safety. "We couldn't go through a full Phase 3 clinical trial, but we confirmed safety through non-clinical tests with rabbits." He added that rabbits are sensitive to anthrax and require high levels of neutralizing antibodies, which adds weight to the test results. Lee also said the shot is expected to be competitively priced and rising global demand is widely opening possibilities for exports. From a country once reliant on foreign supply, Korea is now positioning itself as an exporter. And with this step toward vaccine self-reliance, expectations are rising for the future of "K-vaccines." Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Hwasun.

Samsung Electronics Q2 profit down 55.9% on weak chip sales, U.S. tariffs

2025/07/08 13:35

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday estimated its second-quarter operating profit at four-point-six trillion won, or around three-point-four billion U.S. dollars, citing sluggish chip sales and the fallout from U.S. tariffs. The figure is down nearly fifty-six percent from a year earlier and over thirty-one percent from the previous quarter. Q2 revenue stood at 53-point-8 billion dollars, down point-one percent on-year. The tech giant attributed the decline to one-off costs in its memory business, including inventory valuation losses. In the non-memory sector, sales were limited by export controls on advanced AI chips to China, leading to additional inventory provisions. The final earnings report will be released later this month.

KIPO awarded special award for independence activists who had contributed to Korea's independence

2025/07/04 19:38

Korea's patent office recently made a special acknowledgement of the inventions by individuals who sought innovation to support the country's independence. Cha Yun-kyung explains. The Korean Intellectual Property Office held a memorial ceremony to honor Mr. Kwon Do-in, a patriotic independence activist based in the U.S. who was also an inventor. Kwon is remembered for his contributions to both Korea's independence movement and the advancement of invention. He was also the first Korean to apply for a patent in the U.S., with an apparatus that prevented damage to the body of a sewing machine. Mr. Kwon also applied for a patent for a curtain made from bamboo, which had become quite popular in the U.S. Mr. Jeong In-ho, the first Korean to apply for a patent in Korea, invented a horsehair hat in 1909, to raise funds for the independence movement. Marking the 60th anniversary of Inventors' Day, the KIPO has come up with special achievement awards for independence activists who contributed to Korea's independence movement through invention during the Japanese colonial era. This year's award for great inventor went to a company that developed an electric semiconductor module for electric cars and robots. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Microsoft to cut about 4% of jobs amid hefty AI bets

2025/07/03 15:34

Tech giant Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it will cut nearly 4 percent of its workforce, approximately 9,000 jobs, as part of a strategic shift to accelerate investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. In a statement to investors, the company confirmed the layoffs would span multiple divisions, including global sales and marketing teams. This is Microsoft's third major round of cuts this year, following approximately 6,000 layoffs in May and additional reductions in June, which have brought the total job losses for 2025 to more than 15,000. Microsoft plans an 80 billion U.S. dollar capital expenditure for the fiscal year in support of its AI ambitions.