News

S. Korea's unmanned businesses grow while diversifying

2025/08/07 18:40

Unmanned stores are gaining traction here in the country for their convenience and their price tags. Our correspondent Park Jun-han files this report. In South Korea, you can buy fresh fruit anytime — whether it's 4 AM or late at night. This store is a 24/7 fruit shop. What's even more interesting is that there is no one at the counter. You just simply pick up the fruit, bring it to the counter, then scan the barcode. After it's scanned, you can pay for it through a machine and you're good to go. "These two ice creams are exactly the same — same brand, same size, same ingredients. I paid thousand-five-hundred won at a convenience store, but just six-hundred won at an unmanned store. That's less than half the price!" Since a few years ago, South Korea's unmanned store businesses have grown rapidly. Although estimates vary by institution, it is generally assumed that there are over 10-thousand unmanned stores in South Korea. From January 2020 through 2025, the number of unmanned stores grew 314 percent. The number of stores increased more than fourfold from 2020 to 2023, and has remained steady for the last two years. For customers, the main reasons they visit unmanned stores are their accessibility and reasonable prices. While increasing accessibility through operating 24 hours a day, the strategy of reducing fixed costs by building an automated system that does not require additional labor costs was the key know-how in selling products to consumers at lower prices. "It's cheaper than convenience stores, and I like that I can pay on my own without waiting. "Since it's open 24 hours, I can stop by anytime after studying near my academy, which I find really convenient. Another customer said he doesn't feel pressured when buying at an unmanned store, since no one is watching him while he decides which product to choose. "With no staff around, you can shop freely without feeling watched. The prices are reasonable, so you get more for the same money. Started as an emerging trend, unmanned stores have now expanded across the country and become a new mode of consumption. From ice cream to fruit and even pet supplies, the industry continues to diversify — meeting the evolving needs of consumers. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

[Short-form] Korea’s dawn delivery– it’s more than just fast service

2025/08/07 15:33

Dive into Korea’s game-changing dawn delivery. It’s a lifestyle upgrade you can rarely find anywhere else.

Beijing ready to host World Robot Conference

2025/08/07 12:38

The 2025 World Robot Conference is set to open on Friday in Beijing as the industry continues rapid growth across China. The 10th edition of the event will showcase the latest breakthroughs in robotics, from realistic humanoid robots to automatons that look like animals. Over 200 companies from both China and abroad are set to participate, presenting advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, and smart robotics. The conference will run until August 12.

Samsung Electronics to supply next-gen chips for Apple products at its foundry plant in Texas

2025/08/07 12:37

Samsung Electronics is to supply next-generation chips for Apple products from its production plant in the United States. Through a press release on Thursday, Apple stated that the foundry plant in Texas will supply chips that optimize power and performance for its products. Industry insiders say that the Korean tech giant is expected to produce image sensor chips for Apple's production line. Samsung Electronics provided no comments. This announcement came as President Trump announced that Apple is to make an additional 100 billion U.S. dollar investment, a move to expand the company's domestic investment commitment. Following the statement, Apple shares rose by nearly 6 percent midday on Wednesday compared to the day before.

U.S. Coast Guard blames Titan sub's design for deadly implosion

2025/08/06 11:38

A U.S. Coast Guard investigative board has found that the Titan submersible that imploded in 2023 had an "inadequate design." OceanGate's Titan submersible was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic when it imploded, killing the five people on board including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. According to a 300-page report released on Tuesday after a two-year investigation, the implosion was deemed preventable. The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation emphasised the need for stronger oversight and clearer regulatory pathways for operators pursuing innovative designs outside current standards.

Gyeongju to start "K-Miso City" Campaign ahead of APEC 2025 Korea

2025/08/05 20:04

Back on the local front. The southern city of Gyeongju is seeking to ensure that language is not a barrier to travel for foreigners there during the APEC leaders' meeting later this autumn. Ahn Sung-jin has more. A taxi driver wearing a shirt, vest, and tie embroidered with the Gyeongju City symbol welcomes a foreign guest. Speaking through a smartphone app, the guest tells the driver his destination. "Please take me to the Bulguk Temple." It is translated automatically on the driver's cell phone. What the driver says to the customer is also translated immediately. This two-way, AI translator has been provided to around a thousand taxi drivers in the Gyeongju area ahead of APEC 2025 Korea. "Since we have the translation application ready, we can communicate with foreign guests and take them to destinations more easily." Gyeongsangbuk-do Province has started its "K-MISO CITY" project, which stands for "My Innovative Smart Open City," for foreign visitors ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November. The province says it's a "civic movement" with the aim of encouraging people to revisit Korea. Key tasks aim to transform aspects of society to create a smart and open city. The project is also set to improve public transport services, lodging facilities, and traditional markets. With events like "APEC Plogging" and "APEC Clean Day," citizens will clean the streets to make sure the city is as clean as it can be. "We try to set our smiles, kindness, and cleanliness as our standard practice from the service industry to daily life. This will create a smart and safe city for everyone." Since the voluntary participation of citizens is essential for the successful hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the province plans to promote the campaign through civic education. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Naver, Upstage, SK, NC, and LG picked as 5 finalists for bold gov't backing on AI creation

2025/08/04 22:35

The South Korean government has been pushing to make the nation one of the top three global leaders in AI. One of the methods is by creating an AI model from scratch here in Korea with the help of local companies that are as good as the world leaders are at the moment. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The South Korean government on Monday unveiled five AI creation teams to lead the country's push for AI sovereignty. Naver Cloud, Upstage, SK Telecom, NC AI, and LG Group's AI team will now enter a high-stakes competition to develop the "Proprietary AI Foundation Model Project" worth 200 billion won or approximately 150 million U.S. dollars. "The latest selection evaluated each team's technological capabilities and development experience, the scale of their development goals and strategies, as well as their potential impact and plans to contribute to the broader AI ecosystem." Initially, 15 entered the race with the first round in July cutting down five to have 10 groups give presentations. The final five, while big-name groups, are teamed up with universities and other tech companies to form consortia. These five will now face a survival-style competition, with phased evaluations every six months—ultimately narrowing down to just two final teams by 2027. The goal is to create domestic models that achieve at least 95 percent of the performance of the latest global AI models launched within the past six months. The project also emphasizes "from-scratch" capabilities — including model architecture design and pretraining from the ground up not just adjusting existing foreign models. This initiative is part of President Lee Jae Myung's core pledge to build an "AI for All" society and realize Korea's ambition to become one of the world's top three AI powerhouses. The final five will now receive government backing, including access to high-performance GPUs. First, until mid-2026, private-sector GPUs will be leased using 157-point-6 billion Korean won allotted from a recent supplementary budget. Later, the government will provide up to a thousand GPUs per team from a pool of 10-thousand units purchased by the government. Data support: Each team will also receive 10 billion won annually for data support, with an additional three to five billion won allocated for data construction and processing. "A bold new challenge begins. We believe in the strength of Korea's AI companies and institutions—and the government will stand with them every step of the way." Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

First autonomous village bus launched in Seoul

2025/08/04 19:39

Up next we share with you a trial run of the first autonomous "Maeul" bus ride here in Seoul. Cha Yun-kyung reports. The steering wheel of this bus moves automatically even though the driver takes his hands off. The bus stops right after it senses the red light. This is 'Dong-jak A01,' the very first autonomous "Maeul," or "village" bus in the country. The bus identifies traffic and road conditions in real time through 10 sensors and a vision camera located on the windscreen. The bus's route runs from the middle gate of Soongsil University to the back gate of Chung-Ang University, which is about 1-point-6-2 kilometers. Passengers have been impressed with how it navigates narrow lanes. "The autonomous shuttle bus gave me a smooth ride just like when the bus drivers drive. It was comfortable to ride in." The bus also switches to manual mode in certain areas, like child protection zones and four-lane roads for safety. "We operate without human intervention most of the time only except in case of an emergency." This autonomous village bus will continue its trial run until the end of the week. From next week, passengers can get on free of charge until the end of the year. And in the second half of the year, it's scheduled to run in Seoul's Seodaemun-gu and Dongdaemun-gu districts. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Naver, Upstage, SK, NC, and LG picked as 5 finalists for bold gov't backing on AI creation

2025/08/04 19:35

The Lee administration's plan to place South Korea among the world's top three AI powerhouses is taking shape given the selection of five teams to compete in the development of South Korea's own AI model. Our economic correspondent Kim Do-yeon explains. The South Korean government on Monday unveiled five AI creation teams to lead the country's push for AI sovereignty. Naver Cloud, Upstage, SK Telecom, NC AI, and LG Group's AI team will now enter a high-stakes competition to develop the "Proprietary AI Foundation Model Project" worth 200 billion won or approximately 150 million U.S. dollars. "The latest selection evaluated each team's technological capabilities and development experience, the scale of their development goals and strategies, as well as their potential impact and plans to contribute to the broader AI ecosystem." Initially, 15 entered the race with the first round in July cutting down five to have 10 groups give presentations. The final five, while big-name groups, are teamed up with universities and other tech companies to form consortia. These five will now face a survival-style competition, with phased evaluations every six months—ultimately narrowing down to just two final teams by 2027. The goal is to create domestic models that achieve at least 95 percent of the performance of the latest global AI models launched within the past six months. The project also emphasizes "from-scratch" capabilities — including model architecture design and pretraining from the ground up not just adjusting existing foreign models. This initiative is part of President Lee Jae Myung's core pledge to build an "AI for All" society and realize Korea's ambition to become one of the world's top three AI powerhouses. The final five will now receive government backing, including access to high-performance GPUs. First, until mid-2026, private-sector GPUs will be leased using 157-point-6 billion Korean won allotted from a recent supplementary budget. Later, the government will provide up to a thousand GPUs per team from a pool of 10-thousand units purchased by the government. Data support: Each team will also receive 10 billion won annually for data support, with an additional three to five billion won allocated for data construction and processing. "A bold new challenge begins. We believe in the strength of Korea's AI companies and institutions—and the government will stand with them every step of the way." Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 arrives at International Space Station

2025/08/04 11:36

Finally, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Crew-11 mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Friday has successfully docked with the International Space Station, just 15 hours later. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carried an international team of four astronauts from the U.S., Russia, and Japan. Crew-11 will remain aboard the ISS for at least six months, possibly up to eight months, conducting scientific experiments and station maintenance, potentially extending standard rotation durations.

LG Energy Solution's mega battery deal might involve supplies to Tesla

2025/07/30 22:40

South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution announced a landmark battery supply contract on Wednesday. Sources report that the batteries might be supplied to the U.S. tech giant Tesla. Park Jun-han has more. Leading battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution announced on Wednesday that it had signed a landmark 6 trillion won, or around 4-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, contract to supply lithium iron phosphate batteries for energy storage systems . Although LG did not disclose the client's identity due to confidentiality obligations, Reuters reported that it is Tesla, the U.S.-based tech-driven automotive and energy company. The three-year contract, starting on August 1, includes an option to extend it up to seven years with additional supplies. This deal will likely bolster South Korea's leadership in the global battery industry, with LG positioned as the only Korean company producing LFP batteries for energy storage systems in North America. Also, experts claim that LG is the only cell maker in the market capable of supplying more than 15 gigawatt-hours per year of LFP batteries in the United States. LG, which operates major U.S. production sites in Ohio, Tennessee and Michigan, is considered a suitable company to benefit from rising U.S. tariffs on Chinese batteries — currently at around 41 percent and projected to exceed 58 percent next year. The tariff has reduced the cost advantage of Chinese batteries, with prices expected to rise from the current 73 dollars per cell to 87 dollars by 2026. As demand for non-Chinese battery suppliers in the U.S. grows, LG is accelerating its energy storage systems contracts, recently securing a 4-gigawatt-hour deal with Delta Electronics. The company expects strong profit growth in the second half of 2025, driven by energy storage systems sales, amid a slowdown in EV battery demand. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Musk confirms collaboration following video call with Samsung chaiman

2025/07/30 19:35

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he had a video call with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong as well as senior leadership confirming a recent announcement of collaboration. Taking to X this past Tuesday Musk claimed the two companies are combining their respective strengths to deliver the best possible result. It was announced earlier this week that Samsung Electronics secured a 16.4 billion U.S. dollar order from Tesla for AI chips.

Musk confirms collaboration following video call with Samsung chaiman

2025/07/30 11:35

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he had a video call with Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong and senior leadership, confirming a recent announcement of collaboration between the two companies. Taking to X on Tuesday, Musk shared details of the call with "the chairman and senior leadership of Samsung to go over what a real partnership would be like." The Tesla CEO stressed that both companies are combining their respective strengths to deliver the best possible results, signaling a deepening of their collaboration. It was announced earlier this week that Samsung Electronics secured a 16-point-4 billion U.S. dollar order from Tesla to supply artificial intelligence semiconductors.

Musk says Samsung and Tesla sign US$ 16.5 billion chip supply deal

2025/07/29 11:37

Samsung Electronics has clinched a landmark 16-point-5 billion dollar deal to supply AI chips to Tesla, a move set to revitalize its struggling foundry division. Our Moon Ji-young has the details. Samsung Electronics will produce AI semiconductors for Tesla in a new agreement, which could prove to be a game-changer for its currently underperforming foundry division. In a regulatory filing, the South Korean chip giant announced on Monday that it had secured a 22-point-8 trillion won, or 16-point-5 billion U.S. dollar, chipmaking agreement. The deal represents 7-point-6 percent of Samsung Electronics' total revenue of 300-point-9 trillion won in 2024, marking it as the largest chip order for a single client secured by the company. This long-term contract is set to run for more than eight years through the end of December 2033. The tech giant initially did not disclose the identity of the client or the specifics of the deal, citing "management confidentiality." Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a social media post later in the day that Samsung would produce next-generation AI6 semiconductors for the company. The Korean firm currently produces AI4s, while Taiwan's TSMC manufactures AI5s. In a reply to a comment, Musk also suggested the deal could be "much more than" the amount Samsung had disclosed. Following the announcement, shares of Samsung Electronics surged 6-point-3 percent on intraday trading, going above 70,000 won for the first time since last September. Samsung has been steadily losing ground in certain manufacturing sectors, and so this record-breaking deal is expected to give a much-needed boost to its foundry division, which has long struggled to catch up with global industry leader TSMC. Moon Ji-young. Arirang News.

Musk says Samsung and Tesla sign US$ 16.5 billion chip supply deal

2025/07/28 22:34

Samsung Electronics has clinched a landmark 16-point-5 billion dollar deal to supply AI chips to Tesla, a move set to revitalize its struggling foundry division. Our Moon Ji-young tellu us more. Samsung Electronics will produce AI semiconductors for Tesla in a new agreement, which could prove to be a game-changer for its currently underperforming foundry division. In a regulatory filing, the South Korean chip giant announced on Monday that it had secured a 22-point-8 trillion won, or 16-point-5 billion U.S. dollar, chipmaking agreement. The deal represents 7-point-6 percent of Samsung Electronics' total revenue of 300-point-9 trillion won in 2024, marking it as the largest chip order for a single client secured by the company. This long-term contract is set to run for more than eight years through the end of December 2033. The tech giant initially did not disclose the identity of the client or the specifics of the deal, citing "management confidentiality." Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a social media post later in the day that Samsung would produce next-generation AI6 semiconductors for the company. The Korean firm currently produces AI4s, while Taiwan's TSMC manufactures AI5s. In a reply to a comment, Musk also suggested the deal could be "much more than" the amount Samsung had disclosed. Following the announcement, shares of Samsung Electronics surged 6-point-3 percent on intraday trading, going above 70,000 won for the first time since last September. Samsung has been steadily losing ground in certain manufacturing sectors, and so this record-breaking deal is expected to give a much-needed boost to its foundry division, which has long struggled to catch up with global industry leader TSMC. Moon Ji-young. Arirang News.

Scientists develop treatment removing phosphorus, a factor behind algal blooms, from water

2025/07/28 19:40

Korean researchers have devised a sustainable method to better protect marine life from the repercussions of excess phosphorus. Cha Yun-kyung explains. Excess phosphorus in water causes an increase in algal blooms that cause green tides, which kill off fish and other organisms and pollute water resources, destroying marine ecosystems. Existing water treatment plants for the removal of this phosphorus that comes from fertilizers and manufacturing run-offs require huge amounts of power consumption, but do not eliminate the algae effectively. Researchers have developed a new type of water treatment that not only absorbs phosphorus in the water but also rids it of the green-tide-forming algae. This apparatus uses sea-urchin-shaped magnetic nanoparticles on the inner surface of a tube and permanent magnets on the outer surface, which attract pollutants in contaminated water as it flows through. "When 1 gram of pollutant is added, this water treatment system can retrieve a larger amount of phosphorus in 5 minutes, which is a huge advantage. The inner surface is also coated with lanthanum which attracts phosphorus and copper that eliminates the algae, thus removing the pollutants that cause green tides effectively. The purified water can then be reused by industries and farmers, and not just discharged into rivers as before. "We were able to observe that the apparatus can process 99 percent of the total coliform group within the water. It can absorb a large amount of phosphorus, which can be removed and utilized as a cleaner for pipes." As the water treatment apparatus can absorb phosphorus, which can be reused, and eliminate pollutants, the researchers expect that it can contribute to reducing climate change and water shortages. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Core space launch vehicle tech to be transferred from KARI to Hanwha Aerospace

2025/07/25 18:39

South Korea will be transferring its Nuri rocket technology to a private company. According to the Korea Aerospace Administration on Friday it has sealed a deal to transfer core technology from the government-led space launch program to Hanwha Aerospace. Hanwha was selected after evaluation by experts tapped by the Trade Ministry and researchers from the Korea AeroSpace Research Institute. Experts believe this deal to commercialize the country's space launch program will serve to spearhead private space ventures.

[NEWs GEN] No New Cars: Why young drivers aren't buying new cars

2025/07/25 13:33

[NEWs GEN] No New Cars: Why young drivers aren't buying new cars

S. Korean chipmaker reports best-ever quarterly performance in Q2

2025/07/24 19:39

SK hynix appears to have posted its best-ever quarterly performance in the second quarter thanks to surging demand for AI chips including high-bandwidth memory chips. According to preliminary data from the company on this Thursday its operating profit amounted to around 6-point-7 billion U.S. dollars up nearly 70 percent on year. Sales also jumped by over 35 percent. Both operating profits and sales set new all-time quarterly records breaking the previous highs seen in the last quarter of 2024.

S. Korean chipmaker reports best-ever quarterly performance in Q2

2025/07/24 12:38

South Korean chipmaker SK hynix has reported its best-ever quarterly performance in the second quarter thanks to surging demand for AI chips, including high-bandwidth memory chips. According to preliminary data from the company on Thursday, its operating profit came to around 6-point-7 billion dollars, up by nearly 70 percent on-year. Sales also jumped by over 35 percent. Operating profits and sales both set new all-time quarterly records, breaking the previous highs in the last quarter of 2024.