News

S. Korean gov't pledges to develop its own ChatGPT with elite AI task force

2025/02/20 20:00

The country is ramping up its AI ambitions as DeepSeek makes waves across the globe. To this end, a new initiative has been unveiled to develop Korea's very own AI model. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. The South Korean government is launching an elite AI task force to develop a world-class large language model like ChatGPT or DeepSeek, aiming to compete with global leaders like the United States and China. "The global AI race is intensifying, but this is our opportunity. Now is the time for the public and private sectors to unite and fast-track South Korea's rise as a top-three AI powerhouse." On Thursday, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok announced the "AI Computing Infrastructure Expansion Plan" as he hosted the third AI committee meeting, outlining a three-pronged strategy: advancing next-generation AI models, expanding AI computing infrastructure, and accelerating AI-driven transformation. As part of the initiative, the government will establish a "World Best LLM" project, which will bring together top experts and provide high-performance computing resources to develop a world-class LLM within a short time frame. To support AI growth, the government is expanding computing infrastructure, with plans to acquire 18 thousand graphic processing units by next year and increase the use of domestic AI semiconductors in national AI centers by 2030 to 50 percent. One trillion Korean won – around 700 million U.S. dollars – will be committed to AI research to secure core technologies, and a global AI competition will be launched to attract talent. Beyond research, AI will be applied across a wide range of sectors, with the government planning to boost AI adoption among small businesses by 2027. To further encourage AI innovation, the government will offer tax credits for investments in research and development and AI infrastructure. Additionally, incentives will be provided for building AI data centers outside the Seoul metropolitan area, including priority access to power grid evaluations and diversified site options such as port and airport facilities. Acting President Choi stated that the government is committed to making South Korea a global AI powerhouse – and the country has the potential to be one. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

S. Korea to make its own ChatGPT or DeepSeek: Acting President

2025/02/20 17:00

Korea will work to develop its own AI-powered large language model like ChatGPT or DeepSeek. Plans to this end were shared by acting President Choi Sang-mok on this Thursday at the third AI committee meeting aimed at placing Korea among the world's top AI powerhouses. Choi spoke of bringing together a strategic team of highly skilled experts to drive Korea's AI ambitions as substantial research and development funding is set aside for a comprehensive infrastructure that supports all AI-related initiatives. Pointing to Korea's leading position in broadband internet connection across the globe Choi shared optimism about Korea's future AI endeavors.

Top Air Force commander oversees first test flight of S. Korea's KF-21 advanced supersonic fighter

2025/02/19 17:00

The Korean Air Force Chief of Staff took part in the first test flight of the country's homegrown advanced KF-21 supersonic fighter jet known as Boramae earlier today. General Lee Young-su assessed the aircraft's operational capabilities while flying at an altitude of 4-thousand-5-hundred meters over waters off the country's southern coast at a speed of more than one-thousand kilometers per hour. Following the flight he claimed Boramae would stand shoulder to shoulder with world-class fighter jets. South Korea began developing its own jet in 2015 and the first batch is scheduled to be deployed to front line air bases starting next year.

Chinese tech firm Huawei unveils first tri-folding phone

2025/02/19 10:00

Chinese tech giant Huawei unveiled on Tuesday its tri-fold smartphone outside China The Mate XT Ultimate Design is the first phone in the world to feature a dual-hinge system, where the flexible OLED display can expand from a compact 6.4 inches to a tablet-like 10.2 inches when fully unfolded. It operates on Huawei's proprietary software instead of Google services. The Mate XT's starting price point is approximately 3,660 U.S. dollars, and is currently listed for sale in several countries, including Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Pre-orders have reportedly surpassed 6.5 million units.

S. Korean data privacy regulator confirms user data leak from DeepSeek to ByteDance

2025/02/18 20:00

Authorities say Chinese AI application DeepSeek has indeed transferred user data to a third party amid data privacy concerns. Moon Hye-ryeon has details. South Korean data privacy regulators have confirmed that DeepSeek – the Chinese artificial intelligence startup facing controversy over data collection – has shared user data with TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. The Personal Information Protection Commission said on Tuesday that although they were able to confirm the transmission of user data, it has yet to determine the exact nature and amount of data transferred. The PIPC launched an independent investigation into DeepSeek's data collection and processing methods after requesting clarification on the matter from the firm last month, finding that DeepSeek's privacy policy fell short of the requirements listed for service providers in the country's Personal Information Protection Act. "Under South Korean law, transferring personal data overseas or moving it from one country to another requires a legal basis. In this case, while ByteDance does have a headquarters in the U.S., when the PIPC says that user data was sent to ByteDance, it means there was an international data transfer. So the concern is whether DeepSeek complied with South Korea's regulations on cross-border data transfers." The firm acknowledged that it had not fully considered South Korean data protection laws when launching its global service, and took the recommendation of the PIPC to temporarily suspend services in South Korea while necessary modifications are made. This means that no new users can download the app across any domestic app markets such as Apple's App Store and Google Play, but existing users can continue to use it for the time being as the PIPC considers further measures to protect existing users. During the suspension period, the PIPC plans to continue its thorough review of DeepSeek's handling practices. Legislative efforts are also underway to amend the Personal Information Protection Act to reflect AI innovation with this latest development – strengthening enforcement measures for foreign service providers. Experts say that it will be necessary to consider other AI services for legislative changes not just DeepSeek. "Clear discussions on what standards should apply to all the new AI systems that will come out in the future are needed. AI is only going to become more widespread, and for it to provide more personalized services, it's going to need access to more of our personal information." The PIPC also plans to seek stronger international cooperation on AI-related data privacy regulations at the Global Privacy Assembly in Seoul this September. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Gov't, PPP agree to invest more in AI through talent and infrastructure

2025/02/18 20:00

Meanwhile. The government and the ruling People Power Party announced on Tuesday their plan to enhance AI industry competitiveness. This includes actively expanding high-performance GPU and other infrastructure while also implementing measures to support talent development. They also agreed on the need to accelerate the expansion of national AI infrastructure and strengthen the foundation for growth across the AI R&D environment and the overall computing ecosystem. To achieve this, the government and private sector will collaborate to secure 10-thousand high-performance GPUs within this year and launch the National AI Computing Center services ahead of schedule.

Bladder cancer even in early-stage can be detected at home with urine sample

2025/02/18 17:00

Bladder cancer has a relatively higher survival rate IF detected early. Accordingly researchers here have come up with a simple urine test to allow for an early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Cha Yun-kyung has more. Researchers have developed a diagnostic test to detect early-stage bladder cancer, with the data detailing it being published in Nature Biomedical Engineering last November. The researchers took the video of urine samples from patients with bladder cancer and those without, with a smartphone, 30 minutes after putting the sample in a small optical device. For the test, they put the urine samples into small optical devices and added water with a fluorescent material, hydrogel, and oil. The fluorescent material in the water rose to the oil level in samples with bladder cancer cells. On the other hand, the fluorescent material remained at the water level for non-cancerous cells. The key is the hydrogel film that is degraded by bladder cancer-specific enzymes. When these enzymes degrade hydrogel films, the fluorescent material with buoyant properties in the film floats upward. Diagnostic tests for bladder cancer already exist, however, it is hard to detect early-stage cancer. That is because there is too small amount of sample including cancer cells in the urine, and hematuria, which is one of the main symptoms of bladder cancer. Researchers solved this problem by using the separation nature of oil and water. "We found technology to make fluorescent material float on the upper oil level while filtering out impurities in the water level by using double layers of water and oil." Also, they explained that bladder cancer can be detected with only a small amount of cells as cancer-specific enzymes can amplify the fluorescent material through a repeated response. The research team achieved positive results after conducting clinical trials with Korea University College of Medicine, recording 88-percent sensitivity for the diagnosis while a former test was 20-percent. They are planning on commercializing the diagnostic test by establishing a bio-venture company next year. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Samsung tops global TV market for 19th straight year, LG dominates OLED segment

2025/02/18 17:00

Samsung Electronics is holding on to its lead in the global TV market for 19 years in a row. According to global market research firm Omdia on Tuesday Samsung last year also accounted for the greatest share of the global TV market with 28-point-3-percent. The company dominated the premium sector securing almost half of the market with its OLED TV sales surging to 1-point-4 million units UP 42 percent on year. However LG Electronics remained the leader in the OLED TV market for the twelfth straight year with a market share of over 50 percent.

S. Korean data privacy regulator confirms user data leak from DeepSeek to ByteDance

2025/02/18 17:00

In other news. Relevant authorities here say Chinese application DeepSeek has indeed transferred user data to a third party. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has details. South Korean data privacy regulators have confirmed that DeepSeek – the Chinese artificial intelligence startup facing controversy over data collection – has shared user data with TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. The Personal Information Protection Commission said on Tuesday that although they were able to confirm the transmission of user data, it has yet to determine the exact nature and amount of data transferred. The PIPC launched an independent investigation into DeepSeek's data collection and processing methods after requesting clarification on the matter from the firm last month, finding that DeepSeek's privacy policy fell short of the requirements listed for service providers in the country's Personal Information Protection Act. "Under South Korean law, transferring personal data overseas or moving it from one country to another requires a legal basis. In this case, while ByteDance does have a headquarters in the U.S., when the PIPC says that user data was sent to ByteDance, it means there was an international data transfer. So the concern is whether DeepSeek complied with South Korea's regulations on cross-border data transfers." The firm acknowledged that it had not fully considered South Korean data protection laws when launching its global service, and took the recommendation of the PIPC to temporarily suspend services in South Korea while necessary modifications are made. This means that no new users can download the app across any domestic app markets such as Apple's App Store and Google Play, but existing users can continue to use it for the time being as the PIPC considers further measures to protect existing users. During the suspension period, the PIPC plans to continue its thorough review of DeepSeek's handling practices. Legislative efforts are also underway to amend the Personal Information Protection Act to reflect AI innovation with this latest development – strengthening enforcement measures for foreign service providers. Experts say that it will be necessary to consider other AI services for legislative changes not just DeepSeek. "Clear discussions on what standards should apply to all the new AI systems that will come out in the future are needed. AI is only going to become more widespread, and for it to provide more personalized services, it's going to need access to more of our personal information." The PIPC also plans to seek stronger international cooperation on AI-related data privacy regulations at the Global Privacy Assembly in Seoul this September. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DeepSeek suspends services in S. Korea as regulator seeks modifications to data privacy terms

2025/02/17 20:00

The Chinese AI app, DeepSeek, accused of excessive data collection has been temporarily suspended in South Korea as regulators push for stronger privacy protections. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. DeepSeek – the Chinese artificial intelligence startup facing controversy over excessive data collection – has temporarily suspended its services in South Korea. On Monday, the Personal Information Protection Commission announced that DeepSeek was suspended as of 6 PM on Saturday, and services will resume once modifications are made in line with South Korea's Personal Information Protection Act. This means that no new users can download the app across any domestic app markets such as Apple's App Store and Google Play, but existing users can continue to use it for the time being. The data privacy regulator urged caution when using the application, and stated that it is considering further measures to protect existing users. The suspension comes after DeepSeek accepted the PIPC's recommendation to halt services while corrective measures are being implemented. Last month, the commission sent an official inquiry to the firm's headquarters seeking clarification on concerns about data collection and processing methods. An initial review by the PIPC confirmed some of the concerns raised by local and international media, including insufficient disclosure of third-party data sharing and the excessive collection of personal information. The PIPC plans to conduct a thorough review of DeepSeek's handling practices during the suspension period. Legislative efforts are also underway to amend the Personal Information Protection Act to reflect AI innovation – strengthening enforcement measures for foreign service providers. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

[Econ & Biz] DeepSeek's impact on AI market: what is it and what does it mean?

2025/02/13 20:00

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek is making waves with what it says is a cost-efficient model. But with alleged data privacy risks, it has prompted global scrutiny, market upheaval, and government crackdowns. Our business correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon joins us in the studio with this topic. Hye-ryeon, can you explain the controversies surrounding DeepSeek? As you said, Jung-min, DeepSeek is currently under global scrutiny after claiming its new "R1" model can rival existing AI models in the market such as ChatGPT at just a fraction of the cost. With this news, its AI chatbot topped ChatGPT in app store downloads as users began to try this new model for themselves to test the claim. But as more and more users gathered, concerns over excessive data collection such as keyboard stroke patterns that could be used to identify specific users, have sparked privacy fears. "Collecting keystroke patterns to identify individuals doesn't necessarily mean a better service, so that's why it seems a bit excessive." And another issue with DeepSeek's data collection is that users can't opt out of having their data collected, unlike ChatGPT. Along with these fears regarding user data is speculation of third-party access, as the information is stored in servers in China something that South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed on Sunday, as it cited that Chinese advertisers are being given unlimited access to DeepSeek's user data. Reports of content censorship also raised questions about DeepSeek's AI chatbot failing to produce accurate information due to heavy reliance on China's official stance on certain subjects. With these controversies, how have investors and industry insiders been responding? With doubts surrounding DeepSeek's development process, Microsoft and OpenAI launched a probe into suspected data exfiltration by individuals that could be linked to the Chinese firm. Companies in non-AI-related sectors, such as those in South Korea, responded to data privacy concerns by restricting employee access to DeepSeek on work computers. However, global investors indicated their anticipation for DeepSeek by wiping billions of dollars off Nvidia's market value – resulting in the biggest market cap loss ever for a U.S. company. There are mixed views from experts and industry insiders on these reactions regarding whether this attention is warranted, with some saying that DeepSeek had the second-mover advantage. "When you have an amazing solution coming from OpenAI, you know that it can be done. Then the question changes a little bit – shifts towards, "How can we do that in a more efficient way." And with the current competition between the U.S. and China, how are global leaders and governments responding to this AI race? South Korea, Australia, and Japan's government ministries moved to also block DeepSeek access on computers connected to external networks, while Italy has blocked the app from app stores altogether, citing user data privacy. But some are saying that the reason why DeepSeek even came about in the first place is because of such restrictive regulations. Here's what an expert said. "I think that it symbolizes that the AI competition will be severe, and although one country will like to restrict the AI development of the other country, they will AI will always find innovative ways of how to develop." But global leaders and firms gathered in Paris amid calls for universal AI regulation where 60 countries signed a statement listing priorities such as transparency, safety, and sustainability for future AI development. The U.S. and the UK, however, refused to sign the statement. "The United States of America is the leader in AI, and our administration plans to keep it that way." U.S. Vice President Vance shared the view that too many regulations can "kill" a developing industry such as AI as it takes off and stated the Trump administration's plans to take full "advantage" of its position in the market. The U.S. recently billed "The Stargate Project" which aims to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. worth 500 billion U.S. dollars. As the AI race between Washington and Beijing heightens and countries seek to establish regulations to keep them in check in an increasingly complex technological landscape, eyes are on how the balance of innovation with security will play out. Thank you for the wrap-up, Hye-ryeon. Thank you for having me.

DeepSeek's impact on the AI market: what are they and what does it mean?

2025/02/13 17:00

Now with regard to the global race for AI dominance the emergence of Chinese application DeepSeek has indeed been making tangible waves as it touts cost-efficiency while its rivals fear data security. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. DeepSeek a Chinese AI start-up is under global scrutiny after claiming its new "R1" model can rival ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost. But concerns over excessive data collection and speculation of third-party access have sparked privacy fears. "Collecting keystroke patterns to identify individuals doesn't necessarily mean a better service, so that's why it seems a bit excessive." Reports of content censorship also raised questions about DeepSeek's AI chatbot failing to produce accurate information due to heavy reliance on China's official stance on certain subjects. With doubts surrounding DeepSeek's development process, Microsoft and OpenAI launched a probe into suspected data exfiltration by individuals that could be linked to the Chinese firm. Companies in non-AI-related sectors, such as those in South Korea, responded to data privacy concerns by restricting employee access to DeepSeek on work computers. South Korea, Australia, and Japan's government ministries moved to do the same, while Italy has blocked the app from app stores altogether. However, global investors indicated their anticipation for DeepSeek by wiping billions of dollars off Nvidia's market value – resulting in the biggest market cap loss ever for a U.S. company. There are mixed views from experts and industry insiders on these reactions regarding whether this attention is warranted, with some saying that DeepSeek had the second-mover advantage. "When you have an amazing solution coming from OpenAI, you know that it can be done. Then the question changes a little bit – shifts towards, "How can we do that in a more efficient way." Amid DeepSeek dominating headlines, global leaders in AI gathered in Paris, where a statement signed by 60 countries listed priorities such as transparency, safety, and sustainability for future AI development – but the U.S. and the UK refused to sign it. "The United States of America is the leader in AI, and our administration plans to keep it that way." U.S. Vice President Vance shared the view that too many regulations can "kill" a developing industry such as AI as it takes off and stated the Trump administration's plans to take full "advantage" of its position in the market. As the AI race between Washington and Beijing heightens and countries seek to establish regulations to keep them in check in an increasingly complex technological landscape, eyes are on how the balance of innovation with security will play out. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

[K-Wave] KOCCA to expand investment and support for indie game production

2025/02/13 14:00

Gaming has become one of the core industries of Korea's content exports, accounting for about 60 percent of that sector. Accordingly, the Korea Creative Content Agency will expand support in this field. Lee Eun-jin has the details of this plan. A post-apocalyptic near-future where 90 percent of humanity has been wiped out due to the resurrection of an ancient virus as a side effect of global warming. Survivors hide in an underground bunker to avoid mutant creatures, as they train agents with a training AI simulator named "VEDA" to regain ground. This is the narrative of the indie action game "VEDA" which was produced with the support of the Korea Creative Content Agency and swept various indie game awards last year. "VEDA" has raised expectations among gamers for its versatility, being both a PC and console game. To foster further development of such games, the Korea Creative Content Agency will invest 63-point-2-billion won, or roughly 43-point-5 million U.S. dollars in the gaming sector. That's an increase of nearly 1-point-4 million U.S. dollars from last year. Specifically, they plan to expand support for indie and console games. "We plan to uncover a variety of creative indie games, and support production and consulting costs. Console games have a long production period, so we've established a new three-year support program." In addition to the financial support, all-around support will be provided to gaming companies, which includes assistance with distribution contracts and promotion at overseas game shows. The Korea Creative Content Agency will also actively respond to the problems that exist in the registration of game disease codes that can cause great damage to the game industry. As of the first half of 2024, games accounted for about 60 percent of Korea's content industry exports, steadily becoming established as a core export asset. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

UK and U.S. refuse to sign international agreement on AI at global summit in Paris

2025/02/12 20:00

The third AI Action Summit held in Paris has closed after adopting a declaration on the "inclusive and sustainable" development of artificial intelligence. The statement, signed by 60 countries, stressed the need to ensure AI development was "transparent" and "safe" as well as "secure and trustworthy." They further agreed to cooperate to reduce digital divides by promoting AI accessibility to developing countries. Meanwhile, the U.S. and the UK refused to sign the declaration, giving priority to their own interests in the AI race. U.S. Vice President JD Vance had previously expressed the U.S.' determination to maintain its dominance in the surging industry in a speech at the summit on Tuesday.

Infinite variance of snakes from medication to robots

2025/02/12 17:00

Also according to the lunar calendar 2025 is the year of the snake. That being said in this next report we take a look at the intriguing medical contributions of these reptiles. Cha Yun-kyung reports. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the most common chronic diseases in South Korea. The ACE protein in the human body is the cause as it raises blood pressure by contracting blood vessels. Scientists in the U.S. have discovered substances in snake venom that suppress this protein, and have developed them as treatments for hypertension. One of those was captopril, the first medication based on venom, which was approved by the FDA in 1981. "There are various kinds of proteins in snake venom and scientists are developing them as treatments after finding out their therapeutic effects through research. There are actually numerous kinds of them. What I have found was in cobra toxin " New research has found that snake venom proteins are not only effective for hypertension but also for cancer, and scientists are trying to develop new types of cancer treatment. Brazilian researchers back in 2023 also found that proteins derived from snake venom induce cell death in melanoma, a skin cancer. The researchers are expecting a more dramatic therapeutic effect if the newly found substances are used in combination therapy. In addition to medical uses, robots are being developed in the shape of snakes for exploration and rescue work. These developed robotic snakes can move easily on snow, and pass through narrow holes. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the U.S. has developed this kind of robot to observe the subterranean ocean on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. This robot is designed to move by itself and create maps after sensing the surrounding environment autonomously. In 2021, the Korea Institute of Robotics & Technology Convergence showcased snake-shaped robots, that can find survivors in disaster sites by crawling around and through the rubble. They can also provide water and drugs to survivors. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

OpenAI's Altman rejects Musk's offer, saying 'We are not for sale'

2025/02/12 10:00

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he has rejected Elon Musk's offer to acquire the firm behind ChatGPT, intensifying the ongoing rift between the two figures. On Tuesday, a consortium of investors led by Elon Musk proposed to buy the non-profit that runs OpenAI for approximately 97.4 billion U.S. dollars in an attempt to take control of its research and strategic decisions. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declined the offer, saying it was "ridiculous" and that it was "not for sale." Instead, he suggested buying the social platform X, which is owned by Musk. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, left the organization in 2018 and has since been highly critical of its direction. His ongoing legal battle with OpenAI claims that the company abandoned its founding mission by partnering with Microsoft and is shifting toward a for-profit model.

UK and U.S. refuse to sign international AI declaration

2025/02/12 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, And this, is The World Now. At the recent AI Action Summit in Paris, the United States and the United Kingdom declined to sign a declaration, aimed at promoting "open" and "inclusive" artificial intelligence, setting them apart from 60 other nations. On Tuesday, the U.S. and the UK chose not to join the list of signatories of the "Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence." The statement had received support from countries including France, France, China, and India. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed concerns that strict regulations might hinder innovation, stressing the nation's preference for "pro-growth AI policies." The UK government cited concerns about national security and "global governance" as the reasons for not signing the declaration. Contrastingly, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "We need these rules for AI to move forward."

DeepSeek launches AI revolution: Impact on Korea's IT industry

2025/02/11 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The global AI landscape is undergoing a seismic shift with the emergence of DeepSeek's groundbreaking generative AI model, R1, which has sent shockwaves across the tech industry. Developed by China-based startup "DeepSeek," R1 is being hailed as a formidable competitor to OpenAI's models, showcasing unprecedented performance despite being built with just a fraction of the budget typically required for such large-scale AI projects. What sets DeepSeek apart is its "open-source approach" and the use of cost-effective, older-generation hardware—a strategy that challenges the traditional AI development model and opens new doors for innovation. In today's Within The Frame, we explore the impact of DeepSeek R1 on the global AI market and its implications for the future of the AI industry. For this, we invite Sung Soo Eric Kim, Adjunct Professor at Yonsei Graduate School of Business. Welcome, Professor. Also joining us via Skype is Ashique KhudaBukhsh, Assistant Professor of Software Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. Great to have you with us. 1. (KhudaBukhsh) Let's begin with Professor KhudaBukhsh, The Chinese open-source AI model "DeepSeek R1" was released on January 20th, and its low-cost, high-performance technology has shocked the global AI market. As an AI expert, how do you assess the performance of DeepSeek and China's AI capabilities? 2. (KhudaBukhsh)The most noteworthy part is that DeepSeek R1 was reportedly developed in just two months with 10 percent of the research funds of big tech companies. Unlike the closed AI models developed by American big tech companies such as OpenAI, DeepSeek has adopted an open-source approach. Professor, What is the significance of this difference? 3. (Kim) Now to Professor Kim, what impact will the competition between "open-source" and "closed-source" AI development approaches have on the AI industry? Also, will the spread of open-source methods be an opportunity for South Korean companies, who are later entrants in the generative AI field? 4. (Kim) Despite U.S. restrictions on the export of high-performance AI chips, China's AI technology development continues to accelerate. Does this mean the U.S. sanctions have not been effective? What is your outlook on the future of the U.S.-China power struggle? 5. (KhudaBukhsh) Meanwhile, governments around the world, including that of South Korea, are ramping up efforts to block the use of DeepSeek. Professor KhudaBukhsh The ongoing debate about data leakage with generative AI is a concern, but why have countries only taken action against DeepSeek specifically? 6. (KhudaBukhsh) Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing forward with a 500 billion-dollar AI infrastructure investment project called "Stargate." Professor, what impact will the emergence of DeepSeek have on Trump's AI policy direction, including Stargate? 7. (Kim) Then Professor Kim, amidst the strong competition from China, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman visited South Korea last week and made it clear that the company plans to expand its presence in the Korean market. Why is Sam Altman focusing on South Korean companies? 8. (Kim) In particular, the meeting between Sam Altman, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SoftBank's Masayoshi Son has garnered attention. It is reported that the main topic was "Stargate." If Samsung participates, what role will it play? Also, will it be an opportunity for Samsung to make a comeback? 9. (KhudaBukhsh) The global AI industry is facing a dramatic shift due to DeepSeek from China. Prof. KhudaBukhsh, How do you foresee the future of the AI power struggle? Also, what direction should South Korea's AI-related technologies take? 10. (Kim) South Korea is set to implement the AI Basic Act, which will support the development of the AI industry starting next year. What are the challenges South Korea must address to enhance its AI industry competitiveness Prof.Kim ?

Why do global entrepreneurs choose S. Korea as a destination for their startup?

2025/02/11 20:00

In other news. Young entrepreneurs from overseas are opting to start their business ventures here in South Korea. Our Ahn Sung-jin tells us why. Eight years ago, former Samsung employee Pankaj Agarwal started his own business here in South Korea. Now, that business has dozens of employees across two countries. "My journey started with Samsung in Korea and in Samsung there is a program called C-lab that gave me a chance to spin off my company and very naturally from an employee at Samsung we became an individual company." He choose Seoul as the base for his edu-tech startup. "Then what are some of the opportunities that a lot of foreign entrepreneurs see in Korea whether it be perks or what are some of the characteristics or reasons as to why foreign entrepreneurs would find Korea as an attractive destination?" "I think Korea is very unique in that there are a lot of support programs. The government makes sure that startups have a lot of opportunities because startups are always afraid that they will die for us our first office was sponsored by the government." Pankaj says basing his business in Korea has helped in other ways too. "What I benefit the most from Korea is the brand, you know there is Kpop, K-drama and I say why not K-education. I want to create a successful venture that can help showcase Korea's image in the world that a foreign entrepreneur can really build up a business in Korea." U.S. consultancy Startup Genome has ranked Seoul's startup ecosystem 9th out of 300 cities around the world. And to help start-ups get off the ground, the Ministry of SMEs provides special programs to help foreign entrepreneurs settle and grow their businesses, including assistance with visa process, business development funds and other support. "So far we've mostly focused on helping Korean startups expand, but in order to foster a startup ecosystem in Korea, we figured its also important to host foreign entrepreneurs and startups and garner talents from abroad to Korea." More global entrepreneurs are choosing Korea as a place to start their business, and this global startup center also facilitates market entry for these companies through patent and administrative support or corporate partnership matching. "Korea was the one offering the biggest ecosystem, the most developed infrastructure and the best opportunities as well. I would say that the visa process was actually very smooth." "Being able to always ask other entrepreneurs how they're managing their startup entrepreneur life in Korea so we can accelerate our business here much faster." The beginning of a start-up involves struggles such as finding resources and investment. That's why efforts from the government and other stakeholders could be the catalyst for attracting global entrepreneurs and sustaining a healthy startup ecosystem for Korea. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Why do global entrepreneurs choose S. Korea as a destination for their startup?

2025/02/11 17:00

Young entrepreneurs from overseas are opting to start their business ventures here in South Korea. Our Ahn Sung-jin tells us why. Eight years ago, former Samsung employee Pankaj Agarwal started his own business here in South Korea. Now, that business has dozens of employees across two countries. "My journey started with Samsung in Korea and in Samsung there is a program called C-lab that gave me a chance to spin off my company and very naturally from an employee at Samsung we became an individual company." He choose Seoul as the base for his edu-tech startup. "Then what are some of the opportunities that a lot of foreign entrepreneurs see in Korea whether it be perks or what are some of the characteristics or reasons as to why foreign entrepreneurs would find Korea as an attractive destination?" "I think Korea is very unique in that there are a lot of support programs. The government makes sure that startups have a lot of opportunities because startups are always afraid that they will die for us our first office was sponsored by the government." Pankaj says basing his business in Korea has helped in other ways too. "What I benefit the most from Korea is the brand, you know there is Kpop, K-drama and I say why not K-education. I want to create a successful venture that can help showcase Korea's image in the world that a foreign entrepreneur can really build up a business in Korea." U.S. consultancy Startup Genome has ranked Seoul's startup ecosystem 9th out of 300 cities around the world. And to help start-ups get off the ground, the Ministry of SMEs provides special programs to help foreign entrepreneurs settle and grow their businesses, including assistance with visa process, business development funds and other support. "So far we've mostly focused on helping Korean startups expand, but in order to foster a startup ecosystem in Korea, we figured its also important to host foreign entrepreneurs and startups and garner talents from abroad to Korea." More global entrepreneurs are choosing Korea as a place to start their business, and this global startup center also facilitates market entry for these companies through patent and administrative support or corporate partnership matching. "Korea was the one offering the biggest ecosystem, the most developed infrastructure and the best opportunities as well. I would say that the visa process was actually very smooth." "Being able to always ask other entrepreneurs how they're managing their startup entrepreneur life in Korea so we can accelerate our business here much faster." The beginning of a start-up involves struggles such as finding resources and investment. That's why efforts from the government and other stakeholders could be the catalyst for attracting global entrepreneurs and sustaining a healthy startup ecosystem for Korea. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.