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Lee Kyung-min

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

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Business

Upstage takes control of Daum operator AXZ in bid to build AI-first portal

Upstage, a Korea-based artificial intelligence (AI) company, has finalized its acquisition of AXZ, the operator of the long-running internet portal Daum, in a move that signals an ambitious attempt to remake one of the country’s most established online gateways into an AI-driven platform. The company said Thursday it completed the deal after signing a final agreement with Kakao, AXZ’s parent company, following roughly four months of due diligence. The transaction follows a memorandum of understanding reached in January under which Kakao transferred its entire stake in AXZ to Upstage in exchange for equity in the AI firm, according to the companies. Upstage said it plans to integrate its large language model, known as “Solar,” with Daum’s search engine and extensive content database to build what it described as a next-generation AI portal. The company said the goal is to move beyond keyword-based search toward what it called “context AI,” a system designed to interpret user intent and deliver direct, synthesized responses rather than lists of links. “Combining Upstage’s

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Upstage takes control of Daum operator AXZ in bid to build AI-first portal
South Korea

Korea recruits record 1,152 global creators to promote K-culture online

Korea is doubling down on its global cultural reach by enlisting more than 1,000 foreign content creators to flood YouTube with videos about Korean life, from subway rides to pop choreography. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it selected 1,152 participants from 98 countries for the seventh cohort of its “K-influencer” program, a government initiative that recruits foreign YouTubers to promote Korean culture worldwide. The program launches at 3 p.m. Thursday with an inauguration ceremony at the Arirang International Broadcasting Studio, with overseas participants joining via livestream. Officials said the scale of this year’s recruitment marked a record high in applications, reflecting surging global interest in Korea’s cultural exports. A total of 4,184 applicants from 134 countries applied during the March 27 to April 17 recruitment period. The ministry said Asia accounted for 37.3 percent of applicants, followed by South America at 19.6 percent, Africa at 19.4 percent and Europe at 11.6 percent. Among those selected are creators with sizable global followings, in

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea recruits record 1,152 global creators to promote K-culture online
South Korea

Seoul moves early to stop swarms of lovebugs before summer invasion

After swarms of lovebugs blanketed parts of Seoul last summer, clinging to apartment walls, sidewalks and hikers across the capital, city officials are racing to stop the insects before they return in force. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it would begin preemptive, eco-friendly pest control measures targeting mass outbreaks of Plecia longiforceps, commonly known as lovebugs, and oriental mayflies ahead of the peak summer season. The city said it would launch daily monitoring and coordinated response systems across all 25 districts while expanding field technologies, including large-scale insect traps, water-spraying drones and biological larvicide treatments. Although the insects are not known to transmit infectious diseases, city officials said their sudden population surges have caused widespread public discomfort. According to a 2025 survey of 1,000 Seoul residents conducted by the city, 90.7 percent of respondents said they felt disgust toward insect outbreaks, while 88.2 percent said they experienced psychological discomfort. Another 89.8 percent said stronger pest

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul moves early to stop swarms of lovebugs before summer invasion
South Korea

BLACKPINK lands on Korean stamps in tribute to global K-pop phenomenon

Korea Post said Thursday it will release a commemorative BLACKPINK stamp collection on June 16, featuring 10 stamps and a special collector’s packet carrying portraits of the group’s members. The agency said the release recognizes BLACKPINK's role in expanding the global reach of K-pop and elevating the profile of Korean popular culture. Since debuting in August 2016, BLACKPINK has emerged as one of the world’s most commercially successful girl groups, propelled by international hits including “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “Kill This Love” and “How You Like That.” The group’s second studio album, “BORN PINK,” became the first album by a K-pop girl group to surpass 2 million sales, while its third EP, “DEADLINE,” recorded the highest first-week sales for a K-pop girl group, according to Korea Post. BLACKPINK also became the first Asian act to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the first K-pop act to headline a major concert at Hyde Park in London. The group has also appeared at United Nations events promoting sustainable development goals. The commemor

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
BLACKPINK lands on Korean stamps in tribute to global K-pop phenomenon
Business

Korea, US, Japan urged to join forces on AI chips, energy

As the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure intensifies, business leaders and policy experts from Korea, the United States and Japan gathered in Seoul on Thursday with a reminder: No country can compete alone. At a conference hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speakers called for deeper trilateral cooperation in AI semiconductors, energy security and nuclear power. Among the proposals were joint development of energy-efficient AI memory chips, shared AI infrastructure for startups and coordinated investments in U.S. liquefied natural gas projects. Kwon Seok-joon, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, said the AI industry has shifted from a race for computing power to competition over efficiency and affordability. “Korea, the U.S. and Japan should jointly develop AI data center semiconductors optimized for performance per watt and cost efficiency,” Kwon said. He also proposed creating a joint semiconductor research hub modeled after Belgium’s IMEC. Industry officials said the three countries could combine Korea’s manufacturing data, Ameri

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea, US, Japan urged to join forces on AI chips, energy
South Korea

Forum puts traditional Korean cuisine in fine dining spotlight

As Korean fine dining gains global prestige, chefs and scholars will gather in Seoul this month to debate a question at the heart of the country’s culinary identity: how to preserve the roots of traditional Korean cuisine while pushing it into the future. The Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Heritage Agency said Thursday that they will host the third Hansik Forum on Monday at the Korea House Folk Theater in central Seoul. The forum, “Fine Dining Embraces the Essence of Traditional Korean Cuisine,” will examine ways to reinterpret and expand traditional Korean food culture in a sustainable way, organizers said. The event will feature presentations and panel discussions led by chefs, academics and food industry officials working at the forefront of Korean cuisine. The first session will focus on the modern reinterpretation of historical Korean cookbooks, overseas examples of traditional Korean food education and the cultural value of traditional cuisine. The second session will feature an open discussion. The forum is open to the public and costs 20,000 won ($14) to attend. Partic

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Forum puts traditional Korean cuisine in fine dining spotlight
People & Events

Disney to take its Magic Kingdom roadshow to Singapore

For decades, faithful patrons have made the pilgrimage to Anaheim, California, to catch a glimpse of the future of Disney contents. Now, The Walt Disney Company is taking its marquee fan spectacle across the Pacific. Disney said Wednesday that it will bring “D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event” to Singapore in 2027. The move marks the first time the company’s signature convention will be held in Asia, signaling an aggressive play for a region where appetite for blockbuster franchises and local streaming content continues to surge. The multiday event is designed to serve as a cornerstone of Disney’s strategy in the Asia-Pacific market. It will feature the requisite previews of upcoming attractions, live entertainment and appearances by the studio’s group of actors and creators. Crucially, the Singapore edition will also spotlight Disney+ original productions from the region, an area of significant investment as the company navigates a crowded global streaming landscape. “Bringing D23 to Singapore reflects the incredible passion of Disney fans across Asia Pacific,” Asad Ayaz,

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Disney to take its Magic Kingdom roadshow to Singapore
South Korea

Gov't scraps elder care tax for short-term migrant workers

Financial hurdles were lowered for foreign laborers working in the country's agricultural and fisheries sectors, Wednesday, as the government decided to exempt short-term seasonal workers from a mandatory elder care insurance tax they were unlikely to ever use. The Cabinet approved an amendment to the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, allowing holders of the E-8 seasonal worker visa to opt out of the insurance program upon request. The decision addresses a long-standing grievance among rural employers and migrant workers who argued that the mandatory payments were an unnecessary economic burden. Under the previous law, all workers enrolled in the national health system were automatically charged for long-term care insurance, which provides domestic and physical assistance to those over 65 or suffering from geriatric diseases. However, government data highlighted a stark disconnect: the E-8 visa is restricted to workers aged 19 to 55 who remain in the country for a maximum of eight months. As of December 2025, while 914 seasonal workers had paid nearly 400 million won ($274,911) in premiums

May 6, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Gov't scraps elder care tax for short-term migrant workers
South Korea

Seoul Garden Festival turns spring weekends into citywide stage

A stretch of green in the heart of Seoul is set to transform into a sprawling cultural stage this month, as the city government rolls out a weekslong garden festival packed with music, art and hands-on experiences designed to draw crowds into nature. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that the 2026 Seoul Garden Festival will run from May 16 to June 7, taking place every Saturday and Sunday at Seoul Forest. Now in its second year, the festival will feature themed weekend programs aligned with the broader Seoul International Garden Show, offering a mix of performances and interactive activities set against the park’s natural landscape. Opening weekend on May 16 and May 17 will spotlight performances blending traditional Korean arts with contemporary styles under the theme “Garden Pungnyu.” Acts include the band Leenalchi, known for its viral hit “Tiger Is Coming,” alongside groups such as Akdan Gwangchil, Yeonhee Company Yuhee and Hannuri Yeonhee Troupe. On May 17, performances will shift toward experimental reinterpretations of traditional music, with artists inclu

May 6, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul Garden Festival turns spring weekends into citywide stage
South Korea

Korea launches joint task force to crack down on digital sex crimes

Confronting a sophisticated landscape of digital abuse, the Korean government launched a specialized cross-agency task force Wednesday designed to dismantle the infrastructure of online sex crimes. The Integrated Support Group for Victims of Digital Sex Crimes officially debuted with a plaque-hanging ceremony attended by top officials, including Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyong and acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency Yoo Jae-sung. The launch follows the enactment of a prime ministerial decree last month aimed at centralizing a response that has previously struggled with bureaucratic delays. While the government has supported more than 53,000 victims and removed 1.5 million illegal uploads in recent years, officials admitted to significant structural hurdles. Currently, even clear cases of nonconsensual filming require a time-consuming review process before websites can be blocked. Furthermore, offshore servers often ignore deletion requests, leading to a cycle of repeated uploads. The new task force, housed within the Ministry of Gender Equality

May 6, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea launches joint task force to crack down on digital sex crimes
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