Korea Times

Samsung SDS has begun construction of an artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, marking the first step in Samsung Group's 60 trillion won ($44.6 billion) investment plan for the Yeongnam region. The company said Monday that the facility will be built on a 46,000-square-meter site in Gongdan-dong, with an initial power capacity of 60 megawatts, which can be expanded to 120 MW to meet growing demand for AI computing infrastructure. Construction began after Gum

Subscriptions to services such as Netflix and YouTube Premium cost an average of 65 percent less when bought through unofficial resellers, but buyers risk losing their accounts, their money and their personal data, a cybersecurity firm said Monday. Netherlands-based Surfshark compared official prices for 10 popular subscription services, including Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium and Duolingo, with prices on resale platforms. Resold subscriptions averaged about 6,200 won ($4.60) a month, compar

Trump cap slogal references Depression

A major natural disaster in North Korea could create an opening for engagement with the isolated regime through humanitarian aid, according to a Japanese disaster expert who once coordinated with North Korean officials at the United Nations. He noted that the U.N. had discussed such an approach and that disasters have helped thaw relations elsewhere. “In the event of a major disaster in North Korea, neighboring countries — including China, South Korea, Russia and Japan — could potentially provid

The opening game of the Korean baseball championship series this week will feature a duel of two right-handed starting pitchers. The KT Wiz and the Samsung Lions will go toe-to-toe in the best-of-seven Korean Series, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wiz's home, KT Wiz Park in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul announced American right-hander Davis Daniel as his Game 1 starter during the Korean Series media day Monday in Suwon. Lions manager Park Jin-man r

Korea has officially launched its sixth national supercomputer, named "Hangang" after the iconic Han River flowing through Seoul, to propel cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and scientific research. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the state-run Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) marked the launch Monday at KISTI headquarters in Daejeon, the nation’s primary scientific and research hub located about 140 kilometers south of Seoul. The ceremony brought togethe

The chief of LG Electronics said on Monday that "caregiving" could become the next frontier for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered services. In a post on his LinkedIn account, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lyu Jae-cheol outlined the company's vision for AI-powered homes, saying they should go beyond simply adding AI features to connected devices. "This is the direction envisioned by LG Electronics' 'Zero-Labor Home' vision, which aims to free people from household chores," Lyu said. The Korean

A court will open a retrial next week for an Uzbek national who was sentenced to life in prison 16 years ago for killing and robbing a taxi driver in 2009, legal sources said Monday. According to the sources, the first hearing of the retrial for Bozorov Akmal, 37, will begin at 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Changwon District Court in Changwon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Supreme Court finalized Akmal's life imprisonment in 2010 on charges of robbing and killing a 50-something taxi d

Japan's stock market rally and retail investing boom are attracting Korean financial firms seeking overseas growth, as mounting pressure on smaller brokerages creates acquisition opportunities, industry officials said Monday. Viva Republica, the operator of Korean fintech platform Toss, plans to acquire Cheer Securities through its Singapore-based subsidiary, Toss Global, in a deal valued at 4 billion yen ($25.35 million). It would mark Toss' first overseas acquisition. Cheer Securities, establi

Incheon International Airport’s latest check-in disruption has exposed its vulnerability to failures at external network providers, prompting calls for stronger contingency systems. The outage began around 4:30 a.m. Friday, when connectivity problems hit the global network of U.S.-based aviation communications provider ARINC, disrupting check-in operations at 13 airlines across both terminals. It delayed 38 flights and left around 1,200 passengers waiting at the airport, according to Incheon Int

IVE's Jang Won-young drew attention with an elegant all-black look that highlighted her striking proportions at a luxury jewelry event in Seoul. Jang attended a preview exhibition for an Italian luxury jewelry brand at SONGEUN in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, on Oct. 28. For the event, she wore long off-the-shoulder dress, creating a sophisticated yet romantic look. Voluminous ruffles along the neckline added dimension to the otherwise monochromatic ensemble. The dress's off-the-shoulder and b

644-The second Muslim caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, is injured in an assassination attempt in Medina by Lu'lu, an enslaved Persian captive. The caliph dies four days later. 1534-English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, making Henry VIII and all subsequent monarchs the Head of the Church of England 1620-Great Patent granted to Plymouth Colony 1640-English Long Parliament forms 1906-International Radiotelegraph Conference in Berlin selects the "SOS" (· · · – – – · · ·) distress signal as the

For Korean policymakers, the U.S. Senate’s failure on Sept. 15 to advance the proposed CLARITY Act, which would establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets and clarify the respective roles of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), deserves attention. The immediate setback was American, but the legislative risk is familiar in Seoul. The bill fell short of the 60 votes needed to proceed after years of industry demands.

Jongno, the historic heart of downtown Seoul, will recreate a 600-year-old marketplace along Cheonggye Stream this Saturday during its annual Yukui-jeon Festival — a celebration named after the "Six Licensed Stores" that held exclusive royal monopolies during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). The 2026 festival will run from 1 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 7 around Jangtonggyo Bridge, bringing together local merchants, food vendors, traditional games and live performances under the theme "Unjong-ga, Street Whe

Incheon International Airport, Korea’s main international gateway, has begun using artificial intelligence (AI) to spot signs of trouble in its baggage handling system (BHS) before equipment breaks down, its operator said Monday. Incheon International Airport Corp. said its BHS Smart Monitoring System has been running in the baggage handling system at the airport’s Terminal 2 since Oct. 26. BHS is a network of conveyors and sorting machines that moves checked luggage between check-in counters, a

Visitors to Deoksu Palace will have a chance to become royal chefs, using artificial intelligence (AI) to create elaborate banquet dishes inspired by the dining traditions of the Korean Empire. The Korea Heritage Service's Deoksu Palace Management Office, in collaboration with Davero Art, will open “Imperial Banquet of the Korean Empire, Prepared With AI” on Tuesday at Dondeokjeon Hall in central Seoul, with the exhibition running through March 28, 2027. The interactive exhibition combines histo

Everland, Korea’s largest theme park, said Monday that visitors can enjoy peak fall foliage, newly unveiled baby animals and seasonal shows this month. Autumn leaves across the park are expected to peak this week, according to Samsung C&T’s resort division, which operates the park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul. Members of Garden Pass, the park’s garden subscription service, can now join a guided program at the Secret Ginkgo Forest near Everland. The company say

Lee Ji-yeon, an office worker in her 30s, traveled solo to Japan's Kyoto in early October. She had considered destinations such as Canada and Australia, but ultimately opted for a shorter trip closer to home. "It was difficult for me to take a long day off work, and considering the cost of airfare, I thought it would make more sense to take a short trip to a nearby country," she said. A Seoul resident in her 60s surnamed Park is planning a trip to Hong Kong with friends in December. "Long-distan

Kim Se-woong, a former Kakao executive overseeing AI synergy initiatives, has been appointed to lead a government task force developing artificial intelligence (AI) services for the public. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on Monday, it has appointed Kakao’s former vice president as head of the National AI Service Innovation Task Force. Kim brings extensive experience in AI services, spanning technology development, service commercialization and infrastructure development, as well as

Korea and Japan are seeking to tighten customs cooperation on drug smuggling, counterfeit products and cross-border online shopping, as officials look to protect businesses and strengthen border security. Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Jong-wook met with Mitsuhiro Teraoka, director-general of Japan's Customs and Tariff Bureau, in Tokyo last week to discuss three areas of cooperation, the customs agency said Monday. The meeting followed the 34th Korea-Japan Customs Chiefs' Meeting in Seou