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South Korea's central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%, the first rate cut from the BOK since the Federal Reserve started tightening its monetary policy in March 2022. This was in line with a poll of economists from Reuters, who forecasted a rate cut. At that time, South Korea's inflation stood at 2.6%, but climbed sharply to hit 6.3% in July 2022, its highest in over 20 years. Oh noted that macro conditions are supportive of a rate cut, with a "favourable" inflationary backdrop. Oh predicts that after the October cut of 25 basis points, three more consecutive cuts will follow on a quarterly basis, eventually bringing the BOK's benchmark interest rate to 2.5%.

Persons: BOK, Morgan Stanley's, Kathleen Oh, We've, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Bank of, Federal Reserve, Reuters Locations: Bank of Korea, Seoul, Korea's, Korea

The Nobel Prize in literature was awarded Thursday to South Korean author Han Kang for what the Nobel committee called “her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”Mats Malm, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy’s Nobel Committee, announced the prize in Stockholm. Han, 53, won the International Booker Prize in 2016 for “The Vegetarian,” an unsettling novel in which a woman’s decision to stop eating meat has devastating consequences. The literature prize has long faced criticism that it is too focused on European and North American writers of style-heavy, story-light prose. On Wednesday, three scientists who discovered powerful techniques to decode and even design novel proteins were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. The prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) from a bequest left by the award’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.

Persons: Han Kang, ” Mats Malm, International Booker, Annie Ernaux of, Victor Ambros, Gary Ruvkun, John Hopfield, Geoffrey Hinton —, Alfred Nobel Organizations: International, North Locations: Korean, Swedish, Stockholm ., Annie Ernaux of France

Seoul, South Korea CNN —North Korea’s army said it will take the “substantial military step” of completely cutting off its territory from South Korea on Wednesday, after months of fortifying its heavily armed border. Since January, Pyongyang has fortified its border defenses, laying land mines, building anti-tank traps and removing railway infrastructure, according to the South Korean military. Over the past year, a US aircraft carrier, amphibious assault ships, long-range bombers and submarines have visited South Korea, drawing angry rebukes from Pyongyang. “North Korea’s threats, both real and rhetorical, reflect the regime survival strategy of a hereditary dictatorship.”North and South Korea have been separated since the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice agreement. In January, Kim said North Korea would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, calling inter-Korean relations “a relationship between two hostile countries and two belligerents at war,” KCNA reported at the time.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, ”, Hong Min, ” Hong, Yoon Suk Yeol, Leif, Eric Easley, “ Kim Jong Un, ” Easley, ” KCNA Organizations: South Korea CNN, North, South, DPRK, Staff, Korean People’s Army, Democratic People’s, South Korean, General Staff, US, Korea’s, Chiefs, Korea Institute for National Unification, CNN, Inter, Korean, Armed Forces, Ewha Womans University, North Korean, United Nations Command Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Pyongyang, Hong, Russia, West

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un wants to speed up becoming a nuclear superpower
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will speed up steps toward becoming a military superpower with nuclear weapons and would not rule out using them if it came under enemy attack, state news agency KCNA reported Tuesday. This does not preclude the use of nuclear weapons.”“Our footsteps towards becoming a military superpower and a nuclear power will accelerate,” he added. North Korea has for decades pursued a nuclear weapons program and is believed to have enough fissile materials to build dozens of the weapons. It has conducted six underground nuclear detonation tests. Last week, South Korea marked an annual armed forces day with a large military parade showcasing a ballistic missile capable of carrying a massive warhead and featuring a flypast of a U.S. strategic bomber.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Yoon Suk, “ Yoon Suk Yeol, ” KCNA, ”, Kim Jong Organizations: South, Republic, U.S, Kim Jong Un National Defense University Locations: Seoul, colluding, Washington, South Korea, North Korea, U.S

☆ Samsung posts disappointing third quarter profit guidance as it grapples with AI chips
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics said it expects worse-than-expected profit for the third quarter. Samsung is the leading manufacturer of memory chips, which are utilized in devices like laptops and servers. Analysts polled by LSEG expected an operating profit of 11.456 trillion Korean won ($7.7 billion) for the quarter ended Sept. 30. Samsung's revenue for the quarter was expected to hit 81.96 trillion won ($61 billion), according to LSEG estimates. DRAM refers to dynamic random access memory chips that are often used in laptops, workstations and PCs.

Persons: Joan Cros, Daniel Yoo, Yoo, LSEG Organizations: Samsung, Mobile, Getty Images, Samsung Electronics, Yuanta Securities, Macquarie Equity Research, Reuters Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Korean, Yuanta Securities Korea, South

☆ Apple could launch a ring to rival Samsung by 2026, research firm predicts
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this article AAPL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTApple CEO Tim Cook gestures during the annual developer conference event at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S., June 10, 2024. Carlos Barria | ReutersApple could launch a connected ring to rival Samsung by 2026, according to CCS Insight, adding to the U.S. tech giant's focus on health. In fact, I would go so far as to say, at the point that Tim Cook decides to relinquish control and he retires ... "Given how deeply and personally invested Tim Cook is in health, I think that a ring is a very complimentary extension to Apple," he said, referring to Apple CEO Cook. Similar to smartwatches, a smart ring is embedded with various sensors to track health metrics like heart rate.

Persons: Tim Cook, Carlos Barria, Ben Wood, CNBC's, Cook, Wood Organizations: Reuters Apple, Samsung, CCS Insight, Apple, Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy, South Locations: Cupertino , California, U.S, Cupertino, South Korean

☆ North Korea leader Kim threatens to use nuclear weapons against the South if attacked
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country would not hesitate to use all available offensive forces including nuclear weapons if the enemy attempted to use force to encroach on its sovereignty, state news agency KCNA reported Friday. Kim criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for threatening to end the North Korean regime at a military day event on Tuesday, saying the comment showed which side was destroying regional security and peace. DPRK is short for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name. North Korea has for decades pursued a nuclear weapons program and is believed to have enough fissile materials to build dozens of such weapons. Kim said “the enemies’ threatening rhetoric, action, trick and attempt did not check the DPRK’s powerful military strength and will not take away our nuclear weapons forever,” KCNA reported.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Yoon Suk, Yoon “, ” KCNA, “, Yoon, ”, ” Yoon Organizations: South, Democratic People’s Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, North, DPRK, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Korea, U.S, Pyongyang

☆ Waymo to add Hyundai EVs to robotaxi fleet under new multiyear deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hyundai Motor and Waymo have agreed to a multiyear, strategic partnership that includes the self-driving company adding the South Korean automaker's Ioniq 5 electric vehicle to its robotaxi fleet. Hyundai Motor and Waymo have agreed to a multiyear, strategic partnership that includes the self-driving company adding the South Korean automaker's Ioniq 5 electric vehicle to its robotaxi fleet. Waymo, which boasts around 700 vehicles in its fleet today, operates the only commercial robotaxi service in the U.S., Waymo One. They are expected to become available to Waymo One robotaxi riders in the years to follow, the companies said. Hyundai said the Waymo partnership "doesn't influence" Motional.

Persons: Waymo, robotaxi, José Muñoz, Muñoz, Hyundai, — CNBC's Jennifer Elias Organizations: Hyundai, Chrysler, Hyundai Motor North America Locations: Korean, U.S, Georgia

☆ North Korea’s Kim Jong Un threatens to destroy the South with nuclear weapons if provoked
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to use nuclear weapons to destroy South Korea if attacked, state media reported Friday, after South Korea’s president warned that if the North used nuclear weapons it would “face the end of its regime.”The fiery rhetoric isn’t new, but comes at a time of tension on the Korean Peninsula and just weeks after North Korean state media released images of Kim visiting a uranium enrichment facility, which produces weapons-grade nuclear materials. “If such situation comes, the permanent existence of Seoul and the Republic of Korea would be impossible,” Kim added, using the proper name for South Korea. North Korea could revoke a key agreement which enshrines the potential for reunification of the Koreas as soon as Monday, when its legislature is expected to meet, Seoul’s Unification Ministry told CNN. Last month, North Korean state media released photos of Kim purportedly touring a nuclear facility in a rare glimpse of the nation’s closely guarded weapons program. On Tuesday, Yoon unveiled the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, which is reportedly capable of penetrating North Korean underground bunkers.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, ” Kim, Yoon Suk Yeol, Jung Yeon, Yoon, ” Yoon, KCNA Organizations: South Korea CNN — North, South, North, Korean Central News Agency, Armed Forces Day, Unification Ministry, CNN, Korea Armed Forces, Seoul Air Base, Getty, SK, US, Armed Forces Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korean, Pyongyang, Republic of Korea, Korea, Russia, West, Korean, Seongnam, North Korea, United States

☆ A North Korean defector who struggled in South Korea stole a bus and tried to drive across the border, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Seoul CNN —A North Korean defector who escaped to the South more than a decade ago was detained after attempting to cross back into North Korea on a stolen bus, police said. Since moving to South Korea in 2011, the 35-year-old man had been working day-to-day jobs without a stable home. More than 34,000 North Korean defectors have arrived in South Korea since fighting ended in the Korean War in 1953, according to official data. Defectors and advocates say the fact that some North Korean defectors try to return home points to how difficult it can be for them to assimilate into South Korean society. The man had previously crossed the border into North Korea via China but was returned by North Korean authorities.

Persons: “ He’s, ” Organizations: Seoul CNN, Korean, Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police, CNN, National Security, Joint, South Korean, North Locations: Seoul, North Korea, Gyeonggi, South Korea, South, Korean, North, China

☆ Ford's third-quarter sales up 0.7% as GM overtakes it in EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A banner advertises the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle at a Ford dealership on August 21, 2024 in Glendale, California. DETROIT – Ford Motor lost its lead in electric vehicle sales to crosstown rival General Motors during the third quarter, as the automaker's EV growth slowed. Ford on Wednesday reported a 0.7% increase in third-quarter U.S. new vehicle sales, including a 12.2% increase in EVs compared with a year earlier. The third-quarter results for Ford contributed to a 45% increase in EV sales this year through September to 67,689 units. The South Korean automaker remains a distant second in U.S. EV sales to market leader Tesla .

Persons: Ford, Tesla Organizations: Ford, Ford Motor, Motors, GM, Hyundai, Kia, South Korean Locations: Glendale , California, DETROIT, EVs, U.S

☆ South Korea military parade includes ‘monster missile’ and U.S. bomber flypast
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea showcased a ballistic missile capable of carrying an eight-ton warhead and featured a flypast of a U.S. bomber at military parades in Seoul on Tuesday, a show of force now held annually to signal readiness to respond to North Korean threats. For decades such military parades had been held only infrequently in South Korea. Military officials have said Tuesday’s parade was partly intended to showcase South Korea’s military might as a deterrence to North Korea, which frequently stages parades featuring weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles. The South Korean parade included a flypast by a U.S. B-1B strategic bomber for the first time, while the U.S. Eighth Army band and an armored Stryker brigade also took part. “That day will see the end of the North Korean regime.”Dubbed a “monster missile” by South Korean media, the Hyunmoo-5 was a centerpiece of the parade, specifically designed to penetrate underground bunkers.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, ” Yoon, Yu Yong, Kim Kang Il, KCNA, Kim, Tuesday’s, Jeon Ha Organizations: Armed Forces, U.S, U.S . Eighth Army, Strategic Command, South, Defense Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, U.S, Seoul, North Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Washington

☆ South Korean police officers jailed over ‘man-made’ Halloween crowd crush
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean court on Monday sentenced the former police chief of a district of Seoul to three years in prison for a botched response to a deadly Halloween crowd crush in the capital’s Itaewon nightlife district in 2022. Yongsan police station chief Lee Im-jae is the first senior police official to be convicted over the crush, which led to 159 deaths nearly two years ago. The court said the crowd crush was a “man-made disaster” that could have either been prevented or the impact substantially reduced if the accused had fulfilled their duties. Park Hee-young, the Yongsan district office chief, along with three other district officials were found not guilty of failing to adequately respond to the crush. Earlier this year, parliament passed a bill backed by the ruling and opposition parties to launch a fresh investigation into the Halloween crush.

Persons: Lee Im, jae, Lee, Lee’s, Hee, Lee Sang, Prosecutors Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Seoul, Yongsan

☆ 81-year-old South Korean model falls short in a bid to become oldest Miss Universe contestant
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, South Korea — An 81-year-old South Korean fashion model fell short in her bid to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant after competing in the country’s national pageant against rivals old enough to be her grandchildren. Dressed in a beaded white gown, the silver-haired Choi Soon-hwa strutted across the stage and performed in a singing contest at the Miss Universe Korea pageant held Monday at a hotel in South Korea’s capital, Seoul. She missed out on the crown but did take home the “best dresser” award. Han Ariel, a 22-year-old fashion school student, won the contest and will head to Mexico City for the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in November. Choi, a former hospital care worker who began her modeling career in her 70s, was announced as a Miss Universe Korea finalist earlier this month along with 31 other contestants.

Persons: Choi, Han Ariel Organizations: South Korea —, Miss, Miss Universe Korea, Mexico City, 73rd Miss Universe, Korea Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, South Korea’s, Seoul, Mexico

☆ South Korea could give those who watch deepfake porn 3 years in prison or a fine of up to $23K
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

South Korea has passed a law banning the possession and viewing of deepfake porn. The majority of deepfake porn videos online feature South Korean singers and actresses. The new legislation aims to expand on the earlier law by targeting the consumers of deepfake porn, as South Korea grapples with sexually explicit AI-generated content. According to AFP, authorities last month discovered a vast network of these deepfake porn chatrooms, which sometimes targeted school and university staff and students. Security Hero said that in 2023, the total number of deepfake videos online was 95,820, with 98% of those being pornographic in nature.

Persons: —, Sens, Ted Cruz, Amy Klobuchar Organizations: Service, Reuters, South Korea grapples, Security, AFP, Telegram Locations: Korea, Korean, South Korea, US, South Korean, Seoul, chatrooms

☆ Senior South Korean Police Officer Sentenced to 3 Years Over Crowd Crush
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | More About Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Seoul court sentenced a senior police officer to three years in prison on Monday, convicting him of contributing through negligence to a Halloween crowd crush that killed nearly 160 people in 2022 in one of South Korea’s worst peacetime disasters. Lee Im-jae, the former chief of police in Yongsan District, the area in central Seoul where the disaster happened, was the most senior police officer to be found guilty of a crime related to the shocking tragedy. Victims’ families remain deeply unsatisfied and angry with the government’s investigation into the deadly crowd crush. So far a handful have been convicted, with the longest sentence being handed to Mr. Lee. But on Monday, the district court acquitted Park Hee-young, the elected mayor of Yongsan District, of criminal negligence, allowing her to continue in office.

Persons: convicting, Lee Im, , Prosecutors, Lee, Hee Organizations: Mr Locations: Seoul, Yongsan District

☆ BTS star Suga fined for riding a scooter while intoxicated
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Jack Guy | Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —K-pop megastar Suga has been fined after being caught riding an electric scooter while under the influence of alcohol. In August, Suga was found to have ridden about 500 meters (around 1,600 feet) on an electric scooter after drinking alcohol. While he did not injure anyone or cause any damage, it is illegal to ride a scooter after drinking alcohol in South Korea. “Last night, I drank while having dinner, and returned home riding an electric scooter. A driver’s licence is required for riding an electric scooter in South Korea.

Persons: CNN —, Suga, “, I’m, ” Organizations: CNN, South Korean Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea

☆ Presidents Cup: Team USA powers to 10th straight victory after swearing accusation controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The 38-year-old now hopes to take the lessons of this week’s victory into next year’s surprise appointment at the helm for the 45th Ryder Cup in New York. “The last time I played in one of these, I was the clinching point for the Europeans in the Ryder Cup. Bradley celebrates with his wife after clinching victory for Team USA. ‘Feisty’Kim was at the center of the drama again Saturday after he accused the American team of swearing at him. “I have a lot of respect for everyone on that team, but the Koreans definitely bring the heat, no doubt.”

Persons: Keegan Bradley, Xander Schauffele, Jason Day, Jim Furyk’s, Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Scottie Scheffler’s, Hideki Matsuyama, Bradley, Kim Si, “, ” Bradley, Tabitha, I’ve, ”, Vaughn Ridley, Mike Weir’s, Tom Kim, Kim, Scheffler shrugged, we’re, ” Kim, Kevin Kisner, ” Kisner, Paul McGinley, it’s, ’ Kim, Wyndham Clark, Cantlay, Steph Curry’s, birdied, ” Tom Kim, Furyk, Jared C, Tilton, Schauffele, ” “, I’m, Burns, Kim –, –, ‘, ” Schauffele, Im, jae, Ben An, “ Tom, “ It’s, It’s Organizations: CNN, Ryder, Keegan, International Team, Royal Montreal Golf Club, Europe, Team USA, Team, PGA, Scheffler, Minas Panagiotakis, USA, Sky Sports, American, NBA, US, Getty Locations: Canada, New York

☆ Seoul Halloween crowd crush: South Korea court sentences highest-ranking police officer yet to jail
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Gawon Bae | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul CNN —The former head of a local police station in Seoul has been sentenced to three years in jail over a deadly 2022 Halloween crowd crush, making him the highest-ranking law enforcement official to be held criminally liable over the disaster. Seoul Western District Court said Monday it found Lee and two other former Yongsan police officers guilty of neglecting their duties, which resulted in deaths and injuries, despite signs that “the danger of large-scale casualties” was foreseeable. Itaewon, home to some of Seoul’s popular restaurants and bars, had hosted Halloween celebrations for years. Most who died that night were young South Koreans – largely in their teens and early 20s. Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a slew of new measures “to ensure a safe Halloween” – including a new CCTV system to monitor crowd numbers.

Persons: Lee Im, Lee, Itaewon, Yoon Suk Yeol Organizations: Seoul CNN, Seoul, South Koreans, South, Seoul Metropolitan Government Locations: Seoul, Yongsan, Itaewon, Asia, Japan, Shibuya, Guangzhou, China

☆ Meet the 80-year-old Miss Universe Korea contestant proving age is just a number
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Oscar Holland | Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Earlier this month, she was unveiled as a finalist in the annual Miss Universe Korea competition. Choi surrounded by fellow Miss Universe Korea contestants at a pageant rehearsal on Friday. Charlie Miller/CNNNational-level Miss Universe pageants, although not all directly administered by the Miss Universe Organization, were obliged to follow suit. This year, 58-year-old Lorraine Peters and 60-year-old Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez took part in Miss Universe Canada and Miss Universe Argentina, respectively, though neither advanced to November’s final. It’s so fun and I love it.”More opportunitiesWith a rapidly declining birth rate, South Korea is among the world’s fastest-aging countries.

Persons: CNN —, Choi, hwa, “, ”, —, Charlie Miller, Lorraine Peters, Alejandra Marisa Rodríguez, ‘, ’ ” Choi, Choi —, Beatrice Njoya of, It’s, Jung Yeon, ” Choi, Jean Chung, he’s Organizations: CNN, Miss, Miss Universe, Miss Universe Organization, Miss Universe Canada, Miss Universe Korea, Getty, Seoul Fashion, Harper’s, Elle, South Locations: Miss Universe Korea, South Korea, Mexico, Korea, Miss Universe Argentina, Beatrice Njoya of Malta, Seoul, Cass, Japan

☆ As ports strike nears, union warns that companies like Walmart, Ikea and Home Depot will be left with few to no import options
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

These companies are among the leading importers at the 14 major ports that an ILA strike would impact, according to ImportGenius. Out of the 85,000 members, 50,000 would go on strike at the 14 ports that are subject to a master contract that has not been negotiated. Separately, the Port of Montreal union affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees issued a 72-hour notice that its own three-day strike starts on Monday, Sept. 30. Robinson, tells CNBC this strike could exacerbate the U.S. port strike disruption. "We'll shut them down," Daggett said in a recent video message to union members.

Persons: ImportGenius, Peter Sand, James McNamara, Mia Ginter, Robinson, Ginter, Harold Daggett, Daggett, William George, Biden, Taft, Hartley, USMX, McNamara, Maersk Organizations: International Longshoremen's Association, LG Electronics, Walmart, Ikea, Samsung, ILA, Cruise, Brothers, Port, Canadian Union of Public Employees, CNBC, U.S, Home Depot, Hyundai, General Motors, Dollar, . Tire, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental Tire, Glovis, Samsung Electronics, IKEA, US Maritime Alliance, NLRB, Reuters, Biden, Georgia Ports Authority, U.S ., Gulf, Mitre Locations: East Coast, Gulf Coast, Canada, West Coast, West, Coast, Great Lakes, Montreal, C.H, Port of Montreal, of Los Angeles, Lading, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah, Houston , North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New Orleans, Glovis America, In Savannah, Georgia, South, America, Newark, Maine, Texas, Boston , New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, Tampa , Miami , New Orleans, Mobile, Houston, Gulf, NY, NJ, U.S . East Coast, Port of New York

☆ South Korea to criminalize watching or possessing sexually explicit deepfakes
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —South Korean lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill that criminalizes possessing or watching sexually explicit deepfake images and videos, with penalties set to include prison terms and fines. There has been an outcry in South Korea over Telegram group chats where sexually explicit and illegal deepfakes were created and widely shared, prompting calls for tougher punishment. Currently, making sexually explicit deepfakes with the intention of distributing them is punishable by five years in prison or a fine of 50 million won ($37,900) under the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act. Earlier this month, police launched an investigation into Telegram that will look at whether the encrypted messaging app has been complicit in the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake content. Earlier this year, social media platform X blocked users from searching for Taylor Swift after fake sexually explicit images of the pop singer proliferated on social media.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Taylor Swift Organizations: Reuters, South, Telegram Locations: South Korea

☆ SK Hynix announces mass production of updated AI chip, spurring rally in Asian semiconductor stocks
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SK Hynix Inc. signage at the company's office in Seongnam, South Korea, on Monday, April 22, 2024. SK Hynix is scheduled to release earnings figures on April 25. SK Hynix said the chip would have a 36 gigabyte capacity, the largest among existing HBM chips. The South Korean giant has been a main supplier of the high-bandwidth memory chips catering to AI chipsets for companies like Nvidia . The development came as the world's second-largest memory chipmaker seeks to continue its dominance in the AI memory chip market.

Persons: SeongJoon Cho, SK Hynix Organizations: SK Hynix Inc, SK Hynix, Bloomberg, Getty, SK, Nvidia Locations: Seongnam, South Korea

☆ Trash balloons sent by North Korea cause regular disruptions at Seoul’s airports
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has been forced to repeatedly shut down runways at the two main airports for the capital, Seoul, since June due to disruption from trash-carrying balloons launched by North Korea, a South Korean lawmaker said Wednesday, citing aviation data. North Korea has launched more than 5,500 balloons with bags of trash attached to them since late May, saying it was responding to balloons carrying propaganda leaflets flown by South Korean activists. The balloons are carried by wind and some have dropped in the South, including near the presidential office and on airport runways. On June 26, Incheon airport runways were closed for a total of 166 minutes, the most over 24 hours, according to aviation data released by Yang’s office. On Monday, the military said it was ready to take “stern military action” if it believed the North had “crossed the line,” but declined to elaborate.

Persons: Yang Bu, “ Organizations: South, Democratic Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Seoul, North Korea, South Korean, Incheon, Korea, Gimpo, South

☆ Adoption fraud was widespread for many South Koreans adopted into Western countries, AP finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +22 min

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — As the plane descended into Seoul, Robert Calabretta swaddled himself in a blanket, his knees tucked into his chest like a baby in the womb. The South Korean government has accepted a fact-finding commission under pressure from adoptees, and hundreds have submitted their cases for review. Western governments turned a blind eye, sometimes even pressuring South Korea for children, while promoting the narrative that they were saving orphans with no other options. Robert Calabretta, right, and his biological father, Lee Sung-soo, during a visit in Daegu, South Korea, in August 2020. Laurie Bender was approached by a strange woman while playing in the front yard in South Korea in 1975.

Persons: Robert Calabretta swaddled, they’d, “, ”, —, doesn’t, Robert Calabretta, Lee Sung, Calabretta, “ You’re, Patricia Nye, ” Nye, Holt, weren’t, ” Michaela Dietz, Robyn Joy Park, Rae, hasn't, Jae, Lee, ” Lee, Lee Moo, wasn’t, David Goldman, she’d, Laurie Bender, Bender, Han Tae, Philsik Shin, Helen Noh, Noh, ” Noh, he’d, Susan Soonkeum Cox, Kim Jin Sook, Francis Carlin, ” Carlin, …, Carlin, ” Bender, you’ve, Han Organizations: The Associated Press, South, AP, Frontline, International Social Service, University of Minnesota, ISS, BBC, ”, Holt Children’s Services, Eastern Social Welfare Society, Korea Welfare Services, Korea Social Service, Records, Health Ministry, Red Cross Hospital, U.S, Korea’s Anyang University, Seoul’s Soongsil University, Holt International, Catholic Relief Services, South Korean, FRONTLINE, PBS Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Seoul, United States, South, Western, adoptees, U.S, Australia, Daegu, Korean, West, Korea, Geneva, “, Asia, Europe, North America, Pasadena , Calif, Boryeong, American, New York, ”, Oregon, Holt, Holt Korea

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