UIWANG, South Korea — Seeking to remain competitive against fast-growing Chinese automakers and find new sources of growth amid a sharp retreat in its share price, Hyundai Motor Group is stepping up its push into robotics and physical artificial intelligence (AI). The move comes as the world's third-largest automotive group faces growing pressure to improve profitability in its conventional carmaking business amid intensifying competition in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly from lower-priced Chinese models. Investors are also questioning when the group's heavy investments in robotics will start to pay off. Hyundai Motor Co.'s shares more than doubled after its U.S. subsidiary Boston Dynamics unveiled its Atlas humanoid robot at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, reaching a record closing high of 755,000 won ($565.2) in June. But the stock has since fallen sharply to near pre-CES levels, closing at 312,000 won Friday, as enthusiasm over robotics has faded amid weak earnings and growing concerns about how soon the technology can turn profitable. Speculati

The number of voice phishing transactions confirmed as fraud after being flagged by monitoring systems at major commercial banks doubled last year from a year earlier, data showed Sunday. According to the data submitted by the Financial Supervisory Service to Rep. Park Seong-hoon of the People Power Party, the five major banks — KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank — detected 8,760 such transactions through their fraud detection systems (FDS) in 2025 and subsequently confirmed them as actual fraud after taking temporary measures to suspend them. The figure more than doubled from 4,343 cases in 2024. An FDS is a technical system that monitors transactions, user activity and other data in real time to identify and flag suspicious behavior. The banks' FDS flagged 1.11 million suspected voice phishing transactions last year, up 39.9 percent from 796,000 in 2024. Of those, the banks took temporary measures against 157,000 transactions in 2025, up from 125,000 in 2024. Recently, Korean financial institutions are stepping up efforts to strengthen their cyb

The number of inmates released on parole before serving 60 percent of their full sentence has increased due to prison overcrowding, a lawmaker said Sunday. A total of 634 inmates who had served less than 60 percent of their full sentence were granted early parole in the January-August period, Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party said, citing justice ministry data. The figure is around 3.7-fold bigger than the annual total of 172 in 2025, according to the lawmaker. The number of inmates who were released before fulfilling 60 percent of their sentence remained below 40 between 2022 and 2024 but sharply jumped last year. The increase was attributed to overcrowding at prisons across the country. As of the end of August, correctional facilities were operating at 126.2 percent of their capacity, compared with 122.1 percent in 2025, the data showed, according to Joo. To lower the rate, the justice ministry has been expanding early paroles for elderly and sick inmates who were deemed to have a low risk of reoffense. The ministry has said it plans to increase the number of ear

Police have apprehended a Kazakh man suspected of carrying out an ambush-style attack on a car at night in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, in an incident captured on dashcam footage that went viral recently. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency and Icheon Police Station said Saturday that they detained the suspect, 21, on suspicion of aggravated intimidation and property damage. He and a fellow Kazakh national, 25, allegedly pursued and blocked a car carrying a driver in his 30s and a passenger on a road in Majang township on July 29. They allegedly left their own vehicle to threaten the occupants and kick the front of the vehicle. The case drew public attention after the footage was featured on the YouTube channel Han Moon-chul TV last month, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. As the footage spread, politicians such as Rep. Na Kyung-won of the opposition People Power Party questioned the state of public safety and called on police to mobilize all available investigative resources to catch the suspects. Police reopened the probe last month, and forensic specialists recovered som

Students from Jeonbuk National University’s Department of Sociology won top honors in an academic presentation competition for projects examining urban history, youth anxiety and changes in university life from a sociological perspective. The department said Friday that Kim Min-seo and Jang Eun-seong won the grand prize in a presentation competition organized by the Korean Sociological Association for supporters of the 2027 ISA World Congress of Sociology. Organized by the International Sociological Association (ISA), the congress will be held in Gwangju from July 4-10 next year. Two other teams received excellence awards. They were Bae Sol and Seon Hwa-pyeong, and Kim Se-jeong and Kim Yong-man. The grand prize-winning team explored the theme “How We Remember Gwangju,” examining the city’s history and urban spaces through a sociological lens to highlight the significance of hosting the World Congress of Sociology in Gwangju. The team examined a diverse range of historical sites and everyday spaces, including the former South Jeolla Provincial Office and Jeonil Building 245, artist

SINGAPORE, LONDON, SEOUL — Artificial intelligence (AI) is rewriting the rules across industries and higher education is no exception. While Korean universities are racing to establish AI departments and expand enrollment in advanced technology fields, some of the world’s leading institutions are taking different approach in adapting to the rapidly evolving technology. Rather than focusing solely on expanding AI-related education, these universities are rethinking the fundamentals of higher education, from what students should learn and how their abilities should be assessed to which academic strengths will remain valuable as AI takes on tasks once performed exclusively by humans. At Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, AI education is no longer limited to engineering and computer science majors. The university is working to make AI part of learning across every discipline, including the arts and humanities. The university aims to integrate AI into 40 percent of courses across all 52 undergraduate degree programs by 2030, up from just 5 percent today. Under the initiat

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday reaffirmed his opposition over ending the livestreams of Cabinet meetings, saying he is open to all opinions exchanged during the meetings. Lee's remarks came just days after he wrote on his X account that he disagrees with a need to end the livestreams, calling a recent new report on alleged calls from Cabinet members to end them a "false claim." "It is difficult to understand why they are pressing against disclosing part of the Cabinet meetings by even lying that 'Cabinet members cannot speak up because the meetings are public,'" the president wrote in a message on X. He also shared a YouTube broadcast opposing such calls and introducing cases in which Lee embraces opposing opinions from Cabinet members during the meetings. "I have intentionally increased the number of participants by a significant number to listen to various opinions regarding state affairs," Lee said. "I have always liked debates and especially respected people who propose opposing views," he said, adding he has always emphasized the role of people with opposing views to prevent probl

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae faces growing backlash over derogatory remarks portraying firefighting as a drain on provincial finances, with her subsequent apology drawing further criticism for lacking sincerity after a firefighter died battling a factory blaze in a city in the province. Choo’s repeated attempts to explain her intentions have only backfired as they were seen as lacking sincerity, with the opposition demanding a clearer apology and some members of her own party urging a disciplinary measure against her. The controversy began on Tuesday during a National Assembly audit of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, when Choo mentioned the burden of firefighters’ personnel costs on local finances. “Firefighting seems to be the biggest headache, like a straw sucking up our finances,” she said, seeking to highlight that local governments still have to pay firefighters’ salaries even though they are now national government employees. But her analogy sparked anger for appearing to treat people who risk their lives to protect the public as a budgetary burden. Amid the row,

Residents of Gyeonggi Province can directly propose the bus routes they need for their commutes, giving them a standing invitation to participate in the province’s route planning. Gyeonggi Province said last week it has opened a proposal board where residents can suggest routes for Gyeonggi Pyeonha G Bus, a reserved-seat rush-hour bus service that connects major hubs in the Seoul metropolitan area. The board is designed to factor actual commute demand data into new route selection and is open to proposals at any time. Each resident can propose one route and may edit an existing proposal if their needs change. Proposals are regularly forwarded to the city or county where each route would start, to inform reviews of new routes. Proposed routes are selected only after cities and counties assess feasibility, draw up business plans, survey demand, secure budgets and consult other relevant local governments. The province will look first at areas such as new towns, where commuting is difficult due to a lack of buses, subways or other transit methods. Areas where demand is concentrated at rush

A six-year-old daughter’s letter to her father, a firefighter killed while battling a factory blaze in Bucheon on Friday, has offered a glimpse into the grief of the family he has left behind. “You passed away yesterday, but I miss you so much,” the daughter wrote in a letter, shared on social media Sunday by Rep. Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. “And I know you loved me the most.” Beside the text was a drawing of a fire engine. “Dad, I miss you. Let’s make sure we meet again someday. I’ll probably be grown up by then. I love you, Dad. I miss you,” she added. The firefighter, Kim Jin-seok, was nearing the end of a 24-hour shift and due to finish at 9 a.m. Friday when an emergency call came in at 8:38 a.m. Kim immediately boarded a fire engine and was among the first responders to arrive. Kim and three colleagues entered the factory’s third floor, where rapidly spreading flames trapped him and another firefighter. His colleague was later rescued, but Kim was found about five meters farther inside, already in cardiac arrest. He was later pronounced

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made an offering at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, bringing to the fore a decades-old sore point with neighboring Korea and China, both of which suffered heavily from Japanese imperial aggression in the first half of the 20th century. The offering came as the shrine’s three-day autumn festival began. Japanese media reported that Takaichi plans to hold off on visiting the shrine personally, a move interpreted as an effort to avoid further diplomatic friction. The shrine honors about 2.46 million people who died in domestic conflicts associated with the 1868 Meiji Restoration and in the subsequent military campaigns launched by imperial Japan. Nearly 90 percent are linked to the Pacific War, Japan’s 1941-45 conflict with the United States and its allies as part of World War II. The religious site also enshrines several Class A war criminals, including wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who was executed in 1948. Korea and China have long protested when Japanese politicians send offerings or visit the shrine, which they see as representing

Sejong University said it is expanding Korean language education and international exchanges through its partnership in operating the first King Sejong Institute in Macao. The university held a signboard unveiling ceremony for the King Sejong Institute Macao at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) on Oct. 9, Hangeul Day. It is the first King Sejong Institute operated in partnership with Sejong University. In June, Sejong University and MUST were selected to participate in the 2026 program supporting the establishment of new King Sejong Institutes. The King Sejong Institute Foundation designates overseas institutions that offer Korean language and cultural education as King Sejong Institutes and supports their operations by dispatching instructors, providing curricula and teaching materials and organizing cultural programs. King Sejong Institutes operate either independently under local institutions or jointly with Korean institutions and overseas diplomatic missions. The program aims to strengthen the foundation for Korean language education abroad and provide local learne

Hwang Ki-yeon, chairman and CEO of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank), met with Makhtar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss ways to strengthen strategic financial cooperation between the two institutions, the bank said Sunday. The meeting took place Friday on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. The two institutions agreed to expand their existing cooperation on infrastructure and energy projects in developing countries into new strategic areas, including critical mineral supply chains and innovative and high-tech industries. Korea Eximbank plans to leverage the World Bank Group's multilateral cooperation platforms and financing instruments to help stabilize global supply chains and strengthen cooperation across the critical minerals value chain. The bank also intends to expand joint financing for innovative and high-tech sectors, including emerging green industries, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. "By working closely with global financial institutions, including the

The planned rollout of 5G standalone (SA) services is renewing calls for telecom operators and the ICT ministry to deliver more reliable connections amid concerns that the transition could repeat the shortcomings of the initial 5G rollout unless consumers see tangible improvements in service quality. The Ministry of Science and ICT made the 5G SA adoption a policy priority late last year, requiring telecoms to transition to the technology as a condition for mobile spectrum reallocation. SK Telecom and LG Uplus are targeting commercial launch of 5G SA services by the end of this year, joining KT, which introduced SA support for the iPhone 17 series in March. Unlike earlier 5G networks that rely on a fourth-generation (4G) LTE core, 5G SA uses a dedicated 5G core to reduce latency and support applications such as autonomous driving and physical artificial intelligence (AI). The rollout comes amid lingering concerns over service reliability, with consumers having faced higher bills but limited improvements over LTE during the initial 5G transition. If operators seek to charge more for SA-b

Hyundai Motor’s bet on India is being overshadowed by Tesla’s technological leap toward flying cars, exposing the Korean carmaker’s self-driving doldrums. Hyundai Motor Group recently pledged $15.5 billion (20.7 trillion won) in investment in India through 2032, seeking to strengthen its position in one of the world’s fastest-growing major automotive markets. The commitment spans manufacturing expansion, research and development, supplier development and next-generation technologies. However, the scale of the investment does not guarantee that India will become a reliable growth engine capable of offsetting mounting challenges in its cash-cow markets, such as the United States, Korea and Europe. Hyundai Motor and Kia sold a combined roughly 850,000 vehicles in India last year, with sales growth of just 0.2 percent. That performance lagged significantly behind local rivals Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors, whose sales rose 18.4 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively, during the same period. The gap reflects a competitive landscape in which established domestic players have streng

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s latest criticism of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix over their memory chip pricing defies market realities, as any chipmaker that undercuts prevailing prices risks selling out immediately and leaving other customers without supplies, a prominent U.S. chip analyst said. Jim Handy, founder and general director of semiconductor research firm Objective Analysis, challenged Musk's recent description of the Korean chipmakers' prices as “extortionate,” compared with those of their U.S. rival Micron. The chip expert underscored that memory prices are determined by market forces rather than individual suppliers. “Memory makers do not set their parts’ pricing — the market determines the pricing,” Handy said in a written interview with The Korea Times, Sunday. “In that light, it is hard to understand Musk’s comment.” Musk is looking to manufacture chips in-house through his Terafab project, with soaring memory prices an increasingly pressing concern for his ambitions. He posted on X on Tuesday (local time), “Micron has been reasonable regarding future m

The number of complaints submitted by foreigners on alleged taxi fare overcharges in Seoul over the past five years came to more than 6,000, but corrective measures have been taken on only about 3 percent of them, a lawmaker said Sunday. The number of such reports submitted between 2021 and August this year totaled 6,481, Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said, citing Seoul city government data. Of the total, administrative measures were taken on only 204 cases, or 3.1 percent. Of those, drivers in only 28 cases had their licenses suspended or canceled, while those involved in the remaining 176 cases were given mere warnings. Over 67 percent, or 4,368, of all reported cases were closed internally due to difficulties in verifying an overcharge and voluntary withdrawal of complaints, according to the data. In 2013, the city government revised a policy on taxi fare overcharge complaints, allowing foreigners to apply to receive 500,000 won ($374) in compensation should their report result in an administrative measure. The data showed there has been no case in which t

The Fair Trade Commission’s (FTC) increasingly aggressive crackdown on major conglomerates is generating a costly cycle with little tangible return, as the watchdog has been forced to refund billions of won in fines overturned by courts. The watchdog has returned nearly 290 billion won ($216.7 million) to companies since 2022 after administrative court rulings overturned its sanctions. The figures raise questions about whether the regulator’s tougher enforcement produces lasting results or simply creates more legal and financial burdens for both businesses and taxpayers. The latest figures offer little reassurance. For the first nine months combined this year, the FTC returned 23 billion won in fines and associated payments, with 99.7 percent of the amount attributable to sanctions overturned in whole or in part through administrative litigation, according to data submitted to Rep. Choi Eun-seok of the main opposition People Power Party. But the regulator is moving in the opposite direction. Since President Lee Jae Myung took office last year, the government has pushed to strengthen

Heavy downpours accompanied by strong gusts battered Seoul on Sunday, causing urban flooding and safety hazards across the capital city. According to municipal officials, localized torrential rain inundated parts of the city, as fallen leaves swept by gale-force winds clogged drainage systems. Gangbuk District in the northeastern part of the city recorded a peak hourly rainfall of 53.5 millimeters, the highest hourly intensity nationwide during the storm. By 5:00 p.m., Seoul fire authorities had received 129 emergency calls — 47 calls for drainage assistance, 21 instances of fallen trees and 60 safety inspection requests for public facilities. Seoul issued an emergency alert via text at 3:16 p.m., urging its residents to stay away from low-lying and high-risk areas amid heavy rainfall in blustery conditions. While heavy rain advisories covering the northeastern, northwestern, and southwestern districts were lifted at 3:30 p.m., scattered showers persisted throughout the afternoon. Cumulative rainfall as of 5:00 p.m. peaked at 65 mm in Gangbuk District, with the southern Songpa District

A new investigation agency tasked with handling major crimes made its first arrest of a suspect Sunday, 16 days after its launch. The narcotics investigation bureau of the Seoul office of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) said it has taken a Southeast Asian national into custody on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. The suspect, whose identity was withheld, is accused of bringing 2.5 kilograms of marijuana from overseas. After detaining the suspect, citing flight risk and concerns over potential destruction of evidence, the SCIA had applied for an arrest warrant Saturday with the Incheon District Court. The SCIA was created as part of a sweeping reform to the criminal justice system. It is charged with investigating major crimes in seven categories — corruption, economic crimes, defense acquisition, drug offenses, crimes against state security, cybercrimes and offenses involving distortion of the law.

Hong Kong tourism authorities have pledged to review the roll-out of a lighting project along a trail on The Peak after mounting complaints that flowers and trees were chopped down to make way for the installations. But the Tourism Board defended the project, saying it had consulted local residents and sought advice from tree experts to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment. In a statement on Sunday, the board said it valued residents’ views and would now “conduct broader...

China has been urged to learn from a Pentagon project to assess future warfare but warned to avoid the potential conflicts of interest and other shortcomings of the US defence review. Project Meridian, launched late last month, is designed to identify future battlefield requirements and prioritise investment, with a focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, directed energy, robotics and biotechnology. In an analysis published on Friday, the Beijing-based think tank Blue...

When artificial intelligence agents first arrived, they came with a tantalising promise: autonomous “digital workers” that would finally free humans from corporate drudgery. As businesses across Asia are discovering, however, the reality is quite the opposite – more work, new friction and a whole new layer of management. When Xiao Mengjie, an AI product marketing manager at a Big Tech firm in Shanghai, recently assigned two AI agents what she described as a simple task, she expected efficiency....

Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected suicide pact after an elderly couple were found dead in a public housing flat on Sunday, following the woman’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Police received a report at 2.39pm on Sunday that a man and a woman had been found unconscious inside a flat at King Wing House in Shan King Estate in Tuen Mun. A tray of burnt charcoal was found at the scene. The couple, a 72-year-old man surnamed Cheung and a 69-year-old woman surnamed Tse, were rushed to...

Katie Zacharia may have lasted just five days as the White House press secretary but still managed to set off a diplomatic incident with China. In an interview with a conservative commentator on Thursday, Zacharia referred to China as a place that “doesn’t even have proper toilets”. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded a day later with a smile and a brief, pointed invitation. “We welcome her to visit China more often when she has the opportunity,” said Mao, a veteran...

By the time the Chinese navy hospital ship had docked in the Guinean capital Conakry earlier this month, patients were already queuing for free consultations. The queues in front of the Auspicious Ark were so long that some people were told to come back the next day, according to Guinean media reports. The ship, operated by the PLA Navy, offers a range of medical services wherever it stops, including surgery to treat cataracts, appendicitis and hernias as well as gynaecological care. On this...

A pavilion dedicated to second-hand smartphones has made its debut at a Hong Kong trade show now under way, drawing international recycling platforms, refurbishers and automated kiosk operators hoping to use the city as a springboard to export used devices to other markets. The inaugural Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion, co-hosted by the Hong Kong International Communications Electronic Chamber (HKICEC) and Global Sources, opened on Sunday at AsiaWorld-Expo as part of phase two of the Global...

Hong Kong police have launched an animal cruelty investigation after five dogs were found dead near fish ponds in the northern New Territories, with sources saying the animals may have been poisoned. The force received a report on Sunday morning from a passer-by who spotted four dog carcasses at a fish pond in San Tin, near Mai Po, and suspected the animals had been mistreated. When officers arrived, they found the four carcasses and discovered a fifth at a nearby fish pond. A source told the...

In the first of a four-part Health Matters wellness series on frontier medicine in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung looks into how the city can turn world-class research into real-world treatments and what it needs to become a global biomedical innovation hub. Raymond Tong Kai-yu spent a decade overcoming challenges in cost and production to develop a device that could change lives: a robotic hand that helps stroke patients regain mobility and relearn everyday movements. The Hong Kong biomedical...

Hong Kong authorities have prosecuted 20 restaurants for unlawfully allowing dogs onto their premises since the city’s dog-friendly dining scheme launched in July. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said on Sunday that seven people had also been prosecuted for bringing dogs into eateries without permission, while four others were prosecuted for failing to keep their pets securely leashed in permitted restaurants. A department spokesman said it had adopted a “pragmatic and flexible”...