The sudden prospect of flying cars becoming An Actual Thing sent the internet into overdrive.
Oct 18, 2026
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
It’s been six years since the first HomePod mini, so now we are getting a much-needed update to keep it fresh.
At Meta Connect 2026, Meta unveiled its latest AI glasses, shared how they’re bringing the Muse personal AI agent to glasses, and introduced the all-new Meta VR Glasses.
Oct 17, 2026
Leopard prints, hot pink and sticker-covered cases bring early-2000s visuals to iPhones and other accessories.
Securing equipment for manufacturing advanced memory chips is emerging as a new variable in Korea's plans to expand semiconductor production capacity through large-scale industrial clusters, after ASML, the dominant supplier of advanced chipmaking equipment, warned that its current production plans may not be sufficient to meet demand in 2027 and 2028. During its earnings call Wednesday, ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet said the company's plans to increase its production capacity for advanced chipmaking equipment by 30 percent in 2027 and another 30 percent in 2028 would likely not be enough to meet customer demand. “Last quarter, we talked about 30 percent more capacity next year, and also the aspiration to have another 30 percent increase in 2028,” Fouquet said. “But to be honest, it's becoming very clear that 30 percent in 2027, 30 percent in 2028 will not allow us to meet our customer demand.” According to the company, the planned capacity increases cover both low-numerical-aperture extreme ultraviolet (low-NA EUV) lithography equipment and deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion system
Fashion platform Musinsa has teamed up with ZOZOTOWN, one of Japan's leading online fashion retailers, to open a pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, a popular destination for young consumers. Musinsa opened the doors to ZOZOTOWN in Musinsa, the Japanese platform’s first official pop-up store in Korea, to the media on Friday. The pop-up will run through Oct. 31, while an accompanying online promotion will continue until Nov. 16. Launched in 2004, ZOZOTOWN features more than 11,000 brands and serving over 13 million customers annually. Fifteen Japanese fashion brands available on the platform, including Snidel and Grancy, are participating in the event. The pop-up’s concept, ZOZO is Coming to Town, draws inspiration from Korean streets. Crosswalks, road markings and oversized three-dimensional typography have been incorporated into the space to create the impression of an intersection where Korean and Japanese fashion meet. The pop-up follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two platforms in December 2024 to establish a strategic partnership. In November last y
China’s proposed export bans and controls of artificial intelligence technologies aim to tighten Beijing’s grip in the strategically vital sector, casting a cloud over the commercial prospects of domestic model developers in the global AI race, analysts say. The new measures come as concerns mount globally over the risks of advanced AI systems, following a string of recent cyberattacks, while also underscoring AI’s growing national security importance for both Beijing and Washington. Zhang Yi,...
Oct 16, 2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) models developed by a research team led by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) professor Nam Ju-han made their debut at one of Korea’s leading jazz festivals, performing improvised jazz alongside human artists. According to the university Friday, the team showcased human-AI music collaboration technology that analyzes the flow of human performances in real time, allowing AI to take over performances or generate improvised accompaniment during the 23rd Jarasum Jazz Festival, held in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, from Oct. 9 to 11. A total of 12 human jazz artists participated in the event, collaborating with AI in 26 pieces across 12 performances. The technology is different from existing music AI services as it enables collaboration with human musicians in jazz, a genre characterized by improvisation. Jazz musicians often change the tempo or create new melodies based on how they feel in the moment. Because the same piece can be performed differently each time, musicians must listen to one another and adjust their playing accordi
Some Samsung Electronics employees have drawn criticism from online users after appearing to welcome a nearly 9 percent plunge in their company's share price on an anonymous workplace community. Posts written by Samsung Electronics employees on the company's board on Blind, an anonymous community for office workers, spread across online communities and social media Thursday. Blind requires users to verify their employment through their company email addresses, and displays the name of their employer alongside their usernames. According to the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics closed Thursday's regular trading at 210,000 won ($147), down 9.48 percent, or 22,000 won, from the previous session. One person believed to be a Samsung Electronics employee posted on Blind under the title, "Please let the stock plunge to 100,000 won." Another employee wrote a post titled, "Isn't a falling stock price actually better for Samsung Electronics employees?" The employee said, "From the Device Solutions (DS) division's perspective, a higher stock price only increases the risk associated with OPI2," ref
Michael Jordan’s Steak House, the only location of the U.S. restaurant brand outside the United States, has been named “Korea’s Best Hotel Restaurant 2026” at the World Culinary Awards. INSPIRE Entertainment Resort in Incheon, which houses the restaurant, said Friday that the steakhouse received the award at a ceremony held Wednesday in Jamaica. The awards recognize outstanding restaurants and culinary destinations through votes cast by industry professionals, experts and consumers. The event is a sister event of the World Travel Awards, described as the “Oscars of the travel industry.” The restaurant opened in Incheon in 2023 as the brand’s first and only location outside the U.S., bringing a selection of steaks that had proved popular in its home market. Cornerstone Restaurant Group oversees the brand in partnership with basketball legend Michael Jordan, with two U.S. locations in Chicago and Connecticut. The Incheon restaurant also received a Best of Award of Excellence in June from Wine Spectator, a U.S. wine publication, as part of its annual Restaurant Awards. “This
Electric vehicle (EV) charging operator Chaevi has achieved a rare clean sweep in this year's government EV charging facility subsidy program, securing qualifications across all four categories in both network operation and hardware manufacturing. The company was selected as an operator and manufacturer of fast, medium-speed and slow charging facilities under a program overseen by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The selection marks Chaevi’s ninth consecutive year as a designated charging facility operator and its first selection in newly introduced manufacturer categories, according to the company. The four categories cover operators of fast and medium-speed chargers, operators of slow chargers, manufacturers of fast and medium-speed chargers, and manufacturers of slow chargers, allowing Chaevi to participate in the government’s subsidy program through 2027. The government revised its evaluation system this year to assess operators and manufacturers separately, with manufacturers facing additional scrutiny of technological development, product quality and charging pe
Power transmission equipment manufacturer Hyosung Heavy Industries opened a new factory in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday, doubling its production capacity for extra-high-voltage circuit breakers rated at 420 kilovolts (kV) and above as it prepares for surging global demand for power infrastructure. The facility, covering about 18,996 square meters, will exclusively manufacture circuit breakers rated at 420 kV, 550 kV and 800 kV for export markets, strengthening the company's ability to fulfill large overseas orders. Hyosung Heavy Industries reorganized its existing circuit breaker operations to focus primarily on domestic models, while the new facility handles export products rated at 420 kV and above. The factory integrates component manufacturing, assembly, testing and shipping under one roof, creating a streamlined production system designed to improve efficiency and delivery times. Production capacity for insulation components, which are critical to circuit breaker performance, has also doubled, according to the company, which said it is the only domestic power equipmen