Latest news with #KangYu-jung
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Lee Jae Myung appoints vice ministers for unification, interior, agriculture, ocean, disaster management
South Korea's presidential office on Friday announced a list of vice minister-level officials across several ministries. According to Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Kim Nam-jung, a veteran of inter-Korean affairs, was appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Unification. Kim previously served as the standing representative for inter-Korean talks and has worked at the ministry for over 30 years, earning the nickname 'the living history of the Unification Ministry.' At the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Kim Min-jae, currently an assistant vice minister, was promoted to vice minister. Kim Gwang-yong, the ministry's spokesperson, was tapped to head the National Disaster and Safety Management Agency, which plays a key role in crisis response and disaster preparedness. Kang Hyoung-seok, head of the Agricultural Innovation Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was named its new vice minister. At the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Kim Sung-bum, director of the Marine Policy Bureau, was promoted to vice minister. The presidential office said the appointees were selected for their 'field expertise and institutional knowledge,' and emphasized the importance of leadership that can deliver 'stable and responsive governance' across sectors ranging from agriculture and marine policy to inter-Korean relations and public safety.
Barnama
7 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Seoul To Tackle Anti-Pyongyang Leaflet Launches
SEOUL, June 15 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered Saturday to come up with measures to prevent the launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets in areas bordering with North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported. The president's order followed a report that a civic group had launched anti-Pyongyang leaflets from Ganghwa Island in Incheon, west of Seoul, earlier in the day, presidential spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. Police have since launched an investigation into three balloons discovered in Ganghwa and Gimpo City. These balloons reportedly contained Bible booklets and snacks, but no leaflets with content criticising the North Korean regime.
Korea Herald
10-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Cabinet approves W26b for presidential office relocation
The Cabinet on Tuesday earmarked 25.9 billion won (US$19 million) in state funds to relocate the presidential office to the former compound of Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office said. President Lee Jae-myung approved the relocation plan in a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, and the amount is roughly 69 percent of the budget spent to move the presidential office to Yongsan in central Seoul under the former administration, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. The presidential compound was relocated to the headquarters of the defense ministry in Yongsan a few months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol assumed office in May 2022. The old presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, located on a secluded hilltop compound in central Seoul, has since been opened to the public for sightseeing visits. "To ensure a smooth return to Cheong Wa Dae and a better sightseeing environment for visitors, the operation schedule for Cheong Wa Dae tours will be adjusted," Kang said. "The return to Cheong Wa Dae will be conducted in phases on weekends and holidays." In a separate notice, the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation, which operates walking tours at the former presidential compound, said the current tour schedules will run through July 14, with changes set to take place starting from reservations for the July 16-31 period. All tours will temporarily halt from Aug. 1 for maintenance and security procedures until they resume after the relocation is completed. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Video games must clarify AI use, according to new law
Even partial use of artificial intelligence must be disclosed, though precise application up for interpretation A new law on the regulation of artificial intelligence mandates clear disclosure of AI use in a wide variety of products, including video games, a field where AI has played an integral role since its very inception. Rep. Kang Yu-jung of the Democratic Party of Korea said Tuesday that the National Assembly Research Service's reply on her inquisition suggested that video games are subject to the AI Framework Act, which is set to take effect in January next year. As such, video game developers that used AI in development must notify users that their product is based on artificial intelligence, and they must implement a risk assessment and management system. Video games have been actively using AI to control numerous interactive elements to improve the player experience since its primitive stage, ranging from gradual adjustment of difficulty levels to movement patterns of nonplayer characters. Some video games more recently have adopted conversational AI for dynamic storytelling, such as Uncover the Smoking Gun, published in 2024. Public disclosure of AI use is not confined to games actively using AI in the gameplay experience, but also includes those that use AI-generated images, sounds or 3D models. The new act stipulates that even partial AI use of a product must be disclosed, including for creative content. "Video games that used an AI model partially to create text, images, sound or video can be considered an AI product, and its publisher can be regarded to be in the AI industry," the parliamentary think tank was quoted as saying. The National Assembly Research Service added that application of the new law may differ depending on how much generative AI has been used and how much human contributions factor into the product. Creative industry struggling to find balance between AI, human input "With the rapidly increasing application of AI in games, the boundary (between the AI and) creative realm such as sound and images is tumbling. ... As the concerns of existing creators and hopes of industry clashes, there need to be policies that protect the rights (of creators) while promoting the industry," Rep. Kang said. The Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust was passed by the National Assembly in December and enacted in January. It is to provide legal guidelines for AI use in the creative industry, which has been quick to adopt the technology in music, movies, cartoons and other products. The local creative industry has been mulling adoptive measures in the increasingly wide use of AI for making what had previously been considered products of pure human imagination. The Korea Music Copyright Association recently implemented a procedure that requires songwriters to verify that they did not use AI at all in writing their songs, in response to possible legal issues related to AI-generated songs. Its stance is that AI-created songs cannot be copyrighted.
Korea Herald
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Hasty move with hidden agenda or push for less bureaucracy, regional balance?
Opposition questions timing of Culture Ministry's plan to consolidate state arts organizations, relocation to regional cities A group of artists, civic activists, academics and lawmakers held a press conference at the National Assembly Wednesday morning, denouncing the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's plan to establish an integrated secretariat to oversee five national arts organizations, calling it a hasty and bureaucratic decision. During a National Assembly session, the culture minister defended the initiative, stating that the goal is to ease administrative burdens on artists while also indicating that the ministry would reconsider if opposition remains strong. On Feb. 19, the Culture Ministry announced its plan to establish an integrated secretariat within the first half of this year to oversee the administration of five national arts organizations -- Korea National Opera, The National Chorus of Korea, Korean National Symphony Orchestra, Korean National Ballet and Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. A plan to relocate state arts organizations to regional cities over the next few years, starting this year was to be announced Thursday. Wednesday's press conference was organized by civic groups Cultural Action and After the Blacklist, the Cultural and Arts Council of the Public and Transport Workers' Union, the Korean Federation of People's Arts Organizations and four legislators -- Min Hyung-bae, Kang Yu-jung, Lee Ki-heon and Kim Jae-won -- all members of opposition parties serving on the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. 'The biggest problem is that the ministry is pushing the plan excessively without sufficient understanding or discussion with the respective organizations. It clearly reflects the ministry's bureaucratic and authoritarian stance toward the cultural and artistic sector. Moreover, each organization has its own budget execution and operational system tailored to its specific genre, and ignoring these differences will not enhance administrative efficiency but instead create confusion,' they said. Kang Dong-hui, head of the National Art Troupes Branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union and member of the Korean National Ballet, told The Korea Herald that union members from the Korea National Ballet, Korean National Symphony Orchestra and the National Chorus of Korea decided to oppose the integration plan. Additionally, after a meeting on Tuesday, union members from the National Opera and Seoul Performing Arts Company also agreed to join the opposition. Also at Wednesday's press conference, Lee Dong-yeun, professor of Korean Traditional Arts Theory at the Korean University of Arts questioned the "hasty" move as well as the timing and lack of rational grounds for the plan "at this juncture when the current administration is on the verge of coming to an end." Choreographer Oh Hyeon-taek, who opened an online petition 'Against the Integration (Merger) of the National Contemporary Dance Company' last month, said that the move is particularly concerning for contemporary dancers. 'The National Contemporary Dance Company, already operating with the smallest budget, risks further cuts under the integration plan, potentially leading to its dissolution. Reduced funding would not only hinder operations but also limit artistic creation and experimentation, ultimately marginalizing contemporary dance as a genre,' Oh told The Korea Herald. Oh's petition had gathered 1,900 signatures as of Wednesday morning. Speaking at a Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee session at the National Assembly which convened soon after the end of the press conference, Culture Minister Yoo In-chon answered questions on the integration plan. 'It is intended to let artists focus on their art without having to handle administrative work, if possible,' Yu said. Regarding the criticism that it was a hasty move, Yu said that the ministry had held numerous discussions with experts and stakeholders since early last year. 'If the opposition is very strong, then (we) won't implement the plan,' Yu said. During the session, Yu revealed his determination to contribute to achieving regional balance and fulfilling the duty of state arts organizations by relocating them outside of Seoul. 'We have only talked about regional balances but without any action. It's the duty of state organizations. Once the state arts organizations are relocated, a mega city like Seoul and districts in Seoul could make their own arts organizations,' Yu said. This year, two state arts organizations will be relocated, including Seoul Performing Arts Company, which will be moved to Gwangju City. There, SPAC will become the National Asian Culture Center's resident art troupe. These relocations and the administrative integration of five arts organizations will be announced Thursday as part of the ministry's mid- and long-term plans, called "Vision 2035."
