On February 28, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol appointed the members of the fourth Advisory Committee on Economic Security and Diplomacy, comprised of 16 industry, academia, and experts in various fields, including customs, semiconductors, energy, and key minerals, who will serve for the next two years. Minister Cho Tae-yeol emphasized the severe situation of increasing uncertainty in the economic, security, and diplomatic environment and asked the advisory board members to make generous policy recommendations. Following the appointment ceremony, the first meeting of the 2025 Advisory Council was held. Vice Minister Kang In-sun referred to various policies announced by the United States since the inauguration of the new Trump administration, and explained that the Korean government is actively communicating with the United States through various channels to effectively respond to them. Vice Minister Kang emphasized that it is important to respond as a one-team by uniting our internal and external capabilities more firmly in times of uncertainty, and expressed his expectation that the U.S. will generously provide advice on the direction of economic security diplomacy at the U.S. and global levels. Following a presentation by the Center for Economic Security Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the details of policies announced by the new U.S. administration, including tariffs and investments, the participants discussed public-private partnerships to strengthen economic security response capabilities in areas such as trade, investment, supply chain, and technology. The advisory committee members, including Heo Yoon, emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the rapidly changing policies and legislation in major countries such as the U.S. and China and preparing a systematic response posture. They also agreed that this process will require not only inter-ministerial collaboration but also active communication with industry and academia, and called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to play a pivotal role as an external window. In addition, the ministry will actively propose policy demands and sector-specific analyses from the industry so that the public and private sectors can respond to the new economic and security environment as a team. Amid growing uncertainties in economic security diplomacy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to listen to the voices of the industry and the views of private experts through the newly reorganized Economic Security Advisory Committee and continue to strengthen the economic security diplomacy capabilities of the Korean government and the public-private partnership. [News Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Statistics Korea will launch the 'Economic Situation Board' and 'National Life Outlook', statistical visualization contents that allow anyone to experience statistics in an easy and fun way, on February 24 through KOSIS. Kobot 1.5, an advanced statistical chatbot, will also be piloted for public evaluators from February 28th. Statistics Korea provides statistical visualization contents on various topics every year to make statistics more accessible and useful to the public and expand the use of statistics. This year, we have developed useful and interesting contents under the themes of 'Economy' and 'People's Life'. The 'Economic Situation Edition' was designed to integrate existing scattered economic-related contents and bring together various economic indicators so that anyone can easily check and compare the economic situation of Korea. It standardizes and visually provides data on indicators representing the economy, from the three major trends of industrial activity, employment, and prices to national accounts, housing, and finance, so that anyone can easily compare and analyze them by region and indicator. In addition, it provides timely information on regional economic trends published quarterly using infographics, and it is more convenient to use economic-related contents such as 'Experience My Price' and 'Economic Cycle Clock' together. 'Life Time Survey' is an authorized statistic that shows how Koreans utilize their time in a 24-hour period and their average lifestyle. 'National Life View' is designed to provide an interesting statistical look at the lives of Koreans by utilizing the Living Time Survey data. It provides visualizations of various statistical experiences, such as observing major behavioral changes in one-hour intervals for various groups, such as men in their 40s and women in Seoul, or comparing statistics with their own day. Along with the visualization content, Statistics Korea is also introducing “Cobot 1.5,” a new version of its AI statistical chatbot “Cobot,” which has been enhanced with the latest language model. Currently, the National Statistical Service is recruiting public evaluators to participate in the Closed Beta Service through the National Statistics Portal website, and will expand the scope of the service to all statistics users after a month-long Closed Beta Service from February 28th. Cobot 1.5 has added the 'Statistics Recommendation' function, which recommends relevant statistical tables when users ask questions about statistics in everyday language, and the 'Statistics Explanation' function, which explains difficult statistical knowledge in an easy-to-understand manner. Based on this pilot service, Statistics Korea will reflect the opinions of various users to make it more convenient for the public to find and utilize statistics. “By continuously improving and discovering contents that anyone can find interesting and easily use statistics, such as statistical visualization contents and cobots, we will improve the utilization of statistics and increase public satisfaction with statistical information services,” said Lee Hyung-il, head of Statistics Korea. [News Source: Statistics Korea]
On the 28th, the Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education announced that it will introduce and utilize AI digital textbooks (AIDT) in 245 elementary, middle, and high schools in the province from the new school year of 2025. The schools that will use AIDT are 245 out of 472 elementary, middle, and high schools in the province, or about 51.9 percent. The Chungbuk Provincial Office of Education will be introduced to math, English, and information courses in grades 3 and 4 of elementary schools, grades 1 and 2 of middle schools, and grades 1 and 2 of high schools from the 2025 school year, and schools that wish to utilize it have decided to introduce it through the school management committee. 245 schools were counted as AI digital textbook adopters if they decided to introduce even one subject. After receiving applications by the 26th of this month, 121 elementary schools, 77 middle schools, and 47 high schools have decided to implement the program. AIDT utilizes AI technology to deliver learning content and assessments that are tailored to students' learning speeds, enabling customized education. Teachers can also run student-participatory classes based on teacher-student and student-student interactions, and students can utilize the AI tutor feature to get the help they need to learn in real time. To stabilize the introduction of AIDT, the Chungbuk Provincial Office of Education will expand the number of digital pilot schools to 81 this year from 71 last year, and operate 10 research schools to study student-participatory teaching and learning methods using AIDT. To strengthen teachers' capabilities for digital-based educational innovation, 1,300 leader teachers were trained at each school last year and 2,500 teachers participated in AIDT utilization training, and this year, teachers' capabilities for digital-based educational innovation will be strengthened step by step through ▲ AIDT utilization training, digital literacy training, and edtech training. To ensure the smooth use of AIDT, we have completed the wireless network inspection of all schools in the province, and have completed the wireless network expansion for 41 schools with high network usage, and are in the process of expanding the wireless network for 101 schools. To ease the workload of teachers, digital tutors, personnel who help manage school devices and assist in class, have been deployed in 45 schools and will be expanded in the future. The subscription fee for AIDT will be fully funded by the Ministry of Education, and additional schools will be accepted in August 2025 for the second semester. “In the era of AI transformation, as customized education based on individual learning data becomes possible, the ability of students and teachers to autonomously and creatively use digital tools for teaching and learning is becoming more important.“ ‘Through AIDT and the AI-based multi-dimensional student growth platform ’Hwangyang‘, Chungcheongbuk-do Education Office is creating an environment where students can communicate and learn anytime, anywhere, and we will bridge the digital divide and actively support students’ growth,” said Superintendent Yoon Gun-young. [News source: Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education].
Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, “Let's make Gyeonggi-do a startup paradise,” pledging to create more than 20 unicorn companies in five years. On the 26th, Gyeonggi-do held the inauguration ceremony of the Gyeonggi-do Startup Council at the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center International Conference Hall in Pangyo. This is the first time a Gyeonggi-do-level startup council has been launched. More than 600 startup officials attended the event, where the council was declared inaugurated and 11 executives were presented with certificates of appointment. “When I met with unicorn companies from around the world at the Davos Forum, I told them that I had made a pledge to make Korea a startup paradise when I was a presidential candidate and Gyeonggi-do a startup paradise when I was a governor,” said Governor Kim Dong-yeon, adding, ”We will create at least 20 unicorn companies in Gyeonggi-do over the next five years.” “Clustering, networking, and globalization are the core of Gyeonggi-do's startup policy,” said Kim, who emphasized three things: ”Gathering together, networking, and internationalization. “Through today's council, we will do our best to lay the infrastructure and create an ecosystem for startups to gather, network, and internationalize. Let's make Gyeonggi-do a startup paradise together,” emphasized Kim. The Gyeonggi Startup Council is a council for ▲ attracting global investment, ▲ discovering and fostering promising startups, and ▲ collaborating between startups, anchor companies, and domestic and foreign investors. The council is composed of a chairman, 10 leaders in three groups, including clustering, networking, and global, and more than 500 members. The council is chaired by Lee Ju-wan of Megazone Cloud, a leading AI and cloud company. Megazone Cloud is the first Gyeonggi-do unicorn in the cloud industry with a revenue of KRW 1.7 trillion (as of 2023), and is a company that supports cloud infrastructure and digital transformation. “In my 27 years of running a business, I believe that without the help of various organizations and people, both large and small, I and Megazone Cloud would not be where we are today,” said Lee. ”As the chairman of the Gyeonggi Startup Council, I will do my best to make the council a lighthouse for many startups that will find their way one day, but may be stuck right now, just as I experienced.” The Gyeonggi Startup Council plans to revitalize the startup ecosystem by advising on startup policies, establishing innovation strategies, supporting open innovation, and providing customized coaching to individual startups. It also plans to strengthen the global competitiveness of startups by operating seminars and meetings for each division, and support the growth of startups through various programs. The inauguration of the council is an important strategic step to revitalize Gyeonggi-do's startup ecosystem, which will strengthen its global competitiveness, facilitate startups' overseas expansion, and complete its roadmap as a 'startup paradise'. At the event, Chairman Lee Joo-wan and representatives from global unicorn companies, including Silicon Valley-based Korean corporate investor Lee Ki-ha of Primer Priest Partners, Tim Hwang of Piscalnote, which went public on the New York Stock Exchange, Se-hyuk Park of AI unicorn Moloko, and Park Ji-yong of Solutions Nozomi Networks, the world's largest industrial control network security company, held a town hall meeting to discuss the future and present of Korean startups. There were also special lectures by CES Innovation Award judges, 1:1 VC investment counseling sessions, and free exchange among participants. To realize its vision of a “startup paradise,” Gyeonggi-do is pursuing three action items: creating startup infrastructure, strengthening the startup ecosystem network, and supporting startups to go global. By 2026, the province plans to build 200,000 square meters of startup space in 20 locations, including Pangyo, to attract investment through networking between startups and support organizations, as well as lay the foundation for the growth of early-stage companies through customized support programs. It also plans to hold an international startup investment fair to actively support overseas investment and expansion. [News Source: Gyeonggi-do]
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 26th that it held the 'AI Super Gap Challenge Kick-off Day' event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul to promote the commercialization of artificial intelligence (AI) startups through demand-based collaboration between global giants such as LG Electronics and Qualcomm and promising AI startups in Korea. Recently, the emergence of China's Deepseek, which launched a low-cost and high-performance large-scale language model (LLM model) in the global market, has intensified the competition for hegemony in AI technology between the United States and China, and accelerated the introduction of AI across industries. Therefore, the importance of developing 'on-device AI'1) and 'vertical AI'2) technologies that can apply specialized AI technologies based on demand to specific devices and specific industries such as manufacturing and bio is expanding, and related policy support is crucial. In July last year, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the “Super Gap AI Startup Level-up Strategy,” which intensively fosters promising AI startups in five high-growth AI fields such as small language model (sLLM), AI semiconductor design company (fabless), and manufacturing AI (AI) based on demand linkage in line with the global market trend, and nurtures them into world-class unicorns. As a major task of the strategy, we have been promoting the expansion of the “AI Super Gap Challenge,” which combines the needs of global conglomerates with the innovative capabilities of AI startups to strengthen growth and create results such as sales. In addition to LG Electronics, which co-hosted the challenge last year, this year, Qualcomm, a global conglomerate, has also joined the challenge, and through continuous consultation, the collaboration areas, programs, and scale of the challenge have been greatly expanded. This year's Challenge consists of two programs: On-Device AI, in collaboration with LG Electronics and Intel, and Vertical AI, in collaboration with Qualcomm and four promising deep-tech SMEs and venture companies that are Qualcomm's domestic partners, and the main contents are as follows. ① On-Device AI Program In addition to LG Electronics' laptops, which were promoted last year, this year, LG Electronics will expand its collaboration with AI startups to six fields, including intelligent (smart) TVs, digital signage, and home appliances, which are expected to expand in the global market with creative AI technologies. This year, a total of 15 companies will be selected through a joint evaluation with LG Electronics, and unlike previous years, LG Electronics will provide up to 100 million won in collaboration funds for AI model development and proof of concept (PoC) to the selected startups. In addition, LG Electronics will support business division matching, proof-of-concept planning cooperation, and technology development, while intel will provide development software toolkits and training on utilizing AI chips. As a result of the collaboration, the AI technology of startups with excellent performance will be installed in LG Electronics' products (devices) to secure sales. Vertical AI Program New this year, the program supports collaboration with deep-tech SMEs and venture companies in four fields, including autonomous driving and drones, whose demand has been confirmed through marketability verification by international (global) conglomerate Qualcomm. A total of four companies will be selected through a joint evaluation with Qualcomm, and the selected startups will receive up to 100 million won in collaboration funds for proof of concept (PoC). Qualcomm will provide technical support such as artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, access to Qualcomm's AI hub, 1:1 matching with demanding companies, and equipment utilization, and Qualcomm will help high-performing startups develop new customers and connect with international (global) partners to provide global (global) expansion and sales. Startups interested in participating in each program will be able to apply from February 26th to March 18th through the K-Startup portal. The 'Kick-off Day' event started with greetings from Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Young-joo, President of the MS Business Division of LG Electronics Park Hyung-se, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia-Pacific at Qualcomm Kwon Oh-hyung, followed by congratulatory remarks from Intel Korea President Bae Tae-won and Generation AI Startup Association President Lee Se-hyung, presentation of global AI technology trends, announcement of challenge programs by collaborating organizations, introduction of business announcements and schedules of the Korea Startup Agency, and ceremonies. Prior to the event, Minister Oh held a luncheon meeting with representatives of six AI startups that participated in last year's On-Device AI Challenge, sharing their achievements and discussing improvements to the government's policies to support AI startups. Starting with this challenge, MSS launched the “Fabless Challenge,” in which semiconductor design companies (fabless) startups and all semiconductor foundries in Korea collaborate, and the “Climate Tech Challenge,” which supports public procurement by utilizing public infrastructure such as KEPCO and other public institutions, The company plans to continue to support related policies to help deep technology (deep tech) startups in new industries create results through collaboration by holding challenges with regional signature companies (anchor companies) in each deep tech field, such as the 'SME-Startup Challenge' to discover new growth engines through collaboration with SMEs. “To discover new businesses and commercialize AI startups, we plan to expand our collaboration fields to include all display products, home appliances, and smart home solutions,” said Hyung-se Park, President of LG Electronics' MS Business Division. “We will strive to quickly apply the AI technologies of startups that perform well after the challenge collaboration to their devices.” “As an on-device AI leader, Qualcomm continues to introduce advanced on-device AI technologies and product portfolio to deliver differentiated performance in various industries,” said Oh-Hyung Kwon, senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm's Asia-Pacific region. ”Starting with the Vertical AI Super Gap Challenge, we will expand our collaboration with domestic ISV partners to support promising startups in Korea.” “As the pace of AI technology has recently accelerated in the global market, it is of utmost importance for AI startups to apply specialized AI technologies based on demand to specific devices and industries and commercialize them quickly,” said Minister Oh. ”We will fully support relevant policies to help promising AI startups commercialize innovative AI technologies with global giants through this challenge and accelerate their global expansion.” [News source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups].
The visit was attended by Belmont Superintendent Jill Geiser, Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Fernando Reimers, and Principal Isaac Taylor. Lim toured the school with about 10 Korean students from Belmont High School and observed an anatomy class where students dissected a blue crab to learn about the structure of crustaceans, a math class where students used five dots to complete a graph, and an English class where students debated whether students should be allowed to do assignments via ChatGPT. The best feature of Belmont High School is that students can choose their own classes based on their interests and aptitudes, especially as they progress from 9th grade (the third grade of middle school in Korea) to 12th grade. Roe Jin, a 12th grader at Belmont High School, signed up for classes in psychology and brain science, which she plans to major in college, along with her favorite art classes. “Many colleges and universities in the U.S. look at a student's hard work and talent, not just their SAT scores,” says Roe Jin, who wrote about her passion for art and her 1200 hours of volunteer work in her college applications. Ian, a 12th grader at the same school, talked about South Korea's high educational aspirations and the college entrance examination system, asking, “Isn't studying the only talent?” “There are many questions that universities ask besides SAT scores to evaluate students, and you can choose the ones that are favorable to you,” he said. “In the college application I applied to this time, there was a question about achievement experiences, so I wrote about my experience of playing the violin since the second grade and reaching a high level,” he said. During the meeting with Korean students, Gene, a 10th grader at Belmont High School, asked Superintendent Lim about the differences between Korean and American education. “There is not much difference from kindergarten through elementary and middle school, but in Korea, students often switch to a more “right-answer” education when they enter high school to prepare for college entrance exams,” Lim said. “The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is preparing to reorganize the college entrance examination system by developing a non-written assessment system that evaluates thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills so that each student can freely choose what they want to do in the future based on their interests and aptitudes.” In response, Mr. Jin said, “I knew about the Korean college entrance examination system, and I'm looking forward to the changes that will be made in the future.” In Korean, he added, “Please change it!” [News Source: Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education]
대한민국영어신문 관리자 기자 | 하윤수 부산광역시교육감이 1일 오후 1시 30분 영화의 전당 하늘연극장에서 열린 ‘아이가 행복입니다. 부산’ 개막식에 참석해 인사말 후 시상을 하고 있다. 하윤수 교육감은 인사말을 통해 “이번 행사는 부산이 처한 저출생 문제의 해결 방안을 찾고, ‘아이 키우고 교육하기 좋은 도시’ 부산을 만들기 위한 범시민적 공감대를 형성하기 위해 개최했다”며 “오늘 이 자리가 우리 아이들의 오늘과 내일이 더욱 행복할 수 있도록 부산시민 모두가 힘을 모으는 계기가 되길 바란다”고 말했다. 한편, 부산교육청과 부산시가 공동 주최하는 이번 행사는 ‘아이 키우고 교육하기 좋은 도시’를 주제로 열리는 저출생 대응 캠페인이다. 1일과 2일 이틀간 육아 전문가·셀럽 초청 강연, 오픈 토크쇼, 교육정책 홍보, 체험 부스 운영, 공연 등 다채로운 볼거리와 즐길 거리가 준비됐다. [뉴스출처 : 부산시교육청]
대한민국영어신문 관리자 기자 | 대구시교육청은 11월 1일 오후 1시부터 한국 마이크로소프트(서울)에서 중·고 학생 SW-AI 융합 학생동아리 18팀 총 90명을 대상으로‘지속 가능한 가족공동체 가치 확산을 위한 AI모델 해커톤’을 개최한다. 이번 해커톤은 학생들에게 인공지능 기술을 활용한 문제해결 능력을 기르고, 사회적 가치를 실현하는 경험을 제공하기 위해 개최된다. 참가 학생들은‘지속 가능한 가족공동체 가치 확산’이라는 주제로 ▲인구 감소, ▲가족 형성, ▲고령화 사회의 가족 가치와 행복 등에 대한 문제를 정의하고, 생성형 AI와 데이터 분석을 통해 AI 모델을 구현하고, 프로젝트 결과를 발표한다. 이 과정에서 팀별로 창의적이고 혁신적인 방안을 모색하기 위해 소통과 아이디어 공유의 장도 함께 마련될 예정이다. 특히, 학생들이 한국마이크로소프트를 방문해 글로벌 IT 기업의 문화를 체험하며, 미래 직업과 관련된 다양한 직무와 역할에 대한 진로탐색의 시간도 가진다. 한편, 해커톤에 참가하는 학생들은 지난 4월의 IT전문가 매칭 미팅을 시작으로, ▲학교 동아리 수업, ▲방과후 수업, ▲여름방학 미니 프로젝트 수행, ▲멘토-멘티데이 운영 등 6개월에 걸친 활동을 하며 인공지능을 활용한 실생활 문제해결 역량을 키워왔다. 강은희 교육감은 “학생들이 세계적인 IT 기업을 방문하고 현장에서 프로젝트를 진행하면서, 인공지능 기술의 긍정적인 사회적 활용 가능성을 이해하고 진로를 탐색하는 소중한 시간이 되길 바란다."라고 말했다. [뉴스출처 : 대구시교육청]
(미디어온) ‘쌈’하던 이유진(소주연 분)과 노지원(김관수 분)에 ‘썸’의 기류가 포착됐다. 지난 7일) 밤, KBS 2TV 드라마 ‘회사 가기 싫어’ 5회 방송에서 따뜻한 봄날처럼 찾아온 한다스의 핑크빛 로맨스에 시청자들의 마음을 심쿵하게 만들었다. 지원은 애써 준비해온 초콜릿을 유진의 책상 위에 올려두지만, 유진은 이를 직원들 앞에서 얘기하고 만다. ‘앞으로 선배한테만 주는 거 다른 사람들은 몰랐으면 해요’라고 마음을 표현한 지원에 ‘앞으로 나한테 잘 해주지 마요’라며 유진은 단호하게 답하는데. 사실 유진에게 지원은 감히 선배들이 시키는데 싫으면 싫다, 못하면 못한다고 면전에서 말하는 마음에 안 드는 후배일 뿐이다. 그에 반해 지원은 개인주의를 체화한 ‘요즘 신입사원’으로 자신 이외에는 아무 관심을 두지 않았지만, 최근 유..
(미디어온) 동국제강 당진공장이 철강업계 최초로 통합환경허가를 획득하고 지난 7일 환경부와 함께 통합환경허가서 수여식을 진행했다고 밝혔다. 통합환경허가는 환경오염시설 관련 7개 법률 및 10개 인허가를 통합 관리하는 제도로서 철강업종은 2021년 말까지 반드시 환경부로부터 허가를 취득해야 한다. 동국제강 당진공장은 지난해 4월부터 철강업 실행협의체로 활동하며 공정별 통합허가 시범사업에 참여하여 통합공정도, 배출영향분석, 물질수지 산정 등 사전협의를 통해 철강업종의 표준을 만들어 왔다. 이런 준비과정을 바탕으로 동국제강 당진공장은 철강업체 최초로 통합환경허가를 취득했으며 외부 전문컨설팅의 도움없이 자체 역량으로 허가를 획득하여 철강업계 통합환경허가 1호 사업장이 됐다. 행사에 참석한 김지탁 당진공장..