South Korea

올해도 ‘폭염가뭄폭우산불’ 4종세트…갈수록 막장여름 되는 이유가

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Extreme Weather Events

The global average temperature in 2025 was the third highest on record, continuing a trend of unprecedented heat with 2023 and 2024 occupying the first and second hottest years. This rapid temperature rise exceeds previous climate model predictions, driven not only by accumulated greenhouse gases but also influenced by factors such as changes in solar activity, volcanic eruptions like the 2022 Hunga Tonga event, and the weakening La Niña phenomenon.

A notable contributor to the recent temperature surge is the "paradox of cleaner air." Reductions in atmospheric aerosols, which previously acted as a reflective shield cooling the Earth, have inadvertently removed this effect, leading to sudden increases in heat. This phenomenon, combined with rising temperatures, especially on land which is warming about twice as fast as oceans, is intensifying the frequency and severity of climate disasters: heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and wildfires.

In East Asia, including Korea, these extreme weather events have manifested as record heat, increased power demands, localized heavy rains, and extended dry spells. This four-part set of climate-related disasters is likely to become routine, posing significant challenges to disaster preparedness and environmental management. Scientists warn the global temperature is expected to reach the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit set by the Paris Agreement within five years, a threshold marking increased climate system vulnerability and more intense extreme weather events.

Experts call for urgent, precise study of additional natural factors beyond carbon dioxide that influence temperature variability to improve future warming predictions. Berkeley Earth forecasts 2026 will likely rank as the fourth hottest year on record, continuing the pattern of escalating global temperatures and intensifying climate risks.

스노우플레이크가 내다본 올해 에이전틱 AI 트렌드는?

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

In 2026, agentic artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to advance from basic chatbots into autonomous operating systems capable of verifying and executing corporate tasks independently. Snowflake’s "AI + Data Predictions 2026" report highlights a shift away from architectures dominated by large language models (LLMs) towards systems with enhanced reasoning and execution capabilities, enabling AI to operate across entire enterprises. This evolution marks a transition from isolated AI applications to the development of enterprise-wide AI ecosystems.

Reliability in agentic AI is identified as a critical challenge, with expected adoption of feedback loops that integrate user input alongside self-verification mechanisms to enhance judgement accuracy and system stability. The emergence of specialized micro-agents handling specific tasks will precede the development of singular super-agents, with these collaborative agents forming the foundational structure of agentic AI.

Key to the widespread adoption of agentic AI are standard protocols, open-source foundation models, and operational infrastructure. A dominant protocol for agent communication is anticipated to accelerate development and reduce vendor lock-in. Furthermore, enterprise infrastructure is expected to shift focus from analytics to real-time data processing and state management, with technologies like Postgres being pivotal in managing large-scale, low-latency event and operational data streams generated by agentic AI.

In cybersecurity, agentic AI presents dual aspects: it may facilitate automated vulnerability detection and data exfiltration by attackers, while also empowering security operations centers to enhance threat responses with fewer personnel. Industry-specific applications include retail and consumer goods adopting personalized customer management and AI shopping assistants; financial services integrating AI-based analytics and risk management into decision-making; and manufacturing deploying chatbot-style AI agents to support quality inspection, equipment maintenance, and supply chain optimization.

Snowflake’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer Anahita Tafvizi emphasized that despite rapid AI innovation, many companies struggle to realize tangible outcomes. Differences in data health, governance, and organizational capabilities are expected to widen gaps in AI utilization across businesses.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Privacy

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has instructed e-commerce firm Coupang to cease publishing unconfirmed information related to a data breach that compromised the personal data of 33.7 million users. The company had disclosed details based on statements from a former employee suspected to be the source of the leak before the official investigation was complete, a move PIPC warned could mislead the public and interfere with their probe.

The PIPC reviewed Coupang's compliance with previous improvement recommendations approved in December and found the company’s responses to be largely formal and insufficient. The watchdog ordered additional measures, including implementing functions on Coupang’s app and website to allow users to check if their data was leaked and to promptly notify those affected by the breach.

Furthermore, the commission criticized Coupang for repeatedly failing to submit requested documents in a timely manner, stating that such actions could be considered obstruction of the investigation and might result in harsher sanctions. The ongoing probe is centered on understanding the full scope of the breach, which involved sensitive customer information like names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses.