South Korea

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Supply Chain Issues

Senior diplomats from Korea and the United States held the 10th Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) in Washington on December 11, 2025, focusing on strengthening cooperation in economic security and securing trusted supply chains. The talks followed the recent bilateral trade and investment agreement finalized in October during the summit between Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Both sides emphasized enhancing joint economic security measures and aligning economic and national security policies to maintain collective competitiveness. Discussions covered addressing unfair and nonmarket practices, as well as further collaboration on critical minerals, with U.S. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg recognizing Korea's leadership in resilient supply chains in regional and multilateral contexts.

The meeting reaffirmed commitments from the two recent summits, highlighting a modernization of the U.S.-ROK alliance. Under the trade deal, Korea pledged $350 billion in U.S. investments, including $150 billion in shipbuilding, in exchange for Washington reducing reciprocal tariffs on Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent. The SED underscored the deal’s success in advancing reciprocal trade, energy security, shipbuilding, and emerging technologies. They also discussed Korean investments in American manufacturing and efforts to ease Korean business travel through the Korea-U.S. Business Travel and Visas Working Group.

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | English | AcademicThink | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has amended its Consumer Protection Guidelines in Electronic Commerce Transactions, effective October 24, 2025. The amendments establish detailed standards and recommendations concerning regulations on six types of online dark patterns under the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce. These include hidden renewal, drip pricing, pre-selected options, false hierarchy structures, obstructing cancellation or withdrawal, and nagging.

The amended Guidelines clarify that businesses must obtain explicit consumer consent at least 30 days prior to increasing recurring payments or converting free trials to paid services. They define the initial price display page and the total mandatory price, which must include all compulsory fees but exclude optional or circumstance-specific costs. The Guidelines provide concrete examples of prohibited practices relating to pre-selected options, false hierarchy, obstructing cancellation, and nagging to enhance clarity and market predictability.

Recommendations within the Guidelines advise businesses to clearly disclose pricing conditions, notify consumers of possible additional charges from optional selections, ensure consumers can decline these options, and prominently display cancellation or withdrawal buttons. These changes signal the KFTC's intent to strengthen enforcement against dark patterns, urging businesses to review and comply with the updated regulations to avoid violations.

LG전자, 퀄컴과 미래 AIDV 시대 선도

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

LG Electronics, in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, has developed a generative AI-based high-performance computing device (HPC) for vehicles, advancing the AI-centered vehicle (AIDV) era. This new technology, called the “AI Cabin Platform,” will be revealed to automaker customers for the first time at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, starting January 6. The AI Cabin Platform integrates various open-source generative AI models, including vision-language models, large language models, and image-generation models, to enhance in-vehicle infotainment and create a new experience for occupants.

The AI Cabin Platform is powered by Qualcomm’s “Snapdragon Cockpit Elite,” which enables all AI computations to be processed locally within the vehicle. This local processing ensures faster, more reliable operation and improved security by eliminating the need for communication with external AI servers, thereby reducing the risk of data leaks. The platform uses interior and exterior cameras to analyze the vehicle’s surroundings and occupant conditions, providing context-appropriate guidance and customized images.

Earlier, at CES 2025, LG and Qualcomm showcased an HPC platform integrating infotainment and advanced driver-assistance systems using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride Flex system-on-chip, recognized for its cost and performance benefits. Eun Seok-hyun, LG Electronics’ Vice President and head of the VS Business Division, emphasized the company’s commitment to leading the transition from software-defined vehicles (SDV) to AI-centered vehicles (AIDV) through strengthened global partnerships.