NVIDIA Launches Recruitment for AI Technology Center in South Korea
NVIDIA has begun recruitment for its AI technology center in South Korea.According to Yonhap News on June 5, NVIDIA recently posted a job opening for a Physical AI Solution Architect based in Seoul.
The recruitment focuses on digital twins and robotics. The selected candidates will collaborate with key researchers from universities and joint research institutes on various projects and proof-of-concept tasks related to Physical AI.
The role will support domestic university and corporate research teams in building virtual worlds using NVIDIA's Omniverse platform based on OpenUSD, generating synthetic data, simulating robots, and fine-tuning and deploying open humanoid foundation models.
Candidates are required to hold a Ph.D. in a related field and have over five years of practical experience in digital twins and robotics. Academic research achievements and experience in collaboration among academia, industry, and government are preferred.
The AI technology center will serve as a research and development facility where NVIDIA collaborates with local governments, universities, and businesses to develop core technologies and submit papers to international conferences. Similar centers are currently operating in countries like Singapore and the UK. If established in South Korea, it is expected to become a major global R&D hub.
Prime Minister's Office Prepares for Upcoming Confirmation Hearing
As speculation grows that President Lee Jae-myung will soon nominate a successor to Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, the Prime Minister's Office has reportedly formed a preparation team for the confirmation hearing.On June 5, Yonhap News reported that Kim Young-soo, the first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, will lead the team, which is expected to consist of about 30 members. The office will be located at the Financial Supervisory Service training center in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The prime ministerial nominee must undergo a confirmation hearing in the National Assembly and receive approval from the plenary session before being officially appointed. Kim's nomination took 29 days from nomination to appointment.
However, the Prime Minister's Office issued a press release stating that reports regarding the formation of the preparation team are unfounded.
Potential candidates to succeed Prime Minister Kim include Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president; Jeong Seong-ho, Minister of Justice; and Han Seong-sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups.
UK's SMR Project Sparks 'Buy British' Controversy
The UK aerospace and defense company Rolls-Royce has decided to assign key processes of its small modular reactor (SMR) project to a South Korean company, igniting a 'Buy British' debate within the UK.On June 5, Yonhap News cited the Financial Times, reporting that Rolls-Royce SMR signed a design contract in April with Great British Energy Nuclear to construct three SMRs in North Wales. It subsequently selected Doosan Enerbility as a strategic partner for the production of key equipment. This decision has drawn criticism in the UK for contradicting the principle of prioritizing domestic industry in public projects.
The UK government aims to source 70% of the supply chain for the project from domestic products. Rolls-Royce has previously indicated that the British content in the SMR could reach as high as 78%. However, concerns have been raised that with South Korea handling key components, the UK may be relegated to producing relatively low-value parts.
Political figures have also raised concerns. Liam Byrne, chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee from the ruling Labour Party, plans to send a letter to ministers requesting clarification on whether this decision aligns with the government's policy of protecting domestic industry.
Garreth Stace, director general of UK Steel, emphasized, "The revival of the UK nuclear sector should create opportunities for jobs and industrial capabilities within the UK."
Protests Expand at Vote Counting Centers, Reaching 2,000 Participants
Protesters who had previously blocked the second polling station in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, have now moved to the vote counting center, increasing their numbers.On June 5, Yonhap News reported that while police deployed over 1,000 officers to transport the ballot boxes, the protesters occupied the entrance of the counting center, preventing about 100 election commission staff, facility personnel, and journalists from leaving.
The protesters gathered around the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, starting with 300 in the morning and swelling to 2,000 by the afternoon. Although there are a total of eight entrances to the stadium, including the first and second floors, the protesters have effectively blocked all access points.
Even after the counting was completed, access remained restricted, forcing some staff to exit through windows. The protesters allowed movement only after verifying identities and reportedly intensified controls on certain media outlets.
The protesters are demanding a re-election, claiming they cannot accept the counting results. They are encouraging further gatherings through related online channels.
Earlier, the second polling station in Jamsil had extended its closing time due to a shortage of ballots on the day of the June 3 local elections, leading to a delay of about 35 hours in transporting the ballot boxes to the counting center after the protesters blocked their removal.
Police deployed approximately 1,000 riot officers that day to disperse the protesters and secure the ballot boxes.
Russia Confirms Putin Received Zelensky's Letter on Peace Talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding discussions on a peace proposal, according to Russia on June 5.On June 5, Yonhap News reported that Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated in an interview with the daily Izvestia that "a written report was delivered yesterday (June 4), and the media reports were also conveyed to the president."
President Putin has reviewed the contents of the letter, and Peskov mentioned that the relevant topics are likely to be discussed at the SPIEF plenary session that day. However, he refrained from providing a direct response regarding Putin's reaction, stating, "I do not want to get ahead of myself."
The day before, President Zelensky publicly urged President Putin to engage in direct talks to end the war in a letter he sent. Former President Donald Trump expressed support for this, stating, "We need to meet and get things done."
Peskov expressed hope for the resumption of stalled peace negotiations, noting that communication with the U.S. continues through existing channels. He pointed out inconsistencies in statements from the White House but acknowledged that President Trump genuinely wishes for a resolution to the situation.
Additionally, Peskov mentioned in an interview with RIA Novosti that there is a "theoretical 50%" chance that a summit between President Putin and President Trump could take place this summer, stating it could happen or not.
Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Clears Allegations of Evidence Tampering
The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office has concluded its investigation into the so-called "evidence tampering allegations" with a decision of no charges.On June 5, Yonhap News reported that the Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced in a press release that "there was no evidence to support claims that the individuals responsible for seized items intentionally damaged or disposed of the evidence and systematically concealed it."
This conclusion aligns with the findings of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the special investigation team led by Ahn Kwon-seop, which determined that while there were operational errors, they did not warrant criminal charges.
The allegations of evidence tampering arose during a search and seizure operation at the home of Jeon Seong-bae, known as the "Gunjin Law Master," in December 2024. During the operation, cash bundles worth approximately 50 million won, including Bank of Korea evidence seals, were secured, but it was later revealed that the inspection information attached to the cash had gone missing during the prosecution phase.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office concluded that while there were operational oversights, there was no evidence of organized concealment from higher-ups. The special investigation team also confirmed deficiencies in the documentation of seized items but found no objective evidence to substantiate the allegations. The special investigation team effectively concluded that there were "no charges" in March and referred the case to the prosecution.
After approximately three months of additional review, the Southern District Prosecutors' Office stated, "After a thorough examination of the records referred by the special investigation team, we found the conclusion to be valid and no evidence to support the allegations, leading to this disposition." However, since the allegations originated from the Southern District Prosecutors' Office, there may be controversy over the "self-exoneration" decision.
JTBC Journalists Announce Legal Action After Assault by Protesters
The JTBC chapter of the Korean Journalist Association has announced plans to take legal action after some protesters, claiming election fraud, assaulted its reporters during the June 3 local elections.On June 5, Yonhap News reported that the JTBC chapter issued a statement saying, "An unprecedented situation occurred where protesters claiming election fraud confined and assaulted JTBC reporters." They called for severe punishment for the perpetrators.
The journalists reported that while covering the counting situation at the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, the protesters surrounded the entire venue and blocked the entrances, forcing them to escape through windows due to safety concerns.
They claimed that when a reporter exited through a window, the protesters demanded identification and aggressively obstructed their movement, physically surrounding them.
The JTBC chapter stated that they have secured footage of the incident and plan to pursue legal action against the assailants. They are also considering legal measures against the public disclosure of journalists' personal information and the spread of false information via social media.
The JTBC chapter emphasized, "Violence against journalists is an infringement on press freedom and the public's right to know," calling it a significant threat to the foundations of democracy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.