South Korea

배경훈 부총리 "AI 딥페이크, 기술로 막겠다"…'투트랙' 대응 원칙 재확인

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Privacy

Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon of South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT emphasized the importance of developing foundational technologies to prevent the political misuse of AI deepfake technology. During a state audit held by the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on October 13, 2025, Bae articulated a "two-track" strategy that combines institutional measures against AI misuse with the advancement of AI technology to combat deepfake threats effectively.

The audit session featured a demonstration by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Sang-hwi, who presented a manipulated deepfake video involving KBS President Park Jang-beom. Lee criticized the government's lax response to manipulated content amid AI industry growth and warned that AI could become a tool for widespread misinformation, likening it to a "digital Goebbels." Deputy Prime Minister Bae acknowledged these concerns, agreeing on the urgent need for preventive measures while stressing that deepfake defense technology must be supported by advanced AI capabilities to keep pace with rapidly evolving misuse technologies.

Bae also highlighted South Korea's global lag in multimodal AI technologies that handle video, compared to advancements in language models. He announced ongoing efforts, including the incorporation of safety and reliability provisions in the AI Basic Act and research and development on deepfake prevention through the AI Safety Research Institute. He reiterated that simultaneous actions on institutional and technological fronts are crucial to effectively counteract AI misuse.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | North Korea

German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt, in a September 2025 interview, urged both North and South Korea to avoid war and reduce belligerence amid ongoing tensions. Drawing on Germany’s experience with reunification, he emphasized approaching the Korean divide with both compassion and realism, highlighting the humanitarian situation in the North and the importance of listening to defectors to better understand life there. Schmidt noted the unique challenges in Korea compared to Germany, including North Korea’s hostile stance and nuclear threats, and suggested that creative diplomatic solutions, such as confederation models, might be necessary rather than direct application of the German reunification framework.

Schmidt also addressed broader issues including South Korea’s relations with neighboring powers, stressing that a united Korea should not be feared given its relative size and the sovereignty of both Koreas. On economic and military cooperation, he highlighted opportunities for greater collaboration between Germany and Korea, including potential joint arms production and more integrated trade relations. The ambassador also discussed social integration and immigration, reflecting on Germany’s experience managing multiculturalism, emphasizing the need to balance respect for cultural diversity with clear legal boundaries.

Highlighting German culture beyond stereotypes, Schmidt introduced Korean audiences to German wine, specifically Riesling, to broaden understanding of Germany’s culinary diversity. Throughout, he praised South Korea’s remarkable development and democratic progress since the Korean War, expressing respect for its achievements and aspirations.

트럼프 中 관세 엄포 후 "해치고 싶지 않아…시진핑과 좋은 관계"(종합)

Newsis | Local Language | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

U.S. President Donald Trump initially threatened to impose 100% additional tariffs on Chinese imports starting November 1, in response to China’s tightened controls on rare earth exports and associated technologies. These measures by China require export approvals and limit critical rare-earth materials, which Trump viewed as hostile actions. The U.S. also considered export controls on critical software to China and questioned whether to proceed with a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit.

Following a firm response from China insisting it was not afraid of a tariff war and would retaliate if necessary, Trump softened his stance. He publicly expressed respect for Xi Jinping and emphasized that neither he nor Xi wanted their countries to fall into recession. Trump suggested a willingness to resolve the tensions, indicating the possibility of not imposing the additional tariffs as initially planned. He described the situation as likely to be worked out and reiterated his good relationship with Xi, leaving the timing and implementation of tariffs uncertain.

Observers highlight that Trump’s pattern involves initial tough rhetoric followed by backtracking, which casts doubt on the durability of his hardline measures. The development creates a fluid situation regarding U.S.-China trade relations and the potential for a summit at the APEC meeting, contingent on if the tariff threat is maintained or eased.