Imsil peppers are ready to be transported from an agricultural processing facility in Imsil County, North Jeolla, on July 27.YONHAP
Happy Monday! I'm back in the driver's seat this week, bringing you all the stories you need to know in Korea. Seoul is steaming with humidity right now, so I hope you're somewhere cool as we get to all the important news happening across the country.
In today's stories, Samsung, SK and other Korean companies are now aiming to ration AI usage as costs begin eating into budgets. In other news, we check out five lesser-known spots in Seoul for views of the city, and we look at how SK's Chey Tae-won could pay settlement costs in what is being dubbed the "divorce of the century."
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Today's top story
BUSINESS
Token tiers: Samsung rations AI access as costs add up
Korean firms are grappling with the steep costs of AI token usage as they race to integrate foreign models into their operations — a move that, ironically, risks undermining the very efficiency gains they are chasing.
The transition is proving costly and still delicate for security-sensitive sectors like semiconductors. Companies including Samsung are now wrestling with how to ration token usage among employees, trying to strike a balance between AI-driven productivity and the expense of running these models at scale.
Five free Seoul observation decks for intimate city views off the beaten path
From City Hall’s new Sky Observatory to a hillside skywalk in western Seoul, these overlooked spots offer free, reservation-free views from every corner of the city.
Korea weighs naval deployment to Hormuz as U.S. seeks allied support
The government is considering concrete plans to deploy naval vessels and other military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, a shift from its more cautious stance as recently as last month.
'Jjan-tech' takes off as Koreans search for a new way to save — and earn
As prices continue to climb, a new trend called "jjan-tech" is rapidly gaining popularity among Korea's savings shoppers. The coined term combines "jjan," slang associated with extreme thrifting, with the English loan word used in another portmanteau referring to personal financial management.
![여한구 산업통상부 통상교섭본부장이 2일 서울 여의도 글래드호텔에서 열린 2026년 플랜트 정책 포럼에서 축사하고 있다. 2026.7.2 [산업통상부 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지] photo@yna.co.kr/2026-07-02 13:35:28/](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12827065.jpg?imageId=12827065&panox=0.00&panoy=0.00&panow=100.00&panoh=100.00&heightx=0.00&heighty=0.00&heightw=100.00&heighth=100.00&width=960&height=720&format=webp&format=jpg)
