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Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 “Re_Crafting Tomorrow” 60 Days of Grandeur Begin on September 4

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CHEONGJU, South Korea, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 will embark on a 60-day journey beginning with the opening ceremony September 4.

Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 Re_Crafting Tomorrow Poster
Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 Re_Crafting Tomorrow Poster

Featuring works by 1,300 artists from 72 countries and totaling more than 2,500 pieces. This Biennale proclaims itself unprecedented in scale. True to its theme, “Re_Crafting Tomorrow” the Biennale builds on craft, which is rooted in the fundamental acts of cooking, clothing, and shelter that have shaped human life, as its cornerstone. It integrates art, design, and architecture; connects human beings, nature, and objects; and raises questions about the earth’s future in collaboration with communities, stacking these concerns into a structural and lucid narrative of craft’s new identity and potential.

  • Main Exhibition – Re_Crafting Tomorrow

In this digital age of image saturation and speed, in a time of impoverished abundance where expensive luxury goods coexist with disposables, in an era where development and growth themselves trigger disaster, and where consumption only multiplies waste and intensifies human guilt—what can craft do? The main exhibition of the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 embodies precisely this question. Artistic Director Kang Jae-young stated, “This exhibition shows how universal craft, which began as indispensable items for human survival, evolves through aestheticism to become craft for all beings and ultimately craft with communities. This Biennale is a site where craft generates a new civilization through the act of ‘making together and sharing together.'” 

  • Invited Country Exhibition Thailand

Another reason not to miss this Biennale is the Invited Country Exhibition. For the first time in Biennale history, a single Asian country has been invited as a solo guest nation: Thailand. The exhibition is curated by Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director and recipient of the 2025 Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence from Bard College, an honor awarded to the most pioneering and innovative curators in the global art world. Entitled “Living in an Elastic Time”, the exhibition highlights Thailand’s crafts, which have preserved their unique culture and spirit despite the pressures of speed and commercialization. It is composed of 3 sections of ‘Creating without Time limits’, ‘Techno-Craft’, and ‘Time is the True Home of the Mind’. And the ‘Thai Culture Week’ held September 9–14, are additional highlights not to be missed.

The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 will run for 60 days, from September 4, to November 2, at the Culture Factory and across Cheongju.

www.okcj.org

Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 60 Days of Grandeur Begin on September 4

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Works by 1,300 artists from 72 countries, comprising over 2,500 pieces complete the “Re_Crafting Tomorrow”

CHEONGJU, South Korea, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 will embark on a 60-day journey beginning with the opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on September 4.

Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 Re_Crafting Tomorrow Poster
Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 Re_Crafting Tomorrow Poster

Featuring works by 1,300 artists from 72 countries and totaling more than 2,500 pieces. This Biennale proclaims itself unprecedented in scale. True to its theme, <Re_Crafting Tomorrow> the Biennale builds on craft, which is rooted in the fundamental acts of cooking, clothing, and shelter that have shaped human life, as its cornerstone. It integrates art, design, and architecture; connects human beings, nature, and objects; and raises questions about the earth’s future in collaboration with communities, stacking these concerns into a structural and lucid narrative of craft’s new identity and potential.

At the pre-press tour held on Wednesday, September 3, domestic and international media remarked that “from the main exhibition to every exhibition space, from the arrangement of works to the movement paths, everything was meticulously designed and executed with utmost sincerity, like a magnificent architectural structure that is both sensorial and overwhelming,” adding that “the 2025 Cheongju Craft Biennale will serve as proof of why Cheongju is recognized as a World Craft City.” 

Main Exhibition

“How does universal civilization evolve through aestheticism to become craft that coexists with communities? “

In this digital age of image saturation and speed, in a time of impoverished abundance where expensive luxury goods coexist with disposables, in an era where development and growth themselves trigger disaster, and where consumption only multiplies waste and intensifies human guilt—what can craft do? The main exhibition of the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 embodies precisely this question. Artistic Director Kang Jae-young stated, “This exhibition shows how universal craft, which began as indispensable items for human survival, evolves through aestheticism to become craft for all beings and ultimately craft with communities. This Biennale is a site where craft generates a new civilization through the act of ‘making together and sharing together.'” The main exhibition, composed of 4 subthemes, features 148 artists from 55 teams across 16 countries.

#1. Crafts as Metaculture
#2. Crafts for Aestheticians
#3. Crafts for All Beings
#4. Craft with Communities

Special and Extraordinary – Special Exhibitions

No less a highlight than the main exhibition of the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 are its special exhibitions.

Among them, “Hyundai Translocal Series: Entangled and Woven” is the inaugural exhibition of the Hyundai Translocal Series, a new initiative by Hyundai Motor Company that aims to support cross-regional artistic collaborations and exchanges between art institutions in Korea and across the globe. The exhibition is co-organized by the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 and the Whitworth, The University of Manchester, in collaboration with the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy. It examines historic and current exchanges in textile art between the three cities under the theme of ‘craft and community.’

Eight artists and collectives from Korea and India present new works, alongside a selection of historic Indian textiles from the Whitworth’s collection. While being rooted in distinct cultural and aesthetic traditions, their works reflect and resonate across boundaries. Each work conveys a unique voice, catalyzing a dialogue that foregrounds textiles not only as aesthetic and utilitarian objects but also as carriers of knowledge, memory, power and resistance.

Artist Yeonsoon CHANG (Korea) draws on the concept of WorinCheongang to weave insight into the meditative quality and performative nature of textile labor. Youngin HONG (Korea), working with a women’s craft community in India’s Kutch region, transforms traditional appliqué and embroidery techniques into sensorial contemporary works. Somi KO (Korea) uses khadi cotton, which is a material symbolizing both the industrialization of India’s weaving industry during the British colonial period and its struggle for independence, as well as her own “somisa” method to craft textile sculptures and garments that trace the arc of human life. Jounghye YOO (Korea) creates veil works that respond to the movement and breath of viewers, forming a space where rich cultural heritages and symbolic systems of India and Korea resonate with one another. The works of these four Korean artists possess a power that is deeply moving.

Also featured are Boito (India), who presents new woven panels inspired by structural parallels between Korean Buddhist art and Indian traditions; Kaimurai (India), who transforms the impression of the Korean bell (jong) encountered during the research trip into philosophical textile paintings; and PÉRO (India), an alternative collective of practitioners resisting the homogenized global fashion industry through slowness and collaborative practice; Sumakshi SINGH (India), who explores the symbolism of a “bridge” connecting two places through a large-scale textile installation. The Whitworth’s selection of Indian textiles from its collection, that reveal the technical brilliance and layered histories of South Asian fabric traditions, forms a dialogue with the new works in “Hyundai Translocal Series: Entangled and Woven”—one of the Biennale’s must-see highlights.

Adding another layer of distinction is the “Seongpa Seonye Exhibition”. Since becoming a monk in 1960, Venerable Seongpa, who is a Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order, has pursued both spiritual practice and art-making, producing original works across calligraphy, Korean painting, ceramics, sculpture, and dyeing. The title of this exhibition, ‘Myeongmyeong Baekbaek’, reflects the essence of his life’s artistic journey. True to its title, the exhibition debuts for the first time a single monumental hanji work stretching 100 meters in length. Surpassing the limits of traditional papermaking techniques, this vast piece, dazzling and pure like dawn’s first snowfall, invites viewers to walk and gaze in silence, shedding worldly concerns and opening a path into contemplation.

Invited Country Exhibition Thailand – Living in an Elastic Time

Another reason not to miss this Biennale is the Invited Country Exhibition. For the first time in Biennale history, a single Asian country has been invited as a solo guest nation: Thailand. The exhibition is curated by Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director and recipient of the 2025 Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence from Bard College, an honor awarded to the most pioneering and innovative curators in the global art world. Entitled “Living in an Elastic Time”, the exhibition highlights Thailand’s crafts, which have preserved their unique culture and spirit despite the pressures of speed and commercialization. It is composed of 3 sections of ‘Creating without Time limits’, ‘Techno-Craft’, and ‘Time is the True Home of the Mind’. And the ‘Thai Culture Week’ held September 9–14, are additional highlights not to be missed.

Mayor Lee Beom-seok stated, “On September 4, Cheongju, the World Craft City, will become the historic site where the values of craft and the world are connected to build a new world through craft. We invite you to the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025, which is a 60-day celebration of craft that considers the environment, serves communities, and heals the wounds of social conflict and civilization. With unprecedented scale and world-class works, it will demonstrate the greater power of culture.” 

The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 will run for 60 days, from September 4, to November 2, at the Culture Factory and across Cheongju. Exhibition hours are 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., closed on Mondays.

Meanwhile, Cheongju is home to Jikji, the world’s oldest metal movable type. Since 1999, it has hosted the world’s first specialized biennial for crafts and is the only ‘World Crafts City’ in South Korea designated by the World Crafts Council (WCC).

Contact : Cheongju Craft Biennale Organizing Committee (www.okcj.org)

Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship Supercharges NSS in Global Chip Race

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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 September 2025 – Malaysia’s semiconductor ambitions are moving in step with its role as ASEAN chair, with investment momentum signalling a larger regional shift in the global chip supply chain. In the first half of 2025, the country secured RM190.3 billion (USD45.2 billion) in approved investments, an 18.7 per cent increase over the same period last year.

Singapore was the largest foreign investor with RM43.4 billion (USD10.3 billion), reflecting strong cross-border confidence in Malaysia’s trajectory.

Over 89,000 new jobs to be created through projects spanning manufacturing, services and the primary sector. The electrical and electronics (E&E) industry stood out with RM13.1 billion in new commitments, highlighting Malaysia’s push to evolve beyond its traditional role in assembly and testing. The National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), launched in 2024, has already attracted RM54.2 billion in its first year, marking a strong start towards the government’s RM500 billion target by 2030.

“What investors are responding to is Malaysia’s ability to deliver. In semiconductors, that means proven ecosystems in Penang and Johor, strong links with Singapore, and a pipeline of trained engineers ready to take on higher-value roles. The NSS gives us a clear direction, but credibility comes from how quickly projects move from approval to operation. On that front, Malaysia is building real trust,” said Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

Moving Upstream

In March 2025, Malaysia signed an agreement with Arm Holdings Plc to gain access to the UK-based firm’s design library – aiming to produce its own chips within the next decade.

Malaysia currently controls seven per cent of the global semiconductor market, with six out of the 12 largest semiconductor companies globally operating in the country.

This share is expected to increase as semiconductor players worldwide turn to Southeast Asia for a stable microchip supply chain, as the US-China trade war escalates.

A Turning Point for Local SMEs

At home, small-medium enterprises (SMEs) such as CG Global Profastex hail the NSS as “a turning point” in moving beyond traditional manufacturing into higher-value activities like advanced test development, product design enablement, and process automation.

Operating out of Penang for almost a decade now, CG Global serves both front-end and back-end semiconductor-related customers – particularly in equipment, test, and automation subsystems – in Malaysia and selected ASEAN markets.

“Traditionally, EMS SMEs operated in transactional roles—limited to basic assembly or support functions. Today, under the NSS framework, we have been actively encouraged to move up the value chain.

“It pushes us to upgrade our infrastructure, adopt advanced technologies, and build the capabilities needed to support complex, precision-driven industries,” said CG Global managing director Siti Padillah Binti Abdul Wahab.

Siti Padillah said the company plans to apply for NSS-aligned funding to scale up production capacities and adopt digital tools in order to strengthen Malaysia’s position within ASEAN semiconductor landscape.

“With the NSS as our guide, we are investing in the future—so Malaysia can lead not only in volume, but in value,” she added.

If anything, CG Global reflects the confidence boost that hundreds of homegrown enterprises have received from the NSS to pursue larger ambitions and greater appetite for growth.

Going Global as a Region

In 2024, the ASEAN semiconductor market was valued at US$95.91 billion, making up 15 per cent of the global semiconductor market that reached a record high of US$627.6 billion.

The region’s market share is set to soar in the coming months, thanks to the newly-launched Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which combines Singapore’s upstream excellence and Malaysia’s Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) strength.

Johor emerged as Malaysia’s top state for approved investments in the first half of 2025, recording RM56 billion (USD13.3 billion). Among the early movers was Japan’s Ferrotec Group, a leading supplier of materials, components and equipment for the global chip industry. The company commenced operations at its new facility in Johor in April 2025, supporting both regional and international customers.

“The JS-SEZ offers efficient cross-border logistics and connectivity with Singapore, which is critical for our operations,” said Soo Kim Fatt, director of Ferrotec Power Semiconductor Malaysia. “Its proximity to Singapore provides excellent transport accessibility, making it easier for international customers, partners, and overseas colleagues to visit Johor Bahru for meetings, technical support, and collaboration.”

“The JS-SEZ is more than just proximity. It gives investors access to Singapore’s design and R&D right next to Malaysia’s manufacturing and assembly,” said Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim. “Together with the NSS, it strengthens ASEAN’s position as a credible alternative in the global semiconductor supply chain.”

Johor’s role is also expected to strengthen further by significant technological advancements from a partnership between YTL Power International and Nvidia, focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Located at the YTL Green Data Centre in Kulai, this landmark project adds a critical digital infrastructure layer to the state’s technology ecosystem, positioning Malaysia as a leading AI hub in the region.

Tapping the Talent Pool

Beyond infrastructure and investments, Malaysia is also actively positioning itself as a regional talent magnet and a training hub for semiconductor expertise.

As of mid-2025, Malaysia has trained over 13,000 high-skilled semiconductor talents – more than one-fifth of the 60,000 target outlined in the NSS.

The government sees this as part of a regional effort. During the one-year anniversary of the NSS, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s training and upskilling initiatives are part of a “broader, regional, ASEAN-wide push”, pointing to deep STEM pipelines in Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. Under Malaysia’s chairmanship, initiatives such as the ASEAN Framework for Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chains (AFISS) are promoting cross-border training and collaboration.

MIDA is working with investors to align training and academic programmes with industry needs. “Talent is the decisive factor for the next phase of growth. Our priority is to make Malaysia both talent-rich and talent-ready, while attracting the best from around the region,” said Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim.

The Test Ahead

The NSS has given Malaysia a running start, drawing global names, lifting SMEs and tying national ambition to ASEAN’s broader potential. Its early success lies not only in billions invested but in the alignment, it has fostered between government, industry and regional partners.

Hashtag: #MIDA

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Franklin Templeton celebrates 35th anniversary in Singapore

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 September 2025 – Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s largest global asset managers, is celebrating 35 years of serving clients in Singapore, highlighting its long-standing commitment to delivering world class investment solutions in the country.

[From left to right] Manraj Sekhon, Chief Investment Officer of Templeton Global Investments; Tiffany Hong, Chief of Staff to the CEO, Franklin Templeton; and Tariq Ahmad, Head of APAC, Franklin Templeton; pictured together at Franklin Templeton Singapore’s 35th Anniversary Event.
[From left to right] Manraj Sekhon, Chief Investment Officer of Templeton Global Investments; Tiffany Hong, Chief of Staff to the CEO, Franklin Templeton; and Tariq Ahmad, Head of APAC, Franklin Templeton; pictured together at Franklin Templeton Singapore’s 35th Anniversary Event.

Since establishing its presence in Singapore in 1990 with a dedicated emerging markets research office, Franklin Templeton — through its Singapore entity, Templeton Asset Management Ltd — has grown to become a trusted partner for retail and institutional investors in the Lion City over the years. Franklin Templeton was among the first few foreign fund managers to offer overseas funds to the investing public in Singapore in 1996 with the establishment of Singapore’s first umbrella and feeder fund into the Franklin Templeton Luxembourg funds, along with Singapore’s first emerging markets fund that year. The following year, Franklin Templeton continued to break new ground with the launch of Singapore’s first global equity fund. Franklin Templeton has also played a key role in advancing financial literacy and investor education in Singapore and the broader region through its education platform – the Franklin Templeton Academy.

Singapore today serves as one of the key regional offices for Asia Pacific, anchoring the firm’s investment leadership across public and private markets, while also housing strategic regional functions including distribution, operations, marketing, human resources, compliance, and legal.

Manraj Sekhon, Chief Investment Officer of Templeton Global Investments and Co-CEO of Templeton Asset Management Ltd said: “Franklin Templeton is proud to celebrate 35 years in Singapore – a journey that has mirrored the remarkable evolution of the nation’s financial landscape. We have had the privilege of contributing to the growth of one of Asia’s most sophisticated capital markets, providing local investors with access to global opportunities and delivering deep, differentiated investment expertise across markets. Today, Singapore is not only the headquarters for Templeton Global Investments, one of our Specialist Investment Managers, but also a strategic hub as part of our firm’s broader global footprint.”

Tariq Ahmad, Head of APAC at Franklin Templeton and Co-CEO of Templeton Asset Management Ltd said, “As Franklin Templeton celebrates 35 years in Singapore – alongside the nation’s 60th year of independence – we reflect on a shared journey of growth and transformation. We are honored to have been a trusted partner to our clients through different market cycles and are proud of the relationships we have built here over the past decades. This year, we have been working on a number of pioneering initiatives from launching the country’s first retail tokenized fund, to expanding access to high-quality secondary private equity for investors. Looking ahead, we remain committed to driving innovation and delivering future-ready investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients in Asia Pacific.”

Franklin Templeton’s commitment to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region is reflected in its strong partnerships with leading institutional clients and financial institutions – both global and local – delivering customized investment solutions to meet the evolving needs of the market. Looking ahead, the firm remains focused on deepening its presence in Asia Pacific by continuing to add to its diversified suite of investment capabilities designed to serve a broad spectrum of investor segments across the region.

DISCLAIMER: This press release is for information only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation and was prepared without regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person who may receive it. This document may not be reproduced, distributed or published without prior written permission from Franklin Templeton.

Any research and analysis contained in this document has been procured by Franklin Templeton for its own purposes and may be acted upon in that connection and, as such, is provided to you incidentally. Although information has been obtained from sources that Franklin Templeton believes to be reliable, no guarantee can be given as to its accuracy and such information may be incomplete or condensed and may be subject to change at any time without notice. Any views expressed are the views of the fund manager as of the date of this document and do not constitute investment advice. The underlying assumptions and these views are subject to change based on market and other conditions and may differ from other portfolio managers or of the firm as a whole.

There is no assurance that any prediction, projection or forecast on the economy, stock market, bond market or the economic trends of the markets will be realized. Franklin Templeton accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct or indirect consequential loss arising from the use of any information, opinion or estimate herein.

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount that you invested. Past performance is not necessarily indicative nor a guarantee of future performance.

Copyright© 2025 Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

Issued by Templeton Asset Management Ltd, Registration Number (UEN) 199205211E.

Hashtag: #FranklinTempleton

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

JuanScore Showcases AI-Driven Credit Solutions at 2025 Manila Tech Summit

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MANILA, Philippines, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — JuanScore, a Philippine credit bureau and fintech innovator, demonstrated its leading AI-driven credit scoring and risk management solutions at the 5th Manila Tech Summit on August 26-27.

The summit, hosted by FinTech Alliance Philippines, attracted more than 3,000 fintech leaders, investors, and government officials from 42 countries. The event featured keynote addresses by H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona, with discussions focusing on digital transformation, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, and open finance initiatives across the region.

JuanScore Chief Technology Officer Lei Chen participates in summit panel discussion
JuanScore Chief Technology Officer Lei Chen participates in summit panel discussion

JuanScore CTO Lei Chen participated in the panel discussion “The Rise of AI-Powered Finance in Asia: Use Cases from Lending to Risk Scoring,” where he shared insights on how AI is transforming financial services throughout the region. Chen explored applications spanning real-time lending and precision risk scoring to automated fraud detection, emphasizing AI’s critical role in accelerating financial inclusion, enhancing credit intelligence, and rebuilding trust in the digital economy.

“Limited access to traditional credit records has long been a barrier to financial inclusion in Southeast Asia,” Chen explained. “At JuanScore, we deploy advanced algorithms—including deep learning, graph neural networks, and sequential models—to analyze complex credit data and identify previously hidden risk patterns. This enables financial institutions to make more accurate credit decisions while safely expanding access to financial services for underserved communities. Through cutting-edge AI innovation, we are strengthening and broadening the Philippine financial ecosystem.”

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits JuanScore's booth and meets with company representatives
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits JuanScore’s booth and meets with company representatives

As a featured exhibitor, JuanScore presented its intelligent scoring system and comprehensive AI-powered risk management platform. JuanScore is a credit technology company under the global fintech company, FinVolution Group (NYSE: FINV). Since its establishment in 2024, the company has operated under regulation by the Credit Information Corporation (CIC) and has rapidly emerged as the innovation benchmark in the Philippine credit sector.

JuanScore’s solutions enable real-time credit decisions, automate fraud detection, and enhance financial inclusion across the Philippines. By integrating data covering 77% of the country’s underserved population and deploying more than 50 proprietary local risk models, JuanScore effectively addresses critical gaps in traditional credit reporting while driving financial inclusion. These innovations empower financial institutions to make smarter, faster, and more secure decisions while expanding access to previously underserved communities.

About JuanScore

JuanScore is a Philippine credit bureau operating under the global fintech group FinVolution (NYSE: FINV). Licensed as a Special Accessing Entity by the Philippines Credit Information Corporation (CIC), JuanScore leverages AI-driven solutions and digital transformation to support clients across the Philippines and Southeast Asia in enhancing risk management, improving decision-making, and advancing financial inclusion throughout the region.

To learn more about JuanScore, please visit its website at  juanscore.com.ph

OPIM and Qraft Capital Launch AI-Driven Quantitative Strategy Fund for Global Investors

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HONG KONG, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OP Investment Management Ltd. (“OPIM”), a leading Asia-based fund platform, has partnered with Qraft Capital (BVI) Limited (“Qraft”) to launch the Qraft Soliton Master Fund (“the Fund”). This Cayman-domiciled fund employs an AI-driven, multi-strategy investment approach to generate sustainable returns by continuously iterating quantitative strategies and identifying undiscovered dislocations in liquid equity derivatives markets across Korea, Hong Kong SAR, the U.S., and Europe. The Fund focuses on systematic strategies, including equity long-short (market-neutral), mid-frequency long-biased, and arbitrage.

Qraft Technologies, headquartered in Seoul with affiliates in Asia-Pacific and the U.S., is a global pioneer in AI-powered asset management. With SoftBank Group’s USD146M Series C investment in January 2022, Qraft’s innovative technology underpins a range of investment products, including U.S.-listed AI-driven ETFs, setting new benchmarks for machine learning in portfolio construction and trading.

“This partnership brings Qraft’s proprietary AI-driven strategy to an institutional framework, meeting the growing demand for adaptable, cutting-edge investment solutions,” said Jae Hyeok Heo, CIO of the Fund. “The Fund leverages our expertise in AI pattern recognition and disciplined quantitative processes to deliver value to global investors.”

The Fund offers institutional and professional investors access to Qraft’s proprietary approach, previously closed off to external investors, through an accessible Cayman structure. OPIM’s robust platform provides the infrastructure and oversight needed to connect innovative managers like Qraft with international capital.

“South Korea’s investment talent has long been underappreciated, often overshadowed by outdated perceptions of its capital markets,” said Alvin Fan, CEO of OPIM. “The KOSPI’s strong year-to-date outperformance in 2025, driven by robust corporate governance reforms, has brought renewed global attention to the market. This shines a spotlight on South Korea’s exceptionally skilled money managers, whose expertise surpasses market expectations, creating a compelling opportunity for global investors seeking alpha through Qraft’s AI-driven innovation.”

Key counterparties:

  • Prime Broker and Custodian: Morgan Stanley
  • Administrator: Maples Fund Services
  • Auditor: KPMG
  • Legal Counsel: Charles Russell Speechlys LLP and Walkers

About OP Investment Management Ltd.

OPIM collaborates with emerging managers to deliver innovative strategies for institutional and professional investors. Established in 2004, OPIM is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (the “SFC”) for Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities), and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities. OPIM may only provide services to professional investors. As a member of the Oriental Patron Financial Group, OPIM’s institutional fund platform supports global managers with best-in-class business partners in alternative asset management.

Disclaimer:

This press release is issued by OP Investment Management Ltd. (“OPIM”) for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to invest or deal in any securities or financial instruments. This document and OPIM’s website (www.opim.com.hk) have not been reviewed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Any trademarks, logos and related intellectual property are owned by either OPIM or other third parties.  Information provided is believed to be reliable at the time of publication, but OPIM does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and is not liable for any errors of facts or opinions nor shall OPIM be liable for any damages arising from any person’s reliance on this information. Past performance is not indicative of future results and any predictions, projections, or forecasts on the economy, securities market or economic trends may not be indicative of the future performance of any funds or accounts managed or advised by OPIM. Any opinion, estimate, or predictions contained in this document may be subject to change without prior notice. This document may not be reproduced or distributed without OPIM’s prior written consent.

Coventry and Alan Buerger Move to Dismiss Abacus Lawsuit

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Motion underscores that Abacus’s claims lack merit as Lapetus, its key life expectancy provider, shut its doors August 31

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Coventry First LLC (“Coventry”) and its Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Alan H. Buerger, today announced that they have filed a Motion to Dismiss the complaint brought by Abacus Global Management, Inc. (“Abacus”) (NASDAQ: ABL) in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on August 29, 2025. The full Motion to Dismiss can be found here.

In the filing, Coventry and Mr. Buerger express their view that Abacus’s lawsuit is an effort to silence constitutionally protected debate. As the Motion states:

“The First Amendment expresses ‘a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.’ Abacus, however, seeks to flip that principle on its head. Faced with criticism about serious problems of its own making, Abacus brought this meritless lawsuit to muzzle those who have highlighted the truth or expressed their constitutionally protected opinions. That it cannot do.”

The Motion also highlights that Abacus invested in and relied heavily upon Lapetus Solutions, Inc. (“Lapetus”) as its primary life expectancy provider — but Lapetus publicly announced that it shut down all operations effective August 31, 2025. This development underscores the concerns raised regarding Abacus’s practices and the importance of open debate about the life settlement industry. 

“Abacus’s complaint is an attempt to silence robust debate on important issues affecting the life settlement industry, including the reliability of life expectancy estimates,” said Mr. Buerger. “Transparent disclosures advance the interests of investors, regulators, and the life settlement market as a whole, and the First Amendment protects the right to voice opinions and concerns, particularly on matters of such public interest.”

About Coventry

Coventry is the leader and creator of the secondary market for life insurance. For more than 20 years, we have been driving the industry forward and expanding opportunities for life insurance policyowners. Coventry’s deep experience combined with a fierce commitment to consumer rights makes Coventry the clear market leader, a position we use to raise industry standards and expand consumer choice. To date, we have delivered more than $6 billion to policyowners who no longer have a need for their policies. To learn more about Coventry, please visit Coventry.com. 

Media Contacts:

Prosek Partners for Coventry
Andy Merrill / Kiki Tarkhan
Pro-Coventry@prosek.com 

OptAI to Showcase the Future of On-Device AI at IFA 2025

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OptAI to unveil its latest AI optimization solutions powered by Opt-Hancer

Participation in Pitch Battle and DreamStage to highlight global expansion strategy and vision “Any Model, Any Device”

SEOUL, South Korea and BERLIN, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OptAI, an artificial intelligence startup specializing in on-device AI optimization technologies, today announced its participation in IFA 2025, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, taking place in Berlin, Germany, from September 5 to 9.

On-device AI Optimization Platform, Opt-Hancer
On-device AI Optimization Platform, Opt-Hancer

Showcasing On-Device AI Solutions with Opt-Hancer
At the exhibition, OptAI will present a variety of solutions developed through its proprietary on-device AI optimization platform Opt-Hancer. These include the successful optimization of LG EXAONE 3.5 for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite NPU in collaboration with LG Uplus. The technology is currently preparing for beta testing at LG Uplus and is under development for commercialization within the ixi-O service based on EXAONE 4.0, drawing strong industry attention.

Broad Optimization Capabilities Across AI Models
OptAI has also secured optimization capabilities for large language models such as LLaMA 3, Gemma 2, Qwen 2.5, and EXAONE 4.0, as well as vision models including DeTR and the YOLO family, and multimodal models such as Qwen2-VL and LLaVA. The company will further reveal optimization results on the latest NPU chipsets — Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Gen 3, and Elite — demonstrating its technical strength across language, vision, and multimodal domains.

Global Vision: “Any Model, Any Device”
In addition, OptAI will participate in both the Pitch Battle and DreamStage programs. At the Pitch Battle, OptAI will showcase diverse demos and applications powered by Opt-Hancer, highlighting cross-platform optimization capabilities for CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs from multiple manufacturers. At the DreamStage, OptAI will share its vision, “Any Model, Any Device,” presenting the future of on-device AI that transcends cloud dependency and enables customized AI operations, enhanced data security, and energy-efficient computing.

As a company, OptAI aims to leverage South Korea’s strong manufacturing competitiveness to lead the global adoption of on-device AI.

About OptAI
OptAI is a startup specializing in hardware-aware on-device AI optimization technologies for industries requiring secure, real-time processing, such as automotive, robotics, and mobile. The company has established technological credibility through collaborations with global enterprises including LG Electronics, LG Uplus, Hyundai Motor Company, and Hanwha Aerospace, and has secured investments from FuturePlay, Mashup Ventures, HL Mando, and LG Electronics. Building on these achievements, OptAI is pursuing global expansion into the United States, Japan, Germany, and beyond.

Media Contact
Junyoung Seo | COO
OptAI Inc. | jyoung.seo@opt-ai.kr

Seongbae Lee | CMO
OptAI Inc. | sbae.lee@opt-ai.kr 

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