South Korea is set to gain broader access to the U.S. nuclear market after restrictions on its APR-1400 reactor are lifted for projects financed through a U.S. investment package. The change follows a confidential contract involving Korea Electric Power Corp., Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Westinghouse, and could strengthen Korea's position in future bids in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam following its United Arab Emirates deal. The 1.4-gigawatt APR-1400 produces 30% to 40% more power than the 1 GW to 1.1 GW AP-1000 on a similar site footprint and construction schedule. LG AI Research is also expanding EXAONE, its artificial intelligence model, into emerging markets, signing a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan to develop a Kazakh-language model and preparing cooperation with a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund on EXAONE Business Intelligence, a finance-focused model. Meanwhile, major Korean business-group chairmen are reviewing operations and preparing 2027 plans during the Chuseok holiday. The government is seeking to reduce reliance on Middle Eastern crude, broaden its critical-minerals list and increase stockpiling, while NAVER and Brookfield Asset Management are pursuing phased project financing for an artificial intelligence data center costing more than 10 trillion won. Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin has again pressed financial holding companies to strengthen CEO succession procedures as more than 70 affiliate CEOs face year-end term expiries.