Opening Ceremony of the 16th EBS International Documentary Film Festival (EIDF 2019)

The opening ceremony of the 16th EBS International Documentary Film Festival (EIDF 2019) sponsored by EBS (Chairman Kim Myung-joong) and sponsored by Goyang City was held at 7 pm EBS Space Hall on Monday, August 19th. Hosted by the broadcaster Kim Kuk-jin and actor Kim Gyu-ri, the opening ceremony of EIDF 2019 was also broadcast live on the YouTube EIDF channel. ▲ The biggest event of the year for Korean documentary lovers is finally revealed. ▲ This year's opening ceremony was held by Kim Kook-jin and actor Kim Gyu-ri. At the opening ceremony, Chairman Kim Myung-joong announced the opening of the EIDF 2019, and judges including Morten Traavik, directors of the festival's competition works, and documentary directors both at home and abroad were in attendance. Representatives including a legislator Kim Kyoung-jin, a senior deputy mayor Lee Chun-pyo, the standing committee of Korean Communications Commission Go Sam-seok, the chairman of Goyang City congress Lee Yoon-seung, and the officials from Korea Creative Content Agency, Korea Radio Promotion Association, and Korea Communications Agency attended the ceremony to celebrate the opening of the festival. The chairman of EIDF, Kim Myung-joong declared the start of the festival. "The documentary has recorded hope, frustration, truth, lies, light and even darkness. In the age of uncertainty, I think documentaries are more important than ever." ▲ With the opening declaration of Chairman EBS Kim Myung-joong, the event schedule for EIDF 2019 has begun. ▲ Documentary producers and directors who entered the competition section expressed their impressions about the visit. ▲ Among the entries, Russian and Japanese works received attention by illuminating the dark memories and aspects of human history. ▲ Lee Chang-jae, chairman of the jury, revealed his impressions this year and asked for interest in Korean documentaries. ▲ Global pitching participants who will lead the future documentary trends were introduced and applauded. The opening ceremony of EIDF 2019 was prepared to introduce the main contents and programs of the festival, including stage greetings from competing works' directors and introduction of judges. As for special performances, the percussion performance team "Good Friends" was held at the begging of the ceremony, and at the end, "JustJerk" showed a great performance. After the ceremony, EIDF 2019's opening film "Midnight Traveler" was screened. ▲ The opening ceremony was concluded shortly after the introduction of the main contents of "Midnight Traveler". EIDF 2019 will be held in Goyang-si and Seoul at the same time until 25th (Sun) following the catchphrase 'Documentary, Lighting the World!'. 73 documentary films from 34 countries will be screened on the three theaters including EBS, Megabox Ilsan Bella Citta, and Small Theater Under the Clouds of Hongdae, and EBS 1TV Channel. There are also various program events: 'EIDF Special Forum with representative architects of Korea: Urban and Architecture-Warmth of Home' (8/21 19:00, Small Theater Under the Clouds), and various special talks with the theme of 'Is it good to marry', 'We go to Pyeongyang without fear', and 'My Dog's Taste'. Meanwhile, EIDF 2019, which marks its 16th this year, will be held in Goyang-si and Seoul from August 17th (Sat) to August 25th (Sun). Through documentary VOD service 'D-BOX', it is possible to watch films again.

10 Million Viewers in South Korea! the Reason, Why [Aladdin] Is Possible While [The Lion King] Is Impossible

Can the movie [The Lion King] surpass the record of [Aladdin]? This year, Disney revealed two live-action remake movies. One is the movie [Aladdin], which has been a concern since the release of the cast, and the other is the [The Lion King], which is considered to be one of the best productions of the year for the best production cost of Disney's history. Source: The Walt Disney Company Korea Official Poster First of all, [Aladdin], released in May, surpassed 10 million viewers in Korea in just 53 days with 1400 screens without screen monopoly, and it has exceeded 11 million viewers for the 4th time in foreign films. Even the opening score was so low that it couldn’t exceed 100,000, which is the lowest movie among the foreign films with 10 million viewers of all time. As a result, it succeeded in reaching the box office of approximately $ 1 billion globally. Meanwhile, [The Lion King], released last week (July 17, 2019), has surpassed [Aladdin]’s record from the beginning of the opening. In ten days after its release, it recorded a tie record with [Frozen]. That is, it has surpassed 3 million viewers in the shortest time in history of Disney movies. And the earnings have already reached $ 600 million globally. As it has been rushing like nobody’s business, whether [The Lion King] will be able to set a record that surpasses [Aladdin] is attracting attention all over the world. Actually, as mentioned before, [Aladdin] was one of the controversial works before the release. There were a number of criticisms including boring casting controversy (although the casting controversy is a problem every time a live-action movie is released), as well as the shocking appearance of actor Will Smith, who transformed into a blue Genie. Disney has already seen the bitter taste of the box office failure with [Beauty and the Beast], so it did not expect much on [Aladdin]. Rather, it was concentrating on [The Lion King] from CG to music and even dubbing. Source URL: https://www.lovetips.co/aladdin-in-the-edition-of-the-book However, [Aladdin], which was at the center of the controversy, resulted in a long-remembered myth in movie history, and the whole world was enthusiastic about Aladdin. Thus, [The Lion King] soon began to attract attention. This is because Disney had been working on it for a long time. If I guess [The Lion King] can make as much success as [Aladdin], the answer is 'NO'. [The Lion King] does not have the secret to attract the audience like [Aladdin]. [Aladdin] and [The Lion King] have a fatal weakness in the box office. That is, the audience already knows the story. On the other hand, it can also be strength in that it has many fans waiting for this work. Nevertheless, the reason why the weakness is bigger is that there must be something that surpasses the previous animation for captivating audiences who constantly compare with previous animations. In this respect, [Aladdin] has succeeded, but [The Lion King] has failed. Source: The Walt Disney Company Official Poster [Aladdin] searched for something that differentiated from animation in 'camera control', ‘presentism', and 'impact'. First of all, as you can guess from the title, [Aladdin] is a fantasy adventure story that a sneak thief Aladdin experiences while encountering the lamp fairy Genie. That is, it is all about the story of Aladdin. But in this live-action movie, even though the title is [Aladdin], it does not seem to be Aladdin's story. The film moved audience’s eyes to the minor characters, the lamp fairy Genie and Princess Jasmine. To be specific, it focused on Genie’s desire to be a normal human being, the sadness of Jasmine deprived of her father’s kingdom by the Wizard Jafar, and the strength to regain it. As a result, it was possible for the audience to feel fresh and emotional as they experience a whole new story. Source: “Speechless” Music Video Screenshot However, in [The Lion King], it was difficult to find differentiated points like [Aladdin]. Story is still focused only on the main character Simba. The story of Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala was similar to that of animation, and the ambition of Uncle Scar, which was existed in the original animation, and the stories of the three hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, Ed) disappeared. Source URL: https://bitly.kr/4ge8tz Next, it is about 'presentism'. One of the reasons why [Aladdin] is favorably received by audiences is that it has perfectly done presentism of the characters. Everyone knew that Genie was cheerful, but no one could imagine the funky atmosphere of hip-hop. In [Aladdin], on top of Genie's original unique sense of humor in the animation, modern comedy, funkiness, and hip-hop style were added to present new fun and pleasure. Consequentially, a lot of laughing points that audience can enjoy were in the film. Furthermore, OST has strengthened modern grandiosity and musical elements as well as reinforced the reinterpretation of modern story by inserting a new song, Speechless, which was not in animation. Source: [Aladdin] Teaser Trailer Screenshot On the other hand, there was very little modern interpretation in [The Lion King]. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that the original animation of 1994 was transferred as it was. No new interpretation was found compared to the original animation [The Lion King]. Finally, it is 'impact'. One of [Aladdin]'s viewing points is the fun of watching. How to express the magic elements of Genie was an important factor. With advanced computer graphics (CG) technique, it successfully presented more colorful visual beauty and impact than animation. CG, as well as dazzling group and solo dance, provided the audience much fun to move their shoulders throughout the movie. Source: [Aladdin] Preview Teaser Trailer Screenshot The visual of [The Lion King] is second to none. The most focusing part in [The Lion King] is the reality that filmed the actual animals and nature as they are. So when the trailer was first released, it became a big topic for the factual description. However, the visual novelty was only up to five minutes before the movie started. Realistic descriptions have soon been adapted to the eyes of the audience, and other than that, there were few visual elements that could catch the eye of the audience. After all, the story had to lead the movie, but the story was not so different from the animation, which eventually became a flat and boring movie. Even the part of Simba and Nala falling in love with the background OST ‘Can you feel the love’ was finished by mixing with the reunion scene without any romantic atmosphere. Source URL: https://pas.fnnews.com/archives/504339 Despite this criticism, of course, [The Lion King] can record astonishing performances like [Aladdin]. This is due to the combination of various factors, including simultaneous releases and seasons. But there is one thing we should not forget in [Aladdin]. The crucial reason why [Aladdin] could succeed in the box office was that it was the repeated viewings. The repeated viewing rate of [Aladdin] is 8.7% on July 14, which is about three times the average of the top 10 movies (3.1%). Also, for repeated viewings, there must be something that fans want to watch again. ===== Ph.D Sophia Seo She had been a member of the research committee of EBS Tomorrow’s Education Plan Institute. Currently, she is a visiting professor at Sookmyung Women's University and an education director of Data Marketing Korea. She is an expert in new media content trend and creator market analysis.

The Residence Bintan, a Paradise Under the Sun of the Equator

When talking about the number of countries that can go without visa, a Korean passport has always been named on top. The passport index is the sum of the visited visa-free countries and countries that need arrival visa in the passport. According to the global financial adviser, Arton Capital’s 2018 announcement, the Republic of Korea, along with Singapore, set a record of 162 points and a joint first place. Like this international reputation, the Korean passport is a very good item to feel the different mood over the border. After flying for 6 hours from Incheon International Airport, you will arrive at Singapore Changi Airport. Because it is a visa-free country and the processing work is fast, it takes only about 30 minutes to get to the Arrivals Hall. When you go through the baggage area and go out to the Terminal lobby, the hot and humid air of the tropics will make you realize that you are in a foreign country. After a short breath with Singapore air, grab a Grab taxi and go 10 minutes south to Tanah Merah ferry terminal. For reference, the first ship to Bintan, Indonesia, is around 8 am. After completing a simple immigration check and baggage inspection, it takes about one hour by high-speed ferry to Bintan Island in Indonesia. In this way, it takes about 8 hours to go through Singapore and then to the land of Indonesia, and the countries you experienced are Korea, Singapore and Indonesia. Bintan Island, which has arrived here, is well known as a land developed early as a Special Tourist Zone for recuperation in Indonesia. As Singapore emerged as an economically wealthy country, many people visited Bintan, which is right adjacent, as a vacation spot. If you arrive at the Bintan Ferry Terminal, there are a lot of vehicles that carry guests to the resort. The only public transport on Bintan Island is a taxi. When you book a resort, it is a wise choice to choose traffic facilities to and from the airport. And ‘The Residence Bintan’ also has a limousine service, which will help you get there. It is approximately one and a half hours between the terminal and the resort. Given the time of a short trip from the airport or terminal, within 12 hours, it is possible to arrive at the resort from my house in Seoul. This reminds me that the earth we live is small. The main building entrance of 'The Residence Bintan', which entered in the limousine, seems to have been functionally decorated like a golf course guest house. But it’s only for the beginning. Entering the lobby through the entrance, you could see the refreshing appearance that the architecture of traditional Indonesian style facing the open sea. It was fresh enough with the natural wind, rather than the air conditioner. Only the entrance area has many walls. Besides, the surroundings were all open, so it was impressive that both nature and convenience facilities met my eye. There are two types of rooms that can be reserved ­ one with an ocean view and one with a garden. Every ocean view room has a swimming pool, but the location of the pool is different. Some have pools right outside the back door and the others have stairs to go down before the pools. If you want to go out and fall into the pool, you should choose a ‘Beachfront’ type room, and if you want to have more party space or enjoy natural wind and light, it will be great to choose a ‘Sea View’ type room. The terrace type rooms with ‘Garden’ or ‘Vista’ modifiers have no private swimming pools. Instead of being located more inside toward the land, more space is provided. Besides, there are only two suite type villas, which will be appropriate to the group of about 4 guests. They have not only private pools but also convenience and accessibility as they are next to the main swimming pool and bar. Among many types of rooms, I have chosen the ‘Beachfront Pool Villa’. It has a structure that leads directly from the bedroom to the swimming pool and is suitable for couples or those who travel alone. Two air conditioners are in full operation, so you might feel cold when you come in. The depth of the pool was 1.2 meters, so it was safe to play with children. The main pool also has similar features. With the isolated spatial composition, the shallow depth seemed to be in a good condition to be relieved. Even if Pool Villa is a good place to fall into a private time, the resort cost includes fee for basic facilities, so it will be great to go out of the room and enjoy them. If you have children, it is good to find a kids club, and if you are alone, it is a good idea to take a look at the fitness center. The kids club, where children from many countries communicate in English and play together, might be a great place to experience global exchange early in life. The play facilities are well-furnished and well-maintained, and professional nursery teachers keep their positions during the day so parents can feel relief when leaving their children and going out for leisure or activities. If you don’t have to worry about children, you should spend some time in the fitness center. There are some places in the resort where you have to pay for - the luxurious Spa, bar, restaurant, gift shop and so on. Although the main facilities are located around the main building, these amenities and activities are far from each other. There are three ways to move. The first way is to walk. I walked from end to end, and it took about half an hour. Walking in the broad daylight makes you lose weight. The next way is to ride a bicycle. Bicycles are placed in front of individual accommodation, according to the number of guests. It is common to go around the resort with this bicycle. If you want to go more conveniently, you can prepare a dollar for a tip and get a buggy from the concierge. The easiest way is to call an electric golf cart that is operated within the resort. But it takes time when there are many users or at night, so I, who is Korean with a quick temper, just walked or rode a bicycle more. It is optional to ride a buggy inside the resort, but there are some cases that surely need it. As off-road ATVs, archery, survival games and other exciting activities are located outside the resort, you must call buggy. The water sports provided at the beach are located just below the main swimming pool, so if you get out of your room and walk along the beach, you will soon arrive. The ATV ride is the center of external activities, but the first thing to do is to take safety training and lessons here. After that, you can enjoy various activities according to the staff’s guide. It is necessary to reserve on the Internet or at the main building counter, so it is better to make it in advance. Like this, you don’t have to look for other places to enjoy activities. Since the resort provides all the excitement experiences both of the sea and land, you should enjoy them. The resort also provides static and healing activities rather than active ones. If you want to feel at ease, among the programs offered by the resort, let's take a cooking class and a spa. In the restaurant, the chef who gives a variety of menus to customers will come and show cooking the traditional Indonesian food. And you can taste the finished dish. In addition, there is nothing like a Spa to relax. The By Ila Spa has a traditional Balinese massage. Before getting a massage, they check your health condition with a questionnaire and provide intensive care for specific areas you feel bad. Ginger tea or Lemon Grass Iced Tea served before or after massage is also a pride of By Ila. If you take a refreshing drink and take a Balinese massage, you will not be able to keep up. After taking a short nap, I can meet your fully relaxed body. Comfortable accommodation and various convenient facilities. And a variety of programs to choose from when booking a resort. I scheduled focusing on the holiday, and I spent time full of memories to go back at the The Residence Bintan. Among many memories at the resort, the best one is the delicious Indonesian food. Beef Rendang, Nasi Goreng, and many other dishes highly praised from various TV programs such as EBS are well-known dishes of the resort’s restaurant. Even though the tour programs show a lot of night markets and local people's tastes, the cuisine served in the resort itself is of high quality. Without going far, Rica Rica restaurant is my most memorable place to enjoy Indonesian delicacies. Until this moment…

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  Pushing for Systemization and Standardization of Korea’s Chiropractic

  The term ‘Chiropractic’ may yet be an unfamiliar word to most of the population. Over 30 years have passed since chiropractic was first introduced to Korea, however, it lingers in a shameful state where non-experts still practice indiscriminately while experts from other medical fields distort the terms, causing misinformation to spread to the public. On top of that, doctors and Korean oriental Medical Doctors who apply chiropractic knowledge still maintain a defensive position on institutionalizing chiropractic and are further building a confrontational stage. Amidst this confusion, Chairman An Jun Yong of the Korean Chiropractic Association, who previously practiced medicine as the director of the Center for Advancement of Immunity-Spinal Nerve Research Center, is taking on his fourth year as Chairman to continue his efforts in globalizing Korea’s chiropractic practices. Chairman An Jun Yong, Korean Chiropractic Association ■ Institutionalization of Chiropractic Based on Professionalism Remains Absolute Necessity The single biggest issue associated with the domestic chiropractic field would without doubt be institutionalization. Korea’s chiropractic history boasts over 30 years of practice and research; however, experts are yet restrained from active proactive practice due to the lack of legal evidence “Chiropractic doctors are constantly struggling with the pressure of criminal suits because they’re not protected by legal evidence. This harsh reality makes it very difficult to call together professionals into a single organization. With the environment being so unfavorable, it’s hard to ask these doctors to stand up for the larger cause when their own livelihoods are on the line.” While spending years actually curing many patients that modern and Korean medicine gave up on, Chairman An naturally began questioning the legal environment that was unusually harsh on chiropractic. “Our members and I have always wished for our patients to live with health and happiness. However, it’s truly regrettable how we are being treated as criminals just for the fact that there is no legal evidence for chiropractic as a medical practice.” On the other hand, doctors who use chiropractic knowledge and techniques are ironically under strong, legal protection. “The government’s explanation is that “The use of chiropractic by doctors who are experts in the human body is safe.” However, Chairman An’s response is that the explanation is nonsensical when domestic chiropractic doctors are required to study over 4,200 hours for their Chiropractic degree whereas the doctors that the government and law support only go through a 30-hour short-term course. This goes against the WHO’s report of guideline for chiropractic safety in 2006 which advises that chiropractic doctors should complete at least 2,200 hours of chiropractic education for their practice to be safe for the patients. Chairman An stating his hopes for chiropractic doctors’ expertise to be acknowledged and backed by official legal medicinal evidence ■ Illegal for Expert with 4,200 Hours of Education, but Legal for Doctor with Nothing? As its definition explains, chiropractors practice personalized physical examinations and diagnoses that fit each patient. On top of that, with rehabilitative and nutritional counsel included, chiropractic care is nothing short of a new field in general medicine. Furthermore, a comparative analysis between minimum required hours for a U.S.-based chiropractic degree or a MD (Medical Degree) shows that a chiropractic degree requires around 150 hours more than a MD with 4,822 hours and 4,667 hours, respectively. If these standards are applied when chiropractic is brought into Korea, there is no reason to refute the professionalism and expertise of chiropractors. Also, a study published on the February 15, 2015 issue of Spine, a medical journal, presented the odds of patients between ages 66 and 99, who visit their doctor for issues in their musculoskeletal system, suffering from injuries in either the head, neck, or torso within 7 days of visitation. According to the study, patients who were cared for by chiropractic doctors rather than general practitioners saw 76% lower odds of injuries. For an accurate picture of the safety of a doctor’s practice and treatment, one only needs to observe the medical malpractice insurance premiums in countries where lawsuits are common- for example, the U.S. In 2011, ordinary doctors spent on average $24,500 per doctor on malpractice premiums while gynecologists spent $46,400 on average per doctor. On the other hand, chiropractors were only subject to $1,500 on average per doctor. In other words, there is no real basis for the misguided claims of unprofessionalism and threat of malpractice regarding chiropractic treatment. “The KCA’s position is simple. Doctors and Korean Medical Doctors must be legally subject to 2,200 hours of education, as recommended by WHO, to use chiropractic treatment. Furthermore, the government must acknowledge the professionalism of chiropractors and thereby provide legal backing as official medical practitioners. The current laws and policies are ignoring experts and putting the safety and health of citizens at risk.” The core of Chairman An’s claims is that “A wide range of options must be guaranteed for people to protect their own happiness and health.” Not everybody wishes for drug and surgical treatment. There are many who wish to use chiropractic treatment that promotes peace and dignity. Chairman An strongly believes that, even just to protect these people’s rights, the government must establish a strong, legal standard for the professionalism of chiropractic. The KCA was first established in 1993 and joined the WFC (World Federation of Chiropractic) as a member in that same year. Since then, he has diligently contributed to the chiropractic community by participating in seminars, international competitions, academic exchanges, bills and petitions, community service, and more. “The WFC headquarters is located in Ontario, Canada. It holds official relations with the WHO. As a proud association officially acknowledged by the WFC, KCA strictly follows the guidelines provided by the WFC and WHO.” Chiropractic is a new field that is undergoing dynamic changes ■ Personalized Care for Each Patient. A New Cure to Lead Society into Centenarian-Age It has been noted that chiropractic care researches and applies optimal responsive care for patients regardless of age, gender, or disease, while also providing counsel regarding diets, posture, and walking posture for cases where physical therapy is not necessary. “Modern chiropractic has long evolved from the skeletal-correction level of care of the past. Now, chiropractic is establishing itself as a medical philosophy that promotes a healthy life through physical, physiological and emotional balance. In developed countries, such as Canada, spinal surgeries are required to be preceded by consultation and care from a chiropractor. The purpose is to prevent social loss through unnecessary procedures. That illustrates just how much chiropractors are being acknowledged.” Opening the Future of KCA Through Education Business Chairman An has a big dream. Of course petitions need to be consistently raised in the National Assembly in order for chiropractic to be admitted as a legal medical field in Korea, however, Chairman An believes that autonomous business activities for capacity enhancement are a bigger priority. For this, Chairman An plans to establish chiropractic curriculums in every domestic metropolitan city and build infrastructure that provides the entire population to acquire theoretical and practical chiropractic knowledge in a systematic and sophisticated way. He has already established an institution in Seoul to train personnel and experts to carry out his plan. “Our goal for the future is not only to discover potential chiropractors in Korea and across the globe, but also to straighten out the distorted knowledge and prejudices of chiropractic and establish a strict manual. While the current environment lacks physical conditions for the Korean chiropractic curriculums to be level with foreign chiropractic degree curriculums, if these curriculums and courses could help young candidates find their path and grow into experts practicing in chiropractic-developed countries such as the U.S. or Canada, that would be enough.” This curriculum is set on a 2-year, 2,500 hour long standard and curriculum inquiries are currently being made in large numbers. “The current issue is perhaps rooted on pains from the past. Now is the time for the Korean Chiropractic Association to look to the future and march. For the next generation of chiropractors and for the ideological, theoretical, and clinical advancement of Korea’s chiropractic, this type of curriculum is an absolute necessity.” ■ Korean Chiropractic Association Leads Way to Globalization Representing South Korea as well as KCA, Chairman An attends the WFC Congresses, the largest event and conference in the global chiropractic world, that are held all over the globe biennially. The 15th Congress of its kind was held this year in Berlin, Germany. Each country presents their national report and Chairman An received wide support after sharing the dynamic progress and current status of South Korea’s chiropractic field. Chairman An states, “KCA is the only domestic association that is consistently keeping up with global professional standards. Based on that, we are seeing a steady increase in our member count. We have been active in our ‘Proper Chiropractic Awareness’ campaign, which aids more and more patients in receiving safe chiropractic treatment, and we also plan to continue our volunteer work throughout 2019.” He further stated his claims to lead the way in uprooting short-term, illegal chiropractic technique seminars and to set the right example country-wide. By determining the authenticity and legality of currently active seminars both domestic and foreign, he plans to give out warnings to improper seminars, followed by member expulsions and license cancellation requests when no corrective actions are taken. He expects such efforts to promote a quicker globalization of chiropractic- not to mention being the quickest route in South Korea becoming a global leader in the field. Furthermore, he plans to raise the level of management and testing to maintain a strict qualification system that allows the temporary CSC (Chiropractic Standardization Course) to achieve success in South Korea. He anticipates the day when his work is answered by the government in the form of admittance of chiropractic as an official and legal alternative medicine. He hopes for his country to catch up to global medical systems that have already admitted chiropractic as an institution, providing their citizens with a wider range of benefits and treatments. KCA (Korean Chiropractic Association) announced their will to endure the realities of current domestic medical environment and grow into a global level chiropractic association ■ Meeting Chiropractic for First Time After Facing Severe Pain Chairman An recollects the time when he suffered from a severe spinal injury. He was a young worker and his life had just started going down in a vicious spiral. “I had graduated from Konkuk University, College of Livestock, and started working in a large-scale farm. I got into an accident and hurt my back and the pain was so severe that I couldn’t event sit down. The hospital kept saying that they couldn’t find a way to relieve the pain and went on repeating meaningless tests. Spending every day in pain and agony really depleted by self-esteem. My life was falling apart. When I was heading for my worst, I accidentally ran into chiropractic. It didn’t get rid of all the pain but slowly my symptoms were getting better. After that, I enrolled in a chiropractic college based in the U.S. with the purpose of ‘Fixing my body, living my life.’” “The college I studied at strictly forbade any practical training for students outside of the regulations. It was to prevent any immature procedures that could actually end up hurting the patient more. One of the most memorable things was the reasons to why my classmates enrolled. They told me reasons and goals that closely resembled that of a medical student back at home. It was proof that ‘chiropractor’ had already settled in the States as a respectable profession.” Ever since he returned home after his study abroad, Chairman An spent his days curing patients and relieving their pains. His only goal was to minimize a patient’s pain, costs, and time spent in agony when it could otherwise be spent on his talents and achievements. “South Korea’s chiropractic has changed dramatically in recent years. It is under rapid systemization and is undergoing refinement as an academic field. That is why I believe chiropractic offers the young generation a great opportunity in their future careers. There is a huge difference in not choosing due to lack of knowledge and choosing another path. One of my main goals in the coming years is to increase the awareness of chiropractic among students through education businesses and public activities to give them a fair chance in getting to know the field properly, which in turn will offer them a fantastic new path in their lives.” In the closing of the interview, Chairman An emphasized ‘professionalism.’ He shed light on the current status of Korean chiropractors’ clinical experience and level of theoretical knowledge surpassing those of other medical doctors. Then, he stressed again his plans to initiate education businesses and academic exchange businesses that pass on these know-hows academically. Around the country, there is an air of bright anticipation for very tangible and definite progress in return for Chairman An’s efforts in promoting far-sighted, wholesome policies that solve the long-overdue issues at hand.

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  CTO Moon-Ok Cho, “Hdac Will Boost the Korean Industry in the Era of Fourth Industrial Revolution with the Blockchain Technology”

  The blockchain has been regarded as the core technology that will lead the fourth industrial revolution, but there is a sharp contrast between the conflicting views on the blockchain technology in Korea. Large companies such as Samsung, Kakao, and SKT have already made dedicated blockchain teams/departments and announced their own business models. However, there is still no government policy to encourage them. In the face of these domestic situations, there is an indigenous company that has entered the blockchain industry as a global player. Dae-Sun Chung, CEO of Hyundai BS&C, a third generation of Hyundai Group, founded Hyundai Pay, a Fintech company in December 2016, and established Hdac Technology, a blockchain technology company in Crypto Valley, Switzerland, in October of the following year to respond quickly to IT trends. Hdac, which unveiled its MainNet in May 2018, pursues a blockchain technology company that can pervade every aspect of markets and industries based on the technology development strategies prioritizing commercialization. For this, Hdac will provide services from blockchain-based B2C services, including a simple payment service or a smart home, which can be easily used by ordinary users to enterprise blockchain solutions that will bring innovation to the industrial field through convergence with innovative technologies such as IoT, AI, FinTech, and Big Data. Hdac said in the press conference in March that it plans to launch a blockchain-based simple payment service and P2P asset-trading service. In addition, the Hdac Enterprise Blockchain Solution can be applied to a wide range of industries including construction and real estate sectors such as smart home, manufacturing sectors such as electronic contracts, purchasing, and production history management, and financial and distribution sectors such as membership points and remittances. Moon-Ok Cho, CTO & CSO of Hdac, in charge of a helmsman as a strategic and technical supervisor in Hdac, which has begun to blow the blockchain innovation in various fields, emphasized the visions for blockchain ecosystem through the interview with ACROFAN. Q1. What do you think about the current status of the domestic blockchain industry? It is true that the domestic cryptocurrency market had been so hot that the so-called ‘Kim-P (abbreviation for ‘Kimchi Premium’, which means that the market price of the domestic cryptocurrency is higher than that of the foreign cryptocurrency) was coined. The abstruseness of the blockchain technology and coin economy brought scammers and speculative forces, and also various negative effects. Due to the speculative frenzy started before the blockchain proved its usefulness, the misunderstandings to view blockchain and cryptocurrency as the same concept, as well as negative publicity about cryptocurrency, have stiffened. Fortunately, domestic companies are doing well. The reason why the blockchain industry in the whole world is paying attention to the Korean market is not just about 'Kimchi Premium'. There have been companies that challenge entrepreneurship in an environment that is not friendly, and I believe that the efforts and intentions of these companies are the driving force for putting Korea in the position of a blockchain powerhouse. In recent years, large corporations in Korea have been making efforts to foster relevant businesses such as building a dedicated blockchain organization, which is a very encouraging phenomenon. Q2. What do you think about a lot of skepticism about the impact of blockchain? A blockchain is a technology that makes transaction information into data blocks and links them, and it prevents data from being forged or falsified through distributed computing method. Therefore, it is the best way to apply to finance or payment services for enjoying the technical characteristics of blockchain. However, these areas are closely related to the national economy and governance of governments, and as such, they are strictly controlled at the national level. That's also why the government takes time to prepare related laws and regulations. However, companies are limited to the development of related business until the institutional framework is established. In addition to financial and payment services, there are areas which can take advantage of the technical characteristics of the blockchain such as services managing important documents including copyrights, legal documents, and contracts, and industrial areas including logistics and trade. Especially, when blockchain is applied to supply chain management (SCM) area, it is expected that the effective value for all the supply chain participants will be very great. In the process of supply, from raw materials to manufacturers, wholesalers and finally end consumers, many processes exist and participants with various roles are involved. The only technology that guarantees the reliability, security, transparency, and scalability of the data generated here is blockchain. The cost reduction by simplifying unnecessary verification procedures and manual work is the main aspect, and the power of the blockchain, combined with technologies such as IoT, cloud, and AI, will be enormous. Q3. It has been quite a while since Hdac had collected substantial funds through ICO in 2017. Isn’t there any materialized business yet? The story of collecting 300 billion won in ICO follows us, but the price was based on the time when the Bitcoin price was over 20 million won. Now, since the bubble has burst, it is time to pay more attention to every step. As we avoid ‘showing off’ marketing activities that deceive people’s eyes and ears like some other blockchain projects, it might have seemed that there is no materialized content, but it is not true at all. Hdac is working diligently and steadfastly to be worthy of the title 'Hyundai Group' and is carefully executing budgets to avoid waste of the funds. As stated at the press conference held in March, Hdac has completed or is carrying out multiple POC projects for Hyundai group companies in various industries. In the public sector, discussions on the actualization of business are underway since the signing of MOU between Busan City and Hyundai Pay in February, and there are still many other things that have not been disclosed yet. I would like to take this opportunity to say that Hdac has worked with Hyundai Heavy Industries to complete the POC for applying the blockchain to the existing electronic contract system, and is currently negotiating the contract of the further project. Q4. It seems that the government still has not decided responses to blockchain. What do you think about it? As long as the blockchain provides the ability to issue a cryptocurrency, it is, in fact, desirable for the government to be cautious about this. It is true that the negative effect of the speculative frenzy of cryptocurrency was considerably big, but the time given to a player in the IT competition is very short. Because the whole world is competing in real time without the border and day and night, it is likely to miss the 'Golden Time'. I think a cautious decision does not necessarily to be long. The operating system installed in most smartphones around the world is Android which was developed by Google and first launched in 2008, or Apple's iOS first announced with iPhone in 2007. Now, even if an outstanding operating system is developed by a Korean company, I think it is almost impossible to go through between them. No one will want to use an operating system that does not have an available app, and no developer will develop an app for an operating system without a user. The similar situation can occur in the blockchain. A major global IT company, Oracle's vice president of the blockchain development group, said in a recent media interview that more than half of the world's enterprises will use blockchain technology in three years. If we cannot avoid blockchain as it is the current of time that cannot be defeated, it may be better to prevent the side effects by putting it in the system. Furthermore, I believe that 'post-Android' could be a blockchain platform developed by a Korean company if the government provides a promotional policy for Korean companies to lead the global market in the long period. Q5. How do you foresee the trends of blockchain market for the next five years? While international standards are important, 'De Facto standards' are more important in the IT field. There are a number of international standards organizations such as IEEE, W3C, GSMA, and ISO, but now, the technologies and services created by open-source projects and companies based on them, Google or Amazon for example, becomes the standards. In other words, when people use it a lot in the real market, it becomes the standard, and we must be able to lead this de facto standard. At present, I think that Etherium is the closest to the de facto standard. Various technology standards starting with ERC become projects, and many developers voluntarily gather here to create a strong ecosystem based on spontaneity. It may be due to the technical superiority of Etherium, but the advantages of 'what people use most' are great. The more users there are, the easier it is to get relevant information. Also, a lot of information will make it easier for new users to come in. It is difficult for such an ecosystem to form in a short time. From this point of view, the future of the blockchain market is likely to become a battle for hegemony. However, it is not easy for followers to take the lead in platform competition, because it depends on how many people use it, rather than how well a particular blockchain is technologically superior. As such, long-term and aggressive promotion policy of the government is urgent. I went to MWC held in Barcelona this year. Although IoT, AI, 5G were the mains, it was not difficult to find companies preparing blockchain technology everywhere. I thought that the blockchain would be in the overall IT industry with IoT and AI at a point in the near future. Blockchain somehow got the spotlight a little early, but it is starting now. Ju-yung Chung, the founder of the Hyundai Group, always said, "Hey, have you ever tried to do it?" I think it is a spirit of the times that we all have to remind ourselves of. ### Moon-Ok Cho, CTO & CSO of Hdac, in charge of a strategic and technical supervisor in Hdac Technology and Hyundai Pay, is a representative FinTech specialist in Korea, who was responsible for ‘T Pay,' the mobile payment service of SK Telecom. In early 2010, he was attracted to the potential of a service model that combines blockchain and FinTech by encountering the blockchain technology for the first time through Hoh Peter In, a professor at Korea University’s Blockchain Research Institute. Moon-Ok Cho is the first-generation architect who introduced SOA(Service Oriented Architecture) to Korea at the time of working at Samsung SDS. Taking the first step into the IT industry as a developer, he has a higher level of understanding and experience than anyone else in both IT and finance, the core attributes of blockchain technology. Recently, he has written a book on Hyperledger development which is to be published.

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  Intel Announced New Portfolio for Data-Centric Era

  Intel hosted ‘Intel Data-Centric Press Workshop’ at Intel Jones Farm Campus in Hillsboro, Oregon, US on March 5 and 6, and introduced Intel's portfolio of solutions for the data-centric era. At the workshop, the technical characteristics of the next generation processors and platforms including Next-Gen Xeon Scalable Processors and Optane DC Persistent Memory were introduced. Changes in IT technology, from IoT, cloud to 5G and artificial intelligence, are creating trends of explosive data growth, and the ability to handle this data is being linked to competitiveness. In addition, transition to cloud computing, increase of the use of AI and analysis, and cloudification of network and edge are driving the demand for change of IT infrastructure. Intel expects to have the largest market opportunity ever in this data-centric era, with a total size of $200 billion. Therefore, Intel introduced plans to offer software and system-level optimized solutions that can process everything, store more, and move faster to prepare for this market. As a new portfolio for the data-centric era, Intel introduced the second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors, a new Xeon D-1600 processor, Agilex FPGA, Optane DC Persistent Memory, Optane DC SSD, QLC 3D NAND-based DC series SSD, and 800 series Ethernet adapter. The new Xeon Scalable Processors, Optane DC Persistent Memory, Optane DC SSD, and Ethernet technologies are expected to provide superior performance and efficiency in a variety of workloads through being tightly coupled in a system-level and optimization of software levels. What’s more, these innovations will be available faster through ‘Intel Select Solutions’ with a proven, optimized configuration. ▲ Lisa Spelman, Vice President of Data Center Group and General Manager of Intel Xeon Processors and Data Center Marketing at Intel Corp. ▲ Intel is leading innovations in all of various solutions for data-centric era. Lisa Spelman, Vice President of Data Center Group and General Manager of Intel Xeon Processors and Data Center Marketing at Intel Corp., introduced the prospect of the recent data growth that the data, which was about 33ZB in 2018, will grow by an average of 25% per year, reaching 175ZB in 2025. She also said that the extension of data center area up to the edge-level is one of the important trends. In terms of growth trends in real-time applications, she stated that they will account for about 30% of the data produced in 2025, with more than 150 billion connected devices running by 2025. As major drivers of these changes, (1) move to cloud computing, (2) growth of AI and analytics and (3) cloudification of the network and edge were mentioned. And in a series of infrastructure configurations ranging from devices to edge, core, data center and cloud, Intel has a 10nm-based ‘Snow Ridge’ for edge, ‘Xeon D’ for cores, and also Xeon processors and FPGA portfolio for data center and cloud. In particular, in the case of edge infrastructures, the model of classifying, processing the data generated by the device on the edge and moving it to the data center became popular. Also, there are many other ways of using such as implementing 5G or AI at the edge level. As for the six pillars of innovation, Lisa Spelman pointed out (1) Process, (2) Architecture, (3) Memory, (4) Interconnect, (5) Security, and (6) Software. In addition, the components for a new data-centric innovation include processing everything through the processors and FPGA, storing more with Optane technologies and others, and moving faster through Silicon Photonics, Omni-Path Fabric, and Ethernet. She highlighted that these values can be offered in an optimized form at the software and system-level through ‘Intel Select Solutions’. On top of that, she stated that in the data-centric era in the future, the four markets including data center, non-volatile memory, IoT & ADAS and FPGA have faced unprecedented opportunities in history, and the rapid change of the markets into new products are expected. ▲ Jennifer Huffstetler, Vice President of Data Center Group and General Manager of Datacenter Product Marketing and Storage at Intel Corp. ▲ The second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors showed some significant changes over the previous generation. Jennifer Huffstetler, Vice President of Data Center Group and General Manager of Datacenter Product Marketing and Storage at Intel Corp., introduced Intel's new product portfolio for the data-centric era. As the common challenges in cloud service providers, communication service providers, and enterprise environment, she explained the implementation of infrastructure that is more secure and can rapidly respond to various changes, handle data more easily, and manage large-scales more efficiently. And she pointed out that 90% of the existing data is generated in the last two years, but only about 2% of the data is actually utilized. As for the requirements for data-centric era, she mentioned propelling insights through workload accelerated performance, business resilience through hardware-enhanced security, and agile service delivery through cloud-scale orchestration. Moreover, she introduced new products for accelerating data-centric transformation; the second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors, new Xeon D-1600 Processor, new Agilex FPGA, Optane DC Persistent Memory, Optane DC SSD, QLC 3D NAND-based DC series SSD product, Intel 800 series Ethernet, and more expanded ‘Intel Select Solutions’. The second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors, codenamed "Cascade Lake," are available in platinum 9200, 8200, gold 6200, 5200, silver 4200 and bronze 3200. The features in this family include enhanced memory scalability through Optane DC Persistent Memory support as well as improved performance, DL Boost capability that can significantly improve AI inference performance, advanced system management and operational technologies, and enhanced hardware-based security Technology. In particular, the second-generation Xeon scalable Processors have a hardware-wise countermeasure for processor security problems found in the previous generation architectures. ▲ The flagship of this generation is Xeon Platinum 9200 series processors with up to 56 cores. ▲ The second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors showed significant performance improvements over previous generations. The new Xeon Platinum 9200 series processors have two dies in a single processor package, enabling high-density configurations of up to 56 cores per processor and 112 cores with maximum two processors. The processor is optimized for HPC, AI, analytics, and high-density infrastructure configurations, providing up to twice the compute density and up to 3TB of memory when configuring two processors. The product family will be composed of 9282 of 56 cores, 9242 of 48 cores, 9222 of 32 cores, and packaged together with motherboard. The second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors provide up to 8-socket glueless connectivity. With additional socket configurations, they could support socket configurations more than that and provide up to 4.4GHz turbo boost clock speed. In terms of memory, they support 16 Gb memory with support for DDR4-2933, which maximum memory capacity can be supported became doubled over previous generations and higher performance than the previous generations. With Optane DC persistent memory, the system memory can be expanded up to 36TB in an 8-socket configuration. On top of that, the processor can show up to 1.33 times the average performance of the previous generation and 3.5 times better performance than that of the system five years ago. What’s more, AI performance with DL Boost technology provides 14 times better performance than that of the early release period of previous generation. In the security area, the second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors have been improved with hardware-leveled countermeasures to kwon weaknesses such as Meltdown, Spectre, and so on. In addition, in terms of encryption acceleration, QuickAssist technology or AVX-512 is used to provide high processing performance, and Optane DC Persistent Memory also utilizes encryption in module units. In addition, a secure operating environment will be provided through a new threat detection technology, trusted execution technology (TXT), or cloud integrity technology. ▲ DL Boost provides more than twice as much AI inference performance as previous generations. ▲ Xeon D-1600 processor for intelligent edge infrastructure As a technology for high-efficiency and agile service delivery environments, Intel introduced DL Boost, which shows more than double the AI inference performance of the previous generation and 14 times the performance compared to the initial release of previous generation Xeon Scalable Processor. Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) based on AVX-512 enables to process the inference operation which took three cycles so far in one cycle, so it performs theoretically up to 3 times. In addition, the second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors and platforms feature a workload-specific product family optimized for the type of workload and also showcase technologies that maximize them. Workload specialized processors with 'Speed Select' technology are identified by 'Y' in the model name, and you can select one of up to three processor configuration presets. This allows you to optimize the processor's operating speed and number of cores, depending on the situation. In addition, there are 'V' series specialized for VM density value and ‘S’ series specialized for search applications. The second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors specialized for NFV (Network Function Virtualization) environment is classified as an 'N' series. Intel Speed Select technology is applied for the series to provide more service capacity and to maximize the performance by assigning specific tasks to specific cores driven at high operating speed depending on workload characteristics. Besides, the 'T' series specialized for IoT and networking features low power, low heat generation and long term use environment. The Xeon D-1600 Processors for edge infrastructures has up to eight cores and a turbo boost operating speed of 3.2GHz and a 1.5x improvement in the base frequency improvement compared to the Xeon D-1500 Processor. It is a one-chip SoC solution with various components integrated, with maximum 30Gbps throughput of encryption, compression and decompression acceleration function, and four 10Gbps Ethernet interfaces. In addition, Intel's new Agilex FPGAs support cache-coherent connectivity with Intel Xeon Processor, enabling more processor-intensive accelerators than traditional PCIe-based FPGA connections. ▲ Memory and storage based on Optane technology tightly fill large gap between storage tiers ▲ Application Device Queues (ADQ) of the Intel Ethernet 800 series greatly improves the latency and throughput of the network. Known as the codename, "Columbiaville", in the network connection, the Intel Ethernet 800 series has a complete programmable pipeline that was implemented partially in the existing 700 series, with the new function, Application Device Queues (ADQ). ADQ is a way to prioritize packet workloads and hardware-wise control them, allowing for more sophisticated QoS compliance and reducing application network latency by 45% and more than 30% of throughput performance improvement. Furthermore, consistent and predictable application response rates can be achieved. In the memory and storage strategy, the plan to newly establish the balance between performance and cost by configuring the gap between DRAM and cold data with Optane DC Persistent Memory, Optane DC SSD, and a QLC 3D NAND-based SSD. As Optane DC Persistent Memory, which is officially supported from the second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors, can be utilized as DRAM expansion or high-speed storage of DRAM class according to the usage method, it is expected to suggest greater possibilities in large-scale VM operations and in-memory analysis. The storage tier provides high availability and resiliency for mission-critical applications and high performance through Optane SSD DC D4800X with dual port interface at hot storage where frequently used data is stored. Moreover, the SSD D5-P4326 based on QLC 3D NAND was mentioned in terms of a cost-effective warm storage level to accommodate increasingly rapid data generation. This SSD uses the E1.L form factor scalable up to 1TB in 1U, so a high density and high capacity storage can be obtained relatively cost-effectively. ▲ The portfolio of ‘Intel Select Solutions’ has also become more diverse. Meanwhile, Intel is offering software and system-level optimized environments to maximize capabilities of processors and platforms. As for the optimized software among them, they provide support across the development environment ranging from the libraries including Math Kernel Library (MKL) and Machine Learning Scalable (MLS) to optimized AI frameworks, parallel programming framework, compilers, profiling tools, and tool suites. In terms of system-level optimized platforms, S9200WK product family for Xeon Platinum 9200, and S2600WFxR, BxR and STxR server systems for the second-generation Xeon Scalable Platform were introduced. As for the support for a highly secure data center environment, security libraries for the data center were introduced. The new features that can be used with second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors include Threat Detection, which uses machine learning and CPU telemetry to detect advanced threats. What’s more, SGX card was introduced as a new option for cloud service providers to simply implement Software Guard Extensions (SGX) environments. It is a PCIe-type card mounted on a general-purpose server based on the second-generation Xeon Scalable Processors, and it can replace the existing SGX server 12 nodes thereby greatly increasing the service density in a secure cloud service. 'Intel Select Solutions' is already proven to reduce the time, effort and cost of deploying, optimizing and verifying the introduction and transition of a new IT environment, allowing you to reduce the time it takes to create value. The portfolio of ‘Intel Select solutions’ with multiple key ISV/OSV partners, system OEM partners and scale partners will include solutions such as SAP HANA, AI Inference, Visual Cloud Delivery Network and HPC AI Converged in the first half of 2019. The existing MS SQL Server Business Operations, MS SQL Enterprise Data Warehouse, VMware vSAN, MS Windows Server Software Definition, Red Hat and Ubuntu based NFVi will be refreshing soon.

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  ‘Ransomware’ and ‘Cryptojacking’ Mining Cryptocurrency Declined, While ‘Formjacking’ Stealing Credit Card Information Increased

  Cybercriminals are always wondering about get-rich-quick schemes, that is, how much money they can earn quickly. Cybercriminals have been using cryptojacking to mine cryptocurrency and ransomware to demand money. Recently, however, they are turning their attention to formjacking, a method of stealing credit card information. Cryptojacking, which is the most common way for cybercriminals, is the process of mining cryptocurrency using the processing power of the target computer and cloud CPU usage. With the attention of bitcoin, the notion of cryptocurrency has attracted great popularity. In addition, cybercriminals favored the cryptojacking technique of extracting cryptocurrency by planting malicious codes. However, according to a recent ISTR report released by Symantec, the value of the cryptocurrency ‘Monero(XMR)’ has fallen to 90%, and the cryptojacking peaked at the beginning of 2018, but showed a 52% decline throughout the year. As the adoption of cloud and mobile computing has increased, both the effectiveness of attacks and the profit have fallen. However, cryptojacking should not be ignored as it is still attracting attackers with low entry barriers, minimal overhead and guaranteed anonymity. At the same time, ransomware also shows a decline in overall attack activity and in profit. The number of infections by ransomware fell 20% last year, down for the first time since 2013. However, in 2018, the number of ransomware attacks against enterprises has risen by 12%, showing a contradiction to the overall downturn, which is a constant threat to them. In fact, more than eight out of ten ransomware infections are affecting the enterprises. Furthermore, the ransomware is evolving. Ransomware is mainly targeting enterprises through e-mail with office files. The reason why enterprises are targeted is that they typically use Windows, do not back up important files well, and there will be a lot of profit when the attack succeeds. The certain ransomware families, such as a wanted SamSam, usually attack with a lot of ‘PowerShell’ scripts and mainly target medical institutions and local governments. In 2018, they already attacked at least 67 agencies, and the amount of extortion is estimated to reach $6 million. According to the latest annual report of the IBM X-Force security research, the number of cryptojacking is more than double that of ransomware, as the ransomware attacks were greatly reduced last year. While the attempts to install ransomware on devices in the fourth quarter of last year were declined 45% from the first quarter, the increasing rate of cryptojacking attacks grew to 450%. The industries that received the most cyber-attacks include finance (19%), transportation (13%), service (12%), distribution (11%), and manufacturing (10%). ▲ Cryptojacking is on the decline, but it cannot be ignored. As cryptojacking and ransomware are slowing down, a new form of crime has emerged among cybercriminals, which is ‘Formjacking’. Formjacking is a virtual ATM skimming that steals financial and personal information of individual users through card information and credit card fraud on online purchasing sites. According to Symantec’s reports, on average, over 4,800 websites appear to be infected with formjacking codes every month. It is estimated that cybercriminals will make at least tens of millions of dollars in revenue in 2018 in underground markets such as ‘Dark Web’. Information that was hijacked by formjacking is sold for up to $45 for one credit card. In the case of British Air, where more than 380,000 pieces of credit card information were leaked, the offenders are expected to earn more than $17 million. Individual users cannot know whether visited online sites are infected without using a security solution, so their risk of identity theft and personal and financial information are likely to be exposed. For companies, the risk of attacking the supply chain as well as the risk of reputation or legal liability experienced during infection is increasing. Formjacking, which is continuously on the rise, is expected to continue in 2019 and beyond. Cybercriminals are constantly intellectualizing and diversifying their methods of attack. Cryptojacking, which has been crammed with cryptocurrency, but the attack rate has fallen by 52% when the value and attack effect have fallen, and also ransomware has an attack pattern concentrated on enterprises that suffer greater than individuals. Though the attack has diminished, cybercriminals have evolved to develop more intelligent techniques and to use various other methods, such as formjacking, to launch various attacks. In addition, the number of formjacking has increased, making cybercrimes more likely to occur to ordinary users who are not related to cryptocurrency or enterprise computers. Even ordinary users who have been excluded from the target cannot easily know whether they have been infected after making a payment on their website. In the United States, the structure of online shopping is easy and fast based on JavaScript, making it easy for cybercriminals to do formjacking. Korea seems to be relatively safe because it has a different payment method and does not use JavaScript, but it has to be noted that recently cases of overseas direct purchase have increased and damage cases are increasing rapidly as well. As the attacking method is becoming more intelligent and diverse, users are advised to recognize and prevent the danger. In addition to the aforementioned cryptojacking, ransomware and formjacking, in 2019, security will be important in various aspects such as clouds, 5G and IoT devices. Users need to avoid crybercrimes as intelligent as the cyberciminals through improving their security awareness and getting more comprehensive training on threat limitations and corrective actions. ▲ Formjacking is emerging as a new information extortion method.

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  Computex 2019 International Press Conference & AMD’s Lisa Su Keynote

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  Intel Announced New Portfolio for Data-Centric Era

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  Technical Overview of the 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable Processors

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  KISO Released the Results of Its Survey on User Awareness of Naver’s Search Word Service

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  TCEB to Expedite MICE Occupational Standards, Enriching Thai MICE Professionals Towards Global Standards -- The Government Gazette Recently Announced

  BANGKOK, Aug. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB joins forces with associates to organise the MICE occupational standards enhancement project that embraces the entire structure, ranging from electrician occupational standards to MICE management and administration that meet international standards. Serving the bolstering of economy in line with Thailand 4.0 model, the project encourages participation using human-centric approaches to promote competitiveness of Thai MICE on both Asian and international arenas. TCEB to Expedite MICE Occupational Standards, Enriching Thai MICE Professionals Towards Global Standards -- The Government Gazette Recently Announced “MICE Electrician Standards” Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, TCEB President, disclosed that Thai government has formulated the "Thailand 4.0" model to serve its national development policy by engaging innovations designed on the basis of knowledge, creativity and uses of new technology to drive the economy. Meanwhile, the United Nations has determined sustainable development as the ultimate goal to secure an all-encompassing and equal education for everyone, which corresponds to the 12th economic and social development plan (2017-2021) that places human at the core of participatory development in regard to promote the nation's competitiveness. "Today's world has witnessed a shift of concern to sustainable development, positioning people at the core of development. The transition into ASEAN Community has initiated connections, spanning economy, society, politics and culture, as well as labour mobility among member countries. Having realised opportunities and necessity, TCEB is expediting the empowerment of MICE personnel with enhanced knowledge and skills that allow them to work professionally to answer the requirements of MICE businesses and international standards in order to boost competitiveness on a global level, and thus achieve sustainability for Thai MICE," TCEB has planned the development scheme for MICE personnel in 2 levels, including local and international scales. First, the development of local occupational standards involves collaboration with the Department of Skill Development, Ministry of Labour, Thai Exhibition Association, Business of Creative and Event Management Association and Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, under which the national skill standards for profession electrician in electronics and computer and electrician for MICE were established. Recently, the Labour Minister has approved the announcement as published in the government gazette after the Skill Development Promotion Committee determined the national skill standards for Profession electrician in electronics and computer and Electrician for MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions Exhibitions). Thailand is hence the first country in the world to establish the national skill standards for MICE personnel, having the Electrician for MICE as the first field of expertise. Unveiling opportunities for Thai skilled workers to receive recognition and determining the skill standards for MICE personnel on an international scale are highly important. Currently, free trade has allowed foreigners to run more MICE businesses in Thailand, inevitably bringing with them foreign contractors. Major revenue sources have stemmed from exhibition spaces and accommodation, while other possible revenue has been diminished, including either labour, booth design and construction or electrical management. Further, Thai MICE entrepreneurs have lost the opportunities to reap new knowledge and understanding in international event operations. TCEB President further said that beside skill standards, TCEB also aims to connect occupational standards with educational standards within the scope of national professional qualification. Heralded with the signing of co-operation agreement on 8 August 2019 to develop individual capabilities with professional qualification system, TCEB has agreed to collaborate with the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (Public Organization) or TPQI to encourage the evaluation of individual performance according to occupational standards in regard to cultivate MICE professionals. Meanwhile, TCEB has joined hands with Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, Business of Creative and Event Management Association, and Thai Exhibition Association to design courses in Thai language that meet national standards in order to enhance skill standards of Thai entrepreneurs, especially in different regions, to tackle international competition. For example, the Thailand Incentive Travel Professional -TITP, the Event Professional. There are also two other courses under formulation, including professional exhibition and professional conference. Second, the development of international occupational standards involves the import of international certifications under the copyright of international MICE associations. For example, the Certified in Exhibition Management, which is the copyright and certified by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events -- IAEE. Currently, there are 147 certified professionals or more in Thailand, ranking the 1st in ASEAN and the 3rd in Asia, respectively. There is also the Certified Incentive Travel Professional, under the copyright of the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence -- SITE, in which there are 138 certified professionals or more in Thailand, ranking the 1st in Asia. Furthermore, the Sustainability Event Professional is also available under the copyright of the Events Industry Council -- EIC, which has produced up to 126 certified Thai specialists and is the largest number, making Thailand rank atop among all countries. The Certified Meeting Professional, under the copyright of Meeting Professionals International -- MPI, has currently registered 13 certified specialists or more in Thailand. "Our collaboration with prominent associates to advance the skill standard development project for MICE professionals of all levels, which is now in decent progress, serves as a key force that drives Thai MICE to fly higher with stability and sustainability," concluded Mr. Chiruit. For further information, please contact: Corporate Communications DepartmentThailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) Ms Parichat Svetasreni Tel: +66 2 694 6009 Email: parichat_s@tceb.or.thMs Kwanchanok Otton Tel: +66 2 694 6096 Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tceb-to-expedite-mice-occupational-standards-enriching-thai-mice-professionals-towards-global-standards----the-government-gazette-recently-announced-mice-electrician-standards-300902895.htmlRelated Links :http://www.tceb.or.th

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  Qudian Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2019 Unaudited Financial Results

  XIAMEN, China, Aug. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Qudian Inc. ("Qudian" or the "Company") (NYSE: QD), a leading provider of online small consumer credit products in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Second Quarter 2019 Operational Highlights: Total number of registered users as of June 30, 2019 reached 76.0 million, representing an increase of 11.9% from June 30, 2018 Number of outstanding borrowers[1] from loan book business and transaction referral business as of June 30, 2019 increased by 11.9% to 6.1 million from 5.4 million as of March 31, 2019 Cumulative number of borrowers[2] from loan book business and transaction referral business as of June 30, 2019 increased by 16.9% to 18.3 million from June 30, 2018 New active borrowers[3] from loan book business and transaction referral business for this quarter increased by 108.2% to 1,092,849 from 524,795 for the first quarter of 2019 as a result of successful activation of Qudian's user base through credit trial programs and incremental user growth driven by transaction referral business Total outstanding loan balance[4] as of June 30, 2019 increased by 91.8% to RMB28.7 billion from June 30, 2018 Weighted average loan tenure for our loan book business was 8.4 months for this quarter, compared with 9.9 months for the first quarter of 2019; Weighted average loan tenure for our transaction referral business was 14.1 months for this quarter, compared with 11.8 months for the first quarter of 2019 Cumulative number of users for traffic referral service as of June 30, 2019 increased by 34.1% to 3.4 million from March 31, 2019; Cumulative number of users for transaction referral service as of June 30, 2019 increased by 205.6% to 417,478 from March 31, 2019 Cumulative amount of transactions referred for transaction referral business was RMB5.9 billion as of June 30, 2019 [1] Outstanding borrowers are borrowers who have outstanding loans as of a particular date, including outstanding borrowers from both loan book business and transaction referral business. Transaction referral business, as part of our open-platform, was launched in the second half of 2018. [2] Cumulative number of borrowers are borrowers who have drawn down credit on or prior to a particular date, on a cumulative basis, including outstanding borrowers from both loan book business and transaction referral business. [3] Active borrowers are borrowers who have drawn down credit in the specified period from both loan book business and transaction referral business. New active borrowers are active borrowers who had never drawn down credit on our platform prior to the specified period. [4] Includes off and on balance sheet loans directly or indirectly funded by our institutional funding partners or our own capital, net of cumulative write-offs and it does not include auto loans from Dabai Auto business and loans from transaction referral business. Second Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights: Total revenues were RMB2,220.7 million (US$323.5 million), flat from the same period last year, primarily due to discontinuation of Dabai Auto Loan facilitation income and other related income increased by 34.8% year-on-year to RMB609.7 million (US$88.8 million) from RMB452.1 million for the same period last year Referral service fee and other related income which relate to transaction referral services and traffic referral services provided by our open-platform, substantially increased to RMB398.1 million (US$58.0 million) from nil for the same period last year Financing income increased by 10.0% to RMB984.4 million (US$143.4 million) from RMB895.1 million for the same period last year as a result of an increase in average on-balance sheet loan balance Net income increased by 57.9% year-on-year to RMB1,143.4 million (US$166.6 million), or RMB4.00 (US$0.58) per diluted ADS Non-GAAP net income[5] increased by 57.1% year-on-year to RMB1,158.6 million (US$168.8 million), or RMB4.05 (US$0.59) per diluted ADS [5] For more information on this Non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release. "In the second quarter we achieved new records in net income and borrower numbers and made great progress on our open-platform initiative," said Mr. Min Luo, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qudian. "Leveraging our self-developed credit big-data and transaction clearing technologies, we are able to provide large scale credit assessment and high-speed precision processing via an efficient and reliable to-consumer interface for more than 100 licensed financial service providers to serve the underpenetrated consumption credit market in China. These underserved mass-market Chinese consumers are attracted to the affordable and seamless loans offered through our platform, creating overwhelming demand that drives natural traffic with minimal acquisition costs for us. As the end of the second quarter 2019, our registered user base grew to 76.0 million and total outstanding borrowers reached 6.1 million, both the highest in our Company's history." "Strategically, via our open-platform initiative we are further opening up our dormant registered user base beyond our loan book to financial institution partners who wish to grow their own loan book. During the second quarter, over 415,000 open-platform outstanding borrowers were served on our interface, with a 70%[6] repeat ratio, demonstrating strong sustainability and user stickiness trends." [6] Repeat user ratio refers to the ratio of (i) users who have made at least one drawdown on the open-platform prior to the second quarter of 2019 and made at least one drawdown in the second quarter of 2019, and have at least RMB1,000 of remaining credit line after the most recent drawdown as of June 30, 2019, divided by (ii) users who have made at least one drawdown on the open-platform and have at least RMB1,000 of remaining credit line after the most recent drawdown as of June 30, 2019. "Since we have an overwhelming demand situation, instead of increasing marketing spend we have stepped up efforts to activate more new users in our loan book business. Through our increased efforts in credit trials and our evolving credit assessment system, new active borrowers increased by 107.9% from last quarter." "While we continue to enjoy a massive proprietary app based user base, we are opening our interface to third-party app partners. Instead of routing high cost traffic to our app, we will continue our approach of implementing a distributed traffic eco-system. Leveraging the latest in HTML5 technology, we can operate the full credit assessment and disbursement experience through third-party apps. This brings seamless user experience to the mass market by integrating our user interfaces within such leading third-party apps where their users wish to stay." "We delivered another record Non-GAAP net income of RMB1,158.6 million, a 57.1% year-over-year increase as a result of our fast-growing user base, risk-free incremental profits from our open-platform initiative, low operating costs, regulatory compliant operating structure and solid asset quality," said Mr. Carl Yeung, Chief Financial Officer of Qudian. "Owning to our massive under-tapped user base our open-platform initiative continued to prove its strong potential to become a major growth driver, generating RMB398.1 million in revenue for the second quarter with little marginal operational cost and zero credit risk, and driving over RMB4.8 billion in loan balance for our licensed financial institution partners as of the end of second quarter. This grew substantially from RMB158.7 million of referral revenues in the first quarter of 2019. Our established full-suite consumer finance solution offered to our app partners contains credit assessment models and transaction infrastructure that can process over 37,000 transactions per hour, solidifying our leadership position in big data analytics and transaction clearing, delivering significant value to all participants in the online consumer finance value chain." "Qudian has a long-standing commitment to deliver value to our shareholders. We seized the market window to raise a US$345 million convertible bond, including a fully exercised green shoe, at 1% coupon for 7 years, and further entered a capped call transaction to increase the effective conversion premium by 75%. More importantly, given the ongoing visible disconnect between the Company's value and fundamentals, the majority of the proceeds are earmarked for potential share buybacks over the next one to two years. We will continue to assess latest capital market trends and may undertake new capital market transactions that enhance shareholder value. With solid second quarter results driven by strong momentum in our open-platform initiative and better-than-expected loan book growth, we are reaffirming our previously announced Non-GAAP net income guidance of RMB4.5 billion." Second Quarter Financial Results Total revenues were RMB2,220.7 million (US$323.5 million), flat from RMB2,243.7 million for the second quarter of 2018. Financing income totaled RMB984.4 million (US$143.4 million), an increase of 10.0% from RMB895.1 million for the second quarter of 2018, as a result of an increase in average on-balance sheet loan balance. Loan facilitation income and other related income increased by 34.8% to RMB609.7 million (US$88.8 million) from RMB452.1 million for the second quarter of 2018, as a result of an increase in the amount of off-balance sheet transactions. Referral service fee and other related income substantially increased to RMB398.1 million (US$58.0 million) from nil in the second quarter of 2018, as a result of the ramp-up of the open-platform initiative. Sales income substantially decreased to RMB123.5 million (US$18.0 million) from RMB784.8 million for the second quarter of 2018, due to the scaling down of the Dabai Auto business. Sales commission fee decreased by 9.7% to RMB95.6 million (US$13.9 million) from RMB105.9 million for the second quarter of 2018, due to a decrease in the gross merchandise value for merchandise credit products. Total operating costs and expenses decreased by 34.9% to RMB959.1 million (US$139.7 million) from RMB1,473.1 million for the second quarter of 2018. Cost of revenues decreased by 69.8% to RMB286.1 million (US$41.7 million) from RMB947.8 million for the second quarter of 2018, primarily due to a decrease in costs incurred by the Dabai Auto business and a decrease in funding costs associated with the on-balance sheet portion of our loan book business. Sales and marketing expenses decreased by 51.6% to RMB77.7 million (US$11.3 million) from RMB160.6 million for the second quarter of 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in staff salary and marketing expenses associated with the scaling down of the Dabai Auto business. General and administrative expenses decreased by 2.6% to RMB67.3 million (US$9.8 million) from RMB69.1 million for the second quarter of 2018. Research and development expenses increased by 70.6% to RMB62.9 million (US$9.2 million) from RMB36.9 million for the second quarter of 2018 as a result of an increase in staff salary. Provision for receivables increased by 122.8% to RMB494.5 million (US$72.0 million) from RMB222.0 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in past-due on-balance sheet outstanding principal receivables compared to the second quarter of 2018 and a write-down relating to the Dabai Auto business of RMB38.4 million (US$5.6 million). As of June 30, 2019, the total balance of outstanding principal and financing service fee receivables for on-balance sheet transactions for which any installment payment was more than 30 calendar days past due was RMB668.1 million (US$97.3 million), and the balance of allowance for principal and financing service fee receivables at the end of the period was RMB888.3 million (US$129.4 million), indicating M1+ Delinquency Coverage Ratio of 1.3x. The following chart displays "vintage charge-off rate." Vintage charge-off rate refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated during a specified time period, the total outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 180 days during such period, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Vintage Charge-off Rate by Vintage for the Whole Loan Book The following chart displays the historical lifetime cumulative M1+ delinquency rate by vintage, from the second month after credit drawdowns up to the twelfth month after such transactions for all on- and off-balance transactions for each of the quarters indicated, before charge-offs. M1+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage for the Whole Loan Book Income from operations increased by 63.4% to RMB1,264.2 million (US$184.2 million) from RMB773.8 million for the second quarter of 2018. Net income attributable to Qudian's shareholders increased by 57.9% to RMB1,143.4 million (US$166.6 million), or RMB4.00 (US$0.58) per diluted ADS. Non-GAAP Net income attributable to Qudian shareholders increased by 57.1% to RMB1,158.6 million (US$168.8 million), or RMB4.05 (US$0.59) per diluted ADS. Cash Flow As of June 30, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB2,586.9 million (US$376.8 million) and restricted cash of RMB858.6 million (US$125.1 million). Restricted cash mainly represents (i) cash held by the consolidated trusts through segregated bank accounts; (ii) time deposits that are pledged for short-term bank loans; and (iii) security deposits held in designated bank accounts for guarantee of off-balance sheet transactions. Such restricted cash is not available to fund the general liquidity needs of the Company. For the quarter ended June 30, 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was RMB1,413.6 million (US$205.9 million), mainly attributable to net income of RMB1,143.4 million (US$166.6 million), adjustment of provision for receivables of RMB494.5 million (US$72.0 million). Net cash provided by investing activities was RMB881.3 million (US$128.4 million), mainly due to proceeds from collection of loan principal of RMB6,935.1 million (US$1,010.2 million), partially offset by payments to originate loan principal of RMB5,833.9 million (US$849.8 million). Net cash used in financing activities was RMB1,927.8 million (US$280.8 million), mainly due to repayments of borrowings of RMB1,374.5 million (US$200.2 million) and repurchase of ordinary shares of RMB693.5 million (US$101.0 million). Convertible bond issuance and update on share repurchase On July 1, 2019, the Company closed the offering of US$300 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2026 and the sale of an additional US$45 million aggregate principal amount of such notes pursuant to the exercise in full by the initial purchasers of their option to purchase additional notes. In light of continued disconnection between strong fundamentals and low stock price, the Company plans to use the majority of the proceeds to further fuel its share repurchase efforts. As of the date of this release, the Company has completed total share repurchases of approximately US$377 million. As of June 30, 2019, the total number of ordinary shares outstanding was 279,260,717. Outlook The Company reaffirms its total Non-GAAP net income for the full year of 2019 to exceed RMB4.5 billion, which will represent a 76.5% increase from approximately RMB2.5 billion for 2018. The above outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company's preliminary expectations as to market conditions, its regulatory and operating environment, as well as customer demand, all of which are subject to change. Conference Call The Company's management will host an earnings conference call on August 16, 2019 at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time, (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: U.S.: +1-866-519-4004 (toll-free) / +1-845-675-0437 International: +65-6713-5090 Hong Kong: 800-906-601 (toll-free) / +852-3018-6771 Mainland China: 400-620-8038 / 800-819-0121 Please dial in 15 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "Qudian Conference Call". Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.qudian.com. A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live call until August 24, 2019, by dialing the following telephone numbers: U.S.: +1-855-452-5696 (toll-free) / +1-646-254-3697 International: +61-28199-0299 Hong Kong: 800-963-117 (toll-free) / +852-3051-2780 Mainland China: 400-632-2162 (toll-free) / 800-870-0205 (toll-free) Passcode: 7744949 About Qudian Inc. Qudian Inc. ("Qudian") is a leading provider of online small consumer credit in China. The Company uses big data-enabled technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to transform the consumer finance experience in China. With the mission to use technology to make personalized credit accessible, Qudian targets hundreds of millions of young, mobile-active consumers in China who need access to small credit for their discretionary spending but are underserved by traditional financial institutions due to lack of traditional credit data. Qudian's data technology capabilities combined with its operating efficiencies allow Qudian to understand prospective borrowers from different behavioral and transactional perspectives, assess their credit profiles with regard to both their willingness and ability to repay and offer them instantaneous and affordable credit products with customized terms, and distinguish Qudian's business and offerings. For more information, please visit http://ir.qudian.com. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures We use adjusted net income, a Non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. We believe that adjusted net income helps identify underlying trends in our business by excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges. We believe that adjusted net income provides useful information about our operating results, enhances the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making. Adjusted net income is not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This Non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as analytical tools, and when assessing our operating performance, cash flows or our liquidity, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for net loss / income, cash flows provided by operating activities or other consolidated statements of operation and cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We mitigate these limitations by reconciling the Non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance. For more information on this Non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release. Exchange Rate Information This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB6.8650 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on June 28, 2019 in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. Statement Regarding Preliminary Unaudited Financial Information The unaudited financial information set out in this earnings release is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company's year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the expectation of its collection efficiency and delinquency, contain forward-looking statements. Qudian may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Qudian's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Qudian's goal and strategies; Qudian's expansion plans; Qudian's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Qudian's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its credit products; Qudian's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with borrowers, institutional funding partners, merchandise suppliers and other parties it collaborate with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Qudian's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Qudian does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Qudian Inc.Annie HuangTel: +86-592-591-1580E-mail: ir@qudian.com The Foote GroupPhilip LisioTel: +86-135-0116-6560E-mail: qudian@thefootegroup.com QUDIAN INC. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three months ended June 30, (In thousands except for number 2018 2019 of shares and per share data) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) RMB RMB US$ Revenues: Financing income 895,131 984,446 143,401 Sales commission fee 105,898 95,602 13,926 Sales income 784,753 123,536 17,995 Penalty fee 5,766 9,394 1,368 Loan facilitation income and other related income 452,103 609,651 88,806 Referral service fee and other related income - 398,068 57,985 Total revenues 2,243,651 2,220,697 323,481 Operating cost and expenses: Cost of revenues (947,817) (286,135) (41,680) Sales and marketing (160,586) (77,732) (11,323) General and administrative (69,110) (67,326) (9,807) Research and development (36,863) (62,882) (9,160) Changes in guarantee liabilities (36,747) (2,139) (312) Changes in risk assurance liabilities - 31,611 4,605 Provision for receivables (221,951) (494,453) (72,025) Total operating cost and expenses (1,473,074) (959,056) (139,702) Other operating income 3,203 2,570 374 Income from operations 773,780 1,264,211 184,153 Interest and investment income, net 4,584 11,348 1,653 Foreign exchange gain/(loss), net 18,420 (1,074) (156) Other income 7,828 21,915 3,192 Other expenses - (372) (54) Net income before income taxes 804,612 1,296,028 188,788 Income tax expenses (80,420) (152,622) (22,232) Net income 724,192 1,143,406 166,556 Net income attributable to Qudian Inc.'s shareholders 724,192 1,143,406 166,556 Earnings per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares: Basic 2.21 4.03 0.59 Diluted 2.19 4.00 0.58 Earnings per ADS (1 Class A ordinary share equals 1 ADS): Basic 2.21 4.03 0.59 Diluted 2.19 4.00 0.58 Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding: Basic 327,811,355 284,022,960 284,022,960 Diluted 330,060,963 285,735,609 285,735,609 Other comprehensive income Foreign currency translation adjustment 113,240 9,755 1,421 Total comprehensive income

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  Fast Company Names Jiang Bin, VP at iQIYI, as One of China's 100 Most Creative People in Business 2019

  BEIJING, Aug. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jiang Bin, the Vice President and General Manager of the Program Development Center at iQIYI ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, has been recognized by the Chinese Edition of Fast Company as one of China's 100 Most Creative People in Business 2019 ("China MCP 100"). Covering every business field including science, fashion, arts and more, the list recognizes visionary leaders who have been instrumental in transforming their industries and broader societies over the past year. Other leading business figures including Hou Hongliang, Chairman of production firm Daylight Entertainment, and Lu Zhengyao, Chairman of Luckin Coffee and CAR Inc., were also selected by China MCP 100. Fast Company Names Jiang Bin, VP at iQIYI, as One of China’s 100 Most Creative People in Business 2019 Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, and design. Fast Company selected Jiang due to his accomplishments and contributions to China's entertainment industry. Over the past year, he has produced many culturally-significant online programs which have played an influential role in shaping not only the Chinese entertainment industry, but also China's youth and pop culture. At iQIYI, Jiang created multiple hit variety shows including Idol Producer, Qing Chun You Ni, I Actor and I Supermodel. Since their release, these shows have become known to the industry and public as successful platforms that cultivate promising talents and foster pop culture trends. Hit variety shows produced by Jiang Bin (clockwise from left): Idol Producer, I Actor and Qing Chun You Ni "I am honored to be recognized by the prestigious Fast Company as an innovative leader in China's entertainment industry," said Jiang. "Not only has iQIYI's innovation in content creation and technology application enabled itself to become a market-leading figure, but it also has played a monumental role in spurring the development of the entire Chinese entertainment industry. As we lead the transformation of China's entertainment industry, we strive to revolutionize the way China's youth and consumers perceive entertainment." As an entertainment company that attaches great importance to innovation and technology, iQIYI is committed to incorporating both elements to all aspects in its productions. Under this commitment, the Company has steered its focus to large scale online dramas and variety shows, created a favorable environment for paid content, as well as released pioneering industry standards such as the Interactive Video Guideline and the Revenue-Sharing Content Production Model, which have been widely adopted by the entertainment industry in China. These market leading achievements have led iQIYI to be recognized by Fast Company multiple times, including as one of China's 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2017 and for the 2018 China Innovation by Design Awards. About iQIYI, Inc. iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China. Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with technology, fostering an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features highly popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library of other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content and user-generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with tremendous user engagement, and has developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting, online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fast-company-names-jiang-bin-vp-at-iqiyi-as-one-of-chinas-100-most-creative-people-in-business-2019-300902910.htmlRelated Links :www.iqiyi.com

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  IceKredit shows up in IJCAI

  MACAU, Aug. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 10th to 16th, IJCAI (International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence) was held in Macau, China. Since it was first held in Washington, DC in 1969, IJCAI has become one of the most important top-level academic conferences in the field of artificial intelligence. Many top scholars were invited, including winners of the Turing Award and Nobel Prize. This year 2019 is the 50th anniversary of IJCAI and the 40th anniversary of the development of artificial intelligence in China. Therefore, this year's IJCAI has attracted much more attention than before. More than 3,000 AI scholars and industry leaders gathered in Macau to discuss the status quo and future of artificial intelligence. Dr. Lingyun Gu, founder, chairman, and CEO of IceKredit, Inc., was invited to give a speech, in which he shared the exploration and practice of IceKredit in the field of AI. Dr. Lingyun Gu, founder, chairman, and CEO of IceKredit, Inc., was invited to give a speech in IJCAI This year's IJCAI brought together the world's most reputable experts in AI field, including Leslie Kaelbling (Professor of MIT), Zhihua Zhou (Professor of Nanjing University), Adnan Darwiche (Professor of UCLA), Kress Gazit (Associate Professor of Cornell University), Giuseppe de Giacomo (Professor of Rome "La Sapienza" ), Hiroaki Kitano (President and Chief Executive Officer of Computer Science Laboratory at Sony), Michela Milano (Professor of University of Bologna) among others. They shared important information about developments in the field of artificial intelligence such as machine learning, autonomous agents, and deep learning. Dr. Gu delivered a speech entitled "AI Meets Risk" at the meeting. He analyzed the differences in the development of artificial intelligence between China and the United States from the perspective of business model, the state of the market, talent education and regulation. For artificial intelligence, Dr. Gu stressed that the accumulation and the innovation of technology are cornerstones that drive the rapid development of IceKredit. Ever since it was founded in 2015, IceKredit has been continuously acquiring promising scientists in AI, and has established AI laboratories in Los Angeles and Nanjing. Currently, IceKredit has acquired a large number of PhD graduates from top universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Purdue University, and University of Maryland. They are pushing the boundaries of deep learning, natural language processing, knowledge mapping, speech recognition, computer vision, and other STEM fields. Meanwhile, IceKredit is comprehensively exploring many fields like talent training, academic research, technology transformation, and business applications. At the same time, IceKredit is strengthening connections with domestic and foreign research institutions to promote the development of Chinese artificial intelligence technology. Dr. Gu said, "Algorithm complexity does not necessarily imply improved performance, and we need to consider the environment in which algorithms are applied. For example, we can achieve good results by simply using logistic regression directly if our data is separable and meaningful. On the other hand, if our data is neither separable nor meaningful, machine learning would be more effective." In essence, Dr. Gu points out that the development of artificial intelligence does not only simply include the advancement of algorithms, but also the application of the correct technology to the corresponding circumstances. Utilizing a large reserve of AI technology and a deep understanding of different business scenarios, IceKredit has created products like IceKredit's Standard Credit Score, Integrated Risk Control Services for Enterprises, Intelligent Risk Control Decision Engine, Knowledge Map Computing Platform, and other knock-out products. IceKredit is serving more than 500 domestic and foreign customers, providing crucial technical support that augments our customers' businesses. IceKredit's cooperative partners include Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of Nanjing, Suning Bank, Toutiao, Mashang Consumer Finance, BOC Consumer Finance, LexinFintech Holdings, Zhongan Insurance, and Guazi.com and many others. In the future, IceKredit will further increase investment in R&D and acquire research talents, which will help transform the financial industry. In the meantime, IceKredit will continue to explore the application of artificial intelligence in other industries such as pharmaceutics and educational pedagogy. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icekredit-shows-up-in-ijcai-300902868.html

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  Fourth Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong next month

  The fourth Belt and Road Summit has been expanded into a two-day event. The 2018 summit (pictured) attracted thousands of participants from around the world.The Belt and Road Summit's Investment and Business Matching Session, including Project Pitching and One-to-one Business Matching Meetings, will continue to be held this year.The 2019 summit will cover three main areas: Urban Development; Energy, Natural Resources and Public Utilities; and Transport and Logistics Infrastructure.Event extended to two days to cover broader range of issuesHONG KONG, Aug 16, 2019 - (ACN Newswire) - The fourth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held on 11 and 12 September (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Under the theme "Creating and Realising Opportunities", the summit will analyse in depth how Hong Kong can give full play to its strengths in the Belt and Road Initiative and help participants from different countries and professional sectors to explore opportunities.This year's event is being extended to two days, covering a broader range of issues and sectors. More exchanges and business-matching meetings will be organised in 2019, providing more opportunities for government officials, entrepreneurs and professionals from around the world to discuss collaboration opportunities under the Belt and Road.About 80 government officials, business leaders and representatives from international organisations from Hong Kong, Mainland China and countries along the Belt and Road have been invited as guest speakers at the summit. In addition to gaining insights from these experts, business representatives can use the summit as a platform to learn about the business environment in different Belt and Road markets and the opportunities available in various sectors, and to discuss investment and business collaboration with counterparts from around the world.Analysing policy direction and investment opportunitiesThe Belt and Road Initiative aims to drive cross-border investment, provide more outlets for capital, and create opportunities for professional services sectors. The summit will be divided into three plenary sessions to provide in-depth analysis across key areas related to investing in the Belt and Road.On the first day of the summit, two plenary sessions titled "Leading Officials' Insights on Belt and Road Development" and "Investing for Value - Making Belt and Road Projects Viable" will be held. The former will invite government officials from Belt and Road countries to analyse policy direction from an economic development perspective, while the latter will feature four key speakers - Bernard Chan, President of Asia Financial Holdings Ltd, Dhanin Chearavanont, Senior Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, Li Xiaopeng, Chairman of China Everbright Group Limited and, Yan Zhiyong, Chairman of Power Construction Corporation of China - to share their insights into successfully investing in Belt and Road projects. In addition, a policy dialogue session will be held during the luncheon on the first day at which ministerial-level officials will share the Belt and Road prospects from an investment perspective.Creating Belt and Road opportunities through the Greater Bay AreaThe Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been accorded the status of a key strategic plan in the blueprint for China's longer-term development. On the second day of the summit the "Collaboration in Greater Bay Area for Belt and Road Success" plenary summit will be moderated by Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union and Chairman (Hong Kong) of the Mainland China-Hong Kong Belt and Road Business and Professional Services Council. Guest speakers will share their insights on how to promote the Belt and Road Initiative and create more business opportunities leveraging on the advantages of the Greater Bay Area. Among those speaking are Chen Shuang, Director & Deputy General Manager of China Everbright Holdings Co Ltd, Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman of Fung Group, Gao Yingxin, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Dr Hu Zhanghong, CEO of Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments Ltd, Dr Thomas So, Past President and Chairman of the Belt and Road Committee and the Law Society of Hong Kong, and Zheng Jianrong, Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province.Financial services, green finance and risk managementAs an international financial centre, Hong Kong plays a key role in supporting various Belt and Road projects. Joining hands with partners from various related institutions and professional fields, the summit will cater to the needs of different business sectors by offering nine thematic breakout sessions. A session titled "Sustainable Finance in Infrastructure", co-organised with the HKMA Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO), will be hosted by Darryl Chan, Executive Director (External) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Deputy Director of the HKMA Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office. Guest speakers including Herbert Hui, Finance Director of MTR Corporation Limited, and Mushtaq Kapasi, Managing Director and Chief Representative, Asia Pacific at the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), will examine how financial knowledge can be used to facilitate sustainable infrastructure projects.While the investment return for Belt and Road projects will always be a major consideration for investors, factors such as asset risks, default risks and political and sovereign risks also need to be taken into account. A breakout session co-organised with the Insurance Authority of Hong Kong will invite experts from the insurance industry to share how risk transfer and project finance solutions can enhance the commercial viability of projects. A panel of geopolitical professionals will analyse the potential geopolitical risks involved in investing in countries along the Belt and Road in a breakout session titled "Managing Geopolitical Risks".A breakout luncheon co-organised with the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council and the Hong Kong Association of Banks on the second day features CEOs of financial institutions and asset management companies and economists, who will share their insights on Hong Kong's advantages as a premier capital-raising centre.Practical Belt and Road issues discussed at breakout sessionsThe Belt and Road Initiative involves scores of countries and regions and presents new opportunities across a range of different fields. Various breakout sessions are being organised to cater for the varying business needs of participants. A breakout session co-organised with the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Ltd will focus on technological innovation and explore the development of the Digital Silk Road, while another session, co-organised with the China International Contractors Association, will discuss new investment and collaboration opportunities in building high-quality and sustainable international infrastructure along the Belt and Road.In another breakout session, co-organised with the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government, legal experts will explain how to resolve disputes through arbitration, helping to drive sustainable investment and ensure greater success for Belt and Road projects.New Belt and Road opportunities for young people and SMEsSmall and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) have long been the driving force of Hong Kong's economic development. A newly introduced breakout session titled "Belt and Road Opportunities for SMEs" will invite professionals in the field to introduce the opportunities and challenges SMEs may face under the Belt and Road Initiative.The Belt and Road also offers many opportunities for the younger generation looking to develop their businesses and creativity. In the session "Belt and Road Opportunities for the Young Generation", run in association with InvestHK, a panel of young entrepreneurs will share their experiences and views on how new entrepreneurs can grasp opportunities arising from the initiative.All-day project pitching and business matchingOwing to popular demand, the Investment and Business Matching Session - which comprises two elements, Project Pitching and One-to-one Business Matching Meetings - will be held again in 2019. Project Pitching will cover three main areas: Urban Development; Energy, Natural Resources and Public Utilities; and Transport and Logistics Infrastructure. The One-to-one Business Matching Meetings will provide a platform for project owners, investors and services providers to connect and discuss their business and investment needs as well as exploring cooperation opportunities. Around 520 such meetings were arranged last year, and at this year's two-day summit hundreds of meetings involving more than 100 projects are expected to be held.Exhibition zones highlight investment opportunities and professional servicesFollowing a successful run in previous years, the Global Investment Zone will continue to connect investors, project owners and professional investment consultants. Close to 70 exhibitors from the Asia-Pacific region, Mainland China, Europe, the Middle East and Africa will host exhibitions highlighting their respective investment environments, key industries and development projects. The Hong Kong Zone is another area not to be missed, featuring some 40 services across four main areas: Banking and Finance, Technology and Innovation, Infrastructure, and Professional Services. Global business sectors can get an introduction to the quality services provided in Hong Kong and receive consultation services in the zone. In addition, two Open Forums will enable institutions and enterprises attending the Global Investment Zone and Hong Kong Zone to share their insights and foster exchanges.China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the summit's Strategic Partner. Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd is the Diamond Sponsor.First Belt and Road Week demonstrates Hong Kong's key role in tradeThe two-day Belt and Road Summit is the highlight of the annual Belt and Road Week. To promote and encourage different sectors to get to know more about the Belt and Road Initiative, the HKTDC and other institutions organise a series of Belt and Road-related activities that together make up the Belt and Road Week. Activities including trade missions, the Belt and Road Global Forum, luncheons, seminars and cultural activities will enable people from different sectors to get a better understanding of Hong Kong's strengths from multiple perspectives in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative.Members of the media interested in interviewing summit speakers can fill out a form (https://bit.ly/31yRUCD) and email it to beltandroadsummit.media@hktdc.org on or before 27 August.For the latest schedule and full speaker list, please visit the summit website: http://www.beltandroadsummit.hk/tc/information_centre/programme.htmlFor details of Belt and Road Week activities, please visit: http://www.hktdc.com/ncs/bnrw/tc/main/index.htmlPlease download more photos from here. https://bit.ly/33F8bHZBelt and Road Summit website: http://www.beltandroadsummit.hk/enHKTDC Belt and Road Portal: https://beltandroad.hktdc.com/About HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub, organising international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly SMEs, in the mainland and international markets. Please visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus and follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Contact:Coco Yuen, Tel: +852 2584 4145, Email: coco.hc.yuen@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4194, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Copyright 2019 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com