Table of Contents
Artificial Intelligence Translates the Language of Animals
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
The Story of AI Learning to Listen to Whales, Dolphins, Birds, and Bees
Twelve chapters on how AI listens to dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, birds, and bees to find rules in their sounds, and what this technology means for its risks and for animal rights. Written in simple sentences a child can read, with verified sources in every section.
Table of Contents
AI Deciphers Ancient Scripts
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
Ancient Records Revived by AI
In twelve chapters, this book explains how AI revives records once unreadable, from burned scrolls and wooden slips buried in mud to broken clay tablets. It covers virtual unrolling at Herculaneum, virtual collation of oracle-bone texts, reading Silla wooden tablets, computational analysis of undeciphered scripts, and multispectral archives, with verified references for each chapter.
Table of Contents
Artificial Intelligence for New Materials Design and Rocket Propulsion Engineering
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
AI Potentials, Self-Driving Laboratories, and Physics-Informed Machine Learning (PIML)
Ten chapters on how artificial intelligence is changing new materials and rocket propulsion: atomic simulation, generative models, self-driving labs, high-temperature alloys, metal 3D printing, combustion, cooling design, and engine diagnosis and control. Written without equations, with verified sources in every chapter.
AI Library
The Age of Autonomous Scientific Discovery
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
AI Scientists and Self-Driving Labs
This book follows how AI scientists and self-driving labs are changing the way science generates and verifies claims. It covers literature-based discovery, natural-language protocols translated into robot commands, multi-agent research systems, closed-loop laboratories, materials search, the verification gap, chains of evidence, research harnesses, journal ethics, and legal responsibility.
AI Library
A New Era of Life Sciences Opened by Artificial Intelligence
Structural Proteomics, Genomic Foundation Models, Autonomous Laboratories, and Global Governance
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
This book is a research volume compiled with artificial intelligence. A human selected the materials and structured the work, while AI models drafted the sentences and cross-checked the facts.
AI Library
The Double Structure of Digital Sovereignty
Europe’s Departure from Palantir and the Chains of American Big Tech
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
This is a record of 2026, when European intelligence agencies and defense ministries began removing analytics tools from America’s Palantir. It covers the replacement decisions made by France’s General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), and the Netherlands Ministry of Defense; the incident in which US export controls severed an ally’s ac…
New English Edition
Artificial Intelligence in Horticulture
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
Across five chapters and ten sections, this book examines computer vision for crop diagnosis, harvesting robots and autonomous field systems, smart greenhouses and digital twins, precision irrigation and supply-chain quality control, high-throughput phenotyping, and predictive breeding.
New English Edition
Artificial Intelligence in Food Crop Agriculture
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
Across six chapters and eighteen sections, the book examines digital agricultural infrastructure, remote sensing, crop diagnosis, yield forecasting, precision irrigation, genomics, molecular breeding, agricultural robotics, climate-smart agriculture, and global food security.
New English Edition
The Future of Forestry and Agroforestry
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
Driven by Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation
Across five chapters and fifteen sections, the book follows satellites, drones, LiDAR, digital twins, forest-specific language models, wildfire and pest forecasting, forestry robotics, agroforestry, timber traceability, and forest carbon markets.
New English Edition
Smart Livestock Farming: AI Enters the Barn
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
Sensors listen, cameras watch, and artificial intelligence helps farmers decide.
Across five chapters and fifteen sections, the book follows precision livestock farming from animal health and reproduction to robotic milking, virtual fencing, digital twins, methane reduction, welfare, and data ownership.
Table of Contents
Han Dong-hoon, Busan Buk-gu Gap: A Record of the 100 Days Before and After the Election (Mar. 26-Jul. 3, 2026)
Kim Kyung-jin
Table of Contents and 13 sections
From March 26 to July 3, 2026, this record follows the spring after expulsion, the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election, victory as an independent, and the first bill submitted in the National Assembly.
Table of Contents
Artificial Intelligence and Medicine
Kim Kyung-jin, Attorney at Law
AI in clinical care, hospitals, education, and research
AI in medical imaging, risk prediction, treatment planning, hospital operations, education, and research, with patient safety, privacy, and accountability.
[AI Library] Chapter 4: Kazbegi and the Snowy Mountains of the Caucasus
A Journey Through Georgia's History and Culture
Chapter 4: Kazbegi and the Snowy Mountains of the Caucasus
Kim Kyung-jin
A. The Georgian Military Highway, Following the Path of Empire
Morning in Tbilisi is unhurried. Georgians starting their day with strong Turkish coffee in the capital's cafes look at ease. But the moment you leave the city heading north, the landscape transforms entirely. Mountains grow taller, valleys deepen, the air turns cold and crystalline. This is the first impression the Georgian Military Highway grants travelers.
This road spanning from Tbilisi to Vladikavkaz, the Russian border city, is approximately 212 kilometers long. In numbers alone, it is not particularly long,just slightly farther than Seoul to Daejeon. But you cannot think of this road as merely a route from point A to point B. The road itself is an immense history museum, a work of art carved by nature, and a passage of civilization where merchants, armies, and pilgrims traveled for thousands of years.
The road's history reaches back to ancient times. From antiquity, this valley was one of the few passages across the Caucasus Mountains. Silk Road merchants passed through with bolts of silk and spices; Persian and Mongol armies attacked Georgia via this route. But the road took its present form in the early 19th century, during the Russian Empire. After Georgia was annexed in 1801, the empire expanded and paved this ancient trade route to move troops and supplies quickly. The name "Military Highway" originated here.
An hour north of Tbilisi, the view from your window shifts suddenly. The gray buildings of the city fade, and a vast emerald reservoir spreads before you. The Zhinvali Reservoir. Dammed in the 1980s during the Soviet era, this artificial lake now serves as a critical water source supplying drinking water to Tbilisi's residents.
First-time visitors to the reservoir marvel at the color of the water. On clear days, the lake gleams in deep blue-green, and with the surrounding mountains it recalls Nordic fjords. But beneath this beautiful lake lies sad history. Villages in the region were submerged when the dam was built. In winter when the water level drops, bridges and ruins of old settlements rise like ghosts from the surface.
Following the lake, a medieval fortress looms on the water's edge. Ananuri Fortress. Once the stronghold of the Aragvi ducal family ruling the region since the 13th century, it is on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list. Within its sturdy walls stand two churches and watchtowers.
Inside the fortress stands the Church of the Assumption, built in the 17th century. Its exterior walls bear intricate carvings. Grapevines and crosses, animals and angels are rendered delicately in stone. These carvings, where Georgian traditional patterns blend with Persian artistic influence, display the essence of medieval Georgian architecture.
From the fortress walls, the blue waters of Zhinvali and the ancient stones come into view at once. This scene appears on the cover of Georgia's travel guides. No place photographs better. Yet Ananuri holds a history tragic despite its beauty. Fierce battles raged here across the 17th and 18th centuries, and once the residents sheltering inside perished in flames.
Beyond Ananuri, the road climbs steeply. Following the zigzagging mountain path upward, you reach a high plateau above 2,000 meters elevation. Gudauri. Georgia's largest ski resort fills with skiers from around the world in winter. Come summer and fall when snow melts, it transforms into a paragliding mecca. Paragliders soaring above the green meadows seem to embody the freedom of the Caucasus.
Beyond Gudauri near Jvari Pass, you discover a massive semicircular structure standing precariously on a cliff's edge. The Russia-Georgia
Friendship Monument. The Soviet Union built it in 1983 to commemorate the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk signed between Russia and Georgia.
Though called a monument, Georgians regard it with mixed feelings. The 1783 treaty made Georgia a Russian protectorate and led to complete annexation. The word "friendship" rings hollow. Yet setting politics aside, the ornate mosaic tile murals decorating the interior hold genuine artistic merit. Legends and history of Georgia and Russia come alive in colorful tiles.
The view from the monument's balcony is overwhelming. A vast gorge stretches below, its walls sheer. Locals call it Devil's Valley. The Aragvi River flows between the cliffs, and distant Caucasus peaks hang in clouds.
Jvari Pass is the highest point on the Georgian Military Highway, between approximately 2,379 and 2,395 meters elevation depending on the source. "Jvari" means "cross" in Georgian. Standing here, permanent snow-capped peaks surround you like a screen. In winter, avalanche danger closes the road. Spring conditions are much the same. Only by crossing this harsh pass do you reach Kazbegi.
Over the pass, the road follows Darial Gorge. Through this narrow, deep canyon the Terek River rushes between cliffs,long called the "Gateway to the Caucasus." Legend says Alexander the Great set an iron gate here to stop northern nomad invasions. Whether such a gate actually existed is unknown. But standing in this gorge, you understand why the legend arose. The gorge is a fortress nature itself built.
Traveling the Military Highway is a kind of adventure. It is the only overland route to Russia, so you commonly see massive cargo trucks waiting in long lines, occupying one side of the road and crossing the border. Dodging or passing these giants on the narrow mountain road is thrilling.
Yet the road's true masters are not vehicles but cattle and flocks of sheep. When you encounter cattle leisurely crossing the road ahead, you wait patiently for them to pass. Horns do nothing,the cows don't budge. This is the "beauty of slowness" Georgia's roads teach travelers. In the Caucasus, hurrying does not make you go faster.
Lunch in the roadside village of Pasanauri is a fine choice. It is known as the birthplace of khinkali, Georgia's signature dumpling. Filled with meat and broth, these dumplings are eaten by hand like locals do. Hold the top knot, bite the side to sip the broth first, then eat the rest. You leave the knot uneaten,it's how you count how many you've had.
Russian literary giants Pushkin and Lermontov also traveled this road. In 19th-century Russian literature, the Caucasus appeared as a land of romance and adventure. Pushkin wrote several works inspired by his travels in the region. Lermontov's novel A Hero of Our Time features vivid scenes of this landscape. The mountains and valleys they saw remain nearly unchanged today. The road is paved and cars run on it, but nature's grandeur endures.
B. Mount Kazbek, Where the Prometheus Myth Sleeps
As you approach the Military Highway's endpoint, a small village appears. Stepantsminda. During the Soviet era it was called Kazbegi, and many travelers still use that name. Its official name honors Saint Stephen, an Orthodox monk who performed ascetic practice in the region. This village of roughly 1,500 people sits at an elevation of 1,740 meters.
Arriving in the village, one thing immediately arrests your gaze. From anywhere in town, look up and you see a colossal mountain. Its white-crowned peak rises to pierce the sky. Mount Kazbek. At 5,047 meters, it is Georgia's third-highest peak and the seventh-highest in the entire Caucasus.
In Georgian the mountain is called Mkinvartsveri, meaning "ice mountain." Permanent snow and glaciers cover the upper reaches year-round. In morning sun on clear days, the mountain flushes rose-pink; at sunset it shifts from gold to violet. Locals also call it "The Bride of Khevi," Khevi being the region's name.
Mount Kazbek is a dormant volcano. Its last eruption is estimated to be in the 1890s. Crater marks still scar the upper slopes, and hot springs bubble forth in places. Geologists say the mountain is not completely asleep but may awaken someday. Yet that lies in the distant future. Now, in this moment, Kazbek stands serene and majestic, holding up the Caucasus sky.
An ancient myth dwells in this mountain. The story of Prometheus from Greco-Roman mythology. Prometheus was a Titan god who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. He gifted humanity the seeds of civilization. With fire, food can be cooked, cold staved off, tools forged. Because of his gift, humankind became something more than animals.
But Zeus grew furious. Giving mortals fire was unforgivable treason. Zeus bound Prometheus to a high rock in the Caucasus with chains. Each day he sent an eagle to peck at Prometheus's liver. At night the organ grew back. The next day the eagle returned. This torment was his eternal fate.
According to legend, the rock where Prometheus was chained is Mount Kazbek itself. Georgians call him Amirani. In Georgian myth, Amirani is a hero who defied the gods. He sided with humans and fought the gods, and for this he received eternal punishment. The
Georgian people do not see Amirani as merely mythological. He overlaps with their own history of resisting without yielding to powerful empires.
Somewhere high on the mountain lies Betlemi Cave, according to tradition. Legend says the cave holds Abraham's tent from scripture and the manger of Jesus. An iron door seals it, and "only the pure of heart can open it," they say. Records tell of monks who fled the world to perform ascetic practice in this cave for centuries. In fact, at roughly 3,650 meters sits Betlemi Hut, once a weather station. Today it serves as a base camp for climbers heading for the summit.
Mount Kazbek is a challenge for serious mountaineers. Called the "Pearl of the Caucasus," it was first summited in 1868 by a joint British and French expedition. Since then, hundreds of climbers attempt the summit each year. The route starting from Stepantsminda village, passing Gergeti Church and climbing to the glacier zone, is feasible for ordinary trekkers. It is not easy, though.
As elevation increases along the climbing route, the landscape transforms. At first, green meadows and wildflowers stretch before you, but gradually vegetation vanishes. Soon only black volcanic rock and white ice remain. It is desolate yet wondrous. Walking on glacier requires caution around crevasses,deep cracks often hidden under snow. Specialized equipment like crampons and ice axes is necessary, as is an experienced guide.
The ascent normally takes four to five days. One day from village to Betlemi Hut, one day round-trip from hut to summit, one day for descent. Bad weather extends it. The elevation gain of roughly 3,800 meters means you must prepare for altitude sickness. The best climbing season is July through September.
Mount Kazbek is famous for fickle weather. The village may be sunny while the summit is suddenly shrouded in clouds or battered by blizzard. Locals say "Kazbek is shy and rarely shows its face." Seeing the summit clearly on a fine day is considered lucky.
Spending a day in Stepantsminda watching the mountain is worthwhile. Morning clouds hide it, then it suddenly appears in the afternoon. Dusk is the most beautiful hour. As the western sky turns red, Kazbek's snowy peak shifts gold, then violet. Many travelers wait on cafe and guesthouse terraces to witness this moment.
The village's most famous lodging is Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, a Soviet-era tourist hotel renovated in contemporary style. It features large windows overlooking the mountain, an outdoor pool, and spa facilities. Pricey, but you get an exclusive view of Kazbek. Budget-conscious travelers can stay at guesthouses run by local families, where you taste Georgian home cooking and experience local culture through conversation with the owners.
Recommended foods are khinkali and khachapuri. Mountain khinkali is juicier and more heavily spiced than lowland versions. Khachapuri is cheese-filled flatbread; here the popular version is Adjarian style topped with butter and an egg. Locals accompany meals with chacha, a grape spirit of high proof. Drink with care.
Whether Prometheus was truly chained to this mountain is unknowable. Myth is myth. Yet standing before Kazbek, you grasp why such stories arose. The peak's jagged rock and permanent ice form a face like a giant suffering yet unbowed. The hero who defied gods and suffered eternal punishment without regret,that story
may have been one that people living in the shadow of this harsh mountain told themselves.
C. Gergeti Trinity Church Above the Clouds
The highlight of any Kazbegi visit is unquestionably Gergeti Trinity Church. Standing alone on a steep hill at 2,170 meters elevation, this small church has become Georgia's defining symbol. It appears on the logo of Georgia's tourism board, wine bottle labels, and postcards in gift shops. Asked to explain Georgia in a single photograph, most people would think of this church.
The church was built in the 14th century. No precise construction date survives in records. In Georgian it is called Tsminda Sameba, meaning "Holy Trinity." Gergeti is the name of the village below the church. Hence the name Gergeti Trinity Church.
There is a reason why this church was built in such a high and treacherous place. Historically, Georgia has faced relentless invasions from foreign powers. The Mongols, Persians, and Ottoman Empire took turns trampling this land. Whenever enemies attacked, Georgians had to hide their nation's most precious treasures somewhere,
That place was exactly here. They moved sacred relics to this high location where humans could scarcely reach.
When the capital Tbilisi and the ancient capital Mtskheta faced danger, there are records that the most sacred relic of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Cross of Saint Nino, was moved to this church. Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the fourth century, is like the mother of the nation to Georgians. Her cross is said to have been made from a grapevine branch, and it is the most precious relic of the Georgian Orthodox Church. This church was both a space of faith and a treasury of national treasures.
During the Soviet era, religious activity was forbidden. Many churches were destroyed or converted to other purposes. However, Gergeti Church survived because of its harsh location. It was a place where the authorities' reach could hardly extend. After the Soviet Union collapsed and Georgia became independent, the church came back to life. Today, regular services are held here, and pilgrims' footsteps never cease.
There are two ways to reach the church. First, you can walk up from the village of Stepantsminda. The distance from the village square to the church is about three kilometers, with an elevation gain of about five hundred meters. A steep uphill path continues. Depending on your fitness level, it takes roughly one hour and thirty minutes to two hours.
The hiking route splits into two paths. One is a steep direct route climbing the shortest distance, while the other winds around for a gentler ascent. If you are confident in your fitness, you can choose the steep path. The view from the climb is the reward. You pass through forests, cross meadows, and watch the church grow closer as you ascend. This journey itself is a pilgrimage experience. Trekking poles are helpful.
Second, you can drive up. Four-wheel-drive minivans called Delicas wait for travelers at the village square. In the past, the journey up the unpaved cliff road was both frightening and thrilling. The steep slopes where the vehicle seemed ready to tip, the vast cliffs visible beside the wheels,all of this was an attraction. However, in recent years the road has been paved, making access much easier. Now you can reach it even by regular taxi. The one-way fare varies by negotiation but costs roughly 20-30 lari (about 8,000-12,000 won).
Whichever way you choose, the moment you stand in the church courtyard, your breath stops. Turn around, and the eternal snow of Mount Kazbek seems close enough to touch. On clear days, the white peak stands in sharp contrast against the blue sky. Looking forward, the village of Stepantsminda lies below like a toy. When clouds hang low, the village hides beneath them while the church alone seems to float above the clouds. You realize the nickname 'the church closest to heaven' is no exaggeration.
The church building itself is humble. There are no lavish decorations. Rough stone walls, small windows, a round dome roof. Without electricity, the interior is dim. Only candlelight flickers softly, and old frescoes and icons hang on the walls, blackened by soot. In this darkness, far from grandeur, a reverent atmosphere is felt instead. The weight of prayers and silence held within stone walls that have endured more than six hundred years seems to pass through you.
If you climb a little higher on the hill behind the church, you reach a photo spot. From here you can capture both the church building and Mount Kazbek in one frame. That famous photo you saw on the internet was taken right here. Late afternoon on a clear day, when the sun begins to set from the west, is the best time for photography. Light enters the church, while the mountain behind casts an appropriate shadow.
Looking around the church, you see traces of old bell towers and fortress walls, as well as graves. These are remnants of monks who spent their lives in spiritual practice here. On windy days, the wind sounds like a hymn. Standing here and spending time, you begin to understand why people built this church in such a harsh place and have preserved it. This is not a simple building. It is a symbol of the Georgian people's faith and resilience.
D. A Complete Guide to Juta Valley Trekking
Once you have experienced the grandeur of Kazbegi, it is time to seek another kind of beauty. About thirty to forty minutes by car from Stepantsminda village lies a small village called Juta, which is the starting point for Juta Valley trekking. Known as 'Georgia's Dolomites,' this place offers delicate and lyrical mountain scenery different from Kazbegi's magnificence.
Juta village is located at an elevation of about two thousand two hundred meters. It is one of the highest inhabited places in Europe. In winter, heavy snow falls and the village is cut off from the outside world for six to seven months. When roads are blocked, villagers must live in isolation until spring arrives. Because of this, the natural landscape here is preserved in its primordial form.
There is no public transportation from Stepantsminda to Juta. You must charter a taxi or four-wheel-drive vehicle. You can negotiate with a driver at the village square. It is best to agree on the round-trip cost and waiting time in advance. Usually the driver waits at Juta village parking lot for five to six hours and then returns. The price varies by negotiation but costs roughly 100-150 lari (about 40,000-60,000 won).
Some sections of the road are in poor condition, and after rain the road can become impassable. In such cases, you must get out and walk for about an hour to reach the village. While this may seem inconvenient, the landscape you see while walking this path is quite beautiful. As you follow the path through meadows, you can see horses and herds of cattle grazing.
Once you arrive at Juta village, the trekking begins. From the village entrance, serious mountain hiking starts. The first twenty to thirty minutes are steep uphill. Just when your breath reaches your throat, the view opens up and a peaceful landscape appears. Then you see a mountain lodge. It is a lodge hotel and café called Fifth Season.
A cup of coffee sipped on the terrace of Fifth Season while gazing at the Chaukhi Massif is the highlight of Juta trekking. Sharply peaked rocky summits surround you like a folding screen. Because of this landscape, this place is called 'Georgia's Dolomites',compared to the Dolomite Mountains in Italy. Many travelers are so captivated by the scenery here that they simply sit and enjoy the view without continuing further.
Serious trekking begins after passing Fifth Season. From here, the slope becomes gentle. Lush green meadows with profuse wildflowers and clear valley streams flow together. In summer, yellow rhododendrons and various wildflowers bloom in abundance. Along the path, you commonly see horses and cattle herds grazing. It is a fairy-tale landscape where you might imagine Heidi living in the Alps.
After walking on level ground for about one to one and a half hours, you reach a small lake. This is Chaukhi Lake, also called Tin Lake. Created by melting glaciers, this lake shimmers with an emerald hue. Located directly below the massive Chaukhi rock face, it boasts a majestic backdrop. Even in July the water is so cold your hands tingle, but brave trekkers sometimes swim here.
The basic round-trip route from Juta village to Chaukhi Lake takes three to four hours total. The difficulty level is intermediate. Once you conquer the steep uphill section at the beginning to Fifth Season, most of the route is level, so beginners and families can enjoy it easily. No special equipment is needed. Sturdy athletic shoes are sufficient.
If you have stamina and experience, you can go farther. Continuing past Chaukhi Lake, you reach Chaukhi Pass at an elevation of three thousand three hundred thirty-eight meters. Crossing this pass leads to a two-day, one-night route to a village called Roshka. The highlight of this route is Abudelauri Lakes. Three lakes each display different colors.
Green, blue, white. The mystical water colors created by melting glaciers create a fantastic atmosphere in contrast with the surrounding gray rocks. This route is difficult and easy to get lost, so you should go with an experienced guide or carry GPS equipment.
The best season for Juta Valley trekking is from June through late September. From October onward, snow begins to fall, making access difficult or dangerous. Mountain lodges close for winter. Often the village itself becomes inaccessible because the road is blocked.
For trekking preparation, warm outer layers are essential. The weather in mountainous areas changes rapidly. Even on clear days, clouds can suddenly roll in and rain can fall. You need wind protection or a raincoat. There is almost no shade to protect you from the sun, so sunglasses and sunscreen are necessary. There are no shops along the route, so bring water and simple provisions.
Besides Fifth Season, there are mountain lodges and campsites like Zeta Camp within Juta Valley. If you want to enjoy nature without rushing and have time to spare, spending a night here is recommended. At night, without city lights, stars pour down. You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The sight of the Chaukhi Massif turning red at dawn is a privilege reserved for those who stay overnight.
Juta Valley is a place where you escape the noise of civilization and find only the sound of wind and water, with nature's overwhelming presence. If you wish to encounter Georgia's mountains in their delicate and lyrical beauty, different from Kazbegi's grandeur, this place is not a choice but a necessity. Walk across the meadows, then turn around, and suddenly the rocky peaks of Chaukhi pierce the sky. In that moment, you understand why people make the journey to this distant place.
Kim Kyung-jin
Attorney · Former Member of the National Assembly · AI Policy Researcher
© 2026 Kim Kyung-jin. All rights reserved.