Latest News

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  S. Korea to set safety standards on EV batteries recycled for ESS and portable power banks SEOUL -- South Korea will set new safety standards on discarded electric vehicles that are recycled and reused in the construction of energy storage systems or power banks, which are portable battery packs for outdoor use. The number of discarded batteries is expected to skyrocket in the late 2020s and is to cause serious environmental and safety issues if no preemptive actions are taken. According to the Ministry of Environment, about 31,700 units of electric vehicle (EV) batterie 2023-03-31
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  Boy band ENHYPEN collaborates with Baby Shark creator for child animation film SEOUL -- K-pop boy band ENHYPEN has collaborated with a South Korean educational entertainment company that created famous characters such as Baby Shark, to make a foray into the United States' animation movie market. The seven-member band was recreated into animated characters in the English-dubbed content where group members participated as voice actors. The Pinkfong Company, the creator of Baby Shark, said in a statement that the movie titled "Baby Shark's Big Mo 2023-03-31
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  ​LG Chem breaks ground for plastic recycling and aerogel insulation plant in southwestern port city SEOUL -- In an effort to create a sustainable production cycle for recycled plastic products, LG Chem, the chemical unit of South Korea's LG Group, has broken ground for a 310-billion-won ($230 million) plant in the southwestern port city of Dangjin. The plant will have a super-critical pyrolysis facility to break down plastics to create oil and a production facility for the company's aerogel insulation product. Pyrolysis involves extreme heat and pressure to break down pla 2023-03-30
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  First British export finance expert in Seoul appointed to facilitate trade deals with S. Korean companies SEOUL -- To boost trade relations with South Korea, Britain's export credit agency has appointed an export finance expert who will serve as a middleman between British exporters and South Korean companies. The finance executive will also work closely with Britain's industry ministry to facilitate trade activities in South Korea, which is London's 18th largest export market. According to data released by the British Embassy in Seoul, Britain's total exports to South 2023-03-30
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  S. Korea likely to lift quarantine regulations for isolation of COVID-19 patients in July SEOUL -- South Korea is likely to take a step-by-step procedure to normalize the lives of people heavily suppressed by the pandemic and related regulations. The government will start by reducing the number of days required for compulsory quarantine isolation of COVID-19 patients to five days in May and completely remove the isolation procedure in July. It has been a long time since the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit South Korea in February 2023 and people had to go thro 2023-03-30
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  SK Biopharmaceuticals receive drug ministry's approval for clinical phase 3 trial plan for anti--epileptic drug SEOUL -- SK Biopharmaceuticals said that the company has received approval from the drug ministry for the clinical phase 3 trial plan for its investigational new drug -- the anti-epileptic drug Cenobamate. The drug is specially designed for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adolescents. This clinical trial is part of a multinational clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cenobamate in patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures aged between 11 2023-03-30
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  ​Eastern city to monitor forest fire accidents using safety drones SEOUL -- Using safety drones, South Korea's eastern city of Wonju will monitor forest fire-related incidents. The remotely controlled flying robots will be mainly used in blind spots where humans are unable to reach. The drones can also broadcast prevention measures against unexpected accidents. Wonju said in a statement on March 29 that drones owned by members of a regional drone association will be used to carry out surveillance activities. The unmanned aerial vehicles will b 2023-03-29
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  LG Electronics wins top ESG award at 2023 Energy Star SEOUL -- LG Electronics has received the top sustainability-related awards at an annual event hosted by the United States' environmental protection agency and the Department of Energy, which is in charge of the US energy policy. The ceremony titled "The Energy Star Awards" has been held to reward companies that contributed to the environment and energy sector since 1993. According to data released by LG, the company has sold Energy Star-certified items every six secon 2023-03-29
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  [OPINION] Depleted uranium controversy and Ukraine war KARACHI -- “If all this happens, Russian will have to respond accordingly, given that the West collectively is already beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component,” was the blunt reaction of Russian President 2023-03-29
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  [OPINION] France Demonstrations Disturbing in a Troubled Time KENOSHA -- President Emmanuel Macron and the people of France are facing a significant challenge to government authority, social stability and the future of the nation. Massive 2023-03-29
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  BTS member Jungkook appointed as global ambassador for American fashion brand Calvin Klein SEOUL -- BTS member Jungkook was selected as the global ambassador of Calvin Klein, an American fashion brand known for its underwear and denim products, to promote various fashion items and campaigns. Many global stars including British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and American actor Michael B. Jordan have been active as the global brand's ambassadors. "Jungkook is one of the world's most popular artists; he possesses a rare ability to connect with international audienc 2023-03-29
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  Transfer centers with urban air mobility infrastructure to be established in S. Korea SEOUL -- Transfer centers with urban air mobility, an ecosystem involving flying passenger vehicles in urban areas, and autonomous vehicles will be established at major stations in South Korea. Passengers who just got off the train stations can take next-generation transporters to reach their final destinations. According to a committee under South Korea's transport ministry, four stations were selected to demonstrate transfer centers with future transportation systems -- Pyeon 2023-03-28
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  BTS Jimin's dance song 'Like Crazy' garners explosive popularity on Spotify SEOUL -- "Like Crazy," the title song of BTS Jimin's first solo album "FACE" has become the most-streamed song on the daily chart of Spotify, the world's most popular music streaming service. The singer has earlier performed the dance song on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," a popular American talk show. As of March 26, the title track was played about 6.01 million times on Spotify, topping the streaming service's Global Top 50. 2023-03-28
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  Hanwha Systems to develop low-orbit satellite communication technology for military use SEOUL -- Hanwha Systems, a key defense contractor involved in the development of antennas and other crucial equipment in South Korea, will nurture low-orbit satellite communication technology targeting the overseas military communications market. The core technology of low-orbit satellite communication will be used in the defense sector, as seen in Russia-Ukraine battlefields where troops relied on low-orbit satellite communication after ground networks were destroyed. Low-orbit sa 2023-03-28
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  Pyongyang conducts another test for underwater nuclear attack drone "Haeil-1" SEOUL -- Pyongyang has conducted another test for its "secret weapon" called "Haeil-1," following a drill guided by the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un from March 21 to 23. According to Pyongyang's state media agency, the nuclear underwater drone is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to detonate near a fleet of warships or naval ports to create a radioactive tidal wave. North Korea's state-operated Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said through a st 2023-03-28
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  Netflix drama 'The Match' postponed amid police investigation into actor Yoo Ah-in's alleged drug use SEOUL -- "The Match," a Netflix drama about two professionals in "Go," a board game that had been popular for centuries in Korea, China, and Japan, was postponed while actor Yoo Ah-in is under investigation for alleged drug use. The prominent South Korean actor who played a Go legend on the show is currently being investigated on suspicion of taking drugs including propofol, a powerful anesthetic. "I deeply regret that I am standing here because of an unsav 2023-03-28
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  [SUMMARY] Daily News Selection by Aju Daily on March 27, 2023 The following stories are the daily summary of news in South Korea on March 27. SEOUL -- Yoo Ah-in up for interrogation regarding alleged drug use Actor Yoo Ah-in was questioned by authorities on March 27 following reports of his alleged usage of illegal drugs. The actor, whose true name is Uhm Hong-sik, entered the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency headquarters without answering any queries from the media. Yoo had been purchasing propofol on a prescription too frequently si 2023-03-27
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  N. Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles amid U.S.-S Korea landing exercise SEOUL -- North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea while South Korea is conducting a joint military exercise with the United States. This is the eighth missile launch committed by Pyeongyang only in 2023. The missiles detected by the South's military authorities were fired near Junghwa County, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) flew about 370 kilom 2023-03-27
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  Busan partners with marine science council to build world's first prototype floating community SEOUL -- A marine science council will join a United Nations project to build the world's first prototype of a floating community in South Korea's southern port city of Busan. The academic council will offer science and technology-related advice to Busan for the establishment of floating cities which have been presented as a solution to ensure climate resilience. In November 2021, UN-Habitat, a UN agency that oversees sustainable urban development, selected Busan as a partn 2023-03-27
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  Hybrid model of Hyundai's new full-sized sedan Grandeur garners popularity in S. Korea SEOUL -- About 40 percent of consumers who buy the latest model of Grandeur, Hyundai's full-sized sedan also known by the name of Azera in foreign markets, choose the hybrid option, data released by the South Korean carmaker showed. Grandeur, first released in the domestic market through collaboration with Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi in 1986, gained iconic recognition among South Koreans as the "car of a successful person." The full-sized sedan was popular among busi 2023-03-27