Latest News

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  LG Uplus to release metaverse platform for young children SEOUL -- South Korea's mobile carrier LG Uplus will roll out a metaverse-based platform that enables young children to interact with each other and learn about animals and dinosaurs using avatars. The virtual platform incorporated functions capable of filtering profanity while chatting and reporting those who behave inappropriately. LG Uplus (LGU+) said in a statement that the company will release the open beta version of KidsTopia, a metaverse platform for children aged up to 2023-02-22
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  ​South Korea to lift PCR test requirement for arrivals from China SEOUL -- South Korea plans to lift a post-arrival PCR test requirement for travelers from China on March 1 as the COVID-19 pandemic has receded, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said February 22. The headquarters affiliated with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said that the government has decided to scrap the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test requirement as the pandemic situation in China has been stabilized with Chinese arrivals showing a low 2023-02-22
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  Soybean products found to be effective in lowering risk of stomach cancer among men SEOUL -- Researchers discovered that consuming food products made of soybean lowers the risk of stomach cancer. The protective effect against cancer was high among males with a body mass index of fewer than 25 kilograms (55.1 pounds) per square meter while it was not observed in men with overweight or obesity. According to London-based cancer charity the World Cancer Research Fund International, stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. Data released by the Globa 2023-02-22
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  South Koreans taking brunt of higher inflation and fewer jobs SEOUL -- South Koreans are bearing the brunt of pains arising from higher consumer prices and fewer jobs amid the economic slump, according to an analysis of official data by Rep. Kim Hoi-jae of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on February 22. Kim said that the so-called misery index jumped to 8.8 last month, hitting the highest since it peaked at 9.2 in July 2022. The index is calculated by adding the consumer inflation rate (5.2 percent) to the unemployment rate (3.6 per 2023-02-22
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  ​LG Energy Solution ties up with Ford and Koc Holding to build battery plant in Turkey SEOUL -- LG Energy Solution (LGES), the battery-making wing of South Korea's LG Group, will build a battery plant at an industrial zone near Turkey's capital city to solidify its position in the European electric vehicle market. The factory established through a joint venture with a U.S.-based automobile manufacturer, Ford, and Turkey's conglomerate Koc Holding, would produce batteries for commercial vehicles in Europe. Data released by database company Statista s 2023-02-22
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  BTS Jimin to release solo album for first time SEOUL -- Jimin, a member of BTS, became the boy band's fourth member to release his first solo album, followed by J-Hope, Jin, and Rap Monster. Although the group is taking a hiatus after its agency announced that all members would fulfill their compulsory military service, the 27-year-old has consistently interacted with fans by collaborating with fashion brand Dior and singer Taeyang. "'FACE' is all about Jimin facing himself head-on as he gets ready for his next 2023-02-22
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  South Korea suffers 22.6 percent fall in trade with Russia amid war in Ukraine SEOUL -- South Korea's volume of trade with Russia nosedived 22.6 percent to $21.15 billion in 2022 from a year before, affected by the latter's war with Ukraine, according to a report by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on February 21. The KITA said that the plunge was in contrast to an average growth rate of 11.4 percent in 36 major countries' trade with Russia. India's trade with Russa skyrocketed 237 percent year-on-year last year, followed by Gr 2023-02-22
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  ​Court rules in favor of same-sex couple demanding spousal health insurance coverage SEOUL -- A same-sex couple has won a court ruling that recognized their legal status for the first time in South Korea as far as the state health insurance coverage is concerned. On February 21, the Seoul High Court ruled in favor of the gay couple who has demanded the same spousal coverage from the health insurance as heterosexual couples. The appellate court made the landmark ruling, overturning a lower court's decision that the plaintiff was not qualified as a dependent 2023-02-21
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  State tourism institution rolls out tour course recommendation content for Hallyu fans SEOUL -- Targeting Korean Wave fans all over the world, a tourism organization under South Korea’s culture ministry has released content that contains various information about K-content including K-pop, dramas, entertainment shows, and films. A total of 51 tour courses were selected such as the hit drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha and content related to Meokbang, an audiovisual show involving one or more hosts eating food while interacting with fans. The Korea Tourism Organization 2023-02-21
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  S. Korea to nurture logistics sector for establishment of quick delivery infrastructure through drones and robots SEOUL -- To establish a same-day delivery infrastructure nationwide, South Korea's transport ministry unveiled its plan to commercialize robot delivery by 2026 and drone delivery by 2027. The country will assist the logistics industry's digital transformation and lift regulations regarding building logistics centers in urban areas. Currently, most logistics centers are located in suburban regions. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a press release on 2023-02-21
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  State institute develops novel drug development platform for cancer and dementia medicines SEOUL -- A prominent state research institute has developed a cyclic-peptide-based novel drug development platform that can be tailor-made to match biomarkers. The platform can be used for the research and development of medicines for cancer and dementia treatment. Cyclic peptides are polypeptide chains with low toxicity and high pharmacologic activity. However, the commercialization of medicines containing cyclic peptides is very hard because the peptides are hard to design and ma 2023-02-21
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  ​Phishing scams cause $1.28 billion in damages over past five years SEOUL -- South Korea suffered 1.66 trillion won ($1.28 billion) in cumulative damages arising from phishing scams over the last five years, a report by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said February 21. Phishing scams related to bank loans caused 999.8 billion won in damages between 2018 and 2022, accounting for 60.1 percent of the total sum, according to the report submitted by the FSS to Rep. Kang Min-kuk of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). The number of phishing s 2023-02-21
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  Researchers develop efficient nickel nitride-based catalyst for green hydrogen production SEOUL -- A team of researchers from a state research institute has developed a cheap metal-based catalyst that has about 200 percent higher efficiency in water electrolysis, the electrochemical breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen, than precious metal-based electrodes. Electrolysis that uses electricity to break down water is the core technology for the production of green hydrogen, which is hydrogen fuel produced only using renewable energy. However, such a method require 2023-02-21
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  S. Korea to beef up key strategic industries under 'New Growth Strategy 4.0' SEOUL -- The Ministry of Economy and Finance has announced a new growth strategy to help South Korea keep its technological competitive edge in the country’s three strategic industries -- semiconductors, batteries and displays. On February 20, the ministry unveiled "New Growth Strategy 4.0" aimed at finding new economic engines. It plans to work out more than 30 detailed tasks to support the key industries. The ministry said that it will begin to implement around 2023-02-21
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  ​Busan to build air-purifying indoor gardens capable of purifying air at bus terminal and airport SEOUL -- South Korea's southern port city of Busan will establish smart gardens with plants capable of removing indoor air pollutants at a bus terminal visited by many intercity buses and an airport in the western region. The southern port city said the indoor gardens can reduce particulate matter and other pollutants in such crowded areas. Smart gardens incorporate internet of things (IoT) technology to control air quality, wind speed, and water distribution to plants. Peopl 2023-02-21
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  South Korea to commercialize 6G network service two years earlier in 2028 SEOUL -- The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to commercialize the sixth-generation (6G) network service in 2028, two years earlier than its initial schedule, in order to keep abreast with major advanced countries' efforts to speed up the launch of the service. On February 20, the ministry announced the K-Network 2030 strategy of stepping up private-public cooperation to develop world-class 6G technologies, innovate the software-based next-generation mobile network and strengt 2023-02-20
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  Avikus to provide autonomous boat solution 'NeuBoat' for recreational boat owners in US SEOUL -- Avikus, an autonomous shipbuilder affiliated with South Korea's Hyundai shipbuilding group, will demonstrate its autonomous boat solution called "NeuBoat" in the United States. The company will begin a beta-test for its autonomous boat solution involving participants selected from visitors of an annual global boat show held in Miami. According to data released by market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global recreational boating market which stood at 2023-02-20
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  S. Korea's first two-seater fighter jet KF-21 succeeds 34-minute maiden flight SEOUL -- The fourth prototype of South Korea's homemade fighter jet KF-21 successfully conducted its flight about seven months after the first prototype made its 33-minute maiden flight in July 2022. The first two-seater fighter jet will be used for various missions such as testing the performance of a computer-controlled array antenna system that determines the survival of fighter jets in a combat situation. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), 2023-02-20
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  LG Electronics receives vehicle cybersecurity certificate from UNECE SEOUL -- LG Electronics is seeking to strengthen its global competitiveness in the global automobile market by receiving Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS) certification. The certification allows the electronics giant to provide various components including infotainment systems mainly in Europe. The South Korean electronics maker said in a statement on February 20 that it has received a vehicle CSMS certification from the international certification testing organization, TUV 2023-02-20
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  ​Manufacturing confidence improves for March, raising hope for economic rebound SEOUL -- South Korea's manufacturing confidence for March improved for the fourth straight month, raising hope for a rebound in both exports and domestic demand, a survey by the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade (KIET) said February 20. The KIET-devised professional survey index (PSI) for the manufacturing sector's business conditions stood at 101 for next month, up from 90 for February. The index showed an upward movement for the fourth straight month. 2023-02-20