SouthKorea

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  S. Korean young consumers indulge in special package tours instead of free traveling SEOUL -- Influenced by popular YouTube creators and other social media viral content, young consumers in their 20s and 30s choose to go on special package tours organized by travel companies instead of free traveling in domestic and overseas tourist hotspots. Package tours became popular in South Korea in the 1980s when the general financial level of the people improved enough for them to go on short trips. Organized trips offered transport, accommodation, attraction, and meals so 2023-06-09
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  ​2 mln S. Koreans 'silently exit' from country's favorite messenger group chat rooms in 3 weeks SEOUL -- Two million people have "silently exited" from group chat rooms created on Kakao Talk, South Korea's favorite smartphone messenger app with more than 47 million monthly active users, during the first three weeks since its operator added a feature that allowed people to leave chat rooms without notifying other users. It is common to see companies of various sizes operate group chat rooms with up to dozens of workers because company operators can easily send 2023-06-07
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  Indonesia partners with Pusan National University to develop hydrogen-based waste management vessel SEOUL -- Indonesia's maritime ministry will work with the Pusan National University to develop and utilize a hydrogen ship capable of cleaning up ocean waste. A joint research institute will be also established at the university located in South Korea’s southern port city of Busan. Pusan National University (PNU) said in a statement that the institute signed an agreement on June 2 to cooperate in the shipbuilding and maritime affairs. The two organizations will carry out 2023-06-05
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  ​Veteran actress Chung Ae-rie appointed as ambassador for International Day of Yoga SEOUL -- Veteran actress Chung Ae-rie was appointed as an ambassador for the International Day of Yoga designed to highlight the importance of Yoga, a physical, mental, and spiritual practice originated from India. The 63-year-old actress said that she thinks Yoga is a mental and spiritual tool that can shape the world into a more peaceful place. International Yoga Day has been celebrated across the world since June 21, 2015, after it was incepted in the United Nations General Asse 2023-06-05
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  Unexpected North Korean missile attack alert wakes Seoul up SEOUL -- Sounds of air raid sirens broke the silence of early morning in Seoul at about 6:30 a.m. (2130 GMT) on May 31. Without disclosing the source of the urgent notice, emergency text messages were sent out by the Seoul city government, telling citizens to get ready to evacuate. Naver, South Korea's most popular web search portal, was temporarily put out of service due to heavy internet traffic by people trying to figure out what was going on. However, despite the fuss, Seou 2023-05-31
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  ​S. Korea unveils roadmap to attract 700,000 foreign patients by 2027 SEOUL -- South Korea aims to attract 700,000 foreign patients by 2027 through various methods such as easing immigration procedures. Through a medical tourism project, the country will create clusters where visitors can enjoy hot springs and explore tourist spots after receiving health care services. Data released by South Korea's health ministry showed that about 248,000 foreign patients visited South Korea to receive medical treatments in 2022, up 70.1 percent from a year ago 2023-05-30
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  S. Korea to lead food safety policies in Asia-Pacific region through consultative body 'APFRAS' SEOUL -- South Korea was selected to lead food policies through a consultative body for heads of food regulators in the Asia-Pacific region. The joint body was founded to establish a safe food distribution infrastructure and handle various problems in the global food sector. The consultative body called "Asia-Pacific Food Regulatory Authority Summit (APFRAS)" was launched to respond to rapidly changing food environments and issues in the Asia-Pacific region, the Ministry 2023-05-26
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  Researchers find dramatic weight change could increase mortality risk for middle-aged and older people SEOUL -- Researchers have found that dramatic weight change could increase the risk of death for people aged 40 and older. The research team said those experiencing such changes of more than three percent of their total weight during a two-year period without any clear reasons are required to visit a doctor and thoroughly check their body. A joint research team consisting of endocrinologists at Samsung Medical Center and Daegu Catholic University Medical Center has confirmed the re 2023-05-24
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  Seoul to use sewage gas to generate electricity SEOUL -- Seoul will establish a 20-megawatt-hour fuel cell facility at a sewage treatment center to use biogas generated during the sewage treatment process for fuel cells' energy. The city will work with private companies to produce electricity capable of powering about 420,000 households every year. The facility will be installed at Jungnang Sewage Treatment Center in eastern Seoul by 2024, the capital city said, adding that the city has partnered with three companies -- Kore 2023-05-23
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  Seoul launches same-day airport luggage delivery service from subway stations SEOUL -- Seoul has launched a same-day luggage delivery service that connects international airports nearby Seoul and four selected subway stations. Using the service called "T-Luggage," travelers can send their luggage to airports from subway stations or vice versa. The storage and delivery service that connects four subway stations with South Korea's two major airports -- Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport -- was launched on May 22, Seoul 2023-05-22
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  Canadian leader agrees to expand working holiday program quota with S. Korea SEOUL -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to increase an annual quota for the working holiday program with South Korea at a summit meeting held in Seoul. The exchange program was established to encourage the nations' young people to engage in employment activities in each country while learning each other's language and culture. South Koreans and Canadians aged between 18 and 30 are currently allowed to participate in the exchange program after gaining a 2023-05-18
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  S. Korea likely to declare COVID-19 as endemic disease SEOUL -- After about three years and four months since the first case of COVID-19 was found in South Korea on January 20, 2020, the government is likely to declare the infectious disease as an endemic disease, a disease that regularly occurs within an area or community like flu. According to real-time data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a daily average number of 17,033 people were infected between May 5 and May 11. An average number of 30 people were 2023-05-11
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  S. Korea to allow drivers to self-charge hydrogen vehicles through regulatory reform SEOUL -- South Korea will allow hydrogen vehicle drivers to self-charge their vehicles at urban charging stations like ordinary self-charging gas stations by 2024 through regulatory reforms and new safety infrastructure. Currently, the country prohibits drivers from charging their own hydrogen vehicles. In South Korea, liquified petroleum gas stations and liquefied natural gas stations also only allow workers with government-issued certification to charge vehicles. Despite hydroge 2023-05-09
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  Seoul's southern district to provide medical tourists interpretation service in nine languages SEOUL -- A total of 39 interpreters will help foreign medical tourists accurately communicate with doctors and nurses in Gangnam, a southern district in Seoul well known for rapper Psy's 2012 song "Gangnam Style." The district office will provide an interpretation service in nine languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic for foreigners visiting hospitals and clinics. According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, about 248,000 forei 2023-05-08
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  ​Japanese leader discusses with S. Korean business leaders for economic cooperation SEOUL -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has met with South Korean business leaders to discuss methods to expand the scope of the economic cooperation between South Korea and Japan. At the meeting at a hotel in Seoul on May 8, the Japanese leader had a tea time with the heads of six South Korean business organizations including SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won who is also in charge of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kishida has agreed with South Korean President Yoo 2023-05-08
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  Japanese leader agrees to strengthen cooperation with S. Korea at summit meeting in Seoul SEOUL -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the South Korean government at a summit meeting held in Seoul. He has become the first Japanese leader to visit South Korea since Yoshihiko Noda, a former Japanese prime Minister who visited Seoul in October 2011. "I am happy that shuttle diplomacy has started in a decisive manner," the Japanese leader said, adding that dialogues have been moving dynamically in less than 2023-05-07
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  Seoul starts demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell-based road sweeper truck SEOUL -- Seoul City's facility management operator has started the demonstration of a hydrogen-powered road sweeper truck to remove extremely small dust particles generated by exhaust gas or car parts from roads in the capital city. The eco-friendly truck that can also help reduce air pollution will be tested in various areas including Olympic-daero, an eight-lane urban expressway that penetrates southern districts in the capital city from west to east. According to data rele 2023-05-04
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  Japan could provide support for victims of forced labor issues during colonial era: report SEOUL -- Japan's major news agency Kyodo News analyzed that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has the intention to provide support for South Korean victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial rule era (1910~1945). Since the liberation after World War II, South Koreans have demanded a sincere apology and rightful compensation from the Japanese government. Although South Korean civic movement groups have demanded an apology, Tokyo has insisted colonial-era issues w 2023-05-03
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  S. Korea warns state science institutes about data leak risk of using Chat GPT SEOUL -- South Korea's science ministry has sent out an official document to its sub-organizations including state research institutes to warn that using generative artificial intelligence services including Chat GPT could lead to disastrous situations such as data leaks. Chat GPT is an AI-based chatbot service that engages with users in a natural conversation. The AI robot provides on-demand answers and solutions for various demands by users in surprisingly accurate and effici 2023-05-03
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  Japanese Prime Minister to visit Seoul for summit meeting on May 7 SEOUL -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be in Seoul for two days for a summit meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on May 7, the presidential office said. Kishida will be the first prime minister to visit South Korea since Yoshihiko Noda, a former Japanese prime Minister who visited Seoul in October 2011. According to the presidential office on May 2, Kishida will visit Seoul with his wife Yuko Kishida for two days starting May 7. Yoon and Kishida will disc 2023-05-02