SouthKorea

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  Chungju to operate S. Korea's first electric sightseeing boat SEOUL -- South Korea's first electric sightseeing boat will start its commercial operation in Chungju some 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Seoul. The electric boat named Tangeum has been certified as an eco-friendly zero-carbon electric boat. Chungju City said in a statement that the sightseeing boat with a boarding capacity of 72 people will begin its operation on Chungju's Tangeum Lake. The electric ship will carry tourists through a 5-kilo 2021-09-23
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  S. Korea to install CCTV cameras in all subway trains to prevent crimes SEOUL -- Closed-circuit television cameras will be installed in all urban subway trains by 2022 to prevent crimes. South Korea's transport ministry made the decision after finding that there are not enough cameras installed to monitor train cars. About 2 billion passengers use subway trains in Seoul every year and most routes only have less than 10 percent of cars have cameras. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement on 22 that 2021-09-23
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  S. Korea to supply microgrid and home solar power systems to Vanuatu SEOUL -- The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a state organization that implements South Korea's grant aid programs for developing countries, will supply renewable energy systems to Vanuatu, a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The microgrid and home solar systems will be established in Vanuatu's isolated areas. A microgrid is an autonomously-controlled power grid that enables a self-sufficient power supply in small, regional areas. T 2021-09-23
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  South Korea to develop solar-powered stratospheric drones by 2025 SEOUL -- South Korea's science ministry will develop a solar-powered stratospheric drone by 2025. About 37.4 billion won ($32 million) will be invested into the development of a high-performance drone that can monitor and observe the ground while floating in the stratosphere for over a month. Stratospheric drones can monitor the ground at a high altitude of 50 kilometers (31 miles). They can monitor wildfires, marine pollution and sea-level rise. Because abno 2021-09-15
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  Seoul to run mental health support program for COVID-19 response personnel SEOUL -- Due to a prolonged coronavirus pandemic, Seoul City will operate a mental health support program for medical staff who are likely to be suffering from "Corona Blue," a sign of depression triggered by a coronavirus pandemic. It has been 20 months since the pandemic hit South Korea. According to a survey of medical staff in Seoul conducted by the city government, 73.6 percent of workers who treat COVID-19 patients suffered from emotional exhaustion 2021-09-15
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  S. Korea seals final agreement with Paraguay to build modern commuter rail transport line SEOUL -- A public and private team in South Korea sealed an agreement to build a 43-kilometer commuter rail transport line between the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion and the neighboring town of Ypacarai that will cost some $500 million. The project is part of efforts by the Paraguayan government to rebuild its worn-out urban railway system, solve traffic congestion in Asuncion and revitalize the economy. In a ceremony 2021-09-10
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  [GGGF2021] Chinese scholar urges Washington to stop pressure on Beijing's science and technology buildup SEOUL -- The United States, which has long been the biggest beneficiary of science and technology opening and cooperation around the world, should stop its diplomatic and trade pressure to check China's science and technology buildup, a Chinese professor said, stressing that global science and technology cooperation is an engine for the growth of the international economy. "Technological cooperation is in the interests of both countries," Bian Yongzu, 2021-09-09
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  Seoul to improve energy efficiency by remodeling senior centers and daycare centers SEOUL -- In an effort to improve the energy efficiency of senior centers and daycare centers, Seoul City will invest some 119.6 billion won ($12.65 million) until 2025 through its green remodeling project which is done by reinforcing high-quality insulation, and installing high-efficiency boilers and eco-friendly ventilation systems. Green remodeling is a process designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and upgrade the quality of old buildings by improving energ 2021-09-08
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  S. Korea to diversify utilization of animal manure for developing efficient biogas SEOUL -- South Korea will embark on a state project to develop an efficient method of utilizing animal manure as renewable resources including biogas. The mixture of gases, primarily consisting of methane and carbon dioxide, can be used as fuel for vehicles and other equipment such as power plant turbines. Biogas is normally produced by anaerobic digestion with anaerobic organisms inside a bioreactor filled with biowastes including animal manure and other biomasses 2021-09-06
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  Artificial nests set up in southeastern province to prevent endangered bird from being electrocuted SEOUL -- Two artificial nest towers will be installed in Taean County some 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of Seoul to prevent storks, endangered bird species, from being electrocuted. Birds often cause blackouts when nests short circuit power poles. In South Korea, blackouts occur frequently due to birds' nests every year, with the most electric accidents caused by magpies. Data released by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), a state uti 2021-08-30
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  Seoul launches metaverse-based science education program for 2,100 students SEOUL -- The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will offer virtual science classes for elementary and middle school students that are grounded due to a COVID-19 pandemic. The online classes will be based on a metaverse platform, a simulated digital world platform. Students can improve learning skills by exploring the interactive virtual world. The metaverse is a digital world that connects physical reality to virtual spaces. Users can have hands-on experiences 2021-08-26
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  Seoul City installs free public WiFi service to some 2,340 bus stops SEOUL -- In an effort to lessen the financial burden of communication costs and narrow the information gap among citizens, Seoul City has installed free public wireless access points in more than 2,300 bus stops in Jongno, an office district located at the heart of Seoul, and the southern district of Gangnam, South Korea's center of finance and fashion trends. Seoul City said on August 24 that it has finished the installation of wirele 2021-08-24
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  S. Korea's agricultural ministry to establish microbiome resource center to create database SEOUL -- South Korea's agriculture ministry will build a microbiome resource center to create a database of microorganisms by collecting resources and genetic information. The database will be shared with various sectors including the medical and food sectors to help enterprises beef up their capabilities. The microbiome refers to a cluster of all types of microscopic organisms that co-exist with humans such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Many of the 2021-08-23
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  First commercial service of food drone delivery to be showcased in Sejong SEOUL -- In a state-sponsored pilot project aimed at rolling out a commercial service, citizens in South Korea's central administrative city of Sejong can receive pizza delivered by drones using smartphone apps from their homes without risking the infection of COVID-19 at offline stores. If successful, the pilot service would lead to the first commercial food delivery service using drones in urban areas in South Korea. The pilot service through an app called Do 2021-08-20
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  Samsung's de facto leader released from jail on parole amid split public opinions SEOUL -- The de facto leader of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung, bowed his head and apologized for causing public concern as he walked out of jail detention on parole, ending his prison life for 207 days on bribery charges stemming from a corruption scandal involving jailed ex-president Park Geun-hye. "I've caused great concern to my fellow citizens. I am really sorry," Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Ja 2021-08-13
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  Seoul partners with ADT Caps to offer home security service for single households SEOUL -- In an effort to protect single households living in South Korea's capital city, Seoul has partnered with ADT Caps, a security service company, to offer home security services at very low prices. The city government will provide subsidies so that users can receive protection for as little as about 1,000 won ($0.86) per month. Government census data released in 2020 showed that single households account for about 30.4 percent of total households in South 2021-08-13
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  WAN-IFRA sides with S. Korean media organizations in opposing changes to media law SEOUL -- An international association of newspapers and news publishers urged South Korea's ruling camp to retract hastily proposed changes to a media law that would impose greater punitive damages on media companies for what are deemed as malicious false reporting or fake news. The proposed revision sparked a strong backlash from media organizations which expressed concern about the risk of silencing critical journalism and harming South Korea's democrat 2021-08-12
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  American toddler music entertainer lodges appeal in suit against Korean Baby Shark video SEOUL -- Johnny Only, an American toddler music entertainer known for his rendition of "Baby Shark," showed no intention of giving up a legal battle against a Korean YouTube video containing the same song that went viral worldwide and lodged an appeal against a court decision that children's songs handed down by oral tradition are not copyrighted. Only filed a suit seeking damage compensation in March 2019, accusing South Korea' 2021-08-11
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  S. Korean media organizations blame ruling party for imposing 'unconstitutional' anti-fake news bill SEOUL -- A bill pushed by the ruling party of President Moon Jae-in to impose greater punitive damages on media companies for malicious false reporting or fake news sparked a strong backlash from South Korea's media organizations, which condemned it as unconstitutional. A campaign has been launched to obtain signatures from journalists. Six major media organizations joined hands to criticize the ruling Democratic Party (DP) for pressing ahead with a revision to the 2021-08-11
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  ​Seoul to adopt AI-based automated system for water treatment center by 2030 SEOUL -- Seoul will adopt an artificial intelligence-based automated management system for its four water treatment centers to minimize labor and operation costs. The management system will increase the efficiency of sewage treatment and reduce the time taken to respond to emergency situations. Currently, water treatment centers are 100 percent managed by human workers. Survey data is sorted and analyzed by hand. It takes time for workers to make decisions an 2021-08-10