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  Debate rekindled over introduction of central bank digital currency in S. Korea SEOUL -- South Korea's central bank rekindled debate over a possible project to issue a central bank digital currency that uses an electronic record or digital token to represent the virtual form of a fiat currency of a particular nation, two years after it suspended a study on commercialization, citing social and economic costs to be caused by institutional changes. A central bank digital currency CBDC is a high-security digital instrument. Like paper banknote 2021-05-14
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  Samsung allows Galaxy smartphone owners to manage cryptocurrency without hardware wallets SEOUL -- Through a system update, Samsung Electronics has allowed its Galaxy smartphone users to manage and trade cryptocurrencies without hardware wallets used by cryptocurrency traders to prevent hacking. Customers can easily access blockchain and cryptocurrency services anywhere, anytime. Cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Etherium can be managed simply by using a web-based trading service. However, such a convenient method is vulnerable to 2021-05-14
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  Woowa's intelligent delivery robot awaits crucial test operation at modern building in central Seoul SEOUL -- An intelligent delivery robot capable of traveling between floors through elevators will make its meaningful debut in June at a 24-story modern commercial and office building stationed by some 4,000 people in central Seoul for a test operation to deliver simple food and drinks from a cafe. A trouble-free operation would open a full-fledged service involving a number of delivery robots and restaurants. The robot developed by Woowa Brothers, the 2021-05-14
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  Naver invests in digital treatment developer startup SEOUL -- D2SF, a startup accelerator operated by South Korea's top web service company Naver, has made an investment into a domestic healthcare startup specialized in the development of digital treatment for degenerative symptoms and diseases. Digital treatment, also called DTx, uses hardware such as artificial intelligence-based voice assistant speakers, virtual reality headsets and smartphones to change the lifestyle and habit of patients. Medical data relea 2021-05-14
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  State project launched to develop mobile medical system based on AI and 5G MEC SEOUL -- South Korea will develop a digital-based mobile medical system based on artificial intelligence and 5G mobile edge computing that enables medical services within 60 minutes in disaster situations or in underserved areas where medical care is vulnerable. The development of a modularized and standardized system will be linked to exports. Based on 5G networks that ensure the fast transmission of data, South Korea is undergoing a major change in its emergency resp 2021-05-14
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  Samsung SDS reveals smart overseas logistics platform for small enterprises SEOUL -- Samsung SDS, the information technology and logistics wing of South Korea's Samsung Group, has unveiled a smart overseas logistics platform to help small and medium-sized enterprises without dedicated logistics services find the fastest and optimized cargo delivery route and track packages in real-time. According to government data, exports by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) stood at $10 billion in 2020. While it is easy for large co 2021-05-13
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  POSCO E&C utilizes autonomous robot to prevent accidents at tunnel construction site SEOUL -- POSCO E&C, a construction arm of South Korea's top steelmaker, has deployed a legged robot based on Boston Dynamics' dog-like bot at its tunnel construction site to check for cracks and construction errors that could cause disastrous accidents. The autonomous robot was jointly tweaked by the builder and a Yonsei University team to equip high-performance cameras and a lidar system that measures distance by illuminating the target with lase 2021-05-13
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  KT commercializes AI media platform management system for OTT services SEOUL -- South Korea's top telecom company KT has developed an artificial intelligence-based media platform management system for over-the-top services. Service operators can take preemptive action to prevent malfunctions by predicting critical problems and analyzing hardware and software status. According to data released by Statista, a global market research company, South Korea's over-the-top (OTT) media market is projected to stand at 3.3 trillion won ($2 2021-05-13
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  Kakao commercializes indoor positioning system to cover expressway tunnels SEOUL -- The mobility service wing of Kakao, a web service giant in South Korea, has commercialized an indoor positioning system that will help drivers know their whereabouts inside some 1,300 expressway tunnels and other underground road infrastructure across the country. It can reduce ghost bottleneck phenomena that often take place at the ends of tunnels. Smartphone navigation app services based on global positioning system (GPS) are widely used by ab 2021-05-11
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  S. Korea develops autonomous UAV navigation technology designed to avoid aerial hazard SEOUL -- South Korea's state agency for research and development in defense technology has developed a technology that allows unmanned aerial vehicles to autonomously avoid external threats and obstacles. The technology can be used in many sectors including aerial mobility for transportation such as drone taxis. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smaller drones are capable of reaching their destination autonomously. However, it is hard for flying vehicles to 2021-05-11
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  Researchers develop guidelines for driver-friendly autonomous vehicle control system SEOUL -- Researchers have developed guidelines for autonomous vehicle systems so that they can safely determine when and how they should take the control of a car from its driver. The guidelines will help carmakers standardize the protocol of autonomous driving and enhance safety in various situations. The seamless transfer of the right to control between a driver and an autonomous vehicle is one of the most important aspects of safe autonomous operation. However, 2021-05-11
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  Researchers develop technology to make small LiDAR system SEOUL -- Researchers have developed a technology that can make a LiDAR system as big as a finger using nanophotonic technologies. LiDAR, which measures distance by illuminating the target with laser light, is a key component of self-driving vehicles. It is sometimes called laser scanning or 3D scanning that uses eye-safe laser beams to create a 3D representation of the surveyed environment. The new LiDAR technology was developed by a research team led by Rho Jun 2021-05-10
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  Daejeon City to lead state project for AI-based real-time monitoring system for subway trains SEOUL -- Using artificial intelligence and edge computing, the central city of Daejeon will lead a state project to demonstrate a real-time subway train monitoring system that would reduce the work burden of human monitoring and prevent accidents. If abnormal activities are detected, the system will alert its control tower and the engine driver. Normally, an AI-based system is connected via a cloud network to distribute the computing load. The central serve 2021-05-07
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  Ulsan selected for state project to demonstrate AI-based marine logistics platform SEOUL -- The southern port city of Ulsan was selected to host a 43 billion won ($38 million) state project that aims to demonstrate and test the efficacy of an artificial intelligence-based marine logistics platform. When commercialized, the platform will help the digital transformation of ports to increase work efficiency and cargo processing speed. South Korean ports mainly rely on the manual operation of machinery, including cranes and forklifts, and cargo track 2021-05-07
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  Scientists achieve world’s most powerful laser for research into novel physical phenomena This picture released by the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) shows a panoramic view of the CoReLS PW laser. SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have set a milestone in the history of laser beam research by achieving the highest-ever laser intensity that would enable scientists to explore novel physical phenomena occurring under extreme physical conditions and various astrophysical phenomena occurring in the universe. The state-run Inst 2021-05-07
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  Mando ties up with American firm to establish VR vefification environment for autonomous driving SEOUL -- Unity, a three-dimensional visual technology company based in San Francisco, joined hands with Mando, a major auto parts maker in South Korea to establish a sophisticated virtual reality environment for verifying autonomous driving technologies such as surround cameras and Lidar, which measures distance by illuminating the target with laser light. Mando suggests that a 3D data verification method based on enhanced AI technologies is effective in testi 2021-05-06
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  Researchers develop thermoelectric ink to turn car exhaust pipes into power generators SEOUL -- With upgraded 3D printing technology, researchers developed a thermoelectric ink that can be used for generating electricity using waste heat from gases from factory chimneys and car exhaust pipes. The technology can increase the power generation of hybrid vehicles and generate electricity at homes using waste heat created by a fireplace. Thermoelectric devices convert temperature differences to electric voltage and vice versa. Bulky and complex conventio 2021-05-04
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  S. Korea seeks development of high-altitude solar drone and flying autonomous underwater vehicle SEOUL -- For innovative national projects that are worth pursuing despite the possibility of failure, South Korea will push for the development of a high-altitude solar drone system capable of staying for a long time in the stratosphere and a flying autonomous underwater vehicle that can be used for a quick and safe response to marine accidents in bad weather. The Ministry of Science and ICT has endorsed five challenging projects proposed by a team of experts who b 2021-05-03
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  Kolon Industries supplied colorless polyimide films for Xiaomi's foldable phone SEOUL -- Kolon Industries, a chemical and textile manufacturing company in South Korea, has supplied transparent and flexible polyimide films for the cover window of Xiaomi's first foldable smartphone, Mi MIX FOLD, which was put up for online sales in China in April. With their heat resistance and flexibility, transparent polyimides have been adopted for flexible displays. Kolon has developed colorless polyimide (CPI) films as an alternative to glass displ 2021-05-03
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  Taekwondo academy introduces VR and AR attractions to allure tourists SEOUL -- South Korea's main taekwondo academy will introduce new attractions using virtual reality and augmented reality technology. Tourists and trainees can learn martial art skills with a virtual instructor, or engage in person-to-person competition wearing special headsets. It would utilize head-mounted display (HMD) devices, motion-detecting sensors, and haptic devices to provide realistic sensations. Taekwondo is a traditional Ko 2021-04-29