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  Researchers develop chemoenzymatic technique to extract precursor for biofuel from agricultural waste SEOUL -- For the first time in the world, researchers from a state-run institute have found a chemoenzymatic technique to convert a material extracted from biomasses into an important eco-friendly precursor for biofuel and bioplastic. The method uses agricultural wastes such as rice straws and corncobs as feedstock. Bio-refinery technologies concentrate on the extraction of renewable materials for biofuel and bioplastic from biomass including wastes and byproducts produced in the ag 2021-10-15
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  S. Korea to release Minecraft-based metaverse game to promote smart ports SEOUL -- South Korea's maritime ministry will release metaverse content based on a globally popular "Minecraft" game. The metaverse game provides virtual tour experiences of a smart port's major facilities such as yards and inner walls while performing missions. Minecraft is an open-world exploring game for PC and consoles. More than 200 million copies were sold worldwide as of 2020. To commemorate Children's Day in May 2020, South Korean President Moon Jae-in 2021-10-15
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  Naver's startup accelerator wing invests $9.52 mln in audio tech startup SEOUL -- D2SF, a startup accelerator operated by South Korea's top web service company Naver, has invested 11.3 billion won ($9.52 million) into Gaudio Lab, a domestic audio tech startup specialized in metaverse-based technologies, to attract global metaverse users with immersive audio technologies. The metaverse is a digital world that connects physical reality to virtual spaces. Users can have firsthand experiences through virtual reality (VR) using their own avatars. Naver ha 2021-10-14
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  Researchers develop detector capable of capturing signals from high-performance hidden cameras SEOUL -- A state-sponsored research body in South Korea has developed a new device that can capture data transmission signals from high-performance hidden cameras installed in places such as hangers and desk clocks for candid shooting, an act of taking photographs without consent in private and public places, that has been an annoying social problem. Instead of detectors being used to detect lenses with infrared rays, researchers at the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) 2021-10-14
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  Hyundai Motor upcycles discarded car materials into fashion items SEOUL -- South Korea's automaker Hyundai Motor launched a sustainable fashion collection through an upcycling fashion project with global fashion select shops. Through the project called "Re:Style 2021," Hyundai showcased 12 different fashion items including track jackets, sweatshirts and zip-up hoodies made of eco-friendly recycled materials. Upcycling is the act of creating new values for discarded products. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are u 2021-10-14
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  Researchers develop AI-based integrated livestock epidemic prevention platform SEOUL -- In a bid to create a control tower for livestock epidemic prevention, researchers from a state-run institute have developed an integrated platform for the effective control and management of infectious animal diseases including foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever. South Korea's livestock farming industry standing at about 20 trillion won ($16.8 billion) consists of many old farmers aged 65 or more. The aging population of livestock farmers makes it hard for t 2021-10-14
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  Trade ministry demonstrates autonomous service robots at underground shopping mall SEOUL -- The central city of Daejeon has started a demonstration of service robots that use artificial intelligence and 5G technologies. The robots will provide various services such as coffee delivery and luggage transport in the city's popular shopping area. In South Korea, autonomous service robots are widely used in various sectors. "Dilly Tower," an autonomous service robot developed by the operator of South Korea's top food delivery service app Baedal Minjok, 2021-10-14
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  Researchers develop soft robot grippers capable of manipulating and sensing soft objects SEOUL -- Researchers have developed a multifunctional soft gripper that can delicately manipulate soft objects like a snail egg about three millimeters in diameter. The hand-like robot capable of sensing biosignals including temperature and pressure on grasped objects can be used for monitoring medical diagnosis and treatment. Through a follow-up study, functions such as drug delivery will be added. While ordinary robots are clad in hard-shell armor made of metal alloys or plastic 2021-10-14
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  Researchers develop autonomous robot capable of carrying harvested crops SEOUL -- A state-run research body in South Korea has developed an autonomous robot that can follow human co-workers around a farm to carry harvested crops and cargo. Autonomous robot helpers are used in farms where many chores are done manually. South Korea's agriculture industry mainly relies on robots made by foreign companies. The Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (IPET) said that its newly-developed robot can navigat 2021-10-13
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  Researchers develop effective biodegradable chito-beads for cosmetics SEOUL -- Researchers have found a material made of chitosan, a sugar composite obtained from the exoskeleton of crustaceans including crab, lobster and prawn that can replace plastic microbeads used in cosmetics products. Plastic microbeads are not biodegradable. It takes more than 1,000 years for a plastic bead to break down in a natural environment. Microbeads are microscopic solid plastic particles frequently made of polyethylene and widely used in beauty products including tooth 2021-10-13
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  U.S. hydrogen company Monolith partners with SK Group to set up joint venture SEOUL -- In a bid to establish an outpost in growing hydrogen fuel markets, South Korea's third-largest conglomerate SK Group expanded its partnership with Monolith, an American green energy company specialized in the production of turquoise hydrogen. A joint venture will be set up to cooperate in clean energy businesses. SK Inc., an investment-oriented holding company of SK Group formerly known as SK Holdings, said in a statement on October 13 that the company signed a memorand 2021-10-13
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  KT ties up with health institute to develop elderly digital healthcare service SEOUL -- KT, a major telecom company in South Korea, teamed up with the Korea Health Promotion Institute, the health ministry's policy development wing, to develop personalized digital healthcare programs for elderlies using artificial intelligence and robots. Public health management services for old people, currently provided by local public health centers through home visits, will be digitally transformed into a digital-based service. South Korea has witnessed a fast-growing 2021-10-08
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  ​Researchers develop cactus-spine-inspired sweat sensor for non-invasive health monitoring SEOUL -- Researchers have developed a sweat sensor inspired by cactus spines that can evenly collect sweat on the skin for health monitoring. The sensor will become very useful in the medical sector, especially for diabetes patients who have to collect blood for analysis several times a day. Along with blood, sweat can be used as an important sample to monitor health, but its irregular and low secretion mechanism makes it hard for sensors to collect enough and even quantities of t 2021-10-08
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  KT partners with domestic startup to introduce AI-based healthcare kiosk SEOUL -- South Korea's top telecom company KT teamed up with a domestic startup to introduce an artificial intelligence-based healthcare kiosk that measures health data such as blood pressure, blood sugar, body fat, temperature and heartbeat. Users can receive results in real-time on their smartphones and have a video consultation with experts. KT said its healthcare-specific video call solution would be combined with a health data analysis solution developed by Zena, which has 2021-10-07
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  Researchers develop AI-based personalized care robot technology for elderlies SEOUL -- To tackle elderly care-related problems prompted by South Korea's rapidly aging society, a state research body has developed artificial intelligence-based care robot technology. Smart robots based on massive datasets can verbally communicate with old people and monitor their movements. Care robots are normally designed to provide care for patients and old people at their homes or health facilities. The robots are able to communicate with a control tower to let their s 2021-10-07
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  Cheongju city to test-operate Kakao's electric bike-sharing service SEOUL -- The test operation of 1,000 electric bicycles (e-bike) will begin in Cheongju some 109 kilometers (68 miles) south of Seoul. The city chose Kakao Mobility, the mobility wing of South Korea's internet service giant Kakao, as the operator of an e-bike sharing service. One of the most successful bike-sharing or bike rental services in South Korea is Seoul Bike, also known as "Ttareungi", run by Seoul City. There are about 2,600 Seoul Bike stations located mainly 2021-10-06
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  Researchers develop core technology for skyrmion-based semiconductor devices SEOUL -- Researchers have developed core technology based on a magnetic quasiparticle vortex called "skyrmion" that can be used in the creation of next-generation electronic devices including semiconductors. Skyrmions have the potential to store huge quantities of data. Skyrmions, which are nanometer-sized magnetic film structures that spin on the surface of the magnet like tiny vortices, were first found in 2009. Scientists believe that tiny spinning magnetic films can st 2021-10-05
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  Daegu demonstrates mobile cobots to increase work efficiency SEOUL -- South Korea's startup ministry has started the demonstration of cooperative robots, also known as cobots, to see if they can work with human coworkers while moving on carts. The current safety regulation prohibits cobots from being operated. The demonstration will help the ministry set up new safety regulations for cobots. Cooperative robots are widely used in various sectors especially at factories because of their autonomous operation functions and interactive capabil 2021-10-01
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  Free online chatbot service to help people cope with COVID-19 depression SEOUL -- South Korea will demonstrate a free online chatbot service that will help people cope with COVID Blue depression symptoms caused by a prolonged coronavirus pandemic. Anyone can access the online mental health portal using a smartphone or a computer. A chatbot is artificial intelligence-based software that can engage in natural language conversation with users. COVID Blue is a new kind of depression that was found after the pandemic hit the global community in early 2020. Me 2021-09-30
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  Researchers commercialize electron beam-based odor-reducing tech for livestock farms SEOUL -- A state nuclear energy research institute has commercialized an odor-reducing technology for livestock farms. The technology involves a particle accelerator that shoots electron beams to disintegrate substances that create bad smells. Fumes of putrid-smelling gases produced at animal farms contain harmful substances such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol. Also, it is harder to filter and purify gases at farms because they have a higher rate of organic compounds 2021-09-30