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  Apple likely to launch mobile payment service soon in South Korea SEOUL -- Apple Pay, the mobile payment service of U.S. tech giant Apple Inc., is likely to make its debut in South Korea as early as next month, according to the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The FSC said February 3 that domestic credit card companies can introduce Apple Pay soon as they have taken relevant procedures required for the new payment service. Consumers using iPhones and other Apple devices will be allowed to make payments through Apply Pay, the FSC said. Cur 2023-02-03
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  Startup commercializes unmanned forest fire-monitoring smart pole SEOUL -- A startup specializing in closed-circuit television camera solutions has developed an unmanned smart pole that can detect forest fires and humans nearby using thermal image sensors. The pole capable of standalone operation by solar power panels can also collect video evidence in cases of wildfires. Springtime is the period when South Korea is exposed to wildfires. Especially with strong winds blowing from the southwestern parts of the Korean Peninsula, mountainous areas 2023-02-03
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  Arms procurement agency opens research center for space monitoring & reconnaissance tech SEOUL -- South Korea's arms procurement agency has partnered with a prominent state research institute to open a research center specialized in technologies for the operation of grouped satellites and the monitoring and reconnaissance of the earth's surface. A heterogeneous constellation refers to a mixed group of orbital satellites. Normally, different types of satellites do not cooperate with each other because they are based on different platforms and operating systems. 2023-02-03
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  KT ties up with tablet device maker T-Order to provide AI service robots for restaurants SEOUL -- KT, one of the major telecom companies in South Korea, will work with T-Order, a domestic tablet device developer, to connect its service robots with T-Order's tablet and provide them for various restaurants. Customers will be able to order menus through T-Order's tablet menu boards and receive food and drinks through KT's robots. The adoption of service robots has gained momentum in many South Korean restaurants to enable unmanned ordering. Restaurant owners w 2023-02-02
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  Seoul partners with state research institute to prepare for disastrous situations caused by EMP SEOUL -- To prepare for disastrous urban situations caused by electromagnetic pulse wave blasts, Seoul City and the National Radio Research Agency have forged a partnership to co-develop countermeasures against radio frequency attacks that could cause communication blackouts and malfunctions of electronic devices. Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) waves can be created by natural phenomena such as solar geomagnetic disturbances or by manmade devices such as an EMP bomb or EMP generator. E 2023-02-02
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  Seoul to monitor fire hydrants using internet of things-based management system SEOUL -- Seoul will demonstrate an internet of things-based inspection service to monitor fire hydrants in urban areas. The smart management solution will check the condition of fire hydrants instead of having human workers check facilities. Human inspectors can remotely detect abnormalities using the solution that enables local fire stations to monitor fire hydrants. Government data showed that the capital city had 59,727 fire hydrants as of 2021. Jongno, an office district locate 2023-02-01
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  Hanwha's life insurance wing adopts optical character recognition solution to handle multiple documents SEOUL -- Hanwha Life Insurance, one of the major life insurance companies in South Korea, adopted optical character recognition solution capable of extracting necessary data from complicated insurance claim documents such as medical expense receipts. The solution created by domestic artificial intelligence startup Upstage would help busy workers as it can quickly process complex documentation tasks with one click. Optical character recognition (OCR) is used to convert images of pri 2023-02-01
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  BTS agency Hybe acquires AI audio technology startup Supertone SEOUL -- Targeting the artificial intelligence-based audio market, the agency of BTS has acquired Supertone, an AI voice synthesis technology startup in South Korea. Supertone's sound technology was used in Disney+'s drama series "Big Bet" to reproduce the voice of Choi Min-sik, a 60-year-old veteran actor who was playing a role of a young character in his 30s. Hybe said in a statement on January 31 that the company secured a 56.1 percent stake in Supertone by inv 2023-01-31
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  Joint research team develops high-performance electrode for EV and smartphone batteries SEOUL -- A joint team of researchers has developed a high-performance electrode for lithium-ion batteries that are commonly used in smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. The newly-developed anode, which is the positively-charged electrode, can significantly increase the performance of devices and the lifespan of batteries. Normally, lithium-ion batteries are produced by shaping the battery by coating and drying a mixture of active materials that chemically react to gene 2023-01-31
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  Researchers develop non-EMP anti-drone technology ideal for urban environments SEOUL -- A team of researchers from a prominent state research institute has developed an anti-drone technology that can neutralize drones in mid-air without using electromagnetic pulse waves that can also damage nearby electronic devices. The technology can also be used for pinpointing enemy drones without risks of damaging ally unmanned aerial vehicles. Drones in urban areas can be really tricky to shoot down. Currently, the most effective way to take down a flying drone is to us 2023-01-31
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  KT Skylife releases lightweight electric wheelchair for vulnerable road users SEOUL -- KT Skylife, a satellite broadcasting provider affiliated with South Korea's major telecom company KT, rolled out a lightweight electric wheelchair that would help reduce the inconvenience of people with mobility problems. The smart wheelchair can travel up to 45 kilometers (27.9 miles) on a single charge and can be loaded into a small passenger car's trunk. The electric wheelchair weighing 30 kilograms (66.1 pounds) is called Auto Wheel. Using a Bluetooth-based con 2023-01-31
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  Researchers develop AI technology capable of predicting cardiovascular events for stroke patients SEOUL -- Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence-based solution capable of predicting the risk and date of cardiovascular events, which can cause serious damage to the heart muscle, in patients who previously had a stroke. Cardiovascular events, which result in physical disability and even death, are known to take place after suffering from a severe brain attack. A stroke is a severe brain disease that happens when the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain are bl 2023-01-27
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  Researchers develop four-legged robot capable of swiftly traveling through sandy grounds SEOUL -- Using an artificial neural network for reinforced learning, researchers from a prominent research institute have developed a quadrupedal (four-legged) robot capable of stably and swiftly traveling through sandy grounds like beaches and sand dunes. Because the legs of the dog-like robots dig into the sand and make them lose balance, the beach is one of the toughest terrains for multi-limbed robots to run through. While many autonomous robots on wheels or caterpillars are be 2023-01-26
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  SK Telecom to upgrade AI service 'A.' through long-term memory technology SEOUL -- South Korea's top mobile carrier SK Telecom will upgrade its artificial intelligence service called "A." by adopting long-term memory technology to enable the AI secretary to remember its owner's crucial information for a long time. Users can form a strong friendship with the AI service as it can engage in a conversation without any difficulties even when humans bring back their old memories. A. (A dot) is a time-saving service that intelligently handles 2023-01-25
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  Smart stethoscope to be used for elderly health management in Seoul's southern satellite city SEOUL -- An artificial intelligence-based elderly health care service using smart stethoscopes will be rolled out in Anyang, the southern satellite city of Seoul. The city was selected to participate in a government project in December 2021 and was provided with 685 AI-based stethoscopes. Anyang City said in a statement on January 23 that the city will select citizens aged 65 years and older are the health management program's target patients. Those who live alone or who have c 2023-01-23
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  LIG Nex1 to develop AI-based underwater obstacle detection technology for unmanned surface vehicles SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor in South Korea, has teamed up with a state-run research institute specializing in robotics to open a joint laboratory for artificial intelligence-based underwater obstacle detection technology. Through the research center, the defense contractor can secure various data for unmanned surface vehicles designed for naval operations. Commercialization of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) is gaining momentum in South Korea to detect North Korea' 2023-01-18
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  Children's hospital in Seoul adopts rehabilitation robot for upper limbs SEOUL -- A children's hospital in southern Seoul has adopted a robot that helps the rehabilitation of patients who injured their upper limbs including arms and shoulders. Using ergonomic devices that provide arm weight support, children with severe muscle diseases can restore their arm strength by continuously swinging their arms. According to a statement released by Seoul City on January 16, the solution created by a global rehab robot maker will be used at Seoul Child H 2023-01-16
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  Jeju Island to establish intelligent transport system to ease traffic congestions SEOUL -- The southern resort island of Jeju will adopt an intelligent transport system in an effort to ease traffic jams. The island with a population of about 635,000 is visited by more than 10 million visitors from South Korea and abroad every year. It is very common to witness traffic congestion at tourist hot spots and major towns on the island. An intelligent transport system (ITS) is a smart traffic control tower that can monitor roads in real-time and control traffic lights 2023-01-16
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  Researchers develop intraocular lens capable of early-stage dementia diagnosis SEOUL -- A joint team of researchers has developed an intraocular lens that can be inserted into the eye to diagnose Alzheimer's disease for the first time in South Korea. The lens can help doctors diagnose early-stage dementia and start treatments to slow down the process of the degenerative disease. Although dementia is regarded as an incurable disease, it can be treated to slow down the process and prevent further damage when the disease is found at its early stage. Accordin 2023-01-12
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  LG Chem to recycle marine waste into plastic for pyrolysis fuel production SEOUL -- LG Chem, the chemical unit of South Korea's LG Group, forged a partnership with NETSPA, a domestic marine waste disposal company, to recycle marine waste into plastics that are used in pyrolysis fuel production. About 50 percent of ocean waste in South Korea is composed of fishnets and buoys made of plastic. Fishnets that are lost or abandoned cause damage to the marine environment. Biodegradable fishnets are currently being developed and distributed to reduce damage c 2023-01-12