Latest News

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  ZEPETO operator raises new fund, launches new metaverse platform. SEOUL -- The operator of ZEPETO, a metaverse platform created by South Korea's web service giant Naver, launched a new metaverse platform in collaboration with an Android game developer and raised about 223.5 billion won ($189 million) from foreign and domestic investors including the agencies of BTS, BLACKLPINK and TWICE as well as Softbank, a Tokyo-based holding group that runs the world's largest technology fund. Naver Z said in a regulatory filing on November 30 that it 2021-12-01
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  ​Seoul to operate lab-on-wheels to analyze air quality in populated areas SEOUL -- A public health research institute in Seoul will start operating an electric truck-based mobile lab, also known as lab-on-wheels, to analyze air quality including the density of particulate matter and its source at populated areas. Using collected data, the institute will research solutions to improve public health. A lab-on-wheels is a modified truck designed to carry a modulated lap compartment. It is ideal for checking the air and water quality of various places. In Sou 2021-12-01
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  Hankook Tire acquires controlling stake in Canada's Preciseley Microtechnology SEOUL -- The parent company of South Korea's top tire maker, Hankook Tire & Technology, will diversify its business portfolio into autonomous driving and other new technologies by acquiring a controlling stake in Preciseley Microtechnology Corporation, a Canadian company that develops optic micro-electromechanical system solutions. Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) is a process technology used to create tiny integrated devices or systems that combine mechanical and ele 2021-12-01
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  Lotte Super constructs rooftop solar power plants using idle spaces SEOUL -- Lotte Super, a supermarket wing of South Korea's retail giant Lotte Group, has built 11 solar power plants on the rooftop of its stores and logistics center to go green and achieve carbon neutrality. The power plants that generate about 1,360 megawatt-hours per year can power some 1,360,000 households. Lotte Super said in a statement on December 1 that the company has built solar power plants on rooftops of affiliated stores and a logistics center. The total size of 2021-12-01
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  (INTERVIEW) 'Hellbound' director points to Netflix' positive role in film-making SEOUL -- Netflix has been the subject of constant attention and sometimes unwanted criticism for abundant capital, powerful influence and a different move in handling and financing drama and movie producers in South Korea, especially after its original television series, "Squid Game," swept the streaming service's top popular charts. Netflix has been under fire in South Korea with internet service providers accusing the world's top over-the-top video-on-demand se 2021-11-30
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  AI care robots to look after suicide-prone residents in rural region SEOUL -- Artificial intelligence-based care robots were deployed in a rural area with a high suicide rate to look after vulnerable old people. The care robots can communicate with lonely residents with mental health issues and warn guardians and health centers in case of an emergency. Government data showed that Chungnam Province recorded the highest suicide rate in South Korea in 2020 with 35 suicide cases per 100,000 deaths, eight percent higher than the country's average. To 2021-11-30
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  Hanwha's K-9 self-propelled howitzer draws keen interest from Egyptian military SEOUL -- South Korea's K-9 self-propelled howitzer developed by Hanwha Defense is drawing keen interest from the Egyptian military at an international arms exhibition in Cairo, reflecting its growing popularity overseas and the validated performance of firepower, mobility and armored protection. The K9 is by far the most popular self-propelled howitzer in the world. About 600 K-9s have been exported to Turkey, India, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. Australia is in final ne 2021-11-30
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  Blockchain company unveils new metaverse platform featuring video call technology SEOUL -- A new metaverse platform installed with video call functions was released by South Korea's leading blockchain company Dunamu to help reduce boundaries between online and offline spaces. Users can go anywhere using avatars and video calls are connected when avatars get closer. An open beta service is available from November 30 on desktops. Dunamu has unveiled "2ndblock," saying it is South Korea's first metaverse platform using video transmission technology 2021-11-30
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  Researchers develop high-performance fingerprint sensor using organic photodiodes SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have collaborated with a domestic electronic parts maker to develop a high-performance fingerprint sensor using organic photodiodes. The new sensor can be produced in a film shape so that it can be hidden underneath a smartphone's display to read a fingerprint from any part of the screen. Currently, smartphones read biometrics only from the area where hidden sensors are placed. Biometrics refers to measurements related to unique human character 2021-11-30
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  S. Korea finishes construction of mega smart farm complex in rice belt SEOUL -- South Korea has finished the construction of a mega smart farm complex that is about the size of 30 football fields in a rural area. The complex of smart farm facilities is designed to become an incubator for automated agricultural technologies and smart farm-related startups. A smart farm is basically an automated greenhouse that offers the best environment for crops. The temperature and humidity of farms are controlled automatically while operating solutions notify farme 2021-11-29
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  Seoul Mayor elated by first autonomous transportation commercial service SEOUL -- In an effort to boost the adoption of transport services involving self-driving cars, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon chaired a ceremony to open South Korea's first autonomous vehicle-hailing service in a pilot zone. A full service involving more than 50 autonomous vehicles will be introduced by 2026. From November 30, three cars will first start carrying passengers. After a month of free operation, paid transportation is to begin in January 2022. By the end of December 2021, 2021-11-29
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  Veterans office robotic process automation solution to speed up paperwork SEOUL -- A South Korean government agency in charge of veterans has adopted a robotic process automation solution to reduce time put into simple and repetitive paperwork and increase work efficiency. The automated robot solution is expected to save some 18,600 work hours. Robotic process automation (RPA) is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based work assistant solution that takes care of simple and repetitive work such as paperwork, sorting files, categorizing documents, and analyzin 2021-11-29
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  KB establishes branch in virtual space to develop new financial services using VR technology SEOUL -- KB Kookmin Bank, a major commercial bank in South Korea, has established a branch in virtual space to develop new financial services using virtual reality technology. It will be used as financial education content for teenagers and serve as a metaverse testbed to experience and accumulate new technologies. KB said it has worked with Sharebox, a VR content startup, to develop user interface and interaction based on head-mounted display (HMD) devices to provide differentiat 2021-11-29
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  Seoul's educational institute adopts artificial intelligence-based guide robot SEOUL -- LG Electronics' artificial intelligence-based autonomous service robot called "CLOi" was deployed to Seoul's education institute for citizens to guide visitors around the facility. According to Seoul on November 29, a CLOi robot equipped with liquid crystal displays (LCDs) on the front and back of their main body will be used at the city's educational institute for the first time. At the education center, the robot will play the role of docent to gui 2021-11-29
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  Police to adopt VR-based driving ability test for old people in 2025 SEOUL -- Police will embark on the research and development of a virtual reality-based driving ability evaluation solution for those aged 65 and older. The solution will become a stepping stone for the adoption of conditional driver's licenses for elderlies in a rapidly aging country where about 15 percent of the population is aged over 64. According to data compiled by the Road Traffic Authority's Traffic Accident Analysis System, out of 209,654 road accidents in 2020, 31, 2021-11-29
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  (INTERVIEW) Doing best as private diplomats to promote K-pop in Myanmar SEOUL -- When the 2021 Global Entertainment Expo (2021 GEE) was held on November 13~14 at KINTEX, a convention and exhibition center in Goyang, a northwestern satellite city of Seoul, the booth of JBJ Entertainment attracted quiet attention. It is the first Korean entertainment agency that has been set up in Myanmar to foster K-pop-style idols in the Southeast Asian country with members of local nationality and language. Since JBJ started its K-pop entertainment business in Myanmar 2021-11-29
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  ​[INTERVIEW] Busan publicizes itself as perfect host for 2030 World Expo SEOUL -- "The World Expo can be regarded as the Olympic games for economic and cultural entities including nations, corporates, and other groups. The global event plays the role of a big stepping stone for the hosting country while it also provides various solutions for the future of men," said Kim Young-ju, who heads a committee to host World Expo 2030 in the southern port city of Busan, as he shared his own definition of the global fair. South Korea joined the race to h 2021-11-26
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  Cleanwrap makes foray into South Korea's rapidly growing pet product market SEOUL -- Cleanwrap, a kitchen wrap maker in South Korea, made a foray into rapidly-growing South Korea's pet industry market by opening a one-stop pet care store. The store has a cafe where customers can use with their pets, a pet beauty salon, a pet academy, and a pet hotel. Cleanwrap teamed up with pet product brand Howlpot to open the "Howlpot Care Club" in Hannam, a district near the center of Seoul on November 26. "This pet care center is the first step for u 2021-11-26
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  S. Korea to demonstrate drone at east coast for management of navigational beacons SEOUL -- To reduce the risks of safety accidents on the sea, an ultra-light drone will be used along the eastern coastline of South Korea to inspect and manage navigational beacons. Through the adoption of the all-weather drone, the country will establish infrastructure for the effective management of maritime road signs so that fishermen can work safely. Drones are remotely controlled flying robots equipped with optical equipment such as a camera and radar. Drones are widely used 2021-11-26
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  ​SK On starts demonstration of easy EV battery diagnosis service SEOUL -- SK On, the battery-making subsidiary of SK Innovation, has partnered with Soft Berry, a domestic eco-friendly vehicle technology company, to demonstrate a battery diagnosis service for electric vehicle charging information app users. The service will use artificial intelligence to check the status of batteries in real-time. The management of electric vehicle batteries has become one of the most important chores which an EV driver has to carry out to keep his or her eco-fri 2021-11-26