Latest News

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  Shin Poong expands clinical study to test malaria drug for COVID-19 treatment SEOUL -- A South Korean pharmaceutical firm specializing in remedy drugs will push ahead with an expanded study to evaluate the effectiveness of Pyramax, a fixed-dose combination medication for the treatment of malaria, although it did not show any statistical significance at second-stage clinical trials as a candidate to treat patients infected with a new coronavirus. Pyramax, produced by Shin Poong Pharm, is on the World Health Organization's list of essentia 2021-07-06
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  Disinfection robots with ultraviolet-C germicidal lamps to be deployed at airport SEOUL -- As part of a campaign to stop the spread of COVID-19, autonomous disinfection robots installed with ultraviolet-C "germicidal" lamps will be deployed along the route of travelers from entry gates to quarantine stations at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway, along with quarantine guide robots. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water and surfaces that can help mitigate the risk of acquiring 2021-07-05
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  Number of 4G smartphone plan subscribers increases first time in 17 months SEOUL -- In a country known for the world's first commercialization of 5G mobile communication, the number of 4G smartphone subscribers has increased for the first time in 17 months, government data showed. Consumers have chosen to use a slower 4G service because 5G plans are too expensive. Since 5G was commercialized in January 2019, the number of 5G plan subscribers has steadily increased, but consumers have complained about the quality of 5G network service 2021-07-05
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  Naver to build world's first robot-friendly building SEOUL -- Naver, a top web portal operator and IT company in South Korea, will build the world's first robot-friendly building where robots controlled by a cloud system coexist with human workers through the combination of new technologies such as autonomous driving, cloud and artificial intelligence. Naver said the second office building would be completed by the end of this year next to its headquarters in Bundang in the southern satellite city of Seoul. Nave 2021-07-05
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  BTS fan community Weverse opens slot for K-pop idol duo Mad Monster SEOUL -- Weverse, a hotsy mobile fan community platform run by the agency of South Korean superstar BTS, opened a slot for Mad Monster, a virtual idol duo that has been created by two comedians by utilizing face filters and auto-tuned vocals, in recognition of their fast-growing popularity among K-pop fans. "We will open a community of Mad Monster, a world-class idol group which is shaking the global music market," said the operator of Weverse that a 2021-07-05
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  LIG Nex1 partners with Hancom's safety equipment unit to develop exoskeleton wearable robot SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems in South Korea, partnered with a domestic safety equipment maker to develop an exoskeleton suit-type wearable robot that can be used for industrial and military purposes. The robot will be first marketed for firefighters and public servicemen. Exoskeleton suits are attached to the limbs of human workers to increase their strength and endurance. Robotic limb 2021-07-05
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  S. Korea kick-starts program to transform old factories into carbon-neutral smart facilities SEOUL -- South Korea has kick-started a support program to turn old factories into carbon-neutral smart factories. The government will provide subsidies of up to 200 million won ($176,000) so that factory owners can upgrade outdated facilities to more energy-efficient and intelligent equipment that will emit zero or a minimum amount of greenhouse gases. South Korea has stepped up efforts to boost the popularization of smart factories. Previously, the Ministry of SM 2021-07-05
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  Hanwha Q Cells ties up with Samsung to provide home energy solution SEOUL -- Hanwha Q Cells, the solar cell-making wing of South Korea's Hanwha Group, tied up with Samsung Electronics to provide a household energy solution that reduces carbon emissions by efficiently using energy produced at home through solar power. Their main target is Europe and the United States. Hanwha Q Cells will secure electricity production through household solar modules and an energy storage system (ESS). "We will establish a fi 2021-07-05
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  KT partners with Hyundai Elevator for digital transformation of elevators with AI capabilities SEOUL -- KT, a top telecom company in South Korea, partnered with Hyundai Elevator for the digital transformation of elevators with artificial intelligence capabilities and commercialize a service for apartment dwellers to call elevators through voice commands in September. KT and Hyundai Elevator will link self-driving robots with elevators and develop an AI-based solution that would control elevators through voice interface or mobile applications, as well as a pers 2021-07-02
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  [INTERVIEW] State agency cautions against early optimism in S. Korean shipping industry SEOUL -- Helped by a rise in international freight rates and improved competitiveness, South Korea's shipping industry is forecast to post about 40 trillion won ($25.2 billion) in annual sales in 2021 by achieving a high-efficiency, low-cost structure through three years of painful restructuring coupled with a government relief package that began in early 2017 when Hanjin Shipping, which used to be the country's top container carrie 2021-07-02
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  JYP works with blockchain company to launch K-pop-based NFT platform business SEOUL -- JYP Entertainment, a major K-pop powerhouse in South Korea, joined hands with a domestic blockchain company to launch a non-fungible token platform business that utilizes the intellectual property of JYP artists. JYP said it has signed a strategic business alliance with Dunamu, the operator of South Korea's major cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, to produce and distribute NFT-linked digital goods while working for a platform business that develop 2021-07-01
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  Korean Air to purchase four Falcon 2000S jets for medium-altitude spy plane program SEOUL -- South Korea's top flag carrier Korean Air will bring in four twin-engine Falcon 2000S business jets from France's Dassault Aviation to turn them into medium-altitude Baekdu spy planes. To reduce its dependence on U.S. intelligence, South Korean troops have bolstered intelligence capabilities by purchasing more spy planes or upgrading the surveillance capabilities of those in service. The South Korean military is currently operating six Baek 2021-07-01
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  Hanwha's Redback infantry fighting vehicle to be tested by S. Korean army SEOUL -- The AS21 Redback developed by Hanwha Defense will be tested by a mechanized unit in South Korea in 2022 to evaluate its operational fit. Hanwha has developed the new infantry fighting vehicle to meet future warfare requirements with enhanced protection, firepower and performance. The AS21 Redback has been shortlisted as a candidate for an Australian military project to replace old armored personnel carriers. It is competing with the Lynx develo 2021-07-01
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  Hyundai Motor's luxury brand launches curated lifestyle shopping service to strengthen brand identity SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor's luxury car brand Genesis has launched a curated lifestyle shopping service to strengthen its prestigious image. The integrated service will provide tailor-made curated shopping experiences for Genesis car owners and ordinary shoppers. Genesis was launched in 2015, targeting global consumers who wish to buy luxury-grade vehicles embedded with top-notch driving technologies such as a semi-autonomous driving assistant feature. &quo 2021-07-01
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  Samsung shipyard's fuel cell-powered LNG carrier wins approval from classification society SEOUL -- A liquefied natural gas carrier with an eco-friendly solid oxide fuel cell propulsion system developed by Samsung Heavy Industries and Bloom Energy, an American public company, has won basic design approval from DNV, a maritime classification society based in Norway, for commercialization. It would be the world's first LNG carrier operating on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has partnered with Bloom 2021-07-01
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  Convenience store chain Emart24 to operate more 'hybrid' shops SEOUL -- The convenience store chain of South Korea's retail giant Shinsegae will increase the number of "hybrid" stores that operate digital payment kiosks late at night to help shop owners maximize profit and save labor costs. South Korea with consumers who are familiar with unmanned and digital payment systems has some 600 unmanned stores as of January 2021. The popularity of robot stores skyrocketed in 2020 when the first wave of a coronavirus 2021-07-01
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  [INTERVIEW] State agency urges hiring of foreign talent to ease shortage in digital infrastructure SEOUL -- South Korea has actively adopted digital transformation in public and corporate sectors under a "New Deal" masterplan unveiled in 2020 that called for bold and proactive investment in digital infrastructure to propel a country already known for its competitive edge in Information and communications technology to a world factory of high-tech industries and a digital powerhouse. The acceleration of digital transformation is causing a shortage o 2021-07-01
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  National Fire Agency to commercialize on-site video medical support for emergency workers SEOUL -- Through a four-month demonstration, the National Fire Agency has commercialized an on-site video medical instruction system to provide professional assistant for emergency workers who need to treat seriously ill patients. The current law requires emergency workers to receive doctors' instructions through phone calls when carrying out emergency treatment for patients in critical conditions. For example, an emergency worker must rec 2021-06-30
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  Researchers develop core cooler technology for ultra-low temperature cold chains SEOUL -- Researchers at a state research institute have developed a core Stirling cooler technology that can be used for establishing an ultra-low temperature cold chain. The cooler is up to 200 percent more energy-effective than traditional coolers. While traditional coolers are composed of multiple moving parts and use refrigerant gases that can accelerate global warming, a Stirling cooler, also known as a Stirling cryocooler, normally consists of very few moving 2021-06-30
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  SM founder presents 'Content Universe' as new company vision SEOUL -- As a new vision, SM Entertainment presented a "content universe" where original content will be infinitely expanded and recreated by individual prosumers who both consume and produce. Prosumer, coined by American futurist Alvin Toffler, is a portmanteau of producer and consumer. SM's killer content, which has been accumulated for 27 years, will be increasingly valuable, SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man said as he envisaged his new visi 2021-06-29