SouthKorea

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  S. Korea to lead food safety policies in Asia-Pacific region through consultative body 'APFRAS' SEOUL -- South Korea was selected to lead food policies through a consultative body for heads of food regulators in the Asia-Pacific region. The joint body was founded to establish a safe food distribution infrastructure and handle various problems in the global food sector. The consultative body called "Asia-Pacific Food Regulatory Authority Summit (APFRAS)" was launched to respond to rapidly changing food environments and issues in the Asia-Pacific region, the Ministry 2023-05-26
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  Researchers find dramatic weight change could increase mortality risk for middle-aged and older people SEOUL -- Researchers have found that dramatic weight change could increase the risk of death for people aged 40 and older. The research team said those experiencing such changes of more than three percent of their total weight during a two-year period without any clear reasons are required to visit a doctor and thoroughly check their body. A joint research team consisting of endocrinologists at Samsung Medical Center and Daegu Catholic University Medical Center has confirmed the re 2023-05-24
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  Seoul to use sewage gas to generate electricity SEOUL -- Seoul will establish a 20-megawatt-hour fuel cell facility at a sewage treatment center to use biogas generated during the sewage treatment process for fuel cells' energy. The city will work with private companies to produce electricity capable of powering about 420,000 households every year. The facility will be installed at Jungnang Sewage Treatment Center in eastern Seoul by 2024, the capital city said, adding that the city has partnered with three companies -- Kore 2023-05-23
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  Seoul launches same-day airport luggage delivery service from subway stations SEOUL -- Seoul has launched a same-day luggage delivery service that connects international airports nearby Seoul and four selected subway stations. Using the service called "T-Luggage," travelers can send their luggage to airports from subway stations or vice versa. The storage and delivery service that connects four subway stations with South Korea's two major airports -- Gimpo International Airport and Incheon International Airport -- was launched on May 22, Seoul 2023-05-22
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  Canadian leader agrees to expand working holiday program quota with S. Korea SEOUL -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to increase an annual quota for the working holiday program with South Korea at a summit meeting held in Seoul. The exchange program was established to encourage the nations' young people to engage in employment activities in each country while learning each other's language and culture. South Koreans and Canadians aged between 18 and 30 are currently allowed to participate in the exchange program after gaining a 2023-05-18
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  Hyundai shipbuilding group's subsidiary to develop ultra-high-efficiency solar cells SEOUL -- HD Hyundai Energy Solutions, the solar power wing of South Korea's Hyundai shipbuilding group, will lead a state project to develop an ultra-high-efficiency large-surface solar power generation module. By 2026, the solar energy solution provider aims to develop hetero-junction technology and mass-produce products that can significantly reduce the amount of energy loss when converting sunlight into electrical energy. According to data released by HD Hyundai Energy Solut 2023-05-15
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  S. Korea likely to declare COVID-19 as endemic disease SEOUL -- After about three years and four months since the first case of COVID-19 was found in South Korea on January 20, 2020, the government is likely to declare the infectious disease as an endemic disease, a disease that regularly occurs within an area or community like flu. According to real-time data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a daily average number of 17,033 people were infected between May 5 and May 11. An average number of 30 people were 2023-05-11
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  S. Korea to allow drivers to self-charge hydrogen vehicles through regulatory reform SEOUL -- South Korea will allow hydrogen vehicle drivers to self-charge their vehicles at urban charging stations like ordinary self-charging gas stations by 2024 through regulatory reforms and new safety infrastructure. Currently, the country prohibits drivers from charging their own hydrogen vehicles. In South Korea, liquified petroleum gas stations and liquefied natural gas stations also only allow workers with government-issued certification to charge vehicles. Despite hydroge 2023-05-09
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  Seoul's southern district to provide medical tourists interpretation service in nine languages SEOUL -- A total of 39 interpreters will help foreign medical tourists accurately communicate with doctors and nurses in Gangnam, a southern district in Seoul well known for rapper Psy's 2012 song "Gangnam Style." The district office will provide an interpretation service in nine languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic for foreigners visiting hospitals and clinics. According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, about 248,000 forei 2023-05-08
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  ​Japanese leader discusses with S. Korean business leaders for economic cooperation SEOUL -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has met with South Korean business leaders to discuss methods to expand the scope of the economic cooperation between South Korea and Japan. At the meeting at a hotel in Seoul on May 8, the Japanese leader had a tea time with the heads of six South Korean business organizations including SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won who is also in charge of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kishida has agreed with South Korean President Yoo 2023-05-08
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  Japanese leader agrees to strengthen cooperation with S. Korea at summit meeting in Seoul SEOUL -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the South Korean government at a summit meeting held in Seoul. He has become the first Japanese leader to visit South Korea since Yoshihiko Noda, a former Japanese prime Minister who visited Seoul in October 2011. "I am happy that shuttle diplomacy has started in a decisive manner," the Japanese leader said, adding that dialogues have been moving dynamically in less than 2023-05-07
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  Seoul starts demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell-based road sweeper truck SEOUL -- Seoul City's facility management operator has started the demonstration of a hydrogen-powered road sweeper truck to remove extremely small dust particles generated by exhaust gas or car parts from roads in the capital city. The eco-friendly truck that can also help reduce air pollution will be tested in various areas including Olympic-daero, an eight-lane urban expressway that penetrates southern districts in the capital city from west to east. According to data rele 2023-05-04
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  Japan could provide support for victims of forced labor issues during colonial era: report SEOUL -- Japan's major news agency Kyodo News analyzed that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has the intention to provide support for South Korean victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial rule era (1910~1945). Since the liberation after World War II, South Koreans have demanded a sincere apology and rightful compensation from the Japanese government. Although South Korean civic movement groups have demanded an apology, Tokyo has insisted colonial-era issues w 2023-05-03
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  S. Korea warns state science institutes about data leak risk of using Chat GPT SEOUL -- South Korea's science ministry has sent out an official document to its sub-organizations including state research institutes to warn that using generative artificial intelligence services including Chat GPT could lead to disastrous situations such as data leaks. Chat GPT is an AI-based chatbot service that engages with users in a natural conversation. The AI robot provides on-demand answers and solutions for various demands by users in surprisingly accurate and effici 2023-05-03
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  Japanese Prime Minister to visit Seoul for summit meeting on May 7 SEOUL -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be in Seoul for two days for a summit meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on May 7, the presidential office said. Kishida will be the first prime minister to visit South Korea since Yoshihiko Noda, a former Japanese prime Minister who visited Seoul in October 2011. According to the presidential office on May 2, Kishida will visit Seoul with his wife Yuko Kishida for two days starting May 7. Yoon and Kishida will disc 2023-05-02
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  ​Vietnamese envoy participates in lecture designed to encourage interpreter trainees in S. Korea SEOUL -- At a lecture designed to encourage interpretation school students, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung lectured that trust between humans plays a key role in interpretation even in an era in which translator devices are gaining popularity. The ambassador interacted with students majoring in Korean-Vietnamese at a graduate school in southern Seoul. "The ambassador told students that demands for talented human interpreters will be still high as artificia 2023-04-28
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  President Yoon pledges S. Korea would play role of 'compass for freedom' at US Congress SEOUL -- President Yoon Suk-yeol has told members of the U.S. Congress that South Korea would play the role of "compass for freedom" along with the United States. The statement was made during a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress designed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the two nations' alliance in Washington, DC. The keyword of Yoon's speech on April 27 was "freedom," which was mentioned a total of 45 times. Yoon said during the speech: "T 2023-04-28
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  S. Korea recovers number of domestic travelers 1Q 2023 compared to pre-pandemic era: survey SEOUL -- A survey showed that the number of South Koreans who traveled to at least one tourist spot in South Korea in the first quarter of 2023 has recovered to the level of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period while the number of those who have traveled overseas has not reached the half of the people who traveled abroad before the pandemic in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Consumer Insight, a domestic market research firm, analyzed that overseas travelers' satisfaction rate was also low due to 2023-04-27
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  Yoon and Biden affirm strong commitment to defense of people and territories of S. Korea and US SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and United States President Joe Biden affirmed their strong, shared commitment to the defense of the people and territories of South Korea and the United States, through the deployment of the U.S. strategic assets including U.S. nuclear-capable platforms around the Korean peninsula as deterrence against Pyongyang's nuclear attack. Outlining the joint statement called "Washington Declaration," Yoon said during a joint press 2023-04-27
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  Seoul launches English language-based subway application for foreign passengers SEOUL -- To help foreigners reach their destinations without difficulties, Seoul has launched an English-language-based subway app that provides various train-related information such as a line map and direction guidance inside stations. Users can find the nearest station just by entering their destinations even if they don't know station names. The smart app notifies users if they get on the wrong train on the opposite side. The English language-based app called "Seoul Su 2023-04-27