SouthKorea

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  Nuclear experts allowed to resume research on spent nuclear fuel processing technology SEOUL -- South Korean nuclear experts were allowed to resume research and development on securing basic and original technologies on spent nuclear fuel processing technology after more than two decades of fruitless research that sparked a never-ending debate over how long taxpayers' money should be spent on acquiring unviable technologies. The green light came at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on December 27. Financial and other support will be provided 2021-12-27
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  'Living lab' adopted for small firms to engage with consumers in product development SEOUL -- South Korea will establish an agora platform called "living lab" where consumers and small-and-medium-sized firms can engage in product development to make attractive, consumer-friendly items. The living lab system is commonly adopted by retail companies to reflect consumers' ideas on products to improve user experience and quality. Conglomerates and retail groups have detailed product planning processes involving consumers and experts to make new items that h 2021-12-27
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  S. Korea develops diagnostic technology to detect Omicron within four hours SEOUL -- The world's first polymerase chain reaction reagent that can detect five major coronavirus variants including the Omicron variant was developed in South Korea. The adoption of the new reagent can identify the Omicron variant within three to four hours. At the end of December 2021, local governments will be able to detect all five major coronavirus variants including the stealth version of Omicron through a single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that uses the new r 2021-12-24
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  Coastguard introduces surveillance helicopter-type drones to stop illegal Chinese fishing SEOUL -- Seven helicopter-type drones were deployed to South Korean coastguard vessels of more than 1,500 tons for a pilot operation to test their applicability in searching for those missing in the sea or cracking down on illegal fishing by Chinese boats that have caused diplomatic trouble. The battery-based unmanned helicopter can fly for up to 75 minutes using, the Korea Coast Guard said, adding that it can return to its mother ship using an automatic flight function, even if 2021-12-24
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  State-run land information company demonstrates drone-based smart farming technology SEOUL -- Drone-based smart farming technology was demonstrated at an eastern port city to accurately monitor the growth of cabbages in high-altitude areas. The information collected by drones will be used to establish a network of ultra-precision agricultural data. Precision agriculture is a big data-based smart farming technique designed to reduce operational costs and maximize production. Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation (LX Corporation) demonstrated the precisio 2021-12-23
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  S. Korea to recycle coffee grounds into odor-controlling products in livestock farms SEOUL -- Using the microbiome group fermentation technique, South Korea's environment ministry will carry out a pilot project to recycle coffee grounds as odor-controlling products for livestock farms. Currently, farmers use sawdust that is leftover during the process of coffee brewing to reduce the bad smell. According to data released by the National Assembly, the amount of discarded coffee grounds significantly increased by about 37 percent from 93,397 tons in 2012 to 149,03 2021-12-21
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  S. Korea constructs discarded solar panel recycling center to reduce greenhouse emissions SEOUL -- Through an 18.8 billion won ($15.8 million) project, a solar panel recycling center was constructed in the southern county of Jincheon to effectively deal with environmental problems caused by discarded solar modules. The center can recycle up to 3,600 tons of discarded panels every year. A solar panel is made of materials such as glass, aluminum, silicon and copper. It generates direct current electricity using sunlight as a source of energy. The total generation capacity 2021-12-21
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  Seoul creates metaverse-based safety education center for teenage bicyclists SEOUL -- Seoul created a metaverse-based safety education center for teenage users of the city's public bicycle rental service through Roblox, a metaverse platform mainly used by young people. By creating avatars, users can learn about road safety while riding a bicycle in the virtual space. Government data showed that a total of 5,555 bicycle-related safety accidents took place between 2018 and 2020. 21.4 percent of the total accidents involved young cyclists aged between 10 a 2021-12-20
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  State gas company sets up anti-drone task force to protect LNG reservoir SEOUL -- Korea Gas Corporation, a state gas company, has set up a state-military-civil task force to establish an anti-drone system for liquefied natural gas reservoirs. The system will help the gas company defend facilities against drone attacks and help related organizations including the emergency headquarters quickly dispatch personnel. The establishment of the anti-drone defense system was prompted by an incident in November 2021 in which gas company officials found a downed d 2021-12-16
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  State research body unveils real flight model of home-made nanosatellites SEOUL -- After five years of development, South Korea's state space research body has unveiled the real flight model of four homemade nanosatellites weighing less than 10 kilograms that will be launched in 2022 to observe changes in space weather through formation flight. The flight model called SNIPE was disclosed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) on December 15. Nanosatellite refers to an artificial satellite with a wet mass between 1 and 10 kg. Multipl 2021-12-16
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  S. Korea constructs largest drone theme park in western seaside town SEOUL -- Through a 9.5 billion won ($8 million) provincial project, South Korea's largest drone theme park was constructed in a drone regulation-free zone in the southwestern tourist town of Taean to provide a space where visitors can freely operate their drones. The theme park can be also used as a research and development lab for drone developers. Operating drones without permission is illegal in many urban areas including Seoul as it poses a risk of violating people's pr 2021-12-15
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  S. Korea to demonstrate blockchain-based investment service in southern port city SEOUL -- A blockchain-based investment system will be demonstrated in South Korea's southern port city to allow citizens to invest in real estate and other investment goods using the unhackable virtual ledger system. Blockchain-based systems use decentralized identity technology which gives unique digital identities for people with virtual ledgers. A blockchain-based investment service will be launched in Busan's blockchain demonstration zone on December 15 to offer reliabl 2021-12-14
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  Formation-flying drones demonstrated to deliver sandwiches in northeastern city SEOUL -- The formation flight of delivery drones was showcased for the first time in South Korea at an event to demonstrate various drone technologies used in delivery, disaster control and smart farm management. Five drones flying in formation delivered sandwiches to spectators after making a safe flight across a lake. Drones, also known as remotely controlled flying robots, were mostly used to replace the dangerous roles of soldiers and rescuers in the early days of their commerc 2021-12-09
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  Busan showcases blockchain-based verification for public transportation boarding pass service SEOUL -- South Korea's southern port city of Busan has adopted a blockchain-based access system that allows citizens to use subway trains and city buses without bringing transportation cards or other types of boarding passes, as a part of a government campaign to create an environment that doesn't need identification cards for authentication. Users don't need to worry about theft or hacking because their identity can be verified only through an unhackable service app cal 2021-12-07
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  S. Korea to set up more EV chargers at expressway service areas SEOUL -- South Korea will increase the number of electric vehicle chargers at expressway service areas to up to one thousand by the end of 2022 from 435 in operation as of December 2020. The move is part of a government campaign to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. There are some 200 expressway service areas that have restaurants, bathrooms, a pharmacy, and a gas station. A service area has an average of two chargers. An EV driver has to wait for an average of about 20 minutes. A 2021-12-06
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  Seoul to distribute transparent facemasks to help preschool toddlers learn how to speak SEOUL -- To help toddlers mimic and learn how to speak, Seoul will distribute some 45,000 transparent facemasks to preschools. The mask has a clear layer that shows the shape of the wearer's mouth so that hearing-impaired people and toddlers read and learn the shape of other people's lips. Since South Korea was struck by a coronavirus pandemic in February, all teachers and students including preschool toddlers and high school students must wear a facemask in classrooms. 2021-12-02
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  Seoul sets up AI-based CCTV control tower to prevent suicide on river bridges SEOUL -- To prevent people from committing suicide by jumping from river bridges, Seoul has set up a control tower that uses artificial intelligence-based closed-circuit television cameras to detect abnormal activities and notify monitoring agents if there is a person in need. Han River that flows through Seoul is South Korea's fourth-longest river that stretches 494 kilometers (1,620 miles) from the central part of the Korean Peninsula to the west coast and flows out to the Ye 2021-12-02
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  S. Korea to utilize AI technology to quickly identify globally endangered species SEOUL -- The National Institute of Biological Resources operated by South Korea's environment ministry will utilize artificial intelligence technology to identify and distinguish globally endangered species. The project was kicked off in May 2021 as an incubation project for experts in the biological resources sector. Globally endangered species generally refer to animal and plant species registered in a multilateral treaty called the "Convention on International Trade 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 lab compartment. It is ideal for checking the air and water quality of various places. In Sou 2021-12-01
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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