SouthKorea

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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
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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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  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] 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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  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