SouthKorea

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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
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  Seoul partners with Hyundai to reduce carbon emissions thru vehicle mileage program SEOUL -- Seoul has joined hands with South Korea's Hyundai auto group to upgrade the city's vehicle mileage program that was designed to encourage citizens to use public transports and reduce carbon emissions. The capital city will establish Hyundai's connected car capabilities to create a convenient automatic mileage registration service. The program encourages citizens to voluntarily reduce the use of personal vehicles. Participants are required to hand over mileage i 2021-11-26
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  Seoul reveals plans to establish citywide autonomous driving infrastructure by 2026 SEOUL -- Through a 148.7 billion won ($125 million) project, Seoul will carry out its five-year plan to build safe autonomous driving infrastructure throughout the city. While the city has focused on the establishment and demonstration of self-driving technology infrastructure during the last few years, Seoul will develop and demonstrate various autonomous transportation services as the next step towards the full adoption of self-driving technologies that will improve citizens' liv 2021-11-25
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  S. Korea to support 64 local city governments to build smart city infrastructure SEOUL -- Through a 256 billion won ($215 million) state project, South Korea's transport ministry will establish smart city platforms in 64 small and medium-sized cities by 2025. The government will cooperate with local residents to develop platforms and related services that match citizens' demands. A smart city is a city platform that interconnects city infrastructure including facilities and devices using mobile cable networks. A smart city platform uses artificial intel 2021-11-23
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  Busan to develop convenient one-stop tourist pass for foreign visitors SEOUL -- In an effort to establish a convenient all-in-one tourist pass service for millions of foreign tourists who will visit the southern port Busan annually in the post-pandemic era, Busan City has embarked on a project to develop a tourist pass service that will allow foreigners to visit tourist spots and use public transport using a single plastic or digital app card. According to Busan Tourism Organization, about 2.7 million foreign tourists annually visited the port city 2021-11-22
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  Busan port to produce electricity using pressure of running container trucks SEOUL -- In a government-sponsored project to generate electricity using the weight of container trucks, a piezoelectric power generation system will be developed and installed at the gate of a terminal port in Busan, the hub of South Korea's maritime transportation. Piezoelectric element modules will convert pressure and vibration generated by container trucks into electricity. Busan port operators and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will jointly finance the development and 2021-11-19