Kakao fined record 15.1 billion won for user information leak

SEOUL, May 23 (AJU PRESS) – Korea's personal data watchdog on Thursday imposed a record 15.1 billion won ($11.1 million) fine on Kakao Corp., which runs the nation's largest mobile messaging app, after a major data breach exposed more than 65,000 user records. The Personal Information Protection Commission made the decision the previous day after finding Kakao failed to properly encrypt user IDs for its open chat rooms, allowing hackers to access linked account num

May 23, 2024

Dangerous levels of heavy metals found in children's products from Chinese e-commerce platforms

SEOUL, May 23 (AJU PRESS) - Alarming levels of hazardous heavy metals have been detected in children's products sold on popular Chinese online platforms AliExpress and Shein. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday that a recent safety inspection of seven children's items from Chinese e-commerce sites found high levels of lead, chromium and nickel in two products. A children's watch sold on Shein was found to have lead levels 278 times higher than the

May 23, 2024

Hyundai Rotem signs deal to supply wheeled armored vehicles to Peruvian Army

SEOUL, May 22 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's Hyundai Rotem has signed a contract with the Peruvian Army to provide wheeled armored vehicles, the South Korean Embassy in Peru said Wednesday. Hyundai Rotem has secured a $60 million contract to supply 30 K808 IFVs, called Baekho (white tiger), through the Seoul-based STX trading company by 2025. The deal could be expanded to cover 90 more units. The deal was completed about three weeks after the company, affiliated with Hyundai Mot

May 22, 2024

Korea's ramyeon exports hit record high in April

SEOUL, May 20 (AJU PRESS) - Exports of Korean instant noodles, ramyeon, surpassed $100 million for the first time in April, led by a spicy chicken flavor variant, according to government data. Data from the Korea Customs Service showed that Korean companies sold $108.6 million worth of ramyeon last month, a 46.8 percent increase from the same period a year ago. The volume broke the previous monthly record of $92.9 million set in February. Ramyeon exports have increased annually s

May 20, 2024

Imported electric vehicle registrations surge 150% this year

SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) – The number of imported electric vehicles (EVs) newly registered in Korea from January to April surged more than 150 percent year-on-year, data showed Friday. The ratio of EVs in newly registered imported cars also nearly tripled from a year before, according to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA). In the first four months of the year, the number of imported EV registrations was 13,863 units, a 155.9 percent

May 17, 2024

Seafood meal kits gain limelight at industry fair as Korean food makers target ready-to-eat market

SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) - From packaged tuna to frozen shrimp, seafood meal kits took the limelight at the Seoul Seafood Show, Korea's major fisheries industry fair, this week, as Korean food makers ramp up their charge into the rapidly growing ready-to-eat packaged food market. A total of 179 companies from 16 countries showcased seafood and food ingredients at the 19th annual event hosted by the Korea Fisheries Association at COEX in Seoul under the theme "Blue Food-Te

May 17, 2024

Korean spicy sauces gain global popularity

SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) – Fueled by the popularity of Korean foods like ramen and fried chicken, demand for the country's spicy sauces is rapidly growing overseas. According to data from the Korea Customs Service, exports of sauces this year until April were $130.93 million, a 6 percent increase from the same period last year. The United States was the largest market, accounting for 23 percent, followed by China with 12 percent, Japan with 9 percent, Russia

May 17, 2024

HYBE chairman ranks sixth among Korean business leaders in stock assets

SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) - Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, the agency behind K-pop supergroup BTS, ranked sixth among Korean business leaders in terms of equity holdings, surpassing tycoons who head the nation’s second and fourth-largest conglomerates. According to analysis data from the Korea CXO Research Institute, Bang held about 2.5 trillion won ($1.8 billion) worth of shares as of Tuesday. The amount was higher than that of Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, the nation&

May 17, 2024

Visang Education showcases AI-based Korean learning platforms in Tokyo

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Visang Education, a Korean educational company, said Thursday it showcased artificial intelligence-based Korean learning platforms at the largest education industry show in Japan last week. The Korean company was among some 330 participants from five countries in the biannual Education Expo Japan (EDIX), held from May 8 to 10 in Tokyo. At the forefront of Visang’s exhibits was its Master K platform, which incorporates various smart learning solut

May 16, 2024

New transit cards offer better transport access for foreign nationals in Korea

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) – Foreign nationals in Korea can now utilize buses and subways more affordably and conveniently, as the government has expanded public transportation benefits through various transit cards. From the nationwide K-pass to the Seoul-focused Climate Card, the programs launched this year offer different levels of benefits based on region, travel frequency, users' age, income level and other conditions. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tran

May 16, 2024