Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Samsung Medical Center Launches Smart Patient Rooms to Boost Safety and Efficiency
    Samsung Medical Center Launches Smart Patient Rooms to Boost Safety and Efficiency Samsung Medical Center said on the 27th it has introduced “smart patient rooms” as part of a patient-centered overhaul aimed at improving safety, convenience and staff efficiency. The hospital said the rollout is part of a mid- to long-term strategy to move beyond isolated technology upgrades and transition to an advanced, intelligent hospital model. The hospital has worked since 2020 to improve inpatient-room environments. Based on patient satisfaction surveys, it formed a “Future Hospital TF” to define the smart-room concept and develop an operating system for it. Lee Sang-cheol, head of the Heart and Brain Vascular Hospital and a professor of cardiology, said the smart rooms focus on linking patient safety and the overall treatment experience “into a single flow,” rather than simply adding new devices. The rooms use a facial-recognition entry system to strengthen security and ease of access. Patients can use an in-room tablet to control lighting and temperature, check key information in real time — including test results, appointment schedules and meal changes — and communicate with medical staff through chat, voice calls and video calls. Monitoring has also been expanded. Wearable devices allow real-time checks of vital signs such as blood pressure, electrocardiograms and oxygen saturation, enabling faster responses to warning signs. Radar-based sensors installed in patient rooms and bathrooms are designed to detect risky situations early. For staff, the hospital said efficiency improves when an artificial intelligence avatar generates education videos after clinicians enter disease-education content, reducing the need for repeated explanations. Patients can receive tailored education in their rooms. Samsung Medical Center said it will review operating results and consider expanding the system across the hospital and applying additional AI technologies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:51:05
  • Lotte Home Shopping Opens AIGLE Flagship Store at Seoul’s Lotte World Mall
    Lotte Home Shopping Opens AIGLE Flagship Store at Seoul’s Lotte World Mall Lotte Home Shopping is stepping up its push into offline retail by opening a series of permanent stores for French outdoor brand AIGLE in key shopping districts in Seoul. The company said Monday it opened an AIGLE permanent store on April 24 at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil. The store is the first in South Korea to apply AIGLE’s “Rubber Forest” concept, inspired by the brand’s signature rubber material and designed to reflect its nature-friendly philosophy. It is also debuting AIGLE’s 2026 spring-summer “Solar Pack” line, aimed at summer demand with enhanced UV-protection features. The lineup includes functional windbreakers, T-shirts and pants, as well as more than 20 types of the brand’s signature rain boots. To mark the opening, customers who spend 500,000 won or more will receive a limited-edition bag made in collaboration with global accessories brand Topologie, the company said. Lotte Home Shopping has been developing a new business focused on securing distribution rights for promising overseas fashion brands and selling them in South Korea as part of its effort to build future growth engines. After signing a distribution-rights agreement with AIGLE in 2024, it ran pop-up stores in major fashion hubs including Apgujeong and Hannam-dong to build brand awareness. It opened an official online mall in March last year to expand its digital presence. Starting this year, it plans to open large permanent stores in prime districts to complete an omnichannel network spanning online and offline sales. The company said it plans to open another store next month near Dosan Park in Seoul’s Gangnam district. “We plan to continue expanding AIGLE permanent stores in key commercial districts such as Jamsil Lotte World Mall and Dosan Park,” said Lee Sang-yong, head of Lotte Home Shopping’s Growth Business Division. “We will further strengthen our position as a distribution platform that successfully establishes global fashion brands.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:50:15
  • CJ CheilJedang Expands Partnership With Vietnam Retailer Bach Hoa Xanh to Grow K-Food Sales
    CJ CheilJedang Expands Partnership With Vietnam Retailer Bach Hoa Xanh to Grow K-Food Sales CJ CheilJedang is expanding cooperation with Vietnam’s largest retail network as it steps up its push in the local food market, aiming to accelerate the spread of K-food through closer manufacturing and distribution collaboration. The company said April 27 it will broaden its partnership with Bach Hoa Xanh, Vietnam’s No. 1 retailer. Bach Hoa Xanh is a supermarket chain under MWG, Vietnam’s largest retail group, and operates about 2,760 stores nationwide. CJ CheilJedang has sold key products through the chain, including Bibigo dumplings and rolls, kimchi and seaweed. Sales through the channel have grown an average of 20% annually over the past four years, the company said. The expanded partnership is intended to drive joint growth and help modernize Vietnam’s food culture by combining CJ CheilJedang’s product development and cold-chain capabilities with Bach Hoa Xanh’s distribution infrastructure to strengthen competitiveness in processed foods. The companies plan to widen the K-food lineup and co-develop products tailored to local consumer trends. They also plan to upgrade food safety and quality management systems and invest in refrigerated and frozen logistics. Marketing will include a dedicated CJ section within the retailer’s app and hands-on promotional events, in addition to in-store efforts. CJ CheilJedang and Bach Hoa Xanh signed a memorandum of understanding in Hanoi on April 23 on expanding K-food and leading the processed foods market. The signing was held in connection with the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum. Jo Jaebeom, head of CJ CheilJedang’s Food Asia-Pacific headquarters, and Nguyen Duc Tai, MWG chairman, attended. Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan and Vietnam’s Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan were also present, the company said. CJ CheilJedang entered Vietnam in 2015 with a milling business and has expanded through localization, mergers and acquisitions, and building production bases. The company said last year’s sales were about seven times the 2016 level. It added that it holds the No. 1 market share in dumplings and kimchi in Vietnam after entering those categories early. CJ CheilJedang said the partnership will help it expand distribution beyond its southern base around Ho Chi Minh City to northern Vietnam and smaller cities. It also plans to broaden its portfolio beyond frozen and chilled items to include shelf-stable products such as noodles and snacks, as well as chilled processed meat products. A CJ CheilJedang official said the partnership with Bach Hoa Xanh will be an important step for Bibigo to become a “national brand” in Vietnam. The official said the company will continue expanding K-food by offering products and services tailored to local consumers’ lifestyles.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:49:25
  • China’s 2026 Imports Seen Rising 5% on AI Investment, Biggest Gain in Five Years
    China’s 2026 Imports Seen Rising 5% on AI Investment, Biggest Gain in Five Years China’s imports are expected to rise sharply this year, supported by expanding investment in artificial intelligence, according to a forecast cited by Bloomberg News. Bloomberg reported on April 26 (local time) that a survey this month of 17 economists put China’s 2026 import growth at 5%. That is more than double the March estimate and would be the strongest increase in five years, marking a break from four years of stagnation and declines. The forecast for export growth was also revised up, to 4.9% from 3.6%. Even so, the goods trade surplus is expected to come in only slightly above about $1.2 trillion, little changed from 2025, suggesting the expansion of the surplus seen over the past two years may slow. Serena Zhou, chief economist at Mizuho Securities, said “the Chinese government recognizes that a massive trade surplus is not sustainable.” While she expects imports to rise 7.5% this year, she added that “overseas demand remains the key growth driver” and that “the recovery in domestic demand is not yet clear.” China’s trade has held up better than expected despite an energy supply shock triggered by the Iran war. In the first quarter of 2026, imports rose 23% from a year earlier and exports increased 15%, both posting double-digit gains. At the same time, the imbalance in the economy is deepening as industrial output and investment expand while consumption remains weak. The International Monetary Fund has said this structure is contributing to wider global imbalances. A surge in imports in March was driven by stronger demand for semiconductors and advanced manufacturing equipment linked to AI investment. Pantheon Macroeconomics said the value of semiconductor imports jumped 54% from a year earlier, accounting for about one-third of the overall increase. Import volumes, however, rose 14%, indicating higher prices also played a role. An expected global increase in AI investment — projected at about $2.5 trillion this year — has become a key driver of Asian trade. China has emerged as the largest supplier of AI-related products, but it still relies heavily on imports for core technologies such as advanced semiconductors. Standard Chartered said China’s AI-related imports mainly come from Taiwan and South Korea, and that exports from both economies to China have risen sharply. Other factors supporting import growth include a stronger yuan and higher commodity prices. The yuan has gained about 7% against the dollar over the past year, boosting purchasing power, while rising copper and aluminum prices have lifted the value of related imports. Global oil prices have not yet had a major impact on China’s imports, with March crude oil imports only slightly lower. Still, reduced shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could become a headwind for energy imports. Pantheon Macroeconomics forecast April import values for oil and gas will fall 14% and 18%, respectively. On the export side, analysts said some spillover benefits from the war are also supporting demand. With interest rising in electric vehicles and solar panels, Chinese companies are expanding their presence in overseas markets. Erica Tay, an economist at Maybank Securities, said China’s economy showed greater resilience to the supply shock from the Iran war than other Asian economies, adding that stronger demand for electric vehicles and solar power products is benefiting Chinese firms.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:48:19
  • Freewillin Launches Uganda Education Support Project With Schoolflat Math Workbooks
    Freewillin Launches Uganda Education Support Project With Schoolflat Math Workbooks AI-based education solutions company Freewillin has launched a global education support project by providing math textbooks to primary schools in northern Uganda. Freewillin, led by CEO Kwon Gi-seong, said it delivered 497 Schoolflat math textbooks it produced to two schools in the Gulu area: Awach Central Primary School and Omoti Hill Primary School. The project will serve 477 fourth- and fifth-grade students. The materials include Schoolflat student workbooks and teachers’ guides. Freewillin said it developed separate student and teacher materials for grades 4 and 5, reflecting grade-level learning needs and local classroom conditions. The company said the effort is designed as a cooperative support model tailored to local realities, rather than a one-time donation. While Freewillin handled content development at its headquarters, printing and binding were done in Uganda. The company said the approach supports schools while also creating a production structure in partnership with local print shops. Uganda has expanded access to primary education under its universal primary education policy, but challenges remain in education quality, including shortages of textbooks and learning materials and limited systems to support teachers, the company said. Freewillin said its local assessment found teachers hand-making class materials because textbooks and worksheets were scarce, leaving students with too few opportunities to practice problem-solving. Given those conditions, Freewillin said it chose an offline approach centered on paper materials and teacher guides, rather than directly transferring its digital solution. The goal, it said, is to make learning resources usable even where electricity and internet access are not stable. The project is being run with HOIE (Hope is Education), an NGO specializing in education development cooperation. HOIE has supported teacher capacity-building and improvements in primary education quality in public primary schools in northern Uganda since 2015 by operating school learning communities. HOIE plans to visit the pilot schools every two to three weeks for class observations, teacher coaching and advice on how to use the materials. Freewillin said it will use that feedback to review teaching and learning methods that can work in local classrooms and to further refine the textbooks. Local education officials, including the superintendent and supervisors from the Gulu area education office, attended the textbook handover ceremony. Freewillin said it prepared the project starting in the second half of 2025 and funded it with its own resources, without outside support. “Starting with Uganda, we plan to expand educational opportunities to more regions,” Kwon said. “As the company grows, we will continue to increase investment in education support.” Schoolflat is Freewillin’s school-tailored AI math courseware service. In South Korea, it has been used to reduce teachers’ lesson-preparation burden and support math learning matched to each student’s level. The Uganda project is the company’s first global education support case, rebuilding its existing AI content and math learning know-how to fit local infrastructure.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:40:38
  • Ju Haknyeon Seen at The Boyz Concert After Leaving Group Amid Private-Life Controversy
    Ju Haknyeon Seen at The Boyz Concert After Leaving Group Amid Private-Life Controversy Ju Haknyeon, who left the group The Boyz after controversy over a meeting with an adult video actress, has been spotted at a The Boyz concert venue. On the 26th, Ju posted photos on his social media account without comment. The images appeared to be taken from the audience and showed the stage from The Boyz concert “Interjection,” held over three days from the 24th to the 26th at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Songpa district. Posts on social media and online communities also described sightings of Ju attending the concert with his face covered by a hat and other items. Ju was removed from the team after it became known that he had been drinking with adult video actress Asuka Kirara in May last year. At the time, Japan’s weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun published photos showing him hugging and otherwise engaging in physical contact with Asuka Kirara. The outlet sought confirmation from The Boyz’s agency, One Hundred, which said it was checking the facts. After discussions with the group’s members, the agency finalized Ju’s departure from the team and the termination of his exclusive contract. Ju, however, has flatly denied allegations raised by some that he solicited prostitution involving Asuka Kirara. 2026-04-27 10:33:15
  • Kensington Hotels & Resorts Launches Gangwon Flex Multi-Property Stay Package
    Kensington Hotels & Resorts Launches 'Gangwon Flex' Multi-Property Stay Package E-Land Park’s Kensington Hotels & Resorts is rolling out an integrated package that links three of its major hotel and resort properties in Gangwon Province, aiming to capture growing demand for longer, stay-focused travel by sharing benefits across mountain and coastal locations. ◆ Targeting longer stays beyond single-property limits Kensington Hotels & Resorts said Sunday it is selling an upgraded “Gangwon Flex” package, connecting three Gangwon-area properties — Kensington Hotel Seorak and Kensington Resort Seorak Valley and Seorak Beach — through June 30. The package is designed around the geographic advantage of Seoraksan and the East Sea coast, with the properties located within about a 20-minute drive. The company said the goal is to link local hubs to move beyond the limits of staying at a single resort and to build a virtuous cycle for longer-term stays. Gangwon Flex, first introduced last year, ranked No. 1 in sales among the company’s packages. This year, Kensington said it expanded the range of shared benefits between properties and strengthened special room-rate discounts to match the long-stay trend. ◆ Bigger savings for longer stays; cross-property access highlighted To ease travelers’ 부담 amid high prices, the company applies tiered room rates so benefits increase for longer stays, such as two nights or three nights and more. Kensington said the package’s key feature is a cross-property access system. Regardless of where guests stay, they can use a dedicated coupon provided at check-in to use major facilities at all three properties. Benefits include breakfast buffet for two, two welcome drinks, a 10% discount at on-site outlets, two packs for an Animal Farm feeding experience (Seorak Valley), an ocean sauna for two (Seorak Beach), and a free parking pass at Kensington Hotel Seorak when visiting Gwongeumseong at Seoraksan. A Kensington Hotels & Resorts official said Gangwon Flex “goes beyond a simple lodging product” by organically connecting local infrastructure to maximize the value of guests’ stays, adding that the company will continue to closely analyze travel patterns and offer more refined, customized content.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:30:18
  • South Korea revises rules for top procurement products to curb supply concentration
    South Korea revises rules for top procurement products to curb supply concentration The Public Procurement Service will refine technical review categories for its Excellent Procurement Products program and introduce a new “concentration management system” to prevent excessive deliveries being dominated by a single company.  PPS said it revised the “Excellent Procurement Products Designation and Management Rules” and the “Additional Special Conditions for Goods Purchase and Manufacturing Contracts,” with the changes taking effect from the 27th. The agency said the revisions reflect feedback from companies, strengthen review expertise, improve extension requirements and ease some rules to reduce burdens while supporting the growth of technology-focused firms. To improve the professionalism of technical evaluations, PPS subdivided review fields from eight to nine. The construction and environment field was split into civil and environmental works and building materials, and the electrical and electronics field was divided into electrical lighting and electronic devices. PPS also adjusted extension requirements, including export performance and the share of investment in technology development, to better match industry conditions. PPS said it will also broaden how delivery performance can be used to extend a designation. A delivery-performance item previously recognized only for new companies will be accepted for existing designated companies as grounds for extension if they meet certain requirements, such as the number of deliveries and customer satisfaction scores, to support continued growth of strong technology firms. To curb excessive concentration in deliveries to a specific company, PPS will apply the concentration management system to items with high market share and monopoly-like characteristics. After monitoring for one year, if concentration does not ease, PPS said it will introduce competitive procedures through supplier evaluations. To strengthen the effectiveness of satisfaction evaluations by purchasing agencies, PPS will raise the minimum grade threshold from 75 points to 85 points and disclose evaluation results so agencies can use more reasonable purchasing information. PPS said companies involved in serious industrial accidents will receive minus 5 points in credibility during designation reviews, and such companies will be added as a reason for exclusion from designation extensions, underscoring corporate responsibility for safety management. To prevent improper contract performance and promote fair procurement, PPS will require completion of Excellent Product training when reviewing extension applications. However, citing limited training capacity relative to demand, PPS said the requirement will apply to companies applying for extensions from 2028 after expanding the number of sessions and training institutions. PPS also announced measures to streamline field-centered regulations. Patent application confirmation documents had been issued only by the Korea Patent Technology Promotion Agency, but PPS added the Korea Invention Promotion Association as an issuing body to shorten processing times and reduce industry burdens. PPS said that when an Excellent Product designation is granted based on an Innovative Product status, and the Innovative Product designation period expires before the Excellent Product designation start date, the Excellent Product designation date may be shortened or changed to help ensure continuity in market access. In addition, PPS specified settlement methods for industrial safety and health management costs. For collaborative entities, PPS said it established a basis to recognize a participating company’s certification when the lead company cannot obtain certification due to legal restrictions. The Excellent Procurement Products program designates and publicly announces goods with outstanding performance, technology or quality to help small and venture businesses market technology-developed products. Designated items can be registered on the Nara Marketplace integrated shopping mall after signing unit-price contracts through private contracts. PPS Commissioner Baek Seung-bo said, “This system improvement is intended to create an environment where capable small businesses can continue to grow using public procurement as a springboard and to establish fairness in the market.” He added, “We will continue improving on-site regulations that hold companies back and create a business-friendly environment to support the growth of strong technology development companies.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:26:07
  • Korean Bar Association to Discuss Carbon Neutrality Law Revisions Reflecting U.N. Rights Advice
    Korean Bar Association to Discuss Carbon Neutrality Law Revisions Reflecting U.N. Rights Advice The Korean Bar Association will hold a forum to discuss building a greenhouse gas reduction framework that aligns with U.N. human rights standards. The association said Sunday it will host a discussion at 2 p.m. Monday in Meeting Room 10 at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building titled, “Setting a Long-Term Emissions Reduction Pathway and Directions for Revising the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality in Line With U.N. Human Rights Council Recommendations (UPR).” The event is being organized with Democratic Party lawmakers Lee So-young and Park Ji-hye, Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Seo Wang-jin, and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. It follows the government’s acceptance, through the 2023 Universal Periodic Review, of a recommendation to align emissions reduction targets with the “1.5 degrees” standard. The need to reflect a long-term reduction pathway for 2031 to 2049 in law has also grown after the Constitutional Court last year issued a ruling of constitutional nonconformity in a climate lawsuit case. The National Assembly is proceeding with legislation and public discussion on the issue. The forum will review advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice and broader international climate policy trends, and discuss how to set a reduction pathway consistent with human rights obligations and the 1.5-degree goal. Two presentations are scheduled. Kyung Hee University law professor Baek Beom-seok will propose ways to codify a long-term reduction pathway in legislation based on the UPR recommendations and the Constitutional Court ruling. Attorney Choi Chang-min will present proposed revisions to the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality, including resetting the pathway to meet human rights standards and establishing an implementation monitoring system. A panel discussion will include participants from climate science, human rights, youth groups, academia and government to consider improvements from multiple perspectives. A bar association official said, “We hope this forum will serve as an opportunity to reexamine the long-term reduction pathway from the perspective of responding to the climate crisis and protecting human rights, and to develop directions for effective revisions to the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:25:20
  • Democratic Party Says Kim Yong Nomination Has Mixed Views, Defers to Committee
    Democratic Party Says Kim Yong Nomination Has Mixed Views, Defers to Committee The Democratic Party said Monday that opinions inside the party are divided as more members call for nominating Kim Yong, a former deputy head of the party-affiliated Democracy Research Institute, and urged the public to trust the party’s Strategic Nominations Committee. Senior spokesperson Kang Jun-hyeon told reporters at the National Assembly that “it is true there are various opinions within the party,” but said the committee should be allowed to make its decision. Kang also addressed comments by Secretary-General Jo Seung-rae, who had said there were many negative views within the party about nominating Kim. Kang said Jo’s remark “was not the party’s official stance,” calling it a reference to internal sentiment. “Please understand it only as meaning there are various opinions within the party,” he said. Kang said the party has continued efforts to recruit Ha Jung-woo, the presidential office’s senior secretary for artificial intelligence, who is widely seen as a likely candidate in Busan’s Buk-gu Gap district. Kang said it was not confirmed whether Jo and the committee had direct contact with Ha, but added that “there was a process in which the party earnestly requested” that Ha run. “With not much time left until the by-election, the most important thing is Ha’s firm determination,” Kang said. Kang said the Strategic Nominations Committee would meet as needed to handle strategic nominations for the by-elections. He noted that the deadline for public officials seeking to run to resign is May 4, adding that the party’s plan is to wrap up strategic nominations by early May. The committee, he said, is moving “urgently and swiftly.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:23:14