Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Chong Kun Dang Health Expands Home Shopping Sales of Lacto-Fit Max 19 Probiotics Chong Kun Dang Health is expanding its reach to consumers through home shopping channels, led by a new premium probiotic product. The company said it has been selling its newly launched probiotic, Lacto-Fit Max 19, on home shopping since earlier this month. It said the broadcasts have helped raise awareness of the product and have continued to draw consumer interest. In South Korea’s health functional food market, home shopping is often used as an early distribution channel for key items such as probiotics and red ginseng, particularly among middle-aged and older consumers. After the broadcasts, attention also turned to the product’s design. The company said some consumers have used terms such as “colon probiotics” and “adhesive probiotics” to emphasize survival through the digestive tract and delivery to the intestines. The company noted those are not official functional names but consumer-coined expressions. Lacto-Fit Max 19 contains 19 probiotic strains, including Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, known as the HN019 strain. The company said HN019 is a widely used strain that has been studied in connection with improving the intestinal environment. South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety defines probiotics as a health functional food ingredient recognized for functions such as helping beneficial bacteria grow, suppressing harmful bacteria and supporting smoother bowel movements. The company said the product applies a strain design that considers the intestinal environment from the duodenum to the colon. Compared with its existing product, Lacto-Fit Core Max, it increased the guaranteed bacteria count by about 167% and applied processing technology aimed at improving bacterial survival. It also said it used moisture-absorbing film packaging to reduce losses from humidity and temperature changes and to improve storage stability. The company said the probiotics market has been shifting away from simple competition over bacterial counts toward emphasizing strain variety, survivability and delivery technology. The Korea Health Functional Food Association has said South Korea’s health functional food market has continued to grow, with probiotics and red ginseng among the major categories. Chong Kun Dang Health has operated a range of probiotic products under its Lacto-Fit brand for different age groups. The company said the new product is intended to strengthen its premium lineup and broaden consumer choice. “Even after the broadcast, inquiries about the product’s composition and functionality have continued,” a company official said. “We are seeing a gradual increase in understanding of the product’s features, including its strain design and the environment for colonization.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:50:49 -
Kia Unveils Vision Meta Turismo at Milan Design Week Kia said Thursday it showcased its “Opposites United” design philosophy and its latest creative direction at the 2026 Milan Design Week, which opened April 20 in Italy. Now in its 64th year, Milan Design Week is a leading global design event spanning architecture, fashion, automobiles and IT, offering a snapshot of cultural and design trends. Kia staged two exhibitions under the theme “resonance of opposing concepts,” pairing an artwork show focused on inward reflection with an EV concept-car display centered on outward projection. The artwork exhibition, “Journey of Reflection,” featured three spaces with direct participation by Kia designers. The “Cultural Pioneer” space used shifting flows of light to symbolize how diverse ideas come together to form and advance a culture. The “Creative Adventurer” space was designed to react and change with visitors’ footsteps, underscoring the value of challenges experienced through bold action. The “Relentless Innovator” space used a calm setting defined by ceiling light and balance to convey that tranquility can be an inner pause before a bigger leap forward. The EV concept-car exhibition, “Journey of Projection,” was held at the Salone dei Tessuti complex cultural venue. Kia presented six EV concept vehicles, including the Vision Meta Turismo, unveiled for the first time on the global stage, and early concept models tied to the development of the EV2, EV3, EV4, EV5 and EV9. First revealed at Kia’s 80th anniversary event late last year, the Vision Meta Turismo features geometric forms and a refined silhouette, which the company said points to its future mobility vision. “‘Resonance of opposing concepts’ is more than an exhibition theme — it is a milestone in our journey,” said Karim Habib, Kia’s vice president in charge of global design. “It reflects our promise to build a better future through curiosity and continuous innovation.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:50:06 -
BTS’ RM Accused of Smoking and Littering in No-Smoking Areas in Tokyo BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-joon, 31) has been accused of smoking in designated no-smoking areas in Japan and improperly discarding cigarette butts. Japan’s weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported on April 22 that RM was seen several times smoking in no-smoking areas while drinking with acquaintances around Tokyo’s Shibuya district. According to the report, RM visited Japan for the “BTS Arirang World Tour” and spent time in Shibuya’s nightlife area, moving between izakayas and bars. The outlet said it captured him leaving a bar and smoking on the street, and published more than 20 related photos. Japan has many areas where smoking is prohibited even outdoors, with designated smoking rooms or smoking spots provided separately. The magazine alleged RM repeatedly smoked not only on the street but also in places marked with no-smoking signs, including building corridors, and threw cigarette butts on the ground. A security guard at the scene was quoted as saying, “He threw the cigarette butt he smoked on the street,” adding that the guard personally warned him. After the report, some fans criticized RM for not following basic rules in public places, saying the issue was not smoking itself but where it occurred. As of now, neither HYBE nor RM has issued an official statement. BTS held two sold-out “Arirang” world tour shows at Tokyo Dome on April 17-18, drawing a total of 110,000 attendees over the two days. 2026-04-23 09:49:33 -
NH NongHyup Property & Casualty Invests in Disability Employment Workplace OLMO NH NongHyup Property & Casualty Insurance has invested in a standard workplace for people with disabilities as it moves to strengthen its ESG management. The insurer said Thursday it made an equity investment in OLMO, a standard workplace for people with disabilities, to expand employment and advance social value. OLMO is a culture and arts-focused workplace that hires artists with disabilities and provides professional training and creative space. It operates hubs in areas including Ilsan, Bucheon and Hanam, contributing to job creation for people with disabilities. NH NongHyup Property & Casualty invested in OLMO Incheon. The investment is a shared-growth model combining an equity stake with cooperation in workplace operations. It aims to provide artists with disabilities a stable environment to create and a foundation for professional independence. CEO Song Chun-su said the investment is meant to go beyond providing jobs by building a base that allows artists with disabilities to continue their work. He said the company will continue support to advance social value. NongHyup Federation and its affiliates have been expanding social contribution programs — including support for rural communities, environmental protection, and assistance for people with disabilities and multicultural families — as they strengthen ESG management.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:46:05 -
KOSPI Opens Higher, Breaks Above 6,500 as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Rally South Korean stocks opened higher for a fourth straight session. The benchmark KOSPI briefly climbed above 6,500 soon after the open, extending its run of record highs to a third day, led by gains in chip heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI was up 121.87 points, or 1.90%, at 6,539.80 as of 9:28 a.m. It opened up 70.90 points, or 1.10%, at 6,488.83 and then added to gains. The index crossed 6,500 around 9:01 a.m. and continued to rise on institutional buying. Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said the market was likely to be supported by fresh record highs in U.S. stocks led by key sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, along with expectations for first-quarter results from domestic market leaders. She said attention would focus on the direction of semiconductor shares. Overnight, all three major U.S. indexes closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 340.65 points, or 0.69%, to 49,490.03. The S&P 500 gained 73.89 points, or 1.05%, to 7,137.90, and the Nasdaq advanced 397.603 points, or 1.64%, to 24,657.567. Investor sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire, citing divisions inside Iran, the report said. In the main market, individuals were net sellers of 781.2 billion won, while foreigners and institutions were net buyers of 233.3 billion won and 594.6 billion won, respectively. Among top market-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 4.60%, SK Hynix gained 3.35%, Hyundai Motor added 0.18%, SK Square climbed 4.86%, Doosan Enerbility advanced 5.35% and Samsung Biologics edged up 0.06%. LG Energy Solution fell 3.72%, Hanwha Aerospace slipped 0.42% and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries dropped 3.90%. Samsung Electronics was trading at 227,750 won as of 9:35 a.m., up 10,250 won, or 4.71%, from the previous session, setting a record high. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ was down 5.30 points, or 0.45%, at 1,175.82 at the same time. It opened up 7.98 points, or 0.68%, at 1,189.10 but turned lower on foreign selling. In the KOSDAQ market, foreigners and institutions were net sellers of 161.8 billion won and 78.4 billion won, while individuals were net buyers of 249.7 billion won. Among top KOSDAQ stocks, EcoPro fell 2.25%, EcoPro BM lost 2.29%, Samchundang Pharm dropped 4.84% and HLB slid 1.32%. Rainbow Robotics rose 2.18%, Lino Industrial gained 3.41% and ABL Bio added 0.93%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:42:53 -
SK hynix says weak DRAM spot prices have limited impact, expects AI to lift demand SK hynix said on April 23, during a two-day conference call on its 2026 first-quarter earnings, that recent weakness in DRAM spot prices is not a reliable gauge of broader market conditions. “The spot market accounts for a very small share of the overall DRAM market, and the types and scale of products traded differ from our business,” the company said. “In the current market environment, it is difficult to view spot price moves as reflecting overall market conditions.” SK hynix said memory demand from major customers is rising across products including high-bandwidth memory, server DRAM and enterprise SSDs, while suppliers face constraints on expanding output in the short term. “If this supply-demand imbalance persists, the memory price upcycle could last longer than in the past,” it said. The company also pointed to structural shifts in the artificial intelligence industry as a driver of demand. “As software and hardware optimization progress simultaneously in the AI industry, the way memory is used is changing,” SK hynix said. It added that memory-efficiency technologies may appear to reduce usage per device, but are evolving to maximize information processing per unit of memory. SK hynix said the changes could improve service economics, creating a virtuous cycle that expands the overall AI market and increases memory demand. 2026-04-23 09:42:06 -
Finance Minister Koo, BOK Gov. Shin stress fiscal-monetary coordination amid Mideast uncertainty Deputy Prime Minister and Finance and Economy Minister Koo Yun-cheol met for breakfast with Bank of Korea Gov. Shin Hyun-song on April 23 and said “close consultations through policy coordination between fiscal and monetary policy are important.” The meeting came two days after Shin took office on April 21. It was arranged to congratulate him and strengthen cooperation between the government and the central bank. Ahead of the talks, Koo said the economy has faced difficulties since the second half of last year and that Shin’s arrival would be “a great help.” He said volatility remains high and stressed the need for close coordination with monetary policy. Shin said the situation in the Middle East is ongoing and uncertainty is high, adding that the BOK would respond actively on market stability and foreign exchange issues. He said he would also stay in frequent contact on longer-term structural issues and institutional improvements. The two sides shared views on recent economic conditions and exchanged opinions on policy responses. With uncertainty from the Middle East war persisting, they said risks have increased from high oil prices and supply-chain instability, raising downside pressure on growth and the risk of higher inflation. They agreed to run fiscal and monetary policy in a coordinated way. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in responding to financial and foreign exchange market instability, closely monitoring volatile conditions. They said they would push won internationalization through measures including a 24-hour foreign exchange market and building an offshore won settlement system, while working to improve market structure. On medium- and long-term tasks, they shared the view that structural reforms are important to boost growth potential and ease polarization. They also exchanged views on directions for key initiatives including artificial intelligence, the green transition and a “super-innovation economy.” Koo asked the BOK to use its research capacity to provide in-depth analysis and policy recommendations on structural reforms, and Shin said he would contribute actively. They agreed to keep close communication through existing channels, including market-monitoring meetings, and to meet as needed to reinforce cooperation between the government and the central bank. After the meeting, Shin told reporters that they discussed the exchange rate “broadly.” Asked about first-quarter gross domestic product growth of 1.7%, the highest in five years, he said it showed the resilience of the Korean economy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:41:13 -
Mexican Dining Brand Sugar Skull to Run Experiential Pop-Up at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil 멕시코 다이닝 브랜드 슈가스컬이 서울 잠실 롯데월드몰에서 체험형 팝업스토어를 연다. 슈가스컬은 4월 23일부터 5월 17일까지 서울 송파구 롯데월드몰 지하 1층에서 팝업스토어를 운영한다고 밝혔다. 이번 행사는 브랜드 콘셉트에 공간 체험 요소를 결합한 형태로, 외식업계에서 확산 중인 ‘경험형 매장’ 전략의 일환이라고 설명했다. 팝업은 ‘멕시칸 피크닉’을 주제로 꾸몄다. 멕시코 전통 축제에서 영감을 받은 색감과 장식으로 공간을 연출하고, 브랜드 캐릭터 ‘슈가’, ‘슈미’, ‘타코 트리오’를 활용한 포토존을 마련했다. 방문객은 동선에 따라 이동하며 브랜드 세계관을 체험하도록 구성됐다. 현장에는 2차원 그래픽과 입체 오브제를 결합한 촬영 공간도 조성됐다. 사진·영상 기록과 SNS 공유를 염두에 둔 ‘소셜 공유형 공간’ 설계를 반영했다고 회사는 밝혔다. 메뉴도 팝업에 맞춰 일부 조정했다. 기존 브리또볼과 빵타코 기반 메뉴에 더해 컵 형태의 ‘컵 브리또’, 대용량 ‘자이언트 브리또’, ‘쉐이크 콘립’ 등을 팝업 한정으로 운영한다. 일부 메뉴는 미국쌀협회와 협업해 개발됐다. 현장 이벤트도 진행한다. 랜덤 키링 굿즈에는 근거리무선통신(NFC) 기능을 적용해 매장 방문 시 사이드 메뉴를 제공하는 쿠폰으로 사용할 수 있도록 했다. 피크닉 박스 구매 고객에게는 추가 할인 혜택을 제공한다. 슈가스컬은 현재 종로, 센트럴시티, 서울역 등 서울 주요 상권에서 매장을 운영 중이다. 회사는 대형 복합쇼핑몰과 관광 수요가 결합된 송파구 일대에서 단기 팝업을 통해 브랜드 노출 효과를 기대하고 있다. 루미 호스피탈리티 측은 “공간 체험과 식음 콘텐츠를 결합해 브랜드가 추구하는 분위기를 전달하는 데 초점을 맞췄다”며 “일상에서 부담 없이 즐길 수 있는 형태의 체험형 다이닝을 선보일 계획”이라고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:40:19 -
Comedian Omage Announces Marriage on Social Media Comedian Omage has announced she is getting married. On the 22nd, she posted photos on social media with the message, "Everyone, I'm getting married." She added, "There are many people I think of, but I hesitated to reach out because it has been a while and I worried it might feel like a burden." "I ask for your understanding from those I couldn't tell in advance, and if you contact me first at any time with an open heart, I'll be happy and grateful to share the news," she wrote. She closed by saying, "I won't forget the love and the precious feelings of those who congratulate me, and I'll repay you by living happily." In the released photos, Omage is shown in her fiancé's arms, smiling brightly at the camera. Omage debuted as part of MBC's 20th open recruitment class of comedians and became known through the "05 is back!" segment on the YouTube channel Psick Univ.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:39:48 -
Israel-Hezbollah Clashes Intensify as Lebanon Airstrikes Kill at Least 4 Ahead of Truce Deadline Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group in Lebanon, have stepped up clashes again. Tensions rose after Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least four people, days before a U.S.-brokered truce is set to expire. On April 22 (local time), Israel struck Tyre and Yohmor in southern Lebanon, killing at least four people, Reuters reported. The attacks came just days before planned truce talks in Washington. Hezbollah responded with a drone attack targeting Israeli forces, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement. The truce is a 10-day, time-limited deal brokered by the United States and is due to end Sunday. Lebanon’s government says it wants to discuss extending the truce, an Israeli withdrawal, the return of detainees and border demarcation. However, Hezbollah opposes direct talks with Israel, Reuters reported, highlighting divisions inside Lebanon. Also on April 22, Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed in an Israeli airstrike while reporting in southern Lebanon, and another journalist was wounded. Reuters said it was the deadliest day since the truce was announced. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah-linked vehicle that entered a restricted area and denied deliberately targeting journalists.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:36:45