Journalist

Park Hee-won
  • Holt Gangdong Welfare Center Holds 8th Balral Festival in Gangil-dong
    Holt Gangdong Welfare Center Holds 8th Balral Festival in Gangil-dong A hands-on community festival bringing together people with developmental disabilities and local residents was held at a plaza in Gangil-dong, Seoul’s Gangdong District. Holt Gangdong Welfare Center, operated by Holt Children’s Services, said it held the eighth Balral Festival at the Gangil-dong plaza on April 18. The event was organized to mark Disability Day, observed annually on April 20 and established in 1972 to promote understanding of people with disabilities and advance their rights. People with developmental disabilities, their families and neighborhood residents took part in programs focused on disability awareness and community inclusion. On-site activities included augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, demonstrations; a visual-impairment experience; and a disability-awareness quiz. Visitors also joined hands-on booths such as ball-toss games and other participatory activities. AAC refers to communication methods that use picture boards, symbols or electronic devices for people who have difficulty expressing themselves through speech or writing. The center said its use is expanding in South Korea’s support services for people with developmental disabilities. Other activities included decorating pens, making keychains, a portrait-drawing talent donation by an artist with a developmental disability, and a samulnori percussion performance. The center said a notable feature of this year’s festival was that some programs were planned and run with direct participation from people with developmental disabilities, reflecting a broader push in welfare services to expand participant-led roles beyond attendance. Local organizations including the Seoul Metropolitan Gangdong Youth Center and the Korea Welfare Center for the Blind joined the event. The Gangil-dong Community Service Center and police supported on-site safety management, and private sponsors including retailers and restaurant businesses helped with operations. Participants said the disability-experience programs and activities helped deepen their understanding of disability, the center said. A center official said, “We have continued to hold events in which the local community participates together to mark Disability Day,” adding, “We plan to keep expanding programs that bring people with developmental disabilities and those without disabilities together.” Holt Gangdong Welfare Center provides day care, family support and community-integration programs for people with developmental disabilities and regularly runs community-based disability awareness efforts. 2026-04-22 11:01:03
  • Seoul Sauce 1991 Launches Official Store on Amazon to Expand Overseas Sales
    Seoul Sauce 1991 Launches Official Store on Amazon to Expand Overseas Sales 소스코가 운영하는 K-푸드 기반 소스 브랜드 ‘서울소스 1991’이 글로벌 이커머스 플랫폼 Amazon에 공식 입점했다. 회사는 이를 계기로 북미를 포함한 해외 소비자 대상 직접 판매(D2C) 채널을 확대할 계획이라고 밝혔다. 서울소스 1991은 한국 전통 장류인 고추장을 기반으로 트러플, 까르보나라, 마라 등 해외 식문화를 접목한 퓨전 소스를 선보이고 있다. K-푸드 확산과 함께 간편식 트렌드가 커지면서 ‘소스’ 형태의 가공식품이 글로벌 시장에서 빠르게 성장하는 점을 반영한 전략으로 풀이된다. 농림축산식품부와 한국농수산식품유통공사(aT)에 따르면 최근 몇 년간 고추장을 포함한 장류 수출은 꾸준히 증가했다. 특히 소스 형태로 가공된 제품은 현지 요리에 쉽게 활용할 수 있어 해외 소비자 접근성이 높은 품목으로 꼽힌다. K-푸드 수출도 김치, 라면 등 완제품 중심에서 소스·조미료 등 ‘재료형 식품’으로 확장되는 흐름이 나타나고 있다. 서울소스 1991은 초기 개발 단계부터 글로벌 식품 규격을 반영한 단일 레시피를 적용했다고 설명했다. 국가별 규제와 금지원료 기준 차이로 내수용과 수출용 제품의 맛이 달라지는 문제를 줄이기 위한 방식으로, 지역별 레시피를 따로 운영하는 것과 달리 하나의 기준으로 맛을 통일하는 전략을 택했다. 유통 측면에서는 아마존 입점이 물류·배송을 지원하는 풀필먼트 서비스(FBA) 활용과 맞물리는 경우가 많다고 업계는 보고 있다. 이는 중소 식품 브랜드의 해외 진출이 오프라인 수출 중심에서 온라인 직판으로 이동하는 흐름을 보여주며, 초기 유통망 구축 부담을 낮추고 소비자 반응을 빠르게 확인할 수 있다는 장점이 있다. 서울소스 1991은 국내에서 외국인 관광객이 많이 찾는 리테일 채널을 중심으로 판매 데이터를 확보해 왔으며, 이를 바탕으로 해외 시장에서도 제품 확장 가능성을 검증해 왔다고 밝혔다. K-푸드는 한류 콘텐츠 확산과 함께 집에서 한국식 맛을 간편하게 구현하려는 수요가 늘면서 소스류 소비가 증가하는 경향을 보이고 있다고 회사는 설명했다. 회사 측은 미국을 시작으로 말레이시아, 일본, 홍콩, 대만 등 아시아 주요 시장으로 유통망을 넓혀갈 계획이라고 밝혔다. 업계에서는 고추장 기반 소스가 매운맛 트렌드와 맞물려 성장 가능성이 큰 분야로 평가하고 있으며, 간편식과 홈쿡 수요 증가로 소스 시장도 확대되는 추세라고 보고 있다. 소스코 관계자는 “아마존 입점은 글로벌 소비자와 직접 연결되는 계기가 될 것”이라며 “국내외에서 동일한 맛을 유지하는 제품 경쟁력을 기반으로 시장을 확대해 나갈 계획”이라고 말했다. 제목* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:43:19
  • Seowon Tokeon Upgraded to BBB- Credit Rating on Smart Construction, Safety Push
    Seowon Tokeon Upgraded to BBB- Credit Rating on Smart Construction, Safety Push Seowon Tokeon has received a BBB- corporate credit rating from NICE Information Service. The rating sits at the lower end of investment-grade and is typically assigned to companies viewed as having a certain level of financial stability and debt-repayment capacity. Founded in 1991, Seowon Tokeon is a specialty contractor focused on reinforced-concrete work and structural frames for apartment housing. Despite the project-by-project nature of construction orders, the company has built long-term, site-based experience that evaluators said supports stable schedule control and quality assurance. Its relatively steady performance in meeting deadlines and managing safety, key measures in South Korea’s construction industry, also appeared to factor into the assessment. Across the sector, digital transformation has emerged as a priority as companies respond to an aging workforce and persistent safety risks. Seowon Tokeon is pursuing a smart-construction system under its “Vision 2030” plan and formed a Future Strategy task force in January 2026 to verify technology applications at job sites. Industry observers say more mid-sized and smaller builders, with less capacity for large-scale technology investment than major firms, are opting for phased rollouts centered on field deployment. The company has set AI-based safety management and data-driven site operations as key goals, aligning with the Transport Ministry’s push to expand smart construction. The government has been promoting wider use of smart safety equipment and data-based management systems to reduce job-site accidents, and adoption of such technologies is widely seen as likely to become a factor in future competitiveness assessments. Seowon Tokeon is also working with Sungkyunkwan University to develop AI-based safety technology. It is testing systems such as worker-route risk detection and video-based safety monitoring. At the Gwacheon G-town site, a research AI CCTV system has been installed to collect work-environment data, which is being used to refine safety standards and training materials. Use of AI video analytics at construction sites has been increasing, including systems that automatically detect whether workers are wearing protective gear or entering restricted areas. Some large builders have moved beyond pilot programs to broader deployment, and Seowon Tokeon is moving to adopt similar tools. The company’s rating also marks an upgrade. Seowon Tokeon said it rose one notch from the previous year to BBB-. In general, credit upgrades are interpreted as reflecting a combination of improved profitability, a stronger order backlog and a more stable financial structure. Because construction is closely tied to the real estate cycle, evaluators also weigh whether a company has a business base that can withstand shifts in external conditions. The company said preparations for smart construction, along with its construction capabilities, were reflected in the evaluation. It said it plans to continue operations in a way that secures both safety and efficiency, focusing on technologies proven at job sites. Credit-rating industry officials note that while the BBB range is considered investment-grade, it is also viewed as more vulnerable to performance swings during economic downturns. They said maintaining profitability and managing financial stability will be key to any further upgrades. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:27:29
  • Open Network System picked for Gyeonggi AI challenge to curb illegal truck parking
    Open Network System picked for Gyeonggi AI challenge to curb illegal truck parking 오픈네트웍시스템이 경기도경제과학진흥원이 주관한 ‘2026년 경기도 AI 챌린지 프로그램’에 선정돼, 화물자동차 불법 주정차 단속을 위한 인공지능 기반 플랫폼 구축에 나선다. The company said it was selected for the “2026 Gyeonggi-do AI Challenge Program,” hosted by the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator, and will build an AI-based platform to crack down on illegal parking and stopping by cargo trucks. The program aims to identify public services that address local problems and brings together local governments, public agencies and private AI companies. Projects were evaluated for practical use in real administrative settings, the company said. Open Network System proposed a platform called “CargoClick” through a consortium with Ansan City and Korea University’s Convergence Research Institute. It was ultimately selected in the AI administration category after document screening and a presentation review, the company said. The project is based on an administrative innovation cooperation framework previously signed by Ansan City with KT and Korea University. CargoClick aims to automate the entire enforcement process for illegal parking and stopping by large trucks — from an initial warning to a second-stage crackdown and issuance of administrative fines — to reduce the workload for public officials and speed up processing, the company said. Illegal parking has been cited as a major cause of disrupted traffic flow and threats to pedestrian safety. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments have said long-term illegal parking by large vehicles remains a management target because it can raise accident risks on narrow side streets. The platform will also include a chatbot for drivers, providing guidance on enforcement standards and nearby parking locations and availability to encourage compliance in advance. Collected data will be visualized to analyze regional patterns of illegal parking and stopping and to help set enforcement zones or develop parking policies, the company said. AI-driven administrative automation has been expanding in the public sector, with decision-support systems applied in areas such as civil complaint response, traffic management and urban safety to improve efficiency and policy accuracy, the company said. Open Network System said it plans to develop the platform by November and apply it in Ansan City. The company said it expects the system to shorten administrative processing time, encourage voluntary compliance by drivers and support data-based policy operations. Chief Executive Park Bong-gyun said the goal is “to achieve both improved administrative efficiency and tangible benefits that residents can feel,” adding that the company plans to expand its AI platform business in the public sector starting with the Ansan rollout.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:03:57
  • Hudson AI Unveils Automated AI Dubbing Tool at NAB Show, Targets One-Hour QC
    Hudson AI Unveils Automated AI Dubbing Tool at NAB Show, Targets One-Hour QC Media-focused voice AI company Hudson AI showcased its voice AI solution for media production and dubbing, Hudson Studio, at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas. NAB Show is a global exhibition where the latest technologies across broadcasting, streaming and video production are introduced, drawing tens of thousands of industry participants from more than 100 countries each year. With the expansion of OTT services, AI-driven production tools have become a major theme, and participation has been rising in areas such as speech synthesis, automated dubbing and video generation. Hudson AI highlighted what it calls “Agentic Localization,” a system in which AI agents handle the full localization workflow — from planning and execution to quality control. The company said the approach goes beyond translation or generating dubbed audio by repeatedly evaluating and revising outputs to improve quality. A central focus is automating QC, a step the industry often cites as the biggest drain on time and cost. For a one-hour drama or variety program, the review stage alone can take several days after translation and dubbing. Hudson AI said it designed the process so agents complete much of the work in advance, aiming to limit human involvement to final checks and to bring QC down to about one hour. The company said it can maintain consistency by using project-specific terminology, style guides and tone as a form of memory. It also applies emotion-aware evaluation to analyze not only voice matching but also acting tone, emotional delivery and nonverbal elements, automatically reworking segments that fall below standards. Hudson Studio offers modular tools including voice separation, speaker separation, speech-to-text, text-to-speech and voice conversion. The company said users can separate background sound from dialogue to generate subtitles, or create dubbed voices that reflect a specific speaker’s vocal color and emotion. It currently supports more than 80 languages. As global OTT platforms expand multilingual dubbed content, the automated dubbing and localization market is growing quickly. Industry estimates cited in the sector suggest localization can account for 20% to 30% of total production costs in some cases, with demand for automation rising especially among platforms with large libraries. Hudson AI said it plans to use its NAB appearance to broaden collaboration talks with media and platform companies in North and South America. It also plans to attend SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 in Japan later this month as it targets the Asian market. “Even when AI dubbing is adopted, bottlenecks often occur at the quality review stage in real operations,” CEO Shin Hyun-jin said. “Agentic Localization focuses on automating the entire process — from planning to execution and review — to improve quality while addressing cost and scheduling at the same time.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 16:07:54
  • Utransfer US Cuts U.S.-to-Korea Remittance Processing Time to Under 6 Hours
    Utransfer US Cuts U.S.-to-Korea Remittance Processing Time to Under 6 Hours Global financial IT company Adenasoft said its subsidiary UFintechHub has sped up remittances from the United States to South Korea on its foreign-exchange fintech platform, Utransfer US. The company said system upgrades cut average processing time to within six hours from about 12 hours. A key change was full automation so transfers can be processed automatically at night, on weekends and on holidays in Korea, rather than being constrained by bank business hours. The company also said it improved real-time tracking of each step, allowing users to check progress from submission through completion and more easily identify delays. Industry observers view the move as part of intensifying competition in cross-border remittances, as global fintech firms expand real-time or near-real-time services and emphasize faster processing and higher levels of automation. Adenasoft CEO Jeong Seung-woo said the company focused on speed and ease of use, adding that it is developing a second-phase system aimed at paying out within 10 minutes of an application by June. The company said some transactions may still take about one additional business day if extra checks are required under anti-money laundering rules. Those cases include transfers above certain amounts or meeting specific conditions, reflecting compliance procedures required for international remittances. UFintechHub operates segmented services including Utransfer for individuals, Utransfer Biz for companies and Utransfer US for U.S.-to-Korea remittances. The company said usage has been rising as demand grows for simpler transfers among overseas Koreans and international students, as well as foreign residents in Korea. The company said it plans further upgrades across the system, including stronger stability and improved detection of suspicious transactions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:25:02
  • Kang Gye-yeol, 102, Featured in ‘My Love, Don’t Cross That River,’ Dies
    Kang Gye-yeol, 102, Featured in ‘My Love, Don’t Cross That River,’ Dies Kang Gye-yeol, who appeared in the documentary film “My Love, Don’t Cross That River,” has died. She was 102. Director Jin Mo-young announced her death on social media on the 10th. Jin said he visited Kang on March 31 to say goodbye. Though her memory had faded, she recognized the group, greeted them and offered kind words, he said. “Even when I first met her in September 2012, she was like a young girl,” Jin wrote, mourning her death after she lived past 100. Released in 2014, “My Love, Don’t Cross That River” follows the lives of Kang and her husband, Cho Byeong-man. The film drew about 4.8 million viewers, an unusually strong box-office showing for an independent movie. Cho died in 2013 while the film was being shot.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-11 19:33:14
  • Seoul to Recruit Teens for 2026 Youth Orchestra Tour and Performances in Three European Countries
    Seoul to Recruit Teens for 2026 Youth Orchestra Tour and Performances in Three European Countries Seoul is recruiting participants for the “Seoul Youth Orchestra Performance Tour of Three European Countries,” a 7-night, 9-day program running from July 27 to Aug. 4, 2026, with conductor Baek Yun-hak. The city said the program is designed to help Seoul teenagers gain performance experience on an international stage and broaden their musical skills. Participants will join a youth orchestra festival in the Aix-en-Provence area of France, where they will perform and exchange with young musicians from other countries through music. Seoul said the tour is intended to offer practical arts experience through performances and cultural exchange, not just overseas travel. With Baek taking part, participants are expected to build ensemble and stage experience through orchestra rehearsals and concerts. “This performance tour will be an opportunity for Seoul youth to gain experience on the international stage and assess their own capabilities,” said Joo Ho-don, head of the Youth Policy Division at Seoul’s Lifelong Education Bureau. The program will be held in three European countries and aims to expand cultural and arts opportunities for teenagers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 13:48:00
  • BDH Foundation Chair Bae Dong-hyun Congratulates Kim Yun-ji on Historic Paralympic Biathlon Gold
    BDH Foundation Chair Bae Dong-hyun Congratulates Kim Yun-ji on Historic Paralympic Biathlon Gold On March 8, Bae Dong-hyun, chair of the BDH Foundation, met BDH Paras athlete Kim Yun-ji at the awards ceremony site and congratulated her after she won a historic gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics. Competing in her first Paralympics, Kim won the women’s sitting 12.5-kilometer individual biathlon at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium in Italy, taking first place in 38 minutes, 00.1 seconds. Kim drew attention for her focus and steady race management in biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and shooting. The gold was South Korea’s first in biathlon across both the Olympics and Paralympics. It was also the first Winter Paralympics gold ever won by a South Korean woman. It marked South Korea’s second Winter Paralympics gold medal, following Shin Eui-hyun’s gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics. The article noted that both of South Korea’s Winter Paralympics gold medals have been won by athletes from BDH Paras. The foundation said the result reflected Bae’s long-running interest and support for the development of para sports and athlete assistance, including efforts to broaden participation and help create stable training conditions so athletes can compete internationally. Bae, who attended the ceremony to congratulate Kim, said, “I sincerely congratulate our athlete Yun-ji. I am very happy and proud that the effort and challenge she has quietly continued have led to such a valuable result on the world stage.” Kim has four more events remaining at the Games and is set to continue competing after her breakthrough gold in her Paralympic debut. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 13:03:00
  • Min Hee-jin offers to forgo 25.6 billion won to end all legal disputes with HYBE
    Min Hee-jin offers to forgo 25.6 billion won to end all legal disputes with HYBE Min Hee-jin, former CEO of HYBE sublabel ADOR and now CEO of OK Records, said she is willing to give up the 25.6 billion won she would receive after winning a first trial in a stock-sale payment lawsuit against HYBE, if the company agrees to halt all civil and criminal legal disputes. At a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Min said, “If I put down the 25.6 billion won, I ask HYBE to stop all ongoing civil and criminal lawsuits and disputes.” She said her proposal would also cover ending all complaints and accusations involving not only her but also NewJeans members, outside partner companies and ADOR employees. Min said the main reason was “because of the NewJeans members,” adding, “It is painful that someone has to be on stage while someone else has to be in court.” She added, “You can’t create good culture with a heart torn to pieces.” On Feb. 12, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 31 ruled for Min in her lawsuit seeking payment for a stock sale. The court said HYBE must pay her about 25.5 billion won in put option proceeds. However, it accepted HYBE’s request to suspend enforcement, meaning forced collection is on hold until an appeals court ruling. Min’s remarks about NewJeans were seen as referring to issues including ADOR’s termination of its contract with member Danielle and a damages lawsuit. “HYBE and I belong not in court but on the creative stage,” Min said. She said she regretted not being able to complete the creative vision she had when launching NewJeans, and added she hoped HYBE’s promise to treat the group well if it returns would become reality. She also called for an environment where “all five” can pursue their dreams freely, saying the 25.6 billion won “is not bigger than a healthy K-pop ecosystem and artists’ peaceful daily lives.” Min appeared at the news conference in a black jacket and looked calmer than at her previous appearance. Referring to the recent ruling, she said the court found allegations such as an attempted management takeover and tampering were not true. Min recently launched the new label OK Records and announced plans to develop a rookie boy group. OK Records also plans to hold auditions. “I will take a new path as CEO of OK Records, leaving behind the label of former ADOR CEO,” Min said. “I hope there will be no more wasteful news conferences after today.” 2026-02-25 16:30:21