Journalist

Jo Hyun-mi
  • Han Dong-hoon Says He Will Not Leave Busan’s Buk District Ahead of By-Election Bid
    Han Dong-hoon Says He Will Not Leave Busan’s Buk District Ahead of By-Election Bid Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party who is running as an independent in the by-election in Busan’s Buk District A constituency, said on April 23 that he would “never leave” Buk District. In a handwritten message posted to social media, Han called Buk District “the start of my politics and my hometown,” and said he would show “Han Dong-hoon-style politics” there. “I have never left this place, and no one sent me here,” he wrote, adding that he would “laugh together and cry together” with Buk District residents. “I will grow with Buk District and protect it. I will never leave,” he wrote. “I will prove it with politics that keeps promises.” Han previously formalized his bid on April 14 by filing a change-of-address report to an apartment in Manduk 2-dong, Buk District. After completing the paperwork, he said he had decided to live for Busan residents and would begin and end his political career there. The Buk A seat is currently held by Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo. A by-election is scheduled for June 3 after Jeon was chosen as the party’s candidate for Busan mayor. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 16:14:47
  • Democratic Party Candidates in Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Pledge Border-Area Economic Push
    Democratic Party Candidates in Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Pledge Border-Area Economic Push Candidates for metropolitan-level posts from South Korea’s Democratic Party in Incheon, Gyeonggi and Gangwon said they will coordinate efforts to revitalize the economy in border areas ahead of the June 3 nationwide local elections. Woo Sang-ho, the party’s candidate for Gangwon governor, Choo Mi-ae, the candidate for Gyeonggi governor, and Park Chan-dae, the candidate for Incheon mayor, signed an agreement at the National Assembly on April 23 titled “Agreement for New Change and Coexistence in Border Areas.” They said they will seek to rebrand the term “border areas” as a “peace zone for shared growth and prosperity,” and jointly explore institutional improvements aimed at strengthening residents’ rights and boosting local economies. The three also agreed to cooperate on policies to expand ecological and peace tourism in the Demilitarized Zone, and to energize a consultative body of regional leaders for the peace zone to support residents’ stable livelihoods. After the signing, Woo told reporters the phrase “border areas” was a customary label rather than a legal term. He said the candidates will take steps after the election to move away from negative images tied to security, division and isolation and toward a peace-oriented approach. They also said they will work together to secure support from the central government. Park said, “The most important foundation of the Republic of Korea is peace,” adding he will communicate and cooperate closely with the central government. Choo said the consultative body will work with the central government and ministries to ease regulations affecting the border areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 11:45:17
  • Busan, South Gyeongsang governors deny plan for separate election in southeast
    Busan, South Gyeongsang governors deny plan for separate election in southeast Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon rejected reports that incumbent governors from the ruling People Power Party in the southeastern region of Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang planned to pursue a separate election effort, calling the claim untrue. He also dismissed reports that they were pushing the party not to field a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election after Han Dong-hoon declared he would run as an independent. In a statement issued Tuesday, Park said local leaders in the region had no plan to release any declaration about holding an independent election. He added that the governors had not discussed any request for the party to forgo nominating a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election. South Gyeongsang Gov. Park Wan-su also denied the report Tuesday, saying he had not held any discussions with the mayors of Busan and Ulsan about a statement related to an independent election. The People Power Party has nominated the incumbent mayors and governor in the region as its candidates for the nationwide local elections set for June 3. Earlier Tuesday, a media outlet reported that incumbent People Power Party leaders in the region were moving to issue a statement on running the June 3 local elections in an independent manner, and that it could include a call for the party not to nominate a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu A by-election. 2026-04-22 15:34:20
  • Park Chan-dae to Officially Enter Incheon Mayoral Race on Tuesday
    Park Chan-dae to Officially Enter Incheon Mayoral Race on Tuesday Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae, the party’s candidate for Incheon mayor, said he will make his official announcement of candidacy on April 22, launching his campaign in earnest. Park told reporters on April 21 after visiting Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang province, and paying respects at the grave of the late President Roh Moo-hyun that he would “make the announcement tomorrow.” It will be his formal entry 49 days after the party finalized its nomination on March 4. Park, a three-term National Assembly member representing Incheon’s Yeonsu A district, said he plans to submit his resignation from the Assembly on April 29. Park also reiterated cooperation among candidates for top local government posts in the capital region. He visited the memorial with Jeong Won-oh, a Seoul mayoral candidate, and Choo Mi-ae, a Gyeonggi governor candidate. The three previously met in front of the National Assembly on April 12 and pledged to coordinate on campaign pledges and policy. “I came to honor the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun once again,” Park said. Citing Roh’s remark that “the last bastion of democracy is the organized power of awake citizens,” Park said candidates for capital-region leadership posts symbolize that spirit. He said campaign staff are “fiercely debating” to develop shared pledges for the capital region, adding that the candidates aim to honor Roh’s goal of building “a world where people live” through local autonomy and decentralization. Park said the capital region’s 26 million residents are “a community of shared destiny,” and vowed to realize Roh’s dream by improving people’s lives and building “a world where people live.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 16:34:02
  • Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon says rival’s attacks on Han Dong-hoon help his poll numbers
    Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon says rival’s attacks on Han Dong-hoon help his poll numbers Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon said Monday that criticism of Han Dong-hoon by Jeon Jae-soo, the Democratic Party’s Busan mayoral candidate, is helping Park’s own support. Park, the People Power Party’s candidate for Busan mayor, told reporters at the National Assembly’s communications center that Jeon’s repeated attacks on Han’s possible run in a by-election in Busan’s Buk-gu Gap district were “not bad” for Park’s rise in the polls. A poll released the previous day showed Park and Jeon in a tight race within the margin of error. It was the first time the two major-party candidates were shown in a close contest since their nominations were finalized. In the survey by Hankook Research, commissioned by KBS Busan, 1,000 Busan residents ages 18 and older were polled April 17-19. Jeon led with 40% support, while Park had 34%, a gap within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Asked about talk of coordinating with Han, Park said once a local election campaign committee is formed, it will “fully discuss” the best approach to win. He added that he has not contacted or met Han. Park also said the narrowing gap reflected what he called missteps by the Lee Jae-myung administration. “The current administration keeps deceiving Busan citizens,” Park said, citing the failure of a special law for a global hub city, the stalled relocation of the Korea Development Bank, and delays in converting Baptist Hospital into a public hospital. Park said public sentiment in Busan “cannot improve” under those conditions and warned that if issues such as the public hospital plan are not resolved properly this time, Busan residents will become even angrier.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 15:15:17
  • Celltrion Pledges Full Cooperation After Contractor Worker’s Fatal Fall
    Celltrion Pledges Full Cooperation After Contractor Worker’s Fatal Fall Celltrion said March 23 it is cooperating with authorities investigating the death of a contractor worker who fell while working at the company’s headquarters a day earlier, and vowed to strengthen safety measures to prevent a repeat. In a statement posted on its website, the company offered condolences, saying it mourns the contractor worker who died in what it called a tragic accident during work at its Songdo campus, and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. Celltrion said it will provide all possible support during the response process and share the family’s grief, regardless of what investigators later determine about the cause or findings. The company said it has confirmed that required safety procedures and equipment checks had been completed before the accident, but that the specific circumstances are still being verified. It said it will recheck safety management systems at all worksites from the ground up and conduct a comprehensive inspection of potential hazards across the campus. Police and fire officials said the incident occurred at about 11:04 a.m. the previous day at a building on the second floor of a Celltrion factory in Songdo-dong, Incheon. The worker, a man in his 20s identified only as A, fell about 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) and died.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-23 19:15:00
  • Proposal to expand overnight delivery draws resistance from mom-and-pop stores
    Proposal to expand overnight delivery draws resistance from mom-and-pop stores SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) - Seeing delivery boxes from Coupang or Kurly outside front doors on the way to work has become an everyday sight in South Korea. Ordering something at night and finding it on your doorstep the very next morning is now a common practice - it's simply how online shopping works here. Lawmakers now want to open overnight delivery to more players. Under a proposed revision led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), large discount retailers would be allowed to offer the service, with supporters saying the move would help curb the dominance of online platform giant Coupang while also giving consumers more options and greater convenience. Under the law introduced in 2012, large discount stores have been barred from operating between midnight and 10 a.m. That restriction helped create conditions in which Coupang effectively dominates the overnight delivery market. The revision would exempt online deliveries from those restricted hours to prevent any one company from monopolizing the service. A related bill has been submitted to the National Assembly by DP lawmaker Kim Dong-ah. It would keep the current closure and operating-hour limits mandatory for large discount stores and supermarket chains but allow online deliveries without such restrictions. But small-business owners have strongly opposed the move, warning that it would deal a severe blow to them. They argue that it would hurt them both directly and indirectly and are calling for the proposal to be scrapped. Protesters even rallied outside his office, demanding that he withdraw the proposal. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise called it the removal of their last safety net. Having already lost ground to large online platforms, they argue that granting the same delivery rights to major retailers with deep pockets and extensive logistics networks would not create fair competition but would instead put even more pressure on small merchants. Small businesses and local stores have voiced particular concern, criticizing the easing of regulations intended to curb Coupang's market dominance as a case of "burning down the house to catch a flea," arguing that small and midsize merchants should not be sacrificed in a fight among retail giants. They also fear it could loosen the current restrictions on major retailers' business hours, which have been in place since the Constitutional Court upheld them in 2018 to promote coexistence. Changes in the retail industry are inevitable, and regulations can be adjusted to reflect the times. But if the burden falls primarily on the most vulnerable, that deserves a second look. South Korea's 7.9 million small-business owners are a cornerstone of the economy. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-03-13 09:47:03
  • Korean Drugmakers Expand Into Senior Care as Super-Aged Society Grows
    Korean Drugmakers Expand Into Senior Care as Super-Aged Society Grows South Korea’s shift into a super-aged society is pushing “senior health care” — spanning medical services, caregiving, housing and nutrition — to the center of a fast-changing industry. Domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies are moving beyond drug development, expanding into housing and artificial intelligence-based digital care as they seek new growth in an aging era. According to the National Data Portal on March 2, people 65 and older accounted for 20.3% of the population as of 2025, marking the country’s entry into a super-aged society. The government projects the share will reach 30% in 2036 and exceed 40% in 2050. As the senior population grows, the market is increasingly viewed less as welfare and more as a high-value business. In particular, pharma and biotech companies are combining their drug-development capabilities with data and facility planning to build models that manage seniors across the full span of later life. Daewoong Group will open a senior-only “Care Hub” in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, in April. The complex, about 3,800 square meters (1,150 pyeong), is designed to continuously monitor seniors’ health by combining data and AI. Unlike traditional nursing facilities focused on care and treatment, it emphasizes disease prevention and extending healthy life expectancy. The company plans to link clinical and disease data it has accumulated with wearable devices and AI analysis to provide preventive, preemptive services. The hub will offer outpatient-style programs and stays of up to three months for intensive management. Cha Bio Group is focusing on combining housing and medical services. Its affiliate Cha Healthcare last year partnered with POSCO E&C to develop senior residences, aiming to make living spaces function as medical platforms and narrow the gap between hospital and home. AI-based senior platforms are also emerging. HLB Global, through its subsidiary HLB Lifecare, operates a platform that predicts and manages chronic diseases. Using data from Yonsei University medical institutions and AI, it forecasts the onset of conditions such as diabetes complications and provides highly personalized management. Last year it formed an “AI medical health care council” with Japan’s largest private equity fund manager, ACA, and Korean AI firms including Selvas AI, JLK, VUNO and Mediana, stepping up efforts to enter the Japanese market. Senior nursing, housing and management services are widely seen as areas that can generate long-term cash flow. Hana Financial Research Institute projects South Korea’s senior market will expand to 241 trillion won by 2030 from 88 trillion won in 2022, an average annual growth rate of 13.4%. Kim Dae-jong, a professor in the business administration department at Sejong University, said the senior industry is poised for rapid growth as longer life expectancy makes healthy longevity a shared goal. He added that pharmaceutical companies’ performance in related noncore businesses is also likely to rise.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 06:04:13
  • SK Bioscience Wins EU Flu Vaccine Project; VioL Rebrands; HLB Pharma Honored
    SK Bioscience Wins EU Flu Vaccine Project; VioL Rebrands; HLB Pharma Honored SK Bioscience wins European flu vaccine project SK Bioscience said Feb. 26 it was selected, with its German unit IDT, for a first-phase assignment under a next-generation vaccine development initiative run by the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency, or HaDEA, under a mandate from the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, or HERA. The companies will join Australian vaccine platform firm Vaxxas in a three-party consortium to develop patch-based vaccines for seasonal influenza for older adults and pandemic influenza (avian influenza) for all age groups. It is the first time SK Bioscience has won a project from European health authorities, the company said. HaDEA will provide a total of 12.9 million euros (about 22.2 billion won) for first-phase research, including a Phase 1 clinical trial. Depending on technology validation and clinical results, support could later expand to as much as 225 million euros (about 383.6 billion won), SK Bioscience said. Chief Executive Ahn Jae-yong called it “the first case” in which the combined global network and technical capabilities of SK Bioscience and IDT, following the IDT acquisition, have led to business results. He said the company will continue seeking opportunities to enter Europe with vaccines it develops and strengthen competitiveness through innovative platforms. VioL changes name to ‘VioL Medical’ to sharpen medical-device identity VioL, a maker of energy-based medical devices, said Feb. 26 it has changed its corporate name to VioL Medical. The company said adding “Medical” preserves existing brand assets while making its identity as a specialized medical-device company clearer and signaling its aim to meet global standards. It said it plans to raise market share in key markets in North America, Europe and Asia and strengthen local distribution networks. It also plans to continue expanding investment to advance next-generation energy-based devices and research and development. Founded in 2009, VioL Medical offers microneedle radio-frequency-based medical devices. The company said it has been strengthening its business foundation step by step since being acquired last year by VIG Partners. CEO Lee Eun-cheon said the name change reflects a commitment to create practical value in clinical settings and deliver sustainable growth for partners, customers and investors. He said the company will set a new standard in the global medical market based on differentiated technology and clinical competitiveness. HLB Pharma named one of Korea’s 100 Best Companies to Work For for third straight year HLB Pharma said Feb. 26 it was named to the “2026 Korea’s 100 Best Companies to Work For,” marking its third consecutive year on the list. The awards were presented the previous day at the “2026 24th Korea’s Best Companies to Work For” ceremony. The company said CEO Park Jae-hyung was also named “Most Respected CEO in Korea,” winning for a third straight year. Vice President Kim Man-gyu received the “GPTW Pioneer Award,” and Director Lee Yong-woo, who oversees HR and general affairs, received the “GPTW Innovation Leader Award.” HLB Pharma said it runs a communication program that allows the CEO and new employees to exchange views informally. It also cited a monthly allowance paid to employees’ parents and an early-departure work culture aimed at improving efficiency, as part of efforts to build a workplace that respects family and personal life. Park said the company has steadily pursued workplace-culture innovation based on the belief that sustained growth comes from people. He said HLB Pharma will further strengthen competitiveness by building an environment where employees can take pride in their work and stay engaged.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 16:24:18
  • Celltrion ramps up US manufacturing to buffer against tariffs
    Celltrion ramps up US manufacturing to buffer against tariffs SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Thursday that it has taken steps to ensure its U.S. operations remain uninterrupted amid growing uncertainty over tariffs following a Supreme Court ruling last week. In a statement, Celltrion said it is ready to respond regardless of how tariff-related issues are resolved after the U.S. Supreme Court found U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs policy unlawful. Celltrion, which acquired U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly's biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Branchburg, New Jersey, late last year, said it completed a full inspection and preparations for full operations by the end of January and began manufacturing this month. The company said it has also begun procedures to manufacture its own products locally and plans to build a system linking production with its direct sales network to supply them across the U.S. as soon as possible. Under its phased plans, Celltrion said it will hedge against tariff uncertainty by supplying the U.S. market with products manufactured at its Branchburg plant. 2026-02-26 13:58:08