Journalist

Lee Yong-woo
  • Investigation underway after Eastar Jets passenger flight lands with cargo door open
    Investigation underway after Eastar Jet's passenger flight lands with cargo door open SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - An Eastar Jet passenger plane landed at Jeju International Airport with its cargo door partially open earlier this week, the budget carrier revealed on Wednesday, days after the incident. The incident occurred last Monday when a flight carrying 177 passengers from Gimpo touched down with the door ajar, prompting an investigation by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. With no injuries reported, the aircraft's pressurization system reportedly operated normally, but the incident caused significant delays for subsequent flights. "The ministry suspects that the cargo door lock may have been damaged during landing, causing it to open. "If the door had opened mid-flight, it could have caused decompression, requiring passengers to use oxygen masks," a ministry official explained, adding that a door warning light had activated shortly after takeoff. But further investigation will determine whether pilots and crews followed proper procedures to ensure passengers' safety. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 17:19:29
  • South Koreas HJ Heavy wins flood control project in Philippines
    South Korea's HJ Heavy wins flood control project in Philippines SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s HJ Heavy Industries said on Wednesday it has been selected by the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways to lead the Tagum flood control project, a contract valued at about $76 million. The project is designed to address long-standing flooding in Tagum City in Davao del Norte through the construction of levees and bridges, as well as dredging and widening of local rivers. The work is scheduled to take 48 months from commencement. Manila has been accelerating flood-mitigation investments as climate change increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters, working closely with international partners including the Asian Development Bank. HJ Heavy Industries completed the Pampanga flood control project in April last year. Since entering the Philippine market in 1973, the company has carried out more than 80 projects — from roads and ports to airports — and has contributed to major undertakings such as the Manila Light Rail and Davao International Airport. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 10:22:33
  • South Korea flags 210 suspicious foreign housing deals, plans crackdown
    South Korea flags 210 suspicious foreign housing deals, plans crackdown SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - The South Korean government said on Monday it had uncovered more than 200 suspicious housing transactions involving foreign nationals over the past year. According to the Real Estate Supervision Task Force, operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, a review of 438 housing transactions involving foreigners between June 2024 and May 2025 found that nearly half — 47.9 percent — showed signs of illegality or regulatory breaches. Officials plan to expand the probe to include non-residential properties and land transactions by the end of the year. Of the 210 flagged cases, authorities said 162 involved false reporting of transaction amounts or dates. Investigators also identified 58 instances of illegal fund transfers and loan misuses. The task force said it would refer the cases to the Ministry of Justice, the National Tax Service and other agencies for further action. Under South Korean law, unauthorized commercial activity by foreign buyers can draw penalties of up to three years in prison or fines of up to 30 million won. Tax authorities will also investigate the suspected cases and plan to impose back taxes if necessary. "The violations by foreign nationals pose risks to the country’s housing market, which has experienced volatility in recent years," said Kim Kyu-chul, director general at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. “We will continue efforts to maintain market order by eradicating illegal practices in foreign real estate transactions." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 17:13:31
  • Hanmi Global expands in Middle East with Kuwait, Saudi contracts
    Hanmi Global expands in Middle East with Kuwait, Saudi contracts SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Hanmi Global announced on Thursday that it had secured a series of construction management contracts in the Middle East. The company won three construction supervision contracts from Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare, valued at about 31 billion won, or roughly $22 million. In Saudi Arabia, it secured a separate deal worth 16 billion won to provide project management services for part of the kingdom’s vast Green Riyadh initiative. Together, the contracts amount to about 47 billion won, or $34 million, equal to nearly one-fifth of the company’s overseas revenue last year. In Kuwait, Hanmi Global will oversee projects in Abdullah City, a sprawling development southwest of Kuwait City that includes 1,600 housing units and related infrastructure such as roads and lighting. The city has become a showcase for South Korea’s smart city technology, the product of years of collaboration between the two governments. Since 2017, Korea Land and Housing Corporation has been in charge of the city’s master plan and design, while Hanmi Global joined the effort last year as a program management partner. The new contracts further cement Hanmi Global’s foothold in Kuwait, where it has steadily built its presence by handling multiple aspects of the Abdullah City project. The deal also coincides with the 50th anniversary of construction cooperation between South Korea and Kuwait, a relationship often described by officials as a model of public-private partnership. In Saudi Arabia, Hanmi Global will manage work in Zone 7 of the Green Riyadh program, one of the world’s largest urban greening projects. Launched in 2019 by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the initiative is a centerpiece of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 development plan and carries a total budget of about $10 billion. Zone 7 alone covers 22 square kilometers. “The Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, presents abundant opportunities for global construction firms,” the company said in a statement. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-25 10:54:08
  • INTERVIEW: In age of air taxis, South Korea prepares for new era of aviation safety
    INTERVIEW: In age of air taxis, South Korea prepares for new era of aviation safety SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - When Hwang Ho-won left the quiet corridors of academia last year for the front lines of aviation safety, he knew the stakes would be unlike anything he had faced in the classroom. “Our main focus is building a predictive aviation safety system using data,” Hwang, the head of the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology, said in a recent interview. “The field’s tension and seriousness are unlike anything experienced in academia.” For more than two decades, Hwang taught aviation law and policy at Korea Aerospace University. Six months into his new role, however, he is steering South Korea’s aviation safety strategy through an era of rapid technological change — and public anxiety. His mandate is expansive: integrating artificial intelligence into safety systems, preparing for a future of urban air mobility (UAM), and exporting what he calls “K-Safety” as a global brand. The work, Hwang admits, requires balancing theory with hard realities. “As a national aviation safety leader, I’ve realized the importance of practical responsibility,” he said. The urgency sharpened after a passenger plane accident last year, which led Hwang to accelerate the development of the nation’s “Aviation Safety AI Roadmap.” The plan aims to prevent accidents before they occur, using big data and machine learning to identify potential risks. At the same time, the institute has positioned itself at the center of South Korea’s push into the next frontier of aviation: electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs. Backed by a $100 million government initiative, the goal is to commercialize UAM by 2030. Hwang’s team leads the safety certification work, testing prototypes and designing regulations in step with international standards. The challenges are not limited to the skies. On the ground, Hwang has overseen the creation of the Drone Industry Alliance, a network of more than 350 organizations that has helped domestic companies secure over $40 million in exports. The alliance focuses on easing regulatory hurdles while encouraging international collaboration in what is already one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors. Inside the institute, Hwang has sought to foster creativity and communication, holding informal monthly meetings with department heads. His philosophy is straightforward: encourage researchers to define problems themselves, and empower them to find solutions collaboratively. Beyond technology, Hwang believes success will hinge on public trust. To ease skepticism over drones and air taxis, he plans to open the UAM market initially as a public service by 2028, arguing that government-backed pilots will reassure citizens about safety. Internationally, his institute is strengthening ties with regulators in Japan, the United States and Europe, while working with the International Civil Aviation Organization to align South Korea’s standards with global norms. Summing up his vision for the next decade, Hwang said he hopes to build “a hyper-connected safety management system that proactively identifies risks and aims for zero accidents through AI-based predictive analysis and data integration.” It is an ambitious goal, but one he believes South Korea is uniquely positioned to achieve. “We are at the point where safety is not only a national priority,” he said, “but also a global responsibility.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-23 09:49:23