PHOTOS: Suspense thriller "A Normal Family" to hit theaters next month

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - A press conference for the upcoming film "A Normal Family" was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Director Hur Jin-ho and actors Sol Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae, and Su Hyun were in attendance. "A Normal Family" is a suspense thriller that follows four individuals whose lives begin to crumble after they witness CCTV footage of a crime scene involving their children. Based on Dutch author Herman Koch&

September 25, 2024

Korea Zinc seeks to block takeover bid with core technology designation

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Korea's largest zinc smelter, Korea Zinc, has applied to have its technology for manufacturing electric vehicle battery precursors designated as a national core technology in a bid to fend off a hostile takeover attempt by former partner Young Poong and private equity firm MBK Partners. "We submitted an application for national core technology designation yesterday," a Korea Zinc official said on Wednesday. "The technology in question

September 25, 2024

Samsung, Hyundai partner to integrate IoT platform with vehicle infotainment

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has partnered with Hyundai Motor Group to integrate its Internet of Things (IoT) platform into the automaker's in-vehicle infotainment systems. The two Korean conglomerates signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday, to integrate Samsung’s SmartThings into the software-defined vehicles (SDV) systems being developed by three Hyundai affiliates – Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Corp. and 42dot. This integration

September 25, 2024

Trump claims his reelection would lead to 'mass exodus of manufacturing' from Korea

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed during his campaign rally in Georgia on Tuesday that his reelection would usher in a "manufacturing renaissance" in the U.S. Trump pledged voters and supporters that the U.S. would see a "mass exodus of manufacturing" from countries like Korea and China if they voted for him in the presidential election in November. Trump outlined plans to provide tax incentives and reduce red t

September 25, 2024

Samsung Galaxy Watches receive high ratings in Consumer Reports evaluation

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said Wednesday its Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch7 LTE have jointly reached the top position in the latest Consumer Reports evaluation. Both devices scored 92 points, while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 received 91 points. Consumer Reports gave the Galaxy Watch Ultra an "Excellent" rating in all 11 categories of its assessment. The U.S. consumer watchdog noted the Galaxy Watch Ultra's usability, step counting accuracy, and

September 25, 2024

Korean electric vehicle market shifts towards compact models amid global sales slowdown

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Korea's electric vehicle (EV) market is showing a clear preference for compact models, while sales of larger EVs continue to struggle, industry data revealed on Wednesday. The Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA) reported that domestic sales of compact EVs surged by 130.4 percent year-on-year to 19,103 cars in the first eight months of 2024. Conversely, sales of large EVs in the Korean market plunged 70.3 percent to 2,477 units. T

September 25, 2024

Opinion: The financial markets and reality

KENOSHA, September 25 (AJP) - There is continuing economic growth and related positive news. Above all, inflation is declining toward the established Federal Reserve target of two percent. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and colleagues at the Federal Reserve Board of the United States have therefore cut interest rates by fully one-half percent. Interest rates are going down, reflecting the new concern with unemployment. Stock declines have been concentrated in volatile technology sect

September 25, 2024

North Korean leader's sister sulks again over US submarine's visit to South Korea

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong on Tuesday launched another tirade over the recent arrival of a nuclear-armed U.S. submarine here. She also vowed that the North will "continuously and limitlessly" enhance its nuclear arsenal. North Korea's "nuclear war deterrent to cope with and contain various threats from outside is bound to be bolstered up both in quality and quantity continuously and limitlessly," Kim said

September 25, 2024

OPINION: AI is fueling deepfake porn crisis in Korea. What's behind it – and how can it be fixed?

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - It's difficult to talk about artificial intelligence without talking about deepfake porn – a harmful AI byproduct that has been used to target everyone from Taylor Swift to Australian school girls. But a recent report from startup Security Heroes found that out of 95,820 deepfake porn videos analyzed from different sources, 53 percent featured Korean singers and actresses – suggesting this group is disproportionately targeted. So, what&

September 25, 2024

Nat'l football team's head coach denies nepotism in his appointment

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the Korean men's national football team, came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday as he appeared before lawmakers at the National Assembly. During a parliamentary session of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee attended by Hong and other officials from the Korea Football Association (KFA) including chairman Chung Mong-gyu, calls were made for clarification regarding the controversies surrounding his appointment in J

September 24, 2024