Slow-paced TV variety shows captivate viewers craving countryside peace

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - TV viewership ratings reveal a growing trend among people longing to escape the hustle of urban life for a slower pace in rural areas or abroad, according to Nielsen Korea data released Monday. Leading the ratings in the first week of September was "Jinny's Kitchen 2," a tvN variety show featuring "Parasite" star Choi Woo-sik, actor Lee Seo-jin, and other celebrities running a Korean restaurant in Iceland. The show garnered a top

September 9, 2024

KAIST, NYU to launch joint degree program in AI

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and New York University (NYU) agreed Monday to establish a joint degree program in artificial intelligence. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung and NYU President Linda G. Mills signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul to initiate the groundbreaking program. The agreement follows years of cooperation between the two institutions in AI research and student exchange programs. Both instituti

September 9, 2024

Samsung, LG unveil AI home appliance ambitions at IFA

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics presented their artificial intelligence home appliance strategies at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, focusing on building smart home ecosystems powered by artificial intelligence. LG Electronics introduced its AI agent FURON and AI home hub ThinQ ON at IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics trade show, which opened Friday for a five-day run. "Customers only need to communicate with generative AI as they

September 9, 2024

Drug smuggling into Korea increases by 23% in 2023

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - The Korea Customs Service reported a 23.4 percent increase in the amount of smuggled drugs seized in 2023, according to data released Monday by the main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi. A total of 769 kilograms (1,695 pounds) of illegal drugs, valued at 61.3 billion won ($45.7 million), were confiscated by customs authorities in 2023. This marks a significant rise from the previous year and a dramatic 419 percent increase compared to t

September 9, 2024

PHOTOS: K-Shopping Festa promotes products from small businesses

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) – A traditional market fair opened at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on Monday for a three-day run, as part of the K-Shopping Festa, Korea's largest event promoting products from small businesses. The event offers visitors the chance to sample a variety of culinary delights from traditional markets selected as outstanding. The K-Shopping Festa is taking place across the country from Aug. 28 to Sept. 28.

September 9, 2024

PHOTOS: Hanwha Life team becomes new League of Legends champions

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - The 2024 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Summer Finals electrified Gyeongju over a thrilling weekend. This, Korea's premier esports tournament, saw over 30,000 fans descend upon the city for a vibrant fan festival and a nail-biting finals series. The pinnacle match, broadcast globally in seven languages, captivated a peak audience of approximately 4 million viewers – a testament to LCK's enduring reign as Korea's most popular esports leagu

September 9, 2024

N. Korean balloon detonator suspected of starting warehouse fire near Seoul

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Fire authorities suspect that a timed detonator from a North Korean balloon, designed to disperse waste through a small explosion, may have ignited a warehouse fire in Paju, northwest of Seoul, on Sunday. Since May, North Korea has launched balloons filled with wastepaper, garbage, and human feces into South Korea in retaliation against South Korean activist groups, mainly defectors, who send propaganda leaflets to the North. These balloons have land

September 9, 2024

Samsung SDI unveils new battery solutions at U.S. energy expo

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - Samsung SDI is showcasing its latest energy storage system (ESS) battery solutions at Renewable Energy Plus 2024, North America's largest renewable energy exhibition, which opened in Anaheim, U.S., on Monday for a four-day run. The Korean battery maker introduced its Samsung Battery Box (SBB) 1.5, a containerized ESS solution featuring improved energy density and an enhanced fire suppression system. The new model boasts a 37 percent increase in energy

September 9, 2024

Over 1 in 5 Korean workers experience workplace sexual harassment: survey

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (AJP) -- More than one in five South Korean workers have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, according to a survey released Sunday. The poll also found that 15 percent of respondents reported incidents of sexual assault or rape at work. The civic group Gapjil 119 surveyed 1,000 workers nationwide between May 31 and June 10. Among the key findings, 22.6 percent of respondents reported experiencing workplace sexual harassment, with women (26.1 percent)

September 8, 2024

North Korea launches trash-filled balloons toward South for 5th consecutive day

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (AJP) -- North Korea launched trash-filled balloons across the border for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, South Korea's military said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea began releasing the balloons around 9 a.m. "We will respond resolutely and calmly according to our response manual, with the utmost priority on public safety," the JCS said. It marks the 17th such incident since May 28, when the North began the launches in ret

September 8, 2024