OPINION: What to expect on US election day. History could be made, or we're in for long wait

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - As Americans vote in one of the most important presidential elections in generations, the country teeters on a knife edge. In the battleground states that will likely decide the result, the polling margins between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are razor thin. These tiny margins, and the general confusion around American politics today, make it impossible to predict the outcome. The polls might well be wrong: the electorate may have s

November 6, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul hosts Small Business Day celebration

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - The 2024 Small Business Day celebration was held Tuesday at Gwanghwamun Square under the theme "Together with Small Business Owners, Vibrant Tomorrow." The event, co-organized by Seoul City, the Seoul Federation of Small Business and the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise, featured 48 small business vendors selling various products from fashion items to food products.

November 6, 2024

INTERVIEW: AI startup creates interactive memorial avatars

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - A single photo and a brief voice recording are all it takes for DeepBrain AI to create lifelike avatars of deceased loved ones. Leveraging artificial intelligence, the Korean start-up allows families to reconnect with their departed through a virtual, interactive memorial service called Re;memory. The company launched it in 2022, initially involving the creation of digital replicas of individuals to preserve their legacies. "We began Re;memory 1

November 5, 2024

Forum discusses reunification challenges between two Koreas amid growing tensions

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - An inaugural forum brought together dozens of experts and hundreds of participants in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province last week. Hosted by the Ajou Institute of Unification in cooperation with the provincial government, the forum discussed peace and security on the Korean Peninsula while raising awareness of reunification between the two Koreas. "Despite challenges posed by the North's provocations including repeated missile launches, the province ai

November 5, 2024

South Korea's tradition of making fermented sauces slated for UNESCO listing

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - South Korea's tradition of making fermented sauces or "jang" is highly likely to be added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. UNESCO said Tuesday that "knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to jang-making" in South Korea have been selected for "inscription" by its consultive body, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The country's seasonal

November 5, 2024

Korea fines Meta $15.6 million for privacy breach

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - U.S. social media giant Meta Platforms has been fined 21.6 billion won (US$15.6 million) for collecting sensitive personal information of about 980,000 Facebook users without consent, the South Korean cyber watchdog said on Tuesday. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) found that Meta had gathered and shared data on users' religious beliefs, political views and sexual orientation with around 4,000 advertisers. The data was collected

November 5, 2024

South Korea to acquire more early warning aircraft from US

South Korea's E-7 aircraft flies in the sky, in this file photo taken in September 2011. Courtesy of the South Korean Air Force. SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - South Korea will procure airborne early earning aircraft and other related equipment from the U.S. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Monday that the U.S. State Department has approved the sale of four E-7 airborne early warning & control aircraft along with relevant logistics and program support to Korea.

November 5, 2024

PHOTOS: Tourism pop-up store opens for southeastern regions

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Gyeongnam Tourism Organization opened "A Travel to the Southern Store," a joint tourism pop-up store featuring products from Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province, at Hikr Ground in Seoul on Tuesday. The store, running until Dec. 8, will showcase about 270 products from 80 companies across the three regions. The exhibition at Korea Tourism Organization's Seoul center aims to promote regional tourism startups and their products through various even

November 5, 2024

PHOTOS: Gyeongbuk Apple Festival opens in Seoul

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - The Gyeongbuk Apple Festival opened Monday at Seoul Plaza, offering visitors a chance to taste and purchase apples from 14 cities and counties of North Gyeongsang Province. The three-day event, now in its 19th year, runs through Nov. 6 under the theme "I Love Children, I Love Gyeongbuk Apples," showcasing the region's premium apple products to urban consumers. The event is organized by the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Neunggeum Agricultural Cooperative Associati

November 5, 2024

Hyundai E&C signs Bulgaria nuclear plant design contract

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) – Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed a 20 trillion won (US$14.5 billion) contract on Monday to design two nuclear reactors in Bulgaria, partnering with U.S.-based Westinghouse. The project will add two 2,200-megawatt Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear plant located 200 kilometers north of Sofia. The plant currently operates two Russian-designed units. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2035, with the m

November 5, 2024