Toxic substances found in products sold on AliExpress, Temu

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - An investigation by the Korea Consumer Agency has revealed alarming levels of heavy metals, phthalates and other hazardous substances in various products sold on the popular overseas direct-buying platforms AliExpress, Temu and Qoo10. The semi-government watchdog said Friday that of 88 products examined, including cosmetics, children's toys and motorcycle helmets, 27 items, or 30.7 percent, failed domestic safety standards. Excessive lead 65 times

June 14, 2024

Coupang threatens to halt rocket delivery, curb investments after record antitrust fine

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's e-commerce giant Coupang has signaled that it may halt its fast delivery service and investment plans after the government imposed a record fine on the company for providing unfair business advantages to its private-label products. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday slapped Coupang with a 140 billion won ($108 million) fine for manipulating search algorithms and posting false product reviews. Alongside imposing the heaviest pen

June 14, 2024

Canadian Embassy calls for collaborative efforts in Arctic marine conservation

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - The Embassy of Canada to Korea hosted a special event in Seoul on Thursday to raise awareness about protecting the marine environment. The event, held in collaboration with the Korea Polar Research Institute and the Korea Maritime Institute, brought together environmentalists and other experts to discuss conservation efforts for the Arctic marine environment. Among the participants were visiting Inuit delegates, indigenous to the Arctic, who came to S

June 14, 2024

Hyundai Motor's hydrogen vehicle exports fall to zero in May

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - Hyundai Motor Co.'s exports of hydrogen-fueled electric vehicles dipped to zero last month, signaling the Korean carmaker’s declining presence in the market, data showed Friday. According to the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), Hyundai sold no hydrogen passenger or commercial vehicles overseas in May, marking the second time this has happened since October 2023. Hyundai is the sole manufacturer of hydrogen fuel-cell cars i

June 14, 2024

Young Korean filmmaker's meteoric rise at Cannes shows how luck favors the prepared

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - A young Korean director suddenly became the talk of the town when her short film was invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival in May. "Forest of Echoes" directed by Lim Yoo-ri was invited to the prestigious festival's La Cinef, a section showcasing short- and medium-length films submitted by film school students around the world, aimed at exploring new talents and aspiring directors. The 22-minute short was among 18 finalists sele

June 14, 2024

Opinion: China's premier visits Australia for first time in 7 years – what can we expect?

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang is visiting Australia from June 15 to 18. It is the first visit to Australia by a Chinese premier in seven years, and signals a further thawing of the once-frosty relations between the two countries. Who is Li Qiang? The premier leads the State Council and is ranked second in the seven-member governing Politburo. Only President Xi Jinping, as the head of the Chinese Community Party, outranks him. In the same way as both o

June 14, 2024

Media outlets pursue innovative business models amid industry transformation

The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) issued its annual report “Innovation in News Media World Report 2024-25" in late May, highlighting major challenges faced by the global news industry. The following is the second in a four-part series summarizing key insights from the report. This second installment focuses on business models. – Ed. SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - In the ever-evolving media landscape, traditional publishing business models are facin

June 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Street vendors brave heat to rally against crackdown

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - Thousands of street vendors from across the country braved the sweltering weather to stage a rally near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Thursday. During their 37th annual national protest, participants condemned the government's ongoing crackdown on street merchants at Gyeongdong Market in Seoul's Dongdaemun district. The event was organized by the Korean Democratic Street Vendors Confederation. Leaders of three progressive political parties

June 13, 2024

Korean court grants refugee status to Russian draft dodger

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - A Russian man who fled his country to avoid being forced to fight in the war against Ukraine, has been granted a refugee status in Korea, it was revealed this week. In a verdict on May 22, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, whose name is unidentified. In February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian posted anti-war messages on social media and participated in protests opposing the war. Then he left Russia to avoi

June 13, 2024

PHOTOS: Literary awards Illuminate spirit of patriotism

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - The awards ceremony for the 2nd Patriots and Veterans Literary Contest was held on Wednesday. Sixteen people received prizes in the categories of poetry, short story, essay, scenario and book report. The top award went to Bang Mi-kyung, who competed in the poetry category. The awards are organized by the Aju Business Daily and the Korean People's Association to honor patriots and veterans and highlight the spirit of patriotism through literary works. The ev

June 13, 2024