South Korea's robot test site eyed in Daegu

SEOUL -- The South Korean government announced plans, on March 4, to invest 200 billion won (approximately $1.5 billion) in building a national robot test field in Daegu. The announcement was made at a town hall meeting held at Kyungpook National University under the theme of "Daegu Rising as a Leader in Advanced New Industries." The robot test field will help companies evaluate and validate the safety and functionality of their robots in both real and virtual environmen

March 4, 2024

S. Korean cable firm replaces New York's outdated power grid using new technique

SEOUL -- South Korea's major power cable maker Taihan Cable & Solution has embarked on a groundbreaking project to replace New York's outdated power grid using an innovative cable-laying technique. This new method requires minimal space and equipment, making it particularly suitable for construction sites in bustling urban areas. In October 2023, Taihan secured a contract for the replacement of aging power cables linking New York's power grid with the John F. Kenne

March 4, 2024

Koreans spend record 40 hours per month watching YouTube

SEOUL -- A recent study by WiseApp, a mobile app analysis firm, has revealed that South Koreans are now spending an average of 40 hours per month watching YouTube on their smartphones. This is the highest monthly usage time ever recorded in the country, and represents a significant increase from just five years ago, when the average monthly usage time was 21 hours. The study, which was conducted in January 2024, surveyed a sample of users from both Android and iOS platforms. The

March 4, 2024

[INTERVIEW] Pulitzer-winning photojournalist documents Korea's cultural heritage

SEOUL -- South Korean-born photojournalist Hyungwon Kang has called for greater efforts to preserve and promote Korean cultural heritage, saying this is not only a matter of national pride and self-esteem, but also a crucial step towards building a sustainable future for the nation. In an exclusive interview on February 26, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner said he is currently focusing on capturing the images of Korean cultural assets with journalistic objectivity. He said photo

March 4, 2024

Convenience store chain GS25 to roll out tomato pre-order sales to satisfy picky customers

SEOUL -- In a bid to satisfy picky customers, South Korea's major convenience store chain, GS25, is set to introduce a pre-order project for tomatoes. Under this initiative, the store chain's operator will accept orders from customers and deliver the fruits, cultivated in the southern port city of Busan, directly to their doorsteps. Additionally, any dissatisfied customers will receive a 100 percent refund. According to GS Retail, the operator of GS25, sales of fresh fruit

March 4, 2024

Girl band TWICE tops Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart for first time

SEOUL -- Girl band TWICE has topped Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart with its album "With YOU-th." The nine-member band became the third K-pop girl group to secure the top position on the album chart, following BLACKPINK and New Jeans. The album, released on February 23, arrived atop the list on the Billboard 200 chart with 95,000 equivalent album units sold in the United States in the week ending February 29. The ranking is confirmed based on the number of a

March 4, 2024

[MWC 24] KT partners with Amazon to co-develop generative AI and mobile services for enterprises

BARCELONA -- In a bid to compete with top global generative artificial intelligence service providers such as Google and OpenAI, South Korea's major telecom company KT has forged an alliance with Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing and internet server service wing of e-commerce giant Amazon. Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new content such as images, text, and music based on patterns it has studied through machine learning processes. Enterprises of all sizes

February 29, 2024

[MWC 24] S. Korean care robot company Hyodol wins health tech award at MWC

BARCELONA -- South Korean care robot company, Hyodol, has achieved a significant breakthrough at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona by clinching an award in the "Best Mobile Innovation for Connected Health and Wellbeing" category. Hyodol specializes in the development of doll-shaped robots resembling six-year-old children. Equipped with a mobile communication module, processor, various sensors, and speakers, these care robots are powered by ChatGPT, an artifici

February 29, 2024

AI developer Upstage to release on-device AI-based office software solution in March

SEOUL -- South Korean artificial intelligence technology developer Upstage has worked with Polaris Office, a domestic office productivity software developer, to create an on-device generative artificial intelligence solution that can generate text, translate, and summarize documents in real-time. The solution, which does not require any internet connection, is scheduled to be released in March 2024. An on-device software is a standalone program that does not need a connection to a

February 29, 2024

K-pop band aespa selected as global ambassador for Amore Pacific's hair cosmetic brand

SEOUL -- K-pop sensation aespa has been chosen as the global ambassador for Amore Pacific's hair cosmetic brand, Mise en Scene, in a strategic move to captivate Asian K-pop enthusiasts. Amore Pacific, South Korea's leading cosmetics manufacturer founded in 1945, has solidified its position as a pioneer in the beauty industry, offering a diverse range of skincare and haircare products catering to all age groups. Renowned for its collaboration with top celebrity brand amb

February 28, 2024