Two dozen minors earn millions annually in Korea

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - About two dozen minors in Korea have earned over 100 million Korean won annually over the past five years, according to data released by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) on Monday. Data also showed that there were 360 business owners who are teenagers or under, as of August this year. Among them, 20 earned over 100 million won, 41 between 50 million and 100 million won, and the rest below 50 million won. One of these young high-earners was under

October 7, 2024

Korean regulator to investigate TikTok's potential privacy law violations

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - Korea's media regulator plans to investigate TikTok for potential violations of information and data protection rules, industry sources said Monday. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) is examining the social video platform's policy, which automatically requires users to consent to receiving marketing and advertising materials during sign-up, while such consent should be optional under the nation's information act. The KCC plans to inves

October 7, 2024

Surge in unpaid wages for foreign workers in Korea amid economic downturn

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - An increasing number of foreign workers in Korea have faced issues with receiving their wages or experiencing delays in receiving their wages. According to a report by People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Kim So-hee based on data from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on Monday, government payouts to cover these unpaid wages have nearly doubled over the past four years. In 2022, about 79.1 billion Korean won (US$58.8 million) in back wa

October 7, 2024

DeepBrain AI showcases deepfake detection technology at US industry show

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) – Korean artificial intelligence firm DeepBrain AI presented its deepfake detection solution at a U.S. industry exhibition last month, the company announced on Monday. DeepBrain AI showcased its four key products at the LG NOVA InnoFest 2024, held in San Francisco, California, from Sept. 25-26. The technology detects manipulated content by analyzing pixel differences and has already been commercialized for government agencies in Korea. The company

October 7, 2024

North Korea continues to send trash-filled balloons toward South Korea

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - North Korea sent more trash-filled balloons toward the South, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Monday. The isolated country resumed this bizarre campaign just three days after a similar launch occurred late last week. Since late May, North Korea has sent thousands of these balloons in retaliation for leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors and activists here. The JCS warned that these balloons could drift into Gyeonggi

October 7, 2024

South Korea lags behind global competition in semiconductor, battery subsidies

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Korea is falling behind in providing subsidies for semiconductor and battery industries compared to its global competitors, according to a report released on Monday by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI). The United States, China and Japan are investing billions of dollars in these sectors, while Korea has yet to offer any subsidies in the sectors, the group representing large companies said. For example, China aims to increase its chip self-suffic

October 7, 2024

PHOTOS: Festival treats visitors to delicious Vietnamese dishes

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - A food festival showcasing Viet Nam's famous noodle soup Phở took place in Seoul over the weekend. A variety of booths and stalls provided an opportunity to learn about Vietnamese cuisine including its ingredients and recipes, while allowing visitors to taste an array of dishes such as phở, chả giò, and bánh mì." The two-day festival on Saturday and Sunday also featured stage performances including talk shows and the Southeast Asian co

October 7, 2024

PHOTOS: Designer brand Minä Perhonen exhibition underway in Seoul

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - The exhibition "Minä Perhonen Design Journey: Cycle of Memories" runs at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul from Sept. 12 to Feb. 6. Minä Perhonen is a Japanese designer brand founded by designer Akira Minagawa in 1995. The exhibition showcases textile artworks that transform ordinary moments into fairy-tale-like fabrics. It highlights how designers capture fleeting everyday experiences, such as clouds passing over fields, budding sprout

October 7, 2024

PHOTOS: Peruvian singer Tamayo performs in Seoul

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Peruvian singer Lenin Tamayo, 21, held a concert in Seoul last Thursday. He showcased his unique music genre called Q-pop, which blends K-pop elements with indigenous languages from the Central Andes region of South America. The concert included emotional ballads and lively dance tracks, with performances reminiscent of K-pop concerts.

October 7, 2024

OPINION: Palestinians want to choose their own leaders – war has distanced them further from this democratic goal

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - Over the summer as Israel continued to bombard Gaza, representatives from 14 Palestinian factions, including the two main parties – Hamas and Fatah – met in China. Following the most inclusive talks in years, all the parties agreed to a future unity government and to hold national elections. Such talk of "day after" governance may seem fanciful as the current war marks its first anniversary. The idea of holding Palestinian elections see

October 7, 2024