Golden years blues: Korea's elderly take tough jobs to make ends meet

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - For 30 years, Kim climbed the ranks in the electronics industry, moving from circuit engineer to chip sales manager. Now in his late 50s and early retirement, he works as a taxi driver, spending 10 hours a day behind the wheel — a career turn he never anticipated. “It’s far from easy,” said Kim, who lives in Anyang, south of Seoul. “As a night-shift taxi driver, I often pick up intoxicated passengers, and minor altercation

August 19, 2024

Algal bloom threatens water supply for 25 million in Seoul metropolitan area

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The Ministry of Environment Monday issued an alert for algal bloom at Paldang Lake, the reservoir formed by Paldang Dam, located about 27 kilometers (16.7 miles) east of Seoul. The lake is the primary water source for 25 million residents of the capital and surrounding areas. The bloom, driven by hot weather and nutrient runoff containing phosphorus and nitrogen from nearby hills, has led to excessive algal growth. Heavy rains have exacerbated the situ

August 19, 2024

Kim Min-hee wins best performance award at Locarno Film Festival

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - Actress Kim Min-hee won the best performance award at the Locarno International Film Festival which wrapped up over the weekend in Switzerland. She received the award for her role in "By the Stream," also known as "Suyoocheon" in Korean. Directed by Hong Sang-soo, the film deals with the story of a university lecturer asking her unemployed uncle to direct a skit. In her acceptance speech last Saturday, Kim expressed her gratit

August 19, 2024

Samsung extends TV market leadership as LG reigns in OLED segment

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics on Monday reported strong performances in the global TV market, each dominating different segments in the first half of 2024. Samsung said that it continued its reign as the overall global TV market leader for the 19th consecutive year, citing data from market research firm Omdia. The company achieved a 28.8 percent market share by value and 18.3 percent by volume. Samsung's success was driven by its n

August 19, 2024

Culture Ministry teams up with Interpol to combat illegal distribution of Korean content

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it will crack down on websites and platforms illegally distributing Korean content such as K-pop, Korean dramas and webtoons. To enforce this crackdown, it has collaborated with the National Police Agency and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). A Statista report revealed that the K-pop industry generated approximately 11 trillion won ($8.1 billion) in sales in 2022, while

August 19, 2024

N. Korea needs to engage in talks with Seoul, Unification Ministry says

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The Ministry of Unification here believes that North Korea should sincerely consider engaging in talks with Seoul, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent address which outlined his vision for reunification between the two Koreas. At an event commemorating the Liberation Day last week, Yoon stressed three core values for reunification: "freedom values," "changes in the North Korean populace," and "international solidarit

August 19, 2024

S.Korea, U.S. kick off joint military exercise

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea kicked off a joint military exercise with the U.S. on Monday. Dubbed the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), the annual exercise aims to defend the Korean Peninsula in the event of an emergency while strengthening combined defense capabilities. Based on an all-out war scenario, the 11-day exercise includes computer-simulated war games, field training and civil defense drills. The scale of the exercise, involving 19,000 troops, is similar

August 19, 2024

LG Electronics expands investment in AI, deep tech

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - LG Electronics has participated in SBVA's Alpha Intelligence Fund as a major limited partner in a bid to bolster its position in the artificial intelligence and deep tech sectors. On Sunday, the Korean tech giant announced its investment of $10 million in the $130 million fund, which focuses on startups with high growth potential in AI, deep tech, and robotics. The company said it will leverage the investment to stay abreast of innovation trends

August 19, 2024

Korean Air, Air Premia expand U.S.-China interline routes

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - Korean Air and Air Premia have significantly expanded their interline cooperation, adding 12 new routes connecting the United States and China via Incheon, industry insiders said on Monday. The expansion, effective from Aug. 14, includes flights from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to various Chinese destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. This move increases the total number of interline routes between the two carriers from 13 to

August 19, 2024

OPINION: Mpox outbreak in Africa was neglected – it could now turn into next global pandemic

SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The mpox outbreak in Africa is yet another example of how infectious diseases perceived to be "someone else's problem," and affecting mainly poor, developing countries, may suddenly pose unexpected global threats. Other examples of neglected diseases include the West Nile, Zika and Chikungunya viruses. Mpox was discovered in 1958 (in captive monkeys, hence the original misnomer "monkeypox") and the first human case was identi

August 19, 2024