Usage rate of smartphones among people in 60s similar to level of young people: survey

SEOUL -- The usage rate of smartphones among South Koreans in their 60s is similar to that of people in their 20s, a survey showed. More than 66 percent of people aged 70 years and older use smartphones. According to a survey of 7,055 people aged 13 years and older, conducted by South Korea's media and communications watchdog between June and August 2023, 96.2 percent of people in their 60s owned a smartphone while 99.8 percent of people in their 20s had one. The high level

December 29, 2023

AI-based CCTV cameras to be installed across Seoul by 2026 to monitor violent crimes

SEOUL -- Seoul will install artificial intelligence-based closed-circuit television cameras across the city to detect abnormal activities and notify monitoring agents if a person is in need. Among some 160,000 closed-circuit television cameras in the capital city, about 85,000 of them will be replaced with smart monitoring solutions. AI-based CCTV systems that recognize people and their surroundings are used for early signs of accidents or crimes. According to data released by Seoul

December 29, 2023

S. Korea's major brewer Hite Jinro to target young whisky lovers in 2024

SEOUL -- Major brewer Hite Jinro targets young South Korean consumers in their 20s and 30s with lineups such as whisky and spirits. The beverage company has recently become the importer and distributor of Cutty Sark, a popular brand of blended Scotch whisky, to maintain its position as the top player in South Korea's alcoholic beverage market estimated to exceed one billion trillion won ($7.7 billion) in 2023. According to the state customs office, a total of 26,937 tons of

December 29, 2023

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries creates fire emergency leaflets for foreign workers

SEOUL -- To protect foreign employees from fire accidents, South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has created fire emergency leaflets in 16 languages including English, Chinese, Russian, Mongolian, and Nepali. The leaflets will be distributed to some 3,500 foreign workers including members of the conglomerate's in-house partner groups. HD Hyundai Heavy said on December 28 that the company worked with a fire station in the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan to produce l

December 28, 2023

S-OIL receives regulatory exemption for processing of bio-based raw materials through refining process

SEOUL -- S-OIL, one of South Korea's major oil refiners, has secured government approval to demonstrate the processing of bio-based raw materials, including animal and plant-based oils, within its existing petroleum refining process. This regulatory approval, granted through the sandbox program, allows the refiner to assess the effectiveness of bio-based fuel and chemical production techniques. The regulatory sandbox program provides exemptions for regulations governing new prod

December 28, 2023

Historical film about 1979 military coup d'état in Seoul exceeds $1 million in ticket sales in N. America

SEOUL -- "12.12: The Day," a historical film directed by Kim Sung-su, has surpassed $1 million in ticket sales in North America. The movie portrays the 1979 military coup d'état in Seoul which pushed South Korea into a new eight-year era of military dictatorship. The military coup took place on December 12, 1979, after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee. Major General Chun Doo-hwan, who led the coup, took control of the government and declared martial

December 28, 2023

Fans and fellow actors mourn death of 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun

SEOUL -- Fans and artists of Lee Sun-kyun mourned the death of the "Parasite" actor. Lee, who gained global fame through his appearance in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, directed by Bong Jun-ho, was found dead in his car parked at a public park in central Seoul on December 27. A block of burnt coal briquet was found near the 49-year-old's body. Burning coal briquet blocks to induce carbon monoxide poisoning is a method often used by people who take their own lives. T

December 28, 2023

S. Korea's iconic trauma surgeon becomes head of military hospital  

SEOUL -- Lee Cook-jong, South Korea's iconic trauma surgeon who performed life-saving surgery on a North Korean soldier severely wounded by multiple gunshots during a surprise escape through the truce village of Panmunjeom to South Korea in 2017, was selected to lead one of the largest military hospitals in the country. Lee currently works at Ajou University Hospital in Suwon south of Seoul. The medical professor also performed emergency surgery on Seok Hae-kyun, the former c

December 28, 2023

[OPINION] "Putin's Press Conference – All is Well in Putinland"

KENOSHA -- This is how Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg of the influential – and reliable – BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) summed up Russia President Vladimir P

December 27, 2023

BTS agency's AI audio technology wing recreates voice of singer with paralyzed limbs

SEOUL -- Supertone, the artificial intelligence audio technology wing of the BTS agency, has recreated the voice of Kim Hyeok-geon, a South Korean singer whose four limbs were paralyzed in a traffic accident in 2012. Kim showcased a performance with a virtual replica of himself realized through artificial intelligence technology. The 42-year-old artist is a vocalist of "The Cross," a South Korean rock band formed in 2003. Kim gained popularity for his unique screaming vo

December 27, 2023