VISUALS: Virtual artist Suvi makes debut with dance single 'Suncream'

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Virtual artist Suvi made her debut with a dance single titled "Suncream" on Thursday. The 22-year-old, 170-centimeter (5'7")-tall digital singer is a member of Studio Meta-K's virtual artist group, "Season." "Suvi" means "summer" in Finnish. "Suncream" tells the story of a mermaid emerging from the sea in search of love, only to discover the joys of summer instead. The choreography for the song

July 11, 2024

Pinkfong expands 'Bebefinn' franchise with theater, musical debuts

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - The Pinkfong Company, producer of the global children’s animation “Baby Shark,” announced the offline expansion of its “Bebefinn” animation franchise on Thursday. Launched in April 2022, the animated sing-along series depicting the heartwarming adventures of three siblings and their parents, achieved immense success on YouTube and Netflix. Marking the intellectual property's second anniversary, the company is launchin

July 11, 2024

Must-try Korean dishes picked to boost tourism

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - About 30 must-try local dishes and specialties were selected to promote the flavor and health benefits of Korean cuisine, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said Thursday. As part of its efforts to attract more tourists in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, the ministry deliberatively chose local staples and seasonal specialties, each with its own origins and related stories. "By introducing diverse culinary opti

July 11, 2024

HHI qualified to bid for US naval vessel maintenance projects

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has become the first Korean company authorized to bid on the U.S. Navy's ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) projects. The world’s largest shipbuilder said Thursday it has recently signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the U.S. Navy Supply Systems Command. With the agreement, the Korean firm has secured qualification to participate in MRO project bids for support vessels of the U.S. Militar

July 11, 2024

PHOTOS: Trendy hub vs. old shantytown: Jongno transformation highlights Seoul's social inequalities

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - In the heart of Seoul, Jongno 3-ga offers a sobering reminder of Korea's rapid social changes and enduring inequalities. The neighborhood, long known as a gathering place for the elderly, has evolved into a vibrant district that draws visitors of all ages. Trendy shops and bustling pocha (traditional Korean pubs) line the streets, transforming the area into a hotspot for young professionals and tourists alike. However, the district's newfound populari

July 11, 2024

NewJeans to promote tourism to Korea

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop girl band NewJeans will promote Korea overseas, the Korea Tourism Organization said Thursday. The five members of the band were appointed as promotional ambassadors for Korean tourism at an event held at Grand Hyatt Seoul in the capital. At the event which drew a huge crowd eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars, the KTO also unveiled a video clip featuring them, aimed at promoting tourism to Korea. It hopes to capitalize on their burg

July 11, 2024

SK to host AI, chip talent at annual US forum

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - SK Group of South Korea plans to hold its annual SK Global Forum in San Jose, California, from July 12-14, bringing together talent from the semiconductor and AI sectors to discuss growth strategies and industry trends, SK hynix said Thursday. The chipmaker will jointly host the event, running since 2012, with holding company SK Innovation and telecom carrier SK Telecom. This year's forum expands its invitees to include both professionals and do

July 11, 2024

Samsung Electronics unveils new AI-powered Galaxy wearables in Paris

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics unveiled three new wearable devices at the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event in Paris on Tuesday, expanding Galaxy AI capabilities to wearables and offering advanced health monitoring solutions. The lineup includes the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Ring, Samsung's smallest wearable, provides 24/7 health tracking with a comfortable design and up to seven-day battery life. It focuses on sleep analysis and

July 11, 2024

VISUALS: Aidin Robotics presents AI-driven touch-sensitive technology

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Aidin Robotics from Korea demonstrated AI-driven technology with human-like strength and touch sensitivity. This innovation is aimed at helping human workers avoid unnecessary accidents and improve work efficiency, according to Aidin CEO Lee Yun-haeng on Tuesday. Aidin's main products include sensors capable of measuring force. Integrated into robotic grippers, these sensors measure and control the force to ensure safe handling of objects. Th

July 11, 2024

Geopolitical tensions propel earnings of Korean defense companies

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Korean defense companies are expected to have more than doubled their operating profits in the second quarter, as exports sharply increased amid global geopolitical tensions and Europe's defense buildup, analysts said. Combined sales of five domestic defense contractors -- Hanwha Aerospace, Poongsan, Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and LIG Nex1 -- are estimated to grow 25.5 percent year-on-year to 6.4 trillion won ($4.6 billion) in t

July 11, 2024