PHOTOS: Street vendors brave heat to rally against crackdown

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - Thousands of street vendors from across the country braved the sweltering weather to stage a rally near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Thursday. During their 37th annual national protest, participants condemned the government's ongoing crackdown on street merchants at Gyeongdong Market in Seoul's Dongdaemun district. The event was organized by the Korean Democratic Street Vendors Confederation. Leaders of three progressive political parties

June 13, 2024

Korean court grants refugee status to Russian draft dodger

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - A Russian man who fled his country to avoid being forced to fight in the war against Ukraine, has been granted a refugee status in Korea, it was revealed this week. In a verdict on May 22, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, whose name is unidentified. In February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian posted anti-war messages on social media and participated in protests opposing the war. Then he left Russia to avoi

June 13, 2024

PHOTOS: Literary awards Illuminate spirit of patriotism

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - The awards ceremony for the 2nd Patriots and Veterans Literary Contest was held on Wednesday. Sixteen people received prizes in the categories of poetry, short story, essay, scenario and book report. The top award went to Bang Mi-kyung, who competed in the poetry category. The awards are organized by the Aju Business Daily and the Korean People's Association to honor patriots and veterans and highlight the spirit of patriotism through literary works. The ev

June 13, 2024

AKC chief outlines vision to strengthen ties with ASEAN countries

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - The Southeast Asian region with a combined population of over 600 million is emerging as one of Korea's key business markets. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a political and economic union of 10 states in the region, includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Viet Nam. The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) in Seoul has been crucial in expanding economic and cultural exchange betw

June 13, 2024

LG CNS launches AI-driven smart farm platform

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - LG CNS, an information technology service provider, announced on Thursday that it has established an intelligent platform for advanced automated agricultural production in the southern city of Naju. The smart farm project, spanning 543,000 square meters of fields, features an AI-driven platform that analyzes soil and meteorological data to optimize fertilizer usage and irrigation schedules, while also predicting pest outbreaks and recommending pesticides

June 13, 2024

GS Caltex partners with Summit Cosmetics for global marketing of eco-friendly cosmetic ingredient

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - GS Caltex has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan's Summit Cosmetics for the global marketing of its eco-friendly cosmetic ingredient, GreenDiol. GS Caltex is the first company in the world to develop mass production technology for GreenDiol, the brand name for 2,3-Butanediol, which offers excellent moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and solvent properties. Under the agreement signed Wednesday, GS Caltex will supply GreenDiol to Summit C

June 13, 2024

Samsung unveils plans to strengthen AI chip production capability

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics has unveiled plans to enhance its capability in manufacturing artificial intelligence chips by adopting advanced foundry technology by 2027. Samsung, the world’s largest memory chip maker, is striving to catch up with rivals Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and SK hynix in the fast-growing AI chip market. At the annual Samsung Foundry Forum in San Jose, California, on Wednesday (local time), the company announced

June 13, 2024

Popular Korean instant noodles recalled in Denmark over spiciness concerns

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - Three varieties of Korea's spicy instant noodles have been pulled out from shelves in Denmark this week. The recall affects food retailer Samyang's signature Buldak series - "3x Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen," "2x Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen," and "Hot Chicken Flavor Stew Ramen." According to the Danish health authorities, the high levels of capsaicin in a single serving could pose a risk of "acute poisoni

June 13, 2024

PHOTOS: Major food industry show underway in Goyang

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul Food 2024, the largest food industry trade show in Korea, is underway at KINTEX in Goyang, west of Seoul. Hosted by the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the 42nd annual fair opened on June 11 for a four-day run. The event features 1,605 companies from 52 countries operating 2,969 booths. Reflecting the popularity of K-food, about 300 overseas buyers are attending the show. National pavilions from 52 countries offer visitors to experience a

June 13, 2024

Opinion: Inflation is cooling, but not fast enough for Fed: Policymakers now expect only one rate cut in 2024

SEOUL, June 13 (AJU PRESS) - It was a double-whammy Wednesday for economic-data enthusiasts. During the morning of June 12, 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published its latest inflation figures. The news was relatively good, showing that inflation rose 3.3 percent in the year to May 2024 – less than some analysts had expected. A few hours later, the Federal Reserve concluded its June meeting by holding interest rates steady – as forecasters expected – and r

June 13, 2024