Hospitals required to check patients' IDs to curb health insurance abuse

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - Starting next week, patients will be required to present their valid IDs to receive medical treatment at hospitals and clinics in Korea, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) said Tuesday. The stricter ID checks are part of measures to prevent foreigners or others from abusing the state health insurance coverage, amid concerns about the lavish use of medical insurance by some foreigners who exploit health benefits using aliases or forged identities

May 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Riverside park ablaze with yellow: The Hangang Seoraeseom Flower Festival

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - The vibrant Hangang Seoraeseom Flower Festival is in full swing, transforming Seorae Island within Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul, into a sea of yellow from May 10 to 19. This popular spring celebration, established in 2004, takes place on the artificial island. Beyond the sprawling fields of rapeseed flowers, the festival offers a variety of attractions for all ages. Visitors can capture memories at nine themed photo zones, including one featuring the giant air ballo

May 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Overtourism at Bukchon Hanok Village

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - Bukchon Hanok Village, nestled in the heart of Seoul, is a major tourist draw. This historic neighborhood, lined with traditional Korean houses (hanoks), offers visitors a glimpse into the country's past. However, while it thrives as a cultural destination, Bukchon remains a residential area. With the approaching summer picnic season, concerns are rising over the impact of increased tourism. Influxes of foreign visitors and student field trips have brought nois

May 14, 2024

Opinion: International Booker prize 2024: six expert reviews of shortlisted books

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - From a longlist of 12, six novels have been shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker prize. Our academics review the finalists ahead of the announcement of the winner on May 21. Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott In Not a River, the final instalment in Selva Almada's "trilogy of men," past and present collide in a nightmarish sleepwalk towards inevitable violence. Two men take Tilo, the son of their friend E

May 14, 2024

SK Leaveo breaks ground on biodegradable plastic material plant in Vietnam

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - SK Leaveo, an eco-friendly materials company backed by SKC, has begun construction of a plant to produce materials for biodegradable plastics in Viet Nam. The joint venture between SKC, a materials maker, and Daesang Corp., a food maker, both from Korea, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in the northeastern city of Hai Phong on Saturday (local time). The company will invest $100 million in the plant, which will occupy a 22,389-square-mete

May 13, 2024

CJ CheilJedang brings Korean gimbap to major Australian retailer

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - CJ CheilJedang has introduced the beloved Korean dish gimbap to Woolworths Supermarkets in Australia, the leading Korean food company said. This marks the first time Korean seaweed rice rolls have been available in major Australian retail outlets. CJ CheilJedang released tuna mayo gimbap and bulgogi (Korean-style BBQ beef) gimbap at over 1,000 stores of Woolworths, the largest supermarket chain in Australia. Both were highly successful in Japan

May 13, 2024

Korean webtoons make splash at Italian fair

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - Korean webtoons garnered massive attention at Italy's biggest comic book fair which wrapped up in Naples last month. Dubbed COMICON Napoli 2024, the fair was held in the coastal city for three days from April 28 and this year's fair featured a separate booth dedicated to Korean comics for the first time to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy. Popular Korean webtoons such as romantic comedy "Full Hou

May 13, 2024

Police arrest suspect behind murder of Korean tourist in Thailand

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - A man who is allegedly involved in the murder of a Korean tourist in Thailand has been arrested in Korea, police said Monday. Authorities are also tracing the whereabouts of two other accomplices. The victim, a man in his mid-30s, was found dead on May 11 in a plastic barrel which had been dumped in a reservoir in Pattaya. He entered Thailand late last month and went missing. The incident was reported on May 7 when his mother received a threatening phon

May 13, 2024

U.S. surpasses Japan as top market for Korean food exports

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) – The United States has overtaken Japan as the top market of Korean food exports this year, as shipments of ramen, kimchi and rice products soared, buoyed by the growing popularity of Korean pop culture. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea exported $479 million (650 billion won) worth of food to the U.S. until April, surpassing Japan’s $452 million and China’s $440 million. During

May 13, 2024

Korean consumers flock to buffet restaurants amid rising dining costs

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - Burdened by rising dining costs and service charges, Korean consumers are increasingly turning to all-you-can-eat buffets as an alternative to traditional restaurants where food is priced per dish, recent statistics show. According to data released by Statistics Korea early this month, dining costs increased by 3 percent in April, compared to the same period of last year, outpacing the average consumer price hike of 2.9 percent. The surge in dining costs

May 13, 2024