LG Energy Solution and GM's second joint battery plant begins operation

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - Ultium Cells, a joint venture between South Korea's major battery maker LG Energy Solution and General Motors, has begun operation of its second battery plant in the United States. The batteries produced at the joint plant will be used for General Motors' electric vehicles. LGES said on Tuesday that battery cells manufactured at Ultium Cells' second factory in Tennessee will be installed in GM's upcoming EV models, such as the Cadill

April 2, 2024

S. Korea sees slowed growth in new EV registrations in 2023

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea saw a slower growth in new electric vehicle registrations last year, despite surpassing 500,000 registered EVs. This deceleration can be attributed to consumers' perceptions of clean energy vehicles and their charging infrastructure as inconvenient. Forbes, a prominent American business magazine, analyzed in November 2023 that the slowdown in the global demand for EVs was affected by various factors including unfamiliarity with new pro

April 2, 2024

Promising small firms given chance to explore overseas markets

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's major trade association, KITA, announced Tuesday it is organizing an annual export consultation event to find prominent small and medium-sized enterprises with potential. After counseling 51 applicants, the organization will select companies with competitive products for overseas markets. The counseling event is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand abroad using overseas sales network established by congl

April 2, 2024

N. Korea fires missile into East Sea

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea has fired a missile into the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said on Tuesday. This is Pyongyang's first missile test fire in 15 days after North Korea carried out a firing drill for ballistic projectiles on February 18. "We detected a projectile, suspected of a mid-range ballistic missile, that was launched from an area near Pyongyang at 6:53 a.m. (2153 GMT) this morning into the East Sea," The Joint Chief of

April 2, 2024

Exports of S. Korean beverage products soar to new high

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - Exports of South Korean beverage products, including non-alcoholic drinks such as soft drinks and fruit-flavored dairy products, soared to a record $572.3 million in 2023. This surge in exports can be attributed to the growing recognition and popularity of South Korean products on the global stage. The export volume of South Korean beverage products has seen a consistent upward trend since 2020, reaching new highs each year. The increasing popularity

April 1, 2024

LG Energy Solution anticipates growing ties on 20th anniversary of Chile FTA

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - LG Energy Solution, the battery-making affiliate of South Korea's LG Group, is seeking to strengthen collaboration with Chile, which is integral to the firm's global battery supply chain. The battery maker highlighted Chile's pivotal role as a key partner in the lithium industry on the 20th anniversary of the free trade agreement that took effect on April 1, 2004, between Chile and South Korea. Since becoming South Korea's inaugural F

April 1, 2024

President Yoon stresses importance of increasing medical school admissions by 2,000

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - Amid prolonged chaos in major hospitals caused by resident doctors' mass resignation movement, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed that the government's decision to increase the number of medical school admissions by 2,000 per year is a minimum increase rate to nurture at least 15,000 new doctors by 2035. In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of trainee doctors applying for essential departments such as internal m

April 1, 2024

S. Korean food maker provides plant-based dumplings to grocery stores in US military bases 

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's major food company CJ Cheiljedang will sell plant-based dumplings at grocery stores within the United States military bases in South Korea. The plant-based products, designed for easy microwave cooking, are included in Cheiljedang's premium ready-to-cook product brand "Bibigo." When supplying vegan dumplings to the U.S. military bases, the company has been using meat produced in the U.S. "Because the U.S. has stric

April 1, 2024

[OPINION] Local elections in Türkiye

SEOUL, March 31 (AJU PRESS) - Fair, transparent, and regular elections are the most fundamental components of modern democracies. In democratic systems, it is fundamental that the authority and power of those in power be derived from the electorate or the governed. These powers are renewed through regular elections. Through elections, the governed vote on the governors' poli

March 31, 2024

Ruling camp on edge as South Korea's April 10 polls approach

SEOUL, March 29 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's upcoming general elections, scheduled for April 10, are shaping up to be a nail-biter, with pre-election surveys painting a conflicting picture and a resurgent third party threatening to shake the traditional two-party dominance. While the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is vying to regain control of the National Assembly, its position appears precarious. Discrepancies among major polling firms highlight the uncertainty: Hankook Rese

March 29, 2024