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  South Korea's third spy satellite set for liftoff in US SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - South Korea is set to launch its homegrown spy satellite from a U.S. space center on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Defense. The country's third military reconnaissance satellite will be launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 reusable rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. If successful, the satellite, part of the country's project dubbed the "425 Project," would mark a significant advancement in the milit December 21, 2024
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  Investigators to question Yoon on Christmas Day SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - Investigators looking into President Yoon Suk Yeol's aborted declaration of martial law earlier this month have issued a fresh summons for him. According to an official from a joint task force under the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), an independent agency established to root out corruption in the government, the request was made on Friday for Yoon to appear for questioning next Wednesday. This is the second summons is December 21, 2024
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  Samsung Electronics secures $4.7 billion in US chip subsidy SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has agreed to receive $4.7 billion in direct subsidies from the U.S. government for its semiconductor investment in Taylor, Texas, becoming the latest major chip company to secure funding under U.S. President Joe Biden's CHIPS and Science Act. The subsidy package, announced on Friday by the U.S. Department of Commerce, accounts for 12.7 percent of Samsung's planned U.S. investment of over $37 billion, a higher percentage compare December 21, 2024
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  Netflix, SBS join hands on expanding K-content SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - Starting next year, TV series, variety shows, and educational programs from major Korean broadcaster SBS will be available on Netflix. SBS signed a memorandum of understanding with the global streaming giant on Friday to provide content over six years, with the agreement commencing in January. Popular SBS variety and educational programs such as Running Man, Unanswered Questions, and Kick a Goal, along with hit dramas like The Penthouse: Wa December 20, 2024
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  Voice actress behind Baby Shark nominated for award SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - American actress Kimiko Glenn has been nominated by an annual children's and family TV awards ceremony for her voice role as Baby Shark, according to South Korea's The Pinkfong Company. The Children's and Family Emmys, organized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), recognize achievements in American children's and family TV shows since 2022. Glenn has been nominated for the third Children's and Family Emmy December 20, 2024
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  Convicted rape victim in 'tongue-biting' case wins retrial after 60 years SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - Nearly 60 years after being convicted for biting off the tongue of a man who tried to assault her, Choi Mal-ja, now 78, has won the right to a retrial in a case that has long symbolized systemic injustice in South Korea’s legal treatment of sexual violence. At 18 in 1964, Choi resisted an attempted sexual assault by a 21-year-old man, identified only by his surname, Noh. During the struggle, she bit off approximately 1.5 centimeters of his tongue. December 20, 2024
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  AI emerges as killer app for next-generation smart glasses SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - Artificial Intelligence will become the killer application for XR (extended reality) devices, with Google's Gemini AI model expected to be the cornerstone of its upcoming Android XR operating system, according to a Counterpoint Research note published on Friday. Google recently unveiled Android XR alongside Samsung's "Project Moohan" device, set for release next year. The platform will enable real-time translation, schedule management, December 20, 2024
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  New USFK chief takes office SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - South Korea welcomed a new commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) amid political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law debacle earlier this week. General Xavier Brunson, who is replacing General Paul LaCamera, who has held the position since July 2021, took an oath during the change of command ceremony at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, at 2 p.m. "I look forward to working alongside each of you as we b December 20, 2024
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  Samsung subsidy deal in focus as U.S. finalizes chip grant for SK Hynix SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics' $6.4 billion preliminary subsidy agreement with the U.S. government remains the last major chip deal to be finalized, as the Commerce Department announced a $458 million grant for SK Hynix's $3.87 billion AI memory chip facility in Indiana. Samsung, which plans to invest $45 billion in Texas by 2030, has already completed 98.7 percent of its first fab construction in Taylor, though production start has been delayed to 2026 fr December 20, 2024
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  South Korea's self-employed ratio hits historic low of 20% SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) - South Korea's self-employed workforce has contracted to its lowest level in six decades, a stark reflection of the nation's economic challenges. According to data released by Statistics Korea on Thursday, the number of self-employed workers averaged 5.67 million between January and November 2024, a 24,000 decline from the previous year. This marks a reversal of the two-year growth trend that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline is attribu December 20, 2024