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  Gov't eyes first pension premium hike in 27 years as part of overdue reform SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - A set of proposals to revise Korea's national pension was revealed on Wednesday. The proposals, which aim to increase both the contribution rate and the benefits for retirees, were revealed about a week after President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to implement reforms at a press conference last week in response to the aging Korean population and depleting funds. Under the proposals, wage earners' contribution rate will increase from 9 percent to 13 percen September 4, 2024
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  INTERVIEW: Startup harnesses AI for dementia diagnosis, elderly healthcare SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Leben Grida, a Korean tech venture, is preparing to launch a mobile dementia diagnosis app in November, leveraging artificial intelligence technology to improve the health and well-being of elderly people. Kang Hyun-joo, CEO of the Busan-based social enterprise, said the new program will demonstrate AI's expanding role in addressing the challenges faced by aging societies worldwide. The program, Brain Up, analyzes speech patterns and linguistic behavior September 4, 2024
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  Documentary featuring Korea-born panda hits theaters SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - "My Dearest Fu Bao" featuring Fu Bao, Korea's first panda born here, hit local theaters in Korea on Wednesday. The documentary film explores Fu Bao's 1,354-day stay in Korea, as well as the journey of her parents, Ai Bao and Le Bao, from their arrival in the country. It highlights her emotional bond with her zookeepers and their mutual interactions until their farewell in April this year. Fu Bao left Korea to settle in her new September 4, 2024
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  Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister to visit Seoul this week SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to visit Korea later this week, the presidential office said on Tuesday. After arriving in Seoul on Friday for a two-day visit, the outgoing Japanese leader will hold talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon and Kishida are expected to "review their bilateral cooperation, assess achievements, and discuss future directions to strengthen regional and global stability." It will be Kishida's 12th me September 4, 2024
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  Samsung unveils new laptop with advanced AI capabilities SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest laptop, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, featuring Intel's next-generation AI chipset. The device is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra Processor Series 2, supporting up to 47 tera operations per second (TOPS) neural processing unit (NPU) and enhancing AI application compatibility and graphics performance. The laptop integrates with Galaxy smartphones, allowing users to access Galaxy AI features on the PC's la September 4, 2024
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  More patients rejected from emergency rooms amid doctors' strike SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - The number of patients being turned away from emergency rooms (ERs) has more than doubled due to a medical vacuum caused by trainee doctors protesting the government's plan to increase medical school admissions, the National Fire Agency (NFA) said Wednesday. From February to Aug. 25 this year, the NFA redirected some 1,197 ambulances to other hospitals after they were rejected at ERs — a 131 percent increase from 678 cases during the same period September 4, 2024
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  Amid declining sales, Audi closes several service centers in Korea SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - German luxury automaker Audi is grappling with declining sales in Korea, leading to the closure of several local service centers. Audi's new vehicle registrations in Korea from January to July this year totaled 4,524 units, marking a 59.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA). In July, Audi registered 921 vehicles, placing seventh among importe September 4, 2024
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  KAI showcases latest fighters, helicopters at Egypt air show SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), one of the country's largest aerospace and defense companies, said on Wednesday it is showcasing aircraft at the Egypt International Air Show (EIAS) in El Alamein, aiming to expand its presence in African and Middle Eastern markets. The three-day event, which opened Tuesday, features about 200 companies from 80 countries displaying approximately 50 military and commercial aircraft. KAI is presenting its FA-50 multi-purpose September 4, 2024
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  Gyeongbokgung Palace invites visitors to experience royal delicacies this fall SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - Visitors are invited to indulge in a taste of royal cuisine at Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul this fall. A culinary program at the historic palace, which began on Wednesday, runs until the end of October, offering a unique opportunity to savor traditional Korean confectionery and refreshments once served to royal families. "This special experience allows visitors to sample royal court desserts and medicinal teas through the reenactment of the k September 4, 2024
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  POSCO secures stake in world's second-largest graphite reserve in Tanzania SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - POSCO International, the trading arm of Korea's steel group POSCO, has agreed to invest $40 million in a graphite mine project in Tanzania. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced Tuesday the company signed a deal to increase the POSCO group’s stake in Black Rock Mining (BRM), which owns the Mahenge graphite mine, to 19.9 percent. POSCO Holdings had previously invested $7.5 million in the Australian company. The Mahenge mine is es September 4, 2024