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  More halal restaurants, prayer rooms will be set up in Seoul for Muslim tourists SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul is taking its first step toward creating better tourism infrastructure for Muslim visitors. As part of its efforts to attract more Muslim travelers, the city plans to increase the number of halal restaurants and set up more prayer rooms, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday. The Seoul Tourism Organization will commission a research project this month to come up with measures to vitalize Muslim tourism in the capital. It is the city's May 16, 2024
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  Opinion: From Barbie to Thomas the Tank Engine: How entertainment brands are adapting to Generation Alpha SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Growing up, did you play with hyper-sexualized Barbie dolls, boys-only Thomas the Tank Engine trains, or slim, white Disney princesses? If so, you're not alone, but this is no longer the case for Generation Alpha. Brands like Mattel, once criticized for promoting unrealistic body standards and gender stereotypes, now portray themselves as feminist and progressive. The recent Barbie movie serves as a prime example of this shift. Millennial parents May 16, 2024
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  PHOTOS: Rose festival to begin in Seoul, Saturday SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - An annual rose festival will begin in Jungnang-gu, eastern Seoul, Saturday, for an eight-day run. The Jungnang Seoul Rose Festival features millions of roses in full bloom and a spectacular 5.45-kilometer-long rose tunnel, which attracted 2.6 million visitors last year. Visitors can enjoy various attractions, including captivating rose exhibitions, immersive rose experiences, delectable food booths, picturesque photo zones, and lively busking performances. May 16, 2024
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  Korea toughens stance against Japanese pressure on Naver SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - The Korean government on Tuesday hardened its rhetoric against Tokyo's pressure on the top internet portal Naver to sell down its stake in the operator of Japan's popular chat app Line. Sung Tae-yoon, director of national policy at the presidential office, said Japan should not take unfair measures on Naver while promising full support for the company in the escalating dispute. Following a massive data breach from Line late last year, Japanes May 14, 2024
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  PHOTOS: Medical care stalled in doctor-government dispute SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - The months-long standoff between doctors and the government over a plan to increase medical school enrollments is disrupting operations at large hospitals nationwide. The crisis is impacting health and medical workers. Members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union rallied Tuesday, urging a swift resolution and a return to normal medical care. May 14, 2024
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  Mid-sized companies seek government support amid trade challenges SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) -- The association of mid-sized companies in Korea has called for government support to enhance corporate competitiveness in light of the growing trade protectionism worldwide. At a forum on Monday, Choi Jin-shik, chair of the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK), urged the government to ease the environmental and labor regulations and improve corporate taxes. “We should not overlook the reality that all countries including a May 14, 2024
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  Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for discussions on establishing embassy SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea is seeking to open a Cuban embassy here after agreeing to normalize diplomatic relations with the Caribbean country earlier this year. Discussions about the establishment of the embassy in Seoul are in progress as a Cuban diplomat arrived in Seoul over the weekend, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. Mario Alzugaray Rodriguez, the deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Cuba in China, met his South Korean counterparts to discuss May 14, 2024
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  Emart24, Bithumb partner in Bitcoin lunch box campaign SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - Emart24, a leading convenience store chain in Korea, is selling Bitcoin-themed lunch boxes in partnership with Bithumb, a cryptocurrency exchange, in a campaign to promote digital currencies. The Bitcoin Lunch Box, launched on May 7, contains a coupon that can be exchanged for 10,000 won worth of Bitcoin. Customers need to access the Bithumb app via a QR code on the coupon and enter the coupon number. Users can receive an additional 20,000 won worth of May 14, 2024
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  Enhyphen's new album tops iTunes charts in nine countries one day after release SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) -- "Memorabilia," the latest album by K-pop boy band Enhyphen, topped iTunes album charts in nine countries Tuesday, just one day after its release, its agency said. The six-track album was dropped on Monday and debuted at the top position in the Philippines, India, Brazil and other countries as of 9:00 a.m., according to Belift Lab. It also made the top 10 list in 21 countries. The album's title track, "Fatal Trouble," was includ May 14, 2024
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  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