South Korea turns to drone technology to guard against fires, bird strikes

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea has selected two consortiums to develop specialized drones for firefighting and airport bird control, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday. This came as the country moves to strengthen disaster-response capabilities following a series of deadly incidents. The ministry said it reviewed 22 proposals from 119 companies before awarding the projects. One consortium will focus on building heavy-duty drones to fight wildf

August 20, 2025

[K-Tech] Vegan meat gains global momentum. In Korea, it's a harder sell.

SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - On a narrow street in Itaewon, the Seoul neighborhood known for its antique shops and international dining, a brown-hued restaurant hums with chatter in several languages. The tables are crowded with steaming bowls of shrimp fried rice, jjajangmyeon noodles slicked with black bean sauce, and glossy platters of deep-fried beef — or at least that is how it looks. The restaurant, ALT.a, is entirely vegan. The shrimp, beef and pork are not from animals

August 19, 2025

Joint research team uncovers RNA quality control mechanism that slows aging

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Yonsei University, and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) has identified a key protein that regulates the pace of aging by maintaining the quality of ribonucleic acid (RNA). The discovery points to a potential new strategy for treating age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's. The researchers found that a ribosome quality-contr

August 18, 2025

KAIST develops AI that designs optimal cancer-targeting drugs without prior molecular data

SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - KAIST scientists have unveiled an artificial intelligence model that can automatically design potential drug molecules precisely tailored to disease-causing proteins, even when no prior information about suitable molecules is available. The breakthrough could speed up drug discovery and cut costs, especially for hard-to-treat cancers. Traditionally, drug development starts by identifying a target protein, such as a cancer cell receptor, then screening vast

August 10, 2025

[K-Tech] Samsung SDI battery powers electric vehicle to Guinness World Record

SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - A Samsung SDI battery-powered electric vehicle has secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records after achieving the world's longest single-charge driving distance. Samsung SDI announced Thursday that Lucid Motors' Lucid Air Grand Touring model, equipped with the South Korean company's batteries, broke the previous world record during a single-charge driving test. The vehicle traveled 1,205 kilometers (748.7 miles) without charging duri

August 7, 2025

KAIST develops robotic sheet that folds, grips, and walks on its own

SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - A KAIST research team has developed a new kind of robotic material that can fold itself in real time, changing its shape and function instantly without the need for reconstruction. The innovation combines physical artificial intelligence with real-time programmability and could lead to a new class of autonomous robots capable of adapting to their surroundings. KAIST announced Wednesday that Professors Kim Jeong and Park In-kyu of the Department of Mechanic

August 6, 2025

KAIST study finds that inflammation during pregnancy may cause childhood asthma and allergies

SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - KAIST researchers have discovered how inflammation in the placenta during pregnancy can alter a baby's immune system, leading to stronger allergic reactions such as asthma after birth. The study is the first in the world to show exactly how this prenatal inflammation affects immune development and raises new possibilities for early prediction and prevention of childhood allergic diseases. The findings were announced on August 4 by KAIST, whose research

August 4, 2025

[K-Biotech] Celltrion to acquire US factory to counter potential drug tariffs

SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Tuesday it will invest up to 1.4 trillion won to acquire and expand a US manufacturing facility as a preemptive response to potential drug tariffs threatened by the Trump administration. The company plans to complete the factory acquisition this year and begin local production of drugs sold in the US from the fourth quarter of 2026. Celltrion announced it was selected as the preferred bidder for a US drug

July 30, 2025

KAIST expands efforts to help South Korea become global AI leader

SEOUL, July 26 (AJP) - KAIST is stepping up its efforts to develop next-generation artificial intelligence technologies and train new talent as part of a broader national drive to position South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers. The university said Thursday that it aims to become a global hub for innovation in science and technology, supporting the government’s G3 initiative while helping to address key industrial and social challenges through AI. "K

July 26, 2025

KAIST team discovers single-packet flaw that can disable smartphone modems

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - A research team from South Korea has identified a critical security flaw that allows a single wireless packet to crash a smartphone’s cellular modem. The vulnerability affects a broad range of devices and highlights long-standing security gaps in the modem layer. The project was led by Kim Yong-dae, professor at KAIST, and Park Cheol-jun, professor at Kyung Hee University. The team developed a custom testing framework called LLFuzz to examine the lower

July 25, 2025