Seoul to implement 5G cybersecurity strategy by 2022

South Korea will push forward a comprehensive strategy to strengthen its national cybersecurity by 2022 to better cope with the emergence of the 5G hyper-connected world, the Science Ministry said Tuesday. Amid rising international tension in cyber space and greater security exposure brought about by the spread of 5G networks, Korea needs steps to protect its national interests, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. “Foremost among the goals is protecting its key cyber infrastructu

MarketSept. 3, 2019

Celltrion picks Lonza as CMO for Remsima

Celltrion said Tuesday it has picked Switzerland-based Lonza to manufacture its autoimmune biosimilar Remsima’s drug substance at a Singapore facility. Lonza is a global contract development and manufacture organization headquartered in Basel.“Demand for biosimilars are soaring worldwide, and for a smooth and timely supply of products we have forged collaborative ties with Lonza,” said Celltrion CEO Woo Sung-kee. Celltrion’s two plants in Songdo, South Korea, have a capac

IndustrySept. 3, 2019

'The Passionate Keyboard' of young pianists

Though the label “young pianist” may be subjective, “The Passionate Keyboard” event defines them as artists with potential and talent who have yet to become fully established. The Passionate Keyboard, a five-day event organized by Young Artist Forum & Festival, is aimed at finding such young pianists. The inaugural event featuring five performances, a pitch session and a forum will be held at the Sejong Center in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Oct. 8-12. “We chose

PerformanceSept. 3, 2019

Fans create forest in celebration of BTS leader's birthday

In celebration of the 25th birthday of RM, the leader of the popular boy band BTS, his fans created a forest in his name at a public park along the Han River in Seoul, an environmental group said Tuesday.Some 250 fans gathered around the landmark clock tower on the Jamsil side of Han River Park last Saturday to celebrate RM's birthday, which falls on Sept. 12, with the forestation project, according to the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement.   The fans planted 1,250 trees at

PerformanceSept. 3, 2019

Approaching typhoon Lingling feared to wreak damage on S. Korea

Typhoon Lingling is feared to inflict damage on South Korea as it continues to gain strength while moving north toward the country, the weather agency said Tuesday. "The tropical storm, which took shape in the Western Pacific on Monday, is currently tracking north-northwest on seas 650 kilometers south-southwest of Taipei, Taiwan, at a speed of 9 kilometers per hour as of 9 a.m. Tuesday," the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. The typhoon's central pressure was 994 hectopa

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2019

Aekyung, 2 others make preliminary bids for Asiana Airlines: sources

Aekyung, a South Korean activist fund and a consortium led by a local brokerage firm submitted initial bids to acquire Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second largest full-service carrier, industry sources said Tuesday. Kumho Asiana Group, the airline's parent, and its lead manager for the sale, Credit Suisse, received letters of intent from potential investors, including Aekyung and local activist fund Korea Corporate Governance Improvement, according to sources.  The consortium led by

IndustrySept. 3, 2019

Hanwha Precision Machinery establishes tech center in Germany

Hanwha Precision Machinery, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, announced Tuesday it had launched an integrated tech center for Europe in Germany to accelerate its global expansion.The launch ceremony for the Hanwha Europe Technical Center took place Friday in Morfelden-Walldorf, nearby finance and commerce hub Frankfurt.Responsible for manufacturing Hanwha’s machinery, Hanwha Precision Machinery will use the new tech center as the base for big-scale projects in Europe and to attract new cli

IndustrySept. 3, 2019

Samsung Display launches YouTube channel

Samsung Display said Tuesday it has created a YouTube channel featuring videos related to display technology. For instance, a quiz show titled “Display Quiz Talkshow,” shortened to “DiTokShow” in Korean, provides educational content on display technology.  The show has previously compared organic light-emitting diode and liquid-crystal display technologies, and explained words such as pixel, resolution and screen ratio.Samsung Display said consumers are exposed to di

TechnologySept. 3, 2019

Govt. job creation budget to rise to record volume next year

The government plans to increase its job creation budget by over 20 percent to a record volume of nearly 26 trillion won ($21.4 billion) next year, with unemployment benefits accounting for a record 40 percent of the total, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Tuesday.The government will spend 25.77 trillion won in 2020 on job creation, marking a rise of 21.3 percent from this year, the ministry said, citing a government budget proposal for next year that was endorsed by the Cabinet last Th

EconomySept. 3, 2019

USFK commander to attend Seoul defense dialogue

US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams is set to attend a three-day annual multilateral security forum in Seoul that kicks off Wednesday, officials said Tuesday, dispelling concerns about South Korea-US relations. Abrams, who is also commander of the Combined Forces Command, will be the highest-ranking US official to attend the eighth edition of the Seoul Defense Dialogue. The US had earlier declined the South Korean Defense Ministry’s request for the attendance of an assistant

DefenseSept. 3, 2019

[Newsmaker] Opposition lawmaker under fire for sexist remark

An opposition lawmaker came under fire Tuesday after he asked an unmarried female Fair Trade Commission chair nominee to “contribute to the country’s development” by giving birth. At a confirmation hearing for Fair Trade Commission chair nominee Cho Sung-wook, Rep. Jung Kap-yoon of the Liberty Korea Party said Cho would be a perfect candidate for the post if she were married and had a child. “What do you think is the biggest problem in Korean society?” the five

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2019

US also positive on prompt return of military bases in S. Korea: Seoul ministry

South Korea's push for a prompt return of American military bases in the country has long been discussed between the allies and the US is also positive on the move, the defense ministry said Tuesday, guarding against any political interpretation of the issue. Last week, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae vowed to push for a prompt return of 26 US Forces Korea (USFK) bases across the country, sparking speculation that it may signal a possible rift in the alliance following Seoul's decision to

DefenseSept. 3, 2019

Seoul installs air-purifying filters on buses

The metropolitan government said Tuesday it has installed air-purifying filters on 97 percent of public buses operating in the city.The move comes amid growing concerns over fine dust air pollution, which is known to be a potential cause of respiratory diseases and cancer.Following a test-run last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expanded the plan to around 7,200 buses. The city government said the move has been effective in improving air quality, reducing up to 68 percent of fine dust pa

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2019

S. Korea, Malaysia to hold 3rd round of FTA talks this week

South Korea will hold a third round of free trade talks with Malaysia this week with the aim of striking a trade deal before November, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday.The two countries, which have held two rounds of talks since July, will discuss details of the bilateral free trade agreement from Wednesday to Friday in Seoul, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. Seoul and Kuala Lumpur will focus on sharing ideas for expanding their bilateral economic ties, along with set

Foreign AffairsSept. 3, 2019

Navy holds int'l forum on maritime security cooperation

The Navy hosted an international security forum on Tuesday, with hundreds of experts and naval officers exploring ways to boost maritime cooperation in Asia and beyond.Around 300 government and military officials and experts from more than 25 countries gathered at the 14th International Seapower Symposium to discuss the theme of "Enhancing maritime security cooperation for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific." During the two sessions, the participants will assess the evolving mari

DefenseSept. 3, 2019

Hyundai Motor union OKs wage deal without strike

Hyundai Motor Co.'s union approved this year's wage and collective bargaining agreement, avoiding a strike for the eighth consecutive year, the union said Tuesday.In a vote held Monday, 56 percent of 43,871 participating Hyundai workers cast a ballot for a revised wage and collective bargaining deal, the union said in a statement.  "The union has voted to finally approve the company's revised proposals as uncertainties in business environments grow further due to an escalating US-China

MobilitySept. 3, 2019

N. Korea hosts dinner reception for China's top diplomat

North Korea has hosted a dinner reception for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday, amid speculation that his trip might be intended to discuss North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing.Wang arrived in Pyongyang on Monday on a three-day visit for talks with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho. Wang could also meet with the North's leader. "The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave a reception in honor of Wang Y

North KoreaSept. 3, 2019

Trump touts Korea trade deal as he marks Labor Day

US President Donald Trump on Monday marked Labor Day by boasting of his administration's economic successes, including the revision of a free trade deal with South Korea.Trump's proclamation for Labor Day was released by the White House on Friday but also tweeted by the president on Monday. "My Administration has been working tirelessly to renegotiate one-sided trade agreements to obtain fairer terms for American companies and workers," he wrote, citing first the new trade deal between

World NewsSept. 3, 2019

S. Korea, Myanmar to hold summit on economic ties

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will head to Myanmar on Tuesday in a bid to pave the way for closer economic cooperation between the two sides.Moon's state visit to the nation, the first by a South Korean president in seven years, is in line with his administration's campaign to reach out to Southeast Asian nations under the New Southern Policy. Moon is on a weeklong tour of the region, which already took him to Thailand, where he had talks with Prayut Chan-o-cha, mainly on strengthening

Foreign AffairsSept. 3, 2019

Consumer price growth hits record low in August

South Korea's consumer price growth hit a record low in August, remaining flat compared with a year earlier, due mainly to declines in prices of agricultural and petroleum products, government data showed Tuesday.South Korea's consumer prices remained unchanged in August from a year earlier, staying below the 1 percent threshold for the eighth consecutive month, according to the data from Statistics Korea. The reading marked the lowest since 1965, when the statistics agency started compiling dat

EconomySept. 3, 2019