Hyundai Elevator, Kakao team up to integrate robotics with elevators

Hyundai Elevator said Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kakao Mobility to integrate Kakao's robotics technology with Hyundai's vertical transportation systems. The signing ceremony took place at Kakao Mobility's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday, with CEOs from both companies in attendance. The companies agreed to standardize elevator-robot interactions and ramp up strategic cooperation across research, production and marketing.

IndustryAug. 8, 2024

Kakao hints at drastic revamp in non-core businesses in second half

Kakao Corp., the operator of South Korea’s No. 1 messenger app KakaoTalk, said Thursday that it would swiftly implement a contingency plan in the second half of this year to drastically reform its overall business operations. "We have defined KakaoTalk and AI as the key drivers of our growth," Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a said during the company’s second-quarter earnings conference, indicating the possible sell-off of non-core businesses. Her comments came when she answered a que

IndustryAug. 8, 2024

Samsung phones for N. Korean Olympians could breach UN sanctions: Seoul

The South Korean government on Thursday flagged that North Korea's receipt of Samsung-gifted smartphones, specially customized for all athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, could constitute a violation of UN sanctions. The International Olympic Committee has provided all athletes at the Paris Olympics with specially designed Olympic Edition Galaxy Z Flip6 smartphones from Samsung Electronics, an official event sponsor. The Unification Ministry in Seoul said the North Korean Olympic

Foreign AffairsAug. 8, 2024

SK Earthon secures right to explore CO2 off Australian coast

SK Earthon, an exploration unit under SK Innovation, announced on Thursday that it secured the right to explore carbon dioxide reservoirs off the northern coast of Australia, looking to bolster its resource development and carbon capture and storage, or CCS, businesses. According to SK Earthon, the Korean oil and gas exploration company and Australian CCS firms -- InCapture and CarbonCQ -- won the exploration rights for the mining sector named G-15-AP located in the Carnarvon Basin from the Aust

CompaniesAug. 8, 2024

Paris Baguette hosts inaugural US franchise convention

South Korea's top bakery chain Paris Baguette held its inaugural franchise convention for US franchisees in Las Vegas on Aug. 5-7. Under the theme "Layers of Success," the three-day event brought together 250 executives, current franchisees and prospective partners to foster communication and networking within Paris Baguette's diverse franchise community. Paris Baguette America's executives, led by CEO Darren Tipton, shared the company's strategic vision, marketing

IndustryAug. 8, 2024

‘Twisters’ director Lee Isaac Chung says what scared him made him grow

Korean American filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung of the latest American disaster film “Twisters” said what scared him has made him grow, in terms of his first-ever production of a blockbuster film. “Twisters” is Chung's work to be released after “Minari,” an autobiographical family drama that won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2021. “One of the reasons I wanted to do this movie was that I got scared. How do I make a movie like t

FilmAug. 8, 2024

W630b Korean trades canceled amid huge global sell-off

Approximately 630 billion won ($457.3 million) in trades by South Korean investors were canceled following a recent suspension in after-hours trading in the US largely due to a surge in order volume, Korean authorities said Thursday. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, the cancellations affected around 90,000 accounts at 19 local securities firms that offer daytime trading of US stocks to Korean investors. On Monday afternoon Korean time, US overnight trading platform Blue Ocean ATS

MarketAug. 8, 2024

[Contribution] Happy Birthday, "ASEAN"!

By Kim Jae-shin Secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre Today marks the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, celebrated as ASEAN Day. In the aftermath of World War II, the international political landscape became increasingly unpredictable with the tensions of the Cold War, a phenomenon that did not pass by the Southeast Asian region. In response, five countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- issued the ASEA

IndustryAug. 8, 2024

Korea to rethink minimum wage

The South Korean government has embarked on a task to bring about a major overhaul of the nation’s minimum wage system, launching an in-depth study into how key economies determine their minimum wages, officials said Thursday. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Thursday that it has recently commissioned a study titled "International Comparative Analysis of Minimum Wage Determination Systems." The move aims to address long-standing criticisms of South Korea’s min

Social AffairsAug. 8, 2024

LG Innotek eyes digital twin tech for better efficiency

LG Innotek announced Thursday that it will expand the integration of digital twin technology throughout its operations in partnership with Ansys, a US engineering simulation software developer. Digital twin technology recreates physical objects in a virtual space to simulate real-world scenarios using computer models, thereby predicting outcomes and cutting manufacturing time and costs. Ansys is renowned for its technological prowess and experience in simulation using 3D modeling, AI and machine

TechnologyAug. 8, 2024

Insomnia patients in S. Korea near 800,000: data

The number of insomnia patients in South Korea continued its upward trend, nearing 800,000 last year, recent health data showed Thursday. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 782,381 patients visited hospitals for insomnia treatment last year, a 3.4 percent increase from the previous year’s figure of 756,635. Over the past decade, the number of insomnia patients has surged over 70 percent, rising from 448,000 recorded cases in 2013. The number of sleep-deprived

Social AffairsAug. 8, 2024

Seventeen to embark on world tour in October

K-pop sensation Seventeen is embarking on a world tour in October to meet with its fans in the US and Japan. According to Pledis Entertainment, Seventeen is kicking off its “Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour” at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province Oct. 12-13. The group is then taking their show to Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois Oct. 22-23. The following concerts are at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York Oct. 25-27, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas Oct. 31-Nov.

K-popAug. 8, 2024

SM to launch new K-pop girl group in Q4

Naevis, a virtual artist showcased at aespa’s standalone concert in June, is among the various new K-pop artists that will be unveiled by K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment in the remaining four months of the year. Naevis, better known as aespa’s Kwangya helper, is releasing a single in the third quarter of this year, according to SM Entertainment which announced its lineup for the remainder of the year Thursday. In the fourth quarter, SM is launching a new K-pop girl group for the fi

K-popAug. 8, 2024

[KH Explains] Are underground parking bans for EVs fueled by fear or fact?

"No EVs permitted in underground parking areas." These signs have recently popped up at some apartment complexes and office buildings across South Korea, a response to a severe fire earlier this month. An electric vehicle ignited in the underground parking lot of an apartment building in Cheongna International City, Incheon, triggering widespread fear and leading some apartment managers to ban EVs from these spaces entirely. The fire began with a stationary, uncharging Mercedes-Benz EQ

MobilityAug. 8, 2024

Inaccurate weather forecasts affect over 4,000 air passengers: report

Government data showed Thursday that 4,394 domestic airline passengers could not reach their destination in the first half of this year, due to forced turnarounds caused by inaccurate weather forecasts. Of all the cases of planes returning to their departure airports due to bad weather between January and June of this year, the forecast was wrong on 20 occasions and did not require the turnaround. This was revealed by Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, who cite

Social AffairsAug. 8, 2024

Park Tae-joon wins S. Korea's first-ever men's 58-kg Olympic gold in Taekwondo

  Overcoming his archrival, an upset in the semifinals, relative inexperience on the international stage -- after it all, South Korea's Park Tae-joon finally stood alone atop the taekwondo world in becoming the first Korean ever to win the men's lightest weight class at the Olympics. In the finals of the men's 58-kilogram (flyweight) event Wednesday, Park was declared the winner after Gashim Magomedov of Azerbaijan threw in the towel due to an apparent injury in the second round. Park had b

More SportsAug. 8, 2024

Actress Han Ji-min, Jannabi's Choi Jung-hoon confirm relationship

Actress Han Ji-min and Jannabi front man Choi Jung-hoon are dating, Choi's agency confirmed Thursday. The couple reportedly developed feelings for each other after Han's appearance on the KBS music show "The Seasons," hosted by Choi, in August last year. During the show, they performed Jannabi's "A Thought on an Autumn Night" together. The 41-year-old actress debuted as an advertisement model in 1998 and has since built a successful acting career. She has starr

TelevisionAug. 8, 2024

Japanese SF film 'The Human Vapor' to be remade as Netflix series

The legendary Japanese science fiction film "The Human Vapor" (1960) will be remade into a Netflix series helmed by Yeon Sang-ho, the producer behind hits such as "Hellbound" and "Train to Busan," according to Netflix, Thursday. "The Human Vapor" (1960) follows the aftermath of a failed scientific experiment that turns its subject into a gaseous mutant, who then uses his abilities to carry out crimes. By exploring the darker facets of society's struct

TelevisionAug. 8, 2024

Suga's agency issues another apology over 'kick scooter' mention

Big Hit Music, the agency of BTS member Suga, issued a new apology Thursday morning related to the K-pop megastar's recent drunk driving, stating that it referring to the vehicle used in the incident as "a kick scooter" was in no way intended to understate the gravity of the situation. "There was no intention at all to downplay the situation as suggested by some. We once again apologize for hastily addressing the issue without more consideration," the company said, rel

PeopleAug. 8, 2024

PPP leader vows to provide additional electricity support to 1.3m households

The leader of the ruling People Power Party announced plans Thursday to provide an additional 15,000 won ($11) in electricity support to 1.3 million vulnerable households to help them better cope with the hot weather. Han Dong-hoon made the announcement during a meeting of the PPP supreme council, pointing out that many families are suffering from the record-breaking heat wave this summer. He explained his support scheme will essentially cover the entire electricity bill for the vulnerable house

PoliticsAug. 8, 2024