Aionco Korea, a South Korean business-to-business platform of K-beauty products for global e-commerce, was established in 2015. Within four years, the Korean platform that connects local cosmetics suppliers with foreign buyers all over the world has garnered over 500 vendors representing markets in 54 countries. Some of them include China’s Alibaba and individual sellers on marketplaces such as Lazada and Q10. “Our company allows retail buyers abroad to have an easy access to a

IndustryNov. 21, 2019

CJ Healthcare said Thursday it will export its original gastroesophageal reflux disease drug to Thailand’s Pond’s Chemical. K-CAB Tab (tegoprazan) is listed as the 30th new drug developed by a Korean company. It acquired commercial approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2018 and was launched here in March 2019. Since then, the drug has raked in 18.7 billion won ($15.8 million) in sales. K-CAB Tab is already being exported to 17 countries including China

IndustryNov. 21, 2019

Several fast-food outlets were found to have violated the health code in recent inspections by the Food and Drug Safety Ministry.According to the ministry, 19 of 147 burger restaurants across the country failed health inspections during a two-week crackdown from Nov. 1-15.  The inspections were carried out at three global fast-food chains -- McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC -- as well as two local ones, Lotteria and Mom’s Touch. Seven McDonald’s joints, six Mom’s Touch,

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2019

LG’s IT solutions affiliate LG CNS and Kakao’s blockchain subsidiary Ground X joined hands with a view to expanding the use of blockchain and applying it to diverse business areas, the firms said Thursday.The two companies agreed to a strategic partnership to build mutually compatible infrastructure. Ha Tae-Seok, the leader of LG CNS’ future strategic business division, and Kakao Ground X CEO Han Jae-seon attended a signing ceremony at the LG CNS headquarters within LG Science

IndustryNov. 21, 2019

“Pray for me,” Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn said softly, barely audible to people near him. He was addressing a line of supporters one by one -- who appeared to be in their 50s and beyond -- at the site of his hunger strike in front of Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. Hwang continued his hunger strike for a second day near the presidential office to protest President Moon Jae-in’s foreign and domestic policies. He demands that Moon extend the military intel-s

PoliticsNov. 21, 2019

Kia unveiled the third generation of its bestselling sedan K5 on Thursday and commenced preorders, highlighting its futuristic design and interactive voice control technology.Through the use of “active” interaction technology, passengers can control the air conditioner, air filtering, windows, electronic heat systems for the seats and rear window via voice commands, according to the company. In addition, a car-to-home system allows passengers to keep a tab on internet of things devic

MobilityNov. 21, 2019

A family of three and a woman living with them were found dead in a public rental apartment in Incheon, marking the third apparent family suicide reported in the past 20 days.According to the Incheon Gyeyang Police Station on Wednesday, the local fire authorities found a woman, 48, her son, 23, and her daughter, 19, dead in their house at around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday. The body of the daughter’s friend was also found with them. Four letters were found in the house, revealing the family’s

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2019

Controversy surrounding Michelin Guide Seoul now shows no signs of abating, as a South Korean chef has accused the fine dining guide of the crime of “insult” for including his restaurant on its list. On Nov. 15, chef Eo Yun-gwon, 49, who runs modern Italian eatery Ristorante Eo in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, took legal action against Michelin Travel Partner, formally accusing it of insult, which is a crime under Korean law, after the gourmet guide included his restaurant in the M

FoodNov. 21, 2019

Chances are good that the United States may exempt Apple from China tariffs, with President Donald Trump citing competition from Samsung for the local smartphone market, news reports suggested Thursday. During his Wednesday visit to Apple’s laptop manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, Trump hinted at the need to adjust tariffs for Apple amid lagging trade talks between the US and China. “The problem we have is Samsung is a great company but is a competitor of Apple,” Trump s

TechnologyNov. 21, 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not attend a special summit that South Korea will host for Southeast Asian leaders next week, turning down President Moon Jae-in's invitation to the event, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday. Moon sent a personal letter on Nov. 5 to invite Kim to the South Korea-ASEAN special summit slated for next Monday and Tuesday in the southeastern port city of Busan, but North Korea could not find any reason for its leader to travel for the event, according to the Ko

North KoreaNov. 21, 2019

GS E&C introduces big data-based smart home systemGS Engineering & Construction Corp., a major builder in South Korea, on Thursday introduced a big data-based smart home system that can control the living environments of people's residences with deep learning technologies. GS E&C said its Xi AI platform is the first big data-based smart home solution developed by a local builder. The system can analyze and collect various home data, ranging from fine dust controls to elevator movemen

IndustryNov. 21, 2019

Paris -- The ceramic vases and Hangeul-inspired tables on display and the Korean cuisine experience zone right smack in the heart of Paris are a testament to the power of Hallyu, as the government-run Korean Cultural Center reopened at a new venue on Wednesday as the Paris Korea Center.Nearly four decades after its opening, the Korean Cultural Center in France decided to build its nest in a refurbished marble-white seven-story building near Paris’ Champs-Elysees and the Elysee Palace in th

CultureNov. 21, 2019

The military prosecution is investigating an incumbent Army division commander who is suspected of ordering his staff to shred documents on the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking while he was working at the presidential office in 2017.Kwon Young-ho, commander of the Army’s 22th Division, allegedly instructed his subordinates to destroy two boxes of documents on the Sewol accident without lawful procedures in July 2017. He was serving as chief of the crisis management center at Cheong Wa Dae at the t

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2019

South Korea's household income inequality narrowed in the third quarter of 2019 from a year earlier, data showed Thursday, as employment situations of the low-income bracket improved amid efforts to bridge the income gap.The average household earned 4.87 million won ($4,100) per month in the July-September period, up 2.7 percent from the previous year, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.The monthly average income of the bottom 20 percent income bracket came to 1.37 million won in

EconomyNov. 21, 2019

The United States reaffirmed its commitment to maintain the current level of US troops in South Korea during last week's annual defense ministers' meeting, the defense ministry here said Thursday.  It was the ministry's response to some media reports that the US is considering bringing a brigade home from the South should Seoul refuse to accept a fivefold increase, or around $5 billion per year, in the upkeep of the US Forces Korea.  Negotiations are under way between the allies t

DefenseNov. 21, 2019

SEJONG -- A large proportion of middle-aged South Koreans have become hugely indebted to financial firms over the past few years due to their apartment purchases.The previous Park Geun-hye administration provided them with relaxed loan terms in a bid to induce as many households as possible to purchase apartments, a policy aimed at boosting the economy.More recently, younger people in their 20s and 30s have joined the move, a lawmaker has reported.Those, who have bought homes in Seoul in the two

EconomyNov. 21, 2019

Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday introduced a new voice-controlled artificial intelligence speaker compatible with a comprehensive range of home appliances regardless of their brand or ability to connect to the internet.The Korean tech giant showcased the Galaxy Home Mini during Samsung Bixby Developer Day at Sejong University in Seoul. Bixby is the name of Samsung's voice-powered digital assistant. "Galaxy Home Mini is equipped with four infrared remote transmitters and receivers to cov

IndustryNov. 21, 2019

South Korea's trade ministry said Thursday it plans to strike free trade agreements with 12 more countries by 2022, which will further allow Asia's No. 4 economy to expand its presence covering around 90 percent of the world's combined gross domestic product with its FTAs. "Amid growing protectionism around the globe, and growing tension between the United States and China, South Korea will focus efforts on penetrating into new markets," Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee said during a meeti

EconomyNov. 21, 2019

K-pop group BTS will not be exempted from military duty, the government said Thursday, announcing a new amendment to the military service law.All able-bodied young Korean men are required to serve in the military for about two years, with limited exemptions offered for those with outstanding achievements in sports and arts that “raise the national profile,” under the Military Service Act.There have been criticisms that the exemption system is unfair in excluding pop musicians, such a

DefenseNov. 21, 2019