Why one man's move is shaking Korea: Child rapist’s relocation sparks controversy, fear

Cho Doo-soon, notorious for one of the most shocking crimes in South Korean history, has once again sparked public outrage and concern after his recent move to a new residence. Cho, who was released from prison in December 2020 after serving 12 years for raping an 8-year-old girl, has relocated from his previous home in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, to a nearby neighborhood. His move to a new residence, located just 2 kilometers away from his previous home, has stoked fears and controversy among nea

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

North Korea prepared for nuclear test, possibly before US election: Seoul defense intel agency

The Defense Intelligence Agency in Seoul said Wednesday that North Korea may conduct its first nuclear weapons test in seven years ahead of the US presidential election, in what would be its seventh such test. In a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly intelligence committee, the Defense Intelligence Agency said North Korea will attempt to draw Washington’s attention by staging a major provocation such as a nuclear test ahead of the election that is less than a week away. “No

PoliticsOct. 30, 2024

Mobile carriers raise severance pay to slim down workforce

Mobile carriers are strengthening their severance packages to encourage early retirement amid efforts to renew their business portfolio and restructure stagnant workforce. Kicking off voluntary redundancy, KT Corp., the country's second-largest telecommunication company, recently raised the maximum severance pay for voluntary redundancy, from 330 million won ($238,000) to 430 million won. Earlier this month, the mobile carrier decided to establish two new affiliates, KT OSP and KT P&M,

IndustryOct. 30, 2024

Hybe CEO pledges stability; Ador ex-CEO vows to continue legal fight

Following the Seoul Central District Court's dismissal Tuesday of ousted Ador CEO Min Hee-jin's injunction request for her reinstatement as chief executive of the label home to girl group NewJeans, Hybe CEO Lee Jae-sang sent an email to employees the same day pledging to prioritize stabilizing operations at Ador. In the email, Lee described the court’s ruling as a "turning point" and expressed optimism in the clarity it brings to resolving issues that have emerged over

K-popOct. 30, 2024

Nexon expands game pipeline to target global market

Nexon has laid out a future roadmap to strengthen its existing gaming intellectual properties and develop new IPs to target the global market. “In this way, we will further advance Nexon's strong capabilities based on our experience and focus on providing innovative gaming services to users,” said Kang Dae-hyun, co-CEO of Nexon Korea, in a press conference at the company’s headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday. Nexon Korea is wholly owned by Tokyo-listed

CompaniesOct. 30, 2024

Samsung SDI-Stellantis JV to start US production in December

Samsung SDI unveiled details on its first electric vehicle battery production in the US in partnership with Stellantis and General Motors during its third-quarter earnings announcement Wednesday. “The joint venture with Stellantis, Starplus Energy, marks Samsung SDI’s first foray into battery cell manufacturing in the US,” said Son Michael, executive vice president of automotive & ESS business at Samsung SDI, during a conference call earlier in the day. “The initial p

MobilityOct. 30, 2024

Koreans prefer animated videos that are 20-29 minutes long: report

South Koreans' most preferred length for an animated video is between 20 and 29 minutes, a report by a state-run content industry agency showed Wednesday. The Korea Creative Content Agency released the 2024 Animation Industry White Paper, in which they surveyed 3,500 Koreans between the age of 10 and 69 who watched an animated video regularly -- at least once in two to three months -- in the past year. When asked what was their most preferred length of an animation, 33.6 percent of the resp

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

Stop-motion animation auteur wins top prize at Bucheon animation fest

This year's top prize at the 26th Bucheon International Animation Festival, one of Korea's largest animation film events, was clinched by Adam Elliot, the Oscar-winning Australian director behind "Memoir of a Snail." According to the festival's committee on Tuesday, the BIAF Grand Prize for the feature film category was awarded to Elliot for his 94-minute stop-motion animation film, which follows the story Grace. She is raised by her father Percy, who lives with parapleg

CultureOct. 30, 2024

LG Innotek develops industry's first rare earth-free magnet

LG Innotek said Wednesday it has developed a high-performance eco-friendly magnet that eliminates the use of heavy rare earth elements. Heavy rare earth elements have been critical for magnets to retain their strength at high temperatures. However, these elements are predominantly sourced from specific countries like China, posing price volatility and supply instability risks, alongside significant environmental damage due to mining. Following its 2021 achievement of reducing rare earth usage by

IndustryOct. 30, 2024

SK Networks teams up with Malaysia’s Sunway in AI push

SK Networks said Wednesday it has joined forces with Malaysia’s Sunway Group, a leading conglomerate in Southeast Asia with key interests in real estate and construction, to drive artificial intelligence innovation. Founded in 1974, Sunway is one of Malaysia’s top 20 conglomerates, operating in 13 sectors across 50 countries with a market capitalization exceeding 10 trillion won ($7.2 billion). Under the partnership, the two companies plan to collaborate in the AI sector across Kor

IndustryOct. 30, 2024

KGC launches brand for blood sugar care

Korea Ginseng Corp., best known for its JungKwanJang brand, said Wednesday it has launched a new red ginseng-based health functional product lineup for blood sugar management. The products, under the new brand GLPro, include GLPro Core and GLPro Double Cut. Both products incorporate KGC’s proprietary red ginseng ingredient, KGC05pg, which has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its effectiveness in helping to regulate blood sugar levels. KGC explains that

CompaniesOct. 30, 2024

Celebrity revelations raise issue of marital sexual abuse

After a series of recent revelations of unwanted sexual behavior within marriages surrounding South Korean celebrity couples came to light, these allegations have raised issues about the accountability of spouses in cases of marital sexual abuse. FT Island's Choi Min-hwan is at the center of a controversy after his ex-wife, Yul-hee, opened up in a 37-minute YouTube video posted on Oct. 24 that he would allegedly "fold cash in half and place it in my cleavage in front of family members&

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

Half of schools have sex offenders living nearby

Roughly half of public educational institutes across South Korea have at least one convicted sex offender living within a 1-kilometer radius, data showed Wednesday. Over half of the day care centers and high schools in the country -- 59 percent and 53 percent, respectively -- have one or more sex offenders living within 1 kilometer, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family data submitted to Rep. Baek Seung-a of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Some 51 percent of ki

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

Toss eyes US listing

Viva Republica, the company behind the popular financial app Toss, is now aiming for a US market debut, pivoting from its initial plan to list in Korea. “We are considering the US as our listing destination over Korea, but no specific plans or timeline have been set,” a Viva Republica official said Wednesday, adding that while they are focusing on the US, a debut there has not yet been set. The confirmation follows reports from the previous day that Viva Republica has decided to drop

MarketOct. 30, 2024

Hanwoo Day promotion offers up to 50% off Korean beef

A nationwide promotion of "hanwoo" -- Korean beef -- begins on Wednesday, with discounts of up to 50 percent off regular prices. The promotion will be carried out in 1,948 retail outlets across Korea, including major supermarkets, NongHyup Hanaro Mart and online hanwoo markets. The promotion is led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and organizations that manage beef production in Korea -- NongHyup Agribusiness Group, Hanwoo Association, and a semi-public promotio

ConsumerOct. 30, 2024

LG Chem ups automotive adhesives drive

LG Chem, South Korea’s leading chemicals company, is ramping up its automotive adhesives business as the rising market for electronic components in vehicles is expected to fuel demand. On Wednesday, LG Chem announced it had secured a deal to supply its heat-dissipating adhesives to a US-based electric vehicle company. The client’s name was not immediately disclosed due to confidentiality reasons. The heat-dissipating adhesive is used to bond battery cells within modules and packs. Wi

CompaniesOct. 30, 2024

150 new K2 tanks to feature domestically produced power packs

The state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Monday announced its bid to make 150 new K2 tanks' power packs -- which comprise a 1,500-horsepower engine and transmission -- fully homegrown. The tanks with South Korean-made 1,500-horsepower engines and gear shifts will be manufactured by 2028, according to the plan. A notable change in the manufacturing plan, according to DAPA, is the adoption of a transmission system produced by a South Korean company SNT Dynamics. Currently,

PoliticsOct. 30, 2024

Authorities shoot dead wild boar in subway station, 1 person bitten

A wild boar wrought havoc at a metro station in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province Tuesday afternoon, leaving one person injured and forcing an evacuation, local authorities said Wednesday. The incident began around 4:45 p.m. when the wild boar was first spotted near a local restaurant in Dong-myeon, Yangsan. By 5:10 p.m., it had crossed the street and made its way into Hopo Station on Busan Metro Line 2, officials said. The boar, estimated at 1.5 meters in length and weighing approximately 100

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

[Photo News] Ioniq 9 sneak peek

Hyundai Motor teases the Ioniq 9, their newest electric offering in the large sport utility vehicle market. The design is inspired by the smooth lines of a boat, slashing air resistance and boosting the SUV’s efficiency. The teaser hints at a flowing roofline for increased headroom and a silhouette that suggests a spacious cabin. Hyundai will fully reveal the Ioniq 9 next month. (Hyundai Motor Company)

MobilityOct. 30, 2024

TGS seeks to expand e-commerce presence in Philippines

South Korean retail and finance company TGS Holdings announced Tuesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Philippines-based Glyphstudios to expand e-commerce and mobile payment services in the Southeast Asian market. As part of the agreement, TGS Holdings will launch a subsidiary called Woori Ventures Group to oversee its e-commerce operations in the Philippines. This deal, finalized last Wednesday with one of the Philippines’ largest mobile services and content provider

TechnologyOct. 30, 2024