Asian science parks to be discussed on Jeju

About 230 delegates from nine member countries of the Asia Science Park Association gathered on Jeju Island this week to discuss the future of high-tech science parks in Asia.The Jeju Free International City Development Center is hosting the “ASPA Leaders Meeting” at Jeju Science Park from Monday through Wednesday. ASPA is an international organization established in 1997 to help revitalize Asian economies through cooperation among Asian high-tech science parks. This year, participants will exch

IndustryApril 23, 2012

French golf tournament this week

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry will hold an amateur golf event on April 27 aimed at improving the relationship of the two countries.The French-Korean Golf Tournament plans to increase awareness of the French brand, “Rendez-vous en France.”The tournament is co-hosted by the France Tourism Development Agency and the Chamber.The event at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club will also offer the opportunity to network with sponsors, partners and prospective clients in one of the most prestigious

IndustryApril 23, 2012

Austcham organizes trip to Yeosu

The Australian Chamber of Commerce is organizing a trip to the Yeosu Expo on May 27 to celebrate Australia National day at the fair.The 2012 Yeosu World Expo will be held May 12-Aug. 12 in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The Australian event will feature an official welcoming and a concert headlined by Australian performer Jessica Mauboy. To coincide with the function, Austcham and Austrade will lead a mission of up to 20 chamber members and 20 Korean guests to the Expo to join in the Australia da

IndustryApril 23, 2012

Seoul shares end flat before U.S. rate decision, earnings reports

South Korean stocks closed effectively flat on Monday as investors waited for this week's U.S. interest rate decision and corporate earnings, analysts said. The local currency dipped against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gave up 2.02 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 1,972.63. Trading volume was moderate at 578 million shares worth 3.52 trillion won

April 23, 2012

Hyundai Motor expands aid to suppliers

Hyundai Motor Group plans to up the funds it provides to its subcontractors, giving out about 600 billion won ($530 million) this year. About 320 billion won will support suppliers’ research and development activities and the rest will be allocated as loans with low interest rates, the group said in a statement on Sunday.The automotive group said it is showing its commitment to co-prosperity, as its 11 business units, including Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis, have signed a pact with

MobilityApril 23, 2012

Low-fat dairy may lower stroke risk

In a large study involving almost 75,000 adults in Sweden ages 45-83, those who ate low-fat dairy products had less risk of stroke, researchers said. First author Susanna Larsson, an associate professor of epidemiology at the National Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, said at the beginning of the study participants were free of heart disease, str

TechnologyApril 23, 2012

Texas teen charged with false cancer claim

A Texas teenager was arrested for allegedly conning folks in the El Paso area with a false story about battling cancer.Angie Gomez, 19, Horizon City, was indicted by an El Paso County grand jury on theft-by-deception for allegedly accepting about $17,000 in donations based on claims she had been stricken with leukemia.She was locked up Friday on $50,000 bond.Gomez had told her high school classmat

TechnologyApril 23, 2012

Korean food gets ‘C’ in test of public opinion

Korean food has been graded “C” among international cuisine, despite the government’s efforts to promote its cuisine worldwide, according to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Sunday.Citing a survey of 593 people in five countries on 12 national foods, Korean food got only 73.2 points out of 100 in terms of taste, look, price and service. It ranked seventh in the ministry’s global food index, followed by Turkey, Malaysia and Vietnam.Italian and Japanese dishes were the

IndustryApril 22, 2012

SMEC develops remote control software

SMEC Co., a Korean machinery and robot developer, said Sunday it had developed an application for mobile devices to operate its products by remote control.The Moricon allows engineers to reset or turn on and off computer numerical control tools and other machines and check their status in real time using their smartphones or tablet computers outside the factory, the company said. The Daejeon-based firm unveiled the application at the Seoul International Machine Tool Show 2012 on April 17-22, a t

IndustryApril 22, 2012

100 large stores closed Sunday under new law

More than 100 supermarkets closed on Sunday in accordance with a new law aimed at protecting small retailers, according to media reports.E-Mart, Korea’s biggest supermarket chain and part of Shinsegae Group, closed 44 of its 137 retail stores nationwide, while Homeplus, part of British retailer Tesco, shut 44 stores. Lotte Group’s Lotte Mart, meanwhile, closed 30 of its chains.The number of stores closed on Sunday accounts for 32 percent of the total owned by the big three conglomerates.Some sma

IndustryApril 22, 2012

International passenger traffic hits fresh high in Q1

International passenger traffic in and out of Korea reached an all-time high in the first quarter as air travel demand picked up during national and school holidays, a government report showed Sunday. The number of passengers on overseas routes shot up 12.3 percent in the first three months to nearly 11.4 million, setting a fresh record, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Domestic air passenger traffic also leapt 11.6 percent year-on-year to more than 4.9 million

IndustryApril 22, 2012

SK Biopharm, Hanmi sign deal to sell epilepsy drug

SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. said Sunday it established a strategic partnership with Hanmi Pharm Co. to sell a nasal spray-type epilepsy drug in Korea and China.Hanmi and its Chinese arm will get the approval for sales and handle marketing in Korea and China, under the partnership. The diazepam nasal spray quickly transfers the diazepam substance to the brain through the mucous membranes inside the nasal cavity, allowing swift treatment, according to SK Biopharm.The pharmaceutical company expects t

IndustryApril 22, 2012