The US presidential election is now just a month away. October traditionally brings surprises, but as things stand now, the race is a nail bitter. Vice President Kamala Harris has maintained a small lead over former President Donald Trump in nationwide polls since mid-August, but the race for 270 Electoral College votes remains extremely close. Campaigns are focusing their efforts on seven battleground states where a few thousand votes here or there could determine the winner. Compared to most p

Viewpoints Oct. 4, 2024

SK bioscience completed the acquisition of German CDMO company IDT Biologika with over a century of history that enables immediate expansion in revenue and infrastructure. The company aims to double sales of IDT Biologika by 2028 through new business projects and operational efficiency. The company will invest in high-growth businesses such as stage cell and gene therapy (CGT) and recombinant vaccine. SK bioscience will accelerate its global push based on the complementary capabilitie

PR Newswire Oct. 3, 2024

Celebrity entrepreneur and chef Paik Jong-won’s yearslong effort to list his food franchise firm Theborn Korea on the country’s main bourse has cleared its first hurdle, yet challenges remain as the fate of the company heavily depends on his fame. Supported by a strong brand lineup and the rising public profile of its CEO Paik, Theborn Korea passed the preliminary review by the Korea Exchange for its initial public offering on Aug. 30, about three months after submitting its applicat

Companies Oct. 2, 2024

There is a fascinating trend I have noticed in online media articles about America lately, such as “16 uniquely American things,” “13 positive stereotypes about Americans” or “23 US things that make the rest of the world jealous.” Those photo articles provide intriguing insights into what seems distinctively “American” in the collective mind and culture of the US. In the past, people often thought of America as a dreamland or the land of opportunit

Viewpoints Oct. 2, 2024

MUSCAT, Oman, Oct. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard & Poor's (S&P) has upgraded Oman's credit rating to 'BBB-' from 'BB+' with a stable outlook, driven by improvements in the country's financial performance. This marks Oman's return to investment-grade status after nearly seven years, during which its rating dropped due to the decline in global oil prices and COVID-19. Ministry of Finance Oman S&P highlighted that the improvement is a result of continued efforts to en

PR Newswire Oct. 2, 2024

As the summer heat gives way to the crisp autumn air, it's time to start thinking about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the flu. If you’re a foreign national resident in South Korea, you may be eligible for free seasonal flu shots, one of many immunizations offered under the government's National Immunization Program, as long as you meet the same priority group criteria applied to Korean nationals. Korea’s vaccine program covers for free 18 essential vaccines f

Hashtag Korea Oct. 1, 2024

While passengers getting off an airplane before takeoff is uncommon, government data showed Tuesday that such cases have occurred 2,985 times between 2019 and August of this year. The passengers got off the plane on their own account in 2,548 cases, and a simple change of heart by passengers was responsible for 389 of these cases, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport data submitted to Rep. Yeom Tae-yeong of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. In the 417 re

Social Affairs Oct. 1, 2024

Police said Tuesday they had nabbed a North Korean defector for allegedly stealing a village bus in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and attempting to ram the bus northward through the militarized border between the two Koreas, in an apparent bid to return to North Korea. Police in Paju caught a man in his 30s at the Unification Bridge on Tuesday at around 1:30 a.m., as the bus he was driving hit a road blocker on the Imjin River's heavily guarded bridge that leads to the truce village Panmunjom in

Politics Oct. 1, 2024

The drop in Thai tourists to Korea as a result of tight screening and the large population of Thais working in Korea illegally should be addressed simultaneously, according to Tanee Sangrat, who began his mission as Thai ambassador to South Korea in April. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Sangrat said that for Korea to see a rebound in tourism from Thailand, some efforts were needed on his country’s part to reduce the number of Thais overstaying their visas. “We are doing our

Foreign Affairs Sept. 30, 2024

South Korean and Slovakian business leaders gathered in Seoul to deepen industrial cooperation, focusing on nuclear power plants and defense industries, according to a Korean business group on Monday. On the occasion of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's state visit to Korea, the Federation of Korean Industries hosted a roundtable with businesspeople from the two countries to discuss ways for Korean firms to expand their footings in the central European country. Slovak Deputy Prime Minis

Economy Sept. 30, 2024

K-pop boy group Vanner returns to the music scene with its third EP, “Burn,” on Monday, in which it sings about the hardships that youth face on their journeys to realize their dreams. Such difficulties are familiar to the group that debuted in 2019, shortly before COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a standstill. "We did not get a chance to perform. But winning on JTBC’s idol survival program ‘Peak Time’ last year, we began to garner a lot of love from the pub

K-pop Sept. 30, 2024

While there is no official definition agreed on globally, zombie firms are widely referred to as those that are risky, unproductive and unviable, yet which still manage to avoid immediate default, most likely thanks to continued support from banks, investors or governments, in light of misaligned incentives. The existence of zombie firms can be said to be inevitable for any country adopting market capitalism, at least for a certain period and under certain conditions, such as immediately after u

Viewpoints Sept. 30, 2024

South Korean steel giant Posco Group said Friday that it hosted two work camps for university students in North Gyeongsang Province and South Jeolla Province from July to August. The company annually recruits university students for its volunteer group, called Beyond. This year, 50 students from 40 Korean universities worked in various voluntary activities to address environmental and social issues. In July, the volunteers planted 400 magnolia seedlings at Baekdudaegan National Arboretum, creati

Industry Sept. 27, 2024

The South Korean government is expected to see another significant shortfall in tax revenue this year, due mainly to the sluggish semiconductors industry and the real estate market slump, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Thursday. The government is forecast to collect 337.7 trillion won ($254 billion) this year, 29.6 trillion won -- 8.1 percent -- less than the ministry's earlier forecast when planning the 2024 budget. This year’s projection is 6.4 trillion won unde

Economy Sept. 26, 2024

The imported liquor market in South Korea is undergoing rapid changes. Wine and whiskey, which had gained popularity during the trends of drinking alone or at home, are seeing a decline, while beer is making a resurgence. Analysts suggest that the market, which experienced significant fluctuations due to external factors like COVID-19, is now entering a period of adjustment. According to data from the Korea Customs Service, whiskey imports fell 21 percent year-on-year to 6,624 tons in the seco

Market Sept. 26, 2024

The number of elementary, middle and high school students reporting being bullied at school increased for the fourth straight year, pushing the corresponding rate to 2 percent for the first time in 11 years. With 1 out of 50 children having experienced school violence, the proportion of victim students was higher among younger students. The modality of violence became more insidious and adroit as the ratio of verbal and cyber violence took over physical bullying, according to the report by the M

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2024

BREBES, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TotalEnergies ENEOS has successfully completed the installation of a 2.5 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar rooftop system for Indonesia's leading shoe manufacturer and partner of globally renowned sportwear brand, PT Bintang Indokarya Gemilang. TotalEnergies ENEOS Completes Solar Rooftop Project with Indonesia’s Leading Shoe Manufacturer, PT Bintang Indokarya Gemilang As part of this long-term partnership, TotalEnergies EN

PR Newswire Sept. 25, 2024

Accidents at kids' cafes are rising, with trampolines accounting for the largest proportion, prompting a government agency to issue a warning. According to the Korea Consumer Agency, 1,205 accidents occurred at kids' cafes -- indoor playing facilities for children -- from 2019 to 2023. The number of accidents went from 397 to 150 in 2020 and 97 in 2021, likely due to COVID-19 social distancing -- but the number rebounded to 225 in 2022 and 337 in 2023. The data showed that by equipme

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2024

New Zeki Data Report Breaks Down Competition Within the Deep-Tech Ecosystem LONDON, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new global report on deep-tech talent published by Zeki Data today reveals the US generates three times as many deep-tech companies as the UK, while small European startups have a much higher concentration of advanced-skilled talent than in North America. North American Startups Scale 2x Faster than European: Deep-tech startups in the United States are scaling

PR Newswire Sept. 24, 2024

The number of patients suffering from malnutrition in South Korea has increased by nearly three times in the last five years, particularly among low-income households, data showed Tuesday. According to an official report from the National Health Insurance Service delivered to Rep. Jun Jin-sook of the Democratic Party of Korea, a total of 63,274 patients received treatment for malnutrition from 2019 to the first half of this year. The number of patients suffering from malnutrition increased signi

Social Affairs Sept. 24, 2024