As climate change continues to threaten plant ecosystems worldwide, the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute is drawing increased attention as a key player in protecting biodiversity both locally and abroad. Operating under the state-run Korea Forest Service, KoAGI's primary task is managing the Baekdudaegan Global Seed Vault in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province. Opened in December 2015, the vault houses nearly 240,000 seeds from 5,792 wild plant species worldwide and is one of only two su

Industry Aug. 13, 2024

A global gathering of botanical experts convened Wednesday at the National Arboretum in Sejong, South Korea, to address the pressing issue of plant biodiversity conservation in an era of climate change. The international symposium, jointly hosted by the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute (KoAGI), Korea Forest Service and Korea National Arboretum, brought together 100 leading specialists from across the globe to hash out collaborative strategies for protecting the planet's flora. Dr. Paul

Industry Aug. 13, 2024

South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion has received US Food and Drug Administration approval to kick off advanced clinical testing for CT-P51, a biosimilar of the breakthrough cancer drug Keytruda, the company announced Monday. CT-P51 replicates the effects of pembrolizumab, marketed under the brand name Keytruda by Merck & Co., known as MSD outside North America. An immunotherapy agent enhancing the body's immune response against cancer cells, pembrolizumab has demonstrated effi

Industry Aug. 12, 2024

Innocean, the marketing communications arm of Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday that it has named Susanne Plumecke, an automotive marketing specialist, as its new European chief operating officer. Plumecke is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in marketing brands, mostly carmakers. Plumecke held leadership positions at global marketing companies, including DDB and Mediamonks. Most recently, she oversaw the branding strategies of BMW and Mini as managing director of Mediamonks. I

Industry Aug. 12, 2024

HD Hyundai Marine Solution has secured a $30 million contract with a European maritime firm to develop an LNG floating storage unit, its first such project, the company announced Sunday. The project will convert a 2004-built, 138,000-square-meter Spanish carrier into an FSU capable of gas storage and offloading. HD Hyundai will manage the entire turnkey project from design through delivery. "Carrier-to-FSU conversions are complex projects that demand high-level engineering skills," a c

Industry Aug. 11, 2024

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.

Industry Aug. 8, 2024

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

Industry Aug. 8, 2024

South Korean food conglomerate Samyang Roundsquare has set up its European subsidiary in the Netherlands, according to industry sources on Wednesday. The company has filed the necessary paperwork and has already begun hiring, insiders told local media. The subsidiary marks Samyang's fifth overseas corporation, following established operations in Japan, China, the United States and Indonesia. "We've established this entity to optimize our supply chain across Europe. The Netherlands

Industry Aug. 7, 2024

South Korea's Public Procurement Service is spearheading efforts to help local businesses break into the global procurement market, valued at an estimated $12 trillion. Of this total, Korean companies are positioned to vie for a lucrative $2 trillion portion, presenting a significant opportunity for the nation's export economy, according to PPS's estimate. Recently, the agency has been doubling down on its support for aspiring businesses. A host of comprehensive initiatives has al

Industry Aug. 7, 2024

The Public Procurement Service, responsible for managing procurement contracts worth 209 trillion won ($152 billion) last year — a third of the South Korean government's entire spending — serves as both an allocator of domestic demand and a driver of innovation for the country’s thriving small and medium-sized enterprises. Lim Ki-keun, who was appointed as PPS administrator in December last year, has taken on this critical responsibility during a period of mounting global

Industry Aug. 7, 2024

South Korean politics is once again in an uproar following recent revelations of wealth transfers from several high-level government officials to their children. These officials, nominated for high-ranking positions requiring National Assembly confirmation, have reignited fierce debates about elite privilege, inheritance schemes and the ethical obligations of public servants in the last few weeks. In a society that demands strict financial integrity and transparency from its leaders, these incid

Social Affairs Aug. 7, 2024

South Korea's ruling People Power Party filed a motion Friday to expel opposition Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Rep. Choi Min-hee over alleged discriminatory comments against a North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker. The controversy came about at a Monday confirmation hearing for state broadcasting regulator chief Lee Jin-sook. Choi, chairing the Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, reportedly told People Power Party Rep. Park Choong-kwon, who defected fr

Politics Aug. 2, 2024

Seoul is expanding its Climate Card program to Guri, Gyeonggi Province, just east of the capital, in the latest move to make the eco-friendly monthly transit pass more accessible across the Greater Seoul area. Officials from the two cities signed off on the decision in a virtual meeting attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Guri Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun on Friday, according to the Seoul city government. Starting Aug. 10, Guri residents can use the pass at 24 subway stops on lines connecting to the

Social Affairs Aug. 2, 2024

Nearly 70 percent of South Koreans aged 55 to 79 are willing to work past retirement, data showed, reflecting the ongoing financial insecurities among the country's senior population. The figure, coming from a May survey by the government’s statistics body, represents an increase of 0.9 percentage point from the previous month. Additionally, 20.7 percent of seniors actively sought employment in the past year, also up 0.9 percentage point from April. The data was released Tuesday. Resp

Social Affairs July 31, 2024

Seventy-four years ago, troops from 22 nations, led by US Gen. Douglas MacArthur under the United Nations flag, were dispatched to defend South Korea against North Korean aggression. The bloody conflict left millions dead, with over 100,000 UN casualties. July 27, commemorated annually as National Korean War Armistice Day, marks the signing of the 1953 agreement that ended the three-year conflict. This day of national recognition honors all those who served, fought and died during the Korean War

Social Affairs July 30, 2024