Bee materials such as honey, royal jelly and bee venom have been useful in oriental medicine.Bee venom, especially, is widely known for being used the most in apitherapy, treating patients with arthritis and multiple sclerosis.Local scientists discovered that such bee material could also effectively treat Parkinson’s disease.A team headed by professor Bae Hyun-su of Kyung Hee University’s College of Oriental Medicine said that bee venom could help boost the immune system against the neurodegener

Technology Nov. 4, 2012

SEOGWIPO, Jeju ― An hour’s drive south from the island’s main airport, there is an expanse of flat land with nothing but pebbles and sand.To its north stands Hallasan, Korea’s tallest mountain, while the ocean can be seen just a few feet to the south.The site seems perfect to build a town for tourists seeking medical treatment while on holiday, especially after one has seen the area’s sunsets.This is where Jeju Free International City Development Center, or JDC, plans to develop a 1.5 square-kil

Technology Nov. 1, 2012

Boeing has named Joseph Song vice president and managing director for its defense, space and security business in Korea to further strengthen customer relationships and establish new in-country partnerships.Song will be based in Seoul and focus on ensuring that the best of Boeing and industry are brought to support Korea’s national security needs.“Joseph’s new assignment demonstrates our commitment to a lasting, positive relationship with the Korean government and with a growing number of in-cou

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2012

Staying fit through exercising and dieting helps maintain health and prevent age-related diseases.However, many find it difficult to run a mile or two every day, or even regularly, as muscles and cells degenerate as they age.Scientists at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have discovered a compound that could boost people’s metabolism and possibly prevent diseases associated with aging such Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.A team led by professor Kim Dae-soo of KAIST’s department of

Technology Oct. 28, 2012

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 is scheduled for liftoff at 3:30 p.m. Friday with Koreans hoping it will open a new chapter in the nation’s space technology. The rocket known as the Naro-3 was placed on the launch pad next to the launch platform pointing straight to the sky at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Final preparations were performed from the control tower on Thursday.Naro-3 is a two-stage space launch vehicle. It stands 33.5 meters tall, has a maximum diameter

Technology Oct. 25, 2012

Korea has started its countdown for the expected launch of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, also known as the Naro rocket.There is slight chance of rain on the day of its third attempt to shoot it into space, but officials said the launch schedule remains set for Friday at 3:30 p.m.This will be the first and last launch of Naro using Russian technology including a liquid-fueled rocket engine, should it succeed.Korea has an agreement with Russia in which the latter will provide three engines tak

Technology Oct. 24, 2012

Space technology has advanced through trial and error, a solace for Korean scientists who were humiliated by the past two failed launches of the country’s first locally assembled rocket called Naro. Advanced economies such as the U.S. and Japan have a record of launch failures. Even Russia, which fired the most rockets into space between 1957 and 2011, had several misfires.In a survey of 1,000 Koreans by a local news agency, over 80 percent said that Korea should increase its space investment an

Social Affairs Oct. 24, 2012

Korea lags far behind other economies such as the U.S., Russia and Japan in space technology investment.The country is also behind China and India, which have made significant investments in the development of their lunar probe programs.The country hopes to conduct its first successful space rocket launch this week after two failed attempts in August 2009 and June 2010. The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, also known as Naro-1, is the country’s first locally assembled space rocket.Its first-stage t

Technology Oct. 23, 2012

The military and police blocked civic activists from sending propaganda leaflets over to North Korea on Monday but military tension remained high across the border as they vowed to go ahead with their plans. The Army said it would maintain vigilance for the time being ready to exercise self-defense measures should it see signs of imminent attack from the communist state.A group of South Korean conservatives and defectors were blocked by the police on Monday from entering Imjin Paviliion in Paju,

North Korea Oct. 22, 2012

New derivatives could be boost to local electronics industryKorean scientists have developed new organic materials that may help the electronics industry produce next-generation displays and maintain its global competitiveness.A team of scientists led by professor Choi Dong-hoon of Korea University said it has discovered extended conjugated molecules through compounds of porphyrin.The porphyrin derivatives may be used to boost the efficiency of semiconducting devices such as organic field-effect

Technology Oct. 21, 2012