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HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation honors charity heroes
The HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation held its annual HD Hyundai Honor Awards ceremony on Tuesday, recognizing “citizen heroes” who have selflessly supported those in need. This year’s grand prize was awarded to the Purme Foundation. Since 2005, Purme has been a driving force in supporting people who live with disabilities. It has supported rehabilitation treatments for over 600,000 children and has operated a smart farm that provides employment opportunities for young adults with
IndustryDec. 17, 2024
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Arrest warrant issued for ex-Army chief
A military court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for Army Gen. Park An-su, formerly Army chief of staff, on charges related to his involvement in impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The arrest warrant was initially sought by the prosecution's special investigation unit probing Yoon's martial law decree on Sunday. Park has been suspended from his position as Army chief of staff since Thursday, as the Defense Ministry deemed him unable to perform
DefenseDec. 17, 2024
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Ikea walks back plan to build Asia's largest logistics hub in Korea
Ikea Korea has scrapped its project to establish a multipurpose logistics center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, four years after its initial announcement of housing Asia's largest logistics hub in South Korea. In its latest audit report, covering September 2023 to August 2024, the Swedish home furnishing retailer announced its withdrawal from the Pyeongtaek logistics project, reclassifying the 102,000-square-meter site for the planned logistics center, valued at 55.5 billion won ($38.6 m
IndustryDec. 17, 2024
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Korea Tourism Organization pitches tech tourism
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is ramping up technology-driven initiatives to support tourism companies grappling with persistent labor shortages, a key challenge since the post-pandemic recovery began in early 2023. Kwon Jong-sool, executive director of the KTO’s company support division, said this year’s focus on funding businesses to implement food delivery robots has shown promising results. One success story is St. John’s Hotel, a 1,901-room facility in Gangneung, Ga
TravelDec. 17, 2024
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F-15K upgrade to cost W1tr extra due to inflation: DAPA
The budget for a project to enhance the South Korean Air Force's key fighter aircraft, the F-15K, has risen by over 1 trillion won ($697 million) due to increasing labor and material costs in the defense industry, according to the country's arms procurement agency. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that the agency's defense acquisition program promotion committee has approved the final plan for the project on Monday. With a focus on improving the key aviatio
DefenseDec. 17, 2024
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Popular Korean entertainment shows return with new series
A wave of Korean entertainment show sequels is set to dominate television screens at the end of this year and early next year. JTBC’s popular entertainment show "Chef & My Fridge," one of the first programs to spotlight chefs in Korea, made a long-anticipated comeback with its first episode on Sunday. Known for its unique premise -- celebrities' actual refrigerators are brought to the studio, where chefs engage in an intense cook-off using only the ingredients inside --
TelevisionDec. 17, 2024
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US approves $9.63b loan to SK On, Ford’s battery joint venture
BlueOval SK, a joint venture between SK On and Ford Motor Co., received approval from the US Department of Energy for a $9.63 billion loan Monday, securing funds to construct three battery manufacturing plants in the US. The loan is part of the government’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, which offers low-cost loans with an interest rate equivalent to the US 10-year Treasury bond, currently around 4 percent, according to sources. The program targets companies producing
MobilityDec. 17, 2024
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Government to citizens: Relax and enjoy year-end gatherings
Politicians and government officials alike are encouraging South Koreans not to cancel their regular year-end meetings, after the Dec. 3 martial law and subsequent political turmoil brought a fall in the country's restaurant sales. Reports have indicated that small enterprises in particular have been hit hard in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent declaration of martial law. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise on Sunday released a statement that small business owne
Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024
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[Photo News] Hana joins W100b donor club
Hana Financial Group has joined the Community Chest of Korea's 100 billion won ($69.6 million) donation club for the nonprofit's "Hope Sharing Campaign," contributing approximately 113.5 billion won since 2003. This includes 15 billion won donated Tuesday as part of the "2025 Hope Sharing Campaign," which supports underrepresented communities and promotes a sustainable future. In the photo, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo (left) poses with Community Ches
IndustryDec. 17, 2024
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Hanwha Aerospace delivers more military assets to Norway
Hanwha Aerospace announced Tuesday that it shipped a fresh batch of four K9 self-propelled howitzers and eight K10 ammunition resupply vehicles to Norway. The shipment is part of a 2022 contract agreed to supply additional K9 and K10 systems, following the successful implementation of the first contract signed in 2017 to export 24 K9s and six K10s to bolster the Norwegian defense capability. According to Hanwha, the artillery systems are expected to arrive in Norway in about two months for deliv
CompaniesDec. 17, 2024
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LX Hausys listed on DJSI Korea for 10th straight year
South Korean building materials company LX Hausys has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices Korea for the 10th consecutive year, the company announced Tuesday, making it the only Korean interior company to earn this recognition. The DJSI, managed by global financial information provider S&P Global, evaluates companies worldwide on their environmental, social and governance performance. LX Hausys received high scores in key areas such as environmental policies, climate strateg
IndustryDec. 17, 2024
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AI near-aces college entry-level Korean exam
An artificial intelligence program has gotten a near-perfect score on the Korean language test of the state-run college entrance exam, according to the company behind the software. Korean startup company Markr AI said the o1-Preview model, developed by OpenAI, got all but one question right in the Korean language section of this year's Suneung, held in Nov. 14 and was used for 2025 college admissions. This gave the AI a score of 97 out of possible 100 points, which corresponds to a "
TechnologyDec. 17, 2024
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Parties clash over Han Duck-soo's authority to approve justices for Yoon Suk Yeol trial
South Korea’s main parties clashed Tuesday over whether acting President Han Duck-soo possesses the authority to approve Assembly nominations for new Constitutional Court justices, a move that could make it easier to confirm President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment. Confirming the impeachment requires the approval of at least six Constitutional Court justices. With three of the nine justice positions vacant, Yoon would not be impeached without a unanimous decision by all incumbent justi
PoliticsDec. 17, 2024
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BC Card CEO secures 4th term
BC Card, one of South Korea's leading card issuers, has confirmed the reappointment of CEO Choi Won-seok for another term. The company announced Tuesday that its executive nominee recommendation committee selected Choi as the sole candidate for the CEO position. This will mark Choi's fourth consecutive term since he took office in March 2021, and the first time a BC Card CEO has served a fourth term since the company joined KT Group in 2011. The committee selected Choi as the nominee,
IndustryDec. 17, 2024
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Clear communication with Trump essential for S. Korea: expert
Ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, it is more crucial than ever for South Korea and the United States to engage in clear and strategic communication, says Ted Gover, director of the Tribal Administration Program at Claremont Graduate University and an expert on US diplomacy in Asia. “If I were the South Korean president, I would take a page from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s playbook,” said Gover, referring to the recent meeting at Mar-a-Lago in
Foreign AffairsDec. 17, 2024
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Seoul Plaza ice rink to reopen Friday
The iconic seasonal ice skating rink at Seoul Plaza is set to reopen Friday and operate until Feb. 9 next year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The city government has opened an ice rink every winter since 2004, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rink operates every day -- 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Sunday to Friday with hours extended until 11 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays. The entrance fee has remained unchanged at 1,000 won (70 cents) for 20 years, covering skate rental,
Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024
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LG unveils high-performance in-cabin camera module
LG Innotek said Tuesday it has developed a high-performance in-cabin camera module equipped with a 5-megapixel RGB-infrared dual sensor for automotive use. The new technology enables real-time monitoring of vehicle occupants, detecting driver conditions while checking seatbelt usage for front and rear passengers. With the rise of autonomous driving, demand for in-cabin monitoring systems has surged to ensure passenger safety. The key feature of LG’s solution is its versatility, offering mu
TechnologyDec. 17, 2024
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[Pressure Points] Privacy of child stars: Some sense hypocrisy in parents' calls for respect
Child stars have long been a staple of the entertainment world, and their stage has expanded to social media. These new young personalities, often managed by their parents, amass huge followings, raising questions about the consequences of early fame and its ethical boundaries. A recent controversy surrounding Taeha, a 3-year-old YouTuber famous for his linguistic talents, has reignited these discussions. Taeha’s channel boasts over 801,000 subscribers as of Monday, and he has appeared
Hashtag KoreaDec. 17, 2024
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Oceans minister discusses trade uncertainties with shipping firms
South Korea's oceans minister met with chief executive officers of the country's major shipping companies Tuesday to discuss strategies to address uncertainties in global trade, including potential US policy shifts under the incoming Donald Trump administration. The meeting, which invited representatives from the top 10 shipping companies, including HMM Co., Pan Ocean Co. and SK Shipping Co., also took place in the wake of lingering geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, accord
IndustryDec. 17, 2024
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Govt. to front-load 75% of next year's state budget in H1
The finance ministry said Tuesday that 75 percent of fiscal spending for 2025 will be allocated for implementation in the first half of the year to better support vulnerable populations. The Cabinet approved a plan to front-load 431.1 trillion won ($300.2 billion) from next year's total fiscal budget of 574.8 trillion won during the January-June period, according to the ministry. The spending will primarily focus on assisting low-income and other vulnerable groups, as well as supporting sma
EconomyDec. 17, 2024