GI Biome partners with multi-target antibody developer ProGen to research next-gen obesity treatment

SEOUL -- South Korea's microbiome-based drug developer GI Biome has partnered with ProGen, a Seoul-based company that develops multi-targeted antibodies for anti-cancer and immune disease treatment, to jointly research and develop a next-generation obesity treatment drug. GI Biome said that the company signed a memorandum of understanding with ProGen to cooperate in the research and development of a next-generation obesity treatment drug. The two companies will jointly research GI

July 25, 2023

N. Korea fires ballistic missiles after US nuclear submarine arrives in S. Korea

SEOUL -- North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea in less than a day after the United States Navy's nuclear-powered submarine arrived in South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju on July 24. The South Korean Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) detected two short-range ballistic missiles that were fired from an area near Pyongyang, North Korea, at about 11:55 p.m. (1455 GMT) on July 24. Two ballistic missiles were fired and flew about 400 kilometers

July 25, 2023

Daesang starts mass production of low-calorie alternative sweetener product

SEOUL -- South Korea's major food manufacturing group Daesang has started the mass production of allulose, a low-calorie alternate sugar product, in a bid to target the domestic sweet alternative market valued at 330 billion won ($257.6 million) in 2020. The growth of the South Korean alternate sugar product market gained traction over the last five years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people's awareness of wellness and eating healthy food had increased. One b

July 24, 2023

CGBIO acquires medical aesthetics product company targeting domestic plastic surgery market

SEOUL -- CGBIO, a total healthcare provider in South Korea, has acquired DNC AESTHETICS, a medical aesthetics product maker, to target the domestic plastic surgery market that was valued at $1.95 billion in 2021 with products that are used at plastic and cosmetics surgery hospitals. South Korea has a plastic and cosmetics surgery market that is growing at an average annual growth rate of 13.2 percent, according to Expert Market Research, a global market research firm. For the last deca

July 24, 2023

Japan attracts about 30% of S. Korean overseas travelers in 1H 2023: data

SEOUL -- About 30 percent of travelers who left South Korea to foreign countries in the first half of 2023 traveled to Japan, data released by South Korea's land ministry showed. China, which used to be one of South Koreans' favorite getaway spots, attracted about six percent of the total outbound travelers. Japan became a popular tourist spot for South Koreans after all coronavirus-related travel restrictions were lifted this year. Japan's geographical distance from Sou

July 24, 2023

State-run police hospital adopts Lunit's AI chest X-ray solution

SEOUL -- "Lunit INSIGHT CXR," a chest X-ray analysis solution developed by South Korea's medical artificial intelligence company Lunit, was adopted by the country's national police hospital to detect various types of chest diseases. The solution can significantly help human doctors treat police officers and firefighters suffering from lung diseases. The AI-based solution is used to compare and analyze X-rays and medical images of patients with chest diseases and healt

July 21, 2023

[COLUMN] Let's ask fortune-tellers if it is time for a Korean War peace treaty

SEOUL -- Next week marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice when the guns of war fell silent across the 38th parallel. Imagine if you were here at that time, wondering what to do with your life, and that you went to a fortune-teller for advice. “It’s only a ceasefire,” the lady might have said. “Don’t buy property in Seoul until there&

July 21, 2023

Average age of S. Korean workers predicted to reach 53.7 by 2050: report

SEOUL -- Recent data released by South Korea's major business organization predicted that the average age of employees in the country would become 53.7 by 2050 due to population aging and a low fertility rate. According to the report, the average age of workers in the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development would be 43.8 in 2050. South Korea is experiencing a significant aging phenomenon, with about 30 percent of its population expected to

July 21, 2023

S. Korea to host special exhibition to promote smart city construction project in Saudi Arabia

SEOUL -- In a bit to promote a mega smart city construction project in Saudi Arabia, South Korea's transport ministry will host an exhibition at the Dongdaemun Digital Plaza (DDP), a design and arts center located in the heart of Seoul. Many South Korean companies showed their sincere interest in building NEOM, a smart city powered by renewable energy on the coast of the Red Sea. A smart city is a city platform that interconnects city infrastructure including facilities and devices

July 20, 2023

S. Korea to establish five base hospitals for childhood cancer treatment

SEOUL -- South Korea will establish five base hospitals in five provinces to help young patients suffering from childhood cancer receive treatment without having to visit large hospitals in Seoul. Childhood cancer including leukemia requires patients to receive intensive treatment for one or two years. Most of South Korea's hospitals that specialize in childhood cancer are concentrated in Seoul and its satellite cities, making it hard for children living in other provinces to con

July 20, 2023