BLACKPINK's debut song Boombayah surpasses 1.6 bln views on YouTube

SEOUL -- The music video for BLACKPINK's debut song Boombayah has garnered more than 1.6 billion views on YouTube about six years and 11 months after its release. Through the title track of its debut album Square One, the four-member band expressed their feelings toward their crush, saying they want to dance together at night. As of 4:42 p.m. (0742 GMT) on July 4, Boombayah's music video had 1,600,179,648 views. "The biggest feature of blackpink songs is that no

July 4, 2023

S. Korea establishes alliance to accelerate development and distribution of small modular reactors

SEOUL -- South Korea has set up an alliance of administrative organizations and private companies to promote the development and distribution of small modular reactors that are smaller and safer than conventional nuclear reactors. Small modular reactors (SMRs) can address the limitations of light-water reactors using low-enriched uranium that cost a lot to replace nuclear fuel and require a vast emergency evacuation zone, nonproliferation, and waste management. Small reactors desig

July 4, 2023

S. Korean TV channel operator to broadcast AI-produced variety show

SEOUL -- MBC, a major South Korean TV network that produced reality competition series Physical: 100, will showcase a variety show created by an artificial intelligence producer. After selecting human participants specializing in various fields such as the ones with enormous physical strength and survivor experts, the AI producer called "M-Phago" will host the show and edit videos. "Hi, I am an AI producer. I will be working on a variety show that would be directed, hos

July 4, 2023

S. Korea records lowest inflation rate in 2% range for first time in 21 months

SEOUL -- South Korea has recorded an inflation rate in the two percent range for the first time in 21 months after inflationary pressures have steadily decreased. According to data released by the state statistical information service on July 4, the consumer price index (CPI) in June 2023 stood at 11.12, up by 2.7 percent compared to the same period last year. This is the first time the inflation rate dropped below three percent since September 2021 (2.4 percent). The inflation r

July 4, 2023

​Exports of S. Korean instant noodles Ramyeon surpass $400 mln in first half of 2023

SEOUL -- Exports of South Korean instant noodles known as Ramyeon soared 16.4 percent year-on-year to a record high of $446.2 million in the first half of 2023, state data showed. The instant noodles that appeared in many South Korean films including the Oscar-winning film "Parasite" and live streaming content have created a global online phenomenon, with consumers uploading themselves eating hot noodles onto YouTube. According to data provided by state-run trade statistics

July 4, 2023

Türkiye urges Greece to participate in international efforts on dealing with irregular migrants

SEOUL -- The Turkish government has urged its neighbor country Greece to participate in international efforts on providing humanitarian support for irregular migrants who transit through Türkiye in hopes of seeking asylum in Greece through a sea route on the Aegean Sea. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a part of the United Nations System that plays the role of an intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, Türkiye has been a pas

July 3, 2023

S. Korean police to provide emergency interpretation service for foreigners

SEOUL -- Police have adopted interpretation services to accurately communicate with foreigners in South Korea. Two English interpreters and two Chinese interpreters will help police officers to handle various types of emergencies. It's been difficult for foreigners to report a crime to the police due to the language barrier. The South Korean police communicated with foreigners through a 3-way phone call which involved a private interpretation company, but the method was not efficie

July 3, 2023

Eastern city selected as regulation-free zone to incubate drone-related businesses

SEOUL -- The eastern city of Wonju has been selected as the drone regulation-free zone for two consecutive years, providing opportunities for the city with a population of some 333,000 people to incubate and nurture drone-related businesses and technology. Drones are now widely used in various sectors including the military, surveillance, building structure inspection, and entertainment. The global market for drones is growing at an average annual growth rate of 42.78 percent to stan

July 3, 2023

Hanwha Q Cells tops solar module markets in US: market data

SEOUL -- Hanwha Q Cells, the solar cell-making wing of South Korea's Hanwha Group, has topped the residential and commercial solar module markets in the United States in the first half of 2023. The South Korean company, which is operating a solar module factory in Georgia, will invest more than 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) to expand its production facility in the U.S. to overcome the Inflation Reduction Act. Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), companies that build solar m

July 3, 2023

Top S. Korean battery makers' demands for battery separators to exceed $10.4 bln by 2030: market prediction

SEOUL -- The demand made by the top three S. Korean battery makers -- Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and SK On -- for battery separators will increase by an annual average of 17 percent to exceed $10.4 billion by 2030, a market research firm predicted. Battery separators are special films that prevent a battery's electrodes -- an anode and cathode -- from physically coming in contact with each other and causing combustion. They also allow lithium ions to pass through, making th

July 3, 2023