Green hydrogen bus start operation in southern resort island Jeju

SEOUL -- A green hydrogen-based commuter bus has started its operation in South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. The eco-friendly bus is currently taking commuters on a 29-kilometer-(18-mile)-long route from Hamdeok, a tourist hotspot in the northeastern area of Jeju, to a forested park area in the north-central region, and back. Green hydrogen is a type of hydrogen fuel that does not use any fossil fuel during its manufacturing process. It uses electrolysis to split water a

October 23, 2023

S. Korea in discussion with Saudi Arabia for long-term arms provision

SEOUL -- South Korea is currently locked in a discussion with Saudi Arabia for a long-term arms provision project, the country's presidential office said. President Yoon Suk-yeol is currently visiting the Middle Eastern country for a state visit. President Yoon arrived at the King Khalid International Airport near Riyadh on October 21 (local time). The South Korean president engaged in a summit meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after a welcoming cere

October 23, 2023

S. Korean police partners with UN agency to combat cybersex crimes

SEOUL -- To help the global community tackle digital sex crimes, South Korea's national police agency has partnered with the United Nations agency responsible for eradicating social injustice. The country's national police will share various know-how and techniques in handling such crimes and cooperate with global partners to set up legal and institutional infrastructure against gender-based crimes. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) agreed to work with the United Nations

October 20, 2023

S. Korea to launch nurturing project to prevent youths from disengaging from society

SEOUL -- South Korea will launch a nurturing project to prevent young people from disengaging from society. The so-called "not in employment, education, or training" (NEET) are people who cut themselves off from the real world and refuse to seek employment or education. According to government data, there are some 370,000 NEETs who stopped all job activities. There is another group of similar people called "Sheeoteum," meaning "taking a rest" in Korean, wh

October 19, 2023

Biotech seminar held in Seoul to promote biotechnology cooperation between S. Korea and Brazil

SEOUL -- At a seminar designed to promote biotechnology cooperation between South Korea and Brazil, researchers and business operators from the two countries shared know-how in vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. The media conference, hosted by the Brazilian Embassy in Seoul, focused on Brazil's state project to expand vaccine access to the general public through research and development cooperation with South Korea. "The seminar aims to find a way to collaborate in the fields o

October 18, 2023

S. Koreans express mixed feelings towards commemoration of tragic accident in Itaewon

SEOUL -- Various groups of South Koreans are expressing mixed feelings towards the commemoration of the tragic accident in a party district near central Seoul that took place on the eve of Halloween in 2022. A human stampede has taken the lives of 159 people and left dozens severely injured. Halloween Eve on October 30, 2022, is remembered as one of South Korea's worst safety accidents. 159 people were killed and 76 others injured during a deadly stampede in Itaewon, a district nea

October 17, 2023

S. Koreans pick shrimp crackers 'Saeukkang' as favorite snack: market data

SEOUL -- South Koreans chose "Saeukkang," shrimp crackers made by major food company Nongshim, as their favorite snack in 2022, market data showed. The shrimp cracker that was first released in the early 1970s has captured all age groups through generations. Saeukkang first hit the domestic market in 1971 when most of the mass-produced South Korean snacks were low-quality and based on traditional snacks that have bland flavors. The shrimp crackers were inspired by the popul

October 17, 2023

COVID-19 pandemic changes S. Korea's kimchi consumption trend: market data

SEOUL -- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the consumption trend of kimchi, Korean-style pickled vegetables. Market data showed that more and more consumers in their 50s and 60s choose to buy kimchi products instead of making the famous Korean pickles. Kimchi, mostly recognized as salted Chinese cabbage seasoned with red chili pepper powder, ground garlic, and fish sauce, has been the core of South Koreans' diet. The salted cabbage ferments over time to become sour. Some people pre

October 12, 2023

Number of overseas Korean proficiency tests to increase to double in 2024

SEOUL -- South Korea will double the number of Korean language proficiency tests held at overseas locations to meet the high demands of foreign people who decided to learn how to speak and write Korean because of Hallyu (Korean cultural wave). According to Duolingo, a smartphone app-based language-learning platform with some 74 million monthly active users, Korean was ahead of Chinese to be ranked sixth in the list of the top 10 second most popular languages to learn through Duolingo

October 12, 2023

About 40% of international students to S. Korea become illegal immigrants

SEOUL -- About 40 percent of foreign people who enter South Korea with D-4 student permits decide not to return home after they finish their courses and become illegal immigrants, data released by the country's justice department showed. According to the Korean Educational Development Institute operated by South Korea's education ministry, there were 166,892 international students studying in South Korean universities as of April 2022. Among the foreign students, about 67,500 p

October 10, 2023