Yoon and Biden affirm strong commitment to defense of people and territories of S. Korea and US

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and United States President Joe Biden affirmed their strong, shared commitment to the defense of the people and territories of South Korea and the United States, through the deployment of the U.S. strategic assets including U.S. nuclear-capable platforms around the Korean peninsula as deterrence against Pyongyang's nuclear attack. Outlining the joint statement called "Washington Declaration," Yoon said during a joint press

April 27, 2023

Seoul launches English language-based subway application for foreign passengers

SEOUL -- To help foreigners reach their destinations without difficulties, Seoul has launched an English-language-based subway app that provides various train-related information such as a line map and direction guidance inside stations. Users can find the nearest station just by entering their destinations even if they don't know station names. The smart app notifies users if they get on the wrong train on the opposite side. The English language-based app called "Seoul Su

April 27, 2023

Seoul partners with SK geo centric to recycle discarded banners into industrial materials

SEOUL -- Seoul will collaborate with SK geo centric, a chemical company affiliated with South Korea's SK Group, to recycle some 24,000 discarded advertisement and promotion banners. After removing nylon strings and wood blocks from the used banners, the capital city will send the discarded materials to SK geo centric so the chemical firm can verify whether they can be recycled using its chemical recycling technology. Chemical recycling is used to decompose and refine waste PET

April 26, 2023

28 S. Koreans safely return home from Sudan through military aircraft

SEOUL -- A military transport airplane carrying 28 South Koreans who escaped Sudan suffering a civil war safely arrived at an airbase in Seoul's southeastern satellite city of Seongnam. The presidential office said the aircraft called "KC-330" arrived at Seoul Air Base at 3:57 p.m. (0657 GMT) on April 25. After checking their health conditions, the rescued members will move into accommodation facilities provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The South Korean

April 25, 2023

President Yoon Suk-yeol welcomes Netflix's $2.5 bln investment plan in S. Korea's content industry

SEOUL -- Prior to a summit meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, President Yoon Suk-yeol has welcomed Netflix's $2.5 billion investment plan in South Korea's content industry. The president highlighted that the global streaming giant's four-year investment would become an opportunity for South Korean content businesses and creators as well as Netflix. According to data released by South Korea's presidential office, more than 60 percent of the 231 million households

April 25, 2023

​Imports of whisky increase by 78.2% thanks to young consumers

SEOUL -- The popularity of whisky, a type of liquor that was formerly regarded as the "old people's drink" in South Korea, has skyrocketed due to young consumers in their 20s and 30s. The number of whisky enthusiasts has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were grounded and restaurants and bars were closed early at 9:00 p.m. to prevent the spread of the infectious disease. Whisky was the icon of old people's drinking culture related to the "bom

April 24, 2023

Busan to host Asia's first World Barista Championship

SEOUL -- A global barista competition to select the best barista among 60 candidates will take place in South Korea's southern port city of Busan, well known for the city's affection for coffee. Using a coffee machine, participants will create 12 beverages such as espresso and milk-based drinks for 15 minutes in front of certified judges from all over the world. Busan said in a statement that the 2024 World Barista Championship (WBC) will be held for four days starting on

April 24, 2023

President Yoon embarks on seven-day state visit to U.S.

SEOUL -- President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee will embark on a seven-day state visit to the United States on April 24. President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a summit to evaluate the achievements of the 70-year-old South Korea-U.S. alliance and discuss the future direction of economic and security cooperation. The state visit will take place after a classified document was leaked online suggesting that the U.S. has been spying on allies including South

April 24, 2023

Number of patients with panic disorder rapidly increases in S. Korea

SEOUL -- South Korea experienced a sharp rise in the number of patients suffering from panic disorder between 2017 and 2021. The number of people with panic disorder skyrocketed to 205,540 in 2021, up 44.5 percent from five years ago. The anxiety disorder becomes severe if patients delay receiving medical care or if they are frequently exposed to various types of stress. People with the disorder often suffer from extreme anxiety and fear. Panic attacks accompanied by heart palpitat

April 14, 2023

Seoul offers subsidies for building-integrated solar wall panel system for tall buildings

SEOUL -- Seoul will subsidize up to 80 percent of the installation costs for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs), a solar panel system that is integrated into the walls of a building. Compared to the conventional system, which installs external structures on separate sites such as roofs and skylights, BIPVs are suitable for urban areas filled with skyscrapers where there are not many idle spaces. BIPVs can be formed in various ways including semi-transparent window glasses wi

April 14, 2023