South Korean rescue workers save surviving quake victims in Turkey

SEOUL -- The South Korean disaster relief team rescued five people, including a baby girl, from under the debris of collapsed buildings in earthquake-stricken Turkey on February 9, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team began its rescue operation at the site of a high school in Antakya, the capital of Turkey's southeastern Hatay province, at around 5 a.m. Then it managed to save a man in his 70s after searching through debris. The ministry said the man did not l

February 9, 2023

S. ​Korean companies join efforts to help earthquake victims in Turkey, Syria

SEOUL -- Major South Korean companies and banks have committed to helping earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria by offering rescue equipment and relief supplies as well as cash donations. Hyundai Motor's Turkish subsidiary said on February 8 that it will provide $450,000 worth of equipment and daily necessities for quake-hit people. The firm already delivered emergency rescue equipment worth $50,000 to help save people trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings. Kim S

February 9, 2023

Northeastern county to offer hefty subsidies for agricultural drones for adoption of efficient farming method

SEOUL -- The northeastern county of Cheorwon will offer hefty subsidies for farmers and private drone operators who wish to buy agricultural drones used for spraying pesticides and fertilizer pallets. The county government will provide up to 50 percent of the drone price which normally costs about 30 million won ($23,775). South Korea's farming population is rapidly decreasing to stand at 2.3 million in 2022, down 42.6 percent from four million in 2002. More than 42 percent of

February 9, 2023

S. Korea sends 118-member rescue team to quake-hit Turkey, offering $5 million in aid

SEOUL -- South Korea's 118-member search and rescue team arrived at an airport in Turkey's south-central province of Gaziantep on February 8 to help save people trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings in the earthquake-devastated country. The arrival came after the team left for Turkey aboard a KC-330 military transport airplane on February 7, a day after the country was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The rescue workers are soon to be deployed to hard-hit urban

February 8, 2023

Resort island of Jeju to start discussion on restricting operation of 'no-kids' zones

SEOUL -- The southern resort island of Jeju will start a public debate over whether "no-kids" zones should be allowed on the island visited by more than 10 million people annually. The island has some dozens of cafes and restaurants that prohibit the access of children aged 13 years and younger to provide a comforting and relaxing environment for adults. No-kids zones first appeared in South Korea about a decade ago after a series of online complaints about parents not te

February 8, 2023

South Korea ordered to pay compensation to victim of Vietnam War mass killing

SEOUL -- A South Korean court has ordered the government to pay compensation to a bereaved family of Vietnamese civilians killed by Korean troops during the Vietnam War. On February 7, the Seoul Central District Court made the first ruling that acknowledged the Korean government's liability for the mass killings of civilians during the war. The court ruled in favor of the 63-year-old plaintiff, Nguyen Thi Thanh, ordering the Seoul government to pay 30 million won ($24,680)

February 7, 2023

Sales of facemasks decrease after government lifts compulsory indoor mask regulations

SEOUL -- Sales of facemasks have decreased since the South Korean government lifted regulations on wearing masks in indoor environments on January 30. Sales of quick COVID-19 antigen test kits have also decreased. However, sales of convenient meal kits including lunchboxes and sandwiches at convenience stores have increased, reflecting that more people are starting to eat freely in indoor spaces including offices and public areas. South Korea recorded 5,850 new COVID-19 cases on Februa

February 7, 2023

South Korea's 5G service users increase by about 600 percent since 2019

SEOUL -- The number of South Korea's 5G mobile communication service users increased by about 600 percent compared to some 4.6 million users in 2019. 5G networks that offer up to 100 times faster data transfer speed than 4G networks were commercialized in the country in early 2019. South Korea's 5G mobile communication service was first introduced in April 2019. The number of users increased to some 11.8 million in 2020 and 20.9 million in 2021. Since the latest generation

February 6, 2023

KT's AI certificate 'AICE' to be adopted in Seoul's vocational schools' curriculum

SEOUL -- To nurture artificial intelligence experts, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will adopt AI Certificate for Everyone (AICE), an artificial intelligence-related certificate program created by South Korea's major telecom company KT, at 10 vocational high schools. Students who completed the program can receive benefits when applying to several companies including KT. AICE, which has five different levels from beginner to professional, evaluates the ability to uti

February 6, 2023

Seoul to deploy portable defibrillators to 175 convenience stores located in populated areas

SEOUL -- To help people take action while waiting for rescuers to arrive in emergency situations such as cardiac arrest, Seoul will distribute automated external defibrillators to some 175 convenience stores located in areas with a lot of moving population. Store workers will be given special lessons so that they can skillfully operate the life-saving devices under emotional pressure. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that automatically analyzes the lif

February 2, 2023