Korea to require EV makers to disclose battery suppliers

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) – The Korean government will require all electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and importers to disclose their battery suppliers, and introduce an EV battery certification system in October, earlier than scheduled. The measures were announced following Sunday's meeting among high-level officials from the presidential office, relevant government branches and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to address growing safety concerns after a fire involv

August 26, 2024

Samsung enhances AI appliances with advanced voice control

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics has upgraded its artificial intelligence voice assistant Bixby for its Bespoke AI appliances, enabling more intuitive voice commands. The new system can understand multi-intent instructions, maintain context across conversations and provide detailed product information through voice queries, the company said Monday. With the appliances comprehending and executing multiple tasks simultaneously, users can now issue complex commands li

August 26, 2024

OPINION: Can Israel and Hezbollah both claim success after weekend strikes? And what could happen next?

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - For weeks, Israel had been anticipating a major attack from Hezbollah in retaliation for its killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon at the end of July. In the early hours of Sunday, that attack finally came – and Israel was apparently ready. The Israelis claim to have thwarted what could have been a large-scale Hezbollah assault. At the same time, Hezbollah also claimed success. So, what can we make of the latest tit-for-tat betw

August 26, 2024

GI Innovation partners with MSD for clinical trials combining immunotherapy agents

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - Korea's pharmaceutical company GI Innovation announced Monday it has entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement (CTCSA) with American multinational pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co. Under the agreement, the two companies will evaluate the efficacy of combining GI Innovation's immunotherapy agent GI-102 with MSD's immunotherapy drug Keytruda in clinical trials involving patients with resistant liver cancer, melanoma,

August 26, 2024

Senior employment in Korea hits all-time high amid aging population

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - Elderly people aged 60 and over accounted for a record high of 22.4 percent of the total workforce in South Korea this year, government data showed Monday. According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Statistics Korea, the average monthly number of employed individuals in the 60-plus age group during the first seven months totaled about 6.4 million. Both their number and proportion in the total workforce were the highest on record. The perce

August 26, 2024

Lydia Ko wins her third major, cementing legacy as one of greatest golfers of generation

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - Lydia Ko etched her name into golf history on Sunday, capturing the AIG Women's British Open only weeks after becoming the first golfer to win three consecutive Olympic medals. The victory at the historic St. Andrews Old Course marked Ko's third major championship title. Ko, a 27-year-old New Zealander, closed out the tournament with a 3-under-par 69 in the final round, finishing two strokes ahead of a group tied for second, including Nelly

August 26, 2024

OPINION: Polaris Dawn mission to Earth's orbit will test SpaceX's capabilities for commercial space program

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - SpaceX's upcoming Polaris Dawn mission aims to be historic in more ways than one. Polaris Dawn plans to not only orbit Earth higher than any astronauts have in more than 50 years but to also feature the first private spacewalk. It's expected to launch Aug. 27, 2024, and feature a crew of four: the mission's commander, Jared Isaacman; Scott Poteet, a 20-year Air Force veteran pilot; and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Launching

August 26, 2024

Combined national, household debt surpasses 3 quadrillion won

SEOUL, August 25 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's combined government and household debt surpassed 3 quadrillion won ($2.26 trillion) for the first time, driven by lower tax revenue, increased bond issuance, and aggressive household borrowing for real estate investments, government data showed Sunday. According to the finance ministry and the central bank, the country's combined national and household debt reached a record 3,042 trillion won at the end of the second quarter. T

August 25, 2024

Nurses strike to exacerbate healthcare crisis in S. Korea

SEOUL, August 25 (AJU PRESS) - Some 30,000 unionized nurses and medical workers have decided to strike this week, citing demands for higher wages and a normalized medical system amid a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors. The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union, representing approximately 30,000 nurses and medical workers at 61 hospitals, said over 91 percent of its members supported the strike plan. The union has been urging hospitals to swiftly address the medical vac

August 25, 2024

PHOTOS: Apple TV+ releases 'Pachinko' season 2

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - A press conference for "Pachinko" Season 2 was held in Seoul on Friday. The series, adapted from Min Jin Lee's bestselling novel, explores the harsh realities faced by the Korean diaspora in Japan. The Apple TV+ original debuted in March 2022, garnering critical acclaim for its storytelling, cinematography and performances. The first episode of the second season was released Friday on Apple TV+.

August 23, 2024