Korea's dog meat market fades as ban looms amid changing perceptions

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - The scorching heatwave remains unabated even after the end of Malbok, the last of the three dog days, collectively called Sambok, in the traditional Korean calendar. Koreans have a seasonal ritual of eating nutritious dishes to combat the sweltering heat on these days. One of the dishes traditionally eaten to celebrate these hottest summer days used to be dog meat soup, known as bosintang. It was believed to replenish energy and maintain stamina. B

August 16, 2024

Pulmuone reports record earnings in first half, fueled by food service and distribution

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - Korean food company Pulmuone posted record revenue and profits for the first half of 2024, driven by strong performance in food service and distribution businesses. Revenue increased by 5.2 percent year-on-year to 1.56 trillion won ($1.1 billion) for the first half of this year, the company said in a regulatory filing Wednesday. Operating profit surged 12 percent to 32.5 billion won. For the second quarter, revenue rose by 5 percent year-on-year to

August 16, 2024

Seoul to conduct civil defense drill next week

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - A four-day nationwide civil defense drill will be conducted next week, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Dubbed the "Ulchi civil defense exercise," the annual drill aims to enhance the country's preparedness for emergencies and ensure that citizens are familiar with evacuation procedures and safety measures. Next week's drill will involve approximately 140,000 participants from over 170 organizations, including the Se

August 16, 2024

Seoul suffers longest streak of tropical nights

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul has experienced 26 consecutive days of tropical nights this summer since mid-July, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Friday. A tropical night is when the lowest temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius after dark. The 26-day streak is on par with the previous record set in 2018, marking the longest streak in 118 years since relevant weather observations began in Seoul in 1907. According to KMA, Korea has been endurin

August 16, 2024

Samsung's AI-powered home appliances surpass 1.5 million units in sales this year

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics said Friday sales of its AI-powered home appliances have surpassed 1.5 million units from January to July this year. AI-enabled products account for two out of every three appliances sold in Samsung stores over the past three months, according to the company. The data includes 15 types of products, such as TVs, monitors, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and robot vacuums. The company attributes this popularity

August 16, 2024

PHOTOS: Korea marks memorial day for victims of Japan's military sexual slavery

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - A ceremony marking the seventh International Memorial Day for Japanese Military Comfort Women was held in Seoul on Wednesday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family organized the event to honor the victims who suffered under Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II. The memorial day, established in 2017, commemorates the first-ever testimony by the late victim Kim Hak-sun on August 14, 1991.

August 16, 2024

Unprecedented surge of poisonous jellyfish hits Korea's shores

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - Korea's shores are facing an unprecedented invasion of poisonous jellyfish, posing risks to the safety of beachgoers and vacationers while disrupting the delicate marine ecosystem, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on Friday. The primary culprit is Nomura's jellyfish, one of the largest jellyfish species in the world, capable of growing up to two meters (6.5 feet) long and weighing as much as 200 kilograms (440 pounds). These jellyfish,

August 16, 2024

Bitter divide over history marks Korea's Liberation Day

SEOUL, August 15 (AJU PRESS) - Descendants of independence fighters and opposition lawmakers boycotted the government’s Liberation Day ceremony Thursday, protesting the appointment of a new head of the National Independence Museum. The Heritage of Korean Independence, a state-funded group of independence fighters’ descendants, led the protest. They accused Kim Hyoung-suk, the newly appointed museum president, of holding pro-Japanese views and threatening to distort Ko

August 15, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol outlines unification strategy during Liberation Day speech

SEOUL, August 15 (AJU PRESS) - At the 79th Liberation Day ceremony held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a three-stage strategy for Korean unification, highlighting the need for a unified Korean Peninsula founded on freedom and democracy. His speech comes amid rising tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang, following the rapid deterioration of inter-Korean relations since Yoon assumed office in 2022. The Yoon administ

August 15, 2024

Korea's first military spy satellite approved for full-fledged operation

SEOUL, August 14 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's first indigenous military reconnaissance satellite has received approval for operation from the Ministry of National Defense, the state arms procurement agency said on Wednesday. The spy satellite, launched in December 2023, has passed a series of operational evaluation tests in space and will begin full-fledged operations, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). This satellite is a key asset for the Kil

August 14, 2024