Hyundai Elevator developing vertical airport for urban air mobility

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - A consortium led by Hyundai Elevator is developing a vertical airport for urban air mobility (UAM) as part of a state project to build highly automated air transportation systems in urban environments, the Korean company said. The top elevator maker in Korea said Wednesday its consortium has been selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to develop a vertical airport, or vertiport, where aircraft land and take off vertically, and a s

May 16, 2024

Korean parents with infant have only 2.7 hours of daily free time, survey finds

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Korean parents with a child under the age of three have the least amount of daily free time, averaging about 2.7 hours, according to a survey released Thursday. In contrast, young people in their 20s have the most, averaging 4.85 hours. Research firm Consumer Insight conducted the survey of 26,000 Korean adults and found that parents with an infant child had an average of just 2.69 hours of free time per day. The average daily spare time for all groups

May 16, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul Forest offers respite from urban bustle

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul Forest has emerged as the capital's major park and urban green space for residents. Situated near the Han River, it serves as a vibrant resting place where citizens can relax and enjoy fresh air amid natural surroundings. Spanning approximately 480,000 square meters, it features various facilities for family outings, including an insectarium, outdoor stages and picnic areas.

May 16, 2024

Visang Education showcases AI-based Korean learning platforms in Tokyo

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Visang Education, a Korean educational company, said Thursday it showcased artificial intelligence-based Korean learning platforms at the largest education industry show in Japan last week. The Korean company was among some 330 participants from five countries in the biannual Education Expo Japan (EDIX), held from May 8 to 10 in Tokyo. At the forefront of Visang’s exhibits was its Master K platform, which incorporates various smart learning solut

May 16, 2024

New transit cards offer better transport access for foreign nationals in Korea

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) – Foreign nationals in Korea can now utilize buses and subways more affordably and conveniently, as the government has expanded public transportation benefits through various transit cards. From the nationwide K-pass to the Seoul-focused Climate Card, the programs launched this year offer different levels of benefits based on region, travel frequency, users' age, income level and other conditions. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tran

May 16, 2024

More halal restaurants, prayer rooms will be set up in Seoul for Muslim tourists

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul is taking its first step toward creating better tourism infrastructure for Muslim visitors. As part of its efforts to attract more Muslim travelers, the city plans to increase the number of halal restaurants and set up more prayer rooms, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday. The Seoul Tourism Organization will commission a research project this month to come up with measures to vitalize Muslim tourism in the capital. It is the city's

May 16, 2024

Opinion: From Barbie to Thomas the Tank Engine: How entertainment brands are adapting to Generation Alpha

SEOUL, May 16 (AJU PRESS) - Growing up, did you play with hyper-sexualized Barbie dolls, boys-only Thomas the Tank Engine trains, or slim, white Disney princesses? If so, you're not alone, but this is no longer the case for Generation Alpha. Brands like Mattel, once criticized for promoting unrealistic body standards and gender stereotypes, now portray themselves as feminist and progressive. The recent Barbie movie serves as a prime example of this shift. Millennial parents

May 16, 2024

PHOTOS: Rose festival to begin in Seoul, Saturday

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - An annual rose festival will begin in Jungnang-gu, eastern Seoul, Saturday, for an eight-day run. The Jungnang Seoul Rose Festival features millions of roses in full bloom and a spectacular 5.45-kilometer-long rose tunnel, which attracted 2.6 million visitors last year. Visitors can enjoy various attractions, including captivating rose exhibitions, immersive rose experiences, delectable food booths, picturesque photo zones, and lively busking performances.

May 16, 2024

Korea toughens stance against Japanese pressure on Naver

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - The Korean government on Tuesday hardened its rhetoric against Tokyo's pressure on the top internet portal Naver to sell down its stake in the operator of Japan's popular chat app Line. Sung Tae-yoon, director of national policy at the presidential office, said Japan should not take unfair measures on Naver while promising full support for the company in the escalating dispute. Following a massive data breach from Line late last year, Japanes

May 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Medical care stalled in doctor-government dispute

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - The months-long standoff between doctors and the government over a plan to increase medical school enrollments is disrupting operations at large hospitals nationwide. The crisis is impacting health and medical workers. Members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union rallied Tuesday, urging a swift resolution and a return to normal medical care.

May 14, 2024