S. Korean small firms showcase consumer goods at 'Vietnam International Trade Fair'

SEOUL, April 03 (AJU PRESS) - A total of 58 South Korean small and medium-sized companies are participating in the Vietnam International Trade Fair, an annual exhibition in Hanoi scheduled for April 3 to 6. South Korea set up a joint exhibition booth, presenting various consumer goods, including cosmetics and food. The annual event, organized by Viet Nam's industry ministry, is one of the largest trade exhibitions in the Southeast Asian country. According to the Korea Trade-In

April 3, 2024

Busan Port welcomes largest-ever fleet of foreign cruise ships

SEOUL, April 03 (AJU PRESS) - Amid a surge in foreign travelers to South Korea following the COVID-19 pandemic, Busan Port, the country's largest maritime gateway, witnessed a historic moment with four foreign cruise ships simultaneously docking at its piers for the first time. With an annual handling capacity of 20 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), Busan Port serves as South Korea's primary hub for both cargo and passenger ships. Typically, passenger ships shuttlin

April 3, 2024

Koreans bid farewell to Fu Bao, symbol of friendship with China

SEOUL, April 03 (AJU PRESS) - Despite rains on Wednesday, about 6,000 people gathered at South Korea's iconic theme park, Everland, to bid farewell to the celebrity Chinese panda, Fu Bao. Although she was cherished in South Korea, Fu Bao must return to China to find a male partner. The three-year-old panda was sent to South Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 as a gesture of friendship and has spent 1,354 days at Everland. Thanks to the popularity of videos showcasing h

April 3, 2024

BTS Jungkook's 'Golden' named on Billboard's top 200 albums chart for 21 consecutive weeks

SEOUL, April 03 (AJU PRESS) - BTS member Jungkook's very first album, "Golden," has been listed on Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart for 21 consecutive weeks. The album was released in November 2023, before the 26-year-old artist began his compulsory military service. Billboard's chart released on April 2 showed that Golden ranked 131st on the Billboard 200 chart. The album, comprised of 11 English songs, depicts the story of Jungkook's journey to

April 3, 2024

NewJeans wins best K-pop rookie award in US

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - Girl band NewJeans received an award from a U.S. radio streaming network on Monday for their recognition in the U.S. The awards event, run by New York-based radio streaming platform "iHeartRadio," is designed to celebrate artists and songs that dominate its airwaves and apps each year. According to the group's agency, NewJeans received the "Best New Artist (K-Pop)" award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards held in Los Angeles. &quo

April 2, 2024

LG Energy Solution and GM's second joint battery plant begins operation

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - Ultium Cells, a joint venture between South Korea's major battery maker LG Energy Solution and General Motors, has begun operation of its second battery plant in the United States. The batteries produced at the joint plant will be used for General Motors' electric vehicles. LGES said on Tuesday that battery cells manufactured at Ultium Cells' second factory in Tennessee will be installed in GM's upcoming EV models, such as the Cadill

April 2, 2024

S. Korea sees slowed growth in new EV registrations in 2023

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea saw a slower growth in new electric vehicle registrations last year, despite surpassing 500,000 registered EVs. This deceleration can be attributed to consumers' perceptions of clean energy vehicles and their charging infrastructure as inconvenient. Forbes, a prominent American business magazine, analyzed in November 2023 that the slowdown in the global demand for EVs was affected by various factors including unfamiliarity with new pro

April 2, 2024

Promising small firms given chance to explore overseas markets

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's major trade association, KITA, announced Tuesday it is organizing an annual export consultation event to find prominent small and medium-sized enterprises with potential. After counseling 51 applicants, the organization will select companies with competitive products for overseas markets. The counseling event is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand abroad using overseas sales network established by congl

April 2, 2024

N. Korea fires missile into East Sea

SEOUL, April 02 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea has fired a missile into the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said on Tuesday. This is Pyongyang's first missile test fire in 15 days after North Korea carried out a firing drill for ballistic projectiles on February 18. "We detected a projectile, suspected of a mid-range ballistic missile, that was launched from an area near Pyongyang at 6:53 a.m. (2153 GMT) this morning into the East Sea," The Joint Chief of

April 2, 2024

Exports of S. Korean beverage products soar to new high

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - Exports of South Korean beverage products, including non-alcoholic drinks such as soft drinks and fruit-flavored dairy products, soared to a record $572.3 million in 2023. This surge in exports can be attributed to the growing recognition and popularity of South Korean products on the global stage. The export volume of South Korean beverage products has seen a consistent upward trend since 2020, reaching new highs each year. The increasing popularity

April 1, 2024