Opinion: Joe Biden has COVID. Here's what someone over 80 can expect

SEOUL, July 19 (AJU PRESS) - If U.S. politics leading up to the 2024 presidential election was a Hollywood thriller, it would be a movie full of plot twists and surprises. The latest twist is President Joe Biden has COVID and is isolating at home. Biden's doctor says his symptoms are mild and include a runny nose, cough and generally feeling unwell. His temperature, oxygen levels and respiratory rate are said to be normal. Biden, who has been diagnosed with COVID twice before

July 19, 2024

Torrential downpours hit capital region

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - Torrential downpours drenched Seoul and many other parts of the country on Thursday. Heavy rain alerts were issued in the Seoul metropolitan areas, along with landslide warnings in parts of Gangwon and South Chungcheong provinces. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, was the hardest hit, with an hourly precipitation of 75.1 mm at one point in the early morning hours, after having already been battered by over

July 18, 2024

Supreme court grants spousal health insurance coverage for same-sex couples in Korea

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - The Supreme Court ruled that the government should provide spousal health insurance coverage for those in same-sex relationships. The court, in a historic ruling, upheld in favor of the plaintiff, So Seong-wook, in his lawsuit against the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). In Korea, the person designated as the head of the household pays for health insurance bills for the entire family. So, who married his partner Kim Yong-min in 2019, was in

July 18, 2024

PHOTOS: Students explore diverse careers at Seoul fair

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - The 2024 Seoul Career Fair is now underway at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from Wednesday to Friday. Visitors can explore and experience various career paths in the annual event which was launched 2011.

July 18, 2024

Amorepacific receives carbon neutrality award from consumer organization

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - Amorepacific, a leading South Korean cosmetics company, has received top honors for its carbon neutrality efforts at a prestigious national awards ceremony. The company was awarded the Carbon Neutrality Grand Prize and Minister of Environment Award at the 27th Energy Winner Awards, organized by the Citizens' Organization for Consumer Protection of Korea. Amorepacific became the first to receive the highest recognition in the Carbon Neutrality Winner

July 18, 2024

Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan suffers alleged racial abuse

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - Korean footballer Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers was subjected to racist abuse in a pre-season friendly at their training camp in Spain last week. During the match against Italian football club Como last Saturday, Hwang Hee-chan allegedly heard a racist remark from a Como player, who called the Wolves striker "Jackie Chan." Such references to the famous Hong Kong star are often interpreted as racial jokes due to stereotypical Asian

July 18, 2024

Korean, Japanese SME bodies agree to boost cooperation

Kim Ki-moon (fourth from left), chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ), and Hiroshi Mori (third from right), chairman of the National Federation of Small Business Associations in Japan, pose for a photo after signing a cooperation agreement in Tokyo on July 18, 2024. Courtesy of KBIZ SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - The Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with the National Federation of Small Business Associations in Japan to boost coopera

July 18, 2024

Overseas Koreans to be allowed to access digital services without local phone numbers

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - The Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) announced on Thursday that Korean citizens living abroad will soon be able to access domestic digital services, including banking, without maintaining a Korean mobile phone subscription. KISA has signed an agreement with five major financial institutions and government bodies to allow overseas Koreans to use electronic signature authentication issued by these entities. The pilot service, set to launch by year

July 18, 2024

K-pop impresario aims to captivate global fans with 200-member mega band

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - A unique scene unfolded last month when a unit of rookie K-pop girl band BlingOne consisting entirely of non-Koreans, held their debut showcase in central Seoul. While foreign members in Korea's music scene are common, they are the first-ever K-pop girl band from South America incubated in Korea, aiming for global audiences. The three Peruvian members – Abigali, Kenny and Ruby -- were selected from dozens of contestants who participated in the

July 18, 2024

Samsung Electronics acquires British knowledge graph startup

SEOUL, July 18 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics has acquired Oxford Semantic Technologies, a British startup specializing in knowledge graph technology. With the purchase, signed on Tuesday, Samsung expects to secure world-class expertise in storing and processing data in a manner similar to human knowledge recall. Founded in 2017 by three Oxford University professors, the startup has successfully commercialized advanced knowledge graph technology, enabling optimized data proce

July 18, 2024