UN report condemns forced labor in N. Korea

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean has committed grave human rights abuses by subjecting its people to a "controlled and exploited" system of forced labor, according to a fresh U.N. report released on Tuesday. Based on 183 interviews conducted between 2015 and 2023 with victims and witnesses of such labor system, UN Human Rights Office highlighted the renegade country's serious human rights violations in the report. "The testimonies in this repor

July 17, 2024

Seminar explores S. Korea's diplomatic relations with Russia amid recent developments

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - A seminar offering insights on South Korea's diplomatic relation with Russia took place in central Seoul early this week. The three-hour-long seminar was part of a weekly program, hosted by a community learning center run by Seoul's Jongno district office. It invites notable figures from various fields every Tuesday to give classes and lectures on a wide range of topics. They are open to all residents, with a particular focus on providing learnin

July 17, 2024

SK Innovation, SK E&S boards discuss proposed merger

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - SK Group's two energy subsidiaries, SK Innovation and SK E&S, are holding board meetings on Wednesday to discuss a merger proposal, which could result in the creation of a mega energy company with assets worth 106 trillion won ($76.8 billion) as early as November. As part of a business restructuring effort, SK Group has been pushing for a merger between SK Innovation, the energy intermediate holding company, and SK E&S, which is considered a

July 17, 2024

Samsung teams up with Tomorrow X Together for new brand song

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics unveiled a new Galaxy brand song titled "Open Always Wins" on Wednesday in collaboration with K-pop group Tomorrow X Together (TXT). The release of the song, which aims to emphasize the Galaxy brand value of "openness," coincides with the launches of new products such as the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. The alternative rock track features energetic guitar sounds and powerful vocals, encouraging listeners to appro

July 17, 2024

Korean cosmetics exports hit record high in first half

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's cosmetics exports hit a record high of $4.82 billion in the first half of 2024, an 18.1 percent increase from the same period last year, driven by robust global demand, particularly in the United States, according to data from the Korea Customs Service released on Wednesday. If this trend continues, annual exports could surpass $10 billion for the first time, surpassing the previous record of $9.22 billion set in 2021. The trade su

July 17, 2024

Korean-American ex-CIA official accused of acting as spy for Seoul

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - A Korean-American expert on North Korea has been accused of acting as an "agent for Seoul," multiple U.S media outlets reported Tuesday. Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA agent and senior fellow at American think tank Council on Foreign Relations, has worked for the South Korean government since June 2013 after leaving the intelligence agency, according to a 31-page indictment released by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. She allegedly received lu

July 17, 2024

SK Ecoplant to merge with 2 promising group units ahead of IPO

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - SK Ecoplant, a construction arm of SK Group, is expected to absorb two group companies as part of efforts to improve its bottom line ahead of its planned public offering. Industry sources said SK Ecoplant’s board may approve its integration of SK Materials Airplus, an industrial gas company, and Essencore, a semiconductor processing and distribution unit, on Thursday. SK Materials Airplus produces industrial gases required for semiconductor proc

July 17, 2024

Krafton unit's 'Dark and Darker Mobile' game set for global test

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - Bluehole Studio, a subsidiary of game developer Krafton, is accepting applications for a large-scale global test of its upcoming game "Dark and Darker Mobile." The test, scheduled for August 1 to 11, will be available in key markets including the United States, Japan, Türkiye, and Korea. The game will introduce new content, including a highly anticipated "Wizard" class, which specializes in powerful ranged attacks. It will als

July 17, 2024

Opinion: Assassinations and American politics

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - Political assassination is a particularly grim, disturbing, and important subject. Murder alone is awful, but violence against a political leader tears at the very fabric and foundations of our system of government. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has been a regular – though not frequent – occurrence in U.S. political history. Former President Donald Trump fortunately has survived this latest instance of a despicable crime. His actions

July 17, 2024

Opinion: Target just became latest US retailer to stop accepting payment by checks

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - Can you still use a check to make purchases? In increasing numbers of stores across the U.S., the answer is "no." The large retailer Target stopped accepting checks on July 15, 2024. It follows decisions a decade earlier by supermarket chains Whole Foods and Aldi to no longer accept this form of payment. Target said it was phasing out checks because not many customers use them. It's a fair point: Check usage has fallen dramatically around t

July 17, 2024