VISUALS: South Korea celebrates first North Korean Defectors' Day

SEOUL, July 14 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea is observing the first North Korean Defectors' Day on Sunday. The national day was designated this year to support North Korean refugees as they build new lives in the South. Various events were held throughout last week to commemorate the occasion, which coincides with the effective date of the Act on the Protection and Settlement Support of North Korean Defectors, enacted on July 14, 1997. The law has served as the foundation for the legal status a

July 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Various events mark North Korean Defectors' Day

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Various events are underway this week to celebrate the first North Korean Defectors' Day, which falls on July 14. This national day was designated this year to support North Korean refugees as they build new lives in the South. An exhibition is taking place at Seoul City Hall's Citizens' Hall from Monday to Saturday, showcasing photos and videos depicting the lives of North Koreans and their human rights conditions. The Seoul Forum on North Korean

July 13, 2024

OECD urges Korea to address low birth rates for economic growth

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Korea must take decisive action to tackle its low birth rates, enhance productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the country recovers from the global inflation shock, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said Thursday. In its latest report, the OECD projected the growth of Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) to rebound from 1.4 percent in 2023 to 2.2 percent in 2025, driven by robust exports and resurging de

July 12, 2024

PHOTOS: Exam-takers' mecca in Seoul faces decline amid shifting career prospects

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul's Noryangjin Goshichon area, long known as a mecca for test-takers, is facing an unprecedented downturn as interest in civil service careers wanes. The neighborhood, once bustling with aspiring civil servants from across the country, now struggles with declining enrollment in its numerous academies. This year, competition for government positions hit an all-time low, reflecting a shift in job seekers' preferences away from public sector careers.

July 12, 2024

PHOTOS: Photo exhibition highlights rampant disposable culture of today

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - The "22nd Century Relic Exhibition" by photographer MJ Kim is being held at the Dream Forest Art Center in Seoul from July 12 to August 11. Under the theme "Traces and Environment to Leave for Future Generations," the exhibition showcases 38 photographs of disposable items and trash taken by MJ Kim since 2019, along with related videos. Actress Kim Hye-ja serves as an audio docent. "In the past, digging in the ground yielded celadon and w

July 12, 2024

S. Korea to observe first North Korean Defectors' Day

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea will observe the first national day for North Korean defectors on Sunday. The government designated July 14 as North Korean Defectors' Day earlier this year as part of efforts to assist North Korean refugees in adapting to their new life in the South. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the challenges many defectors face and to provide support for their resettlement. Various week-long events, film screenings, and c

July 12, 2024

Virtual tellers: Shinhan Bank rolls out AI clerks in branches nationwide

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Shinhan Bank has rolled out artificial intelligence-based clerks capable of interacting with customers at branches across South Korea, the company announced Friday. The virtual tellers were developed by DeepBrain AI, an AI solution company, using deep learning and voice and video synthesis technologies. They appear on digital kiosks and interactive screens in Shinhan branches. Based on footage of five actual Shinhan employees, they are capable of gree

July 12, 2024

Hong Sang-soo's latest movie invited to Locarno Film Festival

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Director Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been invited to the Locarno Film Festival to be held in Switzerland next month. "By the Stream," also known as "Suyoocheon" in Korean, will compete at the international section of the festival along with 16 other films, the festival's organizers said Thursday. The film is about a university lecturer asking her unemployed uncle to direct a skit. The film is Hong's 32nd feature and

July 12, 2024

Opinion: Implications of China's phenomenal economic reform journey

KARACHI, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - China's 45-year journey of reform and opening-up stands as a testament to its unique economic development strategy. Over these decades, China has not only tackled a continuously fluctuating international economic environment but has also emerged as a pivotal force for global economic stability and growth. After 45 years of transformative reforms, Beijing continues to emphasize that, amidst rising anti-globalization sentiments and protectionism, C

July 12, 2024

Upstage adopts FriendliAI's data management solution for AI translation service

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Korea's AI startup Upstage has signed a memorandum of understanding with domestic AI platform developer FriendliAI to manage its translation service specializing in Korean and English. Upstage said Friday that its large language model (LLM) solution "Solar" will utilize FriendliAI's graphics processing units (GPUs) management solution to handle translation data and enhance performance efficiency. Solar is a deep-learning platform capabl

July 12, 2024