S. Korea, US reaffirm commitment to deterring N. Korea's nuclear threat

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden reaffirmed mutual security cooperation in deterring North Korea's nuclear threat during biliteral talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington D.C. on Thursday. After the talks, the two leaders signed a set of guidelines for nuclear deterrence and nuclear operations that stipulate that the U.S. will provide a "nuclear umbrella" over the Korean Peninsula, ensu

July 12, 2024

Samsung Electronics invests in U.S. DNA sequencing firm Element Biosciences

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics on Friday announced its participation as a strategic investor in U.S. DNA sequencing firm Element Biosciences' recent $277 million Series D funding round. The San Diego-based company founded in 2017 is known for its high-accuracy, cost-effective DNA sequencing technology. Element's flagship product, the mid-sized DNA sequencing machine AVITI, was launched in 2022. The company aims to expand globally and develop new technologie

July 12, 2024

KB Bank to offer mobile banking service to Islamic organization in Indonesia

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - KB Bank Syariah (KBBS), the Indonesian subsidiary of Korea's KB Kookmin Bank, has secured an exclusive deal to provide digital financial services to Muhammadiyah, a major Muslim group in Indonesia. KBBS said Thursday it signed an agreement with PT Surya Finansial Utama, the digital business unit of Muhammadiyah. With the agreement, KBBS will support the digital applications used by affiliated organizations and individual members of Muhammadiyah, a

July 12, 2024

Korea raises minimum wage above 10,000 won for first time

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea set next year’s minimum wage at 10,030 won ($7.70) per hour on Friday, marking the first time the rate has exceeded the 10,000 won threshold. The Minimum Wage Commission voted 14-9 to approve the 1.7 percent increase after labor representatives walked out in protest. Management had proposed 10,030 won, while labor sought 10,120 won. The modest hike, the second-lowest since 2021, reflects ongoing economic concerns. Based on a 40-hour

July 12, 2024

Opinion: Boeing has a long road ahead to regain public trust

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - If ever there was a need to exemplify the term annus horribilis in the annals of corporate history, 2024 and the Boeing Company would be the perfect match. And the year is not even over yet. The last seven days have seen Boeing face a number of issues. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an airworthiness directive on July 8 requiring airlines that operate the Boeing 737 Next Generation and the 737 MAX to inspect each aircraft&#

July 12, 2024

PHOTOS: NewJeans named promotional ambassadors to promote tourism to Korea

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop girl group NewJeans will serve as promotional ambassadors for Korean tourism for this year. At an event held at Grand Hyatt Seoul in the capital on Thursday, the quintet received a plaque from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to carry on their role in promoting Korean tourism. They will engage in various promotional activities primarily targeting the young demographic, which constitutes about one-third of Korean tourists. As part of such eff

July 11, 2024

VISUALS: Virtual artist Suvi makes debut with dance single 'Suncream'

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Virtual artist Suvi made her debut with a dance single titled "Suncream" on Thursday. The 22-year-old, 170-centimeter (5'7")-tall digital singer is a member of Studio Meta-K's virtual artist group, "Season." "Suvi" means "summer" in Finnish. "Suncream" tells the story of a mermaid emerging from the sea in search of love, only to discover the joys of summer instead. The choreography for the song

July 11, 2024

Pinkfong expands 'Bebefinn' franchise with theater, musical debuts

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - The Pinkfong Company, producer of the global children’s animation “Baby Shark,” announced the offline expansion of its “Bebefinn” animation franchise on Thursday. Launched in April 2022, the animated sing-along series depicting the heartwarming adventures of three siblings and their parents, achieved immense success on YouTube and Netflix. Marking the intellectual property's second anniversary, the company is launchin

July 11, 2024

Must-try Korean dishes picked to boost tourism

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - About 30 must-try local dishes and specialties were selected to promote the flavor and health benefits of Korean cuisine, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said Thursday. As part of its efforts to attract more tourists in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, the ministry deliberatively chose local staples and seasonal specialties, each with its own origins and related stories. "By introducing diverse culinary opti

July 11, 2024

HHI qualified to bid for US naval vessel maintenance projects

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has become the first Korean company authorized to bid on the U.S. Navy's ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) projects. The world’s largest shipbuilder said Thursday it has recently signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the U.S. Navy Supply Systems Command. With the agreement, the Korean firm has secured qualification to participate in MRO project bids for support vessels of the U.S. Militar

July 11, 2024