Pulmuone expands noodles plant in California targeting Asian noodle lovers

SEOUL -- Seoul-based food company Pulmuone has expanded its fresh noodle production plant in the western region of California to meet growing demands for Asian noodles in the United States. Targeting American consumers, the South Korean company has showcased various refrigerated noodle products, including ramen with pork and broth, and Japchae, a Korean stir-fried noodle dish with beef and various vegetables. Data released by market research firm Research and Markets showed that t

November 15, 2023

Seoul provides real-time translation service in 11 languages for foreign tourists

SEOUL -- To break the language barrier with foreign tourists, Seoul will provide a real-time translation service in 11 languages including English, Chinese, and Malay. The artificial intelligence-based system engages in a conversation by displaying text on the screen at tourist information centers. According to data released by the Korea Tourism Organization, some 4.43 million foreign travelers visited South Korea in the first half of 2023, which accounts for 52.5 percent in the sam

November 15, 2023

Hanwha Ocean wins $502.2 mln smart ammonia carrier contract from Greek shipping firm

SEOUL -- Hanwha Ocean, a major South Korean shipbuilder formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, has grabbed a smart ammonia carrier contract worth $502 million from Naftomar Shipping and Trading, a Greece-based maritime logistics company that specializes in the transport of liquefied petroleum gas and ammonia across the globe. Naftomar Shipping and Trading focuses on strengthening its foothold in the energy transition and zero-carbon energy businesses in the

November 15, 2023

S. Korean President to embark on four-day visit to US for APEC summit  

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will depart for San Francisco to attend a summit meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, an economic forum that involves 21 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region. During the inter-governmental forum, Yoon will engage in discussions focused on strategies to improve South Korea's trade and investment with partner countries in the region. Yoon will depart on November 15 at the Seoul Airport on a presidential jet for his

November 15, 2023

Lumpy skin disease infection case found in S. Korea's largest cattle farm central

SEOUL -- South Korea's animal disease prevention headquarters was put on high alert as a lumpy skin disease case was reported in North Gyeongsang Province, the country's largest cattle farm province, about one month after the first case of the infectious cattle disease was reported in the southwestern region for the first time in South Korea. Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral infection that spreads through blood-feeding insects like flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. A cow infe

November 14, 2023

Rapper Jay Park appointed as ambassador for global luxury brand Gucci

SEOUL -- Gucci, a high-end luxury fashion house in Italy, has selected rapper Jay Park as its global ambassador. The 36-year-old, known for his hip-hop label AOMG, has participated in the global brand's fashion show held at a traditional Korean royal palace in central Seoul in May 2023. AOMG has one of the strongest lineups of artists in South Korea's hip-hop scene. In August 2021, the label held a non-face-to-face extended reality (XR) concert for global hip-hop fans amid t

November 14, 2023

Kakao to introduce new business plans with lower royalty fees for affiliated taxi companies

SEOUL -- Kakao Mobility, the mobility service wing of South Korea's web service giant Kakao, will introduce a new service plan for affiliated taxi business operators and individual taxi drivers that would offer a lowered royalty fee of less than three percent. The current plan demands a royalty fee of about 20 percent from affiliated taxi companies and drivers. Kakao Taxi was first introduced to South Korea in 2015. The service is now integrated into Kakao T, Kakao Mobility'

November 14, 2023

Hyundai shares future vision of software-defined vehicle-centered driving experience

SEOUL -- Hyundai auto group has shared the carmaker's vision that is centered on the driving experience of software-defined vehicles. The auto group revealed a roadmap in 2022 to reveal its plan to transform all vehicles to vehicles that can be continuously upgraded and have new features added through the development of software. A software-defined vehicle (SDV) is a future-generation car that constantly evolves to remain up to date. New vehicle functions can be added or existin

November 14, 2023

Urban hydrogen-electric tram tested in southeastern industrial city

SEOUL -- An urban hydrogen-electric tram was demonstrated in South Korea's southeastern industrial port city of Ulsan as part of a state program to commercialize hydrogen-powered trains. The project, designed to establish green mobility infrastructure and promote urban trams, is led by Hyundai Rotem, a train-making subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai auto group. Urban trams disappeared in Korea in 1968. After the first tram line started its operation in Seoul in 1898, tram n

November 14, 2023

S. Korean President and Chinese leader to visit San Francisco for APEC summit

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will embark on a three-day journey to San Francisco to attend a summit meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, an economic forum that involves 21 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The inter-governmental forum will also be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tensions between Seoul and Beijing escalated in 2017 due to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system by US troops in South

November 14, 2023