TXT ranks third on Billboard's top albums chart with 'The Name Chapter: FREEFALL'

SEOUL -- TXT (Tomorrow X Together), a five-member boy band organized by the agency of top K-pop band BTS, has ranked third on Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart with its third studio album titled "The Name Chapter: FREEFALL." Canadian rapper Drake topped the Billboard chart and Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny took second place. TXT's album, released on October 13, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart with 114,500 equivalent album units sold in the U.S. in t

October 23, 2023

Busan port operator discusses providing smart port technology for developing countries in Asia

SEOUL -- The operator of South Korea's main maritime gateway in the southern port city of Busan is discussing whether the port operator would cooperate with an international financial institution to help developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region adopt smart port technology. The two sides have exchanged views on providing related technologies to Indonesia and Viet Nam for the digitalization of their ports. A smart port is a future port system that incorporates advanced tec

October 20, 2023

S. Korean police partners with UN agency to combat cybersex crimes

SEOUL -- To help the global community tackle digital sex crimes, South Korea's national police agency has partnered with the United Nations agency responsible for eradicating social injustice. The country's national police will share various know-how and techniques in handling such crimes and cooperate with global partners to set up legal and institutional infrastructure against gender-based crimes. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) agreed to work with the United Nations

October 20, 2023

Hyundai to make foray into S. Korea's used car market worth $22.1 billion

SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor will make a foray into South Korea's used car market dominated by small and medium-sized car dealers. The world's third-largest carmaker will differentiate its service by the thorough analysis and tests of vehicles under the motto of "Made by us, Cared by us." South Korea's used car market which is worth about 30 trillion won ($22.1 billion) is mainly comprised of small-sized dealers listing their products on used car trade platforms operate

October 20, 2023

The Kid LAROI collaborates with BTS' Jungkook for new single 'Too Much'

SEOUL -- The Kid LAROI, an Australian artist who gained popularity through "STAY," a collaborative song with Justin Bieber, has worked with Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS, for his new single "Too Much." The new song also features British rapper Central Cee. The single will be released at 8 a.m. (2300 GMT) on October 20, The Kid LAROI said on Instagram. In 2021, the 20-year-old topped Billboard's weekly song chart that ranks top 100 popular songs with &

October 19, 2023

Overwatch 2 collaborates with girl band Le Sserafim to release digital single 'Perfect Night'

SEOUL -- The operator of the popular Blizzard shooting game "Overwatch 2" has collaborated with Le Sserafim, a girl band formed by BTS agency Hybe's music label Source Music, to create an English song "Perfect Night." The five-member band became the first musical artists to work with the global video game publisher for in-game content. Overwatch 2, rolled out in October 2022, is the sequel to Overwatch, the first-person shooter (FPS) multiplayer game released by

October 19, 2023

S. Korea to launch nurturing project to prevent youths from disengaging from society

SEOUL -- South Korea will launch a nurturing project to prevent young people from disengaging from society. The so-called "not in employment, education, or training" (NEET) are people who cut themselves off from the real world and refuse to seek employment or education. According to government data, there are some 370,000 NEETs who stopped all job activities. There is another group of similar people called "Sheeoteum," meaning "taking a rest" in Korean, wh

October 19, 2023

K-pop event 'Busan One Asia Festival' to be held in southern port city

SEOUL -- "Busan One Asia Festival," a major K-pop event that was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place in the southern port city of Busan. Various South Korean artists including NCT 127, a unit band of boy group NCT, and Oh My Girl, a six-member girl band, will showcase performances. According to Busan, the event is the largest Hallyu (Korean cultural wave) festival in Asia. In 2019, before the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic hit South Korea, the Busa

October 19, 2023

40% of S. Korean startups stranded in tougher situation than 2022: survey

SEOUL -- About 40 percent of South Korean startups feel that they are put in a tougher situation than it was a year ago, a survey showed. Startups said the main reasons for the hardships in the operation of companies were reduced investments, increased operation costs due to raw materials price hikes, and lack of manpower. According to data released by the startup ministry, there were some three million startups in operation as of 2020. 22 percent of startups were technology-based, mea

October 19, 2023

LIG Nex1 partners with German weapon maker Diehl Defence to produce 'IRIS-T' missiles in S. Korea

SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor in South Korea, has partnered with German weapon manufacturer Diehl Defence to establish production and maintenance infrastructure for "IRIS-T," an air-to-air missile made by the German arms maker, in South Korea. The short-range missile is set to be integrated with South Korea's homemade fighter jet KF-21. Diehl Defence led the IRIS-T development project which involves members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). T

October 19, 2023