Multilingual singer-songwriter Stella Jang to hold solo concert on Seoul's artificial island

SEOUL -- South Korean singer-songwriter Stella Jang is set to hold a solo concert on Nodeul Island, an artificial island known as a cultural space in Seoul. The 32-year-old, who has spent 11 years in France, has previously mesmerized fans with her performance in six different languages -- English, Korean, French, Chinese, German, and Spanish. Debuting in 2014, Jang specializes in a range of genres, including indie music, ballad, and jazz. She garnered widespread attention in 201

March 15, 2024

CJ's canteen service wing partners with Hanwha Robotics to upgrade food services

SEOUL -- CJ Freshway, the canteen service and food ingredient distributor wing of South Korea's CJ Group, has partnered with Hanwha Robotics, Hanwha Group's robot-specialized subsidiary, to upgrade the food service value chain through the commercialization of autonomous cooperative robots, also known as collaborative robots. The adoption of cooperative robots in South Korea is accelerating as more business operators who seek to lower their operating costs are choosing robo

March 14, 2024

Boy band Seventeen to headline music festival 'Lollapalooza' in Berlin

SEOUL -- Multinational boy band Seventeen is set to engage with global fans in Berlin through Lollapalooza, a renowned international music event, as its headliner. The 13-member band will participate in the annual music festival along with English singer-songwriter Sam Smith and Martin Garrix, a Dutch DJ and record producer. According to Pledis Entertainment, the group's agency, Seventeen will headline the Lollapalooza Berlin, a two-day event scheduled to take place starting

March 14, 2024

Spending on private tutoring breaks record again

SEOUL -- South Korean families are shelling out more than ever for private tutoring, with costs exceeding 27 trillion won ($20.5 billion) in 2023. This marks a 4.5 percent increase from the previous year and the third consecutive year of record-breaking spending. High school students are the main drivers of this growth, according to the Ministry of Education and Statistics Korea. Their private education costs surged by 8.2 percent. The high cost of private education is a majo

March 14, 2024

LG joins global accord to prevent deceptive AI content from interfering with elections

SEOUL -- LG AI Research, the artificial intelligence technology wing of South Korea's LG Group, has joined the ranks of global tech companies that formed an accord to prevent the use of deceptive AI content from interfering with elections across the world in 2024. While various types of AI technologies are utilized globally to make people's lives better, some are used to deceive and create chaos in societies by spreading false or misleading information. Malicious AI conten

March 14, 2024

Seoul to expand AI-based translation service for foreign subway passengers

SEOUL -- Seoul's subway operator will expand its artificial intelligence-based translation service that can help non-Korean-speaking foreigners communicate with subway workers. The real-time translation service uses a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display which shows spoken words translated and converted into text. The AI-based service that provides 13 languages including English, Chinese, and Japanese, will be installed at 11 stations in the capital city.

March 14, 2024

Virtual artist 'iaaa' performs debut song 'Our Season' at SXSW event in Texas

SEOUL -- iaaa, a virtual artist created by South Korean content startup Studio Meta-K, was showcased at the South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin. The virtual human performed her debut song titled "Our Season" at the event designed to celebrate the fusion of various fields, including technology, film, music, and education. iaaa is a member of Studio Meta-K's virtual artist group "Season." She made her debut in February 2024 as a special host on "R

March 13, 2024

KIMCHEERS opens offline premium kimchi store targeting savvy domestic and foreign consumers

SEOUL -- KIMCHEERS, an innovative kimchi maker, has opened its first premium offline store to attract young consumers and foreign tourists with creatively designed bottles containing kimchi that retains the authentic flavors of traditional Korean pickled vegetables, reminiscent of recipes passed down by seasoned kimchi masters. Kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish, is typically crafted by fermenting cabbage or radish with a blend of red chili powder, garlic, and ginger. Its glob

March 13, 2024

Webtoon app service Kakao Piccoma ranked world's 35th highest-grossing app publisher

SEOUL -- Data released by a global web service market analyst firm revealed that Kakao Piccoma, the Japanese webtoon subsidiary of South Korea's web service giant Kakao, secured the 35th spot among the world's highest-grossing app publishers. Webtoons, initially known as webcomics, are digital comic books optimized for viewing on smartphones and other digital devices like tablets. Originating in South Korea in the mid-2000s on web portals like Daum (operated by Kakao) and

March 13, 2024

Defense contractor LIG Nex 1 accelerates first missile supply deal with US government

SEOUL -- LIG Nex 1, a prominent South Korean defense contractor, is expediting discussions with the United States government to finalize an export deal for the "Bigung" 70mm laser-guided anti-ship rocket system. While South Korean companies have previously supplied weapon parts and components to the U.S. government, the adoption of Bigung would mark the first time a South Korean full weaponry system is integrated into Washington's arsenal. The impetus for this develo

March 13, 2024