Exit poll shows opposition's major victory in parliamentary elections

SEOUL, April 10 (AJU PRESS) - The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), led by Lee Jae-myung, is predicted to secure a stable majority in the 300-member National Assembly, according to the results of a joint exit poll, released after voting closed on Wednesday. According to the poll, conducted by major TV networks, the DPK and its satellite party, "The Minjoo Union" for proportional representative seats, are expected to win between 184 and 197 seats. The

April 10, 2024

BTS' performance video for 'ON' surpasses 600 million views on YouTube

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - BTS has mesmerized hundreds of millions of fans on YouTube with the group's performance video for "ON," the title song of the group's album "MAP OF THE SOUL: 7." The video, titled "BTS' ON Kinetic Manifesto Film," has garnered more than 600 million views on YouTube. The Kinetic Manifesto Film version of ON, released in February 2020, surpassed 600 million views at 8:41 a.m. (2341 GMT) on Tuesday. This is the s

April 9, 2024

S. Korean parking solutions company to develop autonomous valet parking robots 

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's Autech-Otis Parking Systems has embarked on the development of autonomous valet parking robots that would prevent accidents and alleviate congestion in crowded parking areas, such as large shopping malls. When a vehicle is randomly parked near the entrance of a parking garage, robots will automatically place it into a car elevator. Autech-Otis said on Monday that its valet parking robots are scheduled to be commercialized in the seco

April 9, 2024

[Photos] On eve of general elections

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - Voters will cast ballots Wednesday to choose 300 new National Assembly members, with 254 of them through direct elections. The remaining 46 proportional representation seats will be allocated to parties depending on the portion of votes they win overall. Wednesday was their final day of the 13-day official general election campaign.

April 9, 2024

S. Korean resources circulation firm constructs battery recycling plant

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - DS Dansuk, a South Korean firm specializing in resources circulation, has completed the construction of a lithium-ion battery recycling plant in the southwestern port city of Gunsan. The plant will produce "black mass," a mixture of different materials recovered from spent batteries. According to market research firm BIS Research, the global market for high-performance lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is accelerating at an average annual growt

April 9, 2024

S. Korean single-person households exceed 10 million in 2024

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - Driven by aging population, low marriage rate, and declining fertility rate, the number of single-person households in South Korea has surpassed 10 million as of March 2024, according to state data. Data released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Tuesday revealed that the number of single households in South Korea exceeded the 10 million mark for the first time in history. The number stood at 10,021,413, accounting for 41.8 percent of total

April 9, 2024

S. Korean music variety show to feature AI performers

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea's state-run television network, KBS, is set to debut a unique music variety show featuring both artificial intelligence (AI) and human performers. Titled "Synchro You," the program will challenge the studio audience to differentiate between AI singers and their human counterparts. The first episode of Synchro You will air on May 10. The show will be hosted by a star-studded lineup, including South Korean variety show mainstay

April 9, 2024

Ma Dong-seok to hold belated wedding ceremony next month

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - Actor Ma Dong-seok (53) will have his belated wedding ceremony in Seoul next month after three years of marriage. Their management agency announced Wednesday that Ma and his wife and model Ye Jung-hwa (36) will hold their private wedding ceremony in May with only close friends and relatives in attendance. The two became a public item after their relationship was revealed in 2016 and later confirmed that they registered their marriage without a big cel

April 9, 2024

S. Korean school to provide Korean classes for children with non-native parents

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - In a bid to help children with at least one parent with immigrant background to quickly adapt to the learning environment, an elementary school in Ansan, a city located southwest of Seoul, will offer Korean language programs every Saturday. Over 90 percent of Ansan Wongok Elementary School's 472 students are children of multicultural backgrounds with at least one parent from another country. According to data released by the state-run Korean Educa

April 8, 2024

More than 40% of S. Koreans feel burdened by annual healthcare bills: survey

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - Despite South Korea's robust national health insurance program, more than 40 percent of citizens feel burdened by their annual personal healthcare expenditures, according to survey data released by the National Health Insurance Service. In 2021, the average South Korean spent about $710 on medical services, excluding costs covered by insurance. South Korea's state-operated health insurance program is globally recognized, providing citizens and l

April 8, 2024