Exports of kimchi reaches $155.6 mln in 2023, up 10.5% year-on-year

SEOUL -- Exports of kimchi, traditional Korean pickled vegetables, soared 10.5 percent year-on-year to $155.6 million in 2023, state data showed. The increased popularity of kimchi is accelerated thanks to the high global recognition of the salad-like spicy mixed vegetable pickles as healthy food. Kimchi is a spicy and sour, picked vegetable side dish, usually made by fermenting cabbage or radish with red chili powder, garlic, ginger, and other spices. During the last decade, kimc

January 22, 2024

S. Korea tries to increase birth rate by providing total subsidies worth $22,000

SEOUL -- The national committee, tasked with addressing the challenges of a low birth rate and an aging society, aims to encourage more couples to have children by offering government subsidies totaling 29.6 million won ($22,223) until the newborn child reaches seven years old. Recent data from South Korea's National Assembly Budget Office (NABO) reveals a projected 49.6 percent decrease in the population of young people aged 0 to 14 by 2040, dropping to approximately 3.18 mil

January 22, 2024

LG Chem partners with Italian state energy company to establish hydrotreated vegetable oil joint venture

SEOUL -- LG Chem, the chemical unit of LG Group, partnered with Enilive, a state-run energy company in Italy, to set up a joint venture targeting the hydrotreated vegetable oil market. The biofuel with an extremely low freezing point can be used as aviation and automobile fuel. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is made through either hydrocracking or hydrogenation of vegetable oil. Hydrocracking dismantles large molecules into smaller ones, while hydrogeneration is the process of a

January 19, 2024

Voltline adopts 3D spatial information platform 'Around' to develop flying passenger vehicle simulator

SEOUL -- South Korea's urban air mobility aircraft maker Voltline has adopted "Around," a three-dimensional spatial information platform created by Techtree Innovation, a domestic company specializing in geospatial visualization technology. Using Techtree's ultra-precision map platform, Voltline will develop a simulator to test the functions of flying passenger vehicles in virtual space. Urban air mobility (UAM) is a future ecosystem involving flying passenger ve

January 19, 2024

Winter Youth Olympics to be held in S. Korea's eastern province

SEOUL -- The Winter Youth Olympic Games is set to take place in South Korea's eastern province of Gangwon, well known for its mountainous and forested landscapes, on January 19, 2024. South Korea is the first Asian country to host the multi-sport event, drawing 1,803 athletes from 79 nations. The Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG), organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) encompasses a range of winter sports such as alpine skiing, curling, and biathlon. Previously

January 19, 2024

LG Innotek invests in Taiwanese lens producer to beef up autonomous vehicle business

SEOUL -- LG Innotek, the electronic component unit of South Korea's LG Group, will work with AOE Optronics, an automotive lens manufacturer based in Taiwan, to upgrade optical component solutions for autonomous vehicle cameras. The Taiwanese company will share its know-how in precision lens manufacturing technologies and provide lenses used for camera modules. Camera modules are essential for the collection of front traffic information and driving assistance. Demands for camer

January 19, 2024

Singer-actress IU to go on world tour in 18 cities

SEOUL -- Singer-actress Lee Ji-eun, known by her stage name IU, will go on her first world tour in about five years since she went on a tour in Asian countries in 2019. The 30-year-old will interact with global fans in 18 cities including Los Angeles, Berlin, Jakarta, and Seoul. IU, who debuted in 2008 at the age of 15, is one of the most popular solo female artists in South Korea's entertainment scene. Not only IU is famous for her talent as a musician, but she is also wel

January 18, 2024

Türkiye to send first astronaut on maiden space mission

SEOUL -- Türkiye will send its first astronaut on the country's maiden space mission. The Turkish Space Agency announced that the spacecraft will launch from a facility in Florida, United States, to dock with the International Space Station orbiting the Earth. The space mission by Türkiye was initiated in 2021 after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the national program. The Turkish Space Agency (TUA) selected the first Turkish astronaut from candidates based

January 18, 2024

Poland becomes S. Korea's fifth-largest trade surplus country thanks to military equipment exports

SEOUL -- Poland has now emerged as South Korea's fifth-largest trade surplus country, contributing approximately $9 billion, primarily fueled by exports of military equipment such as FA-50 light fighter jets and K-9 self-propelled howitzers, as reported by the Korea International Trade Association. Owing to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Poland has played a crucial role in supplying military equipment to Kyiv, aiding its neighbor in repelling the Russian inva

January 18, 2024

S. Korea's web cartoon industry scores highest operating profit in 2022: report

SEOUL -- South Korea's web cartoon industry achieved a record high of 1.8 trillion won ($1.3 billion) in 2022, data released by the country's culture ministry showed. The ministry plans to nurture webcomic as South Korea's leading content industry to attract more global fans. Web cartoons, also known as webtoons or webcomics, are digital comic books created to fit into web or mobile platforms. South Korea is the birthplace of webtoons. Popular webtoons are recreated in

January 18, 2024