Kia showcases concept model for compact electric SUV 'EV5' exclusive for Chinese market

SEOUL -- South Korean carmaker Kia has showcased a concept model for the company's new electric compact sport utility vehicle exclusive for the Chinese market during an unveiling event held in Shanghai on March 20. Kia will seek to secure its foothold in the Chinese electric vehicle market which is growing 87 percent year-on-year. China has the world's largest passenger EV market where one in every four cars sold is an EV, according to Counterpoint Research, a global market

March 21, 2023

HD Hyundai's holding company to receive $207 mln gas tanker order from Middle East

SEOUL -- Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the holding company of HD Hyundai, has sealed an order worth 270.1 billion won ($207 million) to supply gas tanker ships to a Middle Eastern transportation company. Two large carriers will be delivered by August 2026 to Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Co. KSOE's spokesperson told Aju Daily on March 20 that the company has grabbed a total of 49 orders worth $6.51 billion in 2023, which includes the agreement with Arab Mar

March 20, 2023

Eastern city Wonju to test-operate electric bicycle rental service

SEOUL -- The test operation of electric bicycle rental service will begin in Wonju some 86.8 kilometers (53.9 miles) east of Seoul. In South Korea, public bicycle rental service has steadily gained popularity among urbanites who wish to travel short distances of a few kilometers instead of using crowded buses or subway trains. One of the most well-known bike-sharing or bike rental services in South Korea is Seoul Bike, also known as "Ttareungi", run by Seoul City. As of J

March 20, 2023

S. Korean 'beautytech' company APR receives $6.1 mln investment through pre-IPO

SEOUL -- South Korean beauty product and service company APR Corp. has received an 80-billion-won ($6.1 million) investment through a pre-initial public offering investment process after investors evaluated the company to have a company value of about 700 billion won. APR, founded in 2014, is a "beautytech" company with various brands in the cosmetics sector -- Medicube, Aprilskin, AGE-R, and Forment -- and fashion and entertainment sectors -- Nerdy (APR Fashion) and Phot

March 20, 2023

S. Korea lifts mask mandate on public transportation including buses and subways

SEOUL -- South Korea has lifted the mask mandate on public transportation such as buses, subway trains, and taxis. It is no longer needed to wear masks anywhere in the country except for several medical facilities vulnerable to infection including nursing homes. The government said in a statement that the obligation to wear masks in public transportation, supermarkets, and pharmacies located in public spaces would end on March 20. It's been about two years and five months since

March 20, 2023

Avikus to demonstrate self-sailing solution 'HiNAS 2.0'

SEOUL -- Avikus, a South Korean self-sailing solution developer affiliated with HD Hyundai, will check the efficacy of decreased fuel consumption and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of its autonomous navigation system called HiNAS 2.0. The company predicted that the autonomous ship solution would help operators save up to seven percent of fuel. HiNAS 2.0 is an artificial intelligence-based solution capable of recognizing surrounding ships and detecting various risk factors.

March 17, 2023

BTS member J-Hope receives enlistment schedule from state military manpower administration

SEOUL -- BTS' main dancer J-Hope has received an enlistment schedule from the state Military Manpower Administration. The 29-year-old artist would be the second BTS member to fulfill compulsory military service, after Jin, the eldest member who completed his basic training in January 2023 at a frontline Army boot camp. "I am unable to provide specific information, but the enlistment date has been confirmed and it's about time for me to get rarmyeady," J-Hope told

March 17, 2023

[OPINION] "The Nuclear Genie and Averting Armageddon"

KENOSHA -- "Disarmament … is a continuing imperative." That public statement is not from an ideologue on the left, but rather from President Dwight D. Eis

March 17, 2023

Southern resort island of Jeju to start first commercial drone delivery service

SEOUL -- South Korea's first commercial drone delivery service will be kicked off in the southern resort island of Jeju, the transport ministry said. The delivery service targets some 130 households in Gapado, a remote island in the southwestern part of Jeju. During the last five years, South Korea's government and private companies tested and demonstrated various drone delivery services for snacks and small parcels including medicines and daily necessities for people liv

March 17, 2023

S. Korea's arms procurement agency discusses cooperation in defense sector with US think tank

SEOUL -- South Korea's arms procurement agency has discussed cooperation methods with the United States at a conference held in Washington D.C. At the annual meeting, government and industry officials from both countries brought up the U.S. Defense Department's foreign comparative testing program, which demonstrates various items and technologies of U.S. allies to see if they could be adopted by the U.S. armed forces. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)

March 17, 2023