​LG Chem acquires 5.7% stake in US lithium firm to secure material for EV batteries

SEOUL -- LG Chem, a chemical unit of South Korea's LG Group, has signed a deal with U.S.-based Piedmont Lithium to acquire a 5.7 percent stake in the latter for $75 million (96 billion won), the company said February 17. LG said that the contract is aimed at securing a stable supply of lithium, a key material for the production of electric vehicle batteries. Through the investment, LG Chem has won rights to preferential negotiations with Piedmont for the purchase of 10,000

February 17, 2023

State footwear tech institute commercializes new outsole production technique

SEOUL -- A joint research team led by a footwear technology institute operated by the trade ministry has developed and commercialized an outsole production technique that saves time and costs. Outsoles made using the technique is about 27 percent lighter than conventional soles. Normally, an outsole, the most-outer layer of a shoe foot sole, is manufactured through seven or eight steps that involve the molding, cutting, buffing, cleaning and drying of the rubbery layer before it

February 17, 2023

​$115 million fund to be created to help develop low-carbon steel products

SEOUL -- The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy plans to create a 150 billion won ($115 million) fund jointly with domestic steelmakers to help them develop low-carbon products. The ministry announced the plan on February 16 as part of a steel industry development strategy to promote steelmakers' transition to a low-carton production structure. The creation of the fund is aimed at coping with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) adopted by the European Union (E

February 17, 2023

SK geo centric to build plastic recycling factory in France's northeastern region

SEOUL -- SK geo centric, a chemical company affiliated with South Korea's SK Group, will jointly build a plastic recycling factory with SUEZ, a France-based water and waste management company, and Canadian plastic recycling company Loop Industries, in the northeast region of France. The factory with an annual production capacity of 70,000 tons will be completed in 2027. The construction project is in response to SK geo centric's agreement with the two companies in June 2022

February 17, 2023

K-pop girl band Brave Girls to disband after rolling out digital single 'Goodbye'

SEOUL -- Brave Girls, a four-member K-pop girl band, will disband after releasing its last single titled "Goodbye." The band that unexpectedly stepped into the spotlight 10 years after its debut with a single dance track titled "Rollin'" in 2021 did not renew the contract with its agency "Brave Entertainment." All group members will end the exclusive contract, said Brave Entertainment, adding that the group will release Goodbye at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT)

February 16, 2023

​Prosecution seeks arrest warrant for opposition leader on corruption charges

SEOUL -- The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said February 16 that it has sought an arrest warrant for Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main progressive opposition Democratic Party (DP), over corruption allegations involving land development projects and suspicious donations from corporations. Lee faces bribery, breach of duty, conflict of interest and other charges in relation to large-scale development projects in Daejang-dong and Wirye, Seongnam City, just sou

February 16, 2023

Samsung develops air purification filter technique capable of simultaneously capturing particulate matter and volatile organic compounds

SEOUL -- A research institute affiliated with Samsung Electronics has developed an air purification filter technology capable of capturing particulate matter and harmful air pollutants called "volatile organic compounds (VOCs)" at the same time. Commercialization of the filter that can be used for up to 20 years can help various air conditioning facilities with separate filters for each hazardous material reduce filter regeneration costs and improve space efficiency. Curr

February 16, 2023

​South Korea to invest $1.16 billion in defense industry by 2027 to boost exports

SEOUL -- The South Korean government has decided to invest 1.5 trillion won ($1.16 billion) in developing defense technologies under a private-military cooperation project by 2027. On February 14, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of National Defense announced the Third Basic Plan on Private-Public Technology Development Cooperation to beef up the country's defense industry as one of strategic export growth engines. The ministries have selected 16

February 16, 2023

S. Korean consumers favor meal kit products than dining out due to price hike

SEOUL -- The popularity of meal kits, ready-to-eat meal packs, at megastores has increased despite South Korea adopting re-opening policies, including lifting regulations on compulsory face masks in indoor environments. The unexpected popularity of the convenient heat-and-eat meal packs was affected by increased prices of daily necessities including food. Meal kits became popular in South Korea when the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in early 2020. People avoid

February 16, 2023

Seoul's satellite city to provide smart care solutions for 543 vulnerable residents living alone

SEOUL -- Three different smart care solutions -- the internet of things-based monitoring devices, artificial intelligence-based care robots, and Bluetooth-based robot psychologists -- will be distributed to middle-aged and older people with a high possibility of dying alone. The solutions, already used by some 300 residents in 2020, will be provided to additional 543 residents. The total number of single-person households in Seongnam is 122,461. About 38.5 percent of them are aged

February 16, 2023