Voices rise over swift disciplining of family minister Kim Hyun-sook for Jamboree fiasco

SEOUL -- With only a day left of the official schedule of the 25th World Scout Jamboree, voices are rising in the political sector over the swift action that must be taken to hold people accountable for the fiasco that took place at the international Scouting event. Kim Hyun-sook, the family minister, is likely to be the first person who would have her head put on the political guillotine. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was appointed as South Korea's main governing body

August 11, 2023

Samsung releases foldable smartphones Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 worldwide

SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics released globally its new foldable smartphones -- Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 -- along with the smart watch Galaxy Watch 6 series and tablet PC Galaxy Tab S9 series. The new devices were launched in some 50 countries including the United States, Britain, France, and China. The new devices will be released to other countries by the end of September. According to the South Korean tech giant, consumers' reaction is wild. The number of pre-orders made for Z Flip

August 11, 2023

World Scout Jamboree to close with K-pop concert at Seoul's iconic football stadium

SEOUL -- A total of 16 K-pop bands including girl groups NewJeans and IVE, and three solo artists will wrap up the 25th World Scout Jamboree at Seoul's iconic football stadium with a total capacity of 66,704. About 1,100 buses will carry some 40,000 Jamboree participants to the stadium built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The global Scouting event started in Saemangeum, a reclaimed land area some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of the capital city, on August 1. The event was ori

August 11, 2023

HMM's operating profit for 2Q 2023 drops 94.54% on-year due to post-pandemic normalization

SEOUL -- HMM, the world's eighth-largest marine shipping company controlled by creditors in South Korea, saw its operating profit drop by 94.54 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2023 due to the normalization of shipping rates that soared during the last three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Helped by a rise in international freight rates and improved competitiveness, South Korea's shipping industry has recorded high operating profits during the last three years. HMM

August 11, 2023

Samsung leads investment project to create new semiconductor wastewater solution

SEOUL -- In a bid to create a new solution for semiconductor wastewater, Samsung Electronic's venture capital wing invested in Membrion, a wastewater treatment startup based in Seattle. Through the investment project led by the South Korean company and British venture capital Lam Capital, Membrion attracted $12.5 million. Wastewater generated during the semiconductor manufacturing process contains various harmful heavy metals. It can cause critical damage to body organs such as the

August 11, 2023

KT embarks on defense project to upgrade military broadband communication network

SEOUL -- South Korea's major telecom company KT has started a defense project to upgrade a military communication network that will connect more than 2,000 units with an integrated management system. The high-speed communication network, which is currently built only near frontline army units, will be expanded to other branches including the Navy and Air Force. KT was selected as the preferred bitter for the project to build the next-generation military-broadband convergence networ

August 10, 2023

Hybe acquires boy band Enhypen's agency Belift Lab

SEOUL -- BTS' agency Hybe has acquired Belift Lab, a content media joint venture established by South Korea's entertainment giant CJ ENM and Hybe. The joint venture was launched in 2019 to nurture K-pop prodigies who could shake the global music scene. Belift formed boy band Enhypen through a TV reality show program called "I-LAND." In a bid to discover and foster global idols, Belift launched the audition program I-LAND in 17 cities in South Korea and other coun

August 10, 2023

S. Korean administrative sectors work with embassies to support Jamboree participants

SEOUL -- Provincial governments are closely working with foreign embassies to provide the best K-experience for Scouts and Girl Guides who had to evacuate from the 25th World Scout Jamboree campsite earlier than their schedules because of Typhoon Khanun. On August 7, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the main international Scouting organization, decided to pull participants out from the Saemangeum area six days after the World Scouting event was kicked off due to T

August 10, 2023

State regulator reviews NewJeans' performance amid iPhone advertising controversy

SEOUL -- South Korea's media regulation body is currently reviewing K-pop girl band NewJeans' performance regarding its indirect iPhone advertising controversy. The state regulator has received a complaint after group members performed their dance song "ETA" on a weekly live music ranking show where they took photos and videos using a new iPhone product on the stage. The five-member band was embroiled in controversy for showcasing their song at SBS's "Inkigay

August 10, 2023

Seoul cancels outdoor activities for Jamboree participants due to Typhoon

SEOUL -- Due to Typhoon Khanun, Seoul City has canceled all outdoor activities that were scheduled for some 3,200 Jamboree Scouts and Girl Guides who moved to South Korea's capital city from their original Jamboree campsite to take shelter from strong winds and torrential rain. Instead, the capital city will operate various indoor programs. The 25th World Scout Jamboree was kicked off in Saemangeum, a reclaimed land area some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Seoul, on August 1

August 10, 2023