Seventeen member Hoshi appointed as ambassador for kimchi brand Jongga

SEOUL -- Hoshi, a member of the multinational boy band Seventeen, was selected as the ambassador for Jongga, a Seoul-based brand specializing in kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable dish. The 27-year-old will promote the food company's various products and events. 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. According to data released by the Ministry of Agric

September 25, 2023

Taihan Cable wins $60 mln high voltage power grid project order in Bahrain

SEOUL -- Taihan Cable & Solution, a power cable and grid infrastructure company in South Korea, has secured an order worth $60 million to establish an extra high-voltage power grid in Bahrain. A 400-kilovolt-class power grid will be installed to supply electricity for a new substation that will be built on the western coastal region "Al Jasra." Taihan Cable said in a statement on September 22 that the company made a foray into the Bahraini market through an order by the E

September 22, 2023

S. Korea's customs office receives appreciation plaque for cracking down on fake BTS masks packs

SEOUL -- Hybe, the agency of BTS, has delivered an appreciation plaque to South Korea's customs office as a sign of gratitude for stopping the distribution of fake BTS mask packs worth some 625 billion won ($46.7 million) to the global market. South Korean face mask packs are popular among global female consumers for their quality and good price. According to Statista, a global market research firm, about $4.7 billion worth of South Korean cosmetics products were exported in 2021

September 22, 2023

BTS' Suga starts mandatory military service as public service agent

SEOUL -- Suga, a 30-year-old rapper, became the third BTS member to fulfill his compulsory military service, after Jin and J-Hope. While the two BTS members are serving as assistant Army drill instructors, Suga was dispatched to his post as a public service agent. In South Korea, all able-bodied males who are 18 and older must do their military service for at least 18 months unless they have a valid reason for exemption. Unlike the majority of men who serve their mandatory service

September 22, 2023

S. Korea to present foreign visitors with prepaid transport payment cards printed with Korean names

SEOUL -- South Korea has revealed its special plan to offer a special gift for foreigners who visit the country on September 23 and 24. Visitors who enter South Korea through the Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, will be given prepaid transport payment cards printed with the travelers' names in Hangul, Korean characters. Hangul, the writing system of the Korean language, was invented by King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty in 1443 and was distributed t

September 22, 2023

S. Korea recreates N. Korean cities in metaverse world to encourage reunification

SEOUL -- South Korea's unification ministry has created a virtual world where users can explore the hometowns of Koreans who fled from the northern area of the Korean Peninsula to the southern parts during the Korean War (1950~1953). The virtual platform, designed to raise awareness about the reunification of Korea, recreated North Korean cities including Pyongyang on Roblox, a metaverse platform mainly used by young people. Millions of people were displaced by the sweep of the

September 22, 2023

BTS' Jungkook selected among The Hollywood Reporter's top 25 artist list

SEOUL -- BTS member Jungkook was selected by a prominent American entertainment media as one of the top 25 artists in the music scene. The 26-year-old was the only K-pop artist who stood among other globally famous artists such as Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Drake, and Billie Eilish. The seven-member K-pop wonder is currently not active as a whole group after two members -- Jin and J-Hope, who joined the South Korean Army in 2022 and early 2023, respectively -- are serving as assist

September 22, 2023

S. Korea's state studio opens new indoor filming facility for sea battles and ship accidents

SEOUL -- A multi-purpose indoor filming facility for special scenes such as sea battles, artificial rainfall, and ship accidents was built in South Korea's largest state-run studio, Studio Cube. The special effects studio played a key role in filming the Netflix drama series Squid Game. A large water tank, which is 30.4-meter-(99.7-foot)-long and 20.9-meter-wide, was installed in the complex. The construction of the special filming facility began in October 2021. South Korea

September 21, 2023

Southern port city to start pet registration service using dog nose wrinkles

SEOUL -- The southern port city of Changwon will start a pet registration service using dog nose wrinkles. Near-field communication chips are used for the registration of dogs but some dog owners refuse to use the chips because of the fee of about 10,000 won ($7.4). Currently, the South Korean government mandates dog owners to register their pets using near-field communication chips that are either inserted into the flesh of a dog or into a pendant-type holder that can be attached to a

September 21, 2023

Big Hit to renew exclusive contracts with all BTS members

SEOUL -- All members of BTS will renew their exclusive contracts with their agency "Bit Hit Music." The seven-member band would resume its group activities in 2025 after fulfilling their compulsory military service. Currently, two BTS members -- Jin and J-Hope -- are serving as assistant drill instructors in the South Korean Army. In South Korea, all able-bodied males who are 18 and older must do their military service unless they have a valid reason for exemption. Those

September 21, 2023