US equity firm takes over Inspire Resort in Incheon following heavy losses

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - A U.S. private equity firm has assumed control of the Inspire Integrated Resort near Incheon International Airport after the property accumulated losses exceeding 150 billion won ($112 million) in its first year of operations. The resort, which opened in January 2024, was originally developed by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment with an investment of 2 trillion won. The complex includes three five-star hotel buildings with a total of 1,275 rooms, a mult

February 17, 2025

Around 2,000 teachers take sick leave every year

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - Nearly 2,000 teachers in South Korea take a leave of absence from school every year due to illness, a report reveals. According to the report submitted to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Education on Monday, 1,973 full-time teachers took sick leave between April 2023 and April 2024. More than half of them were teachers from primary schools, with 412 from middle schools and 289 from high schools. Despite the number of those taking sick leave ste

February 17, 2025

Biotech firm DYD develops saliva-based diabetes test kit

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - South Korean biotechnology company DYD announced plans on Monday to introduce a diabetes diagnostic kit capable of detecting the disease through saliva samples in under one minute. The device aims to provide a less invasive alternative to traditional blood-based testing. The diagnostic kit measures glycated albumin, a key biomarker for diabetes, using semiconductor biosensor technology that integrates next-generation surface technology with antibody con

February 17, 2025

Another former sex slave dies, leaving only seven survivors

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - Gil Won-ok, one of the last surviving victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II, died on Sunday. She was 97. Gil was only 13 years old when she was forced to serve as a sex slavery by imperial Japan during the war. With Gil's passing, only seven survivors now remain. "Gil was an active advocate for raising awareness about sex slavery both domestically and internationally. We hope she finds peace," said Shin Young-

February 17, 2025

Korea's fresh fruit imports hit record high in 2024

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s imports of fresh fruit soared to a record $1.45 billion (2.1 trillion won) in 2024, marking a 20.1 percent increase from the previous year, according to data from the Korea Rural Economic Institute. The surge underscores the growing reliance on imported produce as domestic fruit production struggles with adverse weather conditions. The value of imported fresh fruit, including bananas, pineapples, mangoes, oranges, and blueberries,

February 17, 2025

PHOTOS: UNESCO-recognized tug-of-war competition in Samcheok

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - Celebrations of Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar New Year, were held in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, from Feb. 14 to 16. The festival featured a performance of Samcheok Gigijuldarigi, a distinctive form of tug-of-war recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

February 17, 2025

INTERVIEW: Chinese unit from K-pop global project set sights high with ambitious goals

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - The Chinese unit of K-pop girl band Bling One, consisting entirely of six Mandarin-speaking members, with no South Korean members, made their debut with a showcase in central Seoul last week. They aim to combine K-pop with Chinese cultural elements on the global stage, with a vision to localize their unique fusion genre in one of the world's most populous countries. As their aim suggests, their title track, "Bubble Gum," unveiled at the Wo

February 17, 2025

South Korea launches safety certification system for EV batteries

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - The Korean government on Monday introduced a mandatory certification system for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, a move aimed at strengthening safety regulations following a high-profile battery fire last year. The new policy requires all EV batteries to undergo 12 stringent safety tests, including assessments for thermal shock, combustion resistance, and overheating prevention. These tests will be conducted by the Korea Automobile Testing & Researc

February 17, 2025

Korea launches center to attract foreign tech talent

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - In a bid to bolster its high-tech workforce, South Korea on Monday unveiled a new recruitment center aimed at attracting 1,000 advanced technology professionals from overseas by 2030. The effort is part of the government’s "K-Tech Pass" program, a sweeping initiative designed to address the growing demand for specialized talent in emerging technologies. The center, established under the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA),

February 17, 2025

US conducting cross-border subsidy probe into Korean pharmaceutical capsules

SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - The United States has launched a countervailing duty investigation into pharmaceutical hard capsules exported from Vietnam-based facilities operated by South Korean companies, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) reported on Monday. The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its sweeping tariff offensive, targeting both allies and adversaries. Trade analysts expect stricter enforcement of existing import regulations, including an

February 17, 2025