PHOTOS: National Assembly Library honors Nobel laureate Han Kang

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - The National Assembly Library in Seoul is hosting a special exhibition celebrating Han Kang, Korea's first Nobel laureate in literature, from Oct. 15 to Dec. 13. The exhibition, held in the library's central hall, showcases about 100 items related to Han's work, including original Korean editions, translations in 28 languages, audiobooks and video materials. Featured works include Han's internationally acclaimed novels "The Vegetarian," &

October 16, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul votes for new education superintendent

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Seoul residents voted Wednesday to elect a new education superintendent in a by-election triggered by the disqualification of former Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon. The race features a tight contest between conservative ex-lawmaker Cho Jun-hyuk and progressive Seoul National University professor Jung Keun-sik. Voting took place at 2,250 locations across the city.

October 16, 2024

China rebukes Japan's proposal for 'Asian NATO'

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Beijing criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's suggestion to establish a NATO-like security alliance in Asia, urging Tokyo to exercise caution in its security policies. The proposal, which Ishiba described as "essential to deter China," was unveiled in a commentary for a U.S. think tank shortly before he assumed office on Oct. 1. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Tuesday that Japan has "hyped up a non-exis

October 16, 2024

Korea unveils 8.8 trillion won package to support chip industry

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) – The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that about 8.8 trillion won (US$6.4 billion) will be injected into the semiconductor ecosystem by 2025. The comprehensive support package, unveiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, includes low-interest loans, fund investments and support for infrastructure and manpower development. Of the total investment, 4.7 trillion won will be provided through financial support programs, including 4.25

October 16, 2024

Indian passenger flight to Singapore faces bomb threat

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - An Air India Express passenger flight heading to Singapore received a bomb threat shortly after takeoff, prompting the deployment of fighter jets for escort. Air India Express received an email indicating a bomb was on board its plane departing from Madurai in southern India for Singapore on Tuesday. In response, the Singapore Air Force dispatched two fighter jets to escort the passenger plane. The plane circled for about an hour before landing at

October 16, 2024

E-commerce surge drives sharp growth in Korea's delivery industry

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - South Korea's parcel delivery industry has seen a 52.9 percent increase in volume over the past three years, with the average person receiving more than 100 packages annually in 2023, according to a report released Wednesday by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The report attributes this growth to "4C" factors: China-commerce, Competition, Consumer benefit and Cost down. The influx of ultra-low-priced products from Chines

October 16, 2024

Hezbollah leader calls for ceasefire, threatens further rocket strikes

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Hezbollah's acting leader, Naim Qassem, warned that the group will target more areas in Israel with rocket attacks unless the Israeli government stops its air strikes and ground invasion of Lebanon. In a live speech on Tuesday, Qassem stated that the solution is a ceasefire, emphasizing that Hezbollah would not be defeated despite ongoing bombardments and leadership losses. He also signaled plans to escalate attacks further into southern Israel. Qassem

October 16, 2024

LG CNS unveils AI-based marketing platform for U.S. market

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Korea's IT solutions provider LG CNS has introduced its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered marketing platform, LG Optapex, to the U.S. advertising market. The company said Wednesday it showcased the platform at Amazon's unBoxed 2024 event in Austin, Texas, Monday. LG Optapex, an enhanced global version of LG CNS's marketing optimization platform (MOP), uses AI and mathematical optimization to streamline digital marketing efforts. The pl

October 16, 2024

Brazilian artist merges AI and traditional art in Seoul exhibition

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - At the Brazilian Embassy in Seoul, Patricia Abbot Tuesday unveiled her exhibition "Beyond Recollection," featuring surreal oil paintings that blur the line between familiarity and abstract. The showcased works include depictions of birds, landscapes, and ambiguous forms that evoke a sense of recognition without clarity. Abbot, a 37-year-old Brazilian artist, draws inspiration from artificial intelligence, generating digital images through AI promp

October 16, 2024

Chinese peacekeeping units in Lebanon safe amid rising tensions

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Chinese peacekeeping troops in Lebanon are currently safe, according to China's Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday. The ministry is closely monitoring the situation and will take further actions to enhance the security of Chinese forces if needed, a spokesperson said. China strongly condemned the Israeli military's recent attack on UNIFIL, stressing the need for a full investigation and accountability. The spokesperson, Wu Qian, reiterated Chin

October 16, 2024