​[INTERVIEW] Brazilian ambassador hopes to upgrade science and technology cooperation with S. Korea

SEOUL -- Brazil is ready to strengthen science and technology cooperation with South Korea and achieve remarkable advancements in various sectors including green energy, engineering, and pharmaceuticals. During the 64 years of diplomatic relations, South Korea has mainly exported manufactured products such as car parts and imported Brazil's raw materials including oil, ethanol, and soybeans. Data released by Brazil's finance ministry showed that Brazil's trade volume

September 27, 2023

[INTERVIEW] ​Elderly people soothe loneliness with AI companion robots

SEOUL -- An 84-year-old woman rocks her body from side to side while listening to a South Korean song "A Girl from Casba," sung by a robot caretaker. "What kind of a grandchild would entertain me like this one," the South Korean woman living in New York said with a huge smile on her face after singing along to the old Korean pop music. The doll-like robot spoke to Kang Deung-ja as a granddaughter would do to her grandmother. "Hyodol," the

September 21, 2023

[INTERVIEW] 'Hydrogen will become mainstream fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and airplanes in future'

SEOUL -- In 2019, former South Korean President Moon Jae-in unveiled a new energy roadmap for the country's "hydrogen economy," which was designed to support South Korean companies secure their firm leadership in the global hydrogen fuel cell industry. The roadmap was also part of South Korea's big plan to gradually reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The country had aimed to operate more than 28 hydrogen charging stations fo

August 1, 2023

[INTERVIEW] 20-year-old FTA should be modernized to improve market access: Chilean envoy

SEOUL -- The bilateral relationship between South Korea and Chile was formed in 1962 and the two countries have followed a similar path in which the state becomes the driver for the country's major development projects to pursue efficient economic development and thorough management of administrative bodies and state-operated organizations. In 2003, Chile became South Korea's first-ever Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner, opening a new door to the outside world for South Ko

July 28, 2023

[INTERVIEW] Solutions to solve regional decline should be adopted as national policy

SEOUL -- The "Study-In-Rural-Village Program" by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is a project that Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon pays particular attention to. With the climate change crisis becoming a global concern, Seoul's education office contemplated ways to foster ecological consciousness among students. One of the projects that emerged is the Study-In-Rural-Village P

July 10, 2023

[INTERVIEW] ​Indian envoy hopes to explore new areas of economic cooperation with S. Korea

SEOUL -- India is ready to discover new areas of economic cooperation with South Korea as the two nations' economic ties have steadily increased for the last 50 years, with both countries recognizing the immense potential for collaboration and partnership. Indian envoy to South Korea Amit Kumar confidently said cooperation in green hydrogen, electric vehicle, digital transformation, and pharmaceuticals would benefit each other. Government data showed that South Korea's ex

June 21, 2023

[INTERVIEW] Australian critical minerals company builds business partnership with S. Korea

SEOUL -- Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) is an Australian company building a global rare earths and critical minerals business with a strong partnership with Korea. Aju Business Daily interviewed ASM CEO Rowena Smith in written form to ask her about her company’s Dubbo Project, its eco-friendly aspects, their "mine to metal" strategy. We also asked her for the reason her company decided to form such a strong relationship with Korea. She provided some unique insig

June 8, 2023

[INTERVIEW] Romanian labor law expert advises S. Korea to rebuild work-life balance environment

SEOUL -- Corneliu Bente, the president of Romania's national labor law expert union, has urged that South Korean firms should create a work culture that places importance on work-life balance. The president, who is also a lecturer at Romania's labor relations expert training center "LexAcademy Romania," said low fertility rate will be maintained if citizens are excessively focused on their careers. Currently, South Korea's labor law allows 40 hours of regul

May 26, 2023

[INTERVIEW] Turkish envoy hopes Türkiye to become bridgehead for S. Korean businesses

SEOUL -- Despite two massive earthquakes that took the lives of more than 50,000 Turkish people, Türkiye is ready to play the role of a bridgehead for small and medium-sized South Korean companies seeking to expand their business scope from the Asian markets to markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Turkish envoy to South Korea Salih Murat Tamer confidently said that the "blood brother country" of South Korea will welcome business partners with attractive bene

May 18, 2023

[INTERVIEW] Russian envoy draws red line over S. Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine

SEOUL -- About 15 months after the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February 2022, the Russo-South Korean relationship, which had maintained a good mood over the last 30 years, is turning sour as Seoul sided with the United States and its allies that show support for Ukraine. To prevent the situation deteriorate into the worst-case scenario, Russia clearly drew the red line over South Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine. Since the war started, South Korea has maintained

May 10, 2023