SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The cost of private hospital rooms, particularly in departments such as pediatrics and obstetrics, shows stark regional disparities in South Korea, with fees in Seoul more than double those in some rural areas, according to newly released government data. Data obtained by Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the National Assembly’s Health [...]
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — After a lull following the post-pandemic cooling of the metaverse hype, interest in extended reality (XR) technology is surging once again — this time fueled by Google’s announcement of a new smart glasses collaboration with South Korea’s Samsung Electronics. At its annual I/O developers conference earlier this month, Google revealed [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed deep admiration for South Korea’s role in global technology innovation and reaffirmed the company’s growing partnership with Korean firms, including Samsung Electronics, in a wide-ranging interview with Korean YouTuber Jocoding released Tuesday. In a nod to the traditional Korea-U.S. alliance motto, Pichai cheerfully declared, “Korea [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s youth population is shrinking at a rapid pace due to declining birth rates, even as the number of students from multicultural backgrounds continues to rise, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s annual Youth Statistics 2025 report released Tuesday. As of this year, the youth population [...]
MANILA, Philippines, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) — A combination of the Korean Wave and expanded local sales networks has driven sales growth at Hitejnro Philippines Inc. in recent years, the company said at a recent media event. Hitejinro Co., South Korea’s leading beverage company, established its Philippine subsidiary in July 2019 to strengthen its presence [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Jin of K-pop superstars BTS has topped Spotify’s global chart with his latest song, “Don’t Say You Love Me,” BigHit Music said Tuesday. The song rose to the top spot of the Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart for May 25. It had previously debuted at No. 9 on [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) — K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has added 13 more performances to its upcoming world tour, “Deadline,” the group’s agency YG Entertainment said Tuesday. The four-member act will begin the tour in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, on July 5-6. The 13 newly added performances will take place in six cities, [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) – K-pop powerhouse Hybe said Tuesday it will sell its entire stake in rival SM Entertainment to China’s Tencent for 200 billion won (US$145.5 million). In a regulatory filing, Hybe said it will dispose of 2,212,237 shares of SM Entertainment, which represents a 9.38 percent stake in the company. The [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) — A renewed push by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a sweeping 25% tariff on all foreign-made smartphones, including Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, is stirring deep concern at the South Korean tech giant. The proposed tariffs, expected to take effect as early as next month, are part of Trump’s broader strategy [...]
SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) — On weekends, 55-year-old Jang Mo clocks into a small dessert café in Seoul not for a paycheck, but for family. She spends 12 hours a day pulling espresso shots, washing dishes, and scrubbing floors—all to support her daughter’s dream of running a successful bakery. But dreams, Jang has learned, [...]