SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — As investigators probe the cause of the recent fire at South Korea’s National Information Resources Service (NIRS) data center, attention is turning to the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used in its uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system—reviving debate over pouch-type battery risks and accelerating the industry’s shift toward prismatic [...]
BOEUN, Oct. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid mounting criticism from animal rights groups, Boeun County in North Chungcheong Province plans to proceed with its annual bullfighting festival later this month, defending it as a local tradition and a driver of regional tourism. The county and the Boeun branch of the Korea Folk Bullfighting Association announced [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s streaming industry is rapidly embracing ad-supported subscription models, reshaping the country’s online video landscape and fueling a new surge in digital advertising. Once defined by ad-free viewing, online video platforms—or OTT (over-the-top) services—have increasingly adopted hybrid plans offering lower fees in exchange for ads. The trend began [...]
Government Kicks Off “New Leap Fund” to Wipe Out Old Debts for Over 1 Million Borrowers SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government has launched a new debt relief initiative aimed at helping long-term defaulters rebuild their financial lives, but officials face a key hurdle in securing cooperation from private lenders that [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics’ latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7, have received the highest ratings from leading consumer publications in the United States and Europe, reinforcing the company’s dominance in the premium foldable market. According to industry sources on Wednesday, consumer advocacy magazines in five countries — including [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea is turning to artificial intelligence to address a mounting environmental challenge: the massive volume of discarded clothing fueled by fast fashion. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced Wednesday that it will invest 25 billion won ($18 million) through 2030—including 17.5 billion won in government funding—to [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Food prices in South Korea have risen more than 20 percent over the past five years, far outpacing overall inflation and placing a growing strain on household budgets. According to data released Wednesday by the National Data Office, the consumer price index for “food and non-alcoholic beverages” in September [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A proposed bill that would make it illegal to create or distribute sexually explicit material using artificial intelligence (AI)–generated virtual characters is sparking intense public debate in South Korea, reflecting growing unease over the boundaries of technology and expression. The amendment to the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading food delivery platform Baedal Minjok (Baemin) is seeing surging demand for its “One Bowl” service, which targets the country’s rapidly expanding population of single-person households. According to the company, cumulative orders for the service — launched in April — exceeded 10 million by the first week [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — What began as a side business rooted in Korean culinary tradition has become a full-fledged export strategy for the nation’s top hotels. As premium kimchi gains traction among global consumers, luxury hotel brands are ramping up production and shipping abroad. According to the hospitality industry on Tuesday, Walkerhill Hotel [...]