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Game Companies Look to Virtual Human Products Beyond Gaming

Game Companies Look to Virtual Human Products Beyond Gaming

Korean game companies are increasingly setting their eyes on projects centered on virtual human character development, aimed at carving out new endeavors in non-gaming areas such as music and marketing sponsorships. With the advancement in computing power and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, experts predict more projects will launch in the future in various commercial applications with dynamic characters. 

If it's written in Korean, it's sold! The 4th Korean Wave by Generation Z Japan

If it's written in Korean, it's sold! The 4th Korean Wave by Generation Z Japan

As Korean culture is gaining popularity, led by Generation Z in Japan (10-20s), Japanese consumer goods companies are putting ‘Korea’ at the forefront of their marketing. However, the era of the fourth Hallyu Korean Wave, spread mainly through streaming platforms such as Netflix. Read more here.
A New Phase of Hallyu – an Immersive Experience into Korean Pop Culture

A New Phase of Hallyu – an Immersive Experience into Korean Pop Culture

ICYMI: the Korean wave is real. Over the past few decades, the world has seen the global arts, culture, and technology spheres won over — nay, dominated — by Korean creativity and innovation. Korea: Cubically Imagined, an exhibition spotlighting the nation’s leading creatives in 17 tech-powered installations, is further boosting Korea’s presence on the cultural landscape. Read more here! 

The Essential Korean Transportation Card of 2022 – T-Money Card

The Essential Korean Transportation Card of 2022 – T-Money Card

Introducing the T-Money Card: the essential Korean transportation card! Whether you are a short-term tourist or long-term resident in Korea, this transportation card is a must-have purchase that will make traveling in Korea much more convenient, easier, and cheaper. Read more here. 

Say Hello to SKT New Mobile Virtual Assistant, A.

Say Hello to SKT New Mobile Virtual Assistant, A.

South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, unveiled an open beta version of a virtual assistant the company said is aimed at providing an “intimate” and “emotional” experience for Android mobile phone users. Giving Google's language processing model IaMDA 2 stiff competition. The industry is eager to continue developing hyperscale AU engines and hopes that Korea can lead the charge on multimodal language-processing projects in the future. But what does this mean for privacy concerns?

Netflix Plans $100 million Investment in Korean Programming

Netflix Plans $100 million Investment in Korean Programming

Korean filmmakers and stars gathered in Seoul where the U.S. streaming giant Netflix, announced its 100 million dollar investment plan in the region while previewing its upcoming slate of local-language series. Netflix disclosed that as of the end of last year, the streaming service had 3.8 million paid subscribers in South Korea and continues to see local content as critical in future audience growth for the company.
Seoul, the City that Never Sleeps, Expands Late-Night Rides

Seoul, the City that Never Sleeps, Expands Late-Night Rides

Seoul, the city that never sleeps sees increased ridership after launch of late-night public transport service expansion. Signaling a return to normal after COVID-19 restrictions. The city pushed for an increase in public transport service by up to about 40% of existing shortages compared to pre-pandemic capacity, showing expanded late-night service capacity.
Matisse is Having a Moment

Matisse is Having a Moment

In fact, he says “Matisse’s popularity has been growing here for some time”. Recently, a surge of websites are selling posters, postcards and canvases of works by Matisse. A quick search shows there are over 22,000 items currently being sold alongside keywords such as “cafe,” “interior design” and “living room.” This craze only heightened during COVID-19 and is now a global phenom.

Hyundai Bets Big on Georgia Investing 5.5 billion on Electric Vehicles

Hyundai Bets Big on Georgia Investing 5.5 billion on Electric Vehicles

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group said Saturday it will invest US $5.54 billion to build a dedicated electric vehicle and car battery manufacturing plant in the United States to further solidify its electrification push in the world's most important automobile market. The announcement comes during US President Joe Biden visit to South Korea as part of his first trip to Asia amid ongoing tension with China and continued provocations from North Korea. 

South Korea Tops 5G Speed Globally

South Korea Tops 5G Speed Globally

The speed of the 5G network promises endless possibilities for both consumers and enterprises. Globally, countries that have already deployed 5G have noticed accelerated speed in downloads and connectivity. South Korea, which was the first country to adopt 5G on a large scale in April 2019 now dominates 5G speed globally.

Digital Healthcare Opens New Possibilities for Patients

Digital Healthcare Opens New Possibilities for Patients

Digital healthcare is core for the future of Korea. LG Electronics, KT, Naver, Kakao, and other Korean companies are foraying into the world of digital healthcare ― including telemedicine ― as the importance of healthcare has been highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Convenience Stores are More Than Meets the Eye

Convenience Stores are More Than Meets the Eye

South Korean convenience stores are offering unique products and services in collaboration with sports, education and finance companies to attract more customers, according to industry officials. 

Internet of Food: Are 'Smart farms' The Future of Agriculture?

Internet of Food: Are 'Smart farms' The Future of Agriculture?

‘Smart farming’ is the innovation concept referring to agriculture management utilizing technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, drones, and AI to enhance the quantity and quality of produce while reducing the human labor required to produce.
5 Unique Cultures Facts About Korea

5 Unique Cultures Facts About Korea

Here are 5 of the most amazing South Korean culture facts that will give you a deeper insight into life, love, and culture in the Land of the Morning Calm.
Inbebo Recipes: Classic Korean Soul Food, Sogogi Doenjang-Jjigae

Inbebo Recipes: Classic Korean Soul Food, Sogogi Doenjang-Jjigae

Doenjang-jjigae (fermented soybean paste stew) is a hearty, delicious, warm, and comforting everyday stew that Koreans never get tired of. Learn more about how to make this classic Korean soul food dish here. 

Metaverse McDonalds? SK launches virtual 'Food Safety Town Hall'

Metaverse McDonalds? SK launches virtual 'Food Safety Town Hall'

McDonald's Korea took some time to reflect on the importance of food safety, especially hygiene and quality control. A total of 2,100 people including head office employees participated in the town hall. But what makes this not a traditional meeting between employees is that this all took place in the Metaverse. 

Korean Edtech Startup Gguge Scores $10m in Funding

Korean Edtech Startup Gguge Scores $10m in Funding

Korean K-12 edtech startupGguge, heralded as one of the best online schools in Asia, announced that it has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round backed by Korea Investment Partners (KIP), Murex Partners, and PKSHA Capital from Japan. Learn more here.
Korean Instant Meals Market Grows 145% in 4 Years

Korean Instant Meals Market Grows 145% in 4 Years

One of the daily activities that COVID-19 has changed is the so-called home-cooked meal at home. As the demand for home-cooked food increases, a field that is attracting attention is the easy-to-eat meal kit market. The South Korean market of instant meals jumped more than 145% in 2020 from four years earlier on the increased number of convenience stores and the coronavirus pandemic.

Generation MZ Dominates Golf and Tennis Culture

Generation MZ Dominates Golf and Tennis Culture

The popularity of golf and tennis has reached new all-time highs due to Generation MZ excitement. Once seen as an exclusive sport only for the uber-wealthy—more young people enjoy outdoor leisure activities following COVID 19—leading to a full-on golf and tennis products and fashion craze. The Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute stated the number of golfers in Korea exceeded 5 million last year and that the size of the golf market will exceed 6 trillion won this year. 

Samsung Launches Digital Car Keys for Single Eco-System Experience

Samsung Launches Digital Car Keys for Single Eco-System Experience

Samsung has begun rolling out digital car keys starting in South Korea with the all-electric Genesis GV60. The feature allows Samsung smartphone users to lock their car and start it even if they don’t have the physical keys in hand. The digital car keys use ultra-wideband technology, a wireless protocol that transmits high-frequency radio waves; enabling highly accurate spatial awareness so the car and phone can communicate without any delays or issues. 

‘KCON Premiere 2022’ Opens Doors to Cheers of K-pop Fans

‘KCON Premiere 2022’ Opens Doors to Cheers of K-pop Fans

Cheers rose to deafening levels as a fully masked crowd of about 200 K-pop fans invited to “KCON 2022 Premier” packed into the CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, last Saturday celebrated the return of fan chants and screaming out loud. The first edition of the premiere shows leading up to the main event, “KCON 2022,” was significant as it not only marked the return of the annual global K-pop festival, but also the lifting of a noise ban imposed on audiences at concerts, as South Korea recently lifted all major social distancing rules for COVID-19.

'The Sound of Magic' Lands at No. 4 on Global Netflix Chart

'The Sound of Magic' Lands at No. 4 on Global Netflix Chart

“The Sound of Magic,” helmed by director Kim Seong-yoon the creator behind hit webtoon-based dramas “Love in The Moonlight” (2016) and “Itaewon Class” (2020), became the most popular TV show in 13 countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, over the last week. The series placed second in South Korea, Japan, Thailand and India. 
Researchers Visualize Floral Scent for First Time

Researchers Visualize Floral Scent for First Time

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology announced they succeeded in real-time visualization and measurement of floral scent emission for the first time in the world. Using optical interferometry, research teams led by mechanical engineering professor Kim Hyoung-soo and biological sciences professor Kim Sang-gyu measured the frequency with which lily flowers emit scents. The technology they developed to observe the floral scent emission patterns will be used to identify the genes involved in the biosynthesis and emission of floral volatiles.
One Store IPO Challenges Google, Apple App Store Monopolies

One Store IPO Challenges Google, Apple App Store Monopolies

South Korea’s homegrown app marketplace One Store aims to challenge Google and Apple, two US tech giants that enjoy a near-monopoly in the whopping 300 trillion won ($235 billion) app store market globally, with its forthcoming stock market debut here. One Store, the nation’s sole operator of an app store of the same name, is a merged entity of the nation’s four app stores that were previously operated separately by SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus and Naver. Now it is an affiliate of SK Square, SK Group’s investment unit. 

Korean Digital New Deal Launched ‘My Data’ Initiative

Korean Digital New Deal Launched ‘My Data’ Initiative

The "My Data" initiative, part of the Korean Digital New Deal, allows people to exercise control over personal data and actively manage the data on healthcare, public services, and finance. Using a platform that combines and analyzes health-related data provided by hospitals, patients plan a proper diet and exercise regimen. Resulting in, a one-stop data platform streamlines the process, allowing people to get the registration done with just a few clicks on their device. The platform will analyze individuals' income and financial data to provide them with the best financial products tailored to their needs.

Teens Holding Samsung Stock Hit Record Highs

Teens Holding Samsung Stock Hit Record Highs

The number of South Koreans who are 19 and younger that hold shares in Samsung Electronics reached 358,257 teens in December last year, a record high, according to the Korea Securities Depository. This number accounts for 7% of all shareholders and 0.2% percent of the total shares the tech giant has issued. The shares the teenagers held at the time amounted to 1.1 trillion won ($891 million). The rise in the number of teen accounts in 2021, jumped three-fold from the previous year, is believed to be prompted by a retail rush emboldened by fiscal and monetary stimulus measures the government had rolled out to ride out the coronavirus pandemic.

Half of Koreans in Their 20s Prefer Child-free Marriage

Half of Koreans in Their 20s Prefer Child-free Marriage

Almost half of South Koreans in their 20s said they would prefer to be part of a couple that does...
Family-Inspired Korean American Cooking Brings a Taste of Nostalgia and Inspiration to the Table

Family-Inspired Korean American Cooking Brings a Taste of Nostalgia and Inspiration to the Table

For his first cookbook, New York Times food writer Eric Kim moved back to his childhood home in Atlanta to discover the secrets of his mother’s best recipes. Those recipes and the family stories that inspired them are at the core of Kim’s new cookbook – “Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home.” 
DoubleMe Raises $25 Million in Funding to Expand Real-world Metaverse Platform ‘TwinWorld’

DoubleMe Raises $25 Million in Funding to Expand Real-world Metaverse Platform ‘TwinWorld’

A series-A funding round led by Coentry Investment and NH Investment saw the Korean metaverse company DoubleMe raise $25 million, with Samsung Electronics participating. DoubleMe is a metaverse startup focused on bringing the physical and virtual worlds together. It pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with 3D technology. Two-dimensional recordings are converted into three-dimensional visuals with the help of DoubleMe. Earlier this year, TwinWorld, a metaverse platform that allows individuals to construct an artificial reality (AR) encounter in any real-world location, was made available.

AI Technology Translates Images to Braille in Real Time

AI Technology Translates Images to Braille in Real Time

Braille is widely used by people with vision impairments, but despite widespread improvements to accessibility on the web and smart devices, innovation for braille-reader hardware has essentially been stalled. The Korean technology company, Dot has taken a huge step forward with a smart braille device that not only allows for easy display of text, but tactile representations of imagery, potentially opening an entirely new layer for education and accessible content. 

K-Startup Grand Challenge: A Gateway to Doing Business in Asia

K-Startup Grand Challenge: A Gateway to Doing Business in Asia

South Korea is now at a critical stage of development. Having successfully navigated the fourth industrial revolution, scoring significant technological edge in manufacturing and industries. While a few large companies have accelerated most of this growth to date, Korea is now in a position to push the limits of development and begin fostering disruptive innovation advancement through startups. The country strives to balance successful industrial giants and a thriving startup ecosystem. One such program is the K-Startup Grand Challenge.
E-Bikes over Vehicles? How E-Bikes are Replacing Cars and Saving Money

E-Bikes over Vehicles? How E-Bikes are Replacing Cars and Saving Money

Heo Young-hoe, the founder of Withus, combines human capacity with mechanical motion to generate electrical energy with his innovative bicycle generators. Withus brings energy-harvesting technology to the street with non-contact bicycle generators. Such technologies have increased in popularity as eco-friendly living and cost-saving transportation options continue to develop in Korea and all around the world. Energy harvesting, the process of capturing regular human output and converting it into energy for practical use, is not only used in transportation but also in renewable energies. Could this be the future?

Korea Pledges To Cut Carbon Emissions by 40% by 2030

Korea Pledges To Cut Carbon Emissions by 40% by 2030

Technology will make it easier for South Korea to reach its carbon goals of reaching zero emissions by 2050. The question remains, which technologies will be key? Will carbon capture, biotech, or upscaling existing solar energy infrastructure take the lead? Although some Korean experts may have reservations about timeline of the country's carbon goals, there is little disagreement over the fact that technology will help Korea reach these goals faster. 
Goodbye Trucks and Bikes. Hello Drones and Robots!

Goodbye Trucks and Bikes. Hello Drones and Robots!

In February, the logistics service start-up Mesh Korea announced a partnership with California-based Bear Robotics to use self-driving robots for “last-mile delivery.” Mesh Korea's deliveries depend on a large fleet of motorcycles and trucks. But the company plans on using newer technologies such as drones and robots soon. Learn how drones and robots can help the delivery industry here! 

Pachinko, An Epic-Sized Family K-Drama Taking the World by Storm

Pachinko, An Epic-Sized Family K-Drama Taking the World by Storm

Apple TV+ drama Pachinko  debuted last month, and early critics' reviews indicate the show is an absolute must-watch. Based on the 2017 New York Times bestselling and beloved novel, the story tells of a Korean family who immigrate to Japan to find a better life.  
Can ‘K-agricultural technology’ Solve Food Shortage?

Can ‘K-agricultural technology’ Solve Food Shortage?

Rural Development Administration’s overseas official aid ‘KOPIA’ attracts global attention. KOPIA has established KOPIA offices in 22 countries where agricultural experts are dispatched and residents to aid developing countries and help an estimated 1 million overseas farms by 2030. Learn more about their work here. 

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