News

Hyundai awarded most best brands on 2025 Best Hybrid & Electric Cars list by U.S. News & World Report

2025/04/18 20:00

Hyundai Motor was awarded the most best brands on the U.S. News and World Report's 2025 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars list for the second year in a row. According to Hyundai on Thursday, the company clinched three prestigious titles, with its IONIQ5, IONIQ6 and Tucson Hybrid models securing top spots in their respective categories. The awards recognize the top electric vehicles in their categories, with over 100 vehicles evaluated across ten categories.

Samsung had most shipments of smartphones in Q1, beating Apple

2025/04/17 17:00

Samsung Electronics ranked number one in smartphone shipments for the first quarter of this year. According to Counterpoint Research Samsung's shipments amounted to 61 million units surpassing Apple's by 3 million units. In terms of market share Samsung also led with 20 percent slightly ahead of Apple's 19 percent. Pundits are linking this performance to the Galaxy S25 series.

S. Korean-led consortium wins initial phase of U.S. research reactor project

2025/04/17 10:00

A South Korean-led consortium has won a contract for the initial phase of a U.S. research reactor project. The consortium is made up of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institution and Hyundai Engineering, as well as the U.S. nuclear power engineering firm MPR. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the consortium signed a deal with the University of Missouri to conduct the initial phase of the Next Generation University of Missouri Research Reactor project. With the deal, South Korea becomes the first country to reverse export technology in the field, 66 years after importing research reactors from the U.S. with TRIGA Mark-II in July 1959.

Scientists may have discovered an unusual planet, just like Luke Skywalker’s home

2025/04/17 10:00

Finally, astronomers have identified a new planet, located approximately 120 light-years from Earth, that resembles Tatooine, the home planet of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movie. The planet appears to orbit a pair of brown dwarfs, or what experts call "failed stars" that are too small to shine like the Sun. What makes this planet special is that it moves in a completely different direction from how the two stars orbit each other, referred to as a "polar orbit." Although the planet was not directly seen, scientists spotted its presence by watching the movement of the stars. The author of the study, an astronomer from the University of Birmingham, said, "There aren't many very young planetary systems like this." This research was published in the journal Science Advances on April 16.

Closed mines in Taebaek transform into space experiment center

2025/04/16 20:00

Abandoned mines have an environment similar to that of the Moon's poles. For this reason, they are transformed into a testbed for space research. Cha Yun-kyung tells us how. The researchers say that abandoned mines have a "similar environment to space," as they have less oxygen and remain at low temperatures. They use them as test-bed environments to simulate the moon and explore possible training exercises with experimental equipment. In the closed mines, it is possible to check whether all sorts of facilities can operate well on a bumpy surface. The researchers test drills for lunar soil exploration and sample collection before going into space. They also experiment with various technologies for space resources, such as CubeSats for very low Earth orbit, and real-time spectrum analysers for cosmic rays. "The environment of abandoned mines is quite similar to that on the moon. So, it is feasible to carry out dangerous experiments like analyzing electric power generation in closed mines without any interruption." Aside from conducting verification tests for space equipment, the research team is also planning to create a space resource convergence demonstration complex in Taebaek this year and make abandoned mines leading space resources platforms. "Here in closed mines, we are planning to run equipment which collects helium-3 that can be the main source of electrical energy in the future. Then, we will actually go to the moon and collect helium-3 after testing everything in advance." The research team is planning to load space equipment in a lunar lander that is being independently developed, based on resources from the verification experiments, by 2032. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Meta faces historic antitrust trial that could force it to break off Instagram, WhatsApp

2025/04/15 10:00

A landmark antitrust trial against U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms kicked off on Monday in Washington, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to force the tech giant to break Instagram and WhatsApp off from Meta. It alleges that the tech giant bought the platforms in a strategic move to eliminate competition and establish a monopoly in the social networking market. CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company's actions, saying the acquisitions enhanced consumer experience, citing competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The trial is expected to span approximately eight weeks and could result in potential structural changes for Meta.

All-female crew on Blue Origin rocket successfully

2025/04/15 10:00

Let's begin with the historic spaceflight by Blue Origin, completing its first all-female crewed mission. Sure. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket, carrying pop star Kate Perry and five other accomplished women, safely returned to Earth after reaching space. The Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, developed for space tourism, successfully returned to Earth on Monday with an all-women crew of six women after an approximately 10-minute flight to space. "TAKE IT UP SPACE" "And for me, like Gayle said, this wasn't a ride, it wasn't a destination, it was a journey and it was super-natural one." The crew took off from Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas at 9:31 AM on Monday. The six-person crew included pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and pilot Lauren Sanchez. The flight lasted about 10 minutes and 21 seconds, reaching the Karman line, the recognized boundary of space, where the crew experienced moments of weightlessness before safely returning to Earth. The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova's solo journey into space in 1963.

Rebounds in chip, display shipments lead to ICT exports growth in March, reaching US$ 20.6 bil.

2025/04/14 20:00

Exports of Korean ICT products expanded almost 10-percent on-year in March, ahead of the U.S. tariff campaign, led by chips and display panels. Moon Ji-young has the latest numbers. Rebounds in chip and display sales led to an increase in South Korea's tech exports last month, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday. ICT exports in March reached almost 20-point-6 billion dollars, up 9-point 4 percent compared to the same month the previous year. Month-on-month data shows that tech exports surged by 24 percent, while the trade balance saw an increase of a whopping 48 percent during the same period. Exports of major tech items, such as chips, displays, cell phones and computers, have all risen together for the first time in eight months. Semiconductor exports increased by nearly 12 percent year-on-year, driven by rising demand for high-value memory chips, such as High Bandwidth Memory and Double Data Rate 5. This growth is attributed to expanded investments in AI servers and a reduction in companies' memory inventories. The display sector rebounded by one-point-three percent after eight months, thanks to the launch of new mobile phones. Experts and officials from the Trade Ministry attribute these rebounds to preemptive measures taken by leading companies to secure their inventories in anticipation of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. "Certainly, after the announcement of the tariffs imposition, there was a trend where companies tried to pull forward their shipments for the following month, and the month after that, before tariffs were increased." Exports of mobile phones soared by nearly 15 percent while computers jumped over 28 percent, both showing double-digit growth. By country, shipments to the U.S., Vietnam, and Japan performed strongly last month, driven by robust demand for chips. In contrast, exports to China, South Korea's top export destination, fell by over 12 percent due to decreased demand for chips and computers. There was also a drop in exports to Europe. Meanwhile, ICT imports totaled over 12-point-2 billion dollars, resulting in a positive ICT trade balance. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Rebounds in chip, display shipments lead to ICT exports growth in March, reaching US$ 20.6 bil.

2025/04/14 17:00

Exports of Korean ICT products expanded almost 10 percent on year in March led by chips and display panels. Moon Ji-young has the latest numbers. Rebounds in chip and display sales led to an increase in South Korea's tech exports last month, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday. ICT exports in March reached almost 20-point-6 billion dollars, up 9-point 4 percent compared to the same month the previous year. Month-on-month data shows that tech exports surged by 24 percent, while the trade balance saw an increase of a whopping 48 percent during the same period. Exports of major tech items, such as chips, displays, cell phones and computers, have all risen together for the first time in eight months. Semiconductor exports increased by nearly 12 percent year-on-year, driven by rising demand for high-value memory chips, such as High Bandwidth Memory and Double Data Rate 5. This growth is attributed to expanded investments in AI servers and a reduction in companies' memory inventories. The display sector rebounded by one-point-three percent after eight months, thanks to the launch of new mobile phones. Experts and officials from the Trade Ministry attribute these rebounds to preemptive measures taken by leading companies to secure their inventories in anticipation of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. "Certainly, after the announcement of the tariffs imposition, there was a trend where companies tried to pull forward their shipments for the following month, and the month after that, before tariffs were increased." Exports of mobile phones soared by nearly 15 percent while computers jumped over 28 percent, both showing double-digit growth. By country, shipments to the U.S., Vietnam, and Japan performed strongly last month, driven by robust demand for chips. In contrast, exports to China, South Korea's top export destination, fell by over 12 percent due to decreased demand for chips and computers. There was also a drop in exports to Europe. Meanwhile, ICT imports totaled over 12-point-2 billion dollars, resulting in a positive ICT trade balance. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Korean forest-grown ginseng extracts could be used for vaccines

2025/04/10 20:00

Forest-grown ginseng, which is grown in nature from planted seeds, is known for its health benefits. Now, new research shows that extracts from Korean forest-grown ginseng could be used for vaccines. Cha Yun-kyung has more. Forest-grown ginseng is grown in nature without artificial cultivation after its seeds are planted on the mountainside. The Korea Forest Service has designated forest-grown ginseng as a special management forestry product since 2011 to improve international competitiveness through systematic management and research. Korean forest-grown ginseng gained global attention in 2014, when research showed it has a better antioxidant effect than Chinese ginseng or American ginseng. And further research revealed that forest-grown ginseng extracts could be used for vaccines. "We have found that protein which degrades pathogenic organisms and substances which stimulate immune reactions became highly activated as the concentration of ginseng extract got denser." For the vaccine to be effective, enough substances should be made to stimulate an immune reaction and protein that degrades pathogenic organisms should be activated. Researchers found that the protein becomes highly activated as the concentration of ginseng extract increases. Korea Forest Service is planning on applying for a patent in the first half of this year. However, it remains to be seen whether the productivity and utilization value of ginseng extract is suitable enough for vaccines. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Ghibli-style AI-generated portrait boom; new wave in art scene?

2025/04/09 17:00

Up next we shed light on a new ChatGPT feature that is garnering quite a bit of global attention for viral images in the style of Studio Ghibli . Park Kun-woo touches upon this craze and the conflict. Social media is buzzing with Studio Ghibli-style portraits -not of actual characters but of real people transformed using generative AI. The global trend has also reached South Korea after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted his own version last month, showing how ChatGPT can now create intricate images with just simple prompts. "Whenever I open social media, it's flooded with these Ghibli-style images. A lot of my friends have tried them, some even shared their wedding photos in that style." Since the launch of the new image-generation tool in late March, over 700 million images were created, in just the first week. "This is my original photo, and I asked to be turned into a Ghibli character—and boom, two minutes later, here I am. And it's not just this but you can also turn into characters like Pororo or Marvel heroes. No wonder it's gone viral." As the craze spreads, Sam Altman even joked on social media that "our GPUs are melting." However, the trend has also had backlash. A Japanese animation director known for "One Piece" expressed strong distaste, saying the trend is tarnishing the Ghibli brand. And Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously condemned AI-generated work as "an insult to life itself" adding that he would never use it in his pieces. Copyright concerns are also fueling the controversy. "Art styles and aesthetics are considered ideas, so the case is hard to judge whether it's violating copyrights. The issue is whether an AI company trained its model on works in the Ghibli style." She added that because this is a legal grey area with not much precedent, international and social consensus will be crucial moving forward. Despite the controversy, some believe this could be a new turning point in the culture and art scene. "The art world faces what's called "Baumol's cost disease" -rising labor costs without matching productivity. And hand-drawn animation is extremely labor-intensive. Ghibli, for example, hasn't released a new film since 2014. But AI could ease that burden and enable new creations while preserving the original identity." She also said that with proper consensus, AI-generated art could evolve into a new cultural movement, perhaps even gaining long-term value, much like Van Gogh's paintings did posthumously. And considering that, a tiny Ghibli-style AI portrait might just be the spark, redrawing the entire canvas of modern art. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Korean-American astronaut Jonny Kim begins first space mission

2025/04/09 17:00

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has landed at the International Space Station becoming the first Korean-American to travel to space. According to NASA Kim flew aboard a Russian spacecraft which reached the ISS at around 7:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday. Kim and two Russian cosmonauts will stay at the station for about eight months conducting research and testing new technologies. Kim is also a U.S. Navy officer and Harvard-trained doctor.

[Features reporter] Ghibli-style AI-generated portrait boom; new wave in art scene?

2025/04/09 14:00

Kun-woo, I remember you said you've been stuck choosing your new profile picture. What's making it such a tough decision? Well, it's because I've been up to turning myself into all sorts of adorable animated characters using generative AI, so choosing just one has been tough. I'm pretty sure you've seen a lot of your friends doing the same, changing their pictures to AI-generated characters, especially in the popular Ghibli style, as it's been quite the trend lately. But before I tell you more, let's take a look at how this trend is unfolding. Social media is buzzing with Studio Ghibli-style portraits -not of actual characters but of real people transformed using generative AI. The global trend has also reached South Korea after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted his own version last month, showing how ChatGPT can now create intricate images with just simple prompts. "Whenever I open social media, it's flooded with these Ghibli-style images. A lot of my friends have tried them, some even shared their wedding photos in that style." Since the launch of the new image-generation tool in late March, over 700 million images were created, in just the first week. "This is my original photo, and I asked to be turned into a Ghibli character—and boom, two minutes later, here I am. And it's not just this but you can also turn into characters like Pororo or Marvel heroes. No wonder it’s gone viral." As the craze spreads, Sam Altman even joked on social media that "our GPUs are melting." However, the trend has also had backlash. A Japanese animation director known for "One Piece" expressed strong distaste, saying the trend is tarnishing the Ghibli brand. And Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously condemned AI-generated work as "an insult to life itself" adding that he would never use it in his pieces. Copyright concerns are also fueling the controversy. "Art styles and aesthetics are considered ideas, so the case is hard to judge whether it's violating copyrights. The issue is whether an AI company trained its model on works in the Ghibli style." She added that because this is a legal grey area with not much precedent, international and social consensus will be crucial moving forward. Despite the controversy, some believe this could be a new turning point in the culture and art scene. "The art world faces what's called "Baumol's cost disease" -rising labor costs without matching productivity. And hand-drawn animation is extremely labor-intensive. Ghibli, for example, hasn't released a new film since 2014. But AI could ease that burden and enable new creations while preserving the original identity." She also said that with proper consensus, AI-generated art could evolve into a new cultural movement, perhaps even gaining long-term value, much like Van Gogh's paintings did posthumously. And considering that, a tiny Ghibli-style AI portrait might just be the spark, redrawing the entire canvas of modern art. And Kun-woo since you mentioned that AI art could be reshaping the art world, can you tell us more about that? Of course. What we're seeing on social media is not just limited to Ghibli-style portraits but also other artworks created by so-called "AI artists." For those unfamiliar with them, one of the artists I spoke to explained how they create their art pieces. "With my own philosophy, I apply several prompts and combine generated images to make them my own. That's why it isn't that different from traditional art work, just the tools that we use are different. And it's not just an image generated in one-go, it takes several attempts and a lot of trial and error." She added that it could take hundreds of instances of "retouching" in order to create a unique artwork. Her goal is to build a new art scene where artists collaborate with AI as their tool, instead of brushes that artists would have usually used and said it will be able to make art even more valuable. Kun-woo, while AI-generated images are difficult to define as copyright infringement for now, I heard there are still some related cases that could lead to legal consequences. That's right. Recently, as AI-generated portraits have grown in popularity, some people have tried selling them or offering to create them for others on secondhand market platforms to 중고시장 플랫폼에서 판매하거나 다른 사람들을 위해 제작을 제공하여 이익을 얻으려고 시도했습니다. One lawyer I spoke to said in such cases, it could be punishable by law. "Although AI-generated portraits may not qualify as copyrighted work now—since they aren't considered creations that reflect human thoughts or emotions—profiting from them could still be problematic under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, as it could be seen as commercially exploiting someone else’s achievements." So to recap, while simply creating or changing your image with AI seems fine for now, trying to make profit from it could lead to serious legal trouble. Thank you Kun-woo.

Mobility takes to land, sea, air at Seoul Mobility Show 2025

2025/04/03 20:00

In other story. The country's flagship mobility event celebrates its 30th anniversary, and innovative ideas were front and center at the show, covering land, sea and air. Our Lee Soo-jin brings us this year's highlights for a preview. At South Korea's biggest mobility show, the energy is electric, just like some of the cars on display. But it's not just electric cars being showcased at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show, which is open to the public from Friday until the 13th. Marking its 30th anniversary, the event brings its theme "Mobility, Everywhere" to life with a number of innovations that take to land, sea, and air. Hyundai Motor, unveiled the all-new NEXO, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle with improved range, alongside the facelifted IONIQ 6 EV,.. for the very first time. Over in the autonomous vehicle zone, attendees can hop on a public transport shuttle developed by the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology. Classified as a Level 4 autonomous vehicle, it can drive itself along pre-defined routes and designated areas, while AI technology enables it to detect obstacles like passing pedestrians and adjust its speed to traffic signals. This smart public transit service, which can be hailed on demand like Uber, will launch in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, next year. But the event isn't just about ground transportation for the first time ever, visitors also have the chance to explore water-going vessels up close. "We chose to take part in the Mobility Show for the first time to showcase that boats, like cars, can run on electric propulsion systems." Local marine company Vinssen's EPOCH 2, is an electric leisure boat that runs emission-free for up to three hours on a single charge. And its smart interface provides real-time performance monitoring for safer, easier operation. Rounding up the diverse wave of mobility, is Sambo Motors Group, a domestic auto parts maker that has expanded into Urban Air Mobility. "We believe the future of UAM lies in developing low-noise, high-energy-efficient hybrid aircraft capable of navigating urban areas." The company's flagship UAM models include the H-32, a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft featuring hydrogen-electric propulsion and seating for two, designed for urban air taxi services. And beside it, stands the B-22, an unmanned aerial vehicle optimized for logistics with its flexible payload options. "With cutting-edge aircraft like these along with next-gen vehicles and vessels Korea, the world's fifth-largest automaker, is showing that it is well placed to face future challenges. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News."

SpaceX's Fram2 mission launches civilian crew into first flight around Earth's poles

2025/04/01 20:00

Elon Musk's SpaceX has launched four private astronauts into space on a mission to orbit Earth from pole to pole, something that's never been done before. The Fram2 mission led by Chun Wang, a Chinese-born Maltese crypto billionaire, lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday local time. The crew will orbit for 3 to 5 days, conducting over 20 experiments on how space affects the human body. The members also plan to take the first X-ray in space and grow mushrooms in microgravity.

German startup's space rocket crashes seconds after takeoff from Norway

2025/03/31 10:00

Over in Europe, a space rocket launched by German startup Isar Aerospace on Sunday local time crashed approximately 40 seconds after takeoff from a spaceport in Norway. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket, 28 meters long, was designed to carry small and medium-sized satellites and marked Europe's first attempt at an orbital flight from the continent, excluding Russia. Despite the outcome, Isar Aerospace's CEO said the test was a "great success," citing the collection of valuable data for future missions. The attempt reflects Europe's ambition to establish independent space launch capabilities.

Number of outbound int'l flights from Korea to exceed pre-COVID levels this summer

2025/03/28 10:00

Nearly 48-hundred outbound international flights will be operated per week at domestic airports this summer, exceeding pre-COVID levels. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Friday that it has finalized the summer flight operation schedule, as requested by domestic and foreign airlines. From March 30th to October 25th, 4-thousand-783 outbound international flights will operate per week on 246 routes. This marks a 5-point-6 percent increase from the summer of 2024. It also marks a 3-point-6 percent increase from 2019 before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hyundai Motor Group celebrates opening of third auto plant in U.S.

2025/03/27 17:00

And staying with Hyundai Motor Group. Earlier on Wednesday the group celebrated the official opening of its third plant in the U.S. The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America over in Georgia is expected to produce 3-hundred-thousand cars a year contributing to the group's total U.S. capacity of one million cars annually. During the opening ceremony the group's chairman Chung Eui-sun also called for joint efforts between the Korean government and businesses with regard to tariff talks with the U.S.

S. Korea seeking advances in medical industry using AI and medical tourism

2025/03/21 10:00

An annual medical conference took place here in the country with a showcase of how healthcare taps into AI as well as growing international recognition in the industry. Ahn Sung-jin tells us more. AI and healthcare. The combination of these is going beyond implementation, as companies seek to weave them into our daily lives. South Korea's Health Ministry and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute are hosting the annual Medical Korea conference to connect those in the field, and promote discussions on the implications of this. With a need for more healthcare workers and an aging population, AI integration into people's daily lives has become inevitable, and an expert says this is not as a replacement, but as a helper. "There is no doubt that AI is here to stay in the medical industry the people who are concerned or worried about AI are going to struggle in the future as AI becomes more and more intercalated into everything that we do." Alongside the use of smart technology in our everyday lives, Korea is also promoting medical tourism, welcoming those seeking K-beauty healthcare. "An increase in the number of patients visiting Korea for medical purposes implies that not only is our medical technology acknowledged worldwide, but also suggests that we are becoming a focal point for medical tourism in Asia." As Korea receives more international recognition, medical tourists continue to increase with the number soon to exceed 1 million. "Many Korean companies in the beauty and medical industry are here to showcase the latest trends as well as to network and find partners." With more tourists spending on healthcare and reinvigorating the economy, companies are aiming to increase their competitiveness in the field. "Due to Hallyu, Korean healthcare products are garnering more attention, and I hope to share this worldwide." As the country steps up as a medical powerhouse, efforts from stakeholders are set to become more apparent. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea seeking advances in medical industry using AI and medical tourism

2025/03/20 20:00

An annual medical conference here in Korea showcases how healthcare taps into AI as well as growing international recognition in the industry. Ahn Sung-jin tells us more. AI and healthcare. The combination of these is going beyond implementation, as companies seek to weave them into our daily lives. South Korea's Health Ministry and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute are hosting the annual Medical Korea conference to connect those in the field, and promote discussions on the implications of this. With a need for more healthcare workers and an aging population, AI integration into people's daily lives has become inevitable, and an expert says this is not as a replacement, but as a helper. "There is no doubt that AI is here to stay in the medical industry the people who are concerned or worried about AI are going to struggle in the future as AI becomes more and more intercalated into everything that we do." Alongside the use of smart technology in our everyday lives, Korea is also promoting medical tourism, welcoming those seeking K-beauty healthcare. "An increase in the number of patients visiting Korea for medical purposes implies that not only is our medical technology acknowledged worldwide, but also suggests that we are becoming a focal point for medical tourism in Asia." As Korea receives more international recognition, medical tourists continue to increase with the number soon to exceed 1 million. "Many Korean companies in the beauty and medical industry are here to showcase the latest trends as well as to network and find partners." With more tourists spending on healthcare and reinvigorating the economy, companies are aiming to increase their competitiveness in the field. "Due to Hallyu, Korean healthcare products are garnering more attention, and I hope to share this worldwide." As the country steps up as a medical powerhouse, efforts from stakeholders are set to become more apparent. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.